Learn Language

Learning a foreign language while living in an English speaking country tends to be challenging for people who feel they do not have "an ear" or "a tongue" for foreign languages. However, while having a natural inclination towards learning languages is beneficial, having "an ear" for Spanish is not necessarily as important as you may think. Instead, having a bit of determination and imagination can be the key to truly mastering a foreign language.

Language immersion is often considered the best way to truly master a new language. The problem with complete language immersion is that it's not always convenient or even possible. So we have come up with some tips and tricks to help you immerse yourself in the language you are learning through "local immersion."

Although this may be more challenging when learning a less spoken language such as Italian or Swedish, if you live in the United States (specifically on the West or East coast) you are probably closer to a Spanish or Mandarin speaking neighborhood or shop than you think. So if you truly want to learn a language, start learning the basics through a program such as Loquella, and then head to the nearest place where that language is spoken.

Learn Spanish
Many neighborhoods offer specialty food stores and local shops where the majority of workers and customers are predominantly Spanish speaking. So why not start your own personal Spanish immersion program by shopping where the fluent Spanish speakers shop? If you come into these shops knowing basic Spanish, which you can learn from language courses such as those offered by Loquella.com, when you go shopping you can start practicing what you know. Local shop owners are most often excited and impressed when English speakers are genuinely trying to speak and learn Spanish.

After frequenting the same market a couple times, and the merchants see that you are trying to speak their language, soon you'll most likely find yourself feeling more comfortable trying to speak Spanish, as well as feeling like you are part of the community in a way that you might not feel when shopping at big box grocery stores like Safeway.

So if you've already learned basic Spanish, next time you need groceries, consider taking that extra step toward immersion by trying a different store, one where you can practice your Spanish as well as get your shopping done. It can be like killing two birds with one stone, and you may learn more about another culture, language and food than you imagined.

Learn Chinese
Chinese is another language that is spoken fairly prevalently throughout the United States. Many larger cities have a Chinatown and smaller communities often have local Chinese grocery stores. If you are learning Mandarin or Cantonese, you may have more options for immersing yourself in the language locally than you thought.

When you have the basics down, as well as a little bit of tenacity, you can start by shopping at the local grocery stores. If you've never been to a local Chinese market, you will surely learn something new, even if you don't get up the courage to say a word! Chinese markets often sell food you just can't find in most America super markets.

If you already know how to speak a bit of Mandarin you can push your skills to the next level by beginning to engage in very basic conversations with merchants. For example, try asking, "What kind of fruit is this?" or "How much does this cost?" This may seem daunting the first couple times you "immerse" yourself into the Chinese language, but it will eventually get easier. Soon you may be ready to engage in more sophisticated conversation by asking questions such as "Is this grown locally, or imported?" Listen to what the merchant has to say. If you understand what he says, great. You're on your way to becoming fluent. If not, keep trying!

By "immersing" yourself in the language locally you allow yourself to lean into the language rather than engaging in complete immersion. Local immersion can be a great alternative to complete immersion, as well a fun way to engage more closely with a part of your local community that you never knew existed.

Learn French
If you live in the United States, immersing yourself locally in French may be a greater challenge than if you are trying to learn Spanish or Chinese. But that does not mean that it's not possible.

French restaurants often have wait staff that speak fluent French. Call around to your local French restaurants and before you make a reservation, ask specifically that they seat you at a table with a French-speaking server. If they have French-speaking servers, they should be able to accommodate. If not, move on to the next place.

Once you're at the restaurant, try ordering completely in French. Don't just say the name of the dish as it's written on the menu. Instead, start a conversation with the waiter. Ask, "How is the fish tonight?" or "Do you have any recommendations?" If you get a chatty server, this may be a longer conversation than you anticipated!

If you simply cannot find a local French restaurant that has French servers, try renting some old French movies. You can't go wrong with a bottle of Côtes du Rhône, a good Camembert and any movie with Catherine Deneuve and sub-titles. You may not get a chance to speak French, but you will have a highly enjoyable evening, and hopefully learn a little French in the process.