Does this sound familiar? “Watching too much TV is harmful to you” or “Don’t watch too much TV; or, you’ll go blind”

Well, that’s true. Watching TV all the time isn’t healthy, indeed.

However, watching series to learn English has many benefits, from improving your listening skills to learning new expressions.

Do you know where you can find them?

On Netflix, of course.

Netflix has a huge collection of English series. Even if you start watching one by one and take a break only for a minute, you still won’t be able to watch them all.

That’s why you should make a list of the best Netflix series to learn English.

But which series are worth watching? 

That’s why we are here.

In this post, we will show you the 11 best series on Netflix that can help you learn English.

So let’s dive in.

Why Learn English With TV Series?

Watching series in English has many benefits and here are some of them.

• Have fun while improving your English. Everyone loves watching TV series, especially those that match their taste. If you find something that suits you, it will be very hard to stop watching. But not to worry! At least you’ll be learning English.
• Learn slang words and phrases. As much as you already speak English fluently, there is always something new to learn, such as popular slang or common expressions. Depending on the dialect, you can master British or perhaps American slang.
• You can learn different accents and dialects with TV shows. Even though British English and American English are the same languages, there are plenty of differences between them. Also, people who live in Australia have a different accent from those living in the US. Perhaps you don’t often hear the American accent, but watching TV series is an excellent way to change that.
• TV shows are available for every language learner, no matter their proficiency level. Even if you are a beginner, you can watch a show with subtitles. For intermediate and advanced learners, we suggest watching without subtitles.

The 11 Best Netflix Series to Learn English

13 Reasons Why

Here comes one of the most popular series on Netflix.

Even though the story is about teenagers, the show is a bit controversial. 

A schoolgirl named Hannah commits suicide after school. After her death, her friend finds a box of cassettes that Hannah directed for every person she blames for making her commit suicide.

Yes, we admit, the series is a bit tough to watch. But, it’s also pretty realistic given the fact we see what today’s teenagers have to cope with.

Prepare to learn some modern slang words that you’ve probably still haven’t heard of.

Breaking Bad

Millions of people who watched this series became obsessed with it, to say the least. Awards like Emmy and Golden Globes explain its popularity.

Even though the last season aired in 2013, it is still one of the most popular series worldwide.

The story is about a chemistry teacher who produces meth to pay for his expensive medical care. He becomes a partner with his former student, and they get into the drug scene where they offer pure drugs. The teacher tries to hide this part of his life from others.

With Breaking Bad, you’ll master some of the slang terms, such as ‘Yo’ or ‘Cheddar,’ which refers to money. You can also improve your listening skills since pronunciation is quite clear.

And, let’s not forget about many scientific words and phrases that you can learn in this show.

Black Mirror

Apart from the fantastic series, the title is also fascinating.

What do you get when you turn off your laptops and tablets?

Black mirror.

Technology is in the center of this series, precisely, exploring a twisted future that innovation and technology bring.

Interestingly enough, each episode shows a different story with different places, stories, and characters.

This series allows you to learn both British and American accents and watch it with or without subtitles. The dialogues are easy to understand. However, if you don’t quite understand an episode, you can always skip it without missing out on anything, because the episodes are not connected

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

This is one more TV show ideal for perfecting the American accent.

It’s a comedy about detective Jake Peralta whose jokes continuously get him into trouble. Other characters, also detectives, are lazy, too serious, or strange.

Here, you can find plenty of sensitive topics, like racism, mental health, homophobia, etc. but presented in a humorous way.

Every language learner can enjoy it because characters speak slowly, precisely and clearly, so that everyone can understand. If you are a beginner, make sure to turn the subtitles on.

Dear White People

This is perhaps one of the most controversial series on Netflix.

This comedy-drama is a story about black college students who face racism and social injustice.

The series is based on the 2014 movie of the same name.

Each episode of the first season focuses on one character, except for the last episode. Since the series became so popular, in the following year the second season came out and soon after, the third one as well. The premiere of the fourth season is expected this year.

Thanks to this series, not only will you realize that racism and social issues are active even in the 21st century, but you will also learn some new English terminology as well.

Friends

Everyone has heard of six best friends from Manhattan, New York City.

Joey, Chandler, Ros, Monika, Rachel, and Phoebe are six main actors of the worldwide-known series ‘Friends.’

This comedy follows six best friends throughout their 30s, their daily habits, romances, everyday lives, ups, and downs.

