In recent months Netflix has made great strides to make itself the main competitor when it comes to the television industry. Becoming the world’s leading internet television network, the company has made entertainment its main priority—for all interests and all audiences. So when it saw a need for more Hispanic programming amongst its culturally-mixed customers in the U.S., the company was quick to jump on the telenovela bandwagon. And they’ve even got some original surprises in store for a new generation of Spanish-speaking viewers, accustomed to the plot lines and dialogue of traditional Latin American tv.

In a momentous change made early last summer, Netflix brought American viewers a more worldly view, with the addition of more than a dozen dramas and comedies from Latin America, including their own original series Club de Cuervos. The Spanish-language series, from Mexican filmmaker Gaz Alazraki, marks a shift in the Netflix universe where a more robust selection of Hispanic titles await its more than anxious viewers.

For the average English-speaking American, streaming sites like Netflix are quite a novelty because instead of waiting a whole week for your fill of your favorite show, you can binge virtually every night of the week. But you might be surprised to discover that many Spanish-speaking households are already used to their daily dramas, with a new episode every night of the week. A staple in the Latin-American culture, many of us grew up with the overly dramatized “telenovelas” of our parents’ and grandparents’ generations. But thanks to Netflix’s new partnerships and original series, audiences can see the familiar older titles mixed with newer series, all on-demand and in their own language.

“Generations have loved shows like El Chavo and we are confident that they will enjoy recent titles like La Dictadura Perfecta, as well as, the latest addition to our originals slate, Club de Cuervos” Chief Content Officer for Netflix, Ted Sarandos says. “We’re thrilled to be working with Univision and Telemundo, as well as, a range of amazing Latin American content creators to enrich our Hispanic content mix in the U.S., allowing families to watch some of their favorite shows together when and how they want.”

While the many names amongst the titles deserve attention, a few standouts remind us of our early days, coming home after school and waiting for our “tele” to come on. If you’re not familiar with Rebelde, a Mexican teen drama about rebellious students at a private prep school, you’re definitely going to want to give this one a watch. The plot lines are robust, filled with plenty of drama, and the soundtrack has some of our favorite hits. For those of you who don’t know, this series was the start to the career of international pop sensation RBD, and ultimately led to dozens of spin-offs across the world. So it’s definitely worth the watch.

Courtesy of Disney

But if you’re looking for more of a modern twist, the Argentinean series Violetta is where it’s at. With an all-star cast, terrific music, and enough laughs to fill a lifetime, this show will have you falling in love, dancing in your seat and laughing non-stop, all in a single sitting.

The Disney series stood out to us a couple of years ago on a trip to Italy, where apparently the show was a already a hit. Low-and-behold when we went out looking for it, the show had fans all around the world, but it wasn’t available anywhere in the U.S. Thank you Netflix, because it’s one of our favorites, and we’re already on our second round! The eclectic cast have a wide-range of backgrounds, both professionally and culturally, so expect a lot of personalities and a lot of different languages, including: Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese, and even some Eastern European flare on occasion too.

Some more intense dramas such as Rubi, La Viuda Negra, La Reina del Sur, and Narcos, just to name a few, tackle more adult themes and play it close to the classics. But, as is tradition, it never leaves you wanting more. Trust us, with seasons ranging upwards of 80 episodes, they’re well worth the investment of your time.

For English-speaking audiences here in the U.S., these new additions also add another depth to Netflix as a learning tool, helping you learn more about a familiar language and to immerse yourself in the many dialects of Latin America. From these telenovelas you can learn conversational Spanish at its finest, and if you ever need a little help understanding the dialogue, Netflix’s many amenities of subtitles and dubbed audio make it possible to enjoy these shows at any level of comprehension.

Check out the newest titles, browse and enjoy at: www.netflix.com