Whenever I used English as a crutch in italki lessons, I didn’t make real progress in speaking the language. I prefer to self-study the language to a point that I’m able to form some basic phrases and follow the teacher in the target language. I don’t need to understand every grammatical detail in the beginning. I can read about the grammar myself and just practise with the teacher. What works for me is to memorise some key phrases that are useful for class:

I don’t understand.

Please speak more slowly.

Please say it one more time.

Please write it down.

What is ... in x language?

Hi Casey. 

I'm learning English and I like to speak and listen to only English without my native language, Japanese. 

I have nice American friends on italki and we've been keeping our Skype talking for three years for now. I love our sessions but still, I take lessons with English speakers who never speak Japanese, too. I mean, I'd like to speak and listen to only English without any exchange languages even if it is just for an hour.

I'd like to put myself in only English circumstances. If there is Japanese help, I can't help using it, then I try to get English nuance in Japanese. I don't think it is good, ultimately, you won't be able to feel real nuance in a different language anyway, I think. I live in Japan but I immersing myself only in the target language as Miriam does. I love doing it and it is my hobby.

If I watch an English movie in Japanese dub accidentally, I feel it is very awkward and switch it to English instantly. Then I check some words that I can't catch. with the English subtitles, not the Japanese ones. 

My teachers never stop asking questions to let me speak. Some teachers like to explain a lot, but these days, the students can get explains and answers on many websites (italki, too), so I think the teachers who get the students to speak are more likable.

I am a great fan of immersion, and that's since way before I learned of formal linguistic theories about why it's the only way to naturally grasp (acquire) a language. This preference is despite the fact that classrooms and people as adults often prefer other methods. If you ask me why, I would say it is because.

1. Immersion definitely works effectively, and in my case faster than other methods

2. I'm witness to countless cases where regular approaches haven't worked and have probably spoiled the chances of other things ever working. I refer to the fact that in most schools here, English is taught in the local vernacular language as just one of the many subjects. Teaching English in Hindi or Tamil not only sounds like a contradiction, it is just that. All my life I've seen them, and they can usually write passably well. Yet ask them to speak a word, and they would rather take their chances with a pit full of vipers.

Initially I do ask teachers to speak slowly, clearly and stick to basic words. But once I start getting most of it, I no longer insist if they fall back to normal speech patterns

I agree with the others that immersion is clearly more effective. Miriam the only thing I can think of for getting more immersed in a language that you haven’t mentioned is thinking in the target language for your daily routine. I try to think of what I have to do for the day, debate different options, and whatever else I think about during the day in my target language. At my level of Spanish I’m not entirely able to do that, but it does give me extra practice and reasons to go look up words and uses that I’m unsure of. I also just yesterday switched my phone to Spanish and it’s been very interesting.

Also, Som, I agree that school language learning is often terrible, but the problem for them is how to create immersion for beginners and time for them to practice the target language and get feedback when there is only one teacher. I don’t know that there is a good way and as a result school language lessons can be drudgery. As adults we are lucky to be able to use other methods.

Hanji, spot on. My teachers give me plenty of scope to talk and don't explain stuff unless I ask for it. That's what is a good lesson for me :)