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Getting it right--from Chinglish to English (III)
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By Gorden Kerr
Children do not study any grammar books or memorize vocabulary when learning a language but learn through intense and personal communication with their close family. They are "immersed" in (completely surrounded by) the language and through a process of trial and error, practice and play, learn how to communicate and express their needs and desires. Learning a second language is a little different and is more difficult for adults, but many of the same principles of the "communicative" approach still apply.
These are the principles we are using in our residential programme at Gateway Language Village and they are proving extremely effective. We are trying to break down the old stereotypes and attitudes towards learning by providing a "total immersion experience" (TIE). We are still developing our programmes, but so far, have trained several thousand people and the transformation in their confidence in speaking and using the language is most encouraging. Most have gone on successfully to apply for foreign study and pass visa interviews with many more gaining promotion or making positive career moves.
We are so convinced by the effectiveness of this method that we are able to offer a money back guarantee to our learners if they do not make significant improvement in their language skills. Our idea of a language village is not a place, because we run programmes in several centres, but a learning community where people work and interact together in a natural way using the target language. Our students, eat, work, study and socialize in an environment where only "English" is spoken, only English is heard and only English is seen. Many learners share apartments or dorms with native speakers and this gives them added opportunities and exposure to the language. The only problem is that some of our teachers complain they don't get enough sleep because so many students want to speak English to them!
Another popular feature of our village is the International Peace Club, which provides a permanent "English corner" to hundreds of members plus a range of interesting programmes every evening. With English movies, magazines, newspapers and Internet facilities, it provides a busy and stimulating English environment for people to practise their English language skills. (End)
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