Want to Get Fluent the Fun Way? There's No Better Way Than Watching TV Shows & Movies!

Done right, a TV-based approach can drastically improve your listening comprehension, pronunciation, vocabulary, and cultural understanding, all without leaving your couch!

But you can't just flip on the TV and expect to get fluent overnight. Here’s how to optimize your learning, and plus a few of my favorite foreign titles for Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish to help you get you started.

Why Watching TV is So Effective for Language Learning

Learning foreign languages through TV shows and movies has many advantages over traditional language textbooks and classrooms:

• Series and films provide valuable exposure to natural speech, real-world slang, and cultural nuances.

• They train your ear to keep up with native-speed dialogue and recognize common words.

• They create a visual context that boosts comprehension and improves memory.

• They keep you engaged. As the saying goes, "Fun gets done."

How to Learn Effectively with TV & Movies

Here are five ways to squeeze as much juice as possible from your TV oranges. 🍊

① Choose Comprehensible Content

Pick shows and films that are slightly above your current level. The content should be challenging but not overwhelming.

For newer learners, I recommend:

• anime or cartoons

• sitcoms about daily life

• dramas with everyday dialogue

• documentaries about concrete subjects

And regardless of level, here are some useful ways to create context and boost your comprehension:

• Read plot summaries on Wikipedia or IMDB. You may see some spoilers, but it's worth it for the sake of learning.

• Use subtitles or native language captions to read along as you go (see the next section).

• Rewatch a familiar favorite dubbed or subtitled in your target language.

② Use Subtitles Strategically

Subtitles are a surprisingly controversial topic in the language learning world.

• Some argue that they are nothing but a silly form of training wheels that will forever hobble your progress toward fluency.

• Other swear by them, and make the point that we only learn when we understand (something subtitles do brilliantly).

Both of these arguments have their merits, and I tend to take a nuanced approach when it comes to subs and captions. I think they can be quite useful if used strategically and consciously. But they can also become a crutch that is tempting to continue using for far too long.

In general, I recommend the following three level-based phases:

1. Beginner: Watch with English subtitles to build context and start familiarizing you with the sounds of the target language.

2. Intermediate: Switch to target-language captions to practice reading and expand your vocabulary (see tip below).

3. Advanced: Watch without subtitles and focus purely on listening comprehension.

You can also go through all three phases in a row:

1. First watch: English subs

2. Second watch: Target language captions

3. Third watch: No subs or captions

💡 Pro Tip: Install the Language Reactor or Lingopie extension in browser to unlock supercharged captions, pop-up dictionaries, vocab tools, and more.

③ Mimic Speech & Try the Shadowing Technique

Put on your acting hat and try repeating lines out loud from your favorite scenes. Do your best to match pronunciation and rhythm exactly. This is especially important for nailing pitch accent (高低アクセント) in Japanese and tones (聲調・声调) in Mandarin.

One particularly effective mimicry technique is called "shadowing" or "parroting." Instead of consecutive recitation, you aim to speak along with the dialogue in real time. It's not easy, but it can quickly build fluency and train you to speak at a natural speed.

💡 For more about shadowing, see my post Parrot Power: How to Boost Your Listening & Speaking Skills with the Shadowing Technique.

④ Save & Study Useful Vocabulary

As you watch, keep note of interesting words, phrases, and structures you encounter:

• For a low-tech approach, simply write things down in a paper notebook and then use the Goldlist Method to review them. 💡 For more, download Lýdia Machová’s free ebook The Goldlist Method in a Nutshell.

• For a high-tech solution, create flashcards in a spaced repetition app like Anki. 💡 For step-by-step instructions, see my post Rapidly Expand Your Foreign Language Vocabulary with These 7 Expert Anki Tips.

⑤ Chat About What You Watch

Watching content in your target language is just the first step. You should then consolidate your knowledge and apply what you're learning by:

• Discussing episodes and films with your language tutor using a site like italki.

• Asking and answering questions with AI-powered tools like Teacher AI.

Best TV Shows & Movies for Language Immersion

There are TONS of excellent foreign-language titles available to stream online today. To help you avoid analysis by paralysis, here are some of my favorites that are available on Netflix U.S.

Recommended Chinese Titles

• 3 Body Problem (三體 · 三体) – A sci-fi mystery about a coming alien threat (mostly in English but with a bit of Chinese).

• Wave Makers (人選之人—造浪者) – A Taiwanese political drama about cultural issues and campaign struggles.

• Take my Brother Away (快把我哥带走) – A comedy about two high school siblings who despise each other.

Recommended French Titles

• Lupin – A gentleman thief seeks revenge using wit and deception.

• Dix pour cent (Call My Agent!) – Talent agents at a top Paris firm juggle celebrity clients, drama, and chaos.

• Osmosis – In a near-future Paris, a tech company attempts to match soulmates through brain implants.

Recommended Japanese Titles

• Samurai Gourmet (野武士のグルメ) – A food-loving retiree goes on culinary adventures, guided by a samurai alter-ego.

• Midnight Diner (深夜食堂) – A chef at a tiny Tokyo diner cooks customer favorites while they share their life stories.

• The Ingenuity of the Househusband (極主夫道) – An ex-yakuza applies gangster intensity to domestic chores and cooking.

Recommended Korean Titles

• Squid Game (오징어 게임) - Desperate contestants play deadly children's games for money.

• Extraordinary Attorney Woo (이상한 변호사 우영우) – A popular South Korean legal drama about a brilliant young attorney.

• Parasite (기생충) – A thriller about a poor family who infiltrates the life of a wealthy one.

Recommended Spanish Titles

• Money Heist (Casa de Papel) – A criminal mastermind and his team plan the biggest heist in recorded history.

• Y tu mamá también – Two teenage friends invite an alluring woman named Luisa on a roadtrip across Mexico.

• Narcos – A gritty drama series about the rise and fall of notorious Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar.

By making TV shows and movies part of your language learning routine, you’ll improve quickly, naturally, and while having much more fun. But as enjoyable as this approach can be, don't forget that the ultimate goal is fluency, not entertainment. Don't forget to choose comprehensible content, actively engage with vocabulary and grammar you encounter, leverage the Shadowing Technique, and supplement with tools like Anki, Lingopie, Teacher AI, and italki.

Before you click away, I encourage you to pick at least one show from above and start watching now. It's all too easy to postpone and procrastinate on what matters most. And immersion matters.

Enjoy the show!

💡 For more TV tips and titles, see posts in my Video category.