5 popular TV shows that have helped people learn English

Television shows aren’t just for entertainment. They teach English too.

Studies have shown that the best way to acquire new language skills is through passive and active learning, language experts say, and TV shows offer both.

While learning English can be difficult, especially due to its inconsistent spelling, vocabulary, and complex phrasal verbs. Watching television is one of the best ways to learn the language. You will be exposed to how the language is spoken. Picking up on how English is used in real conversations between native speakers, such as the use of phrases, idioms, and expressions.

These are the tried and tested TV shows that many said were excellent learning tools for them:

1. Friends

Friends has become one of the most popular TV shows for people who want to learn English.

Even public figures like Liverpool FC manager Jürgen Klopp have credited the sitcom with helping improve English because the dialogue is clear, everyday conversation that’s easy to follow for beginners.

Running from 1994 to 2004, the sitcom of six 20-something friends in New York City was a “cultural touchstone” in the 1990s. The dialogue is simple enough, and once you’ve watched a few seasons, some learners said they started picking up idioms, double entendres and so on, all while being entertained.

It was an excellent learning tool for Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis, who watched it with Spanish subtitles. “You can compare what’s going on that way,” he said to the New York Times. “If they say ‘happy,’ you see he’s happy and the subtitle says ‘feliz’, then you can learn. You might not learn 100 per cent, but you’ll learn to associate.”

2. The Office 

“HOSTESS: Oh, nonsense! She speaks English perfectly.
NEPOMMUCK: Too perfectly. Can you show me any English woman who speaks English as it should be spoken? Only foreigners who have been taught to speak it speak it well.”

What the above excerpt from George Bernard Shaw’s play “Pygmalion” means is that English, as it is spoken, varies widely from region to region, or even just 100m down the street! Luckily for the international student, The Office comes in two versions: The original British and the American adaptation.

This series is particularly good when it comes to understanding how English comes into play when applied to British versus American humour. The UK version is also great to pick up how words sound when using different regional accents.

3. Cartoons

Cartoons are a great way for adults and children to learn English. Source: Pexels

Many non-native speakers start with these, even if they’re already full-grown adults. It shouldn’t be beneath you to watch SpongeBob SquarePants in the name of sharpening your English skills. South Park is another favourite for many – there are MANY seasons, the plots are hilarious, and many say swearing in a foreign language is one of the most effective ways to learn a foreign language.

No matter how dirty or horrible it sounds, swear words still make up an essential part of language and culture. The copious amount of “f*ck” in the series may be off-putting, but what better way to know someone is cursing at you and to signal that you need to start running in the opposite direction to stay out of trouble?!

4. Sex and the City

The great thing about chick flicks is that they are notoriously addictive. This makes Sex and the City the perfect choice for spending hours going through six seasons of one sex columnist and her three female friends getting into absurd situations episode after episode.

Pro tip: The series was famous for diving into controversial issues, especially about sex, when it aired 20 years ago. Compared to Friends, the dialogue here is frank about sex and unapologetic about women’s sexual desires. One downside, however, is that the show has been criticised for being “too white,” “too consumerist,” and “too obsessed with pinning down a man to be worthy of eulogies.”

5. Modern Family

Modern Family is a great show for those learning English because it uses natural, everyday dialogue and covers a wide range of familiar social situations.

The series follows a diverse family with characters of different ages and backgrounds. This allows you to observe how conversational English, common expressions, slang, and informal language are used.

Disclaimer: This article was last updated on January 27, 2026.