One of the most effective ways to learn English to fluency is to immerse yourself in the English language. Being exposed to written and spoken English will be extremely helpful, if not essential, to becoming fluent in the language. That said, if you cannot travel to a country where the language you are learning is spoken or even read related literature, do not panic! Watching videos, TV shows, and movies is an engaging and productive way to learn languages without hopping on a plane or immersing yourself in long novels.
In this post, we will show you how to become fluent in the languages you are learning through video content. This way, you will be able to get the most out of watching TV shows and movies while learning languages.
1. Get used to listening to native speakers
When it comes to learning languages, one of the main reasons why watching videos is so effective is that you get used to hearing the sounds, rhythm and phonetics of the original language.
When you listen to English, your brain passively absorbs the words. Listening to native speakers interact with each other means that you will be working towards becoming fluent in that language. If you constantly practice your listening skills, you will begin to identify certain words and expressions and associate them with sound. This, in turn, will help you with your own pronunciation.
In addition, you will improve other language skills, such as comprehension, both subconsciously and practically. This kind of exposure to native speakers in natural conversations and in context will even help you grasp sentence structure. This means that you will assimilate grammatical concepts and verb tenses simply by listening to native speakers.
2. Watch the movies and TV shows that interest you
One of the decisive factors in any language learning process is being able to stay motivated. Since language learning can be quite a long and difficult process, it is very important not to lose heart before achieving the goal. Therefore, when learning languages with videos, we recommend that you choose movies and TV shows that really interest you, instead of focusing only on learning the language.
This way, you will not be watching for purely educational purposes, which means you will be less likely to give up on the spot. Also, by choosing content that is interesting to you, you will learn vocabulary related to topics that will really translate into real-life conversations that you may have later on. This will optimize your learning, since you will be able to apply that same vocabulary in practice. There are dozens of channels in English, French, Italian, through which you can find popular content.
3. Use subtitles
Subtitles can be an incredible advantage to learn languages through videos and are a great way to practice the language you are learning. When you read English words, you match their pronunciation to the way they are written.
Additionally, by using subtitles to learn a new language through video, you will not only develop your reading skills, but also improve your pronunciation.
4. Practice the pronunciation of the vocabulary you hear
By watching video content or listening to podcasts in English, you will make use of a versatile tool to learn the language. Get the most out of mindfully practicing your vocabulary after watching a movie or show.
If you listen to the words and expressions, Spanish speakers say in their native language and then take the time to review the words you hear out loud, you will get great pronunciation practice. This means taking one more step towards fluency in the language you are learning. If you can, find a native online teacher or language partner to complement your learning journey. This way you will reach conversational fluency faster.
5. Use Videos as a means of Cultural Immersion
Cultural immersion is another important aspect to achieve a good conversational level. Learning languages is not only a question of the language itself. It is also of cultural competence and understanding of the traditions, customs and habits of the native speakers of the place. When you watch it, do not just focus on the language itself or the type of content you see. Instead, try to pick up cultural cues that will help you better understand the local culture.
Summing up: How to Learn Languages by Watching Videos
As we have discussed in this article, there are several strategies you can use to master new languages by watching video content and using it productively to your advantage. Anyway , the following ones are the commonest ones:
- While learning English, French, Italian, or any other language, use tools like subtitles and a flashcard app.
- Choose TV shows and movies that really interest you and practice the words and expressions you learn while watching them. You will be well on your way to mastering these new languages.
