Yes, but if you want to improve your English by this way, you should know just watch one time is not enough. You need watch them at least 3 times. This is what I do:
1st time: Watch without subtitles. (I can just understand 60-80% of the content, that's OK).
2rd time: Watch with English subtitles. (I'll meet some unknown vocabulary, This is good, record them and use dictionary to find out the meaning,  remember the scenario the word appears. ).
3rd time: Again, watch without subtitles. (This may be boring, but you will be amazing that you can understand almost all the dialog in the movie. Sometimes you can even recite the dialog.)

At last, apply what you learn in the movie in your daily life, and have fun.



Yes, that will help improve your listening (and therefore speaking), but you can't do that straight away. You still have to start off with subtitling to get a grip on what is being said, and then reduce your exposure to subtitles (if possible to do).

Some TV setboxes and programmes allow disabling of subtitles, but that may or may not be available to you.


Yes, as long as you understand what they say.

You should choose movies appropriate to your level and in increasing level of difficulty so that you can move from lower to higher levels.

Understing simply through listening (immersion) has a great appeal because people think that in that way they can skip the grammar part.

You can learn a language either deductively or inductively.

Learning deductively (focus on form) is usually easier, but some students may find it boring.

Learning inductively (e.g. watching movies without subtitles) is usually more fun, but some students may find it more difficult. The less you understand, the more you have to turn to your analytical abilities, which vary from person to person.

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I suggest you start with english subtitles. If you cut the subtitles completely, and your listening is still no up to the job, you might miss some important words and pharses (specially when there's a lot of background noise or music) that could ruin the film experience for you.

Start with english subtitles and keep trying not to read them. Knowing that they're there gives you confidence that you'll not miss anything, so you can still fully enjoy the movie while learning english. In time you'll find the subtitles are no longer necessary.



Depends on your current level of English.

If your English is Basic or Lower Intermediate - it would be a very bad idea to turn off the subtitles. It is more likely to lead you to the decision to give up your studies than to help you learn English.

I would recommend not only subtitles, but also reading transcripts. This will help you understand the phrases that you might miss when are you are watching the movie.

If your English is Upper Intermediate or above, you might try to watch movies without subtitles. Again, use a transcript to check some words you did not understand, so you will be able to learn them.

Hope this helps.


I watched English series and movies ever since I was a little girl (about 5 or 6 years old) but I live in the Netherlands so I always had Dutch subtitles.
I have to say that after a few years I began to find it distracting, there where a lot of grammar mistakes and words weren't correctly translated.
Therefore I would say: try not to watch subtitles in a different language than that of the series.

Recently I decided to look at English series on the internet, with English subtitles, and even though I still find it distracting, I'm not having much of a problem with the subtitles. Therefore I would recommend English subtitles, but keep a notebook with you while watching the show, or movie, and write down the words you don't know, then look them up. You will find that your English will improve fairly quickly.


The best advice related to watching movies with or without subtitles I've seen from a polyglot (one of a kind:) speaking 30+ languages.
He claims you'd better not use subtitles (as human brain is rather lazy).
What you do is watch the movie translated to your mother tongue first, to obtain an idea what's going on, and then continue with the original without any subtitles (neither English ones, nor translation)


It does if you are confident in you level or the movie you are watching. When I was learning Japanese I found there to be three stages.
1. Own language foreign movie or show
2. Target language with subtitles
3. RAW no subtitles
It will do wonders for you listening if you switch the subtitles off, but becareful not to get upset if you have trouble. Hang in there and you'll get used to it. Find something you love and know in your own language that has an English dub and start there.


Although I live in England for 10 years now, I always put subtitles on when possible. I'm not quite sure why. I have no problem understanding unless there is some odd accent. Perhaps I feel (and hope) it improves my spelling and I catch more words I am not familiar with more easily; while if I was only listening, I probably wouldn't notice them.
I suggest try it both ways and you will see yourself how it feels for you, which way you find yourself more perceptive, pick up more things and comprehend more about what is going on in what you are watching.





Yes, it will. Watch a movie that you have already watched in your own language that way it will be easier for you to grasp what's being said. And as Qiang Huang mentioned, you will need to watch it several times. I also like the suggestion he made for you to watch the movie with English subtitles. That way you can associate the words you're reading with their sound.

All the best to you!




Yes. Although it might be quite difficult at first. But eventually you will be able to get the hang of it.
Watch documentaries and movies where 'proper' and clear English has been used.
It helped me a lot.



Here's what I do when learning another language. I try to get a mix of both with and without subtitles. When I catch a translation mistake using sub titles,  I buy myself a beer, maybe two. When you catch mistakes, that's when you're getting good.


Sure, but you should be at least good enough to understand the main purpose of the movie. And it should be a movie with clear and good English.



It will help of course,  but if you watch movies with subtitles,  believe me it will help you more,  it will improve your grammar,  vocabulary and pronunciation skills..