A Comparison of Immersion and Traditional Foreign Language Instruction

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate immersion teaching methods and results as well as traditional foreign language instruction teaching methods and results. This study deals with immersion in Canada and the United States focusing on Canadian examples because of these involved French immersion, and particularly early total immersion. It suggests that immersion, especially French immersion, should be expanded in the United States, following the example of Spanish immersion and English immersion for immigrants. This is a descriptive study designed to compare immersion and traditional foreign language instruction. The purpose of this analysis is to highlight the principles on which both approaches are built, and to underline their similarities and differences. Five immersion programs and five traditional foreign language instruction programs are analyzed. A checklist is used in order to compare the particular characteristics of both approaches. A final discussion implies that immersion produces the best results.