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Learning English with series and podcasts: turning streaming into language practice
Watching series and learning English at the same time sounds too good to be true, but it really works if you go about it the right way. What matters is the right level, smart use of subtitles and a few minutes of active work per episode. Here you will find recommendations and a method that has proved its worth. For speaking, an English course with a teacher is the ideal complement to media.
choices® Team · reviewed by our Head of Studies · Updated: 8 November 2026 · Courses for individuals
Learning English with series: does it really work?
Yes, with two caveats: you need a certain basic level, and passive background viewing achieves less than active watching. Research provides some interesting figures. Webb and Rodgers (Language Learning, 2009) analysed 88 television programmes containing around 264,000 words in total.
Their finding: if you know the most frequent 3,000 word families plus proper nouns and marginal words, you understand about 95 per cent of the words in a typical programme. Researchers regard this figure as the threshold for adequate comprehension.
3,000 word families is not a beginner’s vocabulary, but it is not out of reach either. It corresponds roughly to a solid B1 to B2 level. Series are still useful for learners below that level if you choose the right ones and work with subtitles.
What series train particularly well
- Listening at natural speed and with different accents
- Everyday language, colloquial speech and idioms
- Vocabulary through repetition, as series keep their themes and characters
- Motivation, because you are learning with something you enjoy
What series cannot do is teach you to speak. For that, you need conversation practice, such as you get in our language courses for individuals.
Using subtitles well: your own language, English or none at all?
Which subtitles suit you depends on your level. For most learners from around A2/B1, English audio with English subtitles is the best learning mode because it links sound and spelling. Subtitles in your own language only help at the very start. From around B2, switch subtitles on only for difficult scenes, or leave them off.
| Stage | Subtitles | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | English audio, subtitles in your own language | only at the very start or for very difficult series; you mainly read your own language |
| 2 | English audio, English subtitles | the best learning mode for most people, from around A2/B1 |
| 3 | English audio, subtitles only for difficult scenes | when you understand most of it without text |
| 4 | English audio without subtitles | from around B2, for series with clear pronunciation |
English subtitles have a double effect: they link sound and spelling. Many words you know from reading only become recognisable in the audio when you see them at the same time. Over time, you need the text less and less.
A note on subtitles
Subtitles do not always reproduce what is said word for word; they are often shortened. If the text and the audio differ, do not doubt your ears.
In online lessons at choices®, the vocabulary from your favourite series becomes language you can actively use.
The best series for learning English by level
The “best” series is the one you enjoy watching. A few criteria still help: clear pronunciation, everyday dialogue, recurring situations and short episodes. For A2 to B1, try Friends or The Great British Bake Off; for B1 to B2, Modern Family and Ted Lasso; for B2, The Office; for B2 to C1, Sherlock; and for C1, The Crown.
The following selection is a guide; check current availability with your streaming service.
| Level | Series | English | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| A2–B1 | Friends | American | everyday situations, short episodes, lots of repetition |
| A2–B1 | Cookery shows such as The Great British Bake Off | British | visual support, recurring vocabulary |
| B1–B2 | Modern Family | American | family life, clear dialogue |
| B1–B2 | Ted Lasso | American and British | comparing accents, the world of work and team communication |
| B2 | The Office (UK or US) | British or American | office life, small talk, irony |
| B2–C1 | Sherlock | British | fast, precise dialogue, sophisticated vocabulary |
| C1 | The Crown, Downton Abbey | British, partly formal | register, politeness, historical language |
| C1–C2 | Peaky Blinders, Derry Girls | strong regional accents | a challenge for advanced learners |
How to tell whether a series suits you
Watch the first ten minutes of an episode with English subtitles. If you can follow the plot well and only a few unknown words come up per minute, the series is suitable. If you constantly have to rewind, choose an easier one and save the difficult one for later. Switching back after a few months also shows you very clearly how far you have come.
