You have a level of English at the level of the daisies and you want to remedy it? The new year is the perfect time to make good resolutions. To progress in the language of Shakespeare without it being a chore, nothing like watching series in their original version. And without French subtitles, please!
Series are a great way to progress quickly in the language you want. This allows you to work on your oral comprehension, a crucial element. There’s nothing worse than knowing how to read English, and stuttering when you’re spoken to. Learning a new language takes concentration and practice. You have to get your ears used to it.
For this to be relevant, it is better to bet on accessible series. Sitcoms or animated series work very well. The lighter, the better. Your brain can then focus on what matters to you: English. In addition, you combine business with pleasure. This is how we improve. Make learning English a chore so you don’t progress an inch, trust my experience.
To master English like a king, we have selected the 5 must-see series for you. There is something for everyone so you have no excuse not to get started now. In 2023, we will seek level C1.
1) Brooklyn 99
To put you in the bath gently, nothing better than a sitcom. Brooklyn 99 has the merit of being a fairly simple series, both in the vocabulary used, in the language of the characters and in the terms discussed. With episodes of about twenty minutes, the rhythm of the series is pleasant.
We follow the adventures of a police station in the heart of New York. A new commissioner arrives and that does not please Jake Peralta, a detective as brilliant as he is immature. In addition to excellent humor, the characters of Brooklyn 99 are all engaging and well written.
The eight seasons of Brooklyn 99 are to be devoured on Netflix. To watch in VO, of course. With English subtitles or without subtitles. Special mention to The Office, New Girl or Friends which are sitcoms that are as great as they are relevant if you want to improve your English.
2) Rick & Morty
Amateur of animation, you will be able to improve your English thanks to Rick & Morty. Embark on completely crazy adventures with this crazy scientist and his grandson who does not rise to the level. It’s quite simple to understand, even if we have some more complex vocabulary elements. Science fiction requires. This time again, the episodes are relatively short, which is great for improving your English.
five seasons of Rick & Morty can be (re)discovered on Netflix. For the sixth season, you have to take a look at Adult Swim. If you are looking for other nuggets of animation in English, we also recommend FinalSpace and Disenchanted on Netflix, The Simpsons on Disney+ and South Park on Paramount+.
3) Stranger Things
If you want to improve your English with a longer series, we recommend Stranger Things. The series has been a hit since 2016, when its first season was released on Netflix. The main characters are teenagers, which makes viewing in their original version very pleasant. There is suspense, mystery, humor. You may have to hold on a bit, but it’s not insurmountable. As a bonus, you will have references from the 80s. Bingo!
To discover the Upside Down, it’s on Netflix that it’s happening. The first four seasons are available there. Catch up before the eagerly awaited Season 5 release.
4) The summer I became pretty
To master the language of Shakespeare like no one else, turning to the slightly cheesy “adolescent” series is a good idea. This summer, Prime Video unveiled The summer when I became pretty and the spectators are at the rendezvous. The series completely overshadowed season 3 of The Boys. Everyday life themes, simple vocabulary, no strong accents, The summer when I became pretty has all the ingredients to help you progress in English…
Adapted from the eponymous novel, The summer when I became pretty introduces us to Belly, a 15-year-old girl. The latter spends all her summers with her family and the Fishers. But this year, something has to change and this summer is going to be special… Faced with the two Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah, Belly’s heart swings. The first season is to watch on Prime Video.
In the same genre, we invite you to watch Emily in Paris or gossip girl on Netflix or pretty Little Liars on Prime Video. Simple and effective.
5) The Circle
Personally, I find that there is no better than a reality TV show to progress really in the language you are studying. This allows you to discover the TRUE English, the one we speak naturally. On Netflix, you can set your sights on The Circle. American or British version, that’s up to you.
While social networks pollute our daily lives, the Reed Hastings firm has made it into a reality TV show. On Instagram, TikTok or Twitter, you can be whoever you want. In The Circle, the candidates only communicate online thanks to a social network created for the occasion. Participants can give each other notes (hello black-mirror). The goal: to be the best rated of all.
In addition to authentic English, a reality show does not require you too much effort to follow. So you can focus on the language. And if you didn’t understand a bit, it doesn’t really matter.
Last tip to break all the scores in English: watch the series or movies you know by heart. In this way, you will not be afraid of missing important passages or not understanding them. This makes it easier for you to understand and you can even compare the two versions. And understand the structure of sentences in the language of Shakespeare at the same time.
If you want to totally unplug your brain in front of your current series, and you don’t want to “work”, we have a trick: put the subtitles in English all the same. This allows you to practice without forcing too much, almost unconsciously. Very soflty.
Series to avoid when learning English:
- Peaky Blinders : if it is an excellent series, of course, we strongly advise against rushing to Peaky Blinders to improve your English. The series is a bit high stakes, which will require a lot of concentration. And when we watch a series in original version, we already ask a lot of our brain. In addition, the sharp British accent makes it easier for novices to understand.
- Game Of Thrones, House of the Dragon, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and most fantasy series. Why ? Quite simply because they are relatively complex series at first glance with high stakes. There’s a lot going on in each episode and you’ll get lost quickly if you don’t understand a bit. In GoT Where HOTD, the military strategy is very present. It has been easier to follow when you don’t speak English.
