Subtitles On or Off? Learning English from Films

Every single term, a student asks me the same thing.

每个学期，都会有学生问我同样的问题。

Should I watch films with subtitles, or without?

看电影应该开字幕，还是不开字幕？

Well, my answer usually surprises them.

嗯，我的回答通常会让他们很惊讶。

First, let me tell you what not to do.

首先，我来告诉你什么不该做。

Don't watch with subtitles in your own language.

不要看带母语字幕的版本。

Oh, I know, it's lovely and comfortable.

哦，我知道，那样既舒服又轻松。

But your eyes do all the work, not your ears.

但是干活的都是你的眼睛，而不是耳朵。

You finish the film, and sadly... you've learnt very little.

电影看完了，可惜……你几乎没学到什么。

On the other hand, switching them off completely

另一方面，完全关掉字幕

can be terribly frustrating for most learners.

对大多数学习者来说会非常令人沮丧。

Ugh, you miss the jokes, and you lose the plot!

唉，笑话听不懂，剧情也跟不上！

Most people give up after twenty minutes.

大多数人二十分钟后就放弃了。

So, here's what I recommend instead.

所以，我推荐另一种做法。

Watch with English subtitles first.

先看英文字幕版。

You'll see how words are actually pronounced,

你会看到单词实际上是怎么发音的，

and how they're linked together in fast speech.

以及它们在快速说话时是怎么连在一起的。

Then, choose one short scene you really love.

然后，选一个你特别喜欢的短场景。

Watch that scene again, this time without subtitles.

再把那个场景看一遍，这次不开字幕。

Pause after each line, and repeat it out loud.

每句台词后暂停，然后大声跟读。

Copy the actor's feelings, not just the words!

要模仿演员的情绪，而不只是台词！

If they're shocked, sound shocked. If they're cross, sound cross!

如果他们震惊，你就用震惊的语气。如果他们生气，你就用生气的语气！

One of my students did this with a comedy series.

我有个学生用一部喜剧剧集这样做过。

Can you believe it? The same episode, five times!

你能相信吗？同一集，看了五遍！

By the end, she could act out every scene.

到最后，她能把每一幕都演出来。

And honestly, her pronunciation improved enormously!

说实话，她的发音进步非常大！

So, subtitles aren't the enemy.

所以，字幕不是敌人。

They're just a tool, so use them wisely.

它们只是一种工具，所以要聪明地使用。

Start with English subtitles, then slowly let go.

从英文字幕开始，然后慢慢放手。

And above all, pick something you'd happily watch anyway!

最重要的是，选一部你本来就愿意看的作品！