27 Ways to Immerse Yourself in English at Home
*you can find definitions for all the words and phrases with an asterisk (*) beside them at the bottom of this page.
People always say that the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it.
They also say that the best way to immerse yourself in a language is to move to a country where it is spoken.
Well, that’s not always realistic.
Traveling is expensive, visas can be hard to get, and now we’re facing a global pandemic.
Don’t lose hope, though! There are ways to immerse yourself in English from the comfort of your own home. I’ve listed 27 of them below, but let’s go over a few things first.
What is immersion?
In US schools, immersion programs involve teaching students “regular” subjects in the language(s) that they are learning.
For example, elementary schoolers in Washington, D.C could learn history, science, and art in French.
We can apply this to life outside of school by doing things that we already do in our daily lives in the language(s) we’re learning.
For example, a native Portuguese speaker who is learning English could swap out* the Portuguese-language podcast she usually listens to while driving to work for an English language one.
Does Language Immersion Work For Everyone?
People much smarter than I am have done studies on the effects of immersion learning on children and adults.
I’m not an expert on immersion learning, but learning a language entirely through immersion could be difficult or overwhelming for beginning learners. More advanced learners could gain a lot from immersing themselves in their target language, however.
Ok, So How can I immerse myself in English from home?
Let’s take a look!
1, 2, and 3: Movies/Shows, Music, and Books
These three are probably the most popular ones, and it’s for a good reason. These types of media are already present in many of our daily lives.
It’s a lot easier to modify* a habit you already have than to start a new one, so if you if you haven’t tried enjoying these types of media in English, this is a good place to start.
4. Websites and Blogs
A question I’ve heard often from English language learners (ELLs) is “what are some websites you like?"
It’s a really good question! We spend so much time scrolling through our favorite websites that we may as well do some of that scrolling in the language we are trying to learn.
Here is a gigantic post with some websites you might like separated by topic/type.
5. Comics
Some people don’t like books but love reading comics. You can find hundreds of comics to read on GoComics.
Some comics I enjoyed reading as a kid were Luann, Garfield, Foxtrot, and Pearls Before Swine. I actually still have a cutout from a Luann comic strip on my bulletin board.
It’s been there for almost 15 years!
6. News
Reading the news isn’t always fun, but it’s important to stay informed. If you have to do it, why not do it in English?
Some reputable news sites include Reuters, and NPR.
For strange, and/or funny news, you can check out r/nothteonion on Reddit.
Speaking of Reddit…
7. Participate in Online Communities
Especially if you have some particular kind of knowledge or skill.
Your English doesn’t have to be perfect for you to help others, and if you ask people to do it, they may even correct you.
Examples of places where you could use English to help others include Reddit, Quora, and Yahoo Answers.
8. Attend a Religious Service Online
Since the pandemic started, more places of worship* than ever have been live-streaming their religious services and activities.
If you’re religious, you might want to attend one of these online gatherings to learn new vocabulary and see similarities and differences between how your religion is practiced in your country vs. other countries.
Don’t forget to check out additional activities that may also be open to the public like bible studies and concerts.
9. Learn New Recipes
Those of you who like to cook can learn how to make some new foods by following recipes in English.
You can find written recipes at sites like AllRecipes, but if you don’t have a lot of culinary* vocabulary (or if you’re just a visual learner like me), following a Youtube video might be a better choice.
Two channels I really like are Chef Zee Cooks and Binging with Babish.
10. Listen to Podcasts
If you don’t already listen to podcasts, I can’t recommend them enough.
I don’t mean English education podcasts, either.
Although there are lots of really great English education podcasts out there, you should also try to find podcasts in English about general topics you’re interested in.
Some podcasts I enjoy are The Truth (for original stories), Criminal (for true crime), and Stuff You Should Know (for a little bit of everything).
11. Work Out in English
If you have an entire Youtube playlist dedicated to workout videos, you should consider checking out some workout apps or fitness Youtube channels in English.
One cool app for runners is Zombies, Run!. This app combines working out with an exciting storyline.
12. Talk to Strangers (Maybe)
While doing research for this post, I decided to visit a website I used to go on as a teenager.
The website (which shall* not be named) connects you with a stranger who you can then talk to via writing.
I thought it might be a good option because many people find it easier to talk with strangers they will never talk with again than with people they know.
Well, after 5 minutes, I remembered why I’d stopped visiting that site.
Although there aren’t as many bots* as there used to be, out of the 8 chats I participated in, one person seemed pretty cool, 6 people disconnected before I could even say “hi”, and one person tried to scam* me.
After that experience, I can’t recommend that website, but if you’re up for it*, there are some similar apps out there that let you text or video chat with strangers. I do not recommend any of those apps to those under age 18, however.
Maybe someday, I’ll try some of the newer apps and write a post about the ones I recommend, but that day will not be today.
13. Use Social Media Wisely
If you’re on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook regularly, make sure you’re incorporating English into your activities there. Comment on peoples’ content in English, or produce your own content in English.
If you use Facebook, you can join English-language Facebook groups related to topics you’re interested in and be active in them!
14. Learn (or Nurture*) a Hobby in English
One of my favorite hobbies is writing.
When I was focused on learning Spanish, sometimes, I would try to write poetry in Spanish using the vocabulary words I would learn each day.
