Podcast Episode 31: 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
• Amazon Prime

Shows Kerstin Loves (75% contains crime)

I've added links for UK and US audiences - comment if you need a link for another region.

• Welsh Language: 
  • Hwb
  • Hinterland (Cable by Xfinity, Netflix, DVD in the UK and USA)
  • Byw Celwydd (currently on S4c and BBC iPlayer)
• French Language:
  • Les Revenants (DVD in the UK and USA) 
  • Spiral (Cable by Xfinity, Netflix, streaming on Amazon UK,  DVD in the UK and USA)
• French and Flemish Language:
  • Salamander (Netflix, DVD in the UK and USA)
• German Language:
  • Deutschland 83 (live on Channel 4 UK, iTunes, DVD in the UK and USA)
  • Films: Good Bye Lenin! (DVD in the UK and USA), The Edukators (DVD in the UK and USA)
• Danish and Swedish Language
  • The Bridge (Cable by Xfinity, Hulu Plus, streaming on Amazon UK, DVD in the UK and USA)
• Danish Language
  • The Killing (streaming on VUDU, DVD in the UK)
  • Borgen (DVD in the UK and USA)
• Korean Language
  • Boys Over Flowers (streaming on Viki, Hulu, DVD in the UK and in the USA)

THE TAKEAWAY

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