How to change Spanish TVs to play programs in English

[Damien Reynolds]

So I feel a little guilty about this post but it is important sometimes, depending on one’s attitude.

I only bring this up because I find myself in a less expensive pension in Irun, after 20+ hours of fun airplane travel (from Cali), about to bail for the Norte tomorrow. I’ll prolly switch to Primitivo this time.

Sometimes if I’m exhausted and just want to relax, and I find my lucky self in some room with a TV, not needing to practice Spanish at the time currently, it’s nice to know I can switch to English on some brain dead tv show. It can be done! (Usually, tho the program selection is limited).

Turn on the tv in your room or shared dorm. Look for programs that are obviously “over dubbed”. Like their mouths don’t match the words they are saying…

Find the remote. Look for a button that says “tools” or “settings” or similar.

Now you want to find a selection titled “Idioma…” Once your new options appear selections may include “English” or “Spanish” and sometimes “Original”.

It will usually be set to “Spanish” by default. Go ahead, change it to English or Original.

You can enjoy mindless hours of USA programs in English from channels such as DMAX (Discovery?)

Anyhoo, just in case you find yourself with the opportunity and you really want to veg out.

 

[J Willhaus]

Yes, we found we were able to watch NCIS reruns on our hotel tv in Burgos a few years ago. Sometimes you can also switch the subtitles/CC to English if you can't switch the vocalizations. Buen Camino!

 

[Former member 92300]

LMAO... dare I admit how grateful I am that you posted this? LMAO

Last summer - I was very glad to ditch all TV and videos - for the most part. But I do recall being totally exhausted on at least a couple occasions where I got a private room and found myself mindlessly channel surfing trying to find ANYTHING that I could watch! I ended up watching way too many "HGTV" shows with voiceovers in Spanish. One day was when I was recovering from heat exhaustion on my final day to Finisterre (where GPS failed me and took me 5 miles out of the way to where my hotel reservation was supposed to be - and then I had to walk 5 more miles back to where the hotel reservation actually was - on my only HOT day in the last 4 weeks of my Camino haha). Also before my flight home - in Madrid - once I was done exploring Madrid for the day. Again - all I could find was "HGTV" shows with voiceovers in Spanish. And a couple cooking shows.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

May I just mention that if changing a tv while there to return it back to its original settings before leaving? The old philosophy of, "Be Kind, REWIND," is not dead.

 

[Terrri]

Thanks for this! I am holed up in Santiago with a bum knee for a week, with another week to go.
I've had the TV on subtitles and then been using Google translate on my phone to learn some more Spanish. They do have some funny TV shows and a good selection of radio stations but it's nice to hear some English again for a bit.
The TV in my room reverts back to Spanish as soon as I switch channels.

 

[Damien Reynolds]

May I just mention that if changing a tv while there to return it back to its original settings before leaving? The old philosophy of, "Be Kind, REWIND," is not dead.

Haha. I knew this was coming! Of course!

 

[trevorcc]

Why?????? I just watch life and find that ample enough.

 

[Former member 92300]

Why?????? I just watch life and find that ample enough.

Most of the time - I agree. But when I was too weak/sick to move due to heat exhaustion - having some mindless TV to watch would have been wonderful. Believe it or not - there are times on the Camino when one may actually want to lay in bed and watch TV. Thankfully - most of the time just living in the moment on the Camino is better.

 

[oursonpolaire]

I often found that Spanish TVs carried radio shows, and Spain has an astonishing range of music--- there are usually one or two jazz stations for those who like that sort of thing.

 

[trevorcc]

Most of the time - I agree. But when I was too weak/sick to move due to heat exhaustion - having some mindless TV to watch would have been wonderful. Believe it or not - there are times on the Camino when one may actually want to lay in bed and watch TV. Thankfully - most of the time just living in the moment on the Camino is better.

Hope you are well, I to took ill outside of Leon a bladder infection but after resting 5 days and pushing on to the Cross De Ferro I was lucky to run into Tomas who would not let me walk out of the mountains (when I went back in 2014 I realised he was so right) but my body gave out just outside Sarria 8 days ICU was told it was not looking good for the first 5 days I was on the Not going to walk out of here list. I found rest and I to watched tv but even if it was in english I would not have understood it. But I walked out and got to the cathedral and got my Compostela now trying to get back for Camino 5 but it is a long way from Australia.

