NoManches wrote: I described it to you here in your first post. Apparently it went over like a lead balloon. The only reason I mention it is because you're still asking the same question.
First off, thank you so much for your advice! In that particular question I wanted to know how to improve my listening in order to watch TV in my target language. In this question, I just want to know if people think TV is efficient or not (since in my first question some people said TV wasn't that efficient because it contains a lot of visual distractions, and that I was better off listening to podcasts).
That would be me I suppose, although if it is my posting you are referring to, I hope I expressed it in a rather more nuanced way.
I don't think I would have said it has to be an either-or thing; you can do both, and you can also use audiobooks, which you were doing, although you were afraid the one you were using was too easy. (If you understood it at the 96% level, in fact it's perfect for extensive listening, and you can use it to consolidate existing vocabulary, and learn new vocabulary by context. If it really
is too easy, then find another audiobook).
Clearly the advice about podcasts was not what you wanted to hear, so you have come back here seeking reassurance that your original idea of watching TV was the "right" answer.
Well, there are a lot of answers, and what is "right" for one person isn't necessarily "right" for another; but also one person can find many answers that suit them, and the more ways you can find into your TL, the better, in general. Note that of course there are many different types of podcast, some for learners, others for native speakers, with and without transcripts. Again, it's not an "either|or" situation. What I would say, and probably did say, is that watching TV drama and especially movies without subtitles is actually an advanced skill. Which is not to say you shouldn't do it as an early stage learner, but it won't be surprising if things are hard to understand. What I would say is that if you cannot understand a well-enunciated podcast without a transcript, then your chances of understanding the mumbles and slang on the average TV drama series or movie are slim.
Since you ask about "efficiency", then I would say that in terms of words-per-minute, then no, TV (esp. drama) and movies are not particularly efficient. You will be exposed to many more words per given unit of time in an audiobook, and even more in a (speech-only) podcast at native-speaker speed. The reason is obvious: In TV (especially drama), and in movies there are dramatic pauses, musical intervals, etc, where no words are necessary. That may be fine in a visual medium, but it doesn't happen in an audio-only medium (or only rarely). Now you may say that this is not a problem, because you can use those pauses to absorb the TL words you have just heard, or read the subtitles. Fair enough, but you can do the same thing if you absolutely have to with an audiobook/podcast by hitting the pause button.
But as I say, it's not an either-or thing. Do both. Do many things.
In this post though it seems like a lot of people are in favor of TV for working on their target languages, and that has given me enough confidence to keep doing what I've been doing without feeling like I'm wasting my time.
Yes, they did, but people also added qualifications; I hope you will take note of them.
I will follow the advice you gave me in that first post which I truly appreciate. I only point all of this out because I don't want you to think I didn't pay attention to your advice. It was great advice and I will start using it this very night!
You didn't pay any attention to mine, but that's ok; I'm old enough and ugly enough not to care.
Seriously, which ever "mode" you choose (and I think you should use a lot of different modes), try to include some
intensive listening.
But, once you get there, it's all worth it and the feeling is great. It's cool knowing that I understand Spanish better and have a wider vocabulary than heritage speakers who have spoken it their whole lives. That's because they never bothered doing anything they didn't have to with it besides talking to family and friends unlike me.
THIS is exactly what I want. I want to reach a level in between a native speaker and a heritage speaker (it will be near imposible for me to reach a native like level, but I am already surpassing some heritage speakers). I think at this level you can earn the respect of native speakers
and heritage speakers, and people will feel comfortable interacting with you in your target language (their heritage/native language). This has nothing to do with competition or trying to be better than anybody. Where I live there are a ton of heritage speakers, and unless you speak better than them
and speak better Spanish than the native speakers who also speak English, it can be near imposible to find anybody to practice with. Basically, this is the level I think I can reach and will be satisfied with if I can obtain. Hopefully this made sense
Don't forget to practice your speaking then, as well as listening. Without a partner I mean, as well as with one, if you can find any.
Thanks all for the advice! I will continue with my plan of watching TV in my target language and will keep plowing through although I feel like some of the time I'm wasting my time. I suppose I won't see a huge difference until i get another 100 episodes under my belt
Fine. But don't forget it is the
listening part that is the most important, when you are "watching TV" for language-learning/maintaining/improving purposes.