Learn English with Netflix

Gone are the days of stale flashcards and forced dialogues. A language really comes alive when it is spoken by bewitching characters as they navigate a plot and you don’t want to miss a beat. Now it is easier than ever to access high-quality, English-language content on streaming platforms like Netflix, no matter where you live. 

If you want to learn English with Netflix, there is a veritable ocean of content to choose from.  Whether you want to devour a drama, pick up some regional slang, or laugh while you learn – there’s something on Netflix for you. Who knew learning English could be so entertaining?

Bridgerton 

Bridgerton is a delicious drama from an alternative imagining of Regency-era Britain that follows the romantic fates of eight siblings from the aristocratic Bridgerton family. It is based on a book of the same title by Julia Quinn and developed for Netflix by Chris Van Dusen. Filled with balls, gowns, and forbidden liaisons, this show explores the perennial themes of love and identity in an irresistible way. It remains true to certain period drama tropes, yet it is also infused with a racially diverse cast and classical takes on pop hits. These give it a fresh breath of air and heighten its appeal to younger viewers around the globe.

The Crown 

The Crown will also appeal to those who can’t get enough of posh British accents and a fair dose of pageantry.  Developed from showrunner Peter Morgan’s play “The Audience”, this historical drama captures nearly six decades of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s life. While Morgan has taken creative license to recreate private moments and dialogue, much of the series covers events in the life of the royal family that unfolded before the entire world, such as the Queen’s opulent coronation in 1953 and the tragic death of her daughter-in-law, Princess Diana, in 1997. This blending of fact and fiction has drawn some criticism, but the impeccable casting and production value make it an engrossing watch.

Baby Reindeer 

Any lover of drama will not want to miss the cultural phenomenon that is Baby Reindeer. Loosely based on the real-life experience of creator Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer follows his fictional alter ego, Donny Dunn, as his life unravels due to an unassuming woman who can’t let go of her obsession with him. Billed as a dark comedy/drama, this emotionally complex tale of sympathy, a stalker, and self-reflection will hook most viewers from the very beginning. For English learners, the regional UK accents and idioms might be challenging at times, but with this challenge comes a great reward.

Learn English with Netflix: Strategy

LingQ makes learning with TV shows easy. Here’s how you can watch and improve your English:

1. Watch the Episode Once (optional)

Before you choose the episode you would like to study with on LingQ, it helps some learners to watch the episode all the way through (with or without subtitles). This step can help you get the gist of the plot and introduce you to the characters. Watching all the way through before you start studying is especially helpful if you are a lower intermediate learner.

2. Create Your Lesson with the LingQ Browser Extension

You can download the LingQ browser extension for Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox. Once you have it, add it to your toolbar and you can click on it to make a lesson out of any page you come across with English content, not just Netflix shows. Make sure you have the English closed captions selected before you hit “import”.

3. LingQ New Words and Phrases

Next, work your way through the lesson, making LingQs with words and phrases you don’t know and earning coins as you go. LingQ on the web and on the go on (iOS and Android).

One Piece 

Fans of Eiichiro Oda’s manga masterpiece held their breath as Netflix announced a live-action production of One Piece. Luckily for them, and new fans alike, One Piece is an abundantly successful adaptation that keeps the spirit and joy of the original intact. You will be enraptured by the buoyant adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, brilliantly portrayed by Iñaki Godoy, as he leads his band of Straw Hat Pirates. They face seemingly insurmountable obstacles as they attempt to capture the One Piece, a hidden treasure, and Monkey strives to become the King of Pirates. This is a fantasy series fit for English learners of all ages and it has fortunately been renewed for a second season.

Stranger Things

Netflix’s other fantasy-adventure darling is Stranger Things, which has single-handedly sparked another round of 80’s nostalgia and sent Kate Bush back to the top of the charts. Follow an endearing group of misfits as they search for their lost friend and discover unnerving phenomena around their otherwise nondescript Midwestern town. Developed by Netflix newcomers, the Duffer Brothers, this series is strikingly original as it draws from familiar 80s movie themes of friendship and paranormal adventure. It also has strong casting, having launched a new generation of stars, and brought renewed appreciation to veteran actors Winona Ryder and David Harbour. 

Breaking Bad 

A classic from the “Golden Age of Television”, Breaking Bad has become a Netflix staple. It charts the dark turn of Walter White, a down-on-his-luck, high school chemistry teacher who starts manufacturing illegal drugs with former student Jesse Pinkman to secure a stable future for his family. While Breaking Bad contains mature themes and occasional violence, its acting, dark humor, cinematography, and soundtrack have earned it widespread acclaim. Breaking Bad also has an underappreciated wealth of cultural and regional heritage, containing many true-to-life scenes from the American Southwest. Its gritty dialogue offers learners a chance to practice new idioms and vicariously live as an anti-hero.

Beef 

As Horace once said, “Anger is a short madness,” and there are few more hilarious and on-the-nose depictions of this psychic break than Beef.  Staring Ali Wong as a small business owner and Steven Yeun as a struggling contractor, Beef charts the tragicomic fallout of a road rage incident that neither party can fully put behind them. Despite being fancifully exaggerated at times, this series realistically depicts how repressed feelings and hiding from our own shadow can manifest as external chaos. Beef also has heartwarming moments and well-paced, realistic dialogue that English learners can practice with. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine 

If you’re in a mood to lighten up and practice whip-smart comebacks, then Brooklyn Nine-Nine is the show for you. This recently wrapped comedic sitcom is fast-paced as it charts the office shenanigans and case-cracking skills of Brooklyn’s 99^th Precinct. Filled with memorable interactions between its outlandish characters, particularly Captain Holt and Detective Peralta, you’ll chuckle as you imitate its many one-liners.

The Good Place

Best described as a philosophical comedy, The Good Place is a sitcom that isn’t afraid to ask big questions in a lighthearted way. We meet main characters Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason in a pastel afterlife that gives off gated community vibes – along with the sneaking suspicion that all isn’t as it seems. If you generally avoid swearing and wish to learn creative English alternatives, The Good Place will have you saying “fork yeah” on a regular basis.

There are over 30,000 hours of content currently on Netflix and it would take you about 4 years to watch all of it. Hopefully, this list has helped narrow down some choices for you to begin learning language in a fun and relatable way.