4 ms·

Speechyard – Learn English from movies and books

33 points by selvan 11y ago

rurounijones 11y ago
1. What languages are supported in the app? Is it the same as the language options available on the website? (In which case, Japanese please!) 2. Also, given the nature of distribution deals etc. etc. Is this limited access by physical region? 3. "English movies with English subtitles are available for free 24/7" - Er... Might answer my previous question. Does this use legally sourced content? EDIT: Clicking on the "content" tab gives you a bigger list of languages that I assume are supported. (Japanese website option would still be appreciated).
tempodox 11y ago
Using movies & books as support for learning a language works quite well. Choose stories & topics that interest you and it helps you keep going even if you don't understand it all (yet). I never needed an app for that but if the app supports you well in finding material, it might be worth it.
- pluma 11y ago
  Like many Germans in my age group I learned English in school, although I probably started a year earlier than most because my elementary school offered a voluntary course in fourth grade (German elementary school is four years followed by six to eight years in the equivalents of high school). But if that were how I actually learned English I probably wouldn't be any more fluent than average (i.e. not very). What helped me was growing up with the Internet and being exposed to English language movies by my parents (who prefer watching English language films and tv shows in the original language). As soon as Amazon became a thing I also started buying games in English (before region locking existed). I think it was actually beneficial to me that a lot of the sources I had to rely on when I started out with web development were only available in English. I wouldn't recommend reading technical specs to language beginners but it certainly helped becoming fluent in technical terminology (and in colloquial language via the related mailing lists). I've tried picking up several other languages since then but I've nearly always failed simply because there was nothing that required me to "work through the pain" in the same way.
  - JoeAltmaier 11y ago
    I suggest http://www.languagelifestylist.com/ http://www.languagelifestylist.com/ They pair you with a coach, to take your language skills to the next level wherever that may be. Its so much more satisfying to learn language socially than alone with books and tapes.
    - drivers99 11y ago
      When you click "hire a life stylist" near the bottom of the page (/hirealanguagelifestylist), it takes you to a 404 page. The link in the top header (/hire) works though.
      - JoeAltmaier 11y ago
        Definitely a work in progress. A startup, changes every day. You email the founder (Marie) and you'll get a personal reply!
scottmcdot 11y ago
Any plans for a version to learn German?
happyscrappy 11y ago
I have been looking for something like this for Spanish, anyone know of anything?
pluma 11y ago
The content seems incredibly dodgy. As an example, I checked out the American Dad pilot and inspected the HTML used to embed it. The video is hosted without DRM by Speechyard and the file has "DVDRip" in the name. Interesting idea for a service but I somehow doubt the content is properly licensed. You may want to avoid using any of the content in jurisdictions where illegitimate streaming is considered illegal.

33 points by selvan 11y ago

1. What languages are supported in the app? Is it the same as the language options available on the website? (In which case, Japanese please!) 2. Also, given the nature of distribution deals etc. etc. Is this limited access by physical region? 3. "English movies with English subtitles are available for free 24/7" - Er... Might answer my previous question. Does this use legally sourced content? EDIT: Clicking on the "content" tab gives you a bigger list of languages that I assume are supported. (Japanese website option would still be appreciated).

tempodox 11y ago

Using movies & books as support for learning a language works quite well. Choose stories & topics that interest you and it helps you keep going even if you don't understand it all (yet). I never needed an app for that but if the app supports you well in finding material, it might be worth it.

pluma 11y ago
Like many Germans in my age group I learned English in school, although I probably started a year earlier than most because my elementary school offered a voluntary course in fourth grade (German elementary school is four years followed by six to eight years in the equivalents of high school). But if that were how I actually learned English I probably wouldn't be any more fluent than average (i.e. not very). What helped me was growing up with the Internet and being exposed to English language movies by my parents (who prefer watching English language films and tv shows in the original language). As soon as Amazon became a thing I also started buying games in English (before region locking existed). I think it was actually beneficial to me that a lot of the sources I had to rely on when I started out with web development were only available in English. I wouldn't recommend reading technical specs to language beginners but it certainly helped becoming fluent in technical terminology (and in colloquial language via the related mailing lists). I've tried picking up several other languages since then but I've nearly always failed simply because there was nothing that required me to "work through the pain" in the same way.
- JoeAltmaier 11y ago
  I suggest http://www.languagelifestylist.com/ http://www.languagelifestylist.com/ They pair you with a coach, to take your language skills to the next level wherever that may be. Its so much more satisfying to learn language socially than alone with books and tapes.
  - drivers99 11y ago
    When you click "hire a life stylist" near the bottom of the page (/hirealanguagelifestylist), it takes you to a 404 page. The link in the top header (/hire) works though.
    - JoeAltmaier 11y ago
      Definitely a work in progress. A startup, changes every day. You email the founder (Marie) and you'll get a personal reply!

scottmcdot 11y ago

Any plans for a version to learn German?

happyscrappy 11y ago

I have been looking for something like this for Spanish, anyone know of anything?

pluma 11y ago

The content seems incredibly dodgy. As an example, I checked out the American Dad pilot and inspected the HTML used to embed it. The video is hosted without DRM by Speechyard and the file has "DVDRip" in the name. Interesting idea for a service but I somehow doubt the content is properly licensed. You may want to avoid using any of the content in jurisdictions where illegitimate streaming is considered illegal.