How to Learn Languages with Netflix: 7 Tricks and Tips

In this video, I will share with you how to use Netflix to accelerate your language learning and stop feeling guilty that you're binge watching too much.

Stay tuned!

Credits:

[LucaLampariello]

Thanks for watching guys! Here is the article where you can also watch the video demonstration of how to use the Chrome Extension Language Learning with Netflix. Enjoy and share!


Oh, and what are your favorite Netflix shows? Let me know in the comments!

[EasyFinnish]

I changed NETFLIX's language to French, so there are almost all series and movies in French, so it is the 100% immersion

[Ludywin]

Summarizing the key-points :
1. Decide what you want to watch
2. Decide whether to use subtitles and what kind
3. Choose what to watch well in advance
4. Choose between active and passive watching
5. Save words and frases
6. Check your fragments regularly
7. Pay attention to body language and others visual cues

[suchaagill]

I learnt english by watching movies throughout my early childhood to mid teens. At one point if you asked me what a word meant without context, I couldn't tell you, but only in context I would know. I didn't bother with subtitles because my reading skills were poor, so I simply focused entirely on the audio and visual aspects.

[SomedayKorean]

Language learners so often trash talk using native language subtitles, but it still definitely provides some benefit. Watching Korean shows has been a HUGE part of the reason I’ve become fluent in Korean, and I’ve only watched one show with Korean subs rather than English. It’s entertainment to me rather than a study session, but it still provides a ton of input and constantly motivates me to further study and improve my skills.

[JohnnyWestMagic]

To speak another language is to posess another soul.

[dtn]

Sometimes I feel guilty turning on the subtitles at all, but then I remember that I use them even in my native language 😬. It's good to keep in mind as a language learner that carefully composed tv/movie scripts are naturally more difficult to comprehend than real life improvised conversation. Best of luck to all other language learners!

[Ellary_Rosewood]

Something that was frustrating for me when I was watching Coco in Spanish with Spanish subtitles was that the subtitles were translated from the English translation, not the Spanish dub. Because of that, I was reading something different than what I was hearing. I ended up just turning off the subtitles altogether and just watched the movie in Spanish. Understood around 70-80%. ❤️

[sylviaze]

I started learning spanish early february and the same time i started to watch "supernatural", first with german subtitles, then, after a few seasons, spanish subtitles. and so many times i have felt just "wow", for example, when i learned the imperative, like a miracle they started to use it on screen. they used it before, i just overheard it because i focused on other contents. it is like a puzzle, with each lession i learn, more and more words and grammar i start to see in action, i love watching tv series and i love to see when a piece of the puzzle falls in the right place. (i could explain it much better in german). finally i just want to say: i can totally recommend it when it is an addition to old fashion text book learning

[superduperenglishidioms]

To learn Japanese, I watched the same Japanese film (recommended by a lot of Japanese teachers) and watched it so far, about a dozen times... my understanding gets better and better each time!

Great video and tips, Luca!

[鈴木萌-nl]

I am currently learning English by watching videos on YouTube.
YouTube

[Alexander-omoj]

I wish I'd watched this ten years ago when I started to learn my first foreign language!
It took me all that time to develop the very same ideas as expressed in this video. The only thing I would add is if a movie or TV show is longer than the time you have at the moment, or the time you are able to spend concentrated, don't hesitate to split it into whatever amount of chunks. You will not only spend the time productively but also will be left with sort of anticipation for the next study session, waiting to come back to your show and learn what happened next, along with all vocab and stuff like that.

[mholm]

I've found it useful to create a separate user account for language learning. I can set the default language to the language I'm learning and not have to switch back and forth when I just want to watch something in my native language. It also defaults descriptions and other info to the target language further immersing me.

[redmed]

As a beginner I would watch children's programmes because the language is much more simple and kids speak very clearly.

[gamesrock]

I started learning Italian last year by myself and since then I had a huge improvement. I began in later July and I'm still committed to it, the thing is, I started watching a TV show on Netflix called Suburra (you probably must be familiar with it since it takes place in your hometown Rome haha) and I got to say, this show put my listening skills to test... It is so hard to understand the characters sometimes, I believe I can understand 60 or 70% of each episode. Roman accent is so difficult to parse out sometimes (sorry Luca hahahaha) and I can understand up to 90% of Italian podcasts. The characters speak fast and sometimes it seems they are mumbling and not really talking. I avoid using the subtitles in Italian because they can become a crutch in the long run and that does not really help to improve your listening skills (in my opinion, of course). I only use them when I am not able to understand a single word of what they say, for instance, in a scene that lasts 4-5 minutes if I don't understand anything I rewind it and put the subtitles and then I can understand. I'm not using subtitles because I used them for about 3-4 years while learning English, and then I realized I was not really training my listening but my reading. The first two months of watching TV series in English without subtitles were hard, but now I can understand up to 95% of everything I watch. I apologize for my wordiness, and I'd like to thank you for your always useful tips and tricks! Grazie mille Luca per i tuoi consigli e suggerimenti.

[jefflawrence]

Great video on tricks and tips! I've been watching Casa de Papel on Netflix and I've been using both sets of subtitles and writing down words and phrases that interest me. Glad to hear I'm on the right track! I didn't think to watch something in my target language that I've watched already, will definitely try that!!!!

[havvaalexander]

Netflix is how I was introduced to the Turkish language before I knew it was even Turkish! 4 years later, I’m still acquiring the language and have a native language learning parter/tutor.

[spacevspitch]

Great video. I think one approach would be to watch the same show with gradually more challenging options. Like, pick a show that's in your native language but is also dubbed in your target language. Then, watch it multiple times like this:

*In your native language
*In your target language with native language subtitles
*In your target language with target language subtitles
*In your target language with no subtitles

By the time you get to target language w/ no subtitles, you've watched the show 3 times and will have a real clear sense of everything that's going on. So, it's a much smaller leap to let go of the training wheels and just passively follow and enjoy the show.

[francescoperrone]

I find much more effective using target language subs compared to the use of native language subs, especially when your level is low.
Ex. French movie with french subs VS than french movie with italian subs
Having italian subs (if your level is low) makes you much more inclined to read in your language and less focus on trying to listen (because your level is low and you dont understand it when listening, you then rely on the subs)

That being said, i always use subs even for english and spanish; depending on the environment, background noise or other component makes it tricky to hear properly and I always find useful to have it there in case you need a refresher on how to spell words you havent necessarily been much exposed to

[beamerz]

Usually I would watch without subtitles if I was just trying to get my reps in. If I did find it to be interesting, I would watch it with subtitles and then without it. Rewatching the second time, or even 3rd+ helps a lot, you can actually feel yourself acquiring words because you now better understand the context. Sometimes I would convert the movie into an mp3 (on netflix you can save the video for offline use) and play it whenever I could and would find the scenes playing in my head, which further promoted language acquisition.