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Boost Your Child’s Reading Skills with Subtitles
by Jamie Taylor
March 1, 2021
TurnOnTheSubtitles.org
Next time you feel pressured about letting your child watch TV, share this insight! Parenting can often feel overwhelming, with various forms of shaming like c-section shaming, formula shaming, snack food shaming, and yes, even TV shaming. While all forms of mom-shaming are absurd, it’s reassuring to have solid research to support your choices.
The organization Turn On The Subtitles suggests that enabling subtitles while your child watches television can significantly enhance their reading abilities. This initiative claims that using subtitles doubles the chances of children becoming proficient readers.
The concept of Same Language Subtitling (SLS) involves displaying subtitles in the same language as the audio. As children watch, they can connect the spoken words to the text on the screen, creating a harmonious learning experience.
It’s one of those “why didn’t I think of that?” ideas. Providing engaging reading material is essential for instilling lifelong reading habits. A comprehensive study involving 2,350 children revealed that only 34% became proficient readers through schooling alone. However, with just 30 minutes of subtitled content weekly, that number skyrocketed to 70%.
Stephen Brown has been engaged to advocate for this initiative. While the primary momentum for subtitles has been seen in India, similar positive outcomes have been reported in various English and non-English speaking countries. The data shows that captions that align with spoken words can significantly aid in literacy and language acquisition.
This approach is gaining traction, with the program emphasizing the importance of captivating content for literacy improvement. John Smith, a cognitive neuroscientist at MIT, notes that emotional and rational engagement greatly enhances learning. By watching appealing audiovisual material with SLS, children form crucial connections between language and phonetics.
A Twitter user praised the movement, saying, “As someone involved in Deaf Education, I absolutely adore this advocacy by the amazing @stephenbrown regarding the significance of subtitles. #TurnOnTheSubtitles.”
Concerned your child might resist watching new shows with subtitles? No need to worry! Research indicates that this method works even better with familiar content. With repeated viewings, subtitles provide an additional advantage by offering predictable text; your child knows what to expect, reinforcing their comprehension.
The organization encourages parents and educators to spread the word. Their goal is to transform screen time into valuable reading time by simply turning on the subtitles.
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Summary:
Using subtitles while children watch TV can significantly improve their reading skills by enhancing their ability to connect spoken language with text. Studies show that engaging audiovisual content paired with subtitles increases literacy rates, making screen time a productive learning experience. Encouraging the use of subtitles can help turn casual viewing into an effective reading practice.