TV Shows that Help you Improve your English - Prepare for your IELTS
Indulging yourself in TV shows will always be fun but believe it or not, it’s also a really effective way to sharpen your English skills especially if you're prepping for the IELTS exam and if you’re thinking of diving into English entertainment, you can not only boost your listening, vocabulary and pronunciation but also do it without feeling like you’re studying. So, we’ve compiled a lineup of TV shows that are not only super entertaining but also perfect for giving your English a solid workout.
Friends
If you haven't heard of Friends, where have you been? The show follows a group of friends as the name suggests and this iconic sitcom is a great starting point for English learners as the dialogue is easy to follow while the show covers everyday situations making it pretty relatable. Furthermore, the humor and cultural quirks give you a peek into American life.
The Crown
The Crown is spot on for a dose of British English as this drama about Queen Elizabeth II’s reign is packed with clear and crisp British accents while also a sneaky way to pick up on historical events and political lingo.
Sherlock
If you love a good mystery then Sherlock is definitely your show. Being the modern adaptation of the popular book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes, this British series has some advanced language which can act as a goldmine for expanding your vocabulary while helping you get familiar with complex sentences.
Breaking Bad
This one’s another huge show known for its gritty plot and rich character development that will keep you hooked throughout all seasons while also helping you master informal English as the dialogue is straightforward but loaded with slang and idioms.
The Office (US)
If you've ever wondered what working in an American office is like then ‘The Office’ is bound to give you a hilarious outlook on that matter as you watch dialogues swing between casual and professional making it a great pick if you want to further improve your English.
How I Met Your Mother
This show has a similar vibe to the aforementioned ‘Friends’ where it is all about a group of friends in New York. But, the story is where it differs as this show is all about a guy narrating to his kids the story of how he met their mother, in other words, his wife. The language is modern, packed with idioms and expressions that are common in American English so it's bound to help you get more familiar with the language.
Game of Thrones
If you’re up for a challenge then the show, Game of Thrones, throws you into a world of different accents and dialects which makes it tougher, but it’s brilliant for practicing listening skills because the mix of formal and informal language in this epic series can help you polish both sides of your English.
Stranger Things
If sci-fi is your thing, Stranger Things is a must-watch because the dialogue is modern and easy to keep up with, making it a good pick for intermediate learners along with the show being a crash course in 1980s American culture and slang.
Suits
Suits is all about the fast-paced world of corporate law so this is your show if you want to brush up on your legal English because this show’s dialogue is packed with legal jargon, persuasive language and tricky sentence structures which are perfect if you’re aiming to ace the IELTS Speaking and Writing sections.
Tips for Learning
Start with English subtitles to help catch new words and phrases.
Try copying phrases to practice your pronunciation and intonation.
Jot down new vocabulary or idioms and look them up later.
Pay attention to how the characters interact while focusing on tone and expressions to understand context and emotion better.
By adding these TV shows to your routine, you can make IELTS prep more fun and effective because each show offers something different that will help you build your listening, comprehension and speaking skills more naturally.
