GIVE ANSWERS - English

It's not just enough to "watch a video".

It's definitely correct *not* to watch videos with subtitles.

There are some language teachers out there who recommend using videos with subtitles. What I notice about such teachers when they are non-native speakers is that they have relatively poor listening skills - usually poor listening accuracy.

A better strategy for listening practice with videos is *without subtitles* to firstly watch the first few minutes of the video.

There are a few reasons for that. Firstly, it takes a bit of time to get used to someone's accent/general way of speaking. It's more difficult if you are not a native speaker.

The first part of any well-made movie/video will have the first few minutes using relatively simple language - even for native speakers. There's a good reason for that. It takes about 2 1/2 minutes even for a native speaker to properly get used to someone's speaking if they have never heard that person before.

So, better to watch the start of a video several times to firstly get used to the way of speaking. After watching it several times, you should be able to better understand the speaking.

Now, if you don't understand the main idea of what is being said after watching 2 or 3 times the beginning of what you are watching - then the video is too difficult for your listening skill level!!!!! Try to watch something else.

If you watch with subtitles at the start, then you are probably going to fool yourself that you understand what you are hearing.

In general, listening with subtitles is a very bad thing - you don't get listening practice, you get good at predicting what you are hearing because the subtitles are always prompting you about what you are going to hear

Thanks !