Textbooks can never be a best friend during free time, but TV can definitely be! Even on your lazy days, you can still be productive by learning English while watching your favourite TV shows. Either it’s a sitcom, a drama, or even a documentary, here you’ll find how to make the best out of your watching experience.
1- Watch with English Subtitles
It’s way more beneficial to watch TV series with English subtitles. This way, you’ll be developing two of your language skills which are: reading and listening. Moreover, you’ll be able to identify each word along with its correct pronunciation.
2- Take Notes
Taking notes and writing down the new words or idioms you find would expand your vocabulary. Make sure to keep a notebook beside you while watching TV and look the words or idioms up after you finish the episode you’re watching.
3- Become your Favourite Character
If you want things to be a bit challenging, download the script of the episode and read it out loud! This way, you’ll be improving your speaking skills by mimicking native speakers. You can also record yourself and listen to your voice again to watch your progress.
Now, are you good at guessing? Below you’ll find five idioms from different TV shows. If you can guess the meaning of the idiom and the TV show, congrats! You’re definitely a TV geek. If you can’t, maybe you’d want to give these shows a look.
A) “Break a Leg!”: it means “good luck”, and it doesn’t have anything to do with actually breaking your leg.
Ex: You have an audition tomorrow, break a leg!
The scene is from the American sitcom “The Big Bang Theory”.
B) “Call it a Day”: To stop what you’re doing because you don’t want to do it or because you’re tired.
Ex: We’re so exhausted, let’s call it a day!
The scene is from the American sitcom “Brooklyn 99”
C) “Spill any more beans”: To reveal something that was meant to be a secret.
Ex: I’m planning a surprise party for my sister, don’t spill the beans and tell her!
The scene is from the American sitcom “Bojack Horseman”.
D) “Brand New”: Completely new.
Ex: Yesterday, I bought a brand new car!
The scene is from the American sitcom “Friends”.
F) “In a Nutshell”: It means to sum up, or in brief.
Ex: To put it in a nutshell, I want my money back.
The scene is from the American sitcom “The Office”.
Now that you’ve learned new idioms, you can easily learn more by only putting on a good TV show, and enjoying it.
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