Watching Videos on SubLearn

Video is the heart of SubLearn's language learning approach. Our platform combines real-world content with interactive tools that help you build both comprehension and vocabulary naturally. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to get the most from video lessons.

Finding Videos That Match Your Level

SubLearn's video library is organized to help you find content tailored to your proficiency level and interests.

Browse by Language — Start by selecting your target language. Each language has its own curated collection of videos.
Filter by Difficulty Level — Videos are tagged with CEFR levels (A1–C2). When you're just starting, choose A1 or A2 content. As you progress, move to B1, B2, and beyond. Watching videos slightly above your current level accelerates growth without overwhelming you.
Browse by Category — Find videos by topic: News, Interviews, Documentaries, Podcasts, Clips, Lessons, and more. Choose content about subjects that genuinely interest you—this keeps motivation high.
Search by Keyword — Use the search bar to find videos about specific topics, speakers, or themes. This is useful when you're looking for content about a topic you're passionate about.
Recommended for You — SubLearn's AI analyzes your learning history and suggests videos matched to your level and interests. These personalized recommendations save time and help you discover new content.

Don't be intimidated by content that seems hard at first. SubLearn's subtitle and vocabulary tools are designed to support your understanding at every level.

Understanding the Video Player Controls

The SubLearn video player has been designed specifically for language learners. Here's what you'll find:

Play/Pause Button — Click to play or pause the video. You can also press the spacebar on your keyboard.
Progress Bar — Shows how far into the video you are. Click any point to jump to that moment. This is useful when you want to rewind to hear a phrase again.
Playback Speed Control — Adjust speed from 0.5x to 2x. Slower speeds give your brain time to process; faster speeds boost immersion once you're comfortable. See the Playback Speed section below for detailed tips.
Subtitle Toggle — Turn subtitles on or off, or switch between subtitle modes (see Subtitle Display Modes below).
Volume Control — Adjust audio level or mute entirely.
Fullscreen Mode — Expand the player to fill your screen for better immersion and readability of subtitles.
Settings Gear — Access additional options like subtitle size, background color, and other accessibility features.

All these controls are keyboard-accessible. Hover over any button to see its shortcut key.

Subtitle Display Modes

SubLearn offers flexible subtitle modes so you can tailor comprehension to your level:

Target Language Only — Shows subtitles in the language you're learning. This challenges your ear and builds listening comprehension. Best for intermediate and advanced learners, or when you're confident about the content.
Bilingual (Side-by-Side) — Displays the target language on the left and your native language on the right. This helps you learn vocabulary in context while ensuring you understand the full meaning. Ideal for beginners and intermediate learners.
Native Language Only — Shows only English (or your native language) translations. Use this sparingly—it's helpful for comprehension checks or when you need to understand the overall meaning, but doesn't build listening skills as effectively as reading the target language subtitles.
Subtitles Off — No text on screen. This forces your brain to rely entirely on listening and context clues. Great for building listening fluency, but use it when you already understand the content reasonably well.

Pro tip: Start with bilingual subtitles, then toggle to target-language-only for review passes. This progression builds both comprehension and confidence.

Clicking Words for Instant Translation

One of SubLearn's most powerful features is the ability to click any word in the subtitles to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage examples.

Single-Click Translation — Pause the video (or let it keep playing) and click any word in the subtitle line. A popup appears with the word's definition, part of speech, example sentences, and audio pronunciation.
Multiple Definitions — Many words have multiple meanings. SubLearn shows the most common definitions first, but you can scroll to see alternatives based on context.
Pronunciation Audio — Click the speaker icon next to the word to hear how native speakers pronounce it. Pause and listen as many times as you need.
No Interruption — The popup appears without pausing your video. If you're immersed in content, you can stay in flow while still grabbing the translation you need.

This feature removes friction from vocabulary learning—you're never stuck on a single unknown word. Just click and keep moving.

Saving Words to Your Vocabulary List

When you click a word to translate it, you'll see a "Save to Vocabulary" button or a heart icon. Click it to add the word to your personal vocabulary list.

Instant Storage — The word is saved immediately and added to your Spaced Repetition Review queue. You'll see it again in a few days as part of your daily reviews.
No Limit — Save as many words as you want from a single video. SubLearn's algorithm will manage when you review each one for maximum retention.
Remove Words — If you already know a word (or saved it by accident), you can remove it from your vocabulary list. Just click the word again and select "Remove."
Batch Add — Want to save multiple words quickly? Create a custom list while watching, or let SubLearn automatically flag unfamiliar words based on your proficiency level.
Notes & Context — When reviewing vocabulary later, you can see the exact sentence where you learned the word. This context strengthens memory.

Saving vocabulary is the bridge between passive watching and active learning. Every word you save is automatically scheduled for review at the optimal moment for memory retention.

