Enhancing your Spanish studies
Lisa Batson, August 23, 2025
I am a big advocate of learning a second language. I think learning a second language is an antidote to xenophobia. In this blog, I will share ways to practice Spanish and gain knowledge of our fascinating neighbors to the South of the United States. To learn Spanish, consistency and immersion pay huge dividends.
In the United States, it’s common for someone to study Spanish for several years in high school, only to find themselves struggling during real-life conversations abroad. Imagine a traveler in Mexico being asked, “¿Cómo te llamas?” (What’s your name?), “¿De dónde eres?” (Where are you from?), “¿A qué te dedicas?” (What do you do?), or “¿Cuánto tiempo tienes en México?” (How long have you been in Mexico?). They may confidently answer the first few questions, but as the language becomes more complex or colloquial, their ability to respond falters. Often, they understand what is being asked, but lack the vocabulary and conversational practice to reply with ease.
One way to close the gap between Spanish classes in school and real-life situations is to consume media in Spanish. Watching Spanish language TV shows and listening to podcasts in Spanish are great options.
Tips for watching Spanish language TV shows
Netflix, Hulu, AppleTV, Prime, and many other streaming platforms offer great programming in Spanish. (I will offer some suggestions.) While watching a show, here are some tips for optimal learning and comprehension:
- Choose something you will find entertaining. For example, if you are a fan of soapy TV, choose a soapy Spanish show, not a serious documentary. If after one episode, you are not interested, choose something else. If you like docuseries or period dramas, choose accordingly. There are many great options.
- Be honest with yourself about your level. If you are a beginner, watching a show at full speed with no subtitles will most likely not be enjoyable for you. Find a pace that works for your learning style and level. Netflix and other platforms make it easy to adjust the speed. Watch it at .75 or .50.
- After adjusting the speed, decide if you want to read Spanish or English subtitles. Watch an episode with English subtitles. Then watch it again with Spanish subtitles. Pick out words you understand and make a small list of words you did not understand. **One common mistake when learning a language is focusing on every word you do not understand. Start small. Once you identify a word, you will begin to hear it over and over. Eventually, you will know that word without looking up the meaning every time you encounter it.
Now for the fun part: below I list some shows that have helped me improve my comprehension. None of the shows listed are appropriate for children. They are all available on Netflix.
La Reina del Sur
La Reina del Sur is based on a novel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. Personally, I love this show. I have watched all 3 seasons two times. However, viewers should be warned that it is full of violence, language, and adult themes. It stars Kate del Castillo. She is a very famous Mexican actress. Her performance as Teresa Mendoza is magical. La Reina del Sur could be categorized as a narconovela. There are many Latin American narconovelas. They are telenovelas that deal with the drug trafficking trade. Full of action and suspense, they are entertaining but very graphic. For me, the fast pace makes it easier to stay engaged because watching a show in a different language requires more concentration.
The Day I met El Chapo: The Kate Del Castillo Story
This film details Kate’s meeting with El Chapo in real life. In addition, it gives Kate’s background story. One of the things I find most compelling about Kate is that she is as strong as she is vulnerable. I think it comes through in her acting and in this story from Kate’s life. If Kate and I had been friends, I would have advised her against tweeting about El Chapo and falling for Sean Penn. Oh well, we all make mistakes, and I still love Kate del Castillo.
Narcos
Narcos is riveting. I was completely engrossed in this show when I watched it. It gives a very detailed account of the history of drug trafficking. If you are a Pedro Pascal fan, he is one of the stars.
La Casa de Papel (Money Heist)
La Casa de Papel is a Spanish drama. If you are not familiar with accents from Spain, it might sound a little different. I loved this show. It is very suspenseful and fast-paced. However, by season 3, I lost interest.
La Reina del Flow
The Queen of Flow is set in Colombia. Season 1 consists of 82 episodes. I loved Queen of Flow. It follows the life of Yeimy Montoya from the time she is wrongly accused of trafficking drugs to her rise as a reggaeton star in Colombia. The music is amazing, and all of the actors are exceptionally talented. It is a cross between a telenovela and a modern musical.
Luis Miguel
The first time I studied in Guadalajara, many many years ago, Luis Miguel was the biggest pop star in Mexico. Still a teenager, he had a booming voice and boyish good looks. This series tells the story of his life and the mysterious disappearance of his mother. It is heartbreaking, frustrating, and extremely interesting. I highly recommend it.
La Sociedad de Nieve (The Society of Snow)
This film is a must watch. It is a true survival story about a plane crash that took place in 1972. A team of Uruguayan rugby players were left stranded in the Andes mountains. Difficult to watch at times, it is a moving story of human survival. Some of the survivors are still alive today and you can find interviews with them on the internet.
Some other shows I have enjoyed are Devuélveme la Vida, El Secreto del Rio, Perdida, Entrevías, and Klass 95. I do not stick with one genre.
Podcasts in Spanish
Listening to podcasts in Spanish is another great way to practice Spanish. Two of my favorites are Radio Ambulante and El Hilo. Both are available wherever you listen to your podcasts. The transcripts are available in the Podcast app or on the website. Listening to the podcast while reading along with the transcript is another great way to improve skills. These podcasts provide a deep dive into Latin American news and culture.