I use dramas to learn English
Feb 06th 2012 20:17
I use dramas and movies to learn English. I prefer dramas better than movies because the length of dramas are longer than the one of movies. I didn’t understand the contents of dramas when I saw them in English, even though I used English subtitles. However, I understand them if I use English subtitles.
I import box sets of dramas from the United Kingdom because the cost of them are cheaper than any other countries. There is a problem when you want to buy DVDs. You know, DVDs have different region codes to protect the rights of the production companies. The region code of Japan is the same as the United Kingdom, however, there is another problem. It is an analog television system. NTSC is used in Japan, but PAL is used in the United Kingdom, so you can’t watch DVDs made in the UK with a Japanese TV.
There is a solution to watch them in Japan. You can watch them with your computer.
I prefer to buy Blu-rays better than DVDs these days because Blu-rays don’t have a television system even though Blu-rays have also different region codes in different areas. Unfortunately the region code of Japan is different from the one of the UK. I almost gave up importing Blu-rays from the UK, however I found region free Blu-rays were sold.
My laptop computer isn’t suitable for mobile. It doesn’t have a long life battery, so I always have to use AC adaptor. It isn’t convenient to watch dramas. I bought a portable Blu-ray player to watch dramas on the bed.
Here’s a link to my portable player:
http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666323657
Now I enjoy watching Blu-rays on my bed.
I import box sets of dramas from the United Kingdom because the cost of them are cheaper than any other countries. There is a problem when you want to buy DVDs. You know, DVDs have different region codes to protect the rights of the production companies. The region code of Japan is the same as the United Kingdom, however, there is another problem. It is an analog television system. NTSC is used in Japan, but PAL is used in the United Kingdom, so you can’t watch DVDs made in the UK with a Japanese TV.
There is a solution to watch them in Japan. You can watch them with your computer.
I prefer to buy Blu-rays better than DVDs these days because Blu-rays don’t have a television system even though Blu-rays have also different region codes in different areas. Unfortunately the region code of Japan is different from the one of the UK. I almost gave up importing Blu-rays from the UK, however I found region free Blu-rays were sold.
My laptop computer isn’t suitable for mobile. It doesn’t have a long life battery, so I always have to use AC adaptor. It isn’t convenient to watch dramas. I bought a portable Blu-ray player to watch dramas on the bed.
Here’s a link to my portable player:
http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666323657
Now I enjoy watching Blu-rays on my bed.
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I prefer dramas better than movies because the length of dramas is are longer than that the one of movies.
However, I understand them if I use English subtitles. (this directly contradicts your previous sentence. Clarification needed)
I import box sets of dramas from the United Kingdom because the cost of that is are cheaper than importing them from any other countries.
As you know, DVDs have different region codes to protect the rights of the production companies.
It is an the analog television system (differences).
There is a solution though, if you want to watch them in Japan.
You can watch them on with your computer.
I prefer to buy Blu-rays better than DVDs these days because Blu-rays don’t have/aren't tied to a television system, even though Blu-rays also have different region codes in different areas.
Unfortunately the region code of Japan is different from that the one of the UK.
I almost gave up importing Blu-rays from the UK, however I found region free Blu-rays being were sold. (I found companies selling region free Blu-rays)
My laptop computer isn’t suitable for mobile use.
It doesn’t have a long battery life, so I always have to use the AC adaptor.
> However, I understand them if I use English subtitles. (this directly contradicts your previous sentence. Clarification needed)
I understand dramas with English subtitles now, but I didn't understand them with English subtitles when I started to learn English. It's complicated. I'm sorry.
I still don't understand them if I don't use English subtitles, but if I use English subtitles, I understand them. I don't need Japanese subtitles.
>although it didn't work too well when I was learning Japanese from anime and Chinese from period films!
Do you have a favorite anime? I'm planning to watch "Death Note" in a few weeks.
"I didn’t understand the contents of dramas when I saw them in English, even though I used English subtitles. However, I understand them if I use English subtitles."
Perhaps by adding in temporal markers, as you have used in clarification, the meaning would be a lot clearer.
"I didn’t understand the contents of dramas when I FIRST STARTED OUT watching them in English, even though I used English subtitles. However, NOW I understand them if I use English subtitles."
I think my all time favourite has got to be X by clamp. I love animes that torture the protagonists. :) I've watched the death note movies, and they're pretty good as well.
> when I FIRST STARTED OUT watching them in English, even though I used English subtitles. However, NOW I understand them if I use English subtitles."
Yes, that's what I wanted to say exactly!
> I've watched the death note movies, and they're pretty good as well.
Really? I'm looking forward to seeing it. I got a anime version of Death Note today. My son wanted to watch them, so I lent them to him first. They have original audio, so he can understand them. ;P
I prefer dramas to (or "over") movies because the length of dramas is longer than that of movies. ("Prefer" already means you like something more than something, so it is strange to say I prefer something better.)
