Why Full Immersion Is the Fastest Way to Learn English

(And Why I Teach This Way at English su Misura)

One of the most common questions I hear as an English teacher is:

“Should lessons be entirely in English, even if I’m not fluent yet?”

My answer is almost always yes.

Not because I want students to struggle — but because full immersion is one of the most effective and natural ways to learn a language quickly.

Immersion is the teaching style I strongly prefer at English su Misura, and it’s also the method I used myself when learning both French and Italian. I always chose native speakers and asked them something very specific:

“Please don’t use English with me unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

Ideally, English would be less than 1% of the lesson — and once I was beyond total beginner level, not even that.

This approach can feel intimidating at first, but it produces something incredibly powerful:

rapid listening improvement, faster vocabulary growth, and real confidence.

Let me explain why.

My Own Immersion Experience: Learning Italian from Zero

In 2023, I did a two-week Italian immersion course in Treviso.

At the time, I was a genuine beginner — a true A1 level. I had only a handful of phrases:

• Ciao

• Grazie

• Mi chiamo…

  
  

That was about it.

And yet, from the very beginning, the course was completely immersive.

Not one word of English was used.

At first, that sounds impossible. How can you teach someone who understands almost nothing?

But something fascinating happened.

After just the first day — only a few hours of listening — I realised:

I could understand everything they were saying.

Of course, the topics were simple: classroom language, basic instructions, everyday objects.

But the clarity came shockingly fast.

Why?

Because language doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

When the teacher said:

“Apri il libro.”

They picked up the book.

When they said:

“Gira la pagina.”

They turned the page.

So without translating, my brain made the connection instantly:

libro = book

Not because someone explained it, but because I inferred it naturally through context, movement, gesture, and repetition.

This is exactly how children learn their first language — and it works just as powerfully for adults.

By the end of two weeks, my comprehension had improved enormously. Speaking was slower (that’s normal), but my confidence skyrocketed because I could follow what was happening around me.

And that feeling — “I can actually understand this” — is one of the biggest breakthroughs a learner can have.

Why Immersion Works So Well (Backed by Language Science)

Immersion isn’t just a personal preference. It’s supported by decades of research in linguistics and cognitive psychology.

Here are three of the strongest reasons immersion is one of the most effective ways to learn English.

1. You Learn Through Meaning, Not Translation

One of the most influential thinkers in language learning, Stephen Krashen, explains that we acquire language best through comprehensible input — in other words:

English that we can understand, even if it’s slightly above our level.

In immersion lessons, students aren’t translating every sentence in their heads. Instead, they start connecting English directly to meaning.

That’s when English stops being a school subject…

…and starts becoming a real language.

2. Immersion Trains Your Ear Faster Than Any Other Method

Many learners tell me:

“I understand English when I read it… but when people speak, I understand nothing.”

That’s because listening is a skill that requires training.

Immersion is the fastest way to do that.

When you spend an hour surrounded by real spoken English — supported by gestures, context, and clear speech — your brain begins to tune in surprisingly quickly.

Just like what happened to me in Treviso:

After one day, my comprehension improved dramatically.

The more English you hear, the more natural it becomes.

3. Immersion Builds Real Confidence

Perhaps the most underestimated benefit of immersion is psychological.

When students are constantly protected by translation, they never fully trust themselves.

Immersion creates the opposite experience:

• You realise you can understand

• You realise you can cope

• You stop panicking when you don’t know every word

Linguists often talk about communicative competence — the ability to function in real conversations, not just complete grammar exercises.

Immersion helps students develop exactly that.

And confidence is what leads to fluency.

Why I Teach English This Way at English su Misura

My goal is not to teach English as an academic subject.

My goal is to help students live in English.

That means lessons where:

• English is the default

• Your listening improves every week

• Vocabulary is learned naturally through conversation

• You stop relying on translation

• Confidence becomes automatic

  
  

Of course, I can support students in Italian or French when absolutely necessary — especially at beginner level — but my approach is always to return to English as quickly as possible.

Because immersion works.

I experienced it myself, and I see the results in my students again and again.

Full Immersion English Lessons in Italy (and Online)

If you’re looking for a way to improve your English faster — especially your listening and speaking confidence — an immersive approach is one of the best investments you can make.

At English su Misura, I offer tailored English lessons designed to help you:

• understand real spoken English

• speak more naturally

• build fluency through conversation

• stop translating in your head

• feel confident in professional and social situations

Ready to Experience Immersion for Yourself?

If you’d like to try full immersion English lessons in Treviso, Montebelluna, or online, I’d love to help.

📩 Get in touch today to book a trial lessonand experience how quickly your English can improve when you truly immerse yourself in it.

English su Misura — English, made to measure.