Learn a new language by watching TV? It seems a little too easy, but researchers are now saying there’s evidence that watching TV is a great way to learn languages.

While most people will remember their parents telling them that watching too much television is bad for you, it seems that young people can benefit from improved language skills from watching TV. The Australian study has dubbed youngsters who are immersed in new technologies such as computers and video games as “digital natives”. While they’ve concluded that video games seem to have no positive effect on their ability with language, having access to TV and computer does.

"It was regarded a bit like sunlight and skin cancer - they said that if you get a lot of TV it inhibits your print literacy,” said Professor Michael Bittman, lead author of the new study.

"But what comes out of our study is that it's the parenting that makes the difference."

The study shows that toddlers with a TV in their bedrooms have a poorer vocabulary by the age of four, but youngsters who watch TV with their parents or siblings generally do better.

Professor Bittman added, "The children most at risk of delayed language acquisition are those from low socioeconomic backgrounds whose parents are not involved in their child's use of media."

However, this study hasn't revealed anything new for language learners. Students have been using TV to practise their listening skills since forever. Practising your listening skills in real-life conversations can be a little daunting to begin with, but spending an hour or so listening to the foreign language you're learning while you relax on the sofa is no big chore. And with the advent on DVD and Blu-ray, your favourite films are available in any language of your choice at the touch of a button - with subtitles to boot!

Want to improve your language skills by watching TV? Check out LoMas TV's entry in our language-learning directory.