Get language exposure by watching foreign shows.
There are many interesting and well-produced shows in languages other than English. The first step into learning a new language is to get exposed to that language, and the best way to do that is to develop listening skills. When becoming familiar with the sounds, pronunciations, and flow, you are automatically making new associations in your brain on how things are verbally communicated. For instance, Netflix has many award-winning shows that are in Spanish. The globalization of series and movies being produced nowadays bring great opportunities to those interested in the exposure to new languages. Spanish is currently the second most spoken language in the world and having this language in your resume will surely impress your employers, open doors to new opportunities, and further develop your cognitive abilities.
Be consistent with the show you watch and re-watch.
When developing a new skill, consistency is key. It is important that the show you are watching is of your interest. There are many genres to pick from, but sit-coms are particularly easier to understand because the conversations are about daily activities and situations. In addition, the episodes are short and dynamic: they won’t get you bored. However, if you do not enjoy sit-coms, there are many other genres to pick from and learn from. The only difference is that the vocabulary in the show will be targeted to the situation taking place. If the show is about cops fighting crime, there will be a lot of cop-related terms that might be difficult to keep up with at first. Nevertheless, if you enjoy the show you are watching it will create the consistency you need to start absorbing the new language into your brain.
Switch the subtitles to the original audio’s language.
The third step into the process is to change the subtitle language to the original audio’s language. Once you have watched the show at least a couple of times in the original language with the subtitles of your preference, try switching around and watching the show with the original language’s subtitles. As the immersion in the language is extensive, you should already have an “idea” of the common phrases and expressions. The goal of the original subtitles is to teach you how to write, pronounce, and form sentences.
Research words you do not understand.
This next step is as important as any of the previous steps. You are not expected to be fluent in the language at this point because learning a new language takes time, effort, and practice. By the time you switch the subtitles to the original audio’s language, there will be many words that you have heard before, but you still can’t connect them to their meaning. This is the point where you get a notepad and write down the words you don’t understand on one side and their translation on the other side of the notepad: use a translation app. This step is extremely important in the retention of the words and their meanings.
Re-watch, remove subtitles LK21 XXI Online Stream Movie & Series Netflix repeat.
Finally, you get to get rid of the subtitles. Re-watch the show as many times as you’d like. Take breaks in between watching the same show to retain what you have learned and so that you don’t get sick of the show. Another strategy is to look for a show with a lot of seasons to be consistent with the vocabulary and speaking style. Please keep in mind this process is slow, and you won’t be able to remove subtitles after watching the show only a couple of times. Be patient and consistent and respect your learning time. If you follow these steps, you will be learning a new language while entertaining yourself!
Karen Pincelli Izzo
