How to Improve English With Movies & TV Series

Learning English while having fun is great. However, not everyone can get such a pleasant way of learning. Improving English by watching movies and TV series is a great way to expand your vocabulary and learn to speak like a native. Let’s see what we should do to succeed.

Watch movies and shows you’ve already seen

If you think it’s no fun watching a new movie or TV series while feeling like you have to work, I understand you. You likely want to relax. Watching old movies has an advantage because, not only do you already have an understanding of the movie, but you also won’t mind pausing the movie or putting in some work.

Be an active observer

You need to be an active observer rather than a passive movie-watcher. A main way to do this is by repeating phrases and sentences you hear the native speaker saying throughout the movie. Also, you should make an effort to read the body language, tone of voice, and context of the actors. This is to activate your ability to learn naturally. This ability is what enables us to learn our mother tongue as children but as we get older and live fast-paced, we become desensitized to this ability.

Do some homework

Once you have completed the previous steps, your goal should be to dissect the movie. This will involve pausing the movie. Write down phrases that are new to you or ones you don’t know. When possible, do image or video searches of new words so you can naturally understand them without translating. Use reliable sources such as a translation dictionary or a native speaker to confirm the meanings of words. You could search for the movie or episode transcript, which will reduce the amount of writing you are writing.

Apply new vocabulary in everyday life

Take some seconds to use the new words in applicable situations. Think in the target language. Say the words under your breath. In informal settings or, when possible, when interacting with people, respond in the target language in your mind before using your native language. This will help you develop an automatic response to using your target language.

Use automatic translation

While it’s fine to turn on automatic translation (CC) for movies, you should know that they are best for giving a general understanding but often have confusing literal translations and some inaccuracies. For a more accurate translation, you can watch an official dubbed version of the movie the first time you watch it or watch a movie personally translated by a dedicated fan or other entity.

How to choose a movie

In order to fully benefit from movies and TV series, you should come out of your comfort zone. This would mean choosing a variety of genres over time. Each genre is valuable in its own way. Main genres include romance, comedy, horror, science fiction, action, historical fiction, adventure fiction, mystery fiction, and fantasy.

Is the movie rating important? While the rating could be important for enjoyment, it’s not crucial for learning. Lower-rating movies may provide simpler concepts and plots, and other differences will help expand your knowledge.

There is no need to avoid movies and TV shows that cast non-native speakers. If they were cast, it means they have enough ability to communicate in the language, and they can serve as a good example for you. Also, once the movie or TV show has a majority of native speakers, you will be able to make comparisons and embrace the realities of life.