A question I get again and again from students is this:
“Is it a good idea to watch series like Stranger Things in German?”
Just recently, a student asked me exactly this during one of our live Q&A calls.
My answer was very clear: no.
And today I want to explain why, because I know many of you are already doing this or thinking about doing it.
Some of you tell me: – “I watch Netflix in German.” – “I listen to German radio in the background.” – “I have German TV on in the background.”
I understand the intention. It usually comes from this idea of immersion.
But this is where things go wrong.
First, let me share a personal example.
My English is decent. You hear it on the podcast. It’s not perfect, I make mistakes, but I can communicate well.
I listen to a lot of native English content: podcasts, YouTube, social media.
But I don’t watch movies or TV series in English.
Even for me, it’s difficult.
Why?
Because in movies and series:
- People speak very casually.
- There is a lot of slang.
- Pronunciation is often unclear.
- Dialogue is fast and mumbled.
- The focus is on the story, not on clear speech.
The problem is simple:
Movies and series are created for native speakers, not for people who are still learning the language.
And this leads to the next problem.
Stranger Things is an American series.
If you watch it in German, the lips don’t match the words.
Your brain sees one thing and hears another.
This makes understanding even harder.
That’s why I especially do not recommend watching foreign series dubbed into German.
If you ever watch a series in German, it should be a German series, where lips and sound are synchronized.
But even that is something for advanced learners.
Before that, movies and series are simply the wrong tool.
Now let’s talk about “immersion”.
Many students believe immersion means: “Surround yourself with the language and your brain will absorb it.”
But immersion without understanding is just noise.
When children learn their native language, they are not immersed in adult-level speech.
Parents don’t speak to a baby the same way they speak to their spouse.
- They simplify.
- They repeat.
- They use body language (see here).
- They make it comprehensible.
This is called comprehensible input (see here).
And that’s the key.
If you don’t understand what you’re listening to, your brain cannot learn from it.
That’s why it also makes no sense when teachers explain grammar in German “for immersion”, while students understand nothing.
Step by step always beats overwhelm.
So what should you do instead?
You should start with content you mostly understand.
- Clear podcasts
- YouTube channels where people speak consciously and clearly
- Structured beginner and intermediate material
- Simple stories with short sentences
That’s exactly why in my programs we go step by step:
- From Zero to C1
- Double Your Confidence in Speaking
- The 30-Day Book Challenges
Easy first. Then harder. Then advanced.
If one day you reach the point where you can enjoy TV series, start with native German series, not dubbed ones.
And only when you really understand what’s going on.
Until then, movies are not your best friend.
Talk to you soon. Bis bald.
Gruß
Manuel
P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are 5 ways I can help you take your German to the next level.