Why Can’t I Understand TV Without Subtitles? Why TV Is So Hard

You can chat with English speakers. You understand podcasts and educational content. But when you watch the Premier League or Sky News, you're completely lost. Sound familiar?

If you're wondering “why can't I understand TV without subtitles?,” you're not alone. Recently, a reader named Mateusz perfectly captured this frustration:

“I think I can speak English pretty well. I can talk with people and I understand everything when I listen to your podcast and other resources, but I have one big problem – when I watch the Premier League on Sky or other TV in English, I understand very poorly what they're talking about. I try to listen to the BBC and Sky podcasts to improve my understanding, but I still have better and worse moments.”

This is one of the most common frustrations language learners face. And it's not because there's something wrong with your English level.

If you prefer watching videos to reading, hit play on the video version of this post at the top of this page. Otherwise, here's what you'll discover in this post:

Why TV Language Is Nothing Like Real English

Here's something most language learners don't realise: TV and radio content for native speakers needs to be entertaining above all else.

When people turn on the telly, they don't want to watch boring people saying boring things. They want excitement, drama and engagement.

This means:

• Premier League commentators deliberately exaggerate their voice and vocabulary
• TV personalities use heightened, theatrical language
• Movie scripts bear little resemblance to how people actually speak
• Sports commentary is packed with specialised jargon and rapid-fire delivery

The language you hear on TV has been artificially amplified to capture attention and create entertainment value. It's no wonder you struggle with it when your English skills work perfectly fine in real conversations.

My Cantonese TV Experiment

A few years ago, I experienced this exact frustration whilst learning Cantonese. After burning out from intensive study, I decided to try a different approach. I spent three weeks doing nothing but watching a Cantonese TV drama called “Triumph in the Sky.”

My Cantonese was basic at the time. I couldn't say much at all. And for the most part, I didn't understand what was happening in those 80 episodes.

But something interesting happened: my intonation improved dramatically just from passive exposure and I started picking up phrases and words naturally.

However – and this is crucial – I still didn't understand most of what I was hearing. Even today, when I watch Cantonese TV, I honestly don't catch everything.

This taught me that TV comprehension is genuinely difficult, even for someone who's been studying a language for years.

Why Some Content Is Easier Than Others

You mentioned that you understand my podcast well, and there are specific reasons for this:

Familiar topics: I talk about language learning, which you're already interested in and know vocabulary for

Clear pronunciation: Years of teaching have trained me to speak more clearly than I would in casual conversation

Everyday subjects: I discuss daily life and common experiences, not specialised technical content

Consistent style: You become familiar with my speaking patterns and vocabulary choices

Compare this to Premier League commentary, which involves:

• Highly specialised football terminology
• Rapid, excited delivery
• Cultural references you might not know
• Unpredictable, spontaneous language

The Most Effective Approach To TV Content

If you're determined to use TV for language learning, here's what actually works:

Choose TV Series Over News and Sports

• TV series feature the same characters speaking consistently week after week
• You learn their individual speaking styles and common phrases
• Topics focus on daily life rather than specialised subjects
• Context builds up over episodes, making comprehension easier

Avoid these for learning:

• News programmes (new topics and vocabulary daily)
• Sports commentary (highly specialised and rapid)
• Current affairs (complex, formal language)
• Live broadcasts (unscripted, unpredictable)

Better Alternatives That Actually Work

Rather than struggling with TV content, try these more effective approaches:

Read Instead of Watch

• Follow football news on Sky's website rather than watching it live
• You can control the pace and look up unfamiliar words
• Reread sections until you understand them
• Build vocabulary systematically

Use Transcribed Content

• Find listening materials that include written transcripts
• Listen whilst reading along simultaneously
• Start and stop as needed to study difficult sections
• Review what you've just heard in written form

Follow Your Interests Strategically

• If you love football, read match reports and player interviews
• Gradually work up to watching highlights with subtitles
• Use your passion to maintain motivation whilst learning effectively

The Truth About Learning English Through TV

Every time I discuss this topic, people tell me they learned English by watching Friends or other series. That may be true, but consider how long it took – often 5-10 years of consistent viewing. That's a very slow way to learn a language.

Yes, extensive TV watching is a natural method, but it's not an efficient one. You'll make much faster progress by:

• Dedicating focused time to active study
• Using TV as supplementary exposure, not your main learning method
• Choosing content strategically based on your level and interests

Why Can't I Understand TV Without Subtitles? FAQ

Your Next Steps To Understand TV

Don't feel discouraged about struggling with Premier League commentary or Sky News – it's completely normal. Instead:

1. Accept that TV comprehension is genuinely difficult – even advanced learners struggle with it
2. Focus your study time on more suitable materials with transcripts and controlled difficulty
3. Use TV as bonus exposure rather than your primary learning method
4. Choose series over news or sports if you do want to watch English content
5. Read about your interests (like football) rather than only watching

There's nothing wrong with your English level if you can communicate well with people and understand educational content.

TV language is artificially difficult by design. Work with materials that match your goals and level, and you'll make much faster progress than trying to decode exaggerated sports commentary.

The key is being strategic about how you spend your limited study time. Master the fundamentals through focused practice, then enjoy TV content as a bonus – not a substitute for proper language learning.

Olly Richards

Creator of the StoryLearning® Method

Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearning® method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.

Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.

When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preaches—he speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.