Tired of boring textbooks? Aleksandra Kolganova, an Expert in English language education and adult pronunciation pedagogy, author of AI supported, innovative language learning programs, shares how her unique method FilmFluent helps students learn English with enjoyment by using modern films and series.
— Aleksandra, what inspired you to create FilmFluent? What did you find ineffective about traditional language learning methods?
— I have been teaching English for over 12 years and have constantly faced the same problems: students have low motivation, textbooks contain outdated language structures, and they find it difficult to understand fluent speech by native speakers. Traditional methods simply do not keep up with changes in the language.
Moreover, after moving abroad, we started going to the cinema more often and watching movies in their original language. At the same time, students kept asking the same questions: 'How to watch movies in the original language?', 'Which movie should I start with to make it easier?', 'Is it better to watch with subtitles or without them?'.
Since I love to optimize everything and take a comprehensive approach to any language problem, I created a course that not only answers all these questions but also helps improve listening skills for fluent, natural speech, to expand vocabulary with modern words and expressions, and, overall, make watching movies in the original language easier.
— How does FilmFluent address these issues?
— FilmFluent offers a fundamentally different approach. We carefully select modern films and series that are of interest to students. The themes of the films are chosen specifically so that the topic-specific vocabulary circulates throughout the film, ensuring multiple repetitions. Then we analyze the dialogues, identifying the most frequent and relevant conversational vocabulary, pronunciation features, and connected speech. Based on this analysis, interactive exercises and tasks are created to reinforce the material.
— What do you mean by 'features of pronunciation and connected speech'?
— In fluent speech, native speakers often shorten words, 'swallow' sounds, and link words together. For example, the phrase 'I am going to' may sound like 'I’m gonna' or even 'Imana'. Such processes are natural for any language. That’s why the English speech we hear in movies or from native speakers is so different from the 'textbook' version. However, these features are rarely explained in textbooks, and without understanding them, it is impossible to truly comprehend spoken English. A person may know grammar and vocabulary, but if they do not recognize these shortened forms and links, the flow of speech will seem 'too fast' and indistinct.
FilmFluent helps students tackle this problem: we analyze real speech from movies and series, learn to hear the hidden patterns of sound, and gradually start using them in our speech. This not only develops listening perception but also aids students with pronunciation, as these two skills are interdependent.
— You are using the edutainment method. What is its essence?
— Edutainment is a combination of education and entertainment. Its essence is that a person learns better when they are emotionally engaged and enjoy the process. In our case, this involves movies and TV shows: they are interesting in themselves, which in turn creates strong motivation for language learning.
Through edutainment, learning stops being a boring memorization task. We analyze scenes, characters, dialogues, pay attention to features of authentic speech, and thanks to this, students simultaneously learn the language and enjoy watching a film. This format reduces stress, encourages regular practice, and helps students 'immerse' themselves in English.
In addition, FilmFluent allows students to get a glimpse of the culture and everyday life of other countries. For many students, this is particularly important: the language ceases to be a set of abstract rules; it becomes the key to understanding mentality, traditions, and cultural nuances. Thus, not only language competence develops, but also intercultural awareness, which makes the learning process even more effective and inspiring.
— And how do you ensure long-term retention of the material?
— We have implemented the principle of spaced repetition in the course. This approach is supported by research in cognitive psychology: information is better retained when repetition is spaced over time, rather than concentrated at one moment.
This is implemented in several formats in the course. First of all, students can independently work with vocabulary on an interactive platform, where the system arranges the repetition of words and phrases at optimal intervals. Secondly, movies are selected so that key vocabulary appears multiple times in different contexts. Finally, the tasks related to the film are designed to bring students back to already learned words and constructions, creating natural cycles of repetition.
As a result, the material is consolidated in long-term memory rather than remaining only in short-term.
— How does FilmFluent help develop skills for understanding fluent speech?
— A key role here is played by the method of shadowing. Students listen to an extract from a film and simultaneously repeat after the speaker, trying to copy the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm of speech as accurately as possible. This helps them learn to recognize and reproduce complex sound combinations, understand reduction, and connected speech.
— Who is FilmFluent intended for and what results do your students achieve?
— FilmFluent is suitable for teenagers and adults with English level B1-B2 who want to improve their listening skills, expand their vocabulary, and gain exposure to authentic language. Our students not only improve their language skills but also develop a genuine appreciation for English language and culture. They become more confident, communicate freely with native speakers, and successfully use English in studies, work, and travel. Many even start watching movies and TV shows in their original version without subtitles.
