Learning a language using the total immersion method.

Nowadays everyone wants to know more than one language.

In the United States we are taught to learn a second language in high school. Hardly anyone ever really learns that second language though. They just kind of tinker around with it. Spanish, French, Italian.

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I remember my high school girlfriend used to know a few phrases in French.

I could ask where the bathroom was in Spanish and even ask where the extra toilet paper was kept. This is about the extent of the skill you learn in a high school language course here in the states.

College courses are slightly better but unless you have a real drive to learn the language chances are that it will be quite difficult to do so.

So how do you learn a language?

The first language that I had a true interest in learning was Japanese. It's difficult to learn a language like Japanese when you live in Texas because there aren't many people that speak it. Additionally you can't really watch many TV shows in Japanese unless you find a good place to stream them.

Even then you won't be watching the Japanese version of Game of Thrones.

Without going to Japan learning a language like Japanese is quite difficult because it's hard to immerse yourself in it.

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However, it was through Japanese that I first learned about the total immersion method.

I began visiting a site called AJATT. All Japanese all the time.

http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/

That site was started by a guy who originally wanted to go to Japan simply because he wanted to change his life in a new direction. He gave me an idea for doing a total immersion experience.

I used it to learn Spanish.

Here is how the total immersion method works.

• Find people that speak the target language and continually surround yourself with them.

• Go on YouTube or another music site and find songs in the target language that you end up loving. Your brain will start to remember the lyrics even if you don't know what they mean.

• Find a forum and begin to make friends there.

• Stop watching and listening to shows and music in English, or whatever your mother tongue is. You must only watch and listen to shows and music in the target language.

• Get a program like Pimsleur or Rosetta. It is true that they are expensive, however, these programs are quite effective when used in concert with a total immersion experience.

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The key is to only speak the target language and to never speak your original language until you have learned the target language, unless you absolutely must speak it........ like for instance in a work situation.

The final piece of the program for me was to take several Spanish courses. My final two professors told me that I was completely fluent and I have passed fluency exams. I am able to have conversational Spanish without pausing or having any confusion.

I spent about 2 years coming home from work and listening to Spanish music while I cooked dinner. After that I would watch Star Trek in Spanish. I have probably watched about 50 of my favorite movies in Spanish as well. Fortunately in Texas you can surround yourself by people that speak Spanish fairly easily.

The total immersion method means completely immersing yourself in that language. The reason why you sometimes hear about someone that visits Spain or another country and comes back being fluent in that language is because they're using the total immersion method whether they want to or not.

You can do the same thing in the comfort of your own house.

Learning a language using the total immersion method is easy.