Why I Enjoy Watching Films with Subtitles

When I was younger, I refused to watch any movies, shows, or even Youtube videos with closed captions, even if the production was in English. I believed to have fully understood what I watched and despised that subtitles covered a part of the screen. 

At home, my mom would always watch Filipino dramas called “Teleseryes.” I complained and begged her to watch something else because I did not understand a single word. It was a “laugh when they laugh” and a “cry when they cry” moment for me. While I could mildly comprehend what was going on, I did not care enough to understand what she was watching.

My mom encouraged me to become more open-minded about these teleseryes and decided that it was about time that I learn how to speak Tagalog. She told me that one of the easiest ways to learn is by watching Filipino movies. Surprisingly, we were able to find movies on Youtube with English subtitles. The more I watched, the better I could understand. Since then, I have enjoyed watching Filipino movies because of how cheesy they can be and how well I comprehended the film from the English subtitles. 

Not too long ago, my sister discovered a Netflix original from Spain named “La Casa de Papel.” She encouraged me to watch it even though we both are not very fluent in Spanish. I completed all the available episodes in what had to be one week. I noticed that I picked up many Spanish phrases and could not have spent my quarantine any better. Álex Pina and Javier Gómez Santander so cleverly wrote the show. I cannot spoil it. 

Watching any production with subtitles will almost guarantee full comprehension of the story that the writers and producers create for their audience. Closed captions require undivided attention, especially with audio that not everyone can understand. With these simple additions for any global production, almost anyone from anywhere can learn more about different cultures.