We spoke with Elise DeVeene from Belgium after six weeks in her immersion program and, as a teacher, she gives an educator’s outlook on Spanish immersion programs. Elise is no stranger to learning languages, as she knows Dutch, English, German, French, and now Spanish. She gives a straightforward look into the benefits and challenges of Spanish immersion as well as encourages more timid people to open up and embrace learning Spanish abroad.
0:23 – From Level 0 to speaking in six weeks: Impossible?
0:54 – Sources of initial frustration
1:20 – Eliminating frustration in a week
1:32 – Why Spanish? Why Santiago?
2:10 – A teacher’s take on language exposure
2:35 – Why ECELA was an easy choice
3:22 – Challenging Chilean vocabulary
4:46 – Exposing Chile-specific vocabulary
5:45 – A few of Elise’s favorite things: new cultures and excursions
6:29 – Typical after-school activities
7:34 – Seeing classmates in a new setting
8:51 – Santiago’s night life: karaoke & foreigners night!
10:04 – Safety first in Santiago
10:26 – Rubia celebrities
10:56 – Recommended trips north of Chile
11:42 – Friends for life?
13:34 – Chile’s “chill” culture
15:02 – Ideal immersion program for those well-versed in languages
16:09 – How learning multiple languages speeds along the process
17:14 – How native language factors in to learning
17:50 – Don’t keep to yourself
18:38 – Learn the language in the country where it’s spoken