Do Subtitles Affect Language Learning?

The use of subtitles to teach a foreign language can facilitate students’ motivation and reduce the anxiety in language learning process. This study is conducted to find out the effects of using subtitles on language learning. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 20 students who watch subtitled movies regularly in their free time. The result of our study pointed out that watching subtitled movies help learners to improve their learning skills and motivate them to learn more about the target language. Also using subtitles can enhance engagement in learning and helps the learner to acquire basic knowledge. However we believe more studies need to be done to get the most of the subtitled movies as instructional materials to use in language learning classrooms.