10 TV Shows that will help you get the perfect English Accent
Watching television shows is one of the best ways of learning pronunciation and improving your English accent. Choose a series, which you may have already watched in your own language, then try watching in English. This means that you already know the story line. You can add sub-titles in the beginning and then once you are used to the accents and story line turn off the sub-titles so you can concentrate on the English accent. Here are my best 10 TV shows to learn an English accent.
GAME OF THRONES
Game of Thrones is an American television drama. There have been seven series to date and there will be one more series. The series has been filmed in many locations including Ireland, Croatia, Canada, Spain and America. This is a fantasy series based on the novels.
A Song of Ice and Fire and tells the story of the noble houses of Westeros, the Wall and the Targaryens and tells the story of their lives In the Seven Kingdoms. There are books to read in the series as well as watching the television series both on television and on DVD. Overall Game of thrones is a fantastic TV show to learn an English accent.
DOWNTON ABBEY
This is a drama series set in England, which starts in 1912 with the sinking of the Titanic. It is set in Highclere Castle and there are six series depicting the lives of the Crawley family and their staff. Downton Abbey depicts life from this time and shows the difference between the family who live “upstairs” and their staff who live “downstairs”. If you want to learn a British-sounding English accent Downtown Abbey is the perfect series.
FRIENDS
This is a series, which lasted for 10 years. It is an American sitcom involving 3 young men and 3 young women who are in their 20s who all live in New York. Friends tells the story of their lives and mishaps and you will have many laughs watching this series, which can also be found on Netflix and DVD. Friends is a great TV show to learn the perfect English accent.
YES MINISTER/YES PRIME MINISTER
These are two British series involving a government minister (the Rt. Hon. Jim Hacker MP) in the first series who then becomes Prime Minister in the second series. His civil servant is Sir Humphrey Appleby. These two series are very amusing and will produce many laughs. In total there are 38 episodes and can be found on Netflix.
KEEPING UP APPEARANCES
This is the story of a working class housewife (Hyacinth Bucket) who is determined to climb the social ladder and better herself and her husband, who live in England. It is a very amusing sitcom and can be seen on Netflix. There are five series in this very amusing television programme, which will produce many laughs.
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DOCTOR WHO
This is a British science fiction television series, which started in 1963 and continues now. It tells the adventures of Doctor Who (otherwise known as a Time Lord) who comes from the Planet Gallifrey. Doctor Who travels throughout the universe in Tardis, which is his time travelling space ship and the series depict his adventures. This series is worth watching particularly if you are interested in science fiction and can be found on Netflix and DVDs.
BARCHESTER CHRONICLES
This is a series based on Anthony Trollope’s books and was filmed in England around Peterborough Cathedral. The series involves a middle-aged clergyman who comes into moral conflict with his son-in-law. The characters also include an archdeacon, a bishop and a devious clergyman. The series tells the story of the scheming complex struggles, which involves all these characters. Barchester Chronicles can be found on DVD and is recommended for more advanced speakers.
THE GOOD LIFE
The Good Life is a very amusing sitcom involving Tom Good and his wife Barbara who decide to live a simple life growing all their own fruit and vegetables in their back garden together with keeping pigs and chickens. Their names, Margo and Jerry Leadbetter, are not at all impressed in the beginning. This series is very amusing and tells the story of their daily lives. There are four series and can be found on DVD.
FATHER TED
Father Ted is a series set on a remote Irish island called Craggy Island and involves 3 catholic priests with the many character being named Father Ted. This is a very amusing sitcom found on DVD involving the three priests and various events, which happen during the daily lives.
TO THE MANOR BORN
This series involves the characters Audrey Forbes-Hamilton, who is an aristocrat who is trying to regain the position she wants as ‘lady of the manor’, and a businessman called Richard DeVere and there are three series in this sitcom, which will produce many laughs. This series can be found on DVD.
By watching and listening to the above television series, you will improve your vocabulary together with listening to a variety of accents. All these television series include different ways of speaking whether you watch sitcoms or by watching the historical based drama of Downton Abbey. If you are interested in watching more historical dramas, then both Victoria and Albert and The Crown are two British series worth watching. Enjoy watching these series and perhaps jot down new vocabulary and look up their meanings in a dictionary.