I didn’t understand the contents of (storyline) dramas when I saw (watched) them in English, even though I used English subtitles. ("Contents" is ok, but it is a little strange. The usage in English is quite different from 内容.)
I import box sets of dramas from the United Kingdom because their cost is of them are cheaper than any other country. ("than any other ～" always uses singular.)
You know, DVDs have different region codes to protect the rights of the production companies. (Or, "to allow the production companies to sell by geographical region").
The region code of Japan is the same as the United Kingdom's; however, there is another problem. (Use a semi-colon to join two sentences by "however").
I prefer to buy Blu-rays over DVDs these days because Blu-rays don’t have a television system even though Blu-rays have also different region codes in different areas.
I almost gave up importing Blu-rays from the UK, however I found region-free Blu-rays were sold.
It isn’t convenient for watching dramas.
> ("Contents" is ok, but it is a little strange. The usage in English is quite different from 内容.)
I see. I really understood. I didn't know how to say 内容 in English. "Storyline" is a perfect word in this case!
I found I had the word "however" too much in this journal, but I didn't know how I should write such things. I will look for how to use semicolons later.
> However, semi-colons can be used to join a sentence. As a result, it is very common to write ～; however, ～.
I will try to use a semi-colon next time.
I didn't know FAN BOS. It is easy to remember the list of conjunctions.
I use/watch dramas and movies to learn English.
I prefer dramas better more than movies because the length of dramas are longer than the one of movies.
I didn’t understand the contents of dramas when I first saw them in English, even though I used English subtitles.
However, I understand them if I use English Japanese subtitles. This sentence conflicts with the previous sentence. I think you meant to say you understand the dramas with Japanese subtitles, right? Actually, it would still make sense if you meant japanese subtitles in the previous sentence, and English subtitles in this one.
I import boxed sets of dramas from the United Kingdom because the cost of them they are cheaper than from any other countries.
There is a problem, though, when you want to buy DVDs.
You know, DVDs have different region codes to protect the rights of the production companies.
The region code of for Japan is the same as for the United Kingdom; however, there is another problem. These are two independent clauses, so you need to either use them as separate sentences or separate them with a semicolon.
It The U.K. is an analog television system. I assumed japan is a digital TV system. I'm surprised to learn the is still analog! That does present a problem.
NTSC format is used in Japan, but PAL format is used in the United Kingdom, so you can’t watch DVDs made in the UK with a Japanese TV set.
However, there is a solution to allowing you to watch them in Japan.
I prefer to buy Blu-rays better rather than DVDs these days because Blu-rays don’t have rely on a television system, even though Blu-rays also have different region codes in for different areas.
Unfortunately, the region code of Japan is different from the one of in the UK.
I almost gave up importing Blu-rays from the UK, however but I found out where region-free Blu-rays were sold.
My laptop computer isn’t suitable for mobile computing.
So, I bought a portable Blu-ray player to watch dramas on the in bed.
Now I can enjoy watching Blu-rays on my in bed.
NIce portable Blue-Ray player. 5 hour battery life. You can also use it in the car.
> This sentence conflicts with the previous sentence. I think you meant to say you understand the dramas with Japanese subtitles, right?
I'm sorry I made you confused. I didn't understand dramas with English subtitles, but I understood dramas if I used Japanese subtitles. I can understand them with English subtitles now, so I can use imported DVDs and Blu-rays.
I didn't know how to explain my situation.
(1) I didn't understand dramas with English subtitles some years ago. It means that I needed Japanese subtitles when I watch American dramas.
(2) I understand them with English subtitles now.
Are they clearer than the sentence I wrote before?
> NIce portable Blue-Ray player. 5 hour battery life. You can also use it in the car.
Yes, that's right. We drive far away a few times a year to go back our hometowns. I'm looking forward to watch some movies in the car!
If you can understand English subtitles you are advanced in your study of English.
There was a podcast in Danish where the presenter spoke Danish so rapidly that it had Danish subtitles. I could read some of them, but mostly not.
Sometimes there will be a news story on coal TV from a part of the USA with strong accents, and they often use English subtitles for those who can't understand. I never had a problem understanding heavily accented English, including Australian or British English.
> There was a podcast in Danish where the presenter spoke Danish so rapidly that it had Danish subtitles. I could read some of them, but mostly not.
I understand what you meant. I got used to understand English dramas with English subtiles. I found my English was improving.
Previously I didn’t understand the contents of dramas when I watched them in English, even though I used English subtitles.
However, now I understand them if I use English subtitles.
All those region codes and such can be a hassle, but at least you found a solution to make it all work ^^
> Depending on what I'm watching I can usually understand most of it without subtitles,
You're great! I don't have any confidence to understand storylines without English subtitles...
It is difficult to get cheaper Japanese DVDs even if you live in Japan. They are so expensive!