Can You Learn Spanish By Watching TV? [15 Easy Tips]

Can you learn Spanish by watching TV? If the idea of mastering a completely new language while enraptured in a murder plot feels too good to be true, then worry not: turns out linguistic research is completely on board with fun alternatives to grammar drills.

So before you google which ones are the best TV shows to learn Spanish, make sure you learn how it works and how to do it best.

How Does Language Learning Work?

Before choosing a Spanish learning program, it's useful to understand how language acquisition happens. The process is similar to building muscle memory for a physical skill like basketball free throws.

With language learning, you are training your brain to recognize new sounds and interpret meanings. Every time you hear, read, or speak Spanish phrases, you are essentially "taking a free throw" with your linguistic muscles.

The rules of grammar are like the rules of basketball. But to truly gain proficiency, you need to cultivate the skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing through repetitive practice.

This reinforces the neural pathways associated with the new language, making the process more automatic over time. Just as an athlete needs countless hours to master techniques, consistent effort is key for fluency.

Each exposure to Spanish is like taking another "linguistic free throw," gradually strengthening your abilities. While a long-term endeavor, this is how the brain builds new language skills.

Can You Learn Spanish By Watching TV?

Absolutely, you can learn Spanish by watching TV! The key is to make sure you're not relying on it alone. For instance, a few years ago, the New York Times interviewed a group of Venezuelan Major League Baseball players who learned English by watching “Friends.” They had only basic English grammar knowledge from high school but spent hours watching the series on cable television.

Research backs this up as well. A 2019 study published in Turkey examined people from Kosovo who consistently watched subtitled Turkish soap operas for 1 to 2 years. Without any formal Turkish lessons, they were able to pass an intermediate-level listening and reading test.

Combining TV watching with other learning methods can significantly enhance your Spanish skills because:

• Familiarizes with Native Speech: Contemporary shows use common language, helping you understand natural speech patterns.
• Puts Vocabulary in Context: You can often guess the meaning of words based on visual cues and character interactions, seeing how vocabulary is used in different situations.
• Addictive and Fun: The engaging nature of TV shows keeps you watching, leading to significant improvements in your language skills through consistent exposure.

Getting Started With Language Learning Through TV

Watching television in your target language can be a highly effective and engaging way to enhance your learning journey. There are two primary approaches to leveraging TV for language acquisition: as a complement to formal instruction or as an immersive starting point.

Complementing Regular Language Classes

If you're currently taking Spanish classes or have studied the language before, incorporating Spanish TV shows into your routine can rapidly improve your listening comprehension skills. The exposure to natural conversations, accents, and contextual cues will reinforce what you've learned and train your ear to better understand spoken Spanish.

Starting From Scratch With Subtitled Shows

Even without prior language knowledge, you can embark on your learning journey through carefully selected TV shows with English subtitles. Begin with children's programs, as they often feature simpler vocabulary and slower speech patterns. Rewatch episodes multiple times, using flashcards or a notebook to record new words and phrases.

Where To Find Spanish Movies And TV Series

Looking for the best places to watch Spanish-language movies and TV series? Whether you’re a language learner aiming to improve your Spanish skills or simply a fan of Spanish cinema and television, there are plenty of streaming platforms offering a rich selection of content.

• Netflix: Offers a large selection of Spanish-language movies and series from Spain and Latin America, including many with subtitles in multiple languages. Netflix also has a large catalog of telenovelas.
• Lingopie: A language learning platform that provides Spanish-language movies and TV series with interactive dual subtitles and learning tools.
• Amazon Prime: Has a good collection of Spanish-language movies and series, catering to various genres and preferences.
• Hulu: Provides Spanish-language content, including popular shows and movies, accessible with a Hulu subscription.
• HBO Max: Offers a range of Spanish-language content, especially from Spain, including dramas, comedies, and documentaries.
• RTVE (Radiotelevisión Española) and Movistar+ in Spain, and Paramount+ in Latin America: These platforms offer a wide variety of Spanish-language programs, including news, series, and movies.
• Plex: Offers free En Español movies and TV shows, available without a subscription.
• MiTele: Mediaset Spain VOD and live broadcasting platform that offers free episodes of some Spanish programs, providing access to popular Spanish TV content.

By exploring these platforms, you can find a diverse range of Spanish-language movies and TV series to enhance your language-learning experience.

Easiest Genres For Language Learners

To keep your language learning fresh and relevant, it's essential to focus on watching new TV shows and movies from Spanish-speaking countries. This helps you avoid picking up outdated expressions and ensures you're learning the current, commonly used language. Here are some of the easiest genres for language learners to start with:

• Comedy: Comedy shows are often the easiest genre for language learners. They use everyday language and common expressions, making it simpler to understand and pick up new vocabulary. The humor and situational context provide clear cues to the meaning of words and phrases.
• Romantic Comedies: Romantic comedies combine simple dialogue with engaging storylines. The focus on relationships and emotions helps learners grasp conversational language and expressions used in everyday interactions.
• Sitcoms: Sitcoms are excellent for language learners because they feature repetitive scenarios and dialogue. The recurring characters and settings make it easier to follow along and understand the context.
• Children’s Shows: Designed for younger audiences, children's shows use simple language, clear pronunciation, and visual aids to help learners understand and retain new words and phrases.

Whether you're a complete beginner or an intermediate Spanish learner, binge-watching Spanish shows can be a fun and effective method to acquire and improve your foreign language skills. By exposing yourself to authentic conversations, accents, and contexts, you'll gradually develop a better understanding of how Spanish speakers communicate in real-life situations.

