Beth Hanlon, OFLA Executive Recorder and Editor of The Cardinal
Spanish Teacher, Oberlin High School

I have used a few television shows in my classes over the years and would like to share the benefits I have observed. First, let me give you the names of shows I have used and where they can be found. (Please note that there are many more shows out there!)

MANY years ago, I used La Catrina, which was part of the old Paso a Paso textbook series and is set in Mexico. I used it again a couple years ago in Spanish 2 and they LOVED it. Though it was filmed in the 1990s, is cheesy and quirky, it still has value, and is available on YouTube. Last year in Spanish 2, I tried ¿Eres tú, María? in place of La Catrina, which is also on YouTube. It is from the early 2000s and set in Spain. This was not received as well as La Catrina. A few years ago, I showed Celia, a series based on the life of Cuban singer Celia Cruz, when it was available on Netflix. Though some scenes needed to be edited for language and content, students were really into it. Unfortunately, it is no longer streaming on Netflix. Currently, I am showing Tierra Incógnita in Spanish 3/4. This Disney+ series, set in Argentina, has two seasons and requires no editing for content or language. There are many resources out there for season one to get you started –- just head to Google! 

Now, let’s get into the benefits to students from using these shows in class!

1) The shows provide windows into target language cultures.

La Catrina immediately comes to mind for this as each episode is like a tour around Queretaro and Mexico City. Even though the episodes are older (which seriously is half the fun), you can bring up images to show students clear pictures or have them investigate the monuments, buildings or cities on their own.

2) The shows give students exposure to native speakers. 

I am not a native speaker and these shows are great for providing native speaker input. The Argentinian accent in Tierra Incógnita is amazing and I think I point it out to students each time we watch an episode.

3) The shows teach students new vocabulary.

There are so many words that have come up in these shows that are necessary in order to discuss the plot. With the repeated use of the words as we go through a series, the words stick with students and we are secretly increasing their vocabulary! 

4) The shows teach students target language culture. 

We all know that we can’t learn a language without learning the language of the people who speak that language. Along the same vein, you can’t watch a show from the target culture/language without learning something about the target culture! For example, in La Catrina, students learn about chilaquiles, La Catrina and José Guadalupe Posada. 

5) The show helps build our class camaraderie.

We are all watching this show. And regardless if students like it or not, the show gives us inside jokes and something to refer to that we all understand and can relate to. No one in my Spanish 4 class can say “bisabuela” without referencing La Catrina.

6) The shows trick students into learning the above-mentioned items because they think “they are just watching a show.”

I am constantly pausing the show to discuss what is going on. We do before and after activities with episodes. I have even included the shows on exams! But if you ask them what they did in Spanish class, they will say “We just wanted Tierra Incógnita.” 

If you have been on the fence, I hope these reasons have helped you hop over to give a series a try! I would suggest starting out by checking teachers’ blogs about how they have implemented the shows into their classes and then figure out how that would best work for you, your students and your classes. Happy watching!