Using TV and Radio to Practice English

Learning a new language is not easy, and usually requires countless hours of practice. Many students will put in less effort when they feel like learning is a chore, and are searching for fun and interactive ways to practice English. Did you know that some of the best, most interactive and most accessible English learning resources are already right at your fingertips? Television and radio programming offer countless opportunities to improve and practice English pronunciation in a way that is always adaptable to your interests.

Choosing a TV or Radio Show

The first step is to choose a program that matches your interests. If you like a specific genre of television, this is a great opportunity to catch up on past episodes. Other options can include reality shows, news channels, and talk shows. This is also a great opportunity to expose yourself to specific types of speech. For example, you can choose to learn business English, medical English, or English for any other area through which type of programming you use to practice English. It is important to select shows that will keep you hooked, so that you want to keep on learning.

While thinking about which shows to watch or listen to you should also consider your current English level. If you have a difficult time understanding English when many people are speaking at once, it might be a good idea to start off watching talk shows and news programs. In these types of shows you are likely to see many conversations in which only one person will speak at a time, making it easier to hear words and practice English with them. If you feel that you are at a more advanced level, it can be useful to watch different types of shows in which conversations move very quickly and many people participate in a conversation at the same time.

Learning Tips

1. To start, choose one speaker at a time to pay special attention to. Focus on how he speaks. How does he pronounce his sounds? What is his rhythm? Which syllables in the words does he stress the most?
2. Try to imitate the speech from the TV or radio right after it is said. Start with one word at a time and then build up to full sentences. It is important to say these words out loud. While you might feel a little bit silly at first, it will be a huge help for improving your English word pronunciation.
3. When you are feeling more comfortable with the process, start imitating more than one speaker. Before you know it, you will be practice English  for the entire duration of the show!
4. Try to watch and listen to as many different types of shows as you can. This is a great chance to be exposed to new words and different types of conversations.

Invite friends to join you! If each person chooses one character in a TV show or movie to follow and imitate, then when you practice English it will turn into a fun social activity.