by Olly RichardsDo you love TV shows? Have you ever thought of learning English with them?
It’s a great way to expose yourself to the language, improve your listening skills and learn new vocabulary.
Here are 20 of the best TV shows to learn English.
Enjoy!
1. Friends
Genre: Sitcom
Accent: American
Type of English: colloquial, informal, slang
Many English learners love this TV series. Friends is really a classic. It’s a popular American sitcom that follows the lives of a group of friends living in New York City.
There are six main characters: a waitress, a professional chef, a paleontologist (a person who studies fossils) and his college friend, a masseuse (a woman whose job is giving people massages), and an actor.
The show lasted 10 years – from 1994 to 2004 – and it’s divided into 236 episodes (10 seasons in total). Each episode lasts for about 20 minutes so you can easily watch one episode a day.
Friends is great if you want to explore not only English slang words but also American culture and idioms in English.
Highly recommended!
2.The Ricky Gervais Show
Genre: Animated series
Accent: Various British accents
Type of English: colloquial, informal, slang
This is a hilarious comedy show from the UK, starring the one and only Ricky Gervais – one of the most popular British comedians – along with his friends, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington.
Each episode starts with a voiceover that says, “For the past few years, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington have been meeting regularly for a series of pointless conversations. This is one of them.”
And that’s exactly what happens in each episode. The three men have meaningless conversations and tell personal anecdotes about a variety of topics and situations. These are really absurd and bizarre, which is what makes them funny.
The Ricky Gervais Show was originally a radio program but it was then turned into a podcast series first and it then became an animated TV series.
If you think this is not a popular show, well, let me tell you that, according to the BBC, the podcast episodes were downloaded nearly 18 million times by September 2006!
Now some good and bad news for you.
The bad news is that Ricky, Stephen, and Karl talk quite fast (Stephen’s speech is actually really fast) and they all have their own unique accent.
For example, Ricky Gervais uses the glottal stop, a sound that replaces most / t / sounds and it’s made by closing the vocal cords briefly. Karl, on the other hand, has a thick Manchester accent.
Now the good news.
Almost everything you hear is represented by the animations. So you’ll get a lot of visual support that will make it easier for you to understand the stories.
And you'll get to learn British slang.
This is really one of my favorite shows also because it’s free on YouTube!
3. The Simpsons
Genre: Animated series
Accent: Various English accents (American, Indian, Scottish)
Type of English: colloquial, informal, slang
Given that this is an animated series that’s been going on since the 80s, the yellow family from Springfield needs no introduction.
You may think it’s a cartoon made for kids but, in reality, it’s not, as the series is a satirical representation of American life.
What does this mean? It means that the show uses humor to expose the weaknesses and faults of American culture.
This is what makes “The Simpsons” one of the best series to discover what life is like in the US.
34 seasons, nearly 800 episodes. There might be more you have time to watch!
4. MasterChef
Genre: Cooking show
Accent: Various accents depending on the country
Type of English: informal, vocabulary around food and cooking
Are you a foodie (=a person who’s very interested in cooking and eating different kinds of food)?
If so, this is the show for you.
MasterChef will not only make you feel hungry, but it’ll also expose you to a variety of words, phrases, and expressions around the topic of food and cooking such as:
- Cooking styles and techniques
- Cooking verbs (boil, grate, grill, etc.)
- Dishes
- Ingredients
- Cooking tools
There are various formats but, in general, you’ll see amateur cooks running around trying to prepare dishes before the time’s up.
It’s an intense competition. Sometimes the participants work in groups to beat other groups but most times it’s one against everyone else.
MasterChef is now produced in over 40 countries (maybe you have one in yours too?)
My favourite is MasterChef Australia as the quality of the dishes the contestants need to prepare is really high.
MasterChef Australia is also the second most-watched TV show in the country! (According to Wikipedia).
5. Gordon, Gino, and Fred: Road Trip
Genre: Cooking and travel show
Accent: Various
Type of English: informal, vocabulary around food, cooking and travel
In this funny and educational TV program, you’ll follow the incredible trio of chefs, Gordon Ramsay (British), Gino D'Acampo (Italian), and Fred Sirieix (French), as they travel around various countries in their camper van to discover new cultures and cuisines.
I’ve watched the episode where they go to Naples (Italy) to visit one of Naples' oldest pizzerias.
They have one of the most delicious pizzas on earth and then Gordon has an idea: he’d like to thank the owner of the restaurant by making him a lemon dessert pizza.
What? Lemon on pizza? That would make any Italian go, “Yuk!” But the restaurant owner loved it! Only Gordon Ramsey could do such a thing.
You can watch the whole show for free on YouTube.
6. Border Security: Australia's Front Line
Genre: factual TV show
Accent: Australian
Type of English: mostly formal questions, imperatives, and orders
Have you ever traveled to Australia? If so, you might know how strict their border security policies are. If not, you’ll find out how in this show.
You’ll mostly see people trying (and failing) to enter the country with drugs, illegal materials, and forbidden items.
