Ever felt like English lessons were putting you in a grammar maze with no escape? We get it – rules, exceptions, phrasal verbs, idioms, and don’t even get us started on accents! But hey, ditch those dusty textbooks and snooze-worthy lectures! With technology on the rise and binge-watching becoming a sport, fluent English learning just got a whole lot more exciting and convenient.
Hold onto your popcorn because in this blog, we’re diving into the delightful world of TV series and how they can supercharge your English skills.
Consider utilizing subtitles when you watch TV series to learn spoken English. In this manner, you won’t feel under pressure to comprehend every word, but they will also provide some background so that you don’t hear words or phrases out of their proper context. When watching a television series with subtitles, the idea is to strive to maintain the same language as the dialogue whenever possible. This will allow you to read along while gaining some context from what is being stated.
If you are a beginner-level learner, start by watching an episode with subtitles in your mother language to get a quick overview of the plot. After that, you might try to get adjusted to the characters’ speaking tempo by watching this episode with English subtitles. You can also jot down unfamiliar terms and memorable sentences that you wish to remember.
Let’s be honest: if all of your pals are binge-watching “Stranger Things” on Netflix, you probably don’t want to waste your time on some nerdy new-age program. Look for TV programs that you like.
If you want to learn everyday English through television, pick the right shows to watch rather than just watching the most popular ones. You can improve your fluency by watching any TV series but try to choose ones that are suitable for your English proficiency.
Choose television shows with straightforward plotlines with lots of dialogue and realistic situations if you are just beginning your English learning. You can discover things that are not included in textbooks or terms that are regularly used by native speakers by watching these episodes.
Listen to the conversation! Your brain will process information more quickly if you only make sure that what is being stated is grammatically correct, even if you are watching along with subtitles. Evidently, listening is a skill.
Finding a few well-done transcripts or intros for each episode of a TV show, regardless of the language they are in, is the best way to learn spoken English. Once you’re comfortable enough with them, you can locate them on YouTube! Be aware that Netflix and Hulu frequently have subtitled versions available on their platforms in place of watching linear programs since third-party providers prepare them automatically.
The concept of shadowing is straightforward. If you listen to certain English sentences and then repeat them at the same time, your listeners will be more receptive to what you are saying. Additionally, shadowing trains mouth muscles to move properly, improving speech and accent.
Get into the practice of immediately repeating what you hear because it’s quite simple to overthink things. If your focus begins to go, you can even say it aloud!
Alternately, try yelling them while keeping an eye on the subtitles. This will make the narrative more personal to you. This will assist you in learning the proper word order and is a fantastic approach to helping language get deeply ingrained in long-term memory.
Even though you have a large vocabulary for spoken English, you may find it difficult to comprehend and express it. Why? Because you’ve been pronouncing things incorrectly, speaking and listening are challenging. You may easily hear how many words are actually uttered by watching TV series. Once you are comfortable with these new words, hearing and speaking will both get simpler.
When a line of dialogue is difficult to understand, pause the video and play it back several times while reading the subtitles to help you understand it. You will naturally find some native English speakers more challenging to understand than others because they all have various accents, dialects, and vocal tones. That is typical.
The words will frequently become clearer if you pause and take the time to replay a part. Be gentle with yourself and give yourself some time.
Watching movies and TV series more slowly is another technique to make them more approachable. Different playback speeds are available on Netflix and Lingopie, allowing you to listen at a speed that suits your proficiency. Slowing down a show will help you listen more carefully because you won’t be distracted by the rapid-fire dialogue and lose out on significant portions of the discourse.
Alright, time to put those TV series skills to work! It’s like hitting two birds with one stone when you learn English by watching your favorite shows; it’s not only enjoyable but also extremely effective. However, keep in mind that (at least in part) this is not a Netflix marathon. Combine your TV adventures with a splash of planning and other learning tools. At English With Janet, I understand that everyone has their own groove. So, whether you’re all about a course for fluent English speaking, nailing grammar, or acing conversations, we have your back! We’re here to make English learning an epic trip, from the coziness of your favorite area to the pace that suits your vibe. So, grab some snack and press play. With the help of our professional advice and TV series, you’re on your way to becoming an English expert.
