"MIND YOUR LANGUAGE" Learn English by watching British Sitcom
Watch TV and learn English easily in no time!
A popular language learning technique is called “spaced repetition”, which involves reviewing new vocabularies and phrases at regular intervals over a period of time. Typically, the intervals between reviews get longer and longer each time. More space between repetitions led to better retention (remembering) of the language.
Today, we will talk about how to use spaced repetition to learn English from the SitCom.
For the English learners out there, speaking English fluently is a long and tough journey. But it doesn’t have to be. Do you know that you can easily watch TV and learn English? For me, the most effective way of learning English is through watching sitcoms.
What is a Sitcom?
Sitcom is the abbreviation of situational comedy. It’s a type of television comedy that features the same regular cast of characters reacting to a range of funny, unusual and embarrassing situations. It’s usually set in the same place each week, like a family home or a workplace.
Introducing "MIND YOUR LANGUAGE"
There are so many sitcoms to watch and discover today. You can watch it easily on Netflix or any other app using your PC’s, laptops or even smartphones. For starters, I will recommend a Sitcom I had a lot of fun with - Mind your language
Background of the Story
Mind Your Language is a British sitcom that premiered on ITV in 1977. It was produced by London Weekend Television and directed by Stuart Allen. Three series were made between 1977 and 1979. Then the show was briefly revived in 1985 with six of the original cast. The series shows how people of different countries with different social backgrounds, religion and language exist in the same class room.
Suitable English Level: Beginners to Low Intermediate Students
The show is set in an adult education college in London and focuses on the class in English as a Foreign Language taught by Mr. Jeremy Brown (portrayed by Barry Evans), who is employed to teach a group of foreign students. This sitcom is perfect for those students who are aspiring to study English abroad. It is suited for beginners to low intermediate students because the different characters have different nationalities and accents. Some of the characters have zero English which made the series more hilarious! Viewers can notice the grammatically wrong statements that some of the characters are using.
Use the Spaced Repetition Technique to Learn English through “Mind Your Language” Season 1 Episode 1
Wrong Sentence: I am hopping to be unrolled
Corrected Sentence: I am hoping to be enrolled.
This show opens with the funny scene of a Pakistani student Ali who speaks with a strong Indian accent and mispronounced the word - hoping to hopping and enrolled to unrolled.
Hoping= hope, wish
vs Hopping = jumping up and down
Enrolled = to apply to enter into a course in a school
vs Unrolled = open or cause to open out from a rolled-up state
Now that you have learnt 4 new words which are similar in sounds but totally different in meaning, lets save this article and read that again next week to see if you still remember these words.
Click here to watch the Funny and Insightful Characters Explanation of “Mind Your Language”.
If you are on the journey of learning English now, you will find a lot of "Dejavu" moment in this series.
Why are sitcoms the best program to watch and learn English?
Realistic use of language
In my opinion, it is the most effective way because the language used in sitcoms is often far more realistic than that used in strict grammar textbooks. By watching sitcoms you’ll get used to the way native English speakers really talk on the street, in their homes, among their friends and in the workplace.
Funny Scenes help memorization
Based on my experience and in some research, humor boosts retention. Funny programs can hold your attention more than other genres. The funny contents of the said programs seem to catch the universal interest of people. As your attention is being caught, you listen more carefully and want to catch and understand each joke because it is entertaining to do so.
Learn about Western Cultures and Accents
Aside from those reasons, you also learn a lot about western cultures and accents unconsciously by imitating the way they speak and the way they think.
This blog is written by Teacher Kirk. Kirk has been teaching English for over 3 years. He is passionate about teaching English and make you "sound cool". Kirk is online now at 3D Online English School. Now book an online 1:1 class within him and let’s discuss some Sitcom funny moments and learn English together. You can sign up and claim your 2 free classes now at: https://ryugakujp-online.com/en/
Funny haha