Would you believe me if I said that you can learn Spanish just by watching your favorite shows? Yes, you are not dreaming, you are reading it right! Are you interested yet?
Television is a great source of learning and watching TV shows and movies can help you become more fluent in a new language. You may wonder why is book reading or taking some language course not a better option. Of course, all this comes in very handy when learning new words and phrases in the language you want to learn. But learning a language doesn’t only mean that you can read or write it. In my view, the main aspect to master is the correct pronunciation and hearing comprehension. After all, you want to be able to say that you “speak” that language, right?
Without this, you won’t be able to communicate with the people in that particular language. Neither will you be able to understand what they are saying. Television shows captivate your attention and keep you motivated while your brain learns and, luckily, you can find the best shows in 8 different languages at Lingopie.
Easier said than done? Not quite. Just grab your TV remotes and read on to discover the best tips for learning through television. Let’s get started!
Why Should You Learn Spanish With TV and Movies?
● It is said that one generally speaks the way one hears other people speak. By watching TV and movies, you will hear people speaking a foreign language in their native style and with a natural accent. This will train your ear and help you speak better, even though you may be reading new words and may still not be able to speak in that way.
● Sign up and start watching a reality TV show on Lingopie. Yes, you can even learn from reality TV! This type of show may have a limited vocabulary, but that might just be perfect for your goal. If what we speak is what we hear, then by listening to reality TV actors you will start to imitate their natural way of talking. Believe me, you will notice the difference.
● TV helps you speak more naturally. Have you noticed that you talk in a very slow, constrained, or unnatural manner? By reading books or listening to slow dialogues created for learners, you will develop the same habit. Contrary to this, if you listen to the normal conversations on TV shows or movies, you will learn to speak in that way, which is more fluent and sounds more natural.
● If you keep on reading only learning materials, you will only learn the language adapted for foreigners. Listening to books or audio clips from student books has its importance,
but they will not help you develop the natural tone you are looking for. This is where foreign shows and movies come in very useful. They overcome the gap between learning materials and real conversations. For instance, if you love the Spanish language and want to learn it, Lingopie will help you find some of the best shows to listen to how it sounds spoken by real native speakers.
● Subtitles have an exceptional effect on the brain. Watching, reading, listening, and thinking about them means that your brain remembers what is said for a long time. You get easily familiarized with the words and absorb them much quicker than if you were just reading or listening.
● Television and movies are fun to watch. Learning and having fun are equally possible with television. Since you won’t be getting bored, the entertaining effect of television will also have a positive effect on your learning. You will not lose interest, and you will be motivated to keep on trying, even if you might feel it is too hard for you. Do give it a try!
● You can discover new cultures by learning the language of that region. For instance, imagine you are binge-watching a French show. The details in the show will give you an idea about the culture and traditions tied to the French language. You will get a better understanding of their ethics, their way of working, their way of celebrating festivals, and much more. This is a big plus point when you learn a new language with television. Learn French with the coolest comedies and movies from the croissant country.
Learning Spanish With TV or Movies: What You Will Need?
Now that you are finally convinced of the idea of learning through television, let’s gather the things you need.
First, you will need a show, movie, or video in the language you are trying to learn. Then, you should have two sets of subtitles. With the language-learning app Lingopie, it’s never been easier to watch videos or shows with subtitles in multiple languages.
Try to find videos where you can see the characters speaking naturally and fluently. This way you will grab the accent, the dialect, the expressions, and new words of the language at the same time.
Smart Ways of Learning Language With Movies and TV Shows:
If in just one day I end up watching all the seasons of my favorite show, will it help me develop the correct pronunciation? You must have also done this experiment. But learning with television is only possible if we have the right approach. Without following the most appropriate learning ways, you will just finish the show with nothing to show for it in the language-learning department.
Picking the right methods will make the learning process less difficult, more focused, and more fun for you.
