8 Series to Watch This Summer to Practice Your English

Now that summer has officially started, it is time to relax. However, who says you can’t get a little English revision done at the same time? While we are all for using your summer to prepare for the upcoming academic year, we also understand the importance of using the summer as a time to unwind and take a well-deserved break. This is why we’ve compiled a list of TV shows to stream this summer to practice your English. 

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Watching TV and movies in English, or any language for that matter, is a great way to practice your comprehension skills, as well as learn some new words and phrases to add to your vocabulary – especially if you don’t usually hear English on a day-to-day basis. The best way to do this depends on your English level. Some students find it helpful to watch the shows without subtitles, while others find it useful to keep subtitles in your native language on underneath, but only read them when you are stuck on the meaning of a word. Whatever method you choose to use, exposing yourself to English is a great way to build familiarity. If reading is more your speed, check out our summer book recommendation list here!

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1. Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Disney+ (ages 10+)

First up on our list is Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which was recently released on Disney+. This title may sound familiar, as it is the TV adaptation of the book of the same name, which we recently recommended in our summer reading list. In case you haven’t read the book series, Percy Jackson tells the story of a boy who finds out he is a demi-god (one of his parents was a Greek god). As the human world isn’t safe for demi-god children, Percy is forced to move to a special camp called Camp Half Blood, a home for children like him. However, after his mother’s disappearance, and the theft of an important tool of the gods, Percy and his friends set off on a mission to save the world. 

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While some die-hard fans have given the series a mixed review, it is still fun to watch, and more importantly, will help you build a great vocabulary for mythology! 

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2. Stranger Things, Netflix (ages 15+)

While Stranger Things isn’t exactly a new series, and maybe you’ve even watched it already, it is still a great show for students learning English. Set in the town of Hawkins, Indiana in the USA in the 1980s, the show follows a group of kids who try to save their town from a dangerous alternate dimension called the Upside Down. Currently on season number 4, there are tens of hours of content to watch, and will surely pull you deep into the world of Stranger Things. We would recommend this series for students in Year 9 and above, as there are some frightening scenes. 

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For those of you who have already watched this series, consider watching it again in English, as you are already familiar with the plot and main events. Also, as season 5 is currently set to release next year, you can think of this re-watch as preparation for the new season! 

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3. The Great British Bake Off  (all ages)

On a less scary and tastier note, next up on our list is The Great British Bake Off. Having gained quite a bit of popularity over the past few years, The Great British Bake Off (TGBBO) is a baking competition show, featuring some of the best home bakers in the UK. There are currently 14 seasons of TGBBO, and there is no need to watch them all from start to finish, so you can pick and choose which seasons look the most appealing to you! 

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Each week, contestants are given three different baking challenges to prepare for, and a limited amount of time to bake each item. These challenges are a “signature challenge” – where bakers can show off a tried-and-true recipe of their own; a “technical challenge” – where a specific (and usually difficult) recipe is chosen for the bakers, and they are asked to rely on their baking experience to fill in the gaps; and a “showstopper challenge” – where the bakers show off their skill and talent.  

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This is a great pick for more confident English speakers, as there are lots of odd phrases and “Britishisms” that you may be unfamiliar with. 

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4. The Office (ages 13+)

Another classic pick for English speakers, this list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning The Office. While there is both a UK and US version of the office, we would recommend the US version for students hoping to practice their English, as it is a bit more modern and easier to understand for international students. The show depicts the every-day life of office employees at the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in Pennsylvania, USA, and has become a cult-classic comedy show. While it may sound boring from our description, it is known for being a funny, easy-to-watch show that would be great for older students.  

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The Office is a hilarious and heartfelt mockumentary. With its blend of dry humor and relatable characters the show captures the absurdity and charm of office life. Steve Carell plays office manager Michael Scott, whose well-meaning but often misguided attempts to boost office morale create countless stressful (and cringe-worthy) but funny situations.

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5. Bob’s Burgers (ages 13+)

Bob's Burgers is an animated sitcom that centers around Bob Belcher, his wife Linda, and their three children—Tina, Gene, and Louise—as they run their family-owned burger restaurant. The show delves into the family's bizarre interactions, the unique personalities of each family member, and the hilarious situations that arise from their efforts to support one another and keep the restaurant going. 

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The show offers a painfully accurate representation of tween-years with Tina's awkward adolescence, but balances those hard-to-watch scenes with Louise's mischievous schemes. Each episode is a different story, and doesn’t require viewers to sit down and watch every episode to understand what is going on. Bob’s Burgers is a great pick for casual viewers who don’t want to commit to an entire series. 

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6. Wednesday, Netflix (ages 15+)

With season 2 entering production earlier this year, this summer would be a great time to rewatch (or watch it for the first time!) season 1 of Wednesday on Netflix. As this show does have some violence and mature language, we would recommend it for students aged 15+.   

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If you didn’t watch Wednesday when it first came out in 2022, you are in for a treat! Focusing on the youngest child of the Addams family, Wednesday Addams, the show takes viewers into Wednesday’s life at Nevermore Academy, a boarding school for outcasts. Here, Wednesday discovers she has psychic abilities, and while honing her skills, uncovers a murder-mystery that occurred nearly 25 years ago. As a Netflix original, Wednesday also has subtitles available in numerous languages, making it an accessible choice for students. 

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7. Series of Unfortunate Events, Netflix (ages 10+)

‍Based off of a children’s book series (which we also recommend!), A Series of Unfortunate Events follows the life of the Beauregard children, who have been orphaned following the death of their parents. After being taken in by a distant relative named Count Olaf, it becomes clear that the children’s lives are in danger, as he will do anything to get a hold of the Beauregard fortune. From here, the children try to solve the mystery of their parent’s death, all while keeping themselves far away from the grasp of Count Olaf.

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With some other-worldly creatures and characters, this series would be well suited for confident speakers of English, especially those who are interested in mysteries. 

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8. Avatar: the Last Airbender (all ages) 

While this children’s show aired in the early 2000s, it has received a cult following of viewers of all ages, and even recently received a live-action version which has since aired on Netflix. In another world where people have special abilities to control the elements, called benders, a war has broken out after the disappearance of the Avatar, a reincarnated bender capable of controlling all four elements. After 100 years, it is discovered that the Avatar is a 12 year old Air Nomad named Aang, who has been frozen inside an iceberg for the past century.  The series follows Aang and his friends and their attempt to save the world from falling into the hands of the Fire Nation. 

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Though the show’s initial audience was children, many adults consider the series a cult classic, and 20 years later the show still has quite the fanbase. We’d recommend Avatar: The Last Airbender for those with a basic understanding of English and an interest in fantasy and action series.

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