Part 19
The next category in your media library are DVDs. Movies are a vital element in building your English language environment since they contain a lot of phrases native speakers use in all kinds of every day situations. DVDs are an excellent means to learn English since they come with a number of useful features. For example, you select single scenes of a movie and watch them as often as you want. In addition to the spoken dialogs you can also read the script and even stop the movie to look up certain words if you like. Again, the average English learner will frown upon the idea of watching DVDs in English because they are afraid they 'won't understand anything'. Think about it: The vast majority of all movies worldwide are made in the US. In some countries like Germany those films are dubbed (translated into the national language of the country.) So when you go to the cinema in Germany you can see Americans movies in German.
This is a crazy concept since almost every person in German is taught English at schools for many years. Yet, after all this English language tuition the average German is not able to understand simple phrases that an average American might use. Winners make the decision to use authentic English media as soon as possible. Instead of watching the dubbed version of a movie they watch the film in the original. Your first step is to obtain as many English language DVDs as possible. Of course you don't have to buy them, there are various legal ways of getting access to movies some of which are:
- DVD rental stores
You can certainly find a DVD rental in your neighbourhood. Sign up with the store and make it a habit to rent and watch movies on a regular basis.
- Websites that offer DVDs or movies for download
You can get DVDs from online shops like Amazon or auction sites like eBay. In addition to selling DVDs, Amazon also offers DVDs for rent. On eBay you can find used DVDs which come at much lower prices than new ones. Some companies like TimeWarner even offer movies for download or 'movies on demand'. As a winner you should keep abreast with new technologies and through that process you will also learn English.
- Friends, family and co-workers
Ask your friends and colleagues if they want to swap DVDs with you. Depending on what country you live in, the average person might have at least a dozen or so DVDs at home and you should make use of this fact. Talk to your friends and family and tell them you are looking for DVDs that come with an English audio track. I'm sure they will be more than happy to share their movies with you. This is also an excellent opportunity to expand your social network and communicate with your friends and colleagues. You will read more about how to use DVDs to learn English in further sections of this book.
In addition to TV, radio and movies you need to get access to audiobooks. An audiobook is the spoken version of a book. A professional actor reads the text aloud for you so you can listen to it. This means an audiobook is a tremendously useful resource if you want to learn English because you hear new words and phrases before you see them written. As we have discussed before, English is a 'non-phonetic' language and if you see the spelling of a new word before you hear how it is pronounced, you are bound to pronounce it incorrectly because you make up your own pronunciation of that new word.
Audiobooks are great since you can listen to them several times and then you can get the written version of the book to see how certain words are spelled. You can even use the written and audio versions at the same time and read the text while you are hearing it. On top of all that there are a number of other advantages audiobooks have over conventional books and you will learn about them later. One good place to start creating your own collection English audio books is www.audible.com -- a website where you will find thousands of audio books that you can download. Most of the recordings are MP3 files which you can download onto your computer and use with your MP3 players wherever you are.
If you have any English grammar or vocabulary questions,
please post them on this English Grammar Forum.
