Language learning
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Watch movies or shows you already know well, dubbed or subtitled in the target language.
It aids word association and comprehension by providing a frame of reference for the plot.
- Translation is never literal, so dubbed versions differ from original dialogues.
- Some dubs may be unpleasant to listen to.
6 people, independently
- Watch movies or shows you have already seen in your native language, but switch to the target language with target-language subtitles.1
- Watch movies with both audio and subtitles in the target language.1
- Watch familiar movies dubbed in the target language without subtitles to understand meaning purely from context.1
- Watch sitcoms with native-language subtitles first, then target-language subtitles, then no subtitles to improve comprehension.1
Use subtitles in the target language rather than your native language when watching media.
Subtitles help if you can't make out a word, allowing you to look it up.
- Avoid subtitles completely for at least one watch to follow context without relying on the script.
2 people, independently
- Add subtitles when watching foreign content or cartoons to boost language ability, vocabulary, and grammar.8
If English is your second language, watch English movies at 1.5x-2x speed to maintain focus; stick to native language speeds for enjoyment unless studying.
Higher speeds help when you need to specially focus rather than enjoy.
- When studying, watching lectures at 3x is fine because focusing is the goal.
one person who lived it
If your brain prefers it, use English subtitles with target-language audio instead of the reverse.
One person found this combination worked best for their brain wiring.
- Depends on individual brain wiring; not universal.
one person who lived it
Watch American news and TV shows to help learn English, leveraging your familiarity with the content.
This was a big part of one person's experience learning English.
- Based on one person's experience.
one person who lived it
Search for 'movies with subtitles' or 'movies for the deaf' in the target language to find content that matches audio with visual words.
It allows matching audio with visual words without needing to know spelling first.
- Searching for 'movies for the deaf' in French and Spanish yielded zero results for one user.
one person who lived it
Do not rely solely on Netflix subtitles to learn Chinese.
You are totally screwed if you try.
one person who lived it
Watch kid-friendly movies like Shrek or early Harry Potter films in the target language.
One person learned a lot from watching Shrek in Spanish; early Harry Potter movies use simple language.
one person who lived it
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Watch 'El Ministerio del Tiempo' to learn Spanish.
One person reported learning a lot of Spanish from it, even without conscious effort at the time.
one person who lived it
To learn a new language, set the audio to the target language and turn on English captions when rewatching movies or shows.
One person reported becoming fluent in English using this method.
one person who lived it
Read a newspaper or magazine and highlight unknown words to add to a study list.
It is satisfying to see progress as the amount of highlighting decreases over time.
one person who lived it
Watch cooking shows from the country of your target language to practice listening, explore culture through food, and learn new recipes.
It helps you learn the language, explore culture, and expand culinary skills.
one person who lived it
Read books in the target language that you already know well in your native language.
You can understand many words from context without using a dictionary, which can be motivating.
one person who lived it
Watch 'Wissen Macht Ah!' in German to improve listening comprehension.
One person found this improved their listening, which made speaking come more naturally.
one person who lived it
Read books for children or watch their programs in the target language to pick up simple vocabulary through repetition.
5 people, independently
Play news audio in the target language continuously during daily activities like working, driving, or walking.
Constantly hearing the language helped maintain fluency.
one person who lived it
Listen to religious sermons or podcasts in the target language if you are already comfortable with the content.
Being familiar with the material allows for significant learning value from the audio.
one person who lived it
Recognize that Simple Wikipedia is based on Basic English, using a restricted vocabulary.
It uses a specific, easily learnable subset of the English vocabulary rather than providing simplified explanations.
one person who lived it
Watch news broadcasts in the target language to practice listening.
Newscasters speak clearly and precisely with neutral accents, providing clear formal language suitable for beginners.
2 people, independently
- Watch local news broadcasts in the target country to hear deliberate pronunciation and understand cultural relevance.1
Supplement written materials with an audio program to master pronunciation.
It is near impossible to use written material completely on its own.
one person who lived it
Choose cartoons that repeat common words and concepts like shapes, colors, and animals.
Repetition helps you learn basic vocabulary.
one person who lived it
Watch educational children's shows produced in Germany, such as 'Löwenzahn' and 'Willi wills Wissen', for clear explanations of concepts.
Germany produces high-quality shows explaining things for children.
one person who lived it
Switch to subtitles in the target language for familiar movies once you have memorized the script.
one person who lived it