Language learning with Apps or Netflix ? Which one is better?
If you were a languages learner one or two decades ago, you would probably go to languages academies or buy a bunch of books to learn a language. But nowadays language learners learn languages with apps or Netflix.
Language learning apps are so varied, complete, and interesting that most language learners are obsessed with them. Some say that language learning apps are taking the place of classrooms and books. The other thing that language learners are obsessed with is Netflix. Netflix has movies and TV series from all over the world. It is also backed by science that watching movies and series is the best way to learn a language.
So which one is it? Should we learn languages with apps or Netflix? How to learn languages with Netflix or apps? What are the best language learning apps? To know the answer to these questions, keep on reading.
How can I learn languages with apps on my phone?
Discipline; all you need is discipline. First, you must choose one language learning app from all the language learning apps that exist in the app stores. And I recommend choosing only one app. Because if you choose more than one, you might get confused switching between them. Unless you choose two apps in different styles. For r instance, you can have Duolingo, which teaches vocabulary, grammar, and cover listening and a few speaking skills, and also have Memrise that only focuses on vocabulary.
Most language learning apps have courses and by completing one course you can go to the next level course. You have to choose a time in a day to check out the app for your course of the day. It could be early in the morning, after lunch, before sleeping, or any other time. But be committed to this specific time every day. Because one you must have daily persistence. So you can stay in the language learning mood and learn better.
By doing these two tips, which are choosing an app and doing at least one course every day, you can reach level B2 in 7 months.
Do language apps really work?
There are so many people who have learned a language just by using language learning courses. So if you’re wondering if language apps really work, I have to say the results that they give you will definitely satisfy you on some levels. But make sure to choose the right language learning app that suits your taste, goals, and personality. Because if you choose the wrong app, it might bore and disappoint you until you give up in the middle of the way. Don’t worry about this part. If you want a guide on which language learning app to choose, click here.
The benefits of language learning with apps
Let’s see why you should learn languages with apps. There are some good reasons. For instance:
- You can control how much you want to study in the day
- It is up to you what time of the day you want to study
- It’s not boring like books and classes.
- Language learning apps are mostly totally free
- You can skip any time you don’t feel like studying and catch up when you feel better
- You can learn your target language anytime and at any place. So you use your free time in the best way possible
- There are so many language learning apps and you can choose an app that suits your desire
The disadvantages of language learning with apps
They’re not flexible and functionally limited.
When you learn a language, you earn a second personality. You can not earn a whole personality just by a mobile app. If you want to learn a language, you have to live that language. You have to be able to get yourself together like a native in unpredictable situations. While language learning apps are some predictable programmed courses that go on in a routine.
You can’t become quite fluent with language learning apps.
Fluency means being able to communicate with a native without making any of you feel uncomfortable. The highest level you can reach with language learning apps is B2, and that’s when you put your highest effort and strength and dedicate most of your time to them.
It makes you feel like you know, while you don’t.
If you have any experience in language learning besides language learning apps, you know that sometimes things get tricky and you face some challenges to learn stuff. But when you’re using language learning apps, things are breezy and go forward like a river. Of course that you have to pay attention to the courses and make a little effort. With that little effort and attention, you can do courses and get to the highest levels. This might give you false confidence and a wrong idea about what level in your target language you are at.
They won’t work unless you have self-control and discipline
Let’s take one example; one of the reasons that you study and take everything seriously when you’re learning a language by going to classes is to not get embarrassed in front of your teacher and classmates. But when you’re learning a language by apps, there is no one there to judge you. So you can skip the courses and not be serious and make mistakes as much as you want. You won’t push yourself and don’t put pressure on yourself to learn things. Sometimes the pressure is a good thing to get you going. That’s why language learning with apps won’t work unless you have strong self-control and be committed to the plan that you have made to learn your target language with apps.
You might get bored in the middle of the way
Language learning apps are programmed like games. These games are exciting and interesting at first, but after a couple of months, you might get bored and want something new. So you stop your learning process and all your hard work will be destroyed.
Smartphones are full of distractions
If you ever listened to bloggers or studygram ‘s pieces of advice, one of the things that they all say is to put away your phone while studying. Because right now phones are the number one distraction in the world. Now imagine what will happen if we want to learn something by our phones? We will be distracted by any notification and anything that exist on a smartphone; which is everything. We should not be distracted while we study and that is one of the things that reduces language learning with apps’ function.
Language learning with apps can’t make you fluent
You read about this one earlier. The highest level that you can reach with language learning apps is B2 and that’s when you put lots of time into a language learning app and do all the levels. All language learning apps can do, is teaching you some vocabulary and sentence structure which is not enough to master a language. So after finishing every level on a language learning app, you have to start over and learn some parts of your target language that actually is useful. But this time you know some stuff and your job is not that hard.
Benefits of language learning with Netflix movies and series
Movies, series, and TV shows of a country contain the language, phrases, conversation in different situations, accents, intonations, cultures, and even more. Netflix is the source of all movies and TV shows in languages from all around the world. That made Netflix a really popular platform among language learners.
The best way to learn a language is by traveling to the country the language is spoken in. This way you can learn your target language natively. But traveling is not possible for everyone at any time.
Movies and series are the best simulations of the real world. Due to the facts that you read in two paragraphs earlier. By watching movies and series, it’s like you have traveled to that country. So you learn your target language natively.
Right now in the world, language learning with Netflix is the most popular and the most recommended way. Language learning with Netflix has all the benefits from books, classes, apps and has fewer disadvantages of them all.
