There is growing evidence that language learners can improve their comprehension, pronunciation and grammar skills by watching television. Learn about different series and tips for learning German in this post.
A European Commission survey on the use of subtitles to promote language learning and improve foreign language proficiency showed that regions that use subtitles to make foreign language films and television programs accessible, such as Sweden, Denmark or Flanders, have substantial benefits in terms of language learning compared to dubbing countries.
A good way to gain listening comprehension before taking a German course in Germany is to watch TV series in German.
The goal of watching television in a secondary language should be the same as in the first language: to have fun and enjoy yourself. It is not necessary to understand every word, sentence or phrase. The aim should be to have sufficient understanding to motivate further visualization. Understanding will improve with increased exposure.
Watching series on a regular basis is fundamental for learning. We learn very little by watching television for an hour, but we can get great benefits from watching a lot of television in the language we want to learn.
Because understanding television will be difficult at first, it is important to use strategies to support learning. You can start by watching the episodes with subtitles in your native language, then with subtitles in the second language, and finally, without subtitles. Another way to increase comprehension is to watch the same episode several times. Research shows that language comprehension and learning are enhanced by viewing the same content repeatedly.
With all this you will be able to learn the most common words, since most languages follow the Pareto principle, i.e. the 1000 most common words cover more than 80% of the speech. This means that you can understand most real-life conversations by learning the 1000 most frequent words.
You can follow all these tips to watch TV in any language. But from Ynsitu we are going to focus on German, so we have made a list with five series in this language for you to choose the one you like the most and start learning this wonderful language.
5 GERMAN SERIES
DARK
Dark is a German thriller and science fiction television series. After the disappearance of a child, Dark follows the characters in the fictional German town of Winden in their search for the truth. Follow the connections between four separate families to unravel a sinister time travel conspiracy spanning generations. The series explores the existential implications of time and its effect on human nature.
BABYLON BERLIN
Babylon Berlin is a German historical and crime television series. The series reproduces a police investigation in the city of Berlin between 1929 and 1934 in the Weimar Republic. It was a blockbuster production in which several German broadcasters collaborated.
DOCTOR’S DIARY
Doctor’s Diary is a German-Austrian medical drama with three seasons that aired between 2008 and 2011. The series revolves around the life of Margarete “Gretchen” Haase, who after being left at the altar, the doctor gets a job at her father’s hospital, where she reconnects with an old school sweetheart. She tries to strike up a relationship, but his commitment issues get in the way due to his tormented past. In the meantime, she is caught between pursuing a career and finding love.
STROMBERG
Stromberg is a comedy centered on the incompetent head of a German insurance office. It was launched in 2004 and is in its fifth season. It has become one of the most popular comedy programs in German-speaking countries and was honored with many awards such as the Deutscher Fernsehpreis. Its success also generated other media such as a book and a feature film.
TATORT
Tatort is a crime series broadcast from 1970 to the present. The series follows various groups of detectives, inspectors and members of the German police who are tasked with investigating and solving different crimes that occur in cities around Germany. The different dialects, customs and architectures of the cities are also an important part of the series.
Now you have everything ready to start learning this language in a fun and enjoyable way before you start your German course abroad. And if you have any questions regarding the courses, don’t hesitate to contact us! We will answer all your questions.