When planning an immersion course, the first question to address is, “Why teach 100 percent in the target language when it’s easier and faster to just give explanations in English and move on?” 

If you ask anyone who has spent time overseas learning a foreign language, they will tell you that 100 percent immersion is absolutely necessary in order to become communicatively effective, never mind bilingual.  Students in immersion programs will gain the ability of negotiating meaning when two individuals do not share a common language.  This ability cannot be specifically taught; it must be learned through experience and exposure to the target language.  So while translating IS easier and faster, it robs our students of the opportunity to learn to negotiate meaning across languages and cultures.

I’ve been next to foreign language teachers at conferences here in the U.S. who will swear that it is impossible to teach 100 percent in the target language.  I do not get into a debate with these teachers, because for them, it probably is impossible.  They do not know how it is done, and they have not been given the training and guidance needed for this approach to be successful.  The key to ensuring its success is having a positive attitude toward the concept and embracing it head on.  With this attitude, you can learn how to teach 100 percent in the target language.  You will encounter days when it is harder than others, but over time, it will become second nature to you and your students.

For all the teachers who swear it cannot be done, I would like to point you the to field of English as a Second Language (ESL).  In classes all across the country, ESL teachers have no choice but to figure it out.  Their classes are usually heterogeneously mixed with students from all over the world, and it is unlikely that the teacher can translate for everyone.  If you have ESL classes in your institution, take the time to observe students at the beginner level.  Watch how the teacher and students interact.  Make note of the techniques that the teacher uses.  You will probably notice that the teacher is completely exhausted at the end of the class and that they did not learn 100 new vocabulary words.  Creating an immersion experience for students is very difficult and it is tiring.  It takes a lot of creativity and quick thinking to make it work.  Plus, you have to really slim down your class objectives if mastery is your goal.

I am speaking from experience here, as I spent many years in Spanish language classrooms where teachers spoke English most of the time.  It was not until I was exposed to an immersion approach that I really started speaking and understanding the language.  Later on when I became a middle school Spanish teacher, I was able to figure out how to teach 100 percent in Spanish.  My students were so advanced that they had no placement for them when they went on to high school.  Since then, I have dedicated my career to teaching teachers how to create an effective language learning environment, which includes teaching 100 percent in the target language.  The first step is having an open mind and accepting that it can be done with a lot of effort and hard work.

Teaching 100 percent in the target language is just one component of establishing an effective language learning environment for your students.  Look for more articles in the future on this topic at:  www.stmpublishing.com/language-teaching-blog.