A tip for getting started
Start with a series you have already watched in your own language. Because you know the plot, you can concentrate fully on the language.
Which podcasts are good for learning English?
Good podcasts for learning English include 6 Minute English and The English We Speak from BBC Learning English for B1 to C1, VOA Learning English for A2 to B1, Luke’s English Podcast for B2 to C1, TED Talks Daily for B2 to C2, and podcasts from your own industry from B2.
Podcasts have one big advantage over series: they fit into times when you cannot look at a screen, such as commuting, cooking or exercising. There are also special learner podcasts with transcripts.
| Podcast | Level | What makes it special |
|---|---|---|
| BBC Learning English: 6 Minute English | B1–B2 | short episodes with transcript and vocabulary section, British English |
| BBC Learning English: The English We Speak | B1–C1 | very short episodes, each on one expression |
| VOA Learning English | A2–B1 | slow news English, American |
| Luke’s English Podcast | B2–C1 | long, entertaining episodes by a British English teacher |
| TED Talks Daily | B2–C2 | talks on many topics, international speakers |
| Podcasts from your industry | B2+ | exactly the vocabulary you need at work |
Learner podcasts are ideal for intensive listening with a transcript, and authentic podcasts for extensive listening. Our article on improving your English listening skills explains how to combine the two.
One-to-one online lessons from €49.99 incl. VAT per 45-minute lesson, with plenty of speaking time and targeted feedback.
How do you learn English actively with series?
Passive watching helps slowly; with about 15 minutes of active work per episode, you learn much more. The five-step method: watch the episode with English subtitles without pausing, choose a scene of one to two minutes, work through it and note five to eight expressions at most, repeat sentences aloud, and reuse each expression yourself.
In detail, for an episode of about 20 to 25 minutes:
- Watch and enjoy: the whole episode with English subtitles, without pausing. Having fun is allowed and important.
- Choose a scene: pick a scene of one to two minutes that you liked or found difficult.
- Work through it: watch the scene several times and note unknown words and expressions, five to eight at most.
- Repeat aloud: pause on individual sentences and repeat them with the same stress (shadowing).
- Reuse: make a sentence of your own with each expression you noted and add the expressions to your flashcards.
Steps 2 to 5 take about 15 minutes in total. How to remember the words you noted for the long term is explained in learning vocabulary effectively.
Your series notebook: a template
| Expression from the series | Meaning | My own sentence |
|---|---|---|
| I’m on my way. | I’m coming / I’m travelling there now. | I’m on my way to the office, see you in ten minutes. |
| That’s not a big deal. | It isn’t important. | Don’t worry, missing the deadline by a day isn’t a big deal. |
| to figure something out | to find a solution, to understand something | We’ll figure out a solution together. |
| to catch up | to exchange news; to make up for lost time | Let’s catch up after the holidays. |
Many of these expressions are phrasal verbs, which come up particularly often in series. Our overview of phrasal verbs in English (in German) covers the most important ones.
Beyond series: learning English with YouTube, audiobooks and the news
Besides series and podcasts, YouTube, audiobooks and the news are also good for learning English. Short YouTube videos about your hobbies combine interest with language, audiobooks train extensive listening over longer stretches, and the news repeats topics over several days, so you understand the English version of a story you already know more easily.
YouTube
Short videos about your hobbies, whether cooking, photography or cycling, combine interest with language. Many videos have English subtitles, and you can slow down the playback speed. A handy tool is YouGlish: you enter a word or phrase and hear how different people pronounce it in real videos.
Audiobooks
Audiobooks are ideal for extensive listening over longer stretches. A tip: choose a book you have already read in your own language, or read along in the English original. For learners from B1, there are also simplified readers, known as graded readers, often with audio.
News
News language is clearly structured and repeats topics over several days. If you already know a story from the news in your own language, you will understand the English version more easily and pick up current vocabulary along the way.
