Kathryn Stride

Learn a language watching foreign films: with subtitles or without subtitles?

Por Kathryn Stride el 19 de Octubre de 2013 12:33

This is down to personal preference but anyway I would like to share with all of you a few things that can help you to decide.

First of all, when thinking about including subtitles in a film or series, the subtitles should be in the same language as the dialogue.

Unless a film is predominantly dialogue-driven, you should be able to enjoy it just watching, even if you don't understand every last word the characters are saying.

Apparently watching a foreign film with subtitles is not always very helpful, because reading and listening constitutes two very different brain functions which when attempted simultaneously, tend to cancel each other out. When you watch a film with subtitles, after a while you stop listening to the film and instead naturally prefer to follow the text.

Another reason why we shouldn't put subtitles in is because we get a wrong perception of the real world when using the language. For example in a real-life situation, if you visit England you are not going to find subtitles in your communication there. Subtitles won’t be there to help in you in a real scenario.

On the other side, subtitles can help more in learning to write the language. Subtitling can improve literacy and help same language learning via SLS (Same Language Subtitling).

Even You Tube encourages learning English through music with its subtitled videos (MusicESL).

Note we are more likely to remember something if we see the word written down (so we can visualise it) than if someone just tells us the word. The association with a written word helps us to remember and learn better than only by listening.

As you can see there are different theories about whether or not using subtitles is useful or not, perhaps it is best to try both and see which you find most useful!

Now it’s your choice!

Sources: "English Attack!" and "I heart subtitles"

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Kathryn Stride

Most difficult language to learn....

Por Kathryn Stride el 25 de Septiembre de 2012 07:33

languages books What is the most difficult language to learn?? French, English, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Japanese........???

We personally think that all languages have their difficulties and this will be different for each nationality. For a native English person for example, we are mainly taught French and German at School (some lucky students also get taught Spanish - I wasn't one of these unfortunately)! Once you have learnt French or even just basic French it gives a good base to then learn Spanish and Italian as the word orders (grammar) tend to be the same.German has it's similarities to English and also the word order is the same so this helps with learning.

Perhaps Mandarin or Japanese are amongst the most difficult for many nationalties! Not only do you have to learn a whole new alphabet - all letters become symbols, you have to learn new sounds to speak it on top of all the other difficulties when learning a language. I think I'll stick to learning Spanish for now :0)

I'm in awe of people that speak a number of different languages, I think it's one of the most interesting and useful qualities a person can have. It can also help with your career and the world really opens up to you. Of course, just some languages are more difficult than others but it's worth it in the end!

¡Saludos!

Kathryn

The LanguageLinker Team

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Kathryn Stride

How are your language exchanges?

Por Kathryn Stride el 6 de Febrero de 2012 10:55

Keep us up to date with your language exchanges!

info@languagelinker.com Have you improved on your practicing language?

Have you made any new friends??!

Maybe you have even met up for a drink with your exchange friends or travelled abroad to meet them!

Share your story with us!

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