Easiest way to start learning a language!

[chocolatedragon]

The easiest way to learn a language is to learn it in a fun way.

In this modern day and age, many of us watch TV. We have our favorite shows, dramas, thrillers, etc. Now our shows (if you live in America and other English language countries) are mostly in English , but what happens when you watch your shows with subtitles?

More specifically, Spanish subtitles...

You'll start to involuntarily learn new language words because your eyes will notice the subtitles as the character speaks. And whenever a word is mentioned multiple times, you'll eventually memorize it.

Yep. That's it. Just watch TV with subtitles in a language you want to learn.

I tested this experiment on myself.

I watched the show WEEDS with Spanish subs on Netflix.

Here's what I learned

Weed= Mota

Brother= Hermano

Kids= Hijos

I= Yo

and many more...

I also did the same experiment with videogames.

I used Assassin's Creed to learn a couple Italian and Latin words.

Here's what I learned:

Riposa in pace= rest in peace (Italian)

Requiesce in pace= rest in peace (Latin)

Assassino= assassin (duh lol)

and many more...

So in conclusion, next time, you're watching Netflix, Hulu, etc or playing video games, try adding subs of another language to feed your brain some easy knowledge ;)

[wölfin-fräulein]

It is good, but it is only for start and learns to some extent. If you do not know pimsleur method it uses the same system. with pimsleur one will be able to learn the language faster to some degree, but will never be able to learn it completely.

for complete mastering a language you have to read the literature in that language, from easy to harder levels. And you have to 'write' in that language which needs a very good understanding of its grammar.

also if the language is from another branch of languages than your own language and uses different alphabets and grammatical structures it is almost impossible for one to understand it all in this way. for that you have to have a teacher and learn it academically.

though for mastering every language you have to have a teacher or better have a teacher at some point of learning it. without someone to guide you you could easily make obvious mistakes without knowing them.

[chocolatedragon]

I agree. It was just a small boost for beginners in a language.

[hewlett_packard]

I think you can use some language exchange websites like penpaland com to find native speakers to practise with

[JackKerouac77]

This actually does work, in a subtle way. I once had a Spanish teacher claim that the best way to learn conversational Spanish was to watch your favorite movie with Spanish subtitles and memorize it in a sense.

I believe it!

[chocolatedragon]

Yay for Spanish teacher wisdom!

[mutedaisy]

I wonder if that works? I have using subtitles sooo much._. I need to learn Spanish because of my boyfriend's family and my best friend's family.
I know only basic greetings and some random vocabulary. I figured I just buy Rosetta stone. I know basic Japanese and some French already. Asl too.

[chocolatedragon]

I was watching Netflix in the Caribbean and when you're in that zone, Netflix automatically adds Spanish subs to whatever you're watching. So I had no choice in learning those Spanish words lol

Rosetta Stone takes actual motivation. The subs are just an easier way to start learning, but you'd eventually have to switch to actual learning material to fully learn the language.

[mutedaisy]

Is there any way to switch the zone on netflix? :0 That's actually really interesting.

[chocolatedragon]

I eventually had to do a up a ip address change so netflix thought I was in the US lol.

[mutedaisy]

I can try that XD Is weeds a good show? Sorry, too many questions ^^

[chocolatedragon]

It's ok lol.

The first 4 seasons are great, then it starts going downhill from there.

[emerald77]

I do the same thing, but backwards. I am fluent in two languages, and am currently learning another one. What I do is that I'll find a shows/movies in the language that I'm trying to learn, and add English subtitles. It works in the same way that watching a show in English with another language's subtitles, but it also lets you hear the pronunciation, which is better if you're wanting to speak the language as well!

[chocolatedragon]

I have to try the reverse strategy now :D
Thanks for the idea!

[emerald77]

No problem! It has really helped me a lot so I hope that it can help you too!

[xHoneyxBeex]

Yes, this does work. I also like to watch foreign films with English subtitles. That's a good way to learn how words are pronounced in other languages and how they speak conversationally. My Spanish teacher recommended that to me.

[chocolatedragon]

I was watching Netflix in the Caribbean and when you're in that zone, Netflix automatically adds Spanish subs to whatever you're watching. So I had no choice in learning those Spanish words lol

[xHoneyxBeex]

Haha! Wow, that's really interesting.

[musicbrain5]

It's a good way to help you start learning, for sure. But only with languages that use an alphabet that you're already familiar with. English and Spanish use the same letters, so it's easy.

[chocolatedragon]

Well yeah I don't think there's anyway I'd have been able to learn arabic or Chinese with this method lol

[musicbrain5]

As a kid, I learned a lot of Russian by listening to my parents and relatives speak it, but I never learned to read or write in the Cyrillic alphabet, so if I put Russian subtitles on something it would be useless, haha.

[musicbrain5]

I've learned quite a bit of Serbian though, because I married a Serb and he's been teaching me how to say things. We generally just speak in English though.

[chocolatedragon]

Well when your husband speaks Serbian, it creates many fun ways to learn the language lol. Beyer than just sitting I'm a classroom and learning a million verbs lol

[BelleGirl21]

I watch korean shows all of the time and it definitely helps a ton. Just don't think it will lead you to be conversational, that's a whole different ball game!

