Job Discussion Forums

MO39 · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:30 am Post subject: Cable TV in English

A new student has asked me which cable TV stations in Mexico City have programs in English, with Spanish subtitles. Since I never watch TV, I was at a loss for an answer. Can anyone out there help?

Many thanks!

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

cablevision.

I was at my brother-in-laws house when I first arrived a week and a half ago and he was showing me channels in English with the Spanish subtitles.
He said cablevision is what you want if you're looking for the English with Spanish subtitles.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

or Sky. You can put many programs in whichever language you want. The miracle of modern technology.

Now if I actually had a tv MO, I'd invite you over to watch.

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

We had MegaCable and the main channels in English with Spanish subs were:

Sony Entertainment Television
Universal Channel
Warner Channel

These channels included up to date (a couple of weeks behind primetime in the US) programming like Heroes and House.

There was one other channel that had quite a bit, but those three were the ones that got watched most by the homesick Canadian in the house.

guatetaliana · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:08 am Post subject:

I don't know if the big channels are the same in DF as in Monterrey, but we've got Sony Entertainment Channel and the Warner channel, both of which play shows in English almost all day long with Spanish subtitles (although we enjoy laughing at the inaccuracy of those). We also have the Universal station which mainly plays movies (generally in English, sometimes not). AXN does awesome movies (supposedly action-oriented), most of which are in English but sometimes in German, French, Japanese, etc.

I totally agree with your student, watching TV is a great way to develop language!

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

American Network is all English with no subtitles. It's available on Sky and on cable. Shows in English with Spanish subtitles are worthless in practicing listening comprehension because the natural tendency is to read the subtitles in L1 and ignore the audio in L2.

Proof of this is in a Mexican cinema where people talk loudly together or on their cell phones while they follow the movie by reading the subtitles. One can tell who speaks English watching a comedy because they laugh out loud about 2 and one half seconds earlier than the rest.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

MELEE · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

My mother-in-law recently got cable. There are loads of channels with programs in English, just start flipping through the channels and it won't take long to find one. If a student need his/her teacher to tell them which one the student is either 1)just making conversation or 2)dumb as a brick! Laughing

MO39 · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:53 pm Post subject:

leslie · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 235

debmport · Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Guadalaholla

Cable in the GDL includes 'Golden' and 'Golden 2', both of which are pretty good movie channels, in English most of the time, with Spanish subtitulos.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I currently subscribe to the Cablevision package that offers about half of the stations, which exclude Fox, CNN and BBC.
I have plugged in many of the stations as favorite stations which I can immediately preselect on my Guide by pressing the Favorite button on my remote and I have preselected those that are in English. They include channels 215, 221, 229 233, 235(the retro station), 608, 611, and 613. There are several other stations that offer English programming regularly.
I get to see Cutie Catie Couric on CBS on the American Network station, which is 229.

MO39 · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 4:33 pm Post subject:

So how much does all this cost you every month?

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

Folks, tell your students to cover up the Spanish subtitles with some paper and scotch tape. If the subtitles appear, the practice is not very effective.

MELEE · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject:

Better yet, skip the cable, sky, what ever and pick up some DVDs. They can watch the same thing several time to increase understanding and at first they can turn on the ENGLISH closed caption and read along while they listen, they can fast back and replay difficult or confusing parts. You can get whole season sets of a series, and not have to worry about what time things are on. I think this is the best (and cheapest!) option. At least until TIVO comes to Mexico.