If you want to improve your English in a fun and relaxed way, watching Netflix can be a great option. Instead of just learning from textbooks, you can hear how people really speak in everyday life — including real conversations, natural expressions, and different accents.
In this guide, we’ve picked the 10 best Netflix series to help you learn conversational English. These shows are not only popular and enjoyable, but they’re also perfect for building your vocabulary, improving your listening, and sounding more confident when you speak. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced learner, there’s something here for you.
Why Learn English with Netflix?
Using Netflix as a learning tool can significantly boost your English skills—especially when it comes to real-world conversation. Here’s why it’s so effective for English learners:
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Enhances listening skills with real-life dialogue: Netflix shows use authentic, unscripted-style English, which trains your ears to understand natural speech, different speaking speeds, and connected words in conversation.
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Exposes you to everyday spoken English: Unlike textbooks, which often teach formal or simplified language, Netflix helps you hear how people actually speak in daily life—including filler words, hesitation, and natural phrasing.
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Teaches slang, idioms, and informal expressions: TV shows are packed with real-life phrases, idioms, and casual vocabulary that aren’t always taught in class but are essential for sounding natural and fluent.
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Introduces different accents and cultural contexts: With a variety of series from the UK, USA, Canada, and beyond, you’ll become familiar with different accents, pronunciation styles, and cultural references—all key for global communication.
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Reinforces vocabulary through visual storytelling: Seeing vocabulary used in context, with visual cues and emotional tone, helps improve memory and comprehension. You’re more likely to remember a phrase when you see it acted out in a meaningful scene.
How to Learn English with Netflix
Watching Netflix is a fun and powerful way to improve your English, but to make real progress, you need to watch with purpose. Here are some proven strategies to turn entertainment into active language learning:
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Use English subtitles first: Start with English subtitles, especially if you’re a beginner or intermediate learner. This helps you connect the spoken and written forms of words. As your listening improves, challenge yourself by turning off the subtitles or switching to subtitles in your native language only for difficult scenes.
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Pause and repeat scenes: If you don’t understand something, pause and replay the line. This helps you improve listening comprehension, pronunciation, and sentence structure recognition. Focus on how native speakers stress certain words or use intonation.
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Write down new vocabulary: Keep a notebook or a vocabulary app open while watching. Write down useful phrases, slang, or idioms, and review them later. Make your own example sentences to practice using them in context.
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Practice speaking aloud: Mimic what you hear on screen. Repeat phrases, copy the actor’s tone and rhythm, and try to sound as natural as possible. This shadowing technique builds fluency and confidence in real conversation.
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Use browser tools for support: If you’re watching on a computer, tools like the Language Reactor extension for Chrome can provide interactive subtitles, definitions, and side-by-side translations. This makes it easier to understand fast or complex dialogue and improve vocabulary efficiently.
Top 10 Netflix Series to Learn Conversational English
These series were chosen because they use clear and natural English, are culturally interesting, are popular worldwide, and help improve your language skills by showing real-life conversations.
1. Friends
Level: Pre-Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate
Friends is one of the most iconic TV shows, offering an abundance of everyday vocabulary, relatable situations, and short, easy-to-follow dialogues. Set in New York City, the show follows six friends as they navigate work, relationships, and life, all while using very natural and casual American English. The episodes are around 20 minutes long, making it easy to watch regularly and practice English in manageable chunks.
Throughout the show, learners will hear common expressions, dating and friendship vocabulary, and conversational phrases used in modern daily life. Friends is especially helpful for understanding tone, humor, and how informal English is spoken in casual conversations. Even though some slang may be outdated, the language remains relevant for improving practical, real-world English.
2. The Office (U.S.)
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
The Office (U.S.) is a mockumentary-style sitcom that provides a hilarious look at life in a mundane office in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The show’s slow pace and clear, everyday dialogue make it ideal for learners looking to understand casual American English and workplace vocabulary. Filled with humor and relatable office scenarios, The Office is a great resource for picking up slang, idiomatic expressions, and informal speech.
As the show progresses, the characters’ unique personalities and interactions become more pronounced, helping viewers understand American culture, humor, and social dynamics. With its wide range of comedic situations and relatable office encounters, The Office offers a rich opportunity for language learners to develop fluency and understanding of workplace conversations.
3. Parks and Recreation
Level: Pre-Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate
Parks and Recreation follows the quirky employees of the Parks and Recreation department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. The show offers a mix of humor and relatable dialogue, making it perfect for learners who want to pick up everyday vocabulary and understand how casual conversations flow in American workplaces. With its clear language and light-hearted tone, Parks and Recreation is ideal for building listening comprehension and improving vocabulary in a workplace setting.
The series also introduces viewers to various American accents and colloquial expressions, making it a great tool for learning informal speech and workplace-related language. The humorous, character-driven plots make this series both entertaining and educational, helping learners develop practical English skills while enjoying an engaging storyline.
4. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a police procedural comedy set in a New York City precinct, featuring a group of detectives who solve crimes while navigating hilarious personal situations. The show is fast-paced, filled with jokes, sarcasm, and pop culture references, making it perfect for learners who want to pick up everyday slang and humorous expressions. The dialogue is modern and natural, ideal for improving listening speed and catching the rhythm of spoken English.
