Can You Learn English By Watching Movies?Making English Fun

Learning a language can be a difficult and time-consuming task at the best of times. We are all looking for ways to make the process easier somehow, or at least more enjoyable.

One way that people do this is to watch some of the Hollywood and other English-language movies out there, hoping to pick up new vocabulary and phrases, and improve their listening and comprehension skills all at the same time.

Watching movies can enhance your English vocabulary, comprehension, and cultural understanding. Films offer authentic dialogues, varied accents, and real-life contexts, making language learning enjoyable and immersive. However, complement movies with structured lessons for comprehensive growth

But does this approach really work? In today’s article, we are asking whether or not you can learn English by watching movies, and if so, what are the best ways to get the most out of that experience?

Can You Learn English by Watching Movies?

In short, yes you can. The sheer number of movies out there of all types means that there is something that covers both your interest and your learning needs.

The most important thing when it comes to learning English from films is to follow your own interests.

Secondly, sticking as close as possible to movies about real-life is also more likely to be of more use.
Thirdly, using subtitles while watching is another critical step that some forget. These three points and more we will expand upon in the following sections.

Benefits of Learning English Watching Movies:

When we say learn English watching movies, it is a tried and tested method that comes with loads of advantages.

Cultural Immersion: Immersing oneself in movies is like taking a virtual trip to English-speaking regions. By watching movies, you’re indirectly participating in celebrations, understanding humor, and learning about the culture.
Natural Dialogues: Classroom English often tends to be structured and, to an extent, sanitized. But real-world conversations? They’re unpredictable and organic. Films provide a window to such exchanges, from heated arguments to heartfelt confessions.
Varied Accents: English isn’t just one language. It’s a range of accents and dialects, each with its own charm and level of ease of understanding! A movie from Australia, for instance, would sound distinctly different from one produced in London or New York.

Movie Recommendations to Learn English:

Choosing the right movies can either make or break your quest to learn English watching movies. ( perhaps don’t show Shakespeare to kindergartens for example!)

Forrest Gump: This isn’t just about a man’s journey through life. It’s a linguistic trip through American history, politics, and social culture. The language is mostly straightforward, making it easy for learners to follow.
Pride and Prejudice: For lovers of classic English, this is a treat. The setting, the narrative, and the dialogues provide a deep dive into British English of the past. The conversations, while intricate, are a great exercise for intermediate and advanced learners.

Toy Story: Ideal for beginners and children, The language is contemporary and straightforward, making it an excellent choice for those starting their English journey. Plus, it introduces a host of everyday situations and emotions, each a learning opportunity.

How to learn English by Watching movies.

Next, let’s look in more detail at how to get the most out of watching movies to improve your English. The following tips should help ensure that each film you choose makes a net contribution to your language learning.

Follow Your Interests

Firstly, it’s important that you choose films that you are genuinely interested in seeing.

Enjoying the film for real is bound to offer a more positive experience than sitting through something you can’t stand just in the hope of picking up some new English vocabulary here and there.

If comedies are the films that most pique your interest, then go with them. For example, many romantic comedies include a mixture of different emotions and backgrounds, which allows for a wider range of authentic language to be used throughout the movie.

They’re also rarely longer than 90 minutes in length, and fun to watch alone or with friends.

A good example would be the Bridget Jones’ Diary series (especially for those favoring British English), in which we get interesting expressions covering: romance, arguments, daily life, family life, socializing, travel, and more.

Stick Close to Real-Life

While you should certainly stick as close as possible to what you really love, the best results tend to come from those films that depict something resembling real life.

Dramas, biopics, historical films, and to some extent romantic comedies will best cover these bases.

If you are interested in science fiction, then there are great options to watch, but some that are perhaps set in a galaxy far far away might contain too many made up words and expressions to be very useful to a serious English learner.

Films that depict the real lives of ordinary people tend to contain the highest concentration of authentic expressions, idioms, and other words that one can immediately adopt into their English vocabulary.

Turn On the Subtitles

Regardless of your current level of English, it’s always best to turn on the subtitles when watching a movie. This will help you avoid making mistakes in comprehension, and makes it easier to record or note down interesting expressions as and when you see them.

It also adds an element of reading practice into the experience, which means you’re exercising more of your English skills simultaneously — at least reading and listening.

You can also use the subtitles as a kind of script if you want to pause and repeat any sentences or phrases for yourself. Many learners try to imitate the accent and intonation of those they see in movies, which can be very useful for improving pronunciation.