Which format for which goal?
| Goal | Suitable format |
|---|---|
| Everyday and colloquial language | Sitcoms, reality formats, YouTube vlogs |
| English for work | Industry podcasts, TED Talks, series set in the workplace |
| Pronunciation | Learner podcasts with transcripts, YouGlish, shadowing |
| Listening stamina | Audiobooks, long podcasts |
After a thorough needs analysis, we build your interests into the course, from series to industry podcasts.
Common mistakes when learning English with Netflix and co.
The most common mistakes when learning English with Netflix and co. are choosing a series that is too difficult, always using subtitles in your own language, pausing constantly, watching but never speaking, copying slang without checking it and constantly starting new series. Better: a series you understand well, English subtitles, no pausing on first viewing, plus real conversation practice.
- Choosing a series that is too difficult: if you miss half of every scene, you will soon give up. Choose an easier series that you understand well.
- Always using subtitles in your own language: then you mainly practise reading your own language. Switch to English subtitles as early as possible.
- Pausing constantly: if you look up every word, you lose the plot and your motivation. Do not stop the first time you watch.
- Watching but never speaking: series train understanding. For speaking, you need conversation practice.
- Copying slang without checking it: what sounds funny in a sitcom does not belong in an email to a client. Pay attention to register.
- Constantly starting new series: sticking with one series means familiar voices and recurring vocabulary.
Series and small talk
Series are also a great topic of conversation. “Have you watched anything good recently?” is one of the safest small-talk questions there is. Find out more in small talk in English.
Weekly plan: learning English with series and podcasts in everyday life
A practical weekly plan switches about four hours of media to English and adds active work: on Monday a podcast and three new expressions, on Tuesday and Thursday an episode with the five-step method or shadowing, on Wednesday a learner podcast with a transcript, on Friday an industry podcast, and at the weekend pure enjoyment.
This is what it could look like:
| Day | Media | Active task |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Podcast on your commute | Note 3 new expressions |
| Tuesday | One episode of a series | Five-step method with one scene |
| Wednesday | Learner podcast with transcript | Compare a section with the transcript |
| Thursday | One episode of a series | Shadowing of one scene |
| Friday | Industry podcast or TED Talk | Summarise the content aloud in three sentences |
| Weekend | Your favourite series, just for fun | None, or review the week’s notebook |
If you are getting back into English after a long break, you will find more tips in refreshing your English as an adult. And how much study time it realistically takes to reach the next level is shown in How long does it take to learn English?
Series and podcasts are an excellent accelerator, but not a substitute for lessons. The best combination: media for listening and vocabulary, lessons for speaking, feedback and structure. On request, our English courses for adults also use scenes from your favourite series. You will find English-only formats under online English courses and job-related ones under Business English courses. We are happy to answer questions via our contact page.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
From what level can you learn English with series?
With English subtitles and easy series, from around A2. Without subtitles and with series at normal speed, it becomes comfortable from B2. Research shows that you need to know roughly the 3,000 most frequent word families to understand typical TV programmes well.
Which series is best for learning English?
The one you enjoy and watch regularly. For beginners, sitcoms with everyday dialogue such as Friends or Modern Family work well; for British English, cookery shows or The Office (UK). Advanced learners can try series with regional accents.
Does learning English with Netflix really help?
Yes, especially for listening and vocabulary, particularly if you use English subtitles and spend a few minutes on active work per episode. For confident speaking, you also need conversation practice.
Are podcasts or series better for learning English?
They complement each other. Series offer images and context, which make understanding easier. Podcasts can be listened to on the go and often come with transcripts. Learner podcasts are particularly good for intensive practice.
How much time should I spend on English series every day?
Even one episode a day with English subtitles brings noticeable progress in listening. Also plan around 15 minutes of active work to note and repeat expressions.
Can I learn British English with series?
Yes. British productions such as cookery shows, crime dramas or comedy offer plenty of British English, often with regional flavour. If you specifically want to hear standard British English, BBC Learning English is a good choice.
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