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How To Find A Fun Foreign Movie To Watch
by Nathalie Fairbanks
Movie tastes differ. Deciding on a "fun" movie to watch with a friend or spouse can be a prelude to unexpected power struggles. Add subtitles and the negotiation time lengthens exponentially!
If you plan on involving friends with your language learning journey and inviting them to see a foreign movie with you, you'd better pick a good one. I never realized how averse many people are to watching a movie with subtitles until one of my friends flatly refused to go with me...
Where do you go for help?
Personal recommendations are my preferred way of choosing movies to watch, so asking your language teacher is a first step.
Particularly if you are concerned about ratings and appropriateness of content, asking someone you trust can be vital, as many foreign movies are not rated.
If your language teacher hasn't already given you a list of good movies to watch, you can use the links below. Some of the sites are in English, some in French, German or Spanish, so you can check the description before taking someone to see a movie you don't know!
FRENCH
Films de France
A site for people who love French movies! I particularly like the "best of" lists--a good place to start. In English.
Cinema Francais
Any French movie description you need, you'll find it here. In French.
Francais par le Cinema
Learn French with French movies! Their "domaines professionels" tab has a useful list of movies organized by industry to help you learn vocabulary relevant to your occupation. In French.
GERMAN
German About.com
Great compilation of movies for German learners. Also check out the next page with a list of movies in English that play in Germany/Austria/Switzerland.
Vistawide
Scroll down and you'll get an extensive list of German movies. The left column lists their English titles, which is helpful for locating the movie with subtitles.
Film Portal
German movie site with news and reviews of the movie world.
SPANISH
Mission College
This is a list from a college language department. It gives you a description and a rating.
Spanish Multi Media
Extensive list of Spanish language movies for sale, all with descriptions. The VHS versions cost next to nothing!
Todo Cine
Spanish movie site about movies in all languages. You can sign up for a weekly e-newsletter (boletín semanal).
It sounds like a lot of work, but it's well worth the trouble! If you can't find subtitles for the movie you're looking for, try this site: Free Subtitles
Where do I get foreign language movies?
If you live in the United States, I recommend getting a Netflix subscription at Netflix. Before you do, make a list of the movies you'd like to see and check if they have them: Browse Netflix
Amazon has a good selection of foreign movies if you're into buying them. You can also try your local library--chances are that you can get them through the national library system.
And now... Make some popcorn and enjoy your movie!
© 2008 Nathalie V. Fairbanks
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? You may, as long as you include this blurb with it: SpeakEZ Languages publishes "Language Learning Express," a free bi-weekly e-zine for language learners who are eager to discover the secrets of efficient language learning, transition seamlessly into a new culture and have fun on the way. Get your FREE subscription and your FREE e-book now at http://www.SpeakEZLanguages.com.
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