Language Immersion
The Wall Street Journal on DialoguE LanguageS 2
These are excerpts from an article by reporter Brandon Mitchener on intensive and full-immersion foreign language training. The article appeared in the Wall Street Journal Europe Edition, Friday-Saturday, June 27-28, 1997.
MONEY MATTERS
Whether you pay for language classes yourself, like Mr. Ecklund, or your company pays for them, there’s nothing more frustrating than wasting time and money on language lessons - especially in a class that’s supposed to be "intensive." But even one-on-one instruction can be a waste if you choose the wrong school. And with prices for intensive and full-immersion classes ranging from $20
to $100 an hour - not to mention the possibility of losing income from having to take time off from work or using vacation time - it pays to choose carefully. (Intensive refers to morning classes with afternoons off, while full-immersion programs pretty much involve round-the-clock attention.)
First off, decide what kind of return you want on your time and money and choose a school - or combination of schools - that maximizes the potential reward while minimizing the chance of wasting time and money. Many language schools don’t offer refunds. The most important criteria for a successful intensive or full-immersion experience are small class sizes and professional teachers as well as preparation, follow-up and realistic expectations on the part of the student. (…)
