Episode 31: Learn A Language with TV: How to Get The Most Out of Watching TV in Your Target Language

Creative Language Learning Podcast

Topic: Watching TV in a Foreign Language

Welcome to Episode 31, where Lindsay and I took a deep dive into revealing our TV watching habits and how they aid our language learning. Plus: Listener feedback and over 20 show recommendations.

We are sponsored today by Savvy Brand Academy, a mastermind & brand course for onlinte teachers, as part of our "podcasters are doin' it for themselves month".

1) What type of TV do you watch?

• Listener Colin likes to watch with the whole family
• Chris Stewart who likes watching reality tv like “Come dine with me”
• For me: Serials
• For Lindsay: youtube as part of a routine
• My student Randy: Tagesschau

2) HOW do you watch?

• Is there such a thing as guilty learning vs. not-guilty learning?

• Should you watch with subtitles or without? Subtitles in your own language or the other language? Immersion or full understand mode?

• Big debate: How can TV count as "deliberate study time"?

• Where can you find shows that are appropriate for your level?

• What makes TV for kids a good choice?

3) Where can you find cool things to watch? (Big Link Collection)

**YouTube and Yabla:

• Yabla - curated videos for language learners in Spanish, German, French, Italian, Chinese, English
• Lindsay's TV Introductions in Different Languages
• Easy Languages on YouTube

**TV Apps and Websites Where You Can Find International TV

• Japan Foundation
• VIKI APP
• Walter Presents

**Shows Kerstin Loves (75% contains crime)

• Hwb, Hinterland and Byw Celwydd (Welsh)
• Les Revenants and Spiral (French)
• Salamander (French/Flemish)
• Deutschland 83, Good Bye Lenin!, The Edukators (German)
• The Bridge (Danish/Swedish)
• The Killing and Borgen (Danish)

The Takeaway

If you have not done this already, catch an episode of 1980s German spy show Deutschland 83 - here it is on Amazon.com and here it is on All 4 in the UK