Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
English
/ Listening
Improve your English listening skills
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Study, work or travel in the UK. British
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English
/ Listening
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Improve your English listening skills
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Sections:
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Internet |
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| Radio | ||
| Television | ||
| Cassette tapes / CDs | ||
| Films | ||
| Links | ||
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Related pages:
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Speaking ; Reading ; Writing |
If your computer does not already have software for listening to sound
(audio) files, you may need to download it. The most common player is RealOne
(previously known as RealPlayer): http://www.real.com.
Instructions about how to download a free version of this player are shown at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/categories/plug/real/real.shtml?intro
Even if you are living outside the UK, you should be able to listen to British
radio stations through the internet. This is a good way to study English
before coming to the UK or after you have returned to your home country. For
the internet links to the main British stations, see below.
 |
The
Rough Guide to Internet Radio Author: L.A. Heberlein Publisher: Rough Guides Date: June 2002 |
The main TV channels in the UK are:
BBC1: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcone
BBC2: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo
ITV: http://www.itv.com
Channel 4: http://www.channel4.com
Channel 5: http://www.channel5.co.uk
BBC channels are paid for by the TV licence, but you need to buy a licence
even if you don't watch these channels. For information about TV licences, see:
Prepare/Arrival.
ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are commercial channels and are paid for by showing
advertisements between programmes.Additional satellite TV or cable
TV channels, paid for by subscriptions, are broadcast by Sky: http://www.sky.com
To find out which programmes are on television today on any of the major channels,
see: http://www.sky.com/skycom/tvguide.
Newspapers list programmes for today, and many also produce a free weekly guide
to television programmes (usually as part of Saturday or Sunday editions).
In London, the Thursday edition of the Evening Standard comes with a free weekly
entertainment guide (including TV) called Metro Life.
In the UK, most programmes on the main television channels can be seen with
the words shown at the bottom of the screen (to help people who cannot hear
well). To access this, you need a television with Teletext; use page
888. In newspaper or magazine television schedules, the programmes with Teletext
sub-titles are often marked with a * or (T). Teletext sub-titles will not appear
if you watch a recorded programme. Some programmes on Sky satellite channels
also have a text service (Sky Text).
If you have access to a DVD player or video cassette recorder
(VCR), you can study English by watching DVDs or videos
which you record yourself, borrow from a library or a friend, rent from a rental
shop, or buy from a shop. For ideas about some British films you may wish to
study, see: Britain/Films.
If you are not in the UK, you may be able to see British channels through satellite
or cable TV. Ask your provider which channels are available (you may be able
to access British channels such as BBC World). For information about BBC programmes
outside the UK, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/progs/out_index.shtml
Short television news broadcasts can be played at the websites for
- BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk
- ITN (Independent Television News): http://www.itn.co.uk
A film is the British English expression for what Americans call a movie
(a short form of "moving picture").
A script contains the words to a film (or play or television broadcast).
A transcript is a complete written copy of the words (dialogue) in the
film.
A screenplay contains instructions for the actors as well as the words
(dialogue).
A film with subtitles shows the words at the bottom of the screen. In
America, these are also called close captions (CC).
A repertory cinema shows a wide range of films, but usually shows each
film only a few times.
How can I study English using films?
Studying films can be an entertaining way of learning English and learning
about British culture
You can watch the film in a cinema, on television, on video, or on a DVD. Either
a video or DVD can be watched many times, which may be helpful if you do not
understand everything the first time you see the film. A DVD may contain information
(for example, sub-titles or background information) which is not available on
the video.
You may wish to read the book on which the film is based (or there may be a
book which was written after the film was made) - to find this, enter the film's
name into an online book service such as Amazon at http://www.amazon.co.uk
The following website provides guides to the story, main characters and English
used in a range of popular American films: http://www.eslnotes.com.
How can I see films cheaply?
Many cinemas offer discounts to students (you will need to show your card).
Some cinemas offer cheaper tickets on a certain day of the week (for example,
on Mondays).
If you are in London, you can become a student member of the National Film Theatre
(NFT). For details see http://www.bfi.org.uk/nft.
If you can use a video/DVD player, it is cheapest to borrow videos or DVDs from
a rental shop or from a library.
How can I find out what films are being shown at cinemas?
If you are in London, see the Hot Tickets section of the Evening Standard's site http://www.thisislondon.co.uk
How can I find the words to a film (the script)?
Many film scripts are available free on the internet.
One list of film scripts is provided by Simply Scripts at http://www.simplyscripts.com/fullmovie.html.
The list of British films (see below) shows if the script are available from
this site.
Alternatively, use a search engine (such as Google at http://www.google.co.uk)
with the name of a film (in quotes if it has more than one word) and the words
"script", "transcript" or "screenplay". For example,
if you use a search +"Notting Hill"+script you should be able to find
a copy of the words to the film "Notting Hill"
For studying, you may find it convenient to buy the book which goes with the
film (if there is one)
How can I see a film with the words written on the screen (sub-titles)?
It can be easier to understand an English film if the words are shown, either
in English or in your language, at the bottom of the screen ("sub-titles")
A range of videos showing original British film classics with English subtitles
and a booklet containing the complete film script, as well as notes and activities,
has been produced by Lazzaretti Publisher (note that UK videos may not be playable
in some foreign countries) [how do you get these?]
If you see an English-language film in your own country (or a film from your
own country in the UK), try to watch the original version with sub-titles instead
of a "dubbed" version (in which voices have been changed)
Note that DVDs may allow you to add English sub-titles to a film
If you are watching a film on television in the UK, you may be able to add sub-titles
using Teletext page 888
If I buy a British DVD, will I be able to watch it in my own country?
To play a DVD, your DVD player needs to be able to recognise the region and
the video format
There are 6 main regions:
1 - US/Canada
2 - UK/Europe/Japan/South Africa/Middle East
3 - Asia
4 - Australia/New Zealand
5 - Russia/Africa/Mongolia
6 - China
There are two main video formats: NTSC and PAL. British DVDs use the PAL
format.
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