The study aims to investigate strategies of learning active vocabulary from movies or TV series in the English language that Chinese college students watch in their leisure time. They store a large vocabulary including many difficult words but can use only a small amout of words fluently and comfortably in speaking or writing. Most of the earlier research focuses on pure strategies of learning words but pays less attention to the real use of the acquired vocabulary. This study is based on two questionnaires, which investigate the current strategies participants apply to learn vocabulary from watching English-speaking movies or TV series. With the aid of active vocabulary and self-directed learning theory, some cognitive strategies like consulting the English-English dictionaires, taking notes in English as well as writing the whole sentences in which the unknown or unfamiliar words occur, and metacognitive strategies like preplanning and post-evaluation are suggested for learners to enhance active vocabulary. Making production of the acquired vocabulary is also essential for learners to turn passive vocabulary into active vocabulary. Advantages of learning active vocabulary from watching English-speaking movies or TV series are also summarized. Hopefully this study would help Chinese college students get a better understanding of learning active vocabulary from watching English-speaking movies or TV series.