Why not try one of the most fun and entertaining alternatives?
In this article we will show you that learning Spanish through TV and movies is not only possible but recommended!
Can You Learn Spanish by Watching TV and Movies?
We know that the idea of learning Spanish by watching great TV series and movies sounds too good to be true, but it is actually possible!
When learning a new language, one of the most important things the student can do is immersing themselves in their target language. It is also crucial to have contact with native speakers of the target language to really get a grasp of its pronunciation, intonation and rhythm.
Another vital aspect of language learning is getting familiarized with the local culture, understanding how the people talk and interact with each other. Movies and TV shows are a great source of all those things and they have the great benefit of being entertaining.
We all know what it is like to lose motivation and ultimately give up on the process altogether. This mainly happens because the learning method isn’t engaging enough, but with the possibility of choosing the type of content one likes they are more likely to stick to the program.
Well, not quite. While any form of contact with your target language is helping you advance your studies, there are ways to make the most out of it. Here are some useful tips:
1. Choose the right content
It is extremely important to be mindful of what you choose to watch. You have to consider not only what movie and TV genres you are interested in but also if they are appropriate for your proficiency level.
It won’t help you that much watching a horror movie if you hate being scared; neither will it be useful to choose an appealing murder mystery if the characters have deep and complex dialogue and you are merely a beginner.
2. Use the pause and rewind buttons
The rewind and pause buttons are your friends! If you are too engrossed in the plot and don’t want to interrupt the program, watch it all the way through and rewatch it.
When learning a new language, one of the most important things the student can do is immersing themselves in their target language. It is also crucial to have contact with native speakers of the target language to really get a grasp of its pronunciation, intonation and rhythm.
Another vital aspect of language learning is getting familiarized with the local culture, understanding how the people talk and interact with each other. Movies and TV shows are a great source of all those things and they have the great benefit of being entertaining.
We all know what it is like to lose motivation and ultimately give up on the process altogether. This mainly happens because the learning method isn’t engaging enough, but with the possibility of choosing the type of content one likes they are more likely to stick to the program.
Tips on Learning while Watching TV
Now that we have established how beneficial this method of learning can be, you must be wondering how it works in a practical way. It surely can’t be as simple as watching a movie in Spanish, right?Well, not quite. While any form of contact with your target language is helping you advance your studies, there are ways to make the most out of it. Here are some useful tips:
1. Choose the right content
It is extremely important to be mindful of what you choose to watch. You have to consider not only what movie and TV genres you are interested in but also if they are appropriate for your proficiency level.
It won’t help you that much watching a horror movie if you hate being scared; neither will it be useful to choose an appealing murder mystery if the characters have deep and complex dialogue and you are merely a beginner.
2. Use the pause and rewind buttons
The rewind and pause buttons are your friends! If you are too engrossed in the plot and don’t want to interrupt the program, watch it all the way through and rewatch it.
Pause and rewind when you come across something you don’t understand or if you see something interesting you would like to write down.
3. Write down new words and phrases
Make it a habit to take notes! Don’t trust your memory too much if you’ve only come across an expression or word once you will very likely forget it while the act of writing it down helps activate the part of the brain responsible for memory.
We also recommend taking thorough notes. Provide examples, context and translations for every new entry in your notebook.
Make it a habit to take notes! Don’t trust your memory too much if you’ve only come across an expression or word once you will very likely forget it while the act of writing it down helps activate the part of the brain responsible for memory.
We also recommend taking thorough notes. Provide examples, context and translations for every new entry in your notebook.
4. Choose the appropriate speed
If you are a beginner maybe the 1x speed can be too fast and hurt your learning process. There’s no shame in slowing things down a bit to make sure you are actually following the plot and making sense of the pronunciation.
Lingopie
Now that you know how useful it can be to study Spanish while watching your favorite movies and series and how to take better advantage of it, we will help you choose the right streaming service.Nowadays there are a multitude of streaming services out there. Companies like Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video and Disney+ have millions of subscribers around the world. We all know how diverse and great their catalogs are but are they the best option for language learning?
We believe Lingopie is one of the best options if your goal is learning a new language. Our belief is centered around the fact that Lingopie has features developed specifically for that purpose.
Here are just a few of those amazing tools at Lingopie:
1. Dual and interactive subtitles
With this feature you can simultaneously turn on English and foreign language subtitles. If you want you can turn this feature off and choose to stick to just one type of subtitle.
Lingopie’s subtitles are also interactive which means that you can click on the words and a card with a translation for that word will appear on the screen.
2. Speak sentence and Say-it
With Lingopie you will also be able to practice your pronunciation skills. The speak sentence feature allows the user to repeat a specific portion of the audio as many times as they like.
The say-it tool is perfect for those seeking feedback on their pronunciation. That’s right! Simply by clicking on the microphone icon the user can speak certain phrases and get instant feedback.
With Lingopie you will also be able to practice your pronunciation skills. The speak sentence feature allows the user to repeat a specific portion of the audio as many times as they like.
The say-it tool is perfect for those seeking feedback on their pronunciation. That’s right! Simply by clicking on the microphone icon the user can speak certain phrases and get instant feedback.
3. Flashcards and quizzes
Lingopie has its own built-in flash card feature! Flash cards are one of the best ways to practice and retain new vocabulary.
The user simply needs to click on which words they would like to save to their personalized list and they will be ready to be reviewed automatically.
After collecting a few flash cards the user will be able to take quizzes to practice all those new words. Who doesn’t love a good challenge?
Lingopie Music
Lingopie also recognizes that music is a powerful tool for language learning as it also provides much necessary immersion and cultural background for the learner. In addition to that, songs are usually packed with slang and curse words which will get you closer to sounding like a native.
For all the Spanish music lovers out there we recommend Lingopie Music! It is a platform with carefully selected songs in the Spanish language. The songs and artists range from different genres and levels of lyrical complexity. You are guaranteed to find something for your taste and needs.
Currently there are two ways to enjoy this amazing tool. One way is completely free but with limited access to the special features Lingopie has to offer. You can also subscribe to their services and get full access to all the features and tools that make this streaming service so unique and effective for those seeking to learn a new language.
Summing Up
Those were just a few pointers that can help you on your language learning journey.
There is a whole world of possibilities to explore when learning through media that makes you excited.
So head over to Lingopie and start your 7-day free trial! With this awesome platform you can not only learn Spanish but also French, German, English, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Italian and Korean.
Start binging and learning right now!
