Ask HN: What do I say to a kid asking how he can better learn English?

1 pointdevoutsalsa3 comments

I’m visiting India. A couple of kids wanted to practice speaking English with me. They both asked me how they can better learn English, especially since their local community doesn’t speak much English. What can I tell them? They are both about 12 years old.

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Netflix or YouTube with subtitles, simple as that. Sounds silly, but works amazingly well.

https://ejoy-english.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-learning...

We use a similar method with my older daughter, but we used DVD so she could choose the language of the audio and also the languages of the subtitles. Young kids love to see the same movie again, and again, and again. The order for each movie was something like:

1) Spanish audio

2) English audio + Spanish subtitles

3) English audio + English subtitles

4) English audio

If they are from a middle-class family up and can afford some tech and parental assistance, enhanced subtitles is indeed a good idea. Other services include https://subtly.media/ and https://www.languagereactor.com/.

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