With 10 seasons, you will be able to learn American English, while laughing out loud every minute of it.

Some of the phrases, such as Joey’s 'How you doing?,' Janice’s 'Oh, my God!’ or Ross’ ‘We were on a break!’'  became so popular that even today, more than 10 years after the series aired, people gladly use them in different contexts.

Besides the fact that you can learn everyday English, the series is excellent for beginners because characters speak clearly and slowly so that anyone can understand.

Grace And Frankie

This is a comedy about two older women, who were always rivals.

One day, their husbands announce that they want to leave them because they’ve fallen in love with each other and want to get married.

The two different women start hanging out and they end up living together.

With currently six seasons, you can practice American English, improve your vocabulary, and see that older people can be entertaining.

House Of Cards

Have you heard of this series?

And have you watched it?

If not, you don’t want to miss the chance because this is one of Netflix’s best shows. 

Based on the novel by Michael Dobbs, the story follows an ambitious politician who uses corruption to get to the president’s chair of the USA with the help of his equally ambitious wife.

With six seasons available on Netflix, you can see how power and corruption can affect a person. The series is perfect for learning diplomatic and political expressions and learning how to speak formally.

How I Met Your Mother

This is a comedy about Ted Mosby who tells his kids the story about how he met their mother. The show is filled with flashbacks and Ted’s attempts to find his soulmate. Therefore, every character in the series is somehow connected to him, and his path to true love.

Every episode is full of humor, and characters are always involved in some awkward and funny situations.

People say that this series resembles ‘Friends’ a lot. Some even call it the modern version of Friends.

So, just like Friends, this show is ideal for every proficiency level from the language perspective. The sentences are clear, and the characters speak slowly and clearly.

Common words as ‘awesome’ and ‘legendary’ will for sure become part of your English vocabulary, too.

The Crown

If you are a fan of the British royal family, then this series is perfect for you.

This is a historical drama that follows the rule of Queen Elizabeth II and her family. 

You can find many famous historical characters like Winston Churchill in the first season or Margaret Thatcher in the fourth season.

Besides historical facts and the queen’s rule, the series also shows that they are just like us, ordinary people, and they have their own wishes and problems.

Along with learning a little bit about British history, you can also practice your British accent with this show.

Currently, there are three seasons available, while the fourth season coming up on November 15.

Peaky Blinders

It’s 1919 in Birmingham. Tommy Shelby leads the notorious gang called the ‘Peaky Blinders.’ The gang is well-known for wearing flat caps, one of the working class's symbols, where they hide their razor blades.

Typical British slang, everyday words used during World War I, many expressions about crime, and many exciting situations are some of the things you don’t want to miss.

Final Thoughts

Learning English has never been easier.

These Netflix shows are living proof. So, don’t miss out on this unique chance.

There is also a tool that can help you learn English with the Netflix series. It’s called Language Learner with Netflix. Try to install and use this Chrome extension while displaying two subtitles in different languages simultaneously.

You can also slow the playback, pause, skip ahead, or stop to understand the context of the series thoroughly. Not that it’s going to be needed, but, hey, who knows.

If you’re looking for other ways to improve your English, try these leading online learning platforms: Start with Babbel, where you can engage in user-friendly, enjoyable lessons that easily fit into your daily routine, designed to make learning English fun and effective. For a deeper understanding of the language, check out Courseras comprehensive English course that cover everything from beginner basics to advanced nuances. For tailored guidance, Preply offers personalized sessions with native English speakers, significantly enhancing your conversational skills. Benefit from a 50% discount on your first session at Preply with this link.

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Why Learn English With TV Series?

Watching series in English has many benefits and here are some of them. Have fun while improving your English. Everyone loves watching TV series, especially those that match their taste. If you find something that suits you, it will be very hard to stop watching. But not to worry! At least you’ll be learning English. Learn slang words and phrases. As much as you already speak English fluently, there is always something new to learn, such as popular slang or common expressions. Depending on the dialect, you can master British or perhaps American slang.

What are the best TV shows on Netflix to learn English?

13 Reasons Why, Breaking Bad, Black Mirror, Dear White People, Friends.

What is Language Learner with Netflix?

There is also a tool that can help you learn English with the Netflix series. It’s called Language Learner with Netflix. Try to install and use this Chrome extension while displaying two subtitles in different languages simultaneously. You can also slow the playback, pause, skip ahead, or stop to understand the context of the series thoroughly. Not that it’s going to be needed, but, hey, who knows.

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