One of the best ways to learn a language is through language immersion. This method means consuming content in your target language—whether it’s listening, reading, watching. The idea is that with enough exposure and active interaction, your brain will start to pick up the language naturally. It works in a similar way to how we learned our native language as children.
The Reality of Learning a Language as an Adult
However… in reality, we are not children anymore. While there are perks to learning a language as an adult (I can spend my own money!), many people feel like they don’t have enough time.
I’m busy, too. I get it. It’s hard for me to find time to just sit down and learn. I’m a homeschool mom, I work, I exercise, and I taxi my daughter to all her activities. Plus, I’m always battling a mountain of laundry that never… seems… to… disappear.
Yet, somehow, I still manage to fit in Spanish immersion almost every day. How? I pair Spanish with activities I’m already doing! Here are some language learning tips to help you add immersion learning into your busy life.
10 Easy Ways to Sneak Immersion Language Learning Into Your Day
1. With Your Morning Coffee
Use this time to read the news in your target language or review flashcards on apps like Anki. (It’s either that or scroll TikTok…so I choose language time instead!)
2. While Doing Chores
Listen to podcasts or audiobooks in the target language while washing dishes or folding laundry. (It’s so good, you’ll want to do more chores just to keep listening!)
3. While Exercising
Work out your body and your mind by getting some immersion language learning while exercising.
4. Whenever You’re Curious
Whenever you’re curious and want to search for information, use your target language on Google or Wikipedia.
5. While Driving
Swap the radio (and those annoying commercials) for audiobooks or podcasts during your commute.
6. Waiting at the Doctor’s Office
Waiting can be frustrating, but you can make it fun by turning that time into immersion learning time! (My favorite way to do it is to download Spanish books onto my Kindle AND the Kindle app on my phone…that way, I never forget.)
7. In the Shower
Replace your usual playlist with music in your target language and sing (and howl loudly) along as part of your routine.
8. While Waiting for Your Child
If you’re sitting through ballet or sports practice, use that time to read a book or listen to a podcast in your target language.
9. Unwinding in Bed
If reading a book is your favorite way to end the day and power down your brain. Might as well read it in your target language!
10. White Noise Before Sleep
If you are like me and need some noise to fall asleep to, opt for an audiobook or podcast in your target language to help lull you to sleep.
Things to Keep in Mind for a Successful Immersion Learning Routine
These tips for learning a new language can help a lot. However, it’s important to remember that immersion learning, like any method, has its own challenges. Before you jump in, let me share a few confessions from my own experience. These insights might help you manage your expectations and get the most out of these strategies.
- You don’t need to do ALL these Language Immersion activities every day.
I need some quiet time, and you probably also do, so I’ll usually pair Spanish with one or two of these activities, that alone can make a big difference. - It’s easier to do these activities when you’re intermediate-advanced, but you can still use them as a beginner!
If you’re not able to rely heavily on audiobooks and podcasts yet, you can swap new content for review content! Try re-listening to books or re-watching videos in the background. Or use a hands-free grammar-focused learning language podcast, like Language Transfer, to prime the language you will properly acquire through immersion later. (I’ve done ALL of these, by the way!) - To make progress, you still need to actively interact with the language.
These activities are a great way to increase the time you spend with the language with freeflow immersion. However, you still need to have dedicated time for interactive immersion where you can look words up and give the language 100% of your focus. - Sneaking language immersion time into your day requires preparation.
The only reason I have Spanish books, podcasts, and audiobooks always ready is because I prepared them. But don’t worry, it’s easy! On a free weekend, take an hour to download on all your devices: 2-3 entire books, lots of podcast and an audiobook or two. Want to download a few YouTube videos as well? You can! Watch this video to learn how.
Small Steps, Big Wins
There are many moments throughout the day to immerse yourself in the language. The key is consistency, not perfection. Every little bit helps.
If you adopt these small, steady habits, you’ll be amazed at your progress. Stay patient, keep going, and soon enough, you’ll see just how far you’ve come on your language journey!
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