Just like you can’t expect someone who’s never swam before to eventually figure it out by throwing them into a pool, you can’t expect to learn a new language just by exposure/submersion alone. However, with guided and directed help (a swimming instructor or a language tutor, hi!) direct exposure is probably your best bet in terms of getting really good, pretty fast. There are two parts of this exposure process: listening, and speaking. And you’ve got to have both if you want to communicate effectively. Chances are you don’t have easy 24/7 access to someone that can practice the speaking half with you, but it’s really easy to get daily listening practice in. Not just with audio of awkward/slow/boring conversations, but by doing something you (probably) already do pretty willingly. Netflix. There are two ways to do this.
- Watching films and shows originally in another language.
- Watch shows dubbed to another language.
Netflix Original shows do a surprisingly good job of dubbing languages. This can be a great excuse to re-watcha season of House of Cards. There are a number of amazing shows and movies that are originally in Spanish, I’ll list a few of my favorites in a bit, but I want to explain very quickly how you can make the most of this process.
You can mix and match your subtitle and audio options. For example, if you’re just starting to develop an ear for Spanish, try watching with Spanish audio but English subtitles. Try picking up words and phrases that sound familiar, and repeating them out loud (even if you need to pause the movie). It’s okay if you don’t pick up many at first. You might just grasp a “como te llamas” here and a “tengo hambre” there. It’s totally fine if that’s all you get at first, as long as you actively tried to listen and associate what you’re reading in English with what you’re hearing.”
The second way is to have both the audio and subtitles in Spanish. This is going to give your brain a bigger workout, but it’s an extremely effective way to develop your comprehension skills. The first few times you try this, watch something you’ve previously seen before, where you remember the plot and the gist of the story line (so you’re not left completely in the dark). Pay attention to phrases and words you recognize. Again, when you spot these, pause and repeat them to yourself (just make sure you know what they mean).
There are a few benefits of practicing this way. Besides the obvious that you get to watch Netflix while you do it.
- Your pause and rewind buttons. You don’t get these in real life, so think of these as your floaties, (back to the swimming analogy) for conversation.
- You get to listen to people with authentic accents (it’s good to get exposed to all the different accents), talking at a normal pace, having a normal conversation, with a plot that extends a little deeper than “Maria Goes To The Cafè.”
As promised, here are a few of my favorites:
Narcos
Not for kids, but if you like drama, action, and stories about drug lords (Pablo Escobar in particular), I suggest this one.
The Grand Hotel. (El Gran Hotel)
Think Downton Abbey, sort of. But in a hotel. In Spain. Lot’s of mystery. Actually, not a whole lot like Downton Abbey…just the costumes.
The Time in Between. (El Tiempo Entre Costuras)
Another period piece with Spanish actors set during World War 2. Seamstress turned arms smuggler…oh yeah. It’s a good one.
The House at the End of Time. (La Casa al Fin del Tiempo)
A Venezuelan film and one of the best movies in the thriller genre I’ve seen in a while, period. If you’re not into the thriller/suspense genre skip this one, but if you’ve been on the hunt for an original piece, definitely check this out.
Pablo: El Patron del Mal.
This one is a novela with the same theme as Narcos (story about the same guy) 100% filmed and produced in Colombia, with all Colombian actors.
The Liberator (El Libertador).
The story of Simon Bolivar. He did for several South American countries what George Washington did for the US. Great movie with beatiful scenery, I reccomend this one if you like historical pieces.
If none of these catch your eye, you can find shows and movies on Netflix by either 1) going to Browse > International > Subgenres > Latin American Movies or Spanish Movies. 2) Browse > TV Shows > Subgenres > Spanish Language TV Shows.
Hope this was a helpful tip! If you have favorite show or movie in Spanish, please share it in the comments 🙂
Spanish With Maria 