HOW TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN ENGLISH

A GUIDE FOR BUSY PROFESSIONALS.

WHAT IS ENGLISH IMMERSION

English immersion is a language learning approach that involves surrounding yourself with the English language and using it as much as possible in your daily life.

English immersion can be done in many ways, from living in an English-speaking country to participating in language exchange programs, attending language schools, or using language learning apps and resources.

WHY IS IT CONSIDERED SO EFFECTIVE:

Immersing yourself in English is considered the best and quickest way to improve your language skills because it allows you to practice English in a natural and authentic way, making you more motivated, improving your vocabulary, pronunciation and fluency, and giving you more opportunities to practice.

However, for me the biggest advantage of immersion in English is that you can gain fluency and confidence in the language much more quickly than if you use more traditional learning methods, such as only attending class and studying a few times a week.

THE GOOD NEWS - YOU DON´T NEED TO MOVE TO THE UK!

While moving to an English-speaking country can be a great way to improve your English language skills, it's not the only way.

With the availability of language learning resources and a diverse English-speaking community in most countries, you can practice and immerse yourself in the language wherever you are.

Ultimately, you will be successful if you remain motivated, dedicated, and consistent in your language-learning efforts.

The key to English immersion is to expose yourself to the language as much as possible and practice using it in real-life situations.

There are lots of ways to immerse yourself in English and improve your language skills WITHOUT leaving the comfort of your home.

If you prefer to watch than read, find out how to immerse yourself in English with this video:

Here are some suggestions:

Watch English language movies and TV shows: Use subtitles in your native language to help you follow along. As your English improves, switch to English subtitles and eventually turn them off altogether.
Listen to English language music and podcasts: This will help you improve your listening skills and become familiar with the sound and rhythm of the language.
Read English language books and articles: This will improve your vocabulary, comprehension, and grammar.
Practice speaking with native speakers: Find a language exchange partner or join a language learning group to practice speaking with native English speakers. This will help you improve your pronunciation and fluency. For information on our Small Group Speaking Classes, click here: ICK CLASSES
Immerse yourself in an English-speaking environment: If possible, spend time with English speakers where you can practice your language skills and immerse yourself in the language and culture. Find them on websites like Meetup, or look for online or local language exchange groups.
Use English language learning apps: There are many language learning apps available that can help you practice your English skills and provide feedback on your progress. Check out our Membership programme FAST TRACK TO FLUENCY. For professionals, it has online courses, masterclasses, and conversation classes, all for €17 per month, and you can cancel anytime.
Combine your current activities with English. Do you like football? Listen to the game in English. Are you interested in Ancient Greek Mythology? Listen to podcasts about it in English. Do you like to cook? Watch your Youtube cooking videos in English. Do you have to have meetings in English? Review and roleplay the meetings with another English speaker, such as your teacher. With a little initial effort, you will find resources in English related to your current activities, likes, and hobbies.
Digitalize your English: Make the language of your devices English, and use social media in English (reading, posting and replying). This can be frustrating at first, but you will be surprised at how quickly you get used to it!
One of my students, Jorge, suggested doing the following, which helped him to improve his English:
1.- Look for worldwide professional associations within your business sector, and join them (their newsletters, webinars, training courses). This improves business sector jargon, and helps identify differences between countries even when talking about the same concept.
2.- Always look for original sources in English, or other English versions of news, from your professional sector. This way, As well as improving your vocabulary related to your business sector, you will find cultural, political, etc. nuances in the way they explain it in other countries.

For more advice on how to choose the right activities, read this article: CHOOSING THE RIGHT ACTIVITIES.

Remember that improving your English skills takes time and effort. The more you immerse yourself in the language, the more progress you will make.

WHAT IF YOU ARE TOO BUSY TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN ENGLISH BUT YOU NEED TO IMPROVE QUICKLY?

If you are too busy to immerse yourself in English but still need to improve your language skills quickly, there are several strategies you can use:

Prioritize your language learning: Make language learning a priority by setting aside time each day to practice your English skills. This could be as little as 10-15 minutes a day, but it's essential to be consistent and make the most of the time you have.
Focus on specific skills: Instead of trying to improve all four language skills at once, focus on the areas where you need the most improvement. For example, if you need to improve your speaking skills for work, focus on practising speaking with a language exchange partner or tutor.
Incorporate language learning into your daily routine: Look for ways to incorporate language learning into your daily routine, such as listening to English-language podcasts while commuting to work or reading English news articles during your lunch break.

YOUR TURN!

Now it´s up to you. I have given you lots of options on how to immerse yourself in English. Which ones are you going to choose? My final advice to you is:

Choose the activities that suit you and your lifestyle and preferences best, taking your objectives for learning English into account. Remember, every little helps!
Commit to these activities.
Set a deadline. For more advice on how to choose a deadline, read this article: CHOOSING YOUR DEADLINE.
Stick to it - be consistent - and patient!

If you want a step-by-step guide to setting your objectives, creating a timeframe, and choosing activities that suit you, join our free ENGLISH CHALLENGE.

This eBook and 3-day challenge will give you clear instructions on how to calculate your level, your deadline, how many hours per week you should dedicate to improving your English, and what activities are best for you. Get it HERE.

With dedication, focus, and efficient learning methods, you can still make progress towards your language learning goals, even if you're short on time.

Good luck!

Categories: Improve Your English