Communication and Immersion
Students who seek maximum immersion should note that regular communication with home can significantly hinder their language progress and their adjustment to their host culture. If your goal is maximum immersion, you should prepare your family and friends for the reality that even when possible, regular calling, texting, or emailing may interfere with your language acquisition. If there is an emergency, your family will learn about it immediately. Otherwise, you can remind them that no news is good news.
An informal journal can be kept by recounting your activities in letters or postcards home and requesting that your friends and relatives keep the letters for you. You may want to number your letters so that all letters can be tracked, and the people receiving them will know when one has been delayed or lost. Blogging can also be a great way of updating all of your friends and relatives at the same time while keeping a record of your experiences.
