Learn Spanish through Movies

By Dan Hope

Software and computers have made the learning a second language far more entertaining, but even the greatest Spanish learning software can get tedious at times. One of the best ways to break up the boredom and still learn is to practice your Spanish with your favorite movies. You read that right. You can learn Spanish while enjoying your favorite movie in the comfort of your own home.

All this is possible because DVDs can hold dialogue translations in addition to the original film itself. Go ahead, take a look. Many of your favorite movies have the option to display in Spanish, and maybe several other languages.

The advantage here is you can hear conversations in Spanish in settings you understand. It’s especially beneficial if you know the movie so well you can practically recite it in English. That means that you’ll understand more of the conversation in Spanish because you already know the context. This kind of practice will not only help your vocabulary, it will also help your pronunciation, conversation and listening comprehension skills.

Movies can come with two kinds of Spanish translations: dubbing or subtitles. Dubbing uses native speakers to record dialogue over the movie so you can hear the conversations. Subtitles merely show a Spanish translation at the bottom of the screen while the audio dialogue continues in English. Each one has its benefits; dubbing is better for listening comprehension and improving your pronunciation, and subtitles are better for translating and vocabulary recognition.

No matter how you do it, watching movies in Spanish can supplement your Spanish learning and improve your retention. It’s especially good if you don’t know any native speakers to practice with. So when you get bored with flashcards and grammar lessons, take out your favorite comedy, drama or action flick and sit back for an entertaining Spanish practice session.

You can even get in some practice right now. Below we’ve included a list of famous movie titles in Spanish. See if you can name all ten. If you need some help, you can visit the list of TopTenREVIEWS All Time Best Movies . All the movies below can be found there.

1. Casablanca
2. Ciudadano Kane
3. La Guerra de las Galaxias
4. Busca del Arca Perdida
5. Cantando Bajo la Lluvia
6. El Tiburón
7. 12 Hombres Enojados
8. La Ventana Indiscreta
9. Lo Que El Viento Se Llevó
10. Matar a un Ruiseñor

For more information about Spanish learning software, check out our side-by-side comparison of the best products in the industry.

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