[chocolatedragon]

Eventually all roads lead to Rosetta Stone, a classroom or a native lover lol.

[Xonen]

This is heavily dependent on the quality of the subtitles. Especially when watching shows in languages like Japanese or Korean that are difficult to translate into Latin based languages, the subtitles almost never capture the full or correct meaning of the dialogue. Studies have even shown that reliance on subtitles for tv shows impairs language learning

[chocolatedragon]

This is just to kick start someone's interest and basic vocabulary in a language. Eventually thrylo have to go to actual learning material.

And this method wouldn't work if both languages don't share a similar alphabet.

[chocolatedragon]

*They'll

[findingdreamland]

Great method :) And very fun
Actually it really works. I tried it before while learning new language :)

[chocolatedragon]

Which language :p?

[findingdreamland]

Spanish :) well I started to learn, then I stopped unfortunately. Cool language :)

[chocolatedragon]

I have a huge set of Spanish learning DVDs, but I have zero motivation lol. But I know french, so I can kinda understand lots of Spanish lol

[findingdreamland]

When you know French, especially Italian, you understand Spanish :) I have Italian friends, they communicate with Spanish ones. But it is really crazy because two parts speak different languages, and they understand each other :)

[chocolatedragon]

It's because the mother tongue (latin) unites us lol.
Italian actually started as a crappy version of Latin lol. Spanish is closer to Italian then french is, so I'm not suprised that italians and Spaniards can easily communicate lol.

You're in Belgium right? Isn't french the main language there lol?

[findingdreamland]

French and Dutch are the official languages :) and depending on the region, one of them is spoken than other one. In Brussels English is spoken too.

[chocolatedragon]

Always wanted to learn dutch so I could go to Amsterdam lol

[findingdreamland]

Hahaha they speak English perfectly :) no worries lol

[chocolatedragon]

Seems I'll have plan a trip there soon!

[StickStickity13]

The thing is so many languages have such different grammar constructs from English it takes more than watching movies to understand. But it's good practice to do these things.

[chocolatedragon]

Well yeah you're right, it only works for languages with a similar alphabet to one's native language

[Jakesusername]

I picked up dutch by speaking with my girlfriend and learning a few words at a time.

[chocolatedragon]

Well yeah you have massive motivation right there lol.

[Jakesusername]

Well, I like language. She prefers to speak in English .

[chocolatedragon]

Oh ok. Did knowing some dutch earn you a bit of brownie points with her parents?

[Jakesusername]

Well, they liked me before I even started learning dutch because they all know English . I think they are pleased with me learning there language and culture and are happy that I am willing to go with there cultural traditions instead of mine.

[jacquesvol]

Very true: it'd the way our son started learning English and how l smeliorated my German. Looking at movies subtitled for deaf persons.

[sagari]

Not only the best way to learn but also to get familiar with culture and society.

[valentina_alexander]

hahahahhaha thanks for this awesome take maybe i will finally learn russian

[Krushhbrownies]

cool. I'm actually gonna try it if I learn some words and phrases.

[KleinTeef]

Just go to language school urghh... I speak 6 languages, that's what I did.

[chocolatedragon]

Damn. We're the teachers cute or was it just self motivation on your part lol?

[chocolatedragon]

*were

[KleinTeef]

No, it's common sense. You ain't going to learn shit by playing games or watching movies.

[chocolatedragon]

Well not the whole language, but you will learn a couple sentences and many words. Least I did. It's what I did as they didn't teach English in my elementary school.

I then learned English , French and some Spanish at school.

[KleinTeef]

Stick to what you're learning at school and then, yeah, use videos to increase your knowledge of those three languages.

Knowing 4-6 words from a language is nothing lol.

[chocolatedragon]

You'd be suprised how many people fail language classes at my college lol. I remember one guy studied for his first Spanish quiz by watching Dora in Spanish lol.

[Anonymous]

Never thought about it, that's a really good idea :)

[abundantlyrich]

Just get a lover from that particular country.

[chocolatedragon]

That will create some huge motivation to learn the language lol

[abundantlyrich]

Free invaluable lessons about culture and explosive orgasms.

[chocolatedragon]

The best kind of tutor.

[abundantlyrich]

Asker, so who did you teach your "language" to?

[chocolatedragon]

I taught french (my native language) to my ex who was taking a french class and needed to pass lol

[abundantlyrich]

It came in handy for you... 😆@_@

[chocolatedragon]

It was fun until she stopped trying to learn lol. She'd literally ask me the answer to everything, even stuff she already knew lol.

[abundantlyrich]

As long as its consentual... Then everybody wins!

[YourFutureEx]

I use these tricks too :D

[askaway2012new]

Read novels and listen to audiobooks

[chocolatedragon]

Well you need to have a certain fluency to understand the novel.

[Anonymous]

will this work with p*rn too?

[chocolatedragon]

Yep! But they don't talk much in p*rn and I don't remember seeing one with subs tho lol