Adjusting Playback Speed

Playback speed is one of your most important tools for customizing the learning experience. Here's how to use it strategically:

0.5x–0.75x (Very Slow) — Use this when content is very challenging or you're just starting a new level. It gives your brain time to parse sounds and syntax.
0.75x–1x (Slow to Normal) — Most learners start here. It's the sweet spot: clear enough to understand, but natural enough to train your ear.
1.25x–1.5x (Slightly Fast) — Once comfortable at normal speed, try faster playback. This builds fluency and trains your brain to handle natural conversation pace.
1.5x–2x (Fast) — For advanced learners or familiar content. Faster speeds boost immersion and simulate real-world listening conditions.

Strategy: Start each new video at 0.75x or 1x, then bump it up on second viewings. This progression builds confidence without frustration.

Video Categories and Difficulty Levels

SubLearn organizes videos in multiple ways to help you find the right content:

By Content Type — News clips, interviews, documentaries, podcasts, movie scenes, comedy sketches, educational lessons, and more. Variety keeps learning fun and exposes you to different accents and speech patterns.
By CEFR Level — A1 (beginner) through C2 (mastery). Choose videos at or slightly above your current level for optimal challenge and growth.
By Topic — Business, travel, cooking, history, science, culture, and hundreds of other categories. Learning is fastest when you care about the subject.
By Channel or Creator — If you love a particular channel or creator, SubLearn lets you follow their content. You'll see new uploads in your recommended feed.
Duration — Quick 2-minute clips, standard 5–15 minute videos, or longer documentaries (30+ minutes). Shorter videos are great for quick study sessions; longer ones build deeper immersion.

The key is matching video difficulty to your current level. Slightly challenging content accelerates learning; content that's too easy doesn't challenge your brain; content that's too hard frustrates without teaching.

Tracking Your Progress on Each Video

SubLearn tracks everything you do, so you always know what you've accomplished:

Watch Status — Each video shows a progress bar indicating how far you've watched. You can resume where you left off or start over.
Completion Badge — Finish a full video and you'll earn a completion badge. A checkmark appears next to the video's title in your library.
XP Earned — Watching videos earns experience points that count toward your daily goal and level progression. Longer videos and videos matched to your level earn appropriate XP.
Vocabulary Saved — See a count of how many words you saved from each video. This number appears on the video card and in your history.
Exercise Performance — If a video has attached exercises (Boss Battle, Sentence Builder, etc.), SubLearn tracks your score and shows whether you mastered the content.
Watch History — Your full viewing history is saved, so you can easily find videos you've already watched or want to revisit.

This data helps SubLearn personalize recommendations and spot patterns in your learning (like which topics you master fastest).

Tips for Effective Video Learning

Watch Multiple Times — First pass: focus on comprehension and save new vocabulary. Second pass: try without subtitles or at faster speed. Third pass: challenge yourself further. Repetition is the foundation of fluency.
Pause for Reflection — Don't feel rushed. Pause after key moments to repeat phrases aloud or think about grammar. This active engagement deepens learning.
Speak Along — Imitate the speaker's pronunciation and intonation. This trains your mouth and ears simultaneously, building fluency faster than passive listening.
Mix Difficulties — Don't always watch easy content. Regularly challenge yourself with videos slightly above your level. This is where growth happens.
Follow Your Interests — If you love cooking, watch cooking videos in your target language. Interest drives engagement, and engagement drives learning.
Use Spaced Repetition — Watch the same video again after a week or month. You'll understand far more the second time, reinforcing your learning.
Complete Attached Exercises — Many videos have exercises (quizzes, fill-in-the-blanks, listening drills). Do them! They cement what you learned and reveal gaps.
Review Your Saved Vocabulary Daily — Saving words is only half the battle. Spend 5–10 minutes daily reviewing vocabulary from the videos you've watched. This is where retention happens.
Pay Attention to Subtitles — Don't ignore them even if you understand the audio. Subtitles reinforce spelling and grammar. They're your training wheels—use them wisely.
Create Your Own Sentences — After watching, try writing or speaking sentences using words you learned. Active production cements learning far better than passive consumption.

Next Steps

Master Vocabulary Management — Learn advanced strategies for reviewing, organizing, and retaining the words you save from videos.
Exercise Types Explained — Discover how to tackle Boss Battle, Sentence Builder, and other exercises that follow your videos.
Understanding Spaced Repetition — Deep dive into how SubLearn's SRS algorithm optimizes when you review words for maximum retention.
Finding Content by Level — Learn exactly how CEFR levels map to difficulty and how to pace your learning journey.
Building Listening Fluency — Expert tips on training your ear for real conversation speed and natural accents.

Ready to start? Pick a video that excites you, hit play, and begin your journey. Remember: consistency matters more than perfection. Watch regularly, save vocabulary, and let SubLearn guide your progress.

Watching Videos on SubLearn