Friends
Watch it on Netflix, Stan, or Apple TV
The series revolves around six friends—Rachel Green, Ross Geller, Monica Geller, Chandler Bing, Joey Tribbiani, and Phoebe Buffay—who live in New York City and navigate the ups and downs of adulthood, love, relationships, careers, and personal growth.
Friends is considered one of the best shows to watch when learning English. It is also a great show in itself and one of my favorites of all time. Here are some main reasons it will help your English skills excel.
- Natural everyday conversations
- Clear pronunciation and pacing
- Relatable context and themes
- Cultural insights, references, and social norms
- Character-specific speech patterns
- Subtitles and repetition
- Simple language with complex emotions
- Humor and contextual understanding.
The Office
Watch it on Binge, Stan, Amazon Prime, or Foxtel
The Office is a mockumentary-style sitcom that follows the everyday lives of employees at Dunder Mifflin, a fictional paper company. The show focuses on the awkward, often absurd interactions among the office staff and well-meaning, and sometimes inappropriate regional manager, Michael Scott.
Like Friends, The Office features natural, conversational English. However, since the show is set in an office environment, it gives learners a different perspective on language. It has some unique advantages that make it an effective resource for language learners, especially those looking to improve their conversational skills, vocabulary, and understanding of American workplace culture. Here are some of the main reasons it will help improve your English skills.
- Realistic everyday English
- Different speaking styles and personalities
- Sarcasm and humor
- Documentary style format
- Relatable office situations
- Simple but rich dialogue
- Cultural references
- Accessible for repetition
The Good Place
Watch it on Apple TV, Netflix, or Fetch TV
The Good Place is a comedy-drama television series that explores themes of morality, ethics, and the afterlife. As the series progresses, it explores deeper philosophical questions about what it means to be a “good” person, the nature of the afterlife, and whether people can truly change. The central premise of the show revolves around Eleanor’s efforts to become a better person to earn her place in the Good Place. The show is also known for its clever twists, humor, and heartwarming moments, and it cleverly plays with the idea of what a perfect society would look like and whether it’s even possible to create one.
Like the shows mentioned above, this show helps expand and improve your English abilities for many of the same reasons. However, this show depicts yet another context and aspect of English and how language can represent and display a part of individual personality and perspectives.
- Clear dialogue and everyday vocabulary
- Humor and wordplay
- Cultural Context and Common Phrases
- Clear pronunciation and pacing
- Themes of Self-Improvement and Philosophy
- Engaging Storytelling and Visual Context
- Universal Accessibility of Themes
The Great British Bake-Off
Watch it on Channel 4, Foxtel, or Binge.
The Great British Bake Off is the ultimate baking battle where passionate amateur baking fans compete to be crowned the UK’s Best Amateur Baker.
Unlike some other competitive shows that might focus on negativity, GBBO is known for its supportive and friendly atmosphere. The judges and hosts often encourage contestants and celebrate each other’s successes. This positive language can help learners pick up more constructive phrases, such as how to give compliments, encouragement, and constructive criticism.
- Clear and slow dialogue
- Diverse Accents and Dialects
- Vocabulary for Cooking and Baking
- Cultural Insights and Idiomatic Expressions
- Visual Context
- Focus on Storytelling
- Simple, Relatable Conversations
- Inspiring Positive Language
The Crown
Watch it on Netflix
The Crown is a TV show about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. After the king’s sudden death, Elizabeth’s seemingly quiet life is rattled with personal trials and tribulations and the affairs of the state as she succeeds to the throne of the British monarchy.
It is an excellent show for learning English because it features clear, well-articulated dialogue with a variety of British accents, including formal language and historical references. The show’s combination of engaging content and accessible language makes it an effective tool for improving listening, speaking, and comprehension skills.
- Clear and precise pronunciation
- Easy-to-follow story
- Contextual learning
- Variety of accents
- Learn about British history and culture
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