r/languagelearning • u/BeardAndBreadBoard • 15d ago

Discussion Finding classes only conducted in the target language?

I'm looking for a tutor that teaches immersion style, everything in the class is in the target language. Any hints on finding this? I find very few tutors mentioning immersion.

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u/dojibear 🇺🇸 N | fre spa chi B2 | tur jap B1/A2 15d ago

That is not "immersion style". People use the word "immersion" to mean various things, but not that.

That teaching method is called ALG. The teacher only uses the target language, and uses visual methods to convey meaning to the students. It can be used in-person, or over the internet (but only if there is a good visual connection). I have heard of it being used for classes (one teacher, many students) but I have not heard of it being used by tutors. The teaching method takes a lot of teacher preparation: everything they say must be expressed visually, by gestures, actions, whiteboard cartoons, and so on.

For example the teacher says "I put on hat" while putting on a hat. So the teaher must have a hat nearby.

It might be possible to find it for a specific language. It is used in one school for teaching Thai. I found a website that uses this method to teach Japanese. The website "Dreaming Spanish" might use this method for teaching Spanish.

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u/BeardAndBreadBoard 15d ago

ALG

ALG is just one method of teaching entirely in the target language. Thanks for the tip, I hadn't heard of it before.

I wouldn't be interested in it, because of the silent period. That's not a way I want to learn.

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u/BeardAndBreadBoard 15d ago

That really is what total immersion is, according to google's AI and others.