The longer I live in Japan, the more surprised I am about the diversity of Japanese language and the various regional accents and lingo. I can imagine that learners of English feel the same way given the many varieties of English and English accents around the world. By listening to different accents, you will slowly become more and more fluent in listening and be able to understand more and more conversations. In this blog, I was thinking about the movies and TV shows that I love and how they might help learners become familiar with specific accents. As such, I will list my recommendations and group them into accents and genres. For now, I am only focusing on accents from North America, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, but you can find absolutely any English accent on https://search.elllo.org/. So, what kind of movies and TV shows do you like? Choose your favorite genre, pick an accent, and start listening/viewing today!
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
British English: Shaun of the Dead (movie, 1h 40m). Can be found on Netflix. This is a horror and parody of the zombie genre. Although it is quite gory and violent, you will find yourself laughing out loud as well. Simon Pegg is the star and you will recognize him from various other roles since this breakout movie in 2004. I must have watched this movie 50 times. Just remember, if a zombie apocalypse breaks out, don’t forget your cricket bat!
American English: The Mandalorian (series, two seasons). Can be found on Disney+. This cinema-quality TV series is based on the Star Wars universe. It is set about five years after the destruction of the second Death Star. The story follows a Mandalorian bounty hunter and his struggle to make things right when he encounters a new, little, green friend. The episodes are short, and the dialogue is sparse enough to make it very manageable without subtitles if you are familiar with Star Wars. It has my vote for the best TV show on TV today!
New Zealand English: What We Do in the Shadows (movie, 1h 27m). For rental on Amazon Prime. This 2014 mockumentary about a group of vampire flatmates is set in Wellington, New Zealand. The vampires are different ages and have various backgrounds, but they are all struggling to cope with modern life. It’s partly grotesque, but mostly hilarious! The movie has now spawned a TV series that has two seasons and is renewed for a third. If you like the movie, then you can check out the series next!
Comedy
Australian English: Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun (series, one season). Can be found on Netflix. This is a seriously off-the-wall sketch series that follows three Australians in America as they do everything from finding a new roommate to preparing for a visit from the queen. It is quite adult, and can be a little hit-and-miss, but with so many different sketches in each episode, you will certainly find something to tickle your funny bone! Watch episode one and get “Everything’s a drum” stuck in your head.
British English: Fleabag (series, two seasons). Can be found on Amazon Prime. This is a black comedy about a woman living in London who is trying to get her life together after the loss of her best friend. The thing that surprised me right away was how the main character, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, often breaks the fourth wall. That is, she glances and talks a lot to the camera / audience. If you watch much British TV, you will recognize many of the actors. Check it out!
American English: How I Met Your Mother (series, nine seasons). Can be found on Netflix. Strap in! There are 208 episodes in this long running TV series. However, once you become familiar with the characters and story lines, you will find it a great way to pick up some new expressions and increase your listening fluency. It follows a group of 20-somethings who live in New York City’s Manhattan. If you liked “Friends”, this is similar except instead of sitting in a coffee shop, they mostly meet in their favorite bar: MacLaren’s. It’s legen- wait for it! -dary!
Drama / Reality
British English: Sex Education (series, two seasons). Can be found on Netflix. This drama is set in a high school and centers on a teenager named Otis whose mother is a sex therapist. There is a great ensemble cast, and it is definitely a twist on normal coming of age stories since Otis is not only dealing with his own problems, but he also starts selling advice to his classmates. Serious at times, and funny at other times, I found this to be really well written and made. If you like it, you can watch the 3rd season later this year!
Australian English: Zumbo’s Just Desserts (series, two seasons). Can be found on Netflix. This is a reality TV baking show where a group of 10 contestants, who are amateur bakers, attempt to recreate the incredible desserts of Adriano Zumbo, a master pâtissier. Each contestants’ dessert is judged by the show’s host, Rachel Khoo, and Zumbo himself, and whoever made the worst dessert is kicked off the show. I found it really interesting to see who could be the most creative, and it was surprising that the most confident people were not usually the best.
American English: Ozark (series, three seasons). Can be found on Netflix. A seemingly normal family is caught up in an inescapable situation. Marty Byrde, played by Jason Bateman, is forced to launder drug money for a Mexican cartel. So, the family moves to the Ozarks and they ride a crazy line between everything being fine and everything spinning out of control. Laura Linney’s character of Wendy Byrde has one of the best character arcs that I have ever seen on TV. It’s dark and a bit of a slow burn, but worth it. Season four is coming soon!
Author: APU English Lecturer Matt SAUNDERS