Reading All The Way to Functional Literacy: Using Same Language Subtitling in Television Programmes in India

Abstract

Many countries around the world have benefitted from same language subtitling in films and television programmes. Subtitles help the learner use listening and spoken skills to enable word recognition and build vocabulary. Research by several scholars has established a positive relationship between reading same language subtitles and improvement in language skills. This contributes to the development of functional literacy which ultimately leads to an increase in literacy levels. India has experimented on a small scale with same language subtitling where respondents were exposed to music based programmes, thus promoting entertainment-based learning. India can learn from the benefits reaped by other countries by implementing subtitling in academics and improving teaching techniques to promote intensive learning. The technique can be applied to various genres of programmes on television so that learners can learn by watching a programme that interests them, therefore, not considering learning to be a tedious, obligatory task.