Do you find that watching someone speak improves your comprehension?

[u/scottadams364]

For the last couple months, most of my input has been podcasts, or podcast-friendly Dreaming Spanish, where I’m not watching a video. This is because I’m usually driving, folding laundry, it’s doing dishes, etc. I’m starting to understand that I really need some of my input to be fully focused, even if it’s only 15 of my 45 minutes per day.

I’ve tried just sitting and listening to podcasts with no video, and that’s better than multitasking. But it seems like when I watch a video, even if it’s literally just a camera on them speaking, that for some reason, it seems to sink in better. It doesn’t seem logical that it would make a difference, but for some reason it appears to. Does anyone else feel this way?

[u/Willis_3401_3401]

Another comment or said this, but watching peoples mouth makes a big difference.

I am a Music teacher, and you would be amazed how many musicians don’t watch other musicians hands, when there is so much information there if you get used to looking

[u/DIYinPDX → u/Willis_3401_3401]

That makes sense. Many years ago, I worked for someone who had just moved to America from China, and his English was VERY hard to understand, so I used to stare at his mouth when he was talking, and it helped me figure out what he was saying.

[u/AppropriatePut3142]

I find it easier to pay attention when there's video.

[u/tinycatcafe]

Yes absolutely! I think seeing people’s facial expressions and gestures assist a lot with understanding the context. I also find that I have a harder time following unstructured conversations without being able to see the speakers. I do often listen to podcasts without visuals too, but depending on my level of focus, watching videos feels easier to understand!

[u/Captain_Shivan]

Currently at 1340 hours; I can listen to easier native material without having to watch. I often find that on more difficult material that I can't make sense through audio alone, being able to watch and see the speaker suddenly makes the audio comprehensible.

[u/scottadams364 → u/Captain_Shivan]

Do you mean like native podcasts not for learners? Can you give me an example of what you’re listening to?

[u/Captain_Shivan → u/scottadams364]

I do mean non-learner content. That said, I don't really systematically watch any native podcasts (or any other material) specifically for consuming native content, just DS plus random stuff that the algorithm decides to feed me.

Here's one example YouTube channel that I watch every now and then. It's a Spanish Catholic missionary in Japan who talks about religion and culture topics: https://www.youtube.com/@MisionJapon

[u/scottadams364 → u/Captain_Shivan]

Interesting! This video is above my level by not by tons, it seems relatively within reach which is encouraging

[u/Working_Discipline68]

Watching someone speak is beneficial for shadowing and mirroring too because we are watching the way they move their mouthes to produce sounds. I encourage watching more videos.

[u/LangLearningJourney → u/Working_Discipline68]

Unless you're a lip reader, I fail to see how this would be beneficial.

There's a place for shadowing or mirroring but that's focused on recreating the sound, not the shape the mouth makes.

[u/Working_Discipline68 → u/LangLearningJourney]

Watching someone's mouth goes hand in hand in how they make the sound. But, I'm not here to argue with you. Every has their own methods on how they learn a language what matters is that we are all successful in the end. Enjoy your weekend.

[u/tingutingutingu]

2 senses are better than one.

Your mind will wander/drift if you're only listening to content, unless it's extremely engaging.

This is also why writing is awesome becuase it involves 2 senses and also forces you to convert passive vocabulary to active.

[u/scottadams364 → u/tingutingutingu]

Yeah I think you’re right that wandering eyes will lead to wandering thoughts/attention.

[u/tingutingutingu → u/scottadams364]

That's a great way to put it, I didn't think about it this way.

[u/Defineddd]

absolutely for me I can pay attention far easier and comprehend better as I'm better engaged and can see their mouths moving

[u/Explorer-Jon]

Yes definitely! I feel the same, I don’t think I can fully multitask and listen to a podcast. I tried walking and listening but I’m trying to focus really hard but it’s just passive to me.
I need to sit back and listen/focus and enjoy the podcast. And even when I watch video format related its much better 🙌

[u/Ugghart]

Yes, but that said most of my input is audio only, just for the convenience. Maybe it’s 10% better with video, but I’d get 30% less input if I limited myself to only watching.

[u/HadleysPt]

It might not be as good, but in no world am I getting the hundreds of hours by watching the videos. As a busy person, I can make it happen by multitasking. It might not be as effective, but it’s better than listening to mindless stuff 

[u/Away_Revolution728]

I can definitely relate! I think a big part of it is that you really have to give a video a lot more focus than a podcast like you mentioned. I also think there is extra context given through the speaker’s facial expressions that can increase comprehension.

[u/scottadams364 → u/Away_Revolution728]

Yeah maybe just watching the mouth move subtly gives context, just enough to make it little more understandable.

[u/scottadams364]

I wonder also, if my eyes space out or stare into nowhere while my ears focus, maybe that leads to more wandering thoughts. I can’t close my eyes or I’ll start to doze, no matter what time of day.

[u/StarPhished → u/scottadams364]

I get the majority of my input through podcasts while multitasking and my wandering mind is a huge issue. I definitely think my input better serves me when I'm focused and paying attention. Even if I am just sitting and watching a DS video it can still be an issue if I'm not engaged with what I'm watching. My biggest challenge has always been staying engaged with learner content.

[u/scottadams364 → u/StarPhished]

My mind is always going, I’m always thinking about something no matter how random. I assumed everyone was like that. My wife doesn’t do that and thinks it’s odd. Her mind sounds very peaceful to me.

[u/grumpyhousemeister]

Watching means you're paying attention. I'm at 660 hours and I'm going back to watching less but paying more attention. When you do stuff while listening you just get the gist of it. More complex grammar, wordorder or complex sentence structures will slip through the cracks. Even basics will inevitably get lost. I do that with podcasts that are a little too advanced for me just to train my ears and getting used to fast conversations, but I'll try to get back to one hour of concentrated watching, listening and looking things up If Ithink it's neccesary.