You may think these people have bad intentions but not all do. Some are ordinary people who are carrying plants and foods that can’t get into the country as they might ruin the unique Australian ecosystems.
That’s why the Aussies (this is an informal term that means Australians) have strict policies.
The dialogues you’ll hear aren’t colourful or sophisticated as the language of the Australian airport control officers doesn’t need to be.
Most of what you hear is orders and questions such as:
- Can I see your bag?
- Where are you heading to?
- Please sit here.
And so on.
7. The Late Late Show with James Corden
Genre: Comedy show
Accent: British and American
Type of English: Informal
The Late Late Show with James Corden is a popular late-night talk show hosted by James Corden – a British TV presenter.
Each night James interviews celebrities, actors, and musicians. But this is much more than just another old boring talk show.
You’ll see performances and comedy sketches such as “Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts”, a segment of the show where James and his guest take turns asking each other very personal questions and are given a choice: tell the truth or eat whatever food is in front of them.
Now, the food isn’t pasta or guacamole. It might be some hot pepper smoothie, jellyfish, or something revolting.
Here’s Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts with Arnold Schwarzenegger. You can see more on YouTube.
8. Carpool Karaoke
Genre: Music show
Accent: British and American
Type of English: Informal, conversational
Who’s your favorite singer or band?
Now imagine having them in your car and singing along to their songs with them.
Wouldn’t that be a dream?
This is what James Corden does in Carpool Karaoke, another segment of The Late Late Show with James Corden.
He invites some of the biggest music stars for a tour in his car. He then puts on their music on the radio and they sing along to it together.
He also interviews and chats with the celebrity while driving, so you’ll also discover things about the most famous artists in the world.
Some of the people who jumped into James’ car include Adele, Pink, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, and Lady Gaga.
The language is informal and the music is always amazing.
If you like American and British music, Carpool Karaoke is an absolute must.
9. The Daily Show
Genre: Satirical news TV program
Accent: American/South African
Type of English: informal/formal
The Daily Show is a popular American TV show that uses humor to discuss and analyze important news stories, political events, and cultural topics happening around the world.
It was hosted by Trevor Noah, from South Africa, who opens the show with a monologue discussing current news stories and issues.
After the monologue, there's a part where the host talks with a correspondent, who usually gives funny opinions about current events.
There are also interviews so you'll get a variety of interaction patterns. It’s the perfect show to keep up with current events in a light-hearted way.
10. American Horror Story
Genre: Horror
Accent: American
Type of English: informal, conversational
What comes to mind when you think of a horror story?
Clowns? Witches? Haunted houses? Asylums?
You’ll find these and many more horror themes in American Horror Story, a scary TV show that started in 2011.
There are currently 11 seasons and each one tells a different horror story according to the theme of the season.
You’ll often see the same actors across episodes and this is a good thing as you can get used to their accents.
Get ready to improve your English while shivering in fear!
Nah…it’s not that scary really.
11. Saturday Night Live
Genre: Comedy TV show
Accent: American
Type of English: Informal
What are you doing this Saturday?
If you’ve got nothing planned, then you should definitely check out Saturday Night Live, a popular American TV show that has been around since 1975 and has been making millions of people laugh over the years.
Each episode is hosted by a celebrity who usually gives a funny monologue at the beginning of the show.
But you’ll also see different comedy sketches and musical guests too.
Many American actors and comedians became famous thanks to Saturday Night Live. These include Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, Adam Sandler, and Chris Rock.
Sit back, relax, and get ready to laugh!
12. 60 Minutes Australia
Genre: Current affairs
Accent: Australian
Type of English: Formal / documentary and news report style
60 Minutes Australia is a TV show that tells real and interesting stories.
It's like a news program, but it's not just about regular news as they talk about different things that happen in Australia and around the world.
Sometimes they investigate a mystery or talk to people who have done something really amazing or remarkable.
This is a type of TV show that might be easier than others to understand as you won’t hear a lot of conversations where people speak on top of each other.
Instead, you’ll often hear one person talking at a time, which might be easier to follow compared to shows with many people talking simultaneously.
You can see clips from the episodes on YouTube for free.
13. Breaking Bad
Genre: Drama / Crime
Accent: American
Type of English: Informal
I have a friend who’s watched the entire TV series (5 seasons, 62 episodes) three times!
And this is one of my favorite TV series of all time too.
It’s the story of a high school chemistry teacher called Walter White. He’s a good man. But one day he discovers he’s got lung cancer and everything changes.
To pay for his medical treatment and leave some money to his family after his death, he starts making (or cooking – as he says in the show) and selling methamphetamine with Jesse, one of his former high school students.
Some of the characters are hard to understand as you’ll hear lots of street and “gangster” English. You can try a couple of episodes and see how you go.
Warning: this might not be the show to see with your kids as it contains violence, drug use, and other mature themes that are not really suitable for children.
14. The Big Bang Theory
Genre: Comedy
Accent: American
Type of English: Informal
This is another classic.
The Big Bang Theory is a funny comedy series that tells the story of a group of friends who are really smart but also a bit quirky.