 

[Former member 92300]

Hope you are well, I to took ill outside of Leon a bladder infection but after resting 5 days and pushing on to the Cross De Ferro I was lucky to run into Tomas who would not let me walk out of the mountains (when I went back in 2014 I realised he was so right) but my body gave out just outside Sarria 8 days ICU was told it was not looking good for the first 5 days I was on the Not going to walk out of here list. I found rest and I to watched tv but even if it was in english I would not have understood it. But I walked out and got to the cathedral and got my Compostela now trying to get back for Camino 5 but it is a long way from Australia.

Glad they took care of you! The day I got sick - a 20 mile day turned into a 30 mile day - and it was the first hot day I had had since the beginning - a month earlier. Fortunately I was finally able to get to a place to rest and recuperate.

Yeah - I wasn't paying close attention to the TV - but I still liked the distraction. Sometimes I can pick up on some of the Spanish in TV programs - but definitely not when I am sick haha.

 

[trecile]

Glad they took care of you! The day I got sick - a 20 mile day turned into a 30 mile day - and it was the first hot day I had had since the beginning - a month earlier. Fortunately I was finally able to get to a place to rest and recuperate.

30 miles?? Yikes. That's almost 50 km.

 

[Former member 92300]

30 miles?? Yikes. That's almost 50 km.

Yes! GPS failed me big time trying to find my hotel in Finisterre - it took me 5 miles PAST Finisterre and then I got different directions from the hotel and ended up having to walk back 5 miles. And it was the only HOT day I had in weeks. I think the most I had voluntarily walked was 40km... the 50km felt like it was going to kill me lol. I got to my hotel and asked for a grande agua fria - went to my room - and collaped on the bed.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Thanks. This is helpful. We’re hunkered down in Logroño for a week. Last night we put the tv on YouTube and found Bridge to Terebithia in English. It will be nice to have more choices. .

 

[Geoff Shepherd]

So I feel a little guilty about this post but it is important sometimes, depending on one’s attitude.

I only bring this up because I find myself in a less expensive pension in Irun, after 20+ hours of fun airplane travel (from Cali), about to bail for the Norte tomorrow. I’ll prolly switch to Primitivo this time.

Sometimes if I’m exhausted and just want to relax, and I find my lucky self in some room with a TV, not needing to practice Spanish at the time currently, it’s nice to know I can switch to English on some brain dead tv show. It can be done! (Usually, tho the program selection is limited).

Turn on the tv in your room or shared dorm. Look for programs that are obviously “over dubbed”. Like their mouths don’t match the words they are saying…

Find the remote. Look for a button that says “tools” or “settings” or similar.

Now you want to find a selection titled “Idioma…” Once your new options appear selections may include “English” or “Spanish” and sometimes “Original”.

It will usually be set to “Spanish” by default. Go ahead, change it to English or Original.

You can enjoy mindless hours of USA programs in English from channels such as DMAX (Discovery?)

Anyhoo, just in case you find yourself with the opportunity and you really want to veg out.

Read a book!!!

 

[RodlaRob]

Not sure why people spend so much time, effort, money to go to Spain, France, Italy, etc & then want to retreat to re-runs of English narrated TV shows..?
Isn’t the culture a big part of the Pilgrimage to be absorbed?
Guess with smartphones these days, you could always stream them (English ) whilst walking...just a thought

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Sometimes the voices chosen for the dubbing are spectacularly at odds with the original actor's voice.

25 years after the event we still chuckle about French TV and the gruff voice chosen for "Giles" in Buffy, Contre les Vampires - you could almost smell the Gauloise and marc wafting over the air!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Not sure why people spend so much time, effort, money to go to Spain, France, Italy, etc & then want to retreat to re-runs of English narrated TV shows..?
Isn’t the culture a big part of the Pilgrimage to be absorbed?
Guess with smartphones these days, you could always stream them (English ) whilst walking...just a thought

My daughter plays Pokemon. She is 35 and yes, I have given up hope.