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2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
These iconic pieces will help you understand American and British accents.
Many of the films and TV shows that will be discussed are probably familiar to you. But for our task, this will only be a plus. After all, if you have watched them in translation, then it will be much easier for you to understand the original versions.
American English TV series and films
1. Forrest Gump
- Drama, melodrama.
- USA, 1994.
- Duration: 142 minutes.
- IMDb: 8, 8.
The same film about the adventures of the good-natured fool Forrest. In this role, Tom Hanks speaks very slowly, so you can clearly hear his American speech. In addition, the tape offers a brief insight into the history and culture of the United States of the late 20th century.
2. Social network
- Drama, biography.
- USA, 2010.
- Duration: 120 minutes.
- IMDb: 7, 7.
This story of the creation of Facebook is interesting not only for the wonderful acting and fascinating interpretation of real events. The Social Network is rich in modern American student slang and, of course, technical terms.
3. Pulp Fiction
- Thriller, comedy, crime.
- USA, 1994.
- Duration: 154 minutes.
- IMDb: 8, 9.
Tarantino's films are replete with vivid, lively dialogues. And Pulp Fiction is a great example of this. Each of the short stories that make up the film can be a good simulator for comprehending the colloquial speech of Americans by ear.
4. The Lion King
- Cartoon, musical, drama.
- USA, 1994.
- Duration: 88 minutes.
- IMDb: 8, 5.
If you find it difficult to film in the original, you can practice on cartoons. Thus, classic films from the Disney studio contain simple vocabulary and are mainly voiced by American actors. You can start with The Lion King, for example.
You will surely notice how the European pronunciation of the villain named Scar stands out against the general background. In American films, antiheroes often speak with a British accent: in the United States, it is often associated with something extravagant and alien.
5. Films about the Dark Knight
- Action, thriller.
- USA, UK, 2005-2012.
- Duration: 3 parts.
The performer of the role of Batman, Christian Bale was born in the UK. But he spent part of his life in the United States and learned to imitate the American accent, which can be heard in most of his films. For example, in the Dark Knight trilogy.
The actor used the natural British pronunciation only in a few historical films like "Prestige" and "New World". Bale's example allows you to more subtly feel the difference between the two versions of the language, because they come from the same person.
6. Friends
- Comedy, melodrama.
- USA, 1994-2004.
- Duration: 10 seasons.
- IMDb: 8, 9.
The mega-popular sitcom Friends is a real treasure trove of knowledge for everyone who wants to master everyday American. On the other hand, the series has an uninformative visual part, and the context can be read only by the gestures and facial expressions of the characters. Therefore, for beginners, the series may not be suitable. Or you have to turn on subtitles.
Watch on Netflix →
7. The big bang theory
- Comedy, melodrama.
- USA, 2007 - present.
- Duration: 12 seasons.
- IMDb: 8, 3.
The same inexhaustible source of spoken American as Friends is for geeks only. So you should be prepared for technical terms and vocabulary from popular science.
8. House of Cards
- Drama.
- USA, 2013 - present.
- Duration: 6 seasons.
- IMDb: 8, 9.
This series will teach you to listen to complex but topical vocabulary related to politics and the media. If you are interested in these topics, be sure to check out House of Cards in the original.
Watch on Netflix →
nine. Sex and the city
- Melodrama, comedy.
- USA, 1998-2004.
- Duration: 6 seasons.
- IMDb: 7, 0.
The epic Sex and the City contains thousands of dialogues on typical everyday topics: from intimate and romantic relationships to career and children. After watching and analyzing at least a few seasons, you will take a good course of conversational English.
10. Breaking bad
- Drama, crime.
- USA, 2008-2013.
- Duration: 5 seasons.
- IMDb: 9, 5.
In addition to the intense plot, this series is also interesting for the contrast between the speech of the school intellectual teacher and any street rabble with whom he has to communicate. Breaking Bad gives a lot of examples of slang and obscene phrases that are useful to understand, but still not worth using in a decent society.
