Korea's Top Subtitler Says Learn English Through Movies

The soft, yet husky voice, the feminine image projected by movie translator Lee Mi-do disappeared in an instant. Lee, who many have mistakenly believed is a woman, is in fact a 45-year-old man. The Chosun Ilbo met him at his "office," the Yeoksam-dong branch of Starbucks where he spends morning to evening working. He has subtitled blockbusters like "Life is Beautiful," "Shrek," "American Beauty," "Chicago," "The Sixth Sense" and "Hero" - in all 400 foreign films in 12 years. But now he is turning to other endeavors. He has just published a book on learning English, his much yearned-for first original work. It has become a bestseller, seeing four printings in the first few months since its release. <br> Lee learned English in a simple yet grueling fashion.His first English teacher was his father, a translator for USFK and librarian. When Lee entered middle school, he began a Draconian English study regimen. Each English word he learned he had to write out again and again until he filled up five or six notebook pages, front and back. In order to give Lee indirect contact with U.S. culture, his father used to show him American movies or read him English-language books from the library. "That practice is still with me even now, so I read aloud," he says. We often imagine that subtitlers watch videotapes or DVDs as they work their magic, but they don't. Because film companies are afraid that their unreleased films might be leaked to the public, they don't even give tapes to the translators. All they provide is the script. Translators get only about a week per film. "Because at most only 16 characters can appear on screen at one time, you have to compress the subtitles as much as possible. So I really dislike wordy or fast-talking actors or actresses." Lee thoroughly enjoys his work. From 9:00 a.m. to before dinner each day, he sits and translates in the Starbucks. He likes the place because he can relax and work at the same time, increasing his productivity. Recently, out of gratitude for using the outlet's electricity and taking up a spot all day long, he bought cakes and drinks for 100 people. He makes as much from his film earnings as a corporate managing director. Nowadays, he gets a lot of inquires from young people who want to become subtitlers. "The only way to do it is to build up your skills on your own," he tells them, because the world has become so competitive that your skills alone determine whether you win or lose. "When you think English is difficult and boring, you begin to fear it. The fear leads to haste. Most people try to hurry learning it., but you can never master a foreign language in a short time." He recommends films and books. "First, films are interesting. You can approach the culture and dialogue that takes place in different locations like restaurants and public spaces and within different relationships, like between lovers, coworkers and family. Moreover, the English used in films is 100 percent real-life English, not dictionary English. It's the best textbook." After watching a film, he advises picking up from large bookstores or Amazon.com the novel the film was based on, the scenario or the novel based on the screenplay. Because you know the film, the book will be easier to understand, and that will give you confidence, he says. For beginners, Lee suggests "Terminal," "I am Sam," and "Stand by Me." For intermediate learners, "The Sixth Sense," "Forest Gump," "Shall We Dance" and "Rain Man." Advanced learners might want to look at "American Beauty," "Good Will Hunting" and "The English Patient."

url: http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200503/200503070025.html