Make Learning Fun With Movies

"If you want to improve your vocabulary or fluency in English, read a book."

I'm sure all of you have heard someone say this to you. But here's something you should know. I wasn't fond of reading. Yet, I can say that I have reasonably good fluency and a decent vocabulary.

Let's go back to 2011 when I was in 6th standard. There was a buzz all around about Taylor Swift's Love Story. It was released in September 2008 and was trending by November except, it became popular among my peers in 2011. One fine day, a friend played Love Story on her iPod. I was in awe. It was the first time I had heard a song composed by an American singer. I loved every bit of it. I played it on repeat for like 4-5 times on the bus, after which I had to return the iPod to my friend. That day, I couldn't stop thinking about it. So, I went to my brother's place and asked him about artists and songs. He made me listen to all the songs that were popular back then. From Akon to James Blunt. Everything. He also showed me some of my first Bollywood movies, which mostly were action and thriller. And then he gave me all the songs and a couple of movies and tv shows on my hard disk to take back home. Grimm was my first tv series. I would watch one episode everyday. And no, I didn't binge watch back then, I had homework to finish.

Initially, I struggled a little with the accent and the phrases. I used subtitles to understand it better. Sometimes, I would not get the context of sentences or the meaning of certain words. I would watch it, again and again, to make sense of it or look for the definition in the dictionary. Gradually, I began to understand all the phrases, expressions and even the non-verbal cues. Fast forward to today, I've watched countless movies and tv shows of almost all genres. And because of this hobby, I have been able to master my vocabulary and fluency in English. And let me remind you again, I haven't read a single book, not even Harry Potter. And I know some of you who love reading may be offended. However, that is not what I intend to do here. The whole point of this story is to help everyone understand that reading is not just the only way. There are so many ways you can work on yourself. All you have to do is find the one that suits you the best. Learning shouldn't feel like a task. It should be fun, and most importantly, it should make you happy.

Here are some tips that I want to share with you from my experience:

• Watch movies with subtitles because it'll help you understand better. Note down short phrases that you like and try to use them in your routine. For Eg: sure thing, hell yeah
• Keep searching for the words that you do not understand. Think of how you can use those word. Go one step ahead and look out for synonyms. 
• Pick movies that interest you. If you're bored even while watching a movie, you will not be able to concentrate. You'll not learn anything if you aren't having fun.
• If you're a beginner, make sure you pick a movie that matches your current level. The dialogues shouldn't be too fast. For this, you can always count on animated films. Their pace is slow as compared to others. For Eg: Finding Nemo, Shrek, Tangled, etc. 
• It's okay if you don't remember the words. It is okay if you skip phrases while watching the movie. Just go with the flow. Over time, you'll get it right. It'll take time and patience. But believe me, it'll be alright.

To conclude, remember that learning knows no bounds and doing what makes you happy is of utmost importance.