Learning a new language can be as easy as relaxing in a comfy chair and turning on any television channel across the world, with some help from ARGYLEtv.com.
ARGYLEtv is a free website that provides live and recorded TV shows from over 130 countries ranging from Afghanistan to Yemen and in 70 different languages. The channels vary from arts to movies to sports or even more common channels such as MTV. All of the shows they offer can be streamed through any internet browser without requiring login information.
One concern is whether it is possible to learn a new language simply by logging onto the site. The company seems to think so according to a press release from last Wednesday titled “Learn a new language in the comfort of your own home watching TV for free online at ARGYLEtv.com,” written by the site’s CEO, Bob Leavell.
“Whether you are studying Spanish in high school [or] planning on studying French abroad in college, learning the local language just became a lot easier,” he said in the release.
Associate Professors of UT’s Department of Foreign Languages Linda Rouillard and Friederike Emonds of French and German respectively laughed at the idea of learning a language strictly by watching videos.
“Authentic videos are wonderful,” Rouillard said, “But you are not going to learn a language just by watching TV.”
However, both said they use videos and television shows with their classes.
“Videos can be a very good resource, but people need to communicate in person with someone who knows the language in order to understand it,” said Associate Lecturer of Spanish Cheryl Wessel.
UT’s foreign language video streaming service of choice is called Snap Stream and is used in the Field House’s Language Lab. Similarly to ARGYLEtv, it provides live television in several different languages – currently Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Spanish - and professors can pick certain times and dates to record programs for students to watch.
All of the lecturers said they like to use the service as a supplement for students to learn from outside of class but rarely use it for an actual lesson plan.
Since the Foreign Language teachers consider videos of native speakers to be helpful when learning a new language, there are other options besides viewing the shows online.
Some foreign language channels, such as Telemundo for Spanish speakers, are already on cable and satellite television. Other channels play frequently in the Student Union Building, which will provide headphones and a channel guide if students ask for it. All channels can have subtitles, an invaluable tool for comprehending what is happening on the screen.
Even the library has videos or audio files of foreign languages, which can be easily accessed by students.
“It is more beneficial to talk to real people, study cultural information or hear the different dialects, rather than observing or overhearing, which is what people do when watching television” Rouillard said.
Even ARGYLE’s website agrees that “Listening alone will not help you earn a Masters degree or PhD.”
“If someone is able to learn a language by only watching shows, then they are a very lucky person,” said Associate Lecturer of Spanish Laurie Puszczewicz, “But it would be surprising to me if they could do it strictly to TV alone.”
Valentine Theatre
is a member of the 
