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5.1 Interlingual subtitles

In this activity you are going to explore and practise the use of subtitles to support your comprehension and your language learning while watching and listening to Dr Celia Sánchez-Ramos.

Of course, subtitles are not only used for learning. Many people use subtitles when they watch films, documentaries or even when they watch music videos. Answer these questions to reflect on your own use of subtitles.

Actividad 18

Do you tend to use subtitles when watching films in Spanish or in other languages?

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Do you use subtitles in English (or your mother tongue) or in Spanish?

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If you use English or mother tongue subtitles, in what circumstances do you decide to use them?

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Answer

You might choose subtitles in your own language for a variety of reasons:

  • To help with understanding unfamiliar accents
  • Because I have hearing problems
  • To make sure I don't miss any information

If you decide to use subtitles in Spanish when watching a Spanish film, why might this be?

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Answer

You might choose subtitles in Spanish for these sort of reasons:

  • To understand everything
  • To learn new words
  • To learn new accents
  • To cope with unfamiliar accents

Actividad 19

Though you may find the use of subtitles distracting or tiring when you start, you will develop strategies to use them effectively the more you become accustomed to seeing them on screen.

Let’s look at interlingual subtitles first. Listen to Celia and find out what kind of person she is. Click the button marked CC on the screen and then watch the video with the subtitles in English turned on.

Transcript (opens in new window)

Actividad 20

In this video Celia talks about the things that make her happy. Watch the video with the English subtitles turned on and decide whether the statements are true or false.

Transcript (opens in new window)

Celia es feliz porque no pide demasiado.

 

Celia es feliz cuando ayuda a los demás.

 

Celia es feliz porque con su edad no tiene miedo.

 

Celia tiene grandes expectativas profesionales.

 

Celia es una buena ama de casa.

 

Actividad 21

Watch the final part of the video. Watch it without subtitles. Then put the following list of things Celia values in the order she mentions them in the video. Check your answer in the transcript.

Transcript (opens in new window)

La amistad

First:

Hacer agradable la vida de mi entorno

Second:

Sentirme bien conmigo misma

Third:

Poner objetivos a corto plazo y a medio plazo

Fourth:

Ilusionarme con nuevas metas

Fifth:

La automotivación

Sixth:

Using the following two lists, match each numbered item with the correct letter.

  1. La amistad

  2. Hacer agradable la vida de mi entorno

  3. Sentirme bien conmigo misma

  4. Poner objetivos a corto plazo y a medio plazo

  5. Ilusionarme con nuevas metas

  6. La automotivación

  1. First:

  2. Second:

  3. Third:

  4. Fourth:

  5. Fifth:

  6. Sixth:

The correct answers are:
  • 1 =
  • 2 =
  • 3 =
  • 4 =
  • 5 =
  • 6 =
◄Contents►Next: 5.2 Intralingual subtitles

OpenLearn - Intermediate Spanish: Understanding spoken Spanish
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