Simulating an immersive learning environment to fast-track your way to fluency
I had a meeting with my Mandarin tutor earlier today about the Fast-Track teaching method we’ve been developing at the Calgary Language Nerds since 2023. She made a fascinating observation. I’ll paraphrase:
“The teaching method we’re using simulates the experience of learning through a tailored immersive experience.”
The key word is “tailored.” Just diving head-first into an immersive experience often doesn’t work. It’s too overwhelming, like drinking water from a firehose. It has to be tailored to your level and needs.
I remember my first tailored immersive experience.
I spent 3 months in rural France attending high school as an exchange student. I already had a low-intermediate level in French prior to going and I lived with a local family. Even though most people didn’t speak English fluently, many of them were friendly and made an effort to help me learn.
In short, the immersive experience was perfectly tailored to me.
The result: my progress skyrocketed!
My pronunciation became near-perfect, grammar just magically made sense, and I could communicate effortlessly. To be clear, I didn’t really “study” French while being abroad. No textbooks, worksheets, or formal French lessons! I was simply immersed in an environment perfectly suited to naturally acquiring the language quickly.
That’s what we’re trying to do in our lessons.
It’s not the typical classroom experience of having a PowerPoint with rules to memorize. We facilitate a comfortable conversational environment instead with accurate progress tracking so you can quantify your level at all times.
It works equally well for beginners - we just simplify the class content.
Want to have a try?
I’m looking for a few people to sign up for a 2-lesson trial package. You’d be helping me out too: my team and I have recently come up with a few new teaching strategies we’re itching to try to test their effectiveness.
Fill out the contact form on my website and write TWO LESSONS and I’ll send you info about the rate and payment instructions!