how much foreign TV/Cinema to learn language?

[vash]

I know many a mom or auntie that told me they learned English watching our TV. to a certain degree, I picked up a few pointers off Sesame Street as a young 1st gen American kid.

is this even possible? I do think I learned basic phrases of Korean off of my wife's Korean dramas. I can say hello, thanks, yes, no...
I'm picking up some Japanese. I at least know how to act at a restaurant, and what to say or not say.

I wish of all wishes I was multi lingual. like fluent in 6 languages. that would be so sick!!!

I dont think TV will get it done and my aunties are full of it. hahaha.. no way they learned English watching Gun Smoke...

[masraum]

I've wondered the same. I've "heard" usually on movies or shows about folks learning English from watching entertainment. I assume you could learn that way, but I assume that unless you're either gifted at learning languages or have a little bit of existing knowledge of the language that you'd need to supplement with vocab books and use closed captioning (in the language that you're trying to learn).

I think it would be a great supplement if you're learning a language and don't have the opportunity for total immersion. If you aren't taking Spanish classes while living in Spain, then taking Spanish classes while watching as much Spanish TV/movies as possible should speed you along some (probably have to be careful of things like Mexican vs Spanish, etc...).

I'm super curious to see how this thread goes. I'd love to learn Spanish and Japanese (to start). The only thing holding me back is me and my drive to do that vs sit on my butt and surf PP or the Internet or lounge in front of the boob-tube. I'm such a slacker! I need drive like Flatbutt has!

That's how Antonio Banderas learned whatever language the vikings were talking in "The 13th Warrior". He listened!

[stevej37]

What about using the cellphone for language translation?......I wonder if that helps learn.