Learn a language with Netflix: our top series recommendations
What if your screen became your best language teacher? Forget boring textbooks and long lists of vocabulary: with Netflix, you can consolidate your knowledge of a language while keeping yourself entertained. But how do you go about it? And above all, which series should you choose to make the most effective progress?
- Activating subtitles: a question of strategy
Watching a series in VO is all very well. But with or without subtitles? For beginners, it’s best to start with French subtitles to get used to the sounds. Then move on to subtitles in the target language to improve your written and oral comprehension. The ultimate goal: to do without them altogether!
- The best series for learning English
📺 Friends (Easy) – Simple dialogues and a good dose of humor to learn everyday English.
📺 The Crown (Intermediate) – Ideal for getting used to more sustained English and working on your British accent.
📺 Breaking Bad (Advanced) – A mix of slang and technical language, perfect for enriching your vocabulary.
- The best series for learning Spanish
📺 La Casa de Papel (Intermediate) – Quick but accessible dialogues, with a Spanish accent from Spain.
📺 Narcos (Intermediate/Advanced) – A great way to get used to Latin American Spanish (and cartel lingo!).
📺 El Internado (Easy) – A suspense series with clearer, more accessible language.
- The best series for learning French
📺 Emily in Paris (Easy) – Ideal for gentle learning, with a mix of English and French.
📺 Dix pour cent (Intermediate) – Natural, fast-paced French, perfect for improving comprehension.
📺 Lupin (Advanced) – More complex dialogues, but excellent immersion in the language and culture.
- Active learning: the secret to progress
Watching a series isn’t enough to learn a language. To get the most out of it:
✅ Write down interesting expressions and repeat them aloud.
✅ Pause the video and try to guess the meaning of the sentences before reading the subtitles.
✅ Watch the same episode several times to pick up new details.
Conclusion: fun and effective learning
Netflix isn’t just a hobby: used properly, it’s a powerful tool for learning a language in a natural, immersive way. It will then become an effective complement to your course with a native trainer.
So, ready to turn your binge-watching evenings into learning sessions? 🎬✨