Learn from Movie Trailers at YouTube

July 3, 2009

Sometimes watching movie trailers are more fun than watching movies. And almost all movie trailers are terrific materials for language learning.

We recommended Apple’s iTune Movie Trailers before. It’s the best website to watch the trailers. Now YouTube came along, adding a new channel dedicated to the trailers. They don’t have a lot to show yet, but it’s easy to browse them under Popular, Latest, In Theaters, Open Soon, Studio.

Have a laugh here and start to learn.


Learn from The Academy of Achievement

June 27, 2009

Each year The Academy of Achievement holds a summit that brings together 50 high achievers in the world with graduate students. It has only one agenda: tell success stories and inspire youth.

Thanks to the videos that the Academy made available at its website, we can hear those inspiring stories from the high achievers like president Obama, director Steven Spielberg, entrepreneur Larry Page, writer Norman Mailer, and many more. The stories they told illustrates the sources of their successes. The repeated themes are passion, preparation and perseverance.

Those themes should resonate with those who study a foreign language, as mastering a new language is quite an achievement.


Learn from Consumer Report

June 19, 2009

Consumer Report is a magazine that reviews household products and services. Its independent buying guides help consumers make better purchasing decisions.

It may well help non-native speakers learn about the products commonly seen in average household, too. At its website, Consumer Report lists many short videos by product lines–cars, appliances, etc. The most popular ones are the buying guides, such as buying TV, Camera, or GPS.

Buying can be costly. But learning is free.


Learn from MTV Videos

June 13, 2009

MTV stands for Music Television, a cable TV started over 20 years ago. It used to run music videos around the clock. But it’s less about music now. The pop culture has since taken the center stage in its programs.

That’s what you will see from the videos at MTV website’s video channel. There are news (”The hottest women in music“, movie trailers (“Toy Story 3″), star interviews (”Denzel Washington“), and of course music (”Letdown“).

While soaking up the pop culture, absorb the language too.


Learn from CNET News

June 6, 2009

We are living in a digital age. Technology is everywhere, gadgets are mainstream, and geeks are rock stars. Better learn and speak the language of technology.

The best source is CNET. Under CNET TV, it delivers video reports in several categories. The news coverage under Product and Tech Show keep you informed; the knowledge under Buying Guide and How-To helps you make better decisions (like this timely one: “Top 5 wost tech gifts for dads“).

You can view the videos at CNET’s website and its YouTube channel.


Learn from New Scientist

May 30, 2009

First published in 1956, New Scientist is a weekly magazine covering science and technology. Its targeted readers are not the Ph.D crowd at college campus, but anyone who has a curious mind.

At its website (also available at its YouTube channel), New Scientist also produces many short video reports. Its topics tend to be light and interesting, such as the advantage that a scared expression bringswhy electric car makes fake engine noise, and the robot with a rat brain.

For English learners, you may pick up the British accent; most of the videos are narrated by Briton.


Learn from Cartoon Network

May 23, 2009

Cartoon is the best friend of kids–and of many adults, too. It’s simple, it’s creative, and it’s fun to watch.

For English learners, cartoon videos can be wonderful learning resource. The dialogues are easy to follow, the tones are exaggerated but clear, and the scenes are animated.

At the Cartoon Network’s website, it offers some video clips from many of its shows, including Batman, Cow and Chicken, and Pokemon.


Learn from Oprah Winfrey

May 16, 2009

The most influential woman in the U.S. is Oprah Winfrey. She’s a media juggernaut. She publishes a magazine, she acts in movies, she organizes a book club, and–what she’s really known for–she hosts a TV talk show.

Her program, The Oprah Winfrey Show, usually focuses on the themes of self-improvement, spirituality, and pop literature. Her guests–and audiences, too–often love to confess, even if it’s embarrassing.

You can see more video clips at her website and her channel on Youtube.


Learn from Bloomberg Television

May 8, 2009

Bloomberg Television acts like Cable Network News (CNN)–24/7  non-stop reporting from many countries in the world, but its master of domain lies in covering business and finance.

Bloomberg Television doesn’t offer a good online viewing experience at its website, except two programs called CEO Spotlight and CFO Spotlight. However, you can watch a lot of short clips at its YouTube channel.

Bloomberg does its best to stay away from business jargon in its reporting. That makes the life of English learners easier. Slightly.


Learn from Common Craft

May 1, 2009

Common Craft produces the simple and short videos that explains complex ideas in plain English. The videos have been wild popular since they came out two years ago.

Most of The ideas it covers are new stuffs on the web, such as Blog, Social Bookmarking, and Online Photo Sharing. But it ventures out to some other non-geek ideas, such as Electing a U.S. President, CFL Lightbulbs, and
Investing Money.

Plain enough? That plainness is even more blessing to English learners. Check them out at either Common Craft’s website or its channel in YouTube.