Disadvantages of language learning with Netflix
Since language learning with Netflix is like learning your target language like natives, it does not have many disadvantages. Actually, language learning with Netflix is the best, safest, easiest, and most efficient way to learn a language. You also have to know that learning a language just by watching Netflix requires binge-watching Netflix, which could create addiction. But what addiction is better than the addiction of learning?
It’s better to sit in a standard position and distance from the screen while watching Netflix to learn a language. So you don’t hurt your eyes and bones.
Try not to snack while language learning with Netflix. So you don’t gain unwanted pounds.
Don’t let the show that you’re watching to learn a language, disrupt your sleeping schedule. Choose a reasonable time of the day for language learning with Netflix that does not ruin your other plans like school studying, sleeping, hanging out with your loved ones, or other things.
These were the disadvantages and the damages of language learning with Netflix. But all of them have solutions and ways to be reduced.
Language learning with Netflix Google Chrome extension
Language learning with Netflix got more and more popular as time went by. Therefore people started requesting more as they always do. So technology scientists and language experts collaborated and they invented language learning with Netflix Google Chrome extension.
Honestly, watching Netflix to learn a language is pointless; unless you have language learning with Netflix Google Chrome extension. This language learning Google Chrome extension gives your Netflix a language learning theme. It gives you so many language learning options that make you learn your target language every time you’re watching Netflix. These options make your job as a language learner easier and faster. Plus, the programming of this extension is so interesting and comfortable that makes working with it so easy, lovely, and addicting.
There is no disadvantage or a bad point about learning a language with this extension. Actually, the most efficient way to learn a language is language learning with Netflix Google Chrome extension.
Click here to download language learning with Netflix Google Chrome extension.
Watch this two minutes video to find out more about this language learning Google Chrome extension.
How does language learning with Netflix Google Chrome extension make me fluent?
As you read earlier, this language learning Google Chrome extension gives you options that make language learning a lot easier and faster. Some of these options are
Dual subtitles
One of the common questions that all language learners face during their language learning journey is about subtitles. They don’t know if they should use subtitles while watching movies to learn a language or not? If the answer is yes, should they watch with their mother language subtitles or their target language subtitles?
Before this extension was invented, language learning experts suggested that it’s better to watch a series or a movie twice; once with the mother language’s subtitles and the second time with the target language’s subtitles. But watching something twice takes lots of time and energy.
With this Google Chrome extension, you can have dual subtitles. This means you can have two titles on the screen at the same time. You can choose your target language as the upper subtitle so you can see the word’s writing and pronunciation, and put your mother language’s subtitles as the lower subtitle so you can understand the meaning of words and sentences.
Instant dictionary
If you want to know the meaning of a specific word or sentence on the subtitles, all you have to do is to hover the mouse over it and get the meaning right away. This is so fast and easy.
Save words and phrases
You can save words and sentences from subtitles for later review. Save them with just one click and they will be saved in the sidebar.
Download saved words and phrases
Export your saved words and sentences as:
-Text file
-Anki/CSV file
-Anki flashcard
-PDF file
The auto-pause button
When you activate the autopause button you can put it on two modes:
-The video stops after every sentence and will start playing again when you press the space key.
-The video stops after every sentence and will start playing again after a few seconds. You can choose the pausing time in the setting section.
Make different fun exercises with the auto-pause button. For instance, you can repeat the sentence in the pausing time.
Keyboard shortcuts
Control features on the screen with your keyboard. To use, first activate the shortcuts from the settings.
- Speed up playback –> R
- Normal playback –> E
- Slow down playback –>W
- Play / Pause Space
- Next –>D
- Previous –> A
Download subtitles for offline review
Download the whole subtitles of a video for offline review.
Upload subtitles to videos
If you ever come across a film on YouTube or Netflix that doesn’t have subtitles on its own, you can find subtitles for it from somewhere else and upload it to that film.
language learning Google Chrome extension for Amazon Prime
There is a language learning Google Chrome extension for Amazon Prime with the same exact features. Click here to download and read about how to learn a language with Amazon Prime here.
Language learning with Netflix Google Chrome extension price
This language learning Chrome extension is totally free to download. You can use it for free and it will work for you and meet your needs. Because most of its features are free. Of course, if you get a premium you’ll get more amazing useful features.
Some of the free features:
- Dual subtitles and Choosing the languages of both subtitles
- The hover dictionary and choosing its language
- Choose both subtitles font size
- The auto-pause button
- Enable/disable the subtitles and keyboard shortcuts
- choosing the upper subtitle(target) language color
- Saving words and sentences (with a daily limit)
- Downloading saved words and sentences as a text file
- Downloading the upper and the lower subtitle
- Keyboard shortcuts\
Some of the features are for premium users
- Choosing the lower subtitle (Mother) language color
- Save and learn unlimited vocabulary and sentences
- The hover dictionary font size
- When you click on the words or sentences it will translate them for you. (This feature is free with a daily limit). But when you get premium it would be unlimited and you can choose the pronunciation’s speed.
- Choosing the sidebar translations font size
- Blur the upper or the lower subtitle, or both.
- Choosing the pausing time for the auto-pause button.
- Put the extension on the dark mode
- Choosing background and its color for subtitles
- Export your saved words as CSV, Anki, and a PDF file
Tell other language learners your opinion
Share your language learning experience with us; whether you use Netflix, language learning apps, or both in the comments section.
To know amazing tips about free and fast language learning check out learnonelanguage.com
If you want easy tutorials about how to use language learning with Netflix and YouTube Google Chrome extension check out extension.appforlanguage.com
