Adam
Alex
Benjamin
Emma
Gill
Jade
James
Rebecca
Ronnie
Why “Just Watch English Movies” Doesn’t Work
If you want to improve your English, just watching movies in English doesn’t work. Watching movies is a passive activity. Learning is active and requires a different level of engagement. Am I saying that you’re probably not watching movies “the right way”? I know that sounds funny, but if you don’t have a strategy and the right mentality, you will waste a lot of time just staring at a screen and not learning much at all. So, watch this video to learn how to engage with media and use it as a language learning tool. Spoiler: It means pausing, rewinding, and actually taking notes! Also, leave a comment and let me know about your experience with English movies.Levels
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8 COMMENTS
Hello dear teacher Alex, I hope you are doing great today.
Yes the lesson is very useful for me.
I appreciate it.
My pleasure! Thanks for learning with me. I hope these techniques work for you!
Dear Alex, congratulations! I have been frustrated watching English movies. Slang, everyday English, badly spoken by some actors, without subtitles, was a catastrophe for me as a learner. Thank you so much for your excellent introduction how to use movies! Perhaps I will try again.
I know what you mean. The truth is, there are many reasons why movies can be challenging in a new language. Usually, the main reason is that the level is higher than ours. This means the vocabulary, structures, and speed of speech are things we are not prepared for…yet.
To train your listening, you need to become familiar with reduced sounds, connected speech, and yes, those dreaded idioms (which include phrasal verbs). It takes time, but it’s possible. I’m an A2/A2+ French speaker at the moment, so I’m watching children’s programs right now, which typically have clearer pronunciation and fewer idioms. Once I reach the true B1 level, then I’ll start watching more “real French” shows and films. 😅
To improve your language skills, your brain needs language it can understand. You should be able to understand about 70% of what is said. If you don’t, what you’re watching or listening to is probably too difficult for you at the moment.
I don’t usually recommend other sites, but I would check out the listening section of a site like test-English.com and see which listening level you are currently comfortable with.
Good luck!
Your french is “parfet”! lol
Dear Alex, thanks for this very interesting video. Your french is very good!
Hi, Alex. Thank you for your lesson. It’s really useful and encouraging. The listening comprehension skill is my weakest point when it comes to practicing English and you give very good advice in your video. Watching some films or series can become frustrating and perhaps I didn’d make good choices. I´m trying to be more realistic and select other resources that suit my needs better. For example, your videos ;)
Thank you so much Alex . This lesson is very interesting