Opportunities for Immersion. Experiential Education

Opportunities for Immersion

Because camps are isolated environments, they are ideal for using an immersion approach. Immersion learning means that the target language is used all the time, not just in language class. Immersive learning has a number of benefits for language acquisition, such as strong reading and listening skills (Cummins, 1998) and the potential for increased cognitive ability (Lazaruk, 2007). Some families do not have access to an immersion school or cannot travel abroad for extended periods. For them, a language camp that uses immersion learning can be a realistic way to access these advantages.

Experiential Education

Summer camps are ideal for experiential education. Experiential learning is based on active and reflective learning. In the experiential language learning, students acquire language through the experience of working together, rather than looking at pieces of the target language (Knutson, 2003). Rather than sitting in classrooms studying the language itself, campers can be using the language while boating, walking in the woods, throwing water balloons, or building a campfire. Experiential education has several benefits, including facilitating personal growth, helping learners adapt to social change, accounting for differences in learning ability, and responding to learner needs and teaching considerations (Kohonen, 2006). These unique features allow experiential language learning to provide many best practices in language instruction. For example, there are many opportunities for comprehensible input. Learners also have many chances throughout the day for reflection. Learner speech is meaningful, and they get immediate feedback through interaction.

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