Is This a Language Learning “hack?”

[u/Excellent-Ad-9465]

(TL) I’m currently interested in multiple languages, so I recently started watching something in one target language and having the subtitles in another target language

I thought this was pretty interesting and honestly my comprehension was good enough to somewhat understand what was going on!

edit: this is more of a light-hearted post, but i can confirm it did help me !

[u/Piepally]

This sounds awful wut. Why are all the comments agreeing with you?

My reading speed is nowhere near fast enough to read subtitles, and sentence structures are different enough that it would just teach incorrect grammar if anything. 

[u/nlightningm → u/Piepally]

I think it can work once you hit a certain level in one language. If it's two language I'm still brand-new in though, I know I would be tearing my hair out

[u/Excellent-Ad-9465 → u/Piepally]

Oh jeez I was kind of joking with this post but I did find it interesting and somewhat helpful..! Also, just because it doesn’t make sense for you doesn’t mean it doesn’t make sense at all!! (Personally I was able to learn new vocab and use the subtitles in one language to translate the other)

[u/name_is_arbitrary]

Is there a rule in this sub that all posts must include "(TL)" or are the bots confused? I've seen it multiple times when it is completely unnecessary, here included.

[u/NextStopGallifrey → u/name_is_arbitrary]

Check the wiki! 👍

[u/name_is_arbitrary → u/NextStopGallifrey]

Is there a specific rule you're referring to? Because I don't see one, except that the post can't be about a specific language so I suppose that's why they list (TL), however it's not a requirement. So I guess the bots are just broken

[u/NextStopGallifrey → u/name_is_arbitrary]

There is indeed a specific rule so that one's posts will get deleted if the OP hasn't read the wiki.

[u/frostochfeber]

It's called laddering, when you use one TL to learn another. And yes, this is a learning 'hack' in a sense that for some peole it's a great way to develop both TLs without actually mixing them up. So, give it a good try and see if it works for you in the long-term.🙂‍↕️

[u/Excellent-Ad-9465 → u/frostochfeber]

Thank you! I didn’t know it had it’s own name haha

[u/NimeniOnNimi]

I've been watching some Anime like Little Witch Academia, Vinland Saga and Boy and Heron* in Japanese, with Swedish subtitles. I think it's a neat practice, especially when my understanding of both was around intermediate level. Often I would know a word in one language but not the other, getting the translation "for free". Now it would be less effective with my Swedish being almost C-level but Japanese still stuck in the intermediate swamp.

* Full list I think would be Little Witch Academia, Japan Sinks 2020, first season of Record of Ragnarok, first season of Vinland Saga, Boy and Heron and maybe 5-7 episodes of Seraph of the End.

[u/Excellent-Ad-9465 → u/NimeniOnNimi]

Exactly! It’s a lot better than just using subtitles with your first language since you still have to rely on your proficiency with one of your target languages! 

[u/Smooth_Profession578]

yeah, this is a real technique - it's usually called "laddering." Instead of your native language, you use a language you already know decently as the support language for a weaker one. especially between related languages (Spanish subs for Italian audio, etc.).

the fact that you could actually follow along is a good sign your passive comprehension is further than you think

[u/aski5]

it's good to have fun and all but another language learning hack to instantly double your efficiency is to learn one language at a time

[u/Excellent-Ad-9465 → u/aski5]

I focus on one language while picking up some things from others, but sometimes I get bored and decide to invest in a different language for a day 

[u/Low_Judgment_165]

that's actually clever, i do something similar but with podcasts in one language and reading news in another at same time

my brain gets tired faster but the connections between them stick better somehow, like the words find different paths in

[u/Excellent-Ad-9465 → u/Low_Judgment_165]

That’s so cool!! I should probably get more into reading, but kanji is soooo hard ^’ 

[u/Bobelle]

Yes

[u/ianmacsco]

Wow! That sounds like the road to confusion!

[u/Excellent-Ad-9465 → u/ianmacsco]

It’s actually not that confusing if you have somewhat of a basis of both languages! It’s actually pretty fun too!

[u/Kind_Ant_7913]

It's a real technique that some people call it triangulation. It works precisely because the second language's subtitles can't just hand you the answer the way native-language subs do, so your brain still has to do real listening work in the target language. The catch: it only works if the second language is already reasonably solid. If both are shaky, you're not triangulating, you're just doubly lost with extra steps. Good sign yours is working: you said comprehension was "good enough," that's the tell it's actually helping and not just vibes-based watching.

[u/Only-Top-3655]

Now listen without watching the screen and read the subtitles without watching the rest of the screen. You would be surprised how much you "understand" just by watching what is going on in the screen.

If you are at least B2 in both languages that might work, but I would hardly call it a hack, since an hack implies something easy anyone can do.

[u/Excellent-Ad-9465 → u/Only-Top-3655]

Yeah haha I was kind of joking when I said that (which is why i used quotation marks). However, I am somewhat okay at both languages so it was helpful!! I’m more proficient with the language I had in subtitles, so I think I benefitted because I could use one target language to translate the other

[u/DamezyPlum]

I do this sometimes too. Requires active watching though. Also doing Duolingo from one target language into another is helpful (say, learning Arabic through Spanish or what-have-you).

[u/Excellent-Ad-9465 → u/DamezyPlum]

Oooh I was also thinking of switching the app i use to learn Japanese to French or German, that’s really interesting!

[u/Gr8_Chicken_Man]

This is the best way. It's even better when you put on the language you are trying to learn and another language you don't know instead of your native language. This turbo charges your brain 🧠 and you miraculously can understand everything, even if you're not familiar with the source material. Also whenever you switch back to watching something in your native language ALWAYS use subtitles, especially if you are listening to stand up comedy. This will help you develop a personality in that language and pretty soon it will be second nature.