The main characters are Leonard, Sheldon, Howard, Raj, Penny, Amy, and Bernadette. Sheldon is the weirdest of all (watch the show and you’ll see what I mean).
These guys are real nerds. They love science, comic books, video games, and all sorts of nerdy things. So if you’re one of them I’m sure you’ll love this TV series.
They often talk about scientific stuff so this is a great opportunity to learn some science-related vocabulary.
15. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Genre: TV Show
Accent: American
Type of English: Informal
Have you ever seen one of those American TV shows where the presenter sits at a desk and chats with celebrities sitting on an armchair next to him?
The Tonight Show is one of those. It’s a late-night talk show where Jimmy Fallon – an American comedian and TV presenter – invites famous celebrities to come and chat with him.
You’ll hear lots of informal conversations about their movies, TV shows, relationships, and other cool things about the celebrities’ lives.
It’s really cool. Check it out on YouTube and see if you like it.
16. An Idiot Abroad
Genre: Comedy and Travel Show
Accent: Various British Accents
Type of English: Informal, travel vocabulary and expressions
Here are Ricky, Stephen, and Karl again (from the Ricky Gervais Show remember?)
But who’s the idiot? Spoiler alert: it’s Karl.
Ricky and Stephen send Karl to different countries around the world. The problem is that Karl hates travelling.
He’s the kind of guy who’s not interested in exploring the world, so he complains about anything that’s different from his way of life and culture.
This is really a travel show turned into a comedy. It’s really unique.
You’ll see Karl most of the time, so be prepared to get used to his thick accent from Manchester!
17. The IT Crowd
Genre: Comedy
Accent: Various British Accents
Type of English: Informal
What do you do when you have a problem with your computer?
You call the IT crowd: Moss, Roy, and Jen.
Moss is a very smart and quirky guy (similar to Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory) who knows everything about technology and computers.
Roy, from Ireland, is the lazy one, while Jen is new to the IT department and doesn't know much about the job.
This small team has to deal with computer glitches, strange coworkers, and sometimes even strange inventions.
The episodes are short and funny and if you’re an IT technician wanting to improve your English this show is definitely for you.
18. The Great British Bake Off
Genre: Cooking Show
Accent: Various British Accents
Type of English: Informal, vocabulary around food and baking
Amateur bakers get ready to compete! This is my partner’s favorite.
It’s a show where contestants face challenges to create delicious cakes, bread, pastries, and other sweet treats. Basically, it’s like MasterChef except it’s all about baking, sweets, and desserts.
The judges in this show – often famous bakers – are the luckiest people in the world in my opinion as they get to taste the sweets made by the contestants. They then give their feedback and scores based on taste, presentation, and technique.
Wouldn’t you be one of the judges? I would!
It's a fun and family-friendly show that can inspire you to try baking yourself or appreciate the art of baking.
And, of course, it’s a sweet way to improve your English!
19. Home and Away
Genre: Soap opera
Accent: Australian
Type of English: Informal, everyday English
This show is the most popular Australian soap opera.
Home and Away revolves around the lives of the residents in the fictional coastal town of Summer Bay (summers and bays – aaah Australia!) and explores their relationships, friendships, and the challenges they face in their daily lives.
It’s filmed on the beautiful Australian coasts so you’ll see scenes of the characters enjoying the beach and participating in outdoor activities.
Each episode usually ends with a cliffhanger that will make you want to see the next episode. That’s what made me watch many!
Cliffhangers are a good thing when learning English as you’ll naturally want to see more episodes and – if you do that – you’ll keep getting exposed to the language.
That's one of the reasons that the StoryLearning method works so well. You keep reading books in English or short stories in English because you want to know what happens newt!
Just don’t watch Home and Away when it’s winter outside as it might make you feel too jealous of the Aussies and their beautiful sunny days!
20. Shortland Street
Genre: Soap opera
Accent: New Zealand
Type of English: Informal
Shortland Street is a New Zealand TV soap opera that started in 1992.
The show is similar to Home and Away except it’s set in the fictional Shortland Street Hospital and follows the lives and dramas of the hospital's staff and patients.
You’ll see a wide range of characters such as doctors, nurses, receptionists, and other hospital employees. But it’s not one of those series where everything is about medical emergencies. These are only occasional.
Instead, there’s a great of drama, romance, and some comedy too.
Shortland Street has become an integral part of New Zealand's popular culture so it’s worth watching to learn more about this country.
Did you know the Kiwi accent was rated as the sexiest in the world in 2019?
One more reason to check out Shortland Street!
Best TV Shows To Learn English
So, as you can see from this list of best TV shows to learn English, there’s a show for every taste.
If you can’t enjoy the show because it’s too hard for you to understand, I suggest that you find something more suitable for your level.
Otherwise, here are some ways to increase your understanding:
- Watch the same episodes more than once.
- Watch the show with subtitles first and then rewatch them without subtitles.
- Watch only one minute of the show and try to understand as much as you can.
Whatever you do, don’t feel discouraged, and keep on exposing your brain to English.
More importantly, keep learning while having fun!
