TV shows are a great way to improve your English comprehension. They are entertaining and also very useful when it comes to learning about different cultures, lifestyles, and people around the world. If you don’t yet know what TV shows suit you best, the post is right for you. Check out our list of top TV shows to improve your English, pick one of your choices and enjoy!
The Big Bang Theory
It’s about a group of nerdy friends who work together at the university carrying out different kinds of scientific research and experiments.
Leonard and Sheldon are two brilliant but socially awkward physicists whose life is turned upside down when Penny moves into an apartment across the hall. These geeks are forced to interact with the outside world with hilarious results! Along with their fellow scientists, Raj and Howard, they spend their days navigating the complicated social scene including relationship mishaps, not being able to talk to girls and an obsession with comic books.
Why:
It’s hilarious and you don’t even need to understand everything that’s being said to understand what’s going on because the actions are clear. You’ll be able to hear and understand everyday slang in the context such as “What’s up?”
And if you’re particularly interested in science, you can pick up a lot of vocabulary related to the topic. Because it’s set around a university campus, you’ll also get a feel of what it’s like to learn in an American college and some of the language that students use.
>>> Most common idioms from The Big Bang Theory
Friends
An international study has discovered that Friends is the most popular TV show for helping people learn English. The sitcom reflected the lives of six twentysomething friends: three men and three women, living in New York. Sometimes touching and often hilarious, it addressed everyday themes like relationship, family, job, and inspired numerous friends-themed knockoffs, none of which conveyed the warmth and humor of the original.
Why:
The language is conversational and you’ll also learn how to understand basic humor through the dialogue. The speed of the dialogue also appears to be much slower and clearer than most other sitcoms, which makes it easier for you to understand more.
There are also some funny grammar and pronunciation lessons as they make fun of each other’s shortcomings (faults, failures to meet a certain standard), like how Ross corrects people when they say “who” instead of “whom,” or how Rachel confuses between “your” and “you’re”.
>>> Useful phrases from the TV Show “Friends”
How I Met Your Mother
The TV series follows the main character, Ted Mosby, and his group of friends in Manhattan. As a framing device, Ted, in the year 2030, recounts to his son and daughter the events that led him to meet their mother.
Why: Despite the complex time issue, this is a very easy series to understand once you understand the idea of it. There’s a narrator throughout the series (Ted) and this helps explain what’s going on.
It’s an entertaining show and uses a lot of humor and everyday language. For example, you’ll hear words such as “high five,” “legendary” and “awesome” being used a lot. This is also a great series to watch in order to understand American culture. You’ll fall in love with every character immediately, which will have you wanting to watch the rest of the series.
Like Friends, this show is full of side-splitting humour, meaning that you’ll always get to the end of the episode with a smile on your face.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British TV series produced by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). The series follows a time traveler called “the Doctor”, who comes from a race of beings known as Time Lords. The Doctor travels through all of time and space in his TARDIS with his companion. Instead of dying, the Doctor is able to “regenerate” into a new body, taking on a new personality with each regeneration.
Why: While it may not be the educational show that it was originally intended to be, we can still learn a lot of life lessons from the adventures of the Doctor and his companions. For instance, watching Doctor Who, you will somehow feel motivated by his positive thinking. The series will definitely inspire you to become the person you always want to be, to pursue your dream and your passions. In addition, for those who follow the series all along, you will surely acquire a wide range of vocabulary of all kinds. Doctor Who will bring you a lot of laughter and tears at one time or another.
Above are a few great TV shows to improve your English. Now it’s your turn! Try to immerse yourself in English with one of these hilarious series.
What you need to do is download eJOY app to your smartphone, search for your favourite TV shows, choose your episode and watch it till the end! Don’t worry if you don’t understand what characters are talking about. Videos on eJOY are provided with subtitles. You can look up new words and save those words for further practice. There are many interesting interactive games to help you master your vocabulary.
