35 Cartoons that help Kids Learn English Speaking
Want your kids to be fluent in English? Watching cartoons is a great way to help kids learn English Speaking. Cartoons are funny, colorful, a mass of action, animated and contain great music. The voices used for cartoons are clearly spoken and each word is pronounced so kids can learn new vocabulary.
Cartoons often last about 20 minutes which is long enough to keep the attention of children. Cartoons contain words to suit beginners, intermediate and advanced learners. Often these words are repeated to help kids learn English speaking in a natural, effortless way . Here are 35 suggestions of cartoons to help children learn English speaking:
Arthur
A classic, household favorite, Arthur is among the longest running cartoons on the list. Children will relate to the struggles of young Arthur with school, friends, and family.
The cartoon is relatable and funny. The English is also on a basic level, occasionally introducing catchy songs that will speed comprehension, making it an ideal program for kids learning English speaking.
Dora and Friends: Into the City!
A spin-off of the well-known Dora series, Into the City places the characters in a different environment, introducing new vocabulary and situational phrases.
Dora also adds a Latin American spin on common situations, providing a broader perspective to viewers. Best of all, the show is interactive, prompting viewers to speak to the characters!
Maya & Miguel
Similar to the Dora series, Maya & Miguel takes a more domestic approach. Viewers are exposed to situations within a familiar neighborhood and household. Maya & Miguel embody young children, mimicking their behavior very well. Watching a show like Maya & Miguel will equip children with the vocabulary to express themselves in English.
Phineas and Ferb
This show is among the cleverest in the list. Phineas and Ferb became an overnight favorite due to its clever humor, hilarious situational comedy, and refined dialogue.
The show also boasts a fair amount of technical jargon which is good for older kids and teen-ages learning spoken English. Viewers will grasp English comedy and gain a better understanding into the humor of natives.
Word Girl
This show is education-focused, but don’t worry, your children will be none the wiser. Word Girl is equally as entertaining as it is educational.
The situations the protagonist finds herself in are gripping and will have children enthralled. Amongst this exciting action, the cartoon interjects learning opportunities. This is the perfect show to capture the attention of young ones while also helping kids learn English speaking.
The Boss Baby: Back in Business
The Netflix Original series The Boss Baby quickly became a sensation. The comedy is hilarious to both children and adults. The witty dialogue and vivid animation make the show a stand-out choice for parents teaching their children English.
Teen Titans Go!
This show is a good choice for older viewers. The dialogue is more serious and the show addresses themes that are best understood by more mature audiences (8 years of age and up). The storyline of Teen Titans is engaging, and viewers will quickly relate to individual characters. Each of the characters is unique with different personalities and unique ways of speaking. Viewers will develop favorites and begin to mimic their language and terminology.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
My personal favorite of the cartoons on the list, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a story-telling masterpiece. Parents will find themselves equally as engaged in the plot as their children. The cartoon utilizes real martial arts and Eastern legends in their animations and stories.
Furthermore, the characters are loveable and identifiable. Stellar animation and suspenseful storytelling will keep children fully engaged for hours, and subconsciously helping kids learn English speaking.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
Scooby-Doo has stood the test of time, running for almost 50 years! Scooby-Doo features young adults solving mysteries with the help of their wacky, loveable dog, Scooby.
Viewers can’t help but enjoy the misadventures of Scooby’s mystery-solving gang as they are placed in every conceivable situation.
This show is great for older learners (9 years of age and above) as it features a gripping plot and curious mysteries. Learners will be eager to understand the characters and attempt to solve the mystery of each episode.
Martha Speaks
This is a cartoon show about a dog who learns to speak after he has eaten alphabet soup.
This cartoon teaches new vocabulary in every episode with the new words being repeated many times during the program to help kids remember these words.
Watch Martha Speaks on PBS Kids and YouTube and help kids learn English in the process.
Postcards from Buster
These cartoons tell the story of Buster, who is a bunny, and how he travels around the world with his father and what happens. It also includes real people. Watch Postcards from Buster on PBS Kids.
Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget is a robot who is a secret agent and useless at his job. This cartoon is funny and has plenty of action. Watch it on Netflix, Vudu and Amazon.
Dexter’s Laboratory
Dexter has a secret laboratory and is a genius. He invents amazing ideas and hopes his sister, Dee Dee, will not destroy them.
