How to learn Spanish with movies

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Okay! Sit tight and get ready. Watching movies in Spanish will feel different next time you make weekend plans with one. My aim today is to show you how to learn Spanish with movies.

But before getting into the details, it’s important that you understand that watching movies in your native language is one thing, and watching movies in your target language is something totally different.

You should be warned: forget about being able to watch a movie in Spanish overnight without missing things here and there. It will happen, and that’s okay.

If you think you are good at Spanish only when you sit, hit play and 90 minutes later you walk out of the room with another film to add to your list, I’m sorry to tell you that’s not a realistic measure.

We don’t want to fantasize that there is a magic shortcut or hack. What we want is to put to use some strategies that will improve your chances and will get better and better with time each time you apply them.

The plan is to get actively involved. Ready? Let’s go. I’ll share some ideas and suggestions, you’ll have to try them out and see which, if any, work for you.

Should I watch movies or series?

First things first. You could apply these same principles to episodes of series, too.

The truth is, both can be effective tools for language learning. It all comes down to your personal preference and learning style.

On the one hand, movies offer a more focused, self-contained viewing experience. They’re usually shorter than series, so they’re easier to fit into a busy schedule. Plus, they’re generally easier to understand without the need for additional context.

On the other hand, series offer the benefit of a longer, more immersive viewing experience. You get to know the characters and storylines over time, which can help you feel more connected to the material.

If you’re not sure which one to start with, why not try both and see which one works better for you?

Now, on with my suggestions to learn Spanish with movies.

Lay the groundwork

You need to build rapport with the film, which means:

Getting the gist. What is the story the film tells? Make a really short summary. Make it fit in 1 sentence.

Getting to know the characters. Who are the main characters? What can you learn about them at first sight?

Watch the movie trailer

This is so easy to incorporate into your movie watching routine that you will love getting more bang for your buck. Trailers, as confusing as they sometimes are, will give you a sense of what the the film is about. Trailers are not always great at exposing the plot, but you’ll see some relevant scenes and know the main characters.

Watch in installments

You don’t necessarily need to watch the movie end-to-end. You can split the film in 15 minute chunks, so you have more time to ‘digest’ what you saw. It may sound boring or like you are taking too long for just one film, but it will pay off. Once you get to the end, you can watch the full film at once.

Watch more than once

Repeated viewings can help you understand the film better and improve your language skills.

In this respect, series outperform movies. Watching a 30 minute episode several times is more feasible than a feature film.

Use visual cues

Focus on non-verbal language cues. Try to follow the story with the action depicted in the movie, even when you feel lost.

Change the playback speed

Did you know that on Netflix you can change the playback speed to 75%?

Don’t feel guilty about using subtitles

A lot of language learners feel that using subtitles is like cheating. I disagree.

There is no reason to think that you should only relate to movies without subtitles under the assumption that conversations in real life don’t come with subtitles.

Mute the film and read the subtitles

Maybe this is not the most traditional way of watching, but you can try and see how it goes for you.

Use Language Reactor

Language Reactor is a beautiful thing. It gives you the possibility to watch the movie with dual subs. For know, it only works with Netflix.

Watch the movie first with English subtitles

If you watch the film like this, you will certainly be able to keep up with the story… but you’ll have to watch it again!

Visit websites to anticipate the main events

Have you heard of IMDB? Websites like IMDB can provide helpful information about the film and its characters. You can change the site’s language on the top right corner of your screen and read the site in Spanish.

Watch movies based on books you’ve read

This is quite easy for students of English, but not quite for students of Spanish, I know. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Hunger Games, Twilight and many more are good examples of the wide variety available for English language learners. But there are still some.

Imitate

Even if you don’t understand everything that is being said, imitate what you hear. This will help you with intonation patterns. Even if you don’t understand everything that is being said, you can still use movies and series to improve your listening skills by paying attention to the sounds and rhythms of the language.

I also agree with Benny Lewis’ ideas in THIS ARTICLE. On “Step 5”, he says once you’ve watched the film you can review what you’ve learnt or what you are missing with your tutor:

Here are some ideas of what you can cover with your teacher:

  • Ask for help understanding cultural nuances in the film, or why characters are doing specific things that you don’t understand.
  • Ask for clarification on phrases or accents that are used in the film.
  • Have your teacher ask you questions about a specific segment, then try to answer them in the target language.
  • Have your teacher play the part of one of the characters in the movie and practice dialogues with you.
  • Ask about the role this film plays in your teacher’s society and culture.

So, there you have it! Using movies to learn Spanish is a great way to have fun and improve your language skills at the same time. Whether you prefer movies or series, there are many strategies you can use to get the most out of your movie-watching experience.

EDIT: I wrote an article with some Argentinian flicks recommendations

Happy watching,

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