The Dual Impact of Spanish Accents in Films on Comprehension and Learning
Learning a new language through film has long been a successful method, but when we take Spanish for example, accents are liable to toss language learners for loops. Spanish is an ocean of accents, sometimes rich and fascinating, sometimes just plain bewildering. Some best spanish films for learning spanish because they manage to include characteristic dialects from both Spain and Latin America in a single film. But what can they do when they find themselves in that very instant, caught between the rolling of Castilian Spanish and the melodic cadences of Argentine Spanish? Ladies and gentlemen, this is a cinematographic conundrum.
Take an example: you turn on a Spanish film set in Madrid. The characters chat at top speed with local slang in every sentence. You spend your time going over scenes as if you were picking a record as a DJ, trying to make out what they are saying amid cranky on-rushing talk. The Castillian “theta” sound may be particularly troublesome if you are used to Latin American Spanish. This sound is likened to child lisp and has earned films featuring it the nickname “the movies where everybody talks like Daffy Duck” among beginning learners. Still, however high the bar is set for would-be Spanish linguists, it gives at least some insight into Spain’s way of speaking.
On the other side, movies from Latin America offer a whole new ball game. If you have seen Argentine films, you’ll know they speak differently. Most people employ “voseo”– a special form of addressing others–as well as words that seem nearly Italian given the country’s Italian influences. “I watched an Argentinian film once in the hope it would help improve my Spanish,” said my friend Lisa. “But by the end, I was feeling like I needed to go visit Buenos Aires just keep up.” It is almost surreal that one language can still sound so different.
However, have a look at the twist: By selecting films after a certain accent, learners are pushed into the deep end – it’s sink or swim. On the other hand, if you can overcome the initial struggles of hearing different accents, later on, your listening ability will be improved. In the end, those who stick with it often find they have a more sensitive ear, and are therefore better equipped to pick up subtleties when dealing with native speakers. Think of this as an exercise for your ears.
Spanish films displaying an accent come in a range of formats. Not only drama but also documentaries set out this accent’s distinctive qualities well. I recall one about Spanish cooking; chefs from various regions each introduced their loud dishes on screen and in person. Each chef spoke passionately of his culinary art–Read: He spoke loud enough to give the dim-witted English-speaking audience a headache. But understanding their dialect was like following a recipe from two different countries. Nonetheless, the authentic flavor they communicated through their words enriched what a generic voiceover might have smoothed over.
Ever feel like you are talking to a brick wall when trying to understand a different Spanish accent? Well, don’t worry. There are tools to help you along your journey of understanding. Subtitles can be both a life raft and a learning aid. Turn them on and then parse sentences. In this way, sound is associated with meaning and that does wonders for both comprehension and memorization.
Picking Up Spanish Idioms Through Film Fun
So you’re trying to learn Spanish and coming close to pulling your hair out because these idioms are about as slippery as a fish. Nope, don’t get the dictionary just yet. Have you thought about putting on some of the best Spanish films for learning Spanish? You know, those movies that will talk to you in a way that no book ever does – pop, crackle and snap! Let’s get to watching.
First, have a seat and get ready to watch with complete concentration the movie that has glued me right here “The Secret in Their Eyes.” But it’s more than just suspense. Here’s a goodie: “Quien no llora, no mama” (he who does not cry, will not get a suck). That means if you don’t ask, you don’t get it. While the action mounts you get one figure of speech after another: Look upon them as small, verbal Easter Eggs are found in your backyard.
Well, maybe thrillers are not to your taste. If they aren’t, there’s Volver directed by master carpenter Pedro Almodóvar, that might suit you. As idioms go up like popcorn in a drive-in movie. Here’s a winner: “Estar de mala leche”. It means being in a bad mood. Sounds a bit funnier, doesn’t it?
For a film that dances to a different beat altogether, “Y Tu Mamá También” captures the spirit of youth and a hint of rebellion-one idiom after another. You’ll run across phrases that not only have more than one meaning, but a secret flip side, like “Ponerte las pilas” which bizarrely means “To get your shit together” rather than anything about batteries.
Romantic? Tres metros sobre el cielo will make your heart do calypso and carry you off into the unknown. Characters in the love story struggle with emotions. In there somewhere is “dar en el clavo” which means to hit the nail on the head. Rather fitting for a life lesson wrapped in romance, wouldn’t you say?
Even animation can be a great opportunity. Take Coco. Yes, it’s primarily for kids, but you’d be surprised how much you can get out of it like a sponge. You’ll happen upon vibrant phrases such as “Dar calabazas,” cast off the literal pumpkins and catch on how what it means to reject someone. Interesting twist, eh?
The final treat–“Relatos salvajes” is a quirky wild ride. There’s not a dull moment in this roller coaster film. As you plot its rich modulations and try to remember every rhythm name, catchphrases crop up like “empezar la casa por el tejado.” This roughly translates as doing things in entirely the wrong order. How about seeing the movie without subtitles and working that one out–an elaborate puzzle for your brain as well as a language lesson?
It was Here is a page with all that, including how they say it at the local spar: Because if you go through these movies with a fine-tooth comb, digesting vocabulary extends to engulfing New Latin American culture shocks We begin to find that each scene is like one of those ditties which get into your head and won’t be dislodged. They show you the pulse of Spanish-speaking communities as never before. It’s not just what they say it–though that counts too–but how they say it: the rhythm, the pitch, the cadence.