This is aimed at kids who know some English already and want to learn more complicated words. Watch it on Hulu or on Cartoon Network.
Curious George
Curious George is the name of an African monkey who is always getting into trouble.
Curious George has a friend who is called ‘The Man in the Yellow Hat’ who is always helping Curious George get out of trouble. Watch on PBS.
Dinosaur Train
This is a cartoon to help preschool kids learn about natural science and dinosaurs.
It is set on the Dinosaur Train and tells the story of Buddy, a Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur, and his family who board this train to explore the world of dinosaurs. Watch on PBS Kids.
WordWorld
WordWorld tells the story of a group of animals who are trying to teach kids how to build correct words.
They have many adventures trying to solve the problems of building these words. Brainiac Frog together with fun-loving Dog help kids learn English speaking and learn words together with their meanings. Watch on PBS, Universal Kids and Nick Jr.
The Simpsons
These cartoons tell the story of the Simpson Family who live in the town of Springfield in America.
Homer Simpson works for a nuclear plant firm and he is married to Marge and they have three children who are Bart, who gets into trouble, Lisa who works hard and Maggie the baby. These are enjoyed by children and adults.
The Flintstones
These cartoons tell the story of The Flintstone Family and their neighbors The Rubbles.
These are stone aged families who live in Bedrock. The main characters are Fred Flintstone who is married to Wilma and they have a daughter called Pebbles. These are enjoyed by both adults and children.
Did you know:
Some cartoons, for example, can be enjoyed by adults and by older kids including The Flintstones which has been popular for many years and tells the story of Fred Flintstone, his wife Wilma and their daughter Pebbles.
The Flintstones is set in the Stone Age and is one of the most popular animated cartoon series ever and can be watched on Netflix and Amazon.
If you want to watch a cartoon as a family and help kids learn English speaking while spending family time, cartoons like Flinstone are great.
SpongeBob Square Pants
This is an American animated cartoon series based on a sponge, which is square shaped and yellow in color, who lives in a pineapple with Gary who is his pet snail.
They live in Bikini Bottom in the Pacific Ocean. SpongeBob works in the Krusty Krab as a cook but is always getting into trouble with Patrick, who is a star fish and a friend of SpongeBob. These cartoons follow the amusing adventures of these characters.
Futurama
This is an American science fiction cartoon and tells the story of Philip J. Fry who works as a pizza delivery boy in New York for an interplanetary delivery firm.
The series is set in the 31st century and there were seven series of this cartoon.
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The Pink Panther
These cartoons tell the story of the Pink Panther (a pink cat who has the manners of an English aristocrat).
The Pink Panther has various adventures when he finds himself in difficult situations and includes the help of Detective Inspector Clousseau.
The Real Ghostbusters
These cartoons follow the adventures of four ghostbusters who go on adventures both in New York and around the world.
They are helped by Louis, Janine and Slimer who is their mascot. Adults will know the film under the same name.
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cat and stars in a series of animated cartoons and short films produced by Walt Disney Animation. There are many other characters which are also included in these cartoons including Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy.
These animations produce many laughs. Many of these cartoons can be found on YouTube. Micky mouse cartoons have helped kids learn English speaking for generations!
Steven Universe
Steven Universe tells the story of a team of magical beings, named The Crystal Gems who are here to look after the universe. Steven is the hero of the group who is trying to save the world as he goes on magical adventures.
Other members of the group, which is called The Crystal Gems, include Garnet, Pearl and Amethyst. Watch on Cartoon Network.
Adventure Time
Adventure Time is set in the Land of Oo and tells the story of a 12-year-old boy called Finn the Hauman and his good friend Jake The Dog who has magical powers and contain many adventures. Watch on Netflix.
Helping kids learn English speaking is tough. Oftentimes, young people will lose interest in worksheets, textbooks, and even tutors. Many parents have difficulty keeping their children engaged in learning activities.
For these reasons, finding creative ways to expose young learners to content is key. While it may be difficult to capture the attention of young ones, the early years are the best time to begin exposure to English. One simple way to help children become excited about learning English is to introduce them to cartoons.
Choose cartoons which are in English. If one or both parents sit with kids during these cartoons, they can explain the storyline to help the kids understand exactly what is happening. Kids will become so absorbed in these cartoons that they will pick up learning English very easily. This also helps them learn to listen.
