Learn Spanish with Netflix
Let’s face it, you’re probably already spending many hours a week binge-watching Netflix shows. You may even be doing it to put off studying for a Spanish exam. Why not utilize that otherwise wasted time to help you improve your Spanish skills and ace that test?
While this is not exactly passive learning, you’ll probably get much better at Spanish without even realizing it! (And you don’t even have to get up off the couch). That said, one of the most challenging parts is finding good Spanish shows on Netflix to watch. That’s where we can help.
How to search Netflix by language
It is possible to filter Netflix to only show content in another language. Overdubbed English stuff is good, although it can be a little weird and distracting if the mouths are not moving correctly compared to what you’re hearing. For that reason, and just the fact that you’ll hear a more natural way of speaking Spanish, we recommend starting with original Spanish shows. That said, sometimes you just want to watch Friends, so a dubbed show is fine too!
Here are the instructions to do so:
Search for “Spanish language”. You can get more specific and narrow down by genre, for example by searching “Spanish language comedies”. It is important to include the word “language”; otherwise, you may get results for movies that were filmed in Spain, or made by Spanish filmmakers, but in other languages.
Again, if you’d prefer to just change the audio of original English content to Spanish, feel free. This also greatly increases the sheer quantity of options that will be available in the search results, so you will be more likely to find something particularly engaging for you. Here is how to add Spanish dubbing to Netflix:
Search for “audio in Spanish”. This will ensure that you are filtering Netflix for only content that has a Spanish audio track available.
*If you are finding this too difficult to comprehend, don’t bang your head against the wall. You can add English subtitles to help you follow along. Refer to the instructions below, but select English instead of Spanish. If you are not understanding the gist of what they’re saying in Spanish, this is your best bet to still get something out of the experience.
How to add Spanish audio or subtitles to a Netflix show
If you would prefer to just add some Spanish closed captioning to an English show, that can also help. We know, it’s sometimes weird to hear Spanish voice actors dubbed over English stuff. Here’s how to enable the Spanish subtitles in Netflix:
Search for “subtitles in Spanish” to filter Netflix for shows where Spanish closed captioning is readily available. Alternatively, you could view which movies and TV shows offer audio and subtitle in Spanish by navigating to netflix.com/subtitles.
Click the Dialog icon (if you’re on a computer, you have to move your mouse over the screen to bring that button up; on Rokus and other devices you can press the Up or Down arrow on your remote while a movie or show is playing) and select your preferred audio or subtitle options.
If you’re still having trouble with either of these, visit this page for additional troubleshooting:
Netflix: How do I turn subtitles, captions, or alternate audio on or off?
https://help.netflix.com/en/node/372
What to watch on Netflix to learn Spanish?
If you are not finding a Spanish version of a show on Netflix, and would like to request that one is added, you can fill out a request form here:
https://help.netflix.com/en/titlerequest
There is no guarantee that it will be added, but it’s worth a shot.
More articles you may enjoy:
Where to get free Spanish audiobooks
Learn Spanish while driving
Hard words to pronounce in Spanish
Good luck in Spanish