The value of language immersion - International exchanges and years abroad

The idea of language immersion is to completely surround yourself with the language you are learning. While it’s possible to immerse yourself in a language by reading books, watching films and listening to music in your target language, the best way of immersing yourself in a language is to go to one of the places where that language is spoken and to spend some time there.

Language learning in the UK

In the UK, foreign languages are studied at a much lower rate than in other countries. A report from 2018 found that only 32% of UK 15-30 year olds felt confident reading and writing in two or more languages, compared to 79% in France, 91% in Germany, and 80% on average across EU member states.

The low rate of language learning in the UK make speaking another language fluently a very valuable asset. Not only are the many skills you learn when studying a language transferable to other aspects of working life, but they also give you the ability to work abroad and with international companies. This will set you apart from other applicants when applying to roles and make you more employable. Especially in the wake of Brexit, language learning is more valuable than ever as it allows young people to make the most of international opportunities and gives them a more global outlook.

The best way to consolidate your language learning is through language immersion. In the UK, the most common ways to immerse yourself fully in a language are by going on an international or foreign exchange or a year abroad.

International or foreign exchange

In the UK, many secondary schools offer opportunities for foreign or international exchanges. An international exchange offers students the opportunity to visit another country and usually to attend school there, often staying with a host family. These exchanges normally work reciprocally, meaning that as well as visiting another country and staying with a family, students will receive visitors from the other country who also stay with families and attend school here.

Exchanges like this are normally short term, meaning that they only last a few days or weeks. In spite of the short timeframe, international exchanges are very beneficial for both language and personal development. Students participating in exchanges report increased confidence not only in their language and speaking skills, but also in their personal lives. For many students, an international exchange provides them with an opportunity to learn more about another culture and expand their world view. This cultural exchange should not be underestimated when considering language immersion.

Research from the British Council in 2019 indicates that only 39% of secondary schools currently run international exchanges. For independent schools, the figure is 77%. To combat this, in 2019 the Education Secretary announced that thanks to a new £2.5 million programme, “thousands more young people would have the change to participate in international exchanges and visits”. The value of these trips should not be underestimated. A British Council survey found that almost two-thirds of students studying a language at university said that an international exchange helped inspire them to choose their degree course.

Year abroad

Another option for language immersion at a higher level is taking a year abroad. A year abroad is an opportunity offered as a part of many degree programmes at university. If you are studying a language at university, a year abroad is almost always a core part of a four year degree. Other courses may offer a year abroad or a year in industry which can be spent abroad if a student wishes. At university these exchanges are long term, normally lasting for an academic year, but they can also be just for a term.

For their year abroad, students can usually choose from one of three options depending on the course they are studying. Students can:

• Enrol at a university: Many students chose to attend university during their year abroad and experience academic life from a different perspective. Depending on the course chosen this can be a challenging and rewarding experience as students may have to learn and be assessed in their target language.
• Work in schools: The British Council offers an English Language assistant programme which offers students a paid placement in a school abroad as a teaching assistant. While some think that teaching English may limit their ability to immerse themselves in their target language while abroad, this isn’t strictly true. Even if you use or teach English while abroad, you are still using your language skills daily when interacting with coworkers, students and in life outside of work.
• Find work experience: Students are also free to find their own work experience for their year abroad. This is often the best option for students who aren’t studying languages specifically at university and who want to find targeted experience in industry. Work experience can be either paid or unpaid and finding good, paid work can be a challenge as students are typically only there for a year.

Tips for language immersion while abroad

• Attend language exchanges: In populated cities and towns many cafes, bars, bookshops and other businesses offer language exchanges where speakers of any language can come and practise their skills. These opportunities are a great chance to meet people and make friends in a casual way. Everyone who attends a language exchange is there to practise so they tend to be safe spaces where you can speak in your target language without feeling nervous or criticised.
• Keep a vocabulary log: While abroad you will pick up an enormous amount of vocabulary and colloquialisms through immersion. Try and take note of all the useful vocabulary and phrases which you learn. When you return from your time abroad this will be a valuable resource for revision.
• Watch TV or listen to music: Although you can listen to music or watch TV without being in a different country, it’s easier when you’re abroad. You just have to switch on the TV or the radio to be immersed in your target language. Try channel flicking until you find something which interests you. Use subtitles with TV and films if you need them, either in English or in your target language. If the subtitles are in English you will practise your listening and vocabulary skills, but with the subtitles in your target language you will also practise reading.
• Try reading in your target language: Again, you can read a book in your target language wherever you are in the world, but being abroad allows you to visit a library or a bookshop filled with books to try. You can also ask colleagues or friends for recommendations. Try starting with simple books, even children’s or young adult literature is a great place to begin your journey. Choose a genre which interests you and then even if it’s tough-going, you’ll be motivated to read on and finish the text.
• Watch or play a local sport: If you’re into sport, trying a new local sport can be a great way to immerse yourself while meeting new people and getting fit. Additionally both watching and playing a sport in a foreign country will help to expand your vocabulary with terms and colloquialisms which you may not have come across before.
• See a show: While it may seem like a daunting prospect, watching a show such as a play, musical or comedy show in your target language can be a productive challenge of your skills. Although you may not understand everything perfectly, you may surprise yourself with what you’;re able to pick up from context clues. This is also a great way of experiencing the culture of the country you find yourself in.

Benefits of language immersion

• Master your language skills: While abroad you will still have to work hard to hone your language skills, unfortunately it isn’t a passive process. However, if you put yourself out there and keep learning actively you will be able to expand your vocabulary massively, picking up colloquialisms and phrases that you would never come across in the classroom. Additionally your pronunciation can improve as well as your grammar skills.
• Develop personally and socially: The independence of a year abroad or international exchange allows many students to grow and develop massively. Students often return from abroad with greater confidence in themselves and their abilities. Being abroad provides the opportunities for a multitude of social and cultural experiences which may shape you and your future life or career decisions.
• Gain future employment opportunities: Experiencing life or working abroad can make you more employable in the future, both in the UK and further afield. The ability to live, study or work in a different country demonstrates a number of transferable skills which can set you apart from the competition. Many students leave university without any tangible work experience, so achieving this, for example by completing a year abroad, can be very beneficial.
• Make lifelong connections: The friends, coworkers and acquaintances you may make during an international exchange or while living abroad may stay with you for your whole life. These connections could lead to you returning to live abroad in the future or to other future employment opportunities. It’s easier than every to maintain contact with far-away friends, so make the effort to tend to these relationships as you never know where they may lead.
• Expand your worldview: Getting a perspective on life outside of the UK can be very beneficial and eye-opening to many students. You may meet people from other walks of life or you may come to see moving and living abroad as a real viable option for yourself. While abroad you should have an open mind and be receptive to learning from your experiences and those around you, not only about your target language but about life itself.

Conclusion

If you have the opportunity to participate in an international exchange at school or to take a year abroad when you are at university, don’t hesitate! The benefits of language immersion are huge, not only for your language skills but also for your personal and professional development. Even though Britain has left the European Union there are still plenty of opportunities to live and work abroad. If you’ve already finished university and wish you’d done a year abroad, it’s not too late! There are plenty of programmes you can enrol in to expand your horizons and learn something new through language immersion.

Bibliography:
Robert Long, Shadi Danechi, Philip Loft: Language teaching in schools (England) (28.03.2023).
British Council: £2.5 million to boost international exchanges for schools (28.03.2023).