The subtitles of various languages which can assist
comprehension leads to language learning and teaching (Markham, 1999). Rost (1994)
listed several reasons to show the important role listening plays in second language
learning and instruction, one of which is that listeners need to interact with speakers to
achieve understanding. Watching movies can improve the listening skills of students,
whether they are learning English as a foreign language or whether they just want to
improve their ability to listen to, concentrate on or comprehend it. Given the
importance of listening in terms of foreign language comprehension, the advantages
movies bring to language learning and teaching, and the pedagogical needs of movies
with and without subtitle for listening comprehension. This study discusses the effect
of watching movies with and without subtitles on Iranian EFL learners’ listening
comprehension and it also examines the difference between watching movies with and
without subtitles.
Background of the