Gaining English and other foreign languages through immersion: lessons from Indonesian polyglots

Abstract

ABSTRACT Although there has been much research on second language learning, minimal literature reports how language learners learn multiple foreign languages through immersion. Further, a majority of these previous studies have been conducted using exclusively quantitative methods. In response to these empirical and methodological gaps, the current study adopts a qualitative case study to investigate how polyglots immerse themselves in particular settings during their path of learning multiple foreign languages. I collected data through demographic questionnaires and semi-structured interviews obtained from Indonesian polyglots. Findings indicated that polyglots learn multiple foreign languages through immersion contexts by using the target language in content-based language learning, mingling abroad in the target language, participating in a community of practice, and engaging the target language in social networks. The findings of this study also suggest that other language learners can adapt to the ways polyglots learn foreign languages through immersion.