With its diverse cast and workplace setting, Brooklyn Nine-Nine also offers plenty of vocabulary related to police work and social dynamics. It’s a great option for learners looking to build their understanding of informal language, humor, and how American culture is reflected in everyday conversations.
5. Stranger Things
Level: Upper-Intermediate to Advanced
Stranger Things blends sci-fi, suspense, and 1980s nostalgia in a thrilling series that captivates audiences with its complex storylines and engaging characters. The dialogue is modern and accessible, with a mix of casual slang and formal language used by the adult characters. Stranger Things is great for learners who want to understand how different English accents are used and how language varies between age groups. The characters, especially the teenagers, speak in a very natural and conversational style, providing learners with a wealth of contemporary expressions.
Though the plot involves supernatural elements, much of the dialogue centers around personal and family relationships, making it easy for learners to connect with the language. Stranger Things offers a fun way to practice understanding cultural references, emotional dialogue, and slang, making it an excellent resource for advanced learners.
6. Schitt’s Creek
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Schitt’s Creek tells the story of a wealthy family who loses their fortune and must adjust to life in a small town. The show features clear, modern English and covers a wide range of conversational topics, from family dynamics to personal growth. Its humor and relatable family situations make it an excellent choice for learners who want to improve their listening and comprehension skills while learning how English is used in everyday settings.
The characters in Schitt’s Creek speak in natural dialogue, full of humor, slang, and emotional expressions. For learners at an intermediate to advanced level, this show provides a fantastic opportunity to practice understanding various accents, informal vocabulary, and cultural references. The relatable themes and rich character development also make it a great way to engage with more complex social and emotional conversations in English.
7. Sex Education
Level: Upper-Intermediate to Advanced
Sex Education is a British comedy-drama that focuses on the lives of teenagers navigating relationships, emotions, and personal growth. The show uses modern slang, idioms, and British expressions to depict the struggles of growing up, making it a great choice for learners who want to improve their understanding of teen and family-related English. The characters speak in a clear, relatable style, offering plenty of opportunities to learn everyday English and more complex vocabulary related to relationships and identity.
As the show explores issues like sexual identity, friendship, and family dynamics, learners are exposed to a wide variety of conversational situations. This series is especially beneficial for those preparing for studies in the UK or those looking to improve their fluency with British English. Its engaging mix of humor and serious topics also makes it a useful resource for understanding how emotions and personal experiences are communicated in English.
8. Young Sheldon
Level: Pre-Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate
Young Sheldon is a spinoff from The Big Bang Theory, offering a look at Sheldon Cooper’s childhood. Set in Texas, this show provides clear dialogue and simple vocabulary, perfect for learners at a pre-intermediate to upper-intermediate level. The series follows Sheldon’s social challenges and academic brilliance as he navigates life as a young genius in a typical family setting. The conversational tone and relatable family situations make it a great choice for improving listening skills and learning everyday English.
As the characters engage in discussions about school, family, and personal growth, learners will hear plenty of practical vocabulary and emotional expressions. This show is especially beneficial for learners who want to develop their understanding of social interactions, friendship dynamics, and how to express emotions in English. It’s also a fun way to practice understanding accents and regional expressions in American English.
9. How I Met Your Mother
Level: Pre-Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate
How I Met Your Mother follows Ted Mosby’s journey to find true love in New York City, told through his recounting of the past to his children. The series features clear, everyday dialogue that’s easy to follow, making it a great choice for learners looking to practice conversational English. The humorous storylines, relationships, and friendships explored in each episode offer plenty of vocabulary related to dating, family, and personal growth.
As the characters share their life stories, learners will encounter a range of social situations and idiomatic expressions, which are essential for mastering conversational English. The show’s mix of humor, heart, and relatable life lessons also makes it an excellent choice for building fluency and understanding common social interactions in English.
10. Emily in Paris
Level: Intermediate
Emily in Paris follows Emily, an ambitious young American woman who moves to Paris for work. Filled with cultural clashes, office dynamics, and stylish city life, the show offers a fun and engaging way to improve your English. While the show is primarily in English, it also features some French phrases, making it ideal for multilingual learners. The language used is clear and modern, with plenty of opportunities to pick up vocabulary related to business, travel, and personal relationships.
The series offers viewers a glimpse into American English in an international setting, providing useful expressions for those interested in business English, cultural exchange, or learning how to navigate different social environments. Its lighthearted tone and visually engaging setting make it a great option for learners looking to improve conversational skills in both formal and informal contexts.
Conclusion
Learning English with Netflix is not only fun and relaxing, but also a highly effective way to improve your conversational skills. By watching real-life dialogue in action, you’ll pick up natural expressions, cultural insights, and the way English is truly spoken in everyday life.
To get the most out of it, don’t just watch — listen carefully, repeat lines, speak aloud, and take notes. Start with a series that fits your level and enjoy the journey to confident, fluent English — one episode at a time.
