How to Learn Any Language with Harry Potter

Harry Potter can help you learn languages, and we’re not just talking about Parseltongue.

Translated into at least 80 different languages, it’s perfect for learning both widely spoken languages like French and less common ones like Hawaiian, especially if you already know the plot. The books also get progressively more difficult, building your reading skills as you go.

To make your language learning even more enchanting, here’s everything you need to know to learn your target language with the help of Harry Potter, from learning tips to resources.

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Tips for Learning a Language with “Harry Potter”

Use multiple formats of “Harry Potter”

There are plenty of versions of “Harry Potter” available. You might read the books, listen to the audiobooks or watch the movies.

And don’t worry: You won’t need to use a sorting hat to choose just one to which you’ll be permanently bound. Instead, use as many formats of “Harry Potter” as you can.

As mentioned in the video above, using multiple versions of “Harry Potter” can help you excel in any language.

For example, reading “Harry Potter” can give you valuable reading practice. The audiobooks give you excellent listening practice that you can enjoy anywhere. The movies also give you listening practice with the added benefit of giving you a visual context to help understand any words or phrases you don’t immediately recognize.

When it comes to learning a language with “Harry Potter,” you can’t go wrong with any of the available options, even if the movies do omit some valuable plots and scenes that definitely should have made the cut. (Not that we’re bitter!)

Follow the series in order

Reading, listening or watching out of order can obviously be confusing. But beyond that, reading, listening or watching in order is a valuable way for language learners to prepare themselves for what’s next in the series.

The books become increasingly advanced. The movies get increasingly dark. All in all, starting at the very beginning is an important way to ease yourself into the Wizarding World in your target language.

Plus, starting at the beginning can familiarize you with magical vocabulary before the plots get more complex. You don’t want to be trying to learn tricky vocabulary when you have to give your full focus to the Battle of Hogwarts!

Have an English copy for reference

Having an English version of “Harry Potter” handy can make reading, listening or watching infinitely less intimidating. You can do as much as possible in your target language, but if things get a little overwhelming, you have your trusted English version at your fingertips to clarify things.

Plus, let’s be real: The goddess J.K. Rowling made up an awful lot of words and phrases. In your native language, you can adjust to these. However, in your target language, you might not be sure when a word or phrase is invented versus when you just don’t have it in your foreign vocabulary yet. Having an English copy handy can help you read through any tricky scenes in English to deduce which words and phrases are made up.

Create two separate vocabulary lists

Don’t let a rogue bludger throw your reading off track! Maintain a list of unfamiliar words. Better yet, consider two separate lists.

One list should focus on Potter-specific words, like Quidditch vocabulary, spells, potions and charms. These words won’t necessarily benefit your vocabulary in your target language. However, maintaining your own reference list can save you time when you encounter this vocabulary again.

The second list should focus on vocabulary in your target language that does exist outside of the Wizarding World, like mythical creatures, magical terms and any other unfamiliar vocabulary you encounter. Then, you can look up these words in a dictionary for a more precise definition and study the terms so that you never forget them.

After you’ve finished one book or movie, create a flashcard deck for it so you can review all the new vocabulary you’ve learned.

If you think traditional paper flashcard decks are a bit clunky, then you can turn to a digital resource to help you out. There are plenty of language learning apps, such as FluentU, that can work as your helpful familiar.

So try to take advantage of digital apps for your learning! The convenience they provide can make your studies easier and breezier.

Read reviews and write summaries

Your language learning doesn’t need to stop when the books, audiobooks and movies end! Since “Harry Potter” is so popular, you can keep your language learning on a roll by reading and writing reviews in your target language.

“Harry Potter” has fans all over the world, so by searching the title in your target language, you can generally find a website where users can post reviews. Read what others have to say about your favorite work, or better yet, write your own review or summary to get valuable writing practice that employs some of the awesome vocabulary you just learned.

