Movies are a form of entertainment only, or so we thought. A single thing can always have multiple uses, and the hidden use of movies is that it is a great learning tool. Little did we know they can help improve your understanding and spoken language.
Our perception of movies is that they are a form of distraction that hinders traditional forms of learning. Watching movies and tv shows are a waste of time for students. Nevertheless, this thinking is contrary to the reality of it all. It is a tool without the pressure of having to learn from it. Students often tend to lose focus in classrooms. Movies offer a learning tool that keeps the audience stuck to the screen until the credits roll out. Learning from movies is an experience that is more fun and preferred by students.
A different form of motivation
We all know that our classes sometimes become very boring. The conventional way to study is by reading a textbook after textbook, writing essays and doing homework. Most students rely their college tasks on EssayZoo. These students end up procrastinating, which truly hampers their learning. They are highly unmotivated, and this is where movies help in learning new skills. They offer a different form of motivation and add an element of fun. Moreover, students do not associate it with typical education, so they do not get bored with it. Besides, if we all think back to our school time, one of the best days was where we watched a movie in class.
Some might view watching them as counterproductive due to plots of some of the movies. Similar to everything else in the world, they also have a positive and negative side. It is truly a double-edged sword. If used properly, then movies impact is tremendous. It would help if you focused on using those that are appropriate for students viewing. There is a diverse range of genres, and you can find ones for educational purposes that are appropriate and also;
- Teach important life lessons,
- Are entertaining,
- Can help in learning the semantics of a language.
Cultural Diversity
Movies and TV shows offer a look into the culture and its norms. To understand a society, one only has to watch their movies which will teach you so much from the clothing they wear to the festivals they celebrate. As a teenager, I watched a lot of anime. It was usually in Japanese, but with English subtitles, I could easily understand it. I learned a lot about the culture like how they always take off their shoes when entering someone’s house and bow to elders as a form of respect. Not to mention, I was able to understand and even speak some Japanese. Movies were a great help to me in learning new skills.
In the same way, they also help many other students acquire knowledge about cultures and society. Watching movies of a specific place are useful for someone that wants to travel there or write about a character from there. If you have to write an essay but do not know anything about it, then you can avail writing services like the Perfect Essay.
Learning something new
Learning is not limited to just books alone. You can use different mediums and, in this era, where technology is so advanced and accessible, you should use it. With applications like Netflix and HBO, you can easily access any movie you want. They are an incredible tool in fast learning skills and helps in developing your language. Firstly, they help improve your spoken language. You are able to understand how to accurately pronounce words and use different idioms, phrases and sayings. You have a better insight into the context of their usage. Secondly, most movies and tv shows now come equipped with subtitles. By reading the subtitles, one can improve their reading speed and accuracy. If you read something wrong, then when the actors speak, you will be able to correct yourself. It will help with the interpretation of how to use words differently and how different tones emphasize different meanings.
Different styles and contexts
There is no one right way to learn. Every student is different and has a unique style of learning that suits them. Three of the main types are visual, auditory and verbal learning. As the names suggest, visual involves learning through observations, images and videos. Whereas in auditory, a student would prefer speech. They are quick to remember what was said. The third type is verbal or linguistic. These students focus on words, whether they read or listen to them. Movies and TV shows show what is happening while talking about it as well, so it becomes easier for students to grasps concepts watching them. These learners tend to be very imaginative, and traditional methods tend to lose their focus, but movies are an effective alternative for them.
Complex ideas made easy
We all have come across some topic or concept in school that we could not grasp for the life of us. No matter how hard we studied, it just flew past our heads. Seeing these concepts in movies used practically is a lot more helpful. Furthermore, you can use movies in learning analytical skills. For instances, if you are studying cinematography and film production, watching movies will help in understanding how to edit and what kind of scene requires what type of direction. You can pinpoint any styles you would like to try and learn how to avoid any mishaps that you may have seen. Even if you are not an EduJungles, you can write essays on movies to elaborate the plot, a review, its significance and impact. Doing this will help you improve your analytical skills.
Learning made social
People prefer to watch movies with other people. After it ends, there is usually some form of discussion which allows people to understand different perspectives and ideas. In addition to this, they can sometimes incorporate social movements to create awareness which helps broaden a person’s mindset. Multilingual people can use as a tool for learning the societal dynamics and the everyday use of a language.
Using just books for learning is a thing of the past. Unconventional learning tools like watching movies are very beneficial and helpful for students. We need to acknowledge and incorporate these for our learning as well as the students. So, we should try to remove the stigma that movies are just a distraction from education.
