235 - Watching TV is English
Watching a TV show in English without subtitles is grueling, exhausting, tiring. I need to be focused for the majority of time and I can't distract myself even for a minute. If it is a documentary or there is a narrator, then I can understand almost everything, but if we're talking about a sitcom or an action movie, then the situation is very different. Understanding some gags or very fast dialogues is really hard and something that maybe can only be achieved by a native speaker, or if you live in a place where they speak your target language. You can study and speak as much as you can, but some things take time. You can pretend to understand them, but this doesn't mean that you are really able to do it.
Search from various English teachers...
Corrections · 6
1
235 - Watching TV is English
Watching a TV show in English without subtitles is gruelling, exhausting, tiring. I need to be focused for [the majority] most of the time and I can't be distracted [myself] even for a minute. If it is a documentary or there is a narrator, then I can understand almost everything, but if we're talking about a sitcom or an action movie, then the situation is very different. Understanding some gags or very fast dialogues is really hard and something that maybe can only be achieved by a native speaker, or if you live in a place where they speak your target language. You can study and speak as much as you can/like❊, but some things take time. You can pretend to understand them, but this doesn't mean that you are really able to do it.
❊ this is a colloquial expression : 'you can do something as much as you like, but . .'
0
Interesting video posted this week about the Netflix show "Sex Education" discussing the theory of the "implied reader"/implied viewer. The show is supposed to be set in the British countryside, but the (British) Youtuber who made this video argues the show is still targeted at an American audience. Like Arlene said, you can slow YouTube videos down too. Not sure how good the subtitle are. Url to part of video that discusses this topic directly: https://youtu.be/4sAn8Loqxow?t=446
0
Thank you!
0
Antonello, I am learning Catalan, and what helps me with sitcoms is to slow down the speed to 75%. Just click on the little cog at the bottom right of the screen. The voices still sound natural, but are easier to understand. I also agree with Igor - watch it in your native language or a dubbed version and then relax. Good luck!
0
Just hang on, brother! I know the pain well! What helped me well back in the day was twofold. First, I first watched a dubbed version of something I was later going to watch in English, that helped me stay focused, not to drift away, because I knew what was being said there. Secondly, I actually found that it was more benefitial to sit back and relax rather than strain and try to catch every single word being spoken. In fact I found that I actually understood more when I wasn't trying if that makes any sense. Eventually, it all cleared out. Keep doing what you're doing. You're already there, just need to push through for a while longer.
Want to progress faster?
Join this learning community and try out free exercises!
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!
Start Learning Today
