There is no better way of learning a language such as combining your learning with watching movies and shows in your target language.
Of course, you might have already taken the steps to sign yourself up for language classes, but by watching TV shows, you get a better introduction to the language as you might find it in the origin country, as a way of immersing yourself in the language.
There is a whole repository of valuable movies and shows that will aid in the assimilation of your target language and boost your confidence in speaking it. For example, if you are taking Spanish language lessons, you will have a great time watching Spanish shows on Netflix. So why, don’t we go through more culturally flavored shows?
Section 1: Beginner-Level Movies and Shows
These shows are great for beginners because they offer ease of learning. We know that watching shows in their original language can be intimidating, but we have some great recommendations for you.
Spanish
La Casa De Las Flores (The House of Flowers). The opening episode starts with a suicide; it sets the tone of the entire show. This show is about a matriarch desperate to retain the family’s good image after her husband’s mistress reveals some very dark secrets. This Spanish show has drama, and it is set in its original Spanish language. That is why it is on our list here because you will have to get used to listening to conversations and monologues in Spanish. If this does not get you speaking Spanish fast, what will?
French
Dix Pour Cent or as it is called in English, Call My Agent. It is a French show hosted by Netflix that revolves around agents of an agency (Agence Samuel Kerr) alongside its founder in managing each and every one of its major entertainment stars. Their lives are shown in a humorous shade and show how their personal and professional lives are intertwined. It is great because you get to listen and build a vocabulary of French words from the clear pronunciation and the easy-to-follow storylines.
Japanese
Are you learning Japanese? Consider watching Terrace House which is a Japanese reality TV show that follows the lives of six people who move into a house together. They live in a beautiful town and a beautiful house, but they do not know each other. But how does it help you? They converse at a slow pace which lets you understand Japanese better. What’s more, you get to experience what real-life Japanese conversations sound like.
German
If you are currently learning German, you may want to immerse yourself in this amazing show called Dark, a German sci-fi thriller that follows the search for two kids who go missing in a German town. Thereafter the town’s dark secrets are revealed and the fractured relationship of the four families searching. For you though, you get to indulge in simple dialogues and grammar structures. Babylon Berlin is another great choice for German learners.
Korean
We know you have had of K-Dramas. Well, we have one that will have you laughing hysterically, empathizing with the characters, and learning a little bit more of Korean all at the same time, Crash Landing On You. Have fun, enjoy clear enunciation, and follow everyday conversations.
Section 2: Intermediate Levels Movies and Shows
You may already have some experience with your target language. So, you are comfortable talking, listening, and writing in it. These shows are a bit more challenging, but w also know you can ace understanding them.
Spanish
Roma. Oh, this movie is going to tug on your heartstrings. It follows a small family in 1970 Mexico with one of their domestic workers Cleo. It revolves around themes of betrayal, loss, friendship, and newfound hope. As a Spanish earner, you will be exposed to more complex conversations and language. You will also get to learn different regional dialects and accents.
French
We give you Lupin as a great option. You might have already watched this because it is also a great film. What’s better, it is in French. Wouldn’t you like to be able to understand varied speech patterns? Lupin is perfect for that. You can enjoy that as well as the intricate plot of the film.
Japanese
As an intermediate Japanese learner, you might want to watch the film, Midnight Diner. A restaurant chef and the owner encounter people from different walks of life as they come to his small diner. In addition to great food, he also dispenses thoughtful advice. For you, you get to have fun, engage with subtle cultural nuances, and rich vocabulary.
German
Biohackers is one of those film series that captivates the mind from the first episode. It is about a medical student who joins a top German university with a secret mission trying to connect a family tragedy and a college professor. Trust us, it is way more interesting than what it sounds like. The show uses technical jargon which will help build your vocabulary. You also get to experience more nuanced conversations. How To Sell Drugs Online (Fast) is also a great choice to improve your German following the casual, modern language used by young Germans.
Korean
If you like films with heroes, villains, and a tinge of the supernatural, then you should watch the Korean Drama and thriller, Kingdom. It has a political and historical storyline and is very captivating. What will interest you as a learner is the historical context and varied vocabulary. You are bound to learn a lot from this show and still have fun.
As an intermediate learner, you probably are getting through your curriculum at a fast pace and the material is becoming narrower. Adding original-language movies and shows will add a valuable source of learning material.
Section 3: Advanced Levels Movies and Shows
And we are at the point where the tough cookies in language learning get, to the advanced level. Here you get a recommendation for a movie or show that will test your skills and add to them.
Spanish
Almost everyone has heard or read about Pablo Escobar, the prolific drug dealer. And this show is about him, we are talking about Narcos. As an advanced learner, you will like the fast-paced conversations, idioms, and slang. This way you know what real-life conversations sound like.
French
Les Misérables, we have all been encouraged to watch this movie. But for the excellent casting and acting. For a learner, your reasons are slightly different. You will want to watch it for the historical context and diverse dialects.
Japanese
Imagine that you are learning Japanese, and you are also a manga fan. Well, this movie, Erased, (Originally Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi) I a Japanese movie adapted from a manga story of the same name. Fun, right? You also get to experience complex storylines and the sentence construction that goes into them. You also get to build a rich vocabulary.
German
When you watch The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) you will find yourself hooked to the storyline. It is, after all, a thriller. What will also hold you are the complex dialogues and deep cultural context of the German people. If you want to be fluent in German, you will love those aspects.
Korean
This movie is very interesting. And it depicts how people would sooner live off parasitically on other people rather than work hard for their own. We are talking of the movie Parasite And this context will set the stage for the vocabulary you can learn from this movie.
Section 4: Tips For Maximizing Learning Potential
Subtitles: It is very awkward to watch a film in a new language. You are constantly losing your translation and being left behind. So, watch the show first in your native language and watch it again in the target language just to relate the two together.
Repeat as needed: Repeat watching the film as many times as you need to grasp the entirety of it. Soon, you will notice you can remember the lines from memory and that you can understand what they mean.
Active engagement: Don’t just watch the film. Take notes, note the context, and practice speaking after the actors. These will help integrate the language in your memory. In fact, if you have watched a movie several times, try to think ahead about what a certain word means. Immerse yourself in the film fully.
Closing Words
Who said learning a language must only be in class? We have shown you that you can totally learn from the movies and shows on Netflix. Whether you are learning Spanish,French, German, Japanese, Korean, or many other languages, you can find a movie or show that is in the original language. This is the sign you need to watch that film without being intimidated by it.
So, we encourage you to indulge in Netflix movies and shows that will help develop your target language. And these are just a few of the best shows we could get; we are sure there are more. Look for them and indulge, you might never go back to watching shows in your native language. And remember, that learning a new language with Netflix can be insightful and fun.
