Sharpen Your Ears: TV Shows to Help You Master Accents

Learning a new language, or even just becoming more proficient in one, often involves training your ear to understand different accents. Sometimes textbooks and language apps aren't enough to get you comfortable with the nuances of real-world speech. That's where watching TV shows comes in!

Here's a list of shows that are great for practising your accent comprehension.

1. After Life

• Accents: A mix of British accents, primarily Southern English.

• About the show: This poignant series follows a grieving widower as he navigates life, loss, and the absurdities of small-town living with dark humour and raw emotion.

• Why watch it: Ricky Gervais's naturalistic dialogue and the diverse cast of characters offer a great introduction to common Southern English speech patterns.

  
  

2. Adolescence

• Accents: A mix of British accents, mainly Northern English.

• About the show: A poignant British drama that delves into the struggles of a young boy growing up in Northern England, grappling with family, identity, and societal pressures.

• Why watch it: If you're looking to differentiate between various British accents, this show provides an excellent opportunity to hear and understand Northern English dialects.

  
  

3. Derry Girls

• Accents: Northern Irish accents.

• About the show: A hilarious coming-of-age comedy about a group of teenage friends navigating school, family, and life during 1990s Northern Ireland's Troubles.

• Why watch it: Prepare for some seriously quick wit and distinctive Northern Irish accents! This show is not only funny but also a fantastic way to tune your ear to this unique and vibrant dialect.

  
  

4. Mr Inbetween

• Accents: General Australian accent.

• About the show: A darkly comedic series about a hitman juggling the complexities of his violent job with his responsibilities as a father, friend, and everyday bloke in Australia.

• Why watch it: Get acquainted with the classic Australian accent through this gritty yet humorous series. The dialogue is authentic and provides a great chance to familiarise yourself with common Aussie speech.

  
  

5. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

• Accents: Mid-century New York (spoken very fast!).

• About the show: A witty and vibrant comedy-drama following Miriam "Midge" Maisel, a 1950s housewife who reinvents herself as a trailblazing stand-up comedian in New York City.

• Why watch it: If you want a challenge, Midge and the rest of the cast deliver dialogue at a rapid-fire pace, perfect for pushing your listening comprehension skills and getting a feel for a specific historical American accent.

Watching these shows is a fun and effective way to immerse yourself in different accents and improve your overall understanding of spoken English. Let us know which ones you try and how they help your accent comprehension!

Happy watching from Virtual E School!