Learning Chinese at the Cinema

[Tianjin42]

Tomorrow evening a number of Chinese colleagues will go to watch 私人订制 at the cinema. In truth it isn’t a film I would probably want to see but I am expected to go and I will comply.

 

I am someone who, as well as textbook learning, watches T.V. to practice Chinese and finds watching films and T.V. programmes a very useful way to learn when I have the opportunity to stop, check/ practice and continue.

 

However, in the cinema that isn’t an option and I would prefer not to be someone who has his phone out all the time (to check some key words where required) though there will of course be a lot of people on phones and talking throughout.

 

So I wanted to ask – what do you think is the best way to utilize a cinema visit for a Chinese film?

I think if I just sit and watch it will be too passive and I will take little from it. At the moment I am considering simply taking a few notes during the film. 

[ouyangjun]

Just enjoy it... that's what I've always done.  You will pick up something or at least reinforce existing knowledge.  For me if i try to make too many situations a learning experience I won't enjoy the moment at hand.

[daofeishi]

One of the best things you can do is sit back, watch the movie and see how much of it you understand. Take a mental note every time a sentence makes sense, and try to get the hang of how people structure their sentences and what collocations are used. Listen to inflections and how people express emotions. Don't take notes, but try to actively watch and listen. Real life doesn't stop so you can take notes, so figuring out how to learn without having to is important. 

[Lu]

I wouldn't take notes either, it's hard in the dark. Try to listen & read the Chinese subtitles when you can, try to recognise words and grammar patterns 'in the wild', and if you hear any interesting new words or sentences, try to remember them or ask the colleagues about it later. And consider the movie as a whole as a piece of cultural information: this is one of the things Chinese people like.

[roddy]

I think you probably could take notes - they don't need to be very detailed, just 'car?' will remind you there was an interesting sounding phrase you didn't catch at the bit where they were getting out of the car, and then you can track that down later online or on DVD. 

 

Another idea might be to spend some time beforehand watching as many trailers and reading as many reviews as possible.  You'll end up with a good idea of the plot, which would allow you to focus more on language (though may spoil your enjoyment somewhat). 

 

Or if you haven't already maybe try and watch a film or two in a similar style - off the top of my head 冯小刚 also directed  天下无贼, which also has 葛优 and 王宝强. And there are plenty of decent 冯小刚 movies. That'll give you a head start on the language and humour. 

[Demonic_Duck]

Watch once through (in the cinema) "for gist", then if you have the time or inclination to do so, you can always go through again (at home on youku or whatever) and try to catch more of the details, see what you missed first time round, pause, replay, take notes, make flashcards etc.

[anonymoose]

Forget about learning Chinese. Just make sure you're seated next to your hottest colleague in the back row and enjoy once the lights have dimmed.

[Sinofaze]

@Tianjin42- I've seen this movie advertised.

 

Can you post a reveiw of this once you've seen. I'd like to have a look myself.

 

Cheers

[OneEye]

I think anonymoose has the right idea here. If that isn't an option, just watch and enjoy, pay attention and notice things, but don't turn it into work. My two cents.

[Tianjin42]

Thanks everyone kindly for the advice.

Unfortunately I was taken ill with some food poisoning (damn you 小豆面馆!) and am still slowly recovering so I couldn’t make the film.

I am not a complete masochist and would usually just enjoy a film I wanted to see but as this wasn’t one of those so I was thinking of making it a study opportunity. Some good suggestions above.

 

@Sinofaze

Can’t give you that review of the film but can tell you that my colleagues were all unimpressed and they are usually pretty easily pleased. 

[gato]

I saw the trailer on Youku. Looked pretty formulaic.