In this situation, the subtitles will be of great use. For those who want a greater challenge, they can try first watching a film once without subtitles, and then a second time with subtitles to see what they understood correctly, and more importantly what they missed.

Watch with Native Speakers If You Can

Another good tip here is to find native English-speaking friends to watch films with you, if possible.

It’s not the most necessary step to take, but can be very helpful, especially if it’s a film that contains slang expressions or other words that you’ve never heard used in a certain context.

English is a very flexible and adaptable language, which often sees people using common words in strange ways, and sometimes with irony that might be lost on a non-native speaker.

Having done this as a Native speaker and teacher it also gives you an idea of how much may slip by students as well, words and phrases we take for granted.

Interactive Movie Watching Activities

The method in which you engage with movies can determine the effectiveness of your learning. To fully optimize the experience and learn English by watching movies, consider these interactive tactics:

Pause and Repeat: Movies often contain dialogues delivered with natural speed and intonation. Pausing to replay a specific line or dialogue ensures you grasp the pronunciation and meaning of each word.
Role-Playing: Transform your living room into a mini theater. Choose a memorable scene, and try to emulate the characters, mimicking their speech patterns, emotions, and gestures.

Movie Reviews: After the credits roll, take a moment to jot down your impressions, opinions, or critiques about the film — in English. This exercise encourages you to process and convey your thoughts coherently.

Incorporate Writing into the Experience

Finally, while watching the film with subtitles can boost your listening and reading comprehension skills, you can also incorporate writing into the process by writing reviews or summaries of films after you’ve finished watching them.

Film Summaries: After watching a movie, try to write a concise summary capturing the plot, character arcs, and key events. This encourages you to recall and describe details

Character Diaries: Choose a prominent character from the film and imagine their thoughts or experiences that weren’t shown on screen. Pen down a diary entry from their perspective.
Opinion Pieces: Beyond just reviews, delve into opinion pieces regarding themes, character motivations etc. This not only improves your English but also helps with critical thinking and the ability to present arguments effectively.

Integrating Movies with Traditional Learning Methods:

Movies can be a great tool to immerse yourself in a language, but don’t solely rely on them. It’s important to balance movie watching with conventional learning methods.

English Courses: Courses provide the necessary grammar, vocabulary, and foundational elements that movies might gloss over. A classroom environment or online forum can also provide opportunities to discuss the movie’s language.
Textbook Exercises: Use textbook exercises that follow the themes or topics the movie explored. If you’ve watched a film centered around a family reunion, for example, you might opt for exercises that explore family vocabulary.
Practice Conversations: using dialogues based on movie scenes is an effective way to practice spoken English. Choose a memorable dialogue or scenario, and practice it with a partner or tutor.

By integrating movies with these traditional learning techniques, you enhance your chance of becoming proficient in English. Movies offer real-life dialogues and cultural contexts, while structured learning ensures you grasp the rules and structures of the language.

Challenges of Learning English Watching Movies: Being Aware

While movies can be a fantastic medium to immerse oneself in the language, it’s crucial to recognize their limitations when helping you to learn English:

Complex Phrasings: English movies, especially genres like period dramas or fantasy, sometimes delve into old style or poetic forms of the language. While they offer rich vocabulary, they might not always reflect day-to-day conversational English.

Fast-paced Dialogues: Modern films, action sequences, or heated debates within movies can feature rapid dialogues. These instances can be overwhelming for beginners or even intermediate learners. It’s okay to feel lost occasionally. Rewatch these portions or use them as exercises to improve listening speed over time.
Lack of Grammar Focus: Movies showcase the language in its most natural form without structured lessons on grammar rules. They’re fantastic for exposure but shouldn’t be the sole method of learning. Pair your movie sessions with traditional learning resources like textbooks, online courses.

Conclusion

Learning English through movies offers an enjoyable approach to language learning, blending entertainment with education.

However, while films provide rich cultural contexts and authentic dialogues, they are best used in addition to traditional learning methods.

Combining movies with structured courses, textbook exercises, and interactive activities is the best approach to improve your English learning.

References

https://medium.com/@do_suri/tips-for-improving-english-effortlessly-through-movies-

Making English Fun!

I have been a teacher of English for over 15 years, in that time i made hundreds and thousands of resources and learnt so much i think its worth sharing. Hopefully to help teachers and parents around the world.

Can You Learn English By Watching Movies?

Can You Learn English by Watching Movies?