Language Learning With Netflix: Does It Work + 8 Practical Tips

Yes, children can learn a language through Netflix. There are a slew of quality kids’ movies and shows in various languages on Netflix. 

What’s more, a Journal of Cognition review article examining 93 studies on the impact of video on language learning concluded that these studies indicate children can learn new language forms when exposed to them through video (television, film, etc). 

The review article also concluded that these studies indicate high-quality, child-directed television in particular can aid language development in children.  

That said, video media—whether television, film, or educational clips on YouTube—can’t replace shared book reading and other enriching activities. In other words, you shouldn’t rely solely on video streaming services like Netflix to build your child’s language skills. 

Instead, you should combine their video-based media consumption with other forms of language immersion and acquisition, including:

• Talking with your child in the target language
• Helping your child with homework in the target language 
• Signing your kid up for lessons in the target language  
• Reading books in the target language 
• Listening to music and podcasts in the target language
• Writing words and sentences in the target language 

That way, your child doesn’t just memorize words and phrases—they actually master the language. 

Watching high-quality TV shows and films on Netflix can benefit your child’s language development in the following ways: 

• Exposure to authentic language: Netflix movies and TV shows show characters using realistic language—including everyday language, idioms, and slang—in various contexts, helping your child understand and mimic how native speakers talk. 
• Increased engagement: Encountering language in animated shows and live-action movies is more fun than simply reading vocabulary words from a textbook. And when kids enjoy the process of learning a language, they’re more likely to continue. 
• Improved listening comprehension skills: Children can pause and replay Netflix content, helping them process speech in the target language and learn how to hold conversations in real life. 
• Pronunciation practice: Hearing characters and actors pronounce words teaches kids how to say those words correctly and mimic them, leading to more natural and fluent speech.  
• Vocabulary development: Netflix’s movies and shows for kids introduce children to diverse vocabulary—from greetings and other common expressions to colloquialisms. 
• Contextual understanding: Facial expressions, gestures, and visual cues (settings in the show or film) help kids understand the meaning of unfamiliar words, enabling them to build their vocabulary and use words correctly in sentences. 

Language learning with Netflix is more viable than many parents realize, but you have to approach it the right way. Here are eight practical tips to help you use Netflix to effectively build your child’s language skills.  

1) Determine Your Child’s Language Level 

Successful language learning with Netflix starts with understanding your child’s language level. After all, you can’t pick a B1-level show and expect your A0-level child to follow along. 

You can determine your child’s language level by: 

• Having them take a placement test (e.g., Cambridge English Qualifications, TOEFL Junior) 
• Getting them evaluated by a teacher or language expert
• Assessing their language abilities against “Can Do” descriptors (CEFR Global Scale, WIDA Can Do Descriptors) 

Once you’ve identified your child’s language level, research which Netflix shows align with that level (more on that in the recommendations section!)

2) Find Shows and Films Aligned With Your Child’s Interests 

Does your child like learning about animals and playing outdoors? Or, do they like fairy princesses and dressing up their Barbie dolls? 

Choose Netflix shows and movies that cater to their interests so your kid actually enjoys the content and focuses on the language used. 

After all, according to a Frontiers in Psychology review article on enjoyment in foreign language education, learners who experience enjoyment perform better in language learning.  

So, if your child loves superheroes, put on Teen Titans Go! and watch how they smile, laugh, and even repeat expressions the characters say unprompted! 

3) Screen Your Child’s Favorite Show or Film in the Target Language

Beginning with a show or film that your child is already familiar with in their native language allows them to track the translation. 

For example, your child might know the Spanish version of the Finding Nemo scene where Marlin and Dory encounter a whale in the ocean. 

That means, they’ll be able to catch some of the words and expressions that have been translated from Spanish, including:

• Hola = Hello 
• Océano = Ocean 
• Pez payaso = Clownfish
• Ballena = Whale
• Pedir indicaciones = Ask for directions

4) Use the Right Language Learning Extension

You can use Netflix language learning extensions to support your child’s language acquisition. These browser extensions (available on Chrome, Safari, Edge, and/or Firefox) provide subtitles in your kid’s target and native language so they can see how different words translate. 

Popular extensions include:

• Language Reactor (formerly Language Learning With Netflix)
• Nflx Multi Subs
• Lingvo
• Trancy

Use either of these extensions as a scaffolding tool. Let your child use the subtitles to get familiar with the target language, then remove them gradually as your kid develops better listening comprehension skills. 

Eventually, they’ll understand entire episodes and films without support. 

5) Play With Netflix’s Controls and Settings 

Subtitles aren’t the only aspect of the viewing experience that’s in your and your child’s control. 

If at any point your kid misses a line of dialogue, they can use the rewind button to return to the line in question. They can also rewatch full scenes without glancing at the subtitles to see if they understand the dialogue on their own. 

If you have an ad-free plan, another setting to take advantage of is playback speed. If a speaker talks too quickly and your child can’t keep up, decrease the speed. They’ll pick up on things like pronunciation and mouth movements used to produce certain words and letter sounds. 

6) Let Your Child Repeat Dialogue From the Show 

There’s a reason why teachers emphasize “talk time” in their lessons. Follow their lead by encouraging your child to repeat words and expressions from the movie or show they’re watching. 

Bonus points if they’re words and sayings your kid is working on in school!

Try show or movie-based role-playing exercises, too. If your kid watches Avatar: The Last Airbender, take turns role-playing as Aang or Katara. 

You can ask them questions and challenge them to respond based on details from the show, strengthening their vocabulary and improving knowledge retention by making learning more engaging. 

7) Ask Your Child Questions About Scenes 

Don’t just let your kid passively watch TV shows and movies. Ask them questions about the scene, characters, setting, and other details. 

This promotes active learning, which fosters language acquisition. In fact, a LEARN Journal study on active learning showed that English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students who were exposed to active learning lessons scored 1.57 points higher on average on an English post-test than they did on the pre-test when they weren’t exposed to active learning lessons. 

So, if you’re watching Kung Fu Panda together, ask questions like “Who’s your favorite character, and why?” and “What is Po doing in this scene?”

Encourage them to answer in the target language. This gives your child a chance to demonstrate their listening comprehension, vocabulary, and speaking skills. 

8) Help Your Kid Create a Vocabulary List 

There will be plenty of words that your child doesn’t know. As they watch cartoons and kids’ movies on Netflix, have them pause and jot down unfamiliar words. 

They can research these words later, write down their definitions, and even come up with their own sample sentences. 

For example, your child might not know what the word “master” means when watching Pokémon. But they can jot it down, look it up, and work with you to write the sentence “Ash wants to become a Pokémon master.” 

So what shows and movies should you and your child watch on Netflix, anyway? 

The tables below provide 10 TV recommendations and 10 movie recommendations, with each title categorized by genre, age group, and CEFR level. 

Keep in mind that these shows were available to US-based Netflix users as of May 2026. 

Language learning with Netflix is effective because it exposes your child to authentic language from native speakers, improves their listening comprehension skills, and allows them to practice speaking their target language. 

But again, immersion through kids’ shows and films is only one piece of the language learning puzzle. You should also have your child study the language with an expert so they can master grammar and other language rules.

Novakid’s private lessons are a great option if your kid is learning English. Book a trial lesson today to get your child speaking English in as little as 30 days!