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Mate: Netflix browser extension for learning words via subtitles

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Re: Mate: Netflix browser extension for learning words via subtitles

#91
There is a streaming platform Rakuten Viki (quite popular among Korean drama lovers) which already has a language learning tools as a part of the product. I haven't used it personally because they are focusing on Korean, which is not my language choice, but it looked quite nice.

Also they have a subtitling community - any user can contribute to shows translation.

I am struggling to understand why Netflix is not thinking about that. It would greatly improve the experience and, probably, user base too.

Re: Mate: Netflix browser extension for learning words via subtitles

#92
post #13

Anyone know of a "reader" app for books that does something similar? (Totally getting this though---I might not be sold on the Netflix stuff but in general this plugin seems invaluable to me at this point in my Russian skills).

You can look up words on the Kindle. And if you highlight them there are ways to access the highlighted sentences in a machine-friendly way (to i.e. export them to Anki).

Re: Mate: Netflix browser extension for learning words via subtitles

#93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I often read the subtitles before the words are spoken, which sometimes ruins the surprise when they say it.

Subs kill any comedic timing for me. Something about reading the punchline when the joke is still being setup is a bit jarring.

I base my decision on a genre I'm watching.

If it's a comedy, there's not going to be any sort of quiet sounds, so I keep the subs off. If it's an action that usually has gunshots way louder than dialogue, I'm going to adjust the volume to those gunshots and turn the subs on.

Re: Mate: Netflix browser extension for learning words via subtitles

#94
post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you do this? Target language audio with English subs?

Belgian here. Growing up, most of the stuff I watched on TV was either French or English (Belgian TV had little to offer at the time). There were no subtitles. I mamaged to pick up a good deal of French and a great deal of English in this way. I think watching things in their original language is key. You pick up on things using context, some of which is lost in translation.

I've learned English the same way. A fair amount of people in my generation learned German the same way. It boiled down to which TV channels you had access to while you were a kid, and the lucky ones learned both.

As an adult, I have way less patience to stare at a screen and try picking up stuff that I don't understand. I've tried finding some Dutch shows with English subtitles, but it was shocking how little content I could find.

Re: Mate: Netflix browser extension for learning words via subtitles

#95

Theres a ton of research on the impact of subtitles on literacy acquisition for kids. We are currently running a project aiming to convince the major broadcasters to turn these on by default for kids TV. You can find out more on www.turnonthesubtitles.org

I’ve read that reading is involuntary to literate adults. Do you know anything about this?

This is such a great idea. In my experience, most people complain the subtitles are distracting because they can’t help but focus on them and read them.

This is exactly what learner readers should be doing in front of a screen.

Re: Mate: Netflix browser extension for learning words via subtitles

#96
post #92
post #13

Anyone know of a "reader" app for books that does something similar? (Totally getting this though---I might not be sold on the Netflix stuff but in general this plugin seems invaluable to me at this point in my Russian skills).

You can look up words on the Kindle. And if you highlight them there are ways to access the highlighted sentences in a machine-friendly way (to i.e. export them to Anki).

[deleted]

Re: Mate: Netflix browser extension for learning words via subtitles

#97
post #92
post #13

Anyone know of a "reader" app for books that does something similar? (Totally getting this though---I might not be sold on the Netflix stuff but in general this plugin seems invaluable to me at this point in my Russian skills).

You can look up words on the Kindle. And if you highlight them there are ways to access the highlighted sentences in a machine-friendly way (to i.e. export them to Anki).

[deleted]

Re: Mate: Netflix browser extension for learning words via subtitles

#98

It would be cool (but super niche) to have a "wait, what was that" button in Netflix. Skip back 10s, enable subs. Would be great when you're trying not to use the subtitles, but sometimes get a bit outpaced. Edit: maybe not so niche! Someone build a WebExtension!

That works with Siri on Apple TV. Say "what did he say", and it'll jump back a bit and temporarily engage subtitles.

does it understand other genders or non gendered pronouns like "what did they say?" or maybe something more generic like "what was that?"
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