This is not a choice between two good things. Reading and watching build different skills. The best plan uses both, for different reasons.
Books build words
When you read, you meet many words slowly. You can stop, go back and look again. Reading grows your vocabulary and your sense of grammar.
The old man opened the door slowly.
You see how the sentence is built.
Videos build ears
When you watch, you hear real speed, real rhythm and real feeling. Videos train your ear for listening.
Did you eat yet? — "Didja eat yet?"
Reading cannot teach you that sound.
Use videos first, then read
A good order: watch a short video with subtitles, then read a simple text about the same topic. The words repeat, and they stay.
Choose the right level
A book that is too hard is not a lesson. It is a wall. If you need the dictionary five times in one page, choose something easier.
Five new words on a page is good. Twenty is too many.
Ten minutes each
Read for ten minutes. Watch for ten minutes. Do not choose one and forget the other.
Words to remember
- vocabulary — all the words you know
- grammar — the rules for putting words together
- listening — paying attention to sounds and words
- level — how easy or hard something is
Questions & answers
Q: Are subtitles bad for learning?
No. Start with subtitles in English, then cover them. They are a bridge, not a wall.
Q: Should I read children's books?
Yes, if the story interests you. Simple books build speed and confidence.
Q: How many new words should a page have?
About five. More than that, and the book is too hard for now.
Q: Can I learn only by watching films?
Films are fast and full of noise. Use short videos first. Films come later.
Q: What if I get bored while reading?
Stop and choose another book. Boredom teaches nothing. A finished easy book beats an unfinished hard one.