The poems were probably awful, but it was a way for me to try and use the things I had learned so that I would be less likely to forget them.
Think about some of your hobbies and figure out how you can connect them to English.
If you like makeup, follow some makeup tutorials in English; if you’re passionate about technology, read about the newest technological updates in English.
Here is a list of websites you might like based on your interests.
15. Online Multi-Player Gaming
I love Fortnite. I think knowing you most likely just got defeated by a group of 6 year olds is a great way to stay humble.
Games like Fortnite also give you the chance to talk to your teammates while playing.
Try changing your server to a different region so that you will be more likely to connect with English-speaking players.
If you don’t like shooter games, you can also try playing online multi-player guessing or logic games like Werewolf or Gartic in English.
16. Single-Player Puzzle Games
These are a popular way to kill time*, but they help even us native English speakers improve our vocabularies.
One game I used to play all the time is Wordscapes. A great feature of this game is its built-in* dictionary. If you guess a word and don’t know what it means, you can just click on the dictionary to find out.
I’ll be compiling a list of other word games ELLs might find useful later. If you want to get notified when it comes out and stay up-to-date on our other posts and events, subscribe to our newsletter below.
17. Online Quizzes
Buzzfeed is popular in many countries, and one of its most popular features is its quizzes.
They are fun, personalized, and typically very low-pressure, so if you haven’t already, check out the quiz section of Buzzfeed’s English website, and prepare to watch hours of your day disappear as you find out what kind of taco you are.
18. Learn How to Do Something
I already mentioned learning new recipes, but these days, you can learn how to do anything on the internet.
Next time you need to know how to fold a fitted sheet*, ask in English.
I wouldn’t recommend this for really serious or important things (ex: how to put out a fire), but for simple things, why not try in English?
One great website for learning new skills is Wikihow.
19. Start a Blog in English
It can be a blog about anything. If you’re great at organizing, you can start a blog with organization tips in English.
If your friends are always asking you to fix their broken electronics, you can start a blog sharing simple tech repair tips in English.
If you just want to talk about your day, you can blog about it in English!
If you don’t want anyone to see it, you can make it private; if you want the entire world to know about it, you can make it public it and share it on your social media accounts!
It doesn’t have to be perfect, either. The important thing is to try.
20. Audit a College Course for Free Online
This option is best for those with more advanced English skills.
When you “audit” a course, you get to attend lectures and learn the material, but you don’t have to do any assignments or take any tests because you will not receive academic credit for it.
If you want to view college-level lectures on a topic you’re interested in for free in English, create an account on edX or Coursera and audit some courses.
21. Youtube
If you’re anything like me, you can easily spend hours on Youtube without even realizing it.
Next time you do that, think about the type of videos you’re watching, and try to find similar English-language videos and channels.
22. Attend An Online Event
Eventbrite used to focus on in-person events, but now it’s a great way to find online events. Some of them are free!
If you don’t mind paying, AirBNB also offers online “experiences” now.
By attending these events, you’ll get to use English, experience a new culture, and maybe even make some new friends!
23. Join an Online Club
Meetup.com is a website that lets people join groups with people with similar hobbies and interests.
You can find cooking groups, athletic groups, board game clubs, and more.
This site used to only allow in-person events, but since COVID-19 changed the world, the website now also allows people to host and participate in online events.
24. Listen to the Radio
Listening to the radio is a great way to expose yourself to English.
In addition to music, you’ll hear commercials, phone calls, and bonus segments with pranks, debates, games, and more.
A great site for listening to radio stations from around the world is TuneIn.
25. Friend-Finding Apps
Language-exchange apps are great, sometimes they can get too serious. Another option is to download an app that is simply for making friends. One app I used briefly was Slowly, which helps you connect with people around the world based on your shared interests. The interesting thing about it is that it has an old-school* feel.Instead of being able to message people in other countries instantly, the time that it takes for a message to be delivered depends on the distance between the partners!
26. Guided Meditations
This is another one that is better for more advanced learners. The whole point of a guided meditation is to help you relax, and focus. It’s hard to do that if you’re busy wondering what the word you just heard was.
If your English is advanced, however, and you like guided meditations, check out some English podcasts and Youtube channels that offer this kind of content.
27. Karaoke!
If you like karaoke, make sure you’re taking the opportunity to perform some of those English-language songs we mentioned at the beginning of this post.
My favorite app for singing karaoke is Smule.
That’s it! I hope you’ve found some useful information here, and if you have any other suggestions, feel free to let us know! Also, feel free to check out the vocabulary words from this post in the section below.
Vocabulary
Swap out (v) - to replace one thing with another thing
Modify (v) - to change or adjust something
Culinary (adj) - related to cooking
Place of worship (n) - a place that has religious services
Shall (v) - another way to say "will". This is a really old word that is not commonly used in modern-day conversation or writing
Bot (n) - a computer program that does an action again and again
Scam (v) - to trick someone (often to get money or valuable information from them)
(To be) up for (something) - an informal way of expressing being willing to do something
Nurture (v) - to take care of someone or something and help them or it survive and grow
Kill time - to do something to make the time seem like it's passing by fast
Built-in (adj) - used to describe something that is a permanent part of something else
Fitted Sheet (n) - a bedsheet with elastic ends that hold on to a mattress
Old-school (adj) - connected to ways and traditions of the past