Very often, my students ask me: «Teacher, what series do you recommend for me to practice English? Should I watch them with or without subtitles?» Well, here are my answers.
How to Watch a Series in English and Improve the Language: Steps to Follow
What kind of series should I start with?
If you don’t feel ready to start with a series of long episodes because your level is «too low,» you can always try children’s series (Peppa Pig, Dora the Explorer, etc.). They have very short and dynamic episodes, as well as rich vocabulary for beginners. If you have children, there is no excuse. You can sit down with them to watch their favorite series in English. If you choose a series you like and get hooked, it will be difficult to stop, so you will be exposed to the language for hours without realizing you are learning. It’s all advantages!
How many episodes should I watch per day?
Ideally, watch an episode of your favorite series every day. Additionally, if it is a series you have already seen in Spanish, it will be easier for you to follow and you won’t feel overwhelmed.
Subtitles: Yes or No?
Regarding subtitles, I always say the ideal is to watch without subtitles because when we have subtitles, we tend to read and not listen as carefully. However, if you don’t feel ready to start without subtitles:
- Start with Spanish subtitles. Get used to the accents and the speed of speech (depending on the series, you also have to get used to the vocabulary they use).
- Continue the series with English subtitles.
- You will see that you no longer need subtitles.
What series do you recommend?
Below, I share my recommendations:
FRIENDS
- Comedy – 10 seasons
- A classic. The series, very famous in the 90s, revolves around a group of friends who live in New York. Throughout the series, we see (and live) their good and bad moments, their successes and failures, their love lives, but above all, many funny moments.
- Reasons to watch Friends to practice English: This series is suitable for all levels as it is easy to follow. The vocabulary they use is everyday, and the characters do not usually speak very quickly (only on some occasions).
CSI
- Police – 15 seasons
- If you like crime series with some plot and science, this is your series. There are several versions by city (Miami, Las Vegas, and New York), which will allow you to hear different American accents.
- Reasons to watch CSI to practice English: Being a series with technical terms, the language is a bit more complicated. I recommend it for people with a high-advanced level of English (B2-C2).
Once Upon a Time
- Drama/Fantasy – 7 seasons
- This series revolves around the theory that there is a parallel world in which all fairy tale characters (Snow White and the Prince, Pinocchio, Hook, Maleficent, etc.) exist and live.
- Reasons to watch Once Upon a Time to practice English: The characters don’t speak very quickly, and it’s easy to follow. As they are characters from fairy tales, the stories will be familiar. I recommend this series especially for people with an intermediate level of English (B1).
Malcolm in the Middle
- Comedy – 7 seasons
- Malcolm is the third of five male siblings. He is a gifted boy from an atypical and somewhat dysfunctional family. This series, with short episodes, narrates the daily life of this peculiar family.
- Reasons to watch Malcolm in the Middle to practice English: This series is suitable for all levels because it is very fun, but I recommend it especially for beginners (A1-A2), as the vocabulary used is simple and everyday.
Revenge
- American Telenovela – 4 seasons
- I have to admit that this series hooked me. The main character, Amanda Clark, watches her father be arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. While her father was in prison, she was taken to a mental institution and then to a reformatory school. When she discovers that her father has been unjustly imprisoned, she decides to devote herself to avenging the injustice. It is a series full of revenge, mystery, and truths that eventually emerge.
- Reasons to watch Revenge to practice English: In this series, you can learn colloquial words and expressions. The characters don’t usually speak very quickly. I recommend this series especially for people with an intermediate level of English (B1).
Breaking Bad
- Police/Drama – 5 seasons
- A highly awarded series. Its protagonist, Walter White, is a chemistry professor diagnosed with terminal cancer. He has a sick son and another on the way. Faced with his diagnosis, he wonders what will happen to his family when he is gone. Therefore, thinking to ensure his family’s financial stability, he decides to enter the world of drugs by selling methamphetamine.
- Reasons to watch Breaking Bad to practice English: I recommend this series for people with a high-advanced level (B2-C2), as the characters use many colloquial expressions.
Atypical
- Comedy – 4 seasons
- A series that tells the story of a boy with autism preparing for adult life. Short chapters with a dose of overwhelming reality and reflection.
- Reasons to watch Atypical to practice English: The dialogues are very well understood and focus on day-to-day conversations, so I recommend it at all levels.
My Top 3 Series to Improve English
Now, if you allow me, I’ll share my personal top 3. They are especially recommended if you are interested in learning a British accent:
The Crown
- Drama/History – 4 seasons
- This series tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding to Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, to the present day. The series features historical and charismatic characters such as Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Lady Di, and Queen Elizabeth II herself, of course.
- Reasons to watch The Crown to practice English: It is suitable for all levels since the characters usually speak slowly, and the dialogues are easy to follow.
Sherlock
- Crime/Drama – 4 seasons
- Those who know me know that this series is my weakness (I’m a big fan of Benedict Cumberbatch). Set in present-day London, this series follows the eccentric detective Sherlock Holmes and his inseparable companion and friend Watson. This BBC adaptation of the famous books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has become a cult classic.
- Reasons to watch Sherlock to practice English: The vocabulary used is extensive and rich, so I recommend it especially for people from an intermediate level onwards (B1-C2).
Downton Abbey
- Historical Drama – 6 seasons
- The story takes place in the county of Downton, Yorkshire, England. The series recreates the life of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. Set in the early twentieth century, it is full of intrigue, romance, class conflict, and all sorts of dilemmas.
- Reasons to watch Downton Abbey to practice English: It is suitable for all levels since the characters usually speak slowly, although sometimes events pass quickly, and you can lose the thread. No worries, that’s what subtitles and the back button are for.
I hope my (very) personal listing will encourage you to watch some TV series in English. I’ve left a few out, but I didn’t want to make an endless list. Also, I have an excuse to write another article!
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