It’s All About Discovery & Growth: Second Language Learning

     As anyone knows, learning a new language is not an easy enterprise considering that it involves great discipline, exploration and oftentimes, considerable monetary expense. Scientists agree that people who are proficient in more than one language use their brain more actively and seem to maintain better cognitive function making the effort and cost of learning a new language quite rewarding. As difficult and expensive it may be, the most efficient way for learning a new language is immersing oneself in a cultural setting where the population speaks the language that respective person desires becoming familiar with.

Full Immersion in a New Country &Culture Shock

     Culture shock is a reality that has to be faced by the courageous ones who decide to learn a new language through this form of "superior learning". However, there will be a permanent reward at stake waiting for them upon their mission’s accomplishment. Living in the country where the language is officially spoken guarantees the understanding of the culture and the achievement of a flawless language proficiency. In fact, as opposed to a merely theoretical learning style, a full immersion in the country where the new language is spoken will require a linguistic endeavor that synergies theoretical and practical notions. The result is clear to anyone who has gone through this experience: the level of proficiency will progress from survival to advanced. For the determined ones, the advancement will gradually continue up to a full competence in listening, writing, and comprehension. It will happen because learning becomes synonymous of surviving and when it comes to survival, all of us extract from inside the stamina and the creativity we would not otherwise have been able to. Evidently, this process can take a long time and a great deal of work; however, your willpower is what truly, at the end, defines your achievement.

Planning

     One of the first needs necessary for undertaking a full-immersion learning experience in a second language is making accommodation arrangements. This unavoidable step is intrinsic to the superior learning process. People, in fact, are more comfortable in their own and organized spaces, especially when it comes to learning. Furthermore, by choosing the appropriate place to live abroad, learning a new language becomes easier ⎯ since a comfortable accommodation provides the learner with the privilege of getting good sleep ⎯ thus avoiding stress and facilitating the canalization of energy and motivation towards the endeavor of learning. Making housing arrangements may not be an easy or a smooth task; it is therefore strongly advisable obtaining such a service through an agency specializing in the field. These kinds of agency are usually highly competent and supportive. A common and efficient house arrangement is known as “homestay”. This style of housing arrangement has become very popular between international students because, besides providing an initial habitation, it is known for being the most efficient way for the language learner to interact and, thus, directly experience the behavior and the culture of the hosting family’s members. Obviously, after as little as two months, many new language learners are already familiar with their new hosting country and could independently make new arrangements without the support of an agency.

     Another important requirement for undertaking a full-immersion language experience is the preparation of documents necessary for the attainment of a visa. Again, the role of a professional service provider is fundamental for this purpose. Documents are crucially important for any cultural traveler. As a matter of fact, they establish a foreigner’s justifiable presence in the country he or she is visiting for language and culture learning purposes. Because of immigration laws and regulations themselves, having all the visa/documentation in order is an essential requirement to avoid turning an amazing and pleasant experience into a legal problem, which may even include being jailed or deported.

Open-mindedness

     Intellectual exploration encourages inquisitiveness and, as such, it becomes an asset for the explorers. Between the multiple aspects associated with this quality, it conveys value on the language learners as it pertains to their employability. The present employer, or any future potential one will, in fact, perceive their multilingual skills as an asset for the company. Intellectual exploration, between the multiple other scenarios, plays also a part in becoming a better person, in shaping the thoughts of a learner and in good parenthood. A full immersion experience for language learning purposes in a country other than one’s native one will also confer on the learner highly valuable behavioral skills useful in a number of different life situations. It becomes therefore imperative to make a serious commitment and to study. North America is a great example of language-learning environment for non-native speakers. Each of us foreigners is, in one way or another, familiar with ESL language education and the public and private resources associated with it. Libraries and schools are exceptional examples of resources made available to those who desire to undertake the ESL trip. Explorations by searching, evaluating, comparing and contrasting are highly encouraged before enrolling into a specific program. These explorations develop an unrestricted understanding of subjects, which are not confined to the exclusive language-learning world. It therefore supports my above-mentioned claim that learning a new language in a country other the one’s native will also confer on the learner high-value skills useful for every life situation because moving to a new country ⎯ while learning a new language ⎯ is the ultimate example of exploration.

     It is common knowledge that each country has different ways of doing things. For instance, the North American culture, as a western culture, values a direct approach in writing, whereas an Eastern culture does not follow this approaching style. For an Eastern culture’s student who comes to the United States to learn English as a Second Language ⎯ and maybe to obtain a degree in this country ⎯ literacy teaching will convey to him or her a good grasp of American culture. For example, it is not uncommon that a student from another culture, holding a work-study visa, goes on a career center to learn how to properly apply for the job s/he likes. It is likely not uncommon that she will be surprised at the variety of specific rules that needs to be followed in order to apply for that position. Other examples are recommendations to support one's job application and the value attributed to volunteering experiences of any kind. The latter being an indication, if not a proof, of social and civic engagement. These and many other aspects are regular features of American culture. I believe this observation in some way has some universal validity and it can be doubtlessly useful for people of another culture who speak a different language. Therefore, learning a language through full-immersion within another country is an efficient way to provide the learner with new and comprehensive cultural insights, which ultimately translates into open-mindedness.

Reflection

     Finally, the learning process discussed in this paper requires arrangements and expenses. Anyone desiring to learn a new language and its associated culture through the superior learning process described in this paper may not have the capability to face those expenses and to make those arrangements. Therefore, learning a new language could be a daunting task for them. As a consequence, not all ambitious language learners make their goals of learning that projected language through full physical and mental immersion a reality. Admittedly, the rewards at the end of the mission are multiple, tangible and permanent and it is greatly recommended that new generations be exposed to foreign languages at very young age. Because the 21st century's working society has become global oriented like never before, proficiency in a second language is no longer a mere option. Will this new globalized society allow anyone who desires to be on a professional position to be monolingual? Or will it be required to possess extensive language skills? The answer is left to the reader.