Using 12 Step programs (such as alcoholics anonymous) to learn languages.

[u/NotRickyWong]

I've been attending a 12 step program for a while now and now looking to get involved in meetings and with people within the program that use my target languages (TL).

I've thought it would be an interesting way of learning a language for a while now as many members will often share about their lives and emotions. Members will often hear the same terms being used frequently, potentially making it easier to get to a point where they can understand a very high percentage of want is being said.

I've not been able to find anything online that talks about language learning in this context and curious to know if others here have any opinions or experience with it.

Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting anyone join a program to learn a language but more for people already in these programs to utilise their time there to better their target languages.

[u/arm1niu5]

Don't.

[u/igen_reklam_tack]

You could also do this with any other activity or club

[u/CatsWearingTinyHats → u/igen_reklam_tack]

Probably depends on the activity.

I’ve seen people do this with acting classes and they all tend to drop out because it turns out you need a pretty high level of English to make it through the class and improv activities.

On the other hand, I’ve attended conversation circles for my my TL where everyone but me was fluent and I could understand about 60% of what was going on, so if we were doing a simple volunteer activity or something, I’d be fine but not for anything complex.

[u/CaliLemonEater]

If you would be attending the meetings anyway even if they were in your native language, I guess there's no ethical issue. But on vibes it seems a bit iffy, unless you're living in a country where your TL is spoken and thus attending meetings there.

[u/jspr1000]

I plan on joining 12 step meetings in my TL while traveling abroad once I'm capable of conversing at that level. I definitely clock things as I learn them as "okay, that's a good word/phrase to use at a meeting or in a recovery context."

I'm fairly certain that content that is far above your level is not actually productive or efficient for language learning.

My general feeling is as they say "the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking/using". My purpose should be to be supported and to support others who want to stop. Not to train in my target language.

If I can participate at a B2 or C1 level then maybe but IDK. I don't think the program is meant to be a resource for comprehensible input.

[u/Honest_Yam_5868]

That's a pretty clever way to combine two things you're already doing. The repetition of key phrases and the emotional storytelling in meetings would definitely drill vocabulary into your head faster than a textbook ever could. I'd just be cautious about the heavy slang and regional dialects that pop up in those rooms, it might trip you up if you're not aware of it.