Postgraduate Students’ Perceptions Towards Using Subtitled Movies in Improving English Language

Abstract

Educators are always searching for interesting and innovative ways to help language learners—especially adults—to learn language effectively, as language acquisition is often challenging for them. Nowadays, one of the most effective ways to learn languages is by using movies with subtitles. This is because subtitled movies provide entertainment and contribute to many language inputs, as the combination of audiovisual elements and text in them can create an authentic learning experience. Therefore, this study explores the effect of subtitled movies on English language acquisition among postgraduate students. The research employed a qualitative method where semi-structured interviews were conducted by interviewing 12 postgraduate students from a local university in Malaysia. The findings revealed that subtitled movies are effective in language learning to improve language skills. Hence, this study demonstrates the potential of subtitled movies as valuable learning material in language learning, suggesting their integration into the education curriculum, and may contribute to the growing research on the use of subtitled movies in language learning, providing insightful understanding for educators and policymakers in the field of language education.