Many parents wonder if it is good for their children to watch movies and TV series in English. The answer is yes, it is beneficial for children to learn English in this way. They will learn vocabulary, oral skills, habits of reflection, and thinking styles. In addition, the contents will offer you a broader vision of society and human relations. English TV shows offer a very diverse educational environment, which makes it a great way to learn the language.
Studies show that children who learn English by watching television series and movies in English have a higher level of English than children who do not. In this way they learn the language naturally and it is faster and more efficient. Another advantage is that children will be familiar with the accent from an early age and with the native pronunciation of the language.
Statistical data do not hesitate to point to the enormous educational power of watching series and movies in English. For example, according to the Canadian Ministry of Education, 78% of people who have learned a language using movies or television series have done so in English, more than any other language. Numerous studies also show that 60% of students who learn English using movies or TV series do better than learning it without watching it.
There are many reasons to affirm them and here we are going to list the main three:
- They learn naturally. This is because the human brain is programmed to learn naturally through imitation. By watching movies and TV series in English, children will be hearing the language spoken by native speakers, which helps them internalize the sound and rhythm of the language.
- Watching movies and series in English helps them become familiar with the vocabulary and grammar of the language. By listening to the language spoken by native speakers, children learn new words and expressions naturally. They can also become familiar with the grammar of the language as they are hearing it in context.
- Children can learn a lot about other cultures. By seeing how other people live in other parts of the world, children can develop a greater understanding and respect for different cultures. This is very important in an increasingly globalized world.
By doing this practice, they will be exposed to a larger vocabulary and, therefore, they will learn the language faster. So, if you want your children to learn English easily and effectively, we recommend series and movies in English. They will surely love it and, in addition, they will learn the language fluently and with less effort.
For example, one of the advantages of living the "homestay Ireland" experience, or said in Spanish, a host family in Ireland, is that there your children will be able to watch television in English and then put into practice everything they have learned. In order to tell you more about the best series and movies in English in this post, we have asked some of our host families in Dublin and they have offered us different options that we tell you below:
- sesame street
Sesame Street is one of the most popular television series for children. It began broadcasting in 1969 and has helped millions of children learn English. The series focuses on education, but it is also very funny and that is why children love it. They will learn numbers, letters, vocabulary and much more.
- dora the explorer
Dora the Explorer is another great children's television series. The series follows the adventures of Dora and her best friend, Boots, as they explore the world together. The children will learn vocabulary in English, so it is another series that encourages the learning of the smallest of the house in addition to teaching values.
- SpongeBob SquarePants
For those who are a little older and have a higher level of English, SpongeBob SquarePants can be a good option to further their learning. The series focuses on the adventures of a sea sponge named SpongeBob and his friends on the seabed. Children will learn English vocabulary as well as numbers and letters.
These are the recommendations that some of our hosting family Dublin make us in terms of television series, but we also wanted to ask the host families about the movies that they recommend us with the same objective: to learn English. These are the results.
- toy story
Toy Story is one of the most popular movies for children. The film tells the story of a group of toys with which children will learn vocabulary in English and will be able to put it into practice in a fun way.
- Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo is another great movie for children. The film tells the story of a fish named Nemo who is lost in the ocean and his father, Marlin, who searches for him. You will go through numerous adventures, without a doubt the children will have fun while they learn.
- The Lion King
The Lion King is another of the most popular movies for the little ones in the house. It has a slightly higher degree of difficulty due to the numerous characters and thanks to the songs that the film contains, children will enjoy learning English at the same time.
Other recommendations for slightly higher ages are movies like The Harry Potter saga, Doctor Who and Sherlock, they will raise the level of difficulty and help them to have a better understanding of the language.
In conclusion, watching movies and TV series in English is a very effective way to help children learn the language. It helps them become familiar with vocabulary and grammar. Of course, the best way to do it is through what we call English summer, but this would be a good way for children to practice all year long so that they can put it into practice later.
Television programs in other languages offer an excellent form of training for logical thinking, speaking skills, analysis and other skills necessary for learning. In addition, the contents offer you a broader vision of society and human relations than traditional content and you can learn about a real context. For this reason it will be easier for them to apply the learned vocabulary later.