Watching television can be a great way to increase the input, learn some new expressions and vocabulary, and attune your ears to your target language. It’s also fun work. Many students ask me for recommendations, so I compiled a list of my 10 favourite shows for students of English.

Nothing can replace having conversations or training, but watching TV is a good secondary source for language acquisition, especially, if you “shadow” a character or write a small review about the show.

To “shadow”, choose a character and when they speak, you repeat their sentences. Try to be precise; repeating what they say word-for-word. It might sound like work, but that’s because it is. This is not entertainment time; it is time to improve your English (you can always watch an episode later just for fun).

Writing a small review in English can also challenge you to realize how much you understood of the show and it improve your English writing skills. Without further ado, here is my list of the best TV shows for improving English:

1. Modern Family

This is a really funny and fun show about blended families and all their misadventures. The show contains a lot of expressions and timeless humour. It is a true example of the times we live in. Also, it spans about ten years, so you get to watch the characters grow. It’s fun for most ages.

2. Friends

This classic, based on the lives of a group of friends who hang out at the Central Perk Café, has seen a resurgence of popularity in recent years, and for good reason. The characters are all unique and memorable. If you are working on your English persona, shadowing a character like Joey or Rachel can help you decide what sort of speaker you want to be.

3. Kim’s Convenience

A show made in Canada about the experience of a Korean family running a convenience store, could there be a better or more relatable show for Koreans working on their English? My Korean students loved to recognize parts of themselves in the characters. Kim’s convenience is loaded with social issues, cross-culture exchanges, and humour!

4. Suits

Are you a lawyer working on your English for professional reasons? If so, you should definitely watch Suits. I am not saying the cases or trials are realistic, but the language is. The best way to improve your vocabulary in a specific domain is to hear the language in that domain. Choose a character to shadow and try your best to keep up with their fast-talking New York style. Or write a review of the case in the show and the validity of the arguments. Also, a great show to take some style cues from.

5. The Office

The Office is a hilarious show that depicts typical office life but infused with a lot of jokes. The characters are unique, the levels of language vary, and there is a lot of nuance to be found in the show. It is a cult classic and a great show for learning about North American humour. Plus, it will give you something to talk about with your English-speaking colleagues. Who hasn’t seen The Office?

6. This is Us

I’m pulling out the big guns here. This is Us is an acclaimed show for a reason. If you feel like watching a more dramatic show instead of a comedy, this is the one for you! The story of this family spanning over the decades is truly a masterpiece. My only advice: make sure you have some tissue handy because it is a tearjerker.

7. Superstore

I just started watching this recently. It’s been around for a few years, but just came on Netflix. It’s a show about employees in a big box store (think Walmart). The characters are unique and play well off each other. It speaks to many issues in the U.S. and socio-economic issues. But mainly, it’s just funny.

8. Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous

Are you learning English along with the rest of your family? If you and your children are working on your English, this is the show for you. I watch it with my six-year-old, and she never gets scared by the show. It’s a story about a group of pre-teens who get stuck on an island with a group of dinosaurs. The language is clear and at a good level for intermediates. Fun for the whole family.

9. Avengers Assemble (or any of the superhero shows)

I find it difficult to sit through children’s shows, especially the shows like Baby Shark. However, watching superhero shows seems a little more palatable because I can relate it to the live-action movies, which I love. My daughter and I watch Avengers and Spiderman together. If you are looking for something besides dinosaurs, this is a good place to start.

10. Breaking Bad & Better Call Saul

Now something for the adults. These two shows, which exist within the same story, are as close to perfection as shows get. They deal with a lot of dark ideas and use a very high level of language. Breaking Bad is about a teacher turned drug lord and Saul is about his lawyer (who also appears in Breaking Bad). I recommend these for advanced speakers or anyone trying to test their comprehension.

I hope this list has given you some inspiration. There is a huge amount of content out there, so it can be overwhelming. The most important thing is choosing a show that you can understand. It should also push your language just a bit outside of your comfort zone. That way, you are learning just beyond your language.

If you would like a recommendation, just reach out to me at theenglishbusinesshouse@gmail.com or comment below, and I would be happy to help you find a show that’s interesting to you and good for your English level. Have fun binge-watching!