When watching an English language film or show..

Don't use Chinese subtitles!

I recommend anyone who desires to improve their English to try watching an English language movie with only English subtitles. If you have the Chinese subtitles on the screen, then you will concentrate on reading the Chinese and almost block out the English completely. Of the students that I teach, I think all of them are at a sufficent level in their receptive skills (listening and reading) that they can understand dialogue in films and shows. Immersing yourself with English will force yourself to start thinking in English and I am 101% sure it will improve your communicative abilities!

"But what if I don't understand what they are saying?" is a common query. Well, guess what? You'll learn something! If you don't grasp or understand something, pause or rewind the film and review the phrases. Put the phrases in context by using the scene and body language of the actors to try and identify meaning. Also, the internet is a language learners best friend! Sites like iciba.com are very useful for translating tricky words and phrases. Or if a meaning really stumps you, you can ask me! You would be surprised how many people before have been confused by the exact phrase you are!

Making sure you pick something personally interesting for you when you are getting first trying. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but as the saying goes, 'the hardest step is always the first'. Think of it this way, instead of getting your English from (sometimes questionable) textbooks, when you immerse yourself in English, avoiding Chinese, you are treating yourself to authentic language from your heroes on the screen. Chances are, that you will learn colorful and up-to-date expressions and slang! The students I have met in China with the best English are the ones who are actively interested in English language movies, tv shows and music.

So next time your mum tells you to stop laughing and watching movies and to study your English, tell her "I am in the middle of class, please don't disturb me!"

totally agree~thats what i am doing now~i am watching south park and improving my english～haha~ learn a lot verble abuse too,
good student right?

mani wrote:totally agree~thats what i am doing now~i am watching south park and improving my english～haha~ learn a lot verble abuse too,
good student right?

Haha South Park? You will learn A LOT of colourful language that way. Great show!

i agree with you
but usually i will choose double subtitles so that i can see the cultural differences

guganlingzhi wrote:i agree with you
but usually i will choose double subtitles so that i can see the cultural differences

if there is duble subtitles ~i can help to see the chinese one~haaha
so i think only english subtitles is enough.its more challeging~however,few episodes have only english subtitles`
where can i find them

mani wrote:
so i think only english subtitles is enough.its more challeging~however,few episodes have only english subtitles`
where can i find them

If you have downloaded a movie, you can find the subtitles on google. For example if it was the movie Forest Gump, type "Forest Gump English Subtitles" and you should be able to find them!

Same if you want to find a screenplay or script of a tv show or film, type something like "Forest Gump screenplay" and you should find it

The other days, I watched "my best friend's wedding" , taking about a woman who is invited to attend her ex-boyfriend's wedding, but later she comes to realize that she still loves him and tells him before his wedding.....
The movice is nice and easy to find the english-only subtitles in Youku.

I just watched a movie called "CRazy Heart" with one of my favourite actors, Jeff Bridges in it. A good manly drama piece about a country music singer and his battles with life.

Tonight I am going to watch a movie which I love called "Paris, Texas" a European movie shot in America about a man coming to terms with his wrongs in life. Very powerful. Will find a link for you to watch a bit later

Alex wrote:I just watched a movie called "CRazy Heart" with one of my favourite actors, Jeff Bridges in it. A good manly drama piece about a country music singer and his battles with life.

Tonight I am going to watch a movie which I love called "Paris, Texas" a European movie shot in America about a man coming to terms with his wrongs in life. Very powerful. Will find a link for you to watch a bit later

yeah,thanks, i've finish the first season of LOST which's kind of similar with PRISON BREAK

guganlingzhi wrote:i agree with you
but usually i will choose double subtitles so that i can see the cultural differences

i also have this bad habit .

lemon wrote:

guganlingzhi wrote:i agree with you
but usually i will choose double subtitles so that i can see the cultural differences

i also have this bad habit .

I always download the dounle subtitles movie ,so that I can understand the movie easily

sometimes they talk so fast that I can hardly catch up with..I also think that use the english subtitles only will be better,for I always can't help watch the chinese one..

But ,just now I wanted to watch the last movie in the computer , it had nothing at all , not even English !

I agree with you.It seems that it is too hard for me ,but I will try my best to do it

I was used to watching movies with Chinese & English subtitles.But I will try to wach movies with only English subtitles

Sky wrote:I was used to watching movies with Chinese & English subtitles.But I will try to wach movies with only English subtitles

What you can do is try to guess a meaning of phrases you are familiar with. If you really can't follow what it means, use a website like iciba.com, that has a lot of common phrases translated. Better yet, try to read the script of the movie before you watch a movie. This way you will be familiar with the dialogue before you hear it (especially helpful if they talk too fast) or if you are better at reading then listening.

Alex wrote:

Sky wrote:I was used to watching movies with Chinese & English subtitles.But I will try to wach movies with only English subtitles

What you can do is try to guess a meaning of phrases you are familiar with. If you really can't follow what it means, use a website like iciba.com, that has a lot of common phrases translated. Better yet, try to read the script of the movie before you watch a movie. This way you will be familiar with the dialogue before you hear it (especially helpful if they talk too fast) or if you are better at reading then listening.

Good suggestion.Thank you very much

Star&Sherry wrote:

lemon wrote:

guganlingzhi wrote:i agree with you
but usually i will choose double subtitles so that i can see the cultural differences

i also have this bad habit .

I always download the dounle subtitles movie ,so that I can understand the movie easily

me too, but most time i'm always attractive by its plot, so i will attach my concern to the chinese subtitles

I enjoy watching english, but I prefer to download the dounle subtitles movie. It's hard to understand the whole film without chinese explanation, and I'm too impatient to get the meaning by myself. Maybe when I'm very much interested in the film. Just maybe.