Is La Casa de las Flores good for learning Spanish?

Yes, at intermediate level. La Casa de las Flores is a dark family comedy in clear Mexican Spanish, and its half-hour episodes and absurd scandals make it easy to keep watching while your ear adjusts.

Level

Intermediate

Format

Show

Year

2018

Episodes

33

Length

about 32 min each

From

Netflix

Why it works for learners

Episodes of about 32 minutes are a comfortable length, and 33 of them is a manageable commitment. The family's flower business and secrets give you conversations about money, relationships and keeping up appearances. Upper-class Mexican speech tends to be clear, and arguments and gossip give you plenty of repeated emotional language. One main character, Paulina, speaks in a famously slow, drawn-out way that is very easy to catch and fun to imitate.

What makes it hard

Don't take Paulina as a model, since her speech is a comic trait, not normal Mexican Spanish. Sarcasm and social satire can pass you by, while gossip scenes move quickly. Some casual Mexican expressions may be new if you learned another variety.

How to use it

Watch in Spanish with Spanish subtitles, an episode at a sitting. Replay one family argument and note how people hide insults inside politeness. Imitate Paulina for fun, then compare her pace with the others to tune your ear.

More for Spanish learners: our Spanish guides.