Movies can teach you to speak real English naturally. However, to learn with movies you must use the correct technique. Many teachers and students try to learn by simply watching movies and TV shows. Just watching movies is ineffective because you won’t understand most of what you hear and you will not learn deeply.
One method is to study and practice each scene of a movie– learning it deeply before moving on to the next scene. The goal of the movie technique is to learn and remember, so you never forget what you have learned.
WHY LEARN ENGLISH WITH MOVIES AND TV?
When you learn English with movies or series, you learn English used by native speakers. In movies, you’ll hear natural pronunciation, everyday vocabulary, spoken grammar, common idioms, and slang. Even better, you will learn these from interesting and emotional stories. Movies (and series) are a powerful way to improve your English with the added benefit that you are having a good time.
Yes, maybe you will work slowly through a movie. Your first movie might take a long time. However, as you continue you will learn faster and faster. Keep going and you will find that not only can you really enjoy the movie or series but really improve your English!
A schedule TO help you to LEARN ENGLISH WITH MOVIES & series.
Day 1. Watch 2-3 minutes scene with English subtitles. Do it 4-5 times for this day.
Day 2. Watch the same scene without subtitles. Watch the scene 4-5 times.
Day 3. Watch the same scene, pause after each sentence, and repeat after the actors. Copy their pronunciation.
Day 4. “Track” or “shadow” the same scene. Speak with the actors at the same time, no pausing. Copy their pronunciation. Use English subtitles if needed.
5. “Track” or “shadow” without subtitles and copy the pronunciation, emotions and movements of the actors.
6.You can also try to use the same scene and record your voice as you “track” or “shadow” the movie or episode. Then listen to your recording and compare your voice recording to the way the actors speak.
Learn English with Series
Learn English with Harry Potter
How to Talk About Movies in English -
QUIZ: Talking About Films
How to Talk about Movies with this helpful guide.
Type of Films
If you want to Talk about Movies, you need to learn more about the basic movie genres
| Type of Film | Characteristics |
| Horror Films | Movies with monsters |
| Action Films | Movies with battle, fights and stunts |
| Sci-Fi Movies | Stories set in the future or out of space |
| Family Movies | Films for children and adults |
| Martial Arts Films | Movies about MMA fighters |
| Adventure Films | Movies that take place in exotic places |
| Comedies | Movies intended to make laugh |
| Romantic Films | Movies about love stories |
| Documentaries | Films about real life stories |
| Animated Films | These are usually cartoons |
| Super Hero Movies | Films about heroes from comic books |
| Drama | Movies about sad and difficult situations |
Movie Terms
These are some movie that will help you go deeper in this topic.
- Script: something written by hand
- Stunt Man: a stand-in for movie stars to perform dangerous stunts
- Soundtrack: songs included in a film
- Actor: a performer in theater, television, or film
- Producer: someone who finances and supervises the making of a show
- Director: The person who directs the making of a film
- Special effect: an effect used to produce scenes that cannot be achieved by normal techniques
- Blooper: an embarrassing mistake
- Box office: the office where tickets of admission are sold
- Cast: assign the roles of (a movie or a play) to actors
- Critic: a person engaged in the analysis and interpretation of art
- Flashback: a transition in a story to an earlier event or scene
- Sequel: a part added to a book or film that continues and extends it
- Cameraman: a photographer who operates a movie camera
- Premiere: the first public performance of a play or movie
Questions to Talk about Movies
These are some common questions that you can ask when you are talking about movies.
Movies in General
- What’s your favorite movie?
- What’s your favorite horror movie?
- What kind of movies do you like?
- What’s your favorite drama film?
- What do you think about super hero movies?
- What’s your favorite actor or actress?
- Which horror movie is the scariest? Why?
- Do you like independent films?
- What movies are you looking forward to watching?
A Movie in Specific
- What do you think about the main character?
- Did you like the ending? What would you change?
- Would you recommend that movie?
Where to Watch Movies
- Do you have Netflix or any other streaming app?
- Have you ever tried HBO go?
- How often do you go to the movie theater?
- When was the last time that you went to movie theater?
For more English conversation questions about movies, check this post
Phrases to Use When you Like a movie
One of the most common questions asked after you watch a movie is how the movie was:
These are some of the phrases that people use when they consider a movie live up to their expectation
- There are great things about this film.
- Perhaps the best special effects I’ve ever seen in a movie.
- The sound effects complement the action perfectly.
- The movie is funnier than most good comedies
- I was totally blown away by this film.
- This horror movie is a masterpiece.
- Without a doubt one of the most influential films of all time
- This film should be remembered throughout history
- The movie is full of twists and surprises
- The documentary was informative
- I love how the film explores controversial topics.