Want to Learn a Foreign Language? Stop Watching Dubbed TV

Everyone knows that the key to learning a foreign language is practice. We study vocabulary, memorise grammar rules and complete exercises—but many of us overlook one of the easiest ways to practise: changing how we watch television.

If you always watch foreign films and series dubbed into your native language, you remove a valuable opportunity to hear another language. The story may come from another country, but linguistically, you remain safely at home.

What Portugal Taught Me

When I spent time in Portugal, something immediately surprised me: foreign programmes on television were generally shown in their original language with Portuguese subtitles. Apart from content intended for young children, dubbing was not the norm.

I was astonished by how well many Portuguese people spoke foreign languages, especially English. People moved between languages with an ease and confidence that I had not expected.

This felt very different from my experiences in France, Italy and Spain. These countries have strong dubbing traditions, and foreign films and programmes are commonly translated into the local language. Although many people study English for years at school, speaking and understanding it in real situations can still be difficult.

Of course, it would be too simplistic to blame dubbing for everything. Education, travel, tourism, economic conditions, language similarity and personal motivation all play important roles. Nevertheless, television habits may be a significant part of the picture.

Portugal Is Not the Only Example

Portugal belongs to a wider group of European countries in which foreign programmes for adults have traditionally been subtitled rather than dubbed.

The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Greece and several Baltic and Balkan countries commonly show foreign films and series in their original language with subtitles. Children’s programmes are often dubbed because young viewers may not yet be able to read, but adults regularly hear the original voices.

By contrast, dubbing has traditionally dominated in France, Italy, Spain and Germany.

These habits matter because television creates repeated, long-term exposure. A person who hears English for an hour or two every day is not simply watching a programme. They are becoming familiar with pronunciation, rhythm, intonation and everyday expressions—often without consciously trying to learn.

A European Commission study involving thousands of participants across 33 countries examined the relationship between subtitling, viewing habits and foreign-language ability. It concluded that subtitling has genuine potential to encourage language learning and improve foreign-language mastery. European Commission: Study on the Use of Subtitling

More recent economic research has also found a substantial positive effect on English proficiency in countries where foreign television is shown in its original language with subtitles rather than dubbed. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization: “TV or not TV? The impact of subtitling on English skills”

The contrast is visible in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index. Portugal ranked sixth among 123 countries and regions and was classified as having “very high” English proficiency. Spain ranked 36th, France 38th and Italy 59th. This index is based on self-selected test-takers, so it should not be treated as a perfect measurement of every citizen. Still, the difference is striking. EF English Proficiency Index 2025

The Problem With Dubbing

Dubbing makes entertainment easier, but it also makes language learning more passive.

When everything is translated, viewers do not need to listen to unfamiliar sounds or work out meaning from context. They hear only their own language, even while consuming hours of international content.

Subtitles create a different experience. At first, you may focus almost entirely on reading. Over time, however, your brain begins connecting the sounds you hear with the words and meanings on the screen. Common expressions become recognisable. Different accents become less intimidating. Spoken language starts to feel familiar rather than foreign.

This kind of exposure cannot replace active practice. Watching television alone will not teach you how to have a conversation, and it will not automatically make you fluent. You still need to speak, make mistakes, study and interact with other people.

But original-language television gives your ears daily practice—and listening is one of the hardest skills to develop in a classroom.

Turn Entertainment Into Practice

The solution is simple: stop automatically choosing the dubbed version.

Begin with the original audio and subtitles in your native language. Once you feel comfortable, switch to subtitles in the language you are learning. Eventually, try watching familiar or easier programmes without subtitles.

You do not need to understand every word. The goal is to become comfortable with the language and follow the general meaning. Choose a series you genuinely enjoy, because regular exposure matters more than forcing yourself through something that feels like homework.

Learning a foreign language requires practice—but practice does not have to happen only at a desk. It can happen while you watch a comedy, follow a crime series or relax with a film.

Portugal showed me what can happen when hearing foreign languages becomes part of everyday life. Perhaps the problem in countries with strong dubbing cultures is not simply how languages are taught. It is also how successfully foreign languages are removed from daily experience.

So, the next time you sit down to watch television, change the audio settings.

Keep the original voices. Read the subtitles. Let your entertainment train your ears.

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