Below are the smartest tips for having a better and quicker learning experience through television and movies.
1. Pick a Movie With a Shorter Length:
Instead of jumping into a full-length movie, start small and choose a short film! Being a beginner, lengthy movies may be more mentally demanding, which might make you lose interest, making the learning process harder.
The best and smart approach is grabbing a short movie before jumping into the lengthier ones. You can start with small clips, videos, or even movie trailers! This will give you an insight into the movie or show you have chosen.
2. Make Careful Movie Selections:
Choosing the right movie is very important for making learning better and easier. First, it is best to select a show, movie, or video that’s related to your interests. Research proves that people learn more if they have an interest in what they are doing.
If you are a beginner, you can choose kid’s shows or movies. The easy and fun videos will capture your attention, making learning easy. If you already have some command over this method of learning by watching shows, pick something a bit more on the intermediate level. You can pick a thriller, comedy, action, or romantic show in your preferred foreign language.
3. Split the Show into Smaller Fragments:
Remember the main idea: have fun while learning. You don’t need to complete the entire show or movie in one sitting. Most times, pushing through to finish something quickly won’t boost your learning. Instead, you will be left tired and less interested.
The main idea is to increase your interest and make it more enjoyable for yourself so that you will have fun while learning and look forward to your next session. You can break the show into smaller pieces. Usually, scenes in movies have start and endpoints, so splitting them will be easy. You can do the same for the episodes of the show you have chosen to immerse into the foreign language of your choice.
By doing this, you will be more focused on vocabulary and will be able to practice your pronunciation more effectively. You will also avoid turning your learning sessions into a burden, and you will be able to make the most of them because you will be paying much more attention.
Your mind will be more engaged in the process and will retain the learned words better, even if you are not making a big effort. Your concentration will be on the words you are learning, and the context.
4. Watch the Same Set of Scenes Again and Again:
It’s always a good idea to watch the same scenes of the movie or the same parts of the show again and again. Our minds work very efficiently when seeing things several times.
If you think about how you studied for your exams in school, you can easily understand this concept. You probably repeated the dates, events, and even math formulas so that you remembered them. The same principle applies here, only you get to enjoy it more because what you’re watching repeatedly is a scene you like.
By watching the same scenes again and again you will probably catch things you didn’t catch the first time, so you will have a better understanding of what’s happening and what’s being said. You will also start collecting phrases and words that will come to your mind with ease.
5. Write Down What You Hear or Learn:
The smart thing to do is write whatever you hear. Listen to the show more than two or three times and write down the main points or keywords. Listen to the content many times until your mind can grasp the words without effort. Once you are done writing, you can compare it with the subtitles and also look up any word you might not understand.
You will definitely notice the difference between writing while listening and just listening. If you write, you will probably understand some things that were difficult to get while listening.
6. Change Your Subtitles Option:
Even though the subtitles might distract you a bit, at first, watching without them will be useless. You won’t be able to understand a word. Never mind learning, you won’t be even interested in watching that show or movie.
Start with two subtitles, one in your native language and one in the language you are trying to learn. After getting used to this form of learning, you can modify the subtitles option. You can switch to only the subtitles in your preferred foreign language. And in the end, you might even watch without subtitles. Try this method, and you will be surprised how easily and quickly you will start learning the new language.
P.S.: The interactive Lingopie app is a top-notch app to learn a new language. Its features (like having two subtitles and instant translations) combined with its price make it the best app for learning with this method.
Final Takeaway:
In today’s busy world, learning a new language is the best way to communicate with the world. Picking up new languages will help you engage with other people in better and more meaningful ways.
When you learn Spanish you are not just learning a language, you are learning a new culture, deepening your bond with its speakers, feeding your mind, and boosting your confidence. Learning with television is fun, innovative, and educational at the same time. So don’t waste any more time, follow the simple steps presented here and start your language-learning journey today. And don’t forget to tell us which of these tips you found the most helpful!
