This blog is a curated media collection for learners of the Spanish language. This site is intended for the stages between 1) can understand native show but it’s taxing vs. 2) I watch these shows as if I would my native language.
These lists would be my recommendations if a good friend asked me to immerse themselves in Spanish.
It depends! My recommendation is to consider 1) audio quality and 2) your goal for the content.
- Audio Quality: Modern sound mixing can be difficult for audiences. If you cannot distinguish enough enunciation during the quietest dialogue, or the loudest dialogue is too disruptive, I recommend subtitles to preserve your viewing experience.
- Your goals: If your primary goal is to enhance your listening comprehension, turn off the subtitles while ensuring your clear audio quality (e.g., use headphones). If your goal is to “get” every piece of dialogue for maximum viewing pleasure, then use subtitles.
I do not recommend non-Spanish subtitles for language learning purposes.
It should always be, on average, more fun than difficult regardless of subtitle usage.
For language acquisition, I recommend understanding at least 80% of the overall plot so long as you are okay with missing some details, but use your best judgment.
I recommend checking difficulty levels on Learnnatively.com to compare different shows/movies.
Dreaming Spanish is my personal pick for building beginner and intermediate listening comprehension.