Everyone likes watching shows. It is a great way to relax and unwind – but it is also a great way to improve your Spanish! Thanks to streaming platforms like Netflix, you have access to some of the best shows to learn Spanish with any time you want.
How Can Watching Shows Help You Speak Spanish Better?
Watching shows in Spanish can help you level up quickly because it helps to immerse you in the language. According to LangMedia by Five College Center for World Languages, learning via shows and videos gives you a background in culture as well as in the language you are studying. It gives you an “ear” for the language and helps you understand the words, phrases, and real-life context better.
It also helps you learn Spanish in a more organic way, giving you a glimpse at how native speakers use body language when speaking, which will help make your own speech more natural. You get examples of pronunciation, accent, and tone, too, which are all key in helping you speak better.
Plus, by watching Netflix shows in Spanish, you can practice whenever you want without having to wait for an instructor or Spanish-speaking friend to be free!
Takeaway: Watching Spanish shows can improve your speaking skills by providing you with realistic examples of how the language is used.
6 Best Shows to Learn Spanish With
If you want to improve your Spanish speaking and listening skills with shows, Netflix has you covered. Here are six of the best shows to learn Spanish with right now:
1. La Casa De Papel
Translated as “Money Heist” in English, La Casa de Papel is an extremely popular Spanish crime series. Great for those who want to speak Castillian Spanish, it is about a group of thieves who attack the Royal Mint of Spain led by a shadowy mastermind known as “The Professor.”
2. Narcos
This one is a bit of a cheat: Narcos is technically an English-language show, but it also features a lot of Spanish dialog in a wide range of accents, most often Colombian and Mexican. It is about Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura) and his rise to power, as well as about the law enforcement agents who work to stop him. It can be a little tough to follow for beginners, but great for learning Spanish slang.
3. Velvet
If you like classy, timeless historical romance, Velvet is the show for you. Set in the 1950s, this show is about the love affair between a seamstress and the rich, handsome heir to the company she works for. This one is very good for beginners and lower-intermediate learners because the dialog is slow, polite, and easy to follow, making this one of the best shows to learn Spanish with.
4. Griselda
Fans of Sofia Vergara won’t want to miss Griselda, the gritty drama based on the notorious real-life figure of Griselda Blanco. Set in the 1970s, the plot follows the titular character as she builds a drug empire in Miami, Florida. With this show, you’ll be exposed to lots of Colombian accents, along with a few Cuban and Miami-based ones.
5. Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia
Great for both beginner and intermediate Spanish learners, Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia is a show for the whole family. This fun animated series from the legendary Guillermo del Toro has plenty of easy-to-follow Spanish speech, as well as an easy-to-follow plot about a teenager who finds a magic amulet that turns him into the first human trollhunter in existence. Lots of adventure and beautiful animation follow!
6. Elite
At the time of this writing, Elite is one of the most popular shows on Netflix worldwide. Set in an elite school in Spain, this twisty teen drama/mystery/thriller follows three low-income, scholarship students whose attempted integration into the school leads to murder. This show is good for Spanish slang, as well as for getting your soapy drama fix.
If modern slang is your focus, you might also enjoy our guide to Spanish slang for texting, which covers short, everyday expressions you’ll see in shows like Élite.
FAQs
Can watching shows actually help you learn Spanish?
Yes! Listening and becoming invested in Spanish content can help you improve your Spanish immensely. It helps with immersion, which is necessary to get your brain thinking and remembering things in your target language.
How often should I watch shows in Spanish?
Maintaining a consistent, daily Spanish routine is a must if you want to learn Spanish fast. Therefore, watching at least one 30-minute episode of a Spanish TV show per day is a good way to stay in the habit and improve your skills. According to academic studies, the more frequently you watch shows in your target language, the more progress you will see.
Should I watch Spanish shows with or without subtitles?
While English subtitles on a Spanish show will make things crystal clear, studies say that it won’t help you improve your Spanish that much. Watching a Spanish show with Spanish subtitles, though, is a great strategy. That said, it’s important to understand that watching alone — even with subtitles — doesn’t automatically improve speaking. We explain why in Why Passive Watching Doesn’t Build Speaking Skills (Even with Subtitles), and how to turn Netflix time into active language practice. This helps you match up the words you see with how they are pronounced, which can in turn help you speak and understand better. Once you are at an intermediate level of Spanish learning, watching shows without subtitles makes for an even better exercise.
Final Takeaway
Watching Spanish shows can be a fun and entertaining way to learn Spanish. Jolii.ai can help with this by providing you with subtitles, grammar tips, and more. Check it out today!
