Finding Fluency - Start Simple, Learn Smart

"I watch series and listen to podcasts to help me improve my English." On the face of it, that sounds like a great idea. After all, I’m always telling you to do so. But, are you doing it right?

I have very often heard my students say that they are watching something and are finding it very difficult and really need the subtitles or they can’t catch anything. This makes language learning like pulling teeth - challenging, tedious, and arduous.

The problem with subtitles is that your brain likes them a little too much and you’ll spend most of your time reading and not listening so carefully.

Sound familiar?

If you want to improve your fluency, then you need to be able to understand between 90-98% of what you are watching without subtitles; otherwise, it could be considered too difficult. However, I understand that many students enjoy a challenge. If you already understand 98%, then watching something more challenging could be worthwhile. Still, I would suggest trying something where you understand around 85% of what’s going on without subtitles.

Let's think about how children learn their native language for a moment. There are programmes and cartoons for young children because the language is specifically aimed at them. As the child can understand most of what they are watching, when new vocabulary is slowly introduced, their brain can understand it through the context. The key is to slowly introduce new vocabulary and let the brain fill in the gaps by drawing on the context. If you sat a child down to watch a documentary on quantum physics, they wouldn’t understand anything, get bored, switch off and therefore would not learn anything. It would, in fact, be a ridiculous waste of time. Perhaps, a little like if you watch a series on Netflix that you can’t understand.

The key is to learn new language in context in a more natural way. We’ve all heard of immersion to improve our language skills and it works because you live surrounded by the language in context and have to use it in your day-to-day.

However, thanks to technology, it is possible to immerse yourself to some degree without going anywhere by using podcasts, films, series, etc.

Tips for Choosing Content to Enhance Fluency:

• Don’t set the bar too high. If you're lost, switch to easier content aimed at a younger audience.
• Ensure you understand at least 85% of the program without subtitles.
• Put a programme on in the background whilst you are doing other things. Every little helps. The brain will be absorbing information without you realising it.
• Make it enjoyable. Find series, programmes or podcasts that captivate your interest.
• How about maybe just putting the TV programmes in their original language? You can listen to many different types of programmes and hear language in different contexts.
• Stay patient and consistent.
• Forget about grammar rules and textbooks—at least for now.

Ready to take your fluency to the next level? Find out more about my timetable-free totally flexible Talk Anytime Fluency course, where you'll improve your speaking skills and gain confidence in English conversation through short tasks and my feedback.

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