15 Ways To Learn A Language By Watching TV

Who said learning Spanish has to be boring? To make the most of your screen time, employ these creative techniques to master :

Create Summaries

Write summaries of episodes to practice writing and reinforce understanding. After watching an episode, jot down a brief summary in Spanish, highlighting key events and character actions. This exercise improves your ability to articulate thoughts in Spanish and enhances your writing skills. Compare your summaries with episode descriptions to gauge your comprehension.

Compare Dubbing

Watch the same content in Spanish and your native language to notice differences. This comparison helps you understand how certain expressions and idioms are translated. It also highlights cultural adaptations made during dubbing. Analyzing these differences can deepen your understanding of both languages.

Character Role-Playing

Pretend to be one of the characters and act out scenes to practice dialogue. This role-playing can be done alone or with a partner. It encourages active participation and helps reinforce the vocabulary and phrases used in the show. Plus, it makes learning more fun and interactive.

Background Listening

Play episodes in the background while doing chores to immerse yourself in the language passively. Even if you’re not actively watching, your brain is still processing the language. This passive exposure helps with familiarization and retention. Use this method to make the most of your time and increase your daily language exposure.

Use Rewind Function

Rewind and rewatch difficult segments to fully understand them. Don’t hesitate to go back and listen to challenging parts multiple times. This repetition helps you catch nuances and details you might have missed initially. Use this function, especially for rapid dialogues or complex scenes.

Sing Along

Sing along with theme songs or any songs featured in the show to improve your pronunciation and rhythm. Music is a great way to learn new vocabulary and phrases. Singing also helps you practice intonation and improve your fluency. Look up the lyrics and Spanish words used to understand the meaning of the song and sing along with confidence.

Imitate Emotions

Mimic the emotions and tones used by characters to better understand and convey feelings in Spanish. Pay attention to how actors express different emotions through their voice and body language. Try to replicate these expressions in your own practice. This method helps you become more expressive and natural in your speaking.

Create Subtitles

Try creating your own Spanish subs for a show to test your understanding and translation skills. Watch an episode without subtitles and write down what you hear. Then compare your subtitles with the official ones to check for accuracy. This exercise improves your listening, writing, and translation abilities.

Describe Scenes

Pause the show and describe the scenes in Spanish to practice vocabulary and sentence structure. Focus on describing the setting, actions, and emotions of the characters. This exercise helps you practice speaking and enhances your descriptive language skills. Use a dictionary to look up any new words you need.

Voice Recording

Record yourself summarizing episodes or scenes and listen back to assess your progress. This practice helps you improve your speaking and listening skills. It also allows you to identify areas where you need to improve, such as pronunciation or fluency. Compare your recordings over time to track your progress.

Watch The Spanish Version Of A Hit TV Show

Find the Spanish version of a popular TV show you already know and love. Watching familiar content in Spanish helps you understand the context more easily since you already know the storyline and characters. This familiarity allows you to focus more on the language without getting lost in the plot. Compare scenes between the original and the Spanish version to see how phrases and expressions are translated, enhancing your understanding of both languages.

Language Journals

Keep a journal in Spanish where you write about the episodes you watch and what you learned. This practice improves your writing skills and helps reinforce new vocabulary and grammar. Reflect on your learning experiences and set goals for future episodes. Review your journal entries regularly to track your progress.

Subtle Changes

Watch the same episode multiple times, gradually increasing the speed or remove the subtitle in some parts to challenge yourself. Start with normal speed and Spanish subtitles, then switch to no subtitles or increase the playback speed. These subtle changes help you adapt to different listening conditions and improve your comprehension. This method also keeps the content fresh and challenging.

Visual Cues

Pay attention to visual cues like body language and facial expressions to better understand dialogue and context. These non-verbal signals provide important context clues and help you interpret the meaning of the words. This method is especially useful for understanding emotions and reactions. Practice mimicking these cues to improve your own communication skills.

Fun Competitions

Organize fun competitions with friends to see who can learn the most from watching a show. Create challenges like vocabulary quizzes, scene reenactments, or summary writing contests. This competitive element adds excitement and motivation to your learning process. It also provides opportunities for social interaction and feedback.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is watching TV a good way to learn a language?

Yes, watching TV can be a beneficial way to learn a language. It allows you to hear the language spoken naturally and in context, which can help improve your listening comprehension and pronunciation. It's also an engaging way to learn, as you can choose shows or movies that interest you.

Can you learn Spanish by watching Netflix?

Absolutely! Netflix offers a wide variety of shows and movies in Spanish, which can be a great resource for language learning. You can watch with subtitles in your native language to start, then switch to Spanish subtitles as you become more comfortable. Eventually, you can try watching without subtitles to challenge your listening skills.

How can I watch Spanish TV shows to learn Spanish?

Start by selecting Spanish-language shows or movies that interest you. Use subtitles to aid your understanding, and try to listen closely to the dialogue. Pause and rewind when you need to, and don't be afraid to look up words or phrases you don't understand. Over time, try to rely less on the subtitles and more on your listening skills.

Can you become fluent in Spanish by watching movies?

While watching movies in Spanish can significantly aid your language learning, becoming fluent requires more active practice, including speaking, writing, and reading in the language. However, movies can provide excellent exposure to the language and culture and can help improve your listening skills and pronunciation.

Over To You

Planning to visit a Spanish-speaking country or make new Spanish-speaking friends? If yes, then learning how to speak Spanish is a must. As we learned in this post, you can do just that by simply watching TV shows and movies. Immersing yourself in Spanish audio and video content is an excellent way to train your ears to the same language used by native speakers.

If you're ready to embark on this entertaining language-learning journey, give Lingopie a try. Lingopie is a platform that offers a vast collection of Spanish shows and movies with interactive subtitles, making it easy for you to learn new vocabulary and expressions while watching your favorite content.

So, why wait? Start your Spanish language adventure today by watching TV and binge-watching your way to fluency!