Where to Find the “Harry Potter” Books

For the sake of this list, we’ve linked to the “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”/”Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” for each language. From there, you can generally find the subsequent novels in the “Customers who bought this item also bought” section. You can also find additional novels by searching “Harry Potter” and the name of your target language.

When available, we’ve also included the complete set.

Amazon

Here are links to editions in multiple languages. Some of these also have audiobook versions so keep a look out for those.

Chinese – “哈利波特－神秘的魔法石”

French – “Harry Potter à l’école des sorciers” | Complete set 

German – “Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen”

Italian – “Harry Potter e la pietra filosofale” | Complete set

Japanese – “ハリーポッターと賢者の石”

Korean – “해리포터와 마법사의 돌”

Portuguese – “Harry Potter e a Pedra Filosofal” | Complete set

Russian – “Гарри Поттер и философский камень” | Complete set

Spanish – “Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal” | Complete set

Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble has all eight titles available in Spanish eBooks. Although the store doesn’t offer languages for the original series, other books in the universe like “Quidditch Through the Ages” are available in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Polish and Swedish.

Google Play

Possibly the best place to look for budget-friendly e-books in your target language is the Google Play store. Here you’ll find the complete collection in various languages (except Chinese), along with “Fantastic Beasts” and other classics from the wizarding world.

You can also easily switch to the audiobook version after you click on an e-book.

Where to Find the “Harry Potter” Audiobooks

“Harry Potter” audiobooks are another terrific learning option. You can enjoy them hands-free, making them a great companion for your next road trip or flight.

To get the most out of listening to a “Harry Potter” audiobook, consider giving each chapter your full attention the first time you listen. Replay passages you don’t understand until you can make out each word. Then, jot down any words you don’t know and look them up in a dictionary. You might even keep a copy of the printed book handy and read along as you listen so that you have an easier time understanding exactly what’s being said.

Once you’ve dissected the chapter fully, listen to it again whenever you like. Since you’ve already familiarized yourself with the material, you’ll have an easier time understanding the spoken language.

Apple Books

There’s a pretty impressive collection of foreign-language versions of “Harry Potter” audiobooks in the Apple store. The only downside is that Chinese isn’t available here.

Like Google Play, Apple also offers e-books. But Google Play seems to have a larger selection of J.K. Rowling’s works in more languages.

Audible

Audible is a super popular site for audiobooks, and luckily for you, they’ve got the complete collection in several languages, including French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. Just type in “Harry Potter + target language” in the search box.

Unfortunately, they don’t have any audiobooks in Chinese, Korean or Russian.

Baidu Cloud

Chinese audiobooks aren’t readily available on most well-known audiobook and e-book platforms. Normally you’d have to search Chinese sites. Luckily, “Harry Potter” in Chinese is available to download for free on the Baidu Cloud (Baidu is the most popular search engine in China).

Where to Find the “Harry Potter” Movies

“Harry Potter” movies can bring you hours of enjoyment and valuable language-learning material.

One fun way is to have a viewing party with your language-learning friends. First, watch a movie in English, then watch it in your target language. This way, it will still be fresh in your mind, making it easier to understand. And with eight “Harry Potter” movies, you’ll have plenty of material to keep your weekends full of learning fun.

Chinese – “哈利波特－神秘的魔法石”

French – “Harry Potter à l’école des sorciers” on Blu-ray (Dubbing available in English, Italian, Japanese and Spanish)

German – “Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen”

Italian – “Harry Potter e la pietra filosofale”

Japanese – “ハリーポッターと賢者の石”

Korean – “해리포터와 마법사의 돌”

Portuguese – “Harry Potter e a Pedra Filosofal”

Russian – “Гарри Поттер и философский камень” | Complete DVD set | Complete Blu-Ray set

Spanish – “Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal”

 

Whether you’re a full-blood, half-blood or muggle, “Harry Potter” might be just the magic you need to make your language skills soar like you just got a new Nimbus 2000.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)