Watching shows in a foreign language (in this context English) is a good way of learning said language for a multitude of reasons:
Firstly it gives great exposure to everyday language which is very often informal and conversational and that you wouldn’t encounter in the classic textbook (ex: slang, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs…). Also these elements of vocabulary are often recurring in TV shows. When you hear these terms multiple times they become more familiar and help you assimilate them.
Additionally they allow you to learn how words and expressions are used in context, which is key to mastering a language. Instead of just memorizing vocabulary, you see how words change their meaning based on the situation or context. This helps you understand and remember new phrases more effectively.
Moreover the slang varies depending of the type of show and kind of environment it takes place in, to gain a decent knowledge of conversations you could have in real every day life.
Although Sit-coms are a very good choice, it is also interesting to watch a variety of genres to increase your vocabulary.
Finally, TV shows can make language learning fun and less of a chore. This engagement helps you stay motivated and improves your retention of new vocabulary and expressions; when you enjoy what you are watching you are more likely to be engaged and continue learning with enjoyment.
HOW TO EASILY LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE ?
BY SUZANNE REVEL
Here is now a top ten list of fun and well known English shows to watch in order to improve your speaking and comprehension skills :
#1 Friends: 10 seasons
Genre: Comedy, sitcom
- Description: Friends is an American TV sitcom which tells the tumultuous lives of 6 friends (Monica, Ross, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe and Rachel) that live in New York City. The show follows the romantic and work related adventures of the main cast. Their adventures are relatable, calming and extremely funny, good for all ages, it’s a perfect choice for a new TV show to watch with family and friends.
#2 The Big Bang theory: 12 seasons
Genre: Sitcom, comedy
- Description: The Big Bang theory is about the adventures of Leonard Sheldon Haword and his friends group composed of humongously intelligent but socially awkward scientists. The show revolves around their interactions with each other and their neighbour, aspiring actress Penny, who introduces them to a more socially conventional lifestyle exploring themes of friendship and romance, with a multitude of clever nerd references and quite a few quirky character dynamics.
#3 Brooklyn 99: 8 seasons
Genre: Police procedure, sitcom, office humour
- Description: Brooklyn 99 tells the tale of Jake Peralta, a Brooklyn detective who does not take his job seriously and really likes to goof around at his workplace with his friends. The show starts at the arrival of his new captain (Raymond Holt) a quite strict and posh man. Following themes of friendship, team work we follow the growth and character development of not only Jake but all the main cast. With goofy pranks and a very relaxed atmosphere in a usually stressful job.
#4 Modern family: 11 seasons
Genre: sitcom
- Description: Modern family follows the lives of three different and diverse families, all related through Jay Prichet. These three families are composed of Jay, his new and younger wife and her son; Claire Prichet her husband Phil and their three kids Hailey, Alex and Luke; finally Mitchell Pritchet, his husband Cam and their adoptive daughter Lily. This show tackles themes of parenting relationships and the complexity of modern life with great humour.
#5 The rookie: 6 seasons
Genre: Police procedural, crime, drama, action
- Description: The rookie follows the challenging life of a forty year old man named John Noland. He decides in his later life to pursue his dream of becoming a police officer, but he now has to face the challenges of a demanding job; this show demonstrates the complexities and hard truths of law enforcement while exploring the personal and professional lives of its characters, blending action and drama with moments of humour.
#6 The dragon prince: 6 seasons
Genre: Fantasy, action/adventure, comedy, drama,
- Description: The dragon prince depicts the tale of Callum & Ezran, two human princes, and an assassin elf named Rayla. They embark in a quest to bring peace to their warring lands in the magical world of Xadia. In order to bring peace they must bring back the long lost egg of the late dragon king to his mother. But on the way they must overcome multiple challenges and face a human mage who would stop at nothing to destroy the egg. This is an interesting show due to the variety of accents used, (every different type of elf possesses a different English accent).
#7 Psych: 8 seasons
Genre: detective, fiction, police procedural, comedy, drama
- Description: « Psych » is a comedy-drama series that follows Shawn Spencer, a highly observant man who pretends to be a psychic detective. After being accused of a crime because of his “gift”, he uses his keen powers of deduction to help the Santa Barbara Police Department solve cases, partnering with his best friend, Gus. With Shawn’s quirky antics and unconventional methods, they tackle various mysteries while navigating their friendships and personal lives. The show blends humour with crime-solving and is known for its clever pop culture references and engaging character dynamics.
#8 The good place: 4 seasons
Genre: Comedy philosophical fiction, utopian & dystopian fiction
- Description: Eleonor Shelstrope is an Arizona trash bag, but one day she dies and ends up in heaven because of a mistake. Forced to hide who she really is fearing to be sent to hell, she seeks help from Cheedi her “soulmate”, a philosopher with big difficulties with morality. This show is full of twists and turns and gives a new take on life and its meaning while staying humorous and extremely fun/entertaining to watch.
#9 The office: 9 seasons
Genre: Mockumentary, workplace comedy, cringe comedy, sitcom
- Description: In the office we follow the daily despair of workers in a paper selling business run by a terrible boss through bad pranks and cringe humour. Through its unique format, the show humorously captures the challenges of office life, workplace relationships, and the dynamics of a dysfunctional team.
#10 Superstore: 6 seasons
Genre: Sitcom, workplace, comedy, dark comedy, satire
- Description: Superstore is a comic (satirical) show about the true terrible working conditions of American workers. It is quite an eye opener on very real problems while staying funny and warming with its relatable characters like Jhona or Amy and very humorous situations in a usually dull and tiresome workplace.