What if you let your teenager go abroad for an immersion ?
For the hen parent in you, the thought alone is chilling. Even if your child shows linguistic predisposition, you’re not sure it’s really useful. After all, couldn’t he continue to learn English with his private tutor? Even if Mr. Sullivan is a dedicated teacher, it’s unlikely that his skills will rival the benefits of a language trip.
Master a language faster
All polyglots will tell you: it is by practicing a dialect that you acquire mastery of it. The problem is that in France, your child speaks French. The only time he is required to leave his comfort zone is during language classes. And that is not enough.
Going abroad for immersion will force him to practice the new language more often. At the bakery, in the street, to take the bus, etc. A language stay for teenagers allows for lasting and rapid progress. Immersed in an environment where only English/French/Spanish/etc. is spoken, he will be forced to expand his vocabulary and work on his phrasing.
Discover a new culture
Learning a language is more than just memorizing words or phrases. It’s about becoming familiar with a foreign culture. It’s about learning mind-blowing cultural intricacies. It’s about discovering other people’s customs and traditions.
And sometimes, reading books is not enough to immerse oneself in this reality.
Only a teenage language stay in England will allow you to understand the importance of “tea time” for the Anglo-Saxons. Similarly, a few days spent in Italy will allow you to discover this country beyond the clichés.
Another element that should not be overlooked is the discovery of exceptional sites. For example, the teenager who goes to Spain will have the opportunity to discover more than 20 breathtaking sites. La playa del silencio, Carmona, Zaragoza, … Your teenager will be left speechless by the splendor of nature.
Going abroad for immersion for greater employability
Today, the Earth is becoming a large global village. For someone who speaks only one language, the range of possibilities is limited. On the other hand, the more he is able to express himself in different dialects, the more his horizons broaden.
There will come a day when your teenager will have to leave the nest. When he will have to go and start his own family. At that time, you will be happy, for example, that he speaks Spanish perfectly thanks to language stays and that he knows more about the culture of this country than the color of the Spanish flag . Don’t stay with your eyes fixed on your microcosm. Worse still: don’t impose this very limited vision of the world on your child. Letting him go abroad for immersion is giving him the necessary tools to forge his future.
When properly prepared, a language stay is an experience that can positively change a teenager’s life. Between learning a new language and developing skills, he will come out of it feeling refreshed. Once he becomes an adult, he will be eternally grateful to you for this opportunity.