Watch on Netflix →
TV series and films in British English
1. The king speaks
- Drama, biography.
- UK, USA, Australia, 2010.
- Duration: 118 minutes.
- IMDb: 8, 0.
The plot focuses on the struggle of the British monarch George VI with a stutter. The film pays a lot of attention to correct speech, which is of particular interest when learning English.
2. Films about Harry Potter
- Fantasy, adventure.
- Great Britain, USA, 2001-2011.
- Duration: 8 parts.
The main and most of the minor characters of the Potter are played by the inhabitants of England. And the language, like the plot, gradually becomes more complicated from episode to episode. These features make the Harry Potter film story a good spoken English textbook. Holders can also read books or listen to an audio version.
3. Films about James Bond
- Action, thriller.
- Great Britain, USA, 1962-2015.
- Duration: 25 parts.
Another famous film series that boasts an outstanding British accent. In this regard, experts especially highlight the speech of the current Bond - Daniel Craig. The actor is characterized by the normative British pronunciation (received pronunciation), which the British associate with the aristocracy.
4. Four weddings and one funeral
- Drama, melodrama, comedy.
- UK, 1993.
- Duration: 117 minutes.
- IMDb: 8, 1.
The main role in this film was played by Briton Hugh Grant, whose accent is considered a role model. And his co-star Andie MacDowell is American, which will help you to feel the difference between the versions of English.
5. My fair lady
- Drama, melodrama, musical.
- USA, 1964.
- Duration: 165 minutes.
- IMDb: 7, 9.
Another touching and informative story about the culture of speech. An eminent linguist makes a bet: he must teach an illiterate slum girl to speak like a lady of high society. She has six months to learn a ton of new words and get rid of the common cockney accent.
6. Muzzy
- Educational animated series.
- Great Britain, 1986.
- Duration: 1 season.
- IMDb: 7, 6.
If you have children, you can play this educational BBC animated series for them. Muzzy teaches the basics of the English language through fun animations and audio inserts. Speech is clear and slow and the words used are very simple - ideal for children. And for adults who are just getting to know English, such listening will be useful.
7. Extra English
- Comedy, educational.
- Great Britain, 2002-2004.
- Duration: 1 season.
- IMDb: 7, 4.
This series was also filmed specifically to help viewers improve their listening comprehension and learn other nuances of the language. It is only designed for an adult audience. In the story, an Argentinian comes to England to stay with a friend. The main character does not speak spoken English well, which is why he often finds himself in funny situations.
8. Game of Thrones
- Fantasy, drama.
- USA, UK, 2011 - present.
- Duration: 8 seasons.
- IMDb: 9, 5.
Although "Game of Thrones" is filmed by the American HBO, almost all the actors involved in the series are British. Residents of the United States feel the spirit of antiquity in the European accent, so this pronunciation has become traditional for fantasy.
Moreover, the authors of the series use various dialects of British English for artistic purposes. For example, northern people in the world of the show speak a North English accent, while Southerners speak a South English accent. Apparently, this should add depth to the work. So in Game of Thrones, you can hear the entire UK language palette.
9. Sherlock
- Thriller, drama, crime.
- UK, USA, 2010 - present.
- Duration: 4 seasons.
- IMDb: 9, 2.
Rethinking English classics in which you can hear a modern British accent. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, played by talented English actors, are ready to teach you some valuable pronunciation lessons. But keep in mind that it will not be easy: the famous detective does not go into his pocket for a word.
Watch on Netflix →
10. Office
- Comedy, drama.
- UK, 2001-2003.
- Duration: 3 seasons.
- IMDb: 8, 6.
Comedy series about the everyday life of British clerks. The story revolves around the relationship between office workers, with all the characteristic squabbles, intrigues and camaraderie. After several weeks spent with the heroes of the "Office", you can safely go to work in an English-speaking team.
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