看電影、電視學英文的重要觀念

1.您聽到的說法是否正確？

It is very important to remember that what you hear may not always be totally correct, as it depends on who is speaking; and so, always think about what you are watching and who is speaking. For example, the English used by newsreaders is usually pretty reliable, but the English spoken by some movie characters (local gangsters for example) may not always be what it should. Don’t worry, it is all English, and learning to distinguish between good and not so good language (such as slang or swearing) is a valuable exercise in itself. The key thing is to think about the situation or context in which the language is being used, and to let that be your guide.

2.注意字幕的使用方式

The other thing to bear in mind is the use of subtitles. Although those words at the bottom of the screen might seem very useful, they cannot always be trusted, and sometimes they do more harm than good. Better to ignore them completely and simply try to catch whatever English you can. If you have the opportunity to watch repeats of the movie or program, so much the better, as each time you watch you will hear and understand more.

3.在觀看前先了解內容資訊

Another way to help yourself is to read any promotional material before viewing. If, for example, you know what a program is about, understanding the meaning of any new vocabulary you might hear should be much easier because it will be in context. Similarly with movies; it is perfectly OK to watch a movie in Chinese first, as if you already know what the story is about, you will stand a much better chance of working out what the actors are saying in English.