Simple ways to learn Spanish with Netflix
The success of shows on Netflix like Spain’s ‘Casa de Papel’ and Mexican series ‘La Casa de las Flores’ have meant that the Spanish language is getting screen time in homes around the world. With so many great Spanish movies and shows on Netflix and other streaming sites, could this be an effective way of learning the language?
Let me tell you the story of Israeli sisters Reut and Shoham Nistel. Every day for about five years they ran home from school to watch the latest episode of their favourite Argentine telenovela with Hebrew subtitles. The sisters became so proficient in Spanish that they started speaking it to keep secrets from their parents.
This story may seem remarkable, but in fact there are plenty of linguists who recommend watching TV as a great language learning tool. For example, Dr Neophytos Mitsigkas at the University of Essex in the UK has pointed out some key benefits of watching shows and movies to learn a language. Not only is it an enjoyable way to learn, meaning students happily carve out the time to incorporate learning into their week, it also provides visual and auditory clues to help learners naturally absorb new vocabulary, and exposes learners to authentic pronunciation and use of the language.
So if you’re ready to sit back, relax and brush up on your Spanish skills, here are some top tips for learning a language with Netflix:
1.Read up on the story
Before pressing play on a new movie or show in Spanish, you may want to find a little bit more about the plot first. This will help you to keep up with characters and key events while watching, even if you don’t understand every single detail (especially helpful if you’re watching without English subtitles). Knowing the subject matter will also give you clues as to some of the words you are likely to hear, meaning you’re more likely to understand new vocabulary.
2. Choose your subtitles
Even though it may not seem like much of a challenge, watching Spanish movies and shows with English subtitles is a key part of the language learning process. Hearing the Spanish audio alongside the visual cues that television provides will help you to adapt to the sounds and the rhythm of the language, and gradually improve your listening comprehension.
As your Spanish skills improve, try replacing English subtitles with Spanish subtitles. This technique has been shown as a great way for intermediate learners to pick up new vocabulary, as well as allowing you to match words to their pronunciation. You can always start with a movie or series you know well if you’re worried about missing out on the storyline. Extra marks if you have a pen and notepad ready to make a note of new words.
3. Install ‘Language Learning with Netflix’
If you’re ready to take a more focused approach to learning Spanish from movies and shows on Netflix, the ‘Language learning with Netflix’ extension might be the perfect solution. This tool allows you to show both Spanish and English subtitles at the same time, and pauses automatically to allow you to digest what you have just learnt. You can even repeat certain scenes to take a look back at tricky sentences.
4. Complement your learning
While watching Netflix is a great way to use your downtime to learn Spanish, we should be realistic about its limits. As something that focuses on passive, comprehension skills, watching Spanish TV shows probably won’t take you to fluency level on its own. While the Nistel sisters were having in-depth Spanish conversations after watching their favourite Spanish TV show, don’t be discouraged if this doesn’t happen to you.
To optimise your language learning, it’s likely you’ll need to combine your time on Netflix with formal language training. This means taking lessons with a teacher who can help you develop your speaking and grammar skills. If you’re serious about making progress, a good teacher will be able to make your language learning more sustainable and rewarding, while still being a lot of fun (you might even be able to talk about your favourite Spanish movies with them)!
