RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS | languageservices

RESOURCES FOR ENGLISH (ESL) STUDENTS

Trying to learn or understand a specific British accent? Here are some films, shows, actors/ actresses and singers you can follow to help you on your path.

I often have students who are looking to study or work in all parts of the UK and may feel intimidated by some of the regional accents (usually because they are accustomed to learning and hearing the standard British accent (RP) or US (GenAm) accent at school. Here you may be able to find some useful and interesting resources which I have compiled together to help you become accustomed to the local accent before you go or during your stay in the UK! I recommend you to watch them with the subtitles so you can make a connection between the words and the sounds. Some of you may just be looking to reach native level and you have your heart set on learning one of these accents! I will keep adding suggestions to the lists so watch this space for updates!

TV programmes / films / series / people by (main) accent:

London/S.E England (RP, Traditional):

Downton Abbey, Bridgerton, The Crown, David Attenborough

London/S.E England (RP, Modern):

Black Mirror (2011), Sherlock (2010), Emma Watson

London/S.E England (cockney):

EastEnders (soap opera), Only fools and horses (comedy show), Adele

London (urban):

Manchester: Coronation Street (1960- Present, soap opera), The Gallagher brothers from Oasis

Birmingham: Peaky Blinders (2013, TV series about gangsters)

Liverpool: The Beetles, Brookside (1982-2003, soap opera)

Yorkshire:

Emmerdale (soap opera)

Only When I Laugh (1979–1982)

BBC Look North (1968–)

Too Long a Winter (1972)

Yorkshire: A Year in the Wild (2017)

A Winter Too Many (1989)

Helicopter Heroes (2007–2014)

The Yorkshire Vet (2015–)

The Darling Buds of May (1991–1993)

Postman Pat (Children's cartoon) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQywnWkDjgg

Scottish: Outlander, Braveheart

Welsh:

Hinterland (crime drama)

High Hopes (comedy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj23cATdiF8

Gavin and Stacey (comedy)

Barry Welsh is Coming (comedy, 1996)

Catherine Zeta Jones

Northern Irish: Belfast (2021), Peaky Blinders (2013, TV series about gangsters)

Irish: Peaky Blinders (TV series about gangsters)

Other/ mix of various British accents:

Dragon´s Den, Come Dine With Me, First Dates, MasterChef, Black Mirror, Crazyhead, The Last Kingdom, Peaky Blinders (2013), Great British Bake Off, Four in a Bed.

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British media by category:

TV Series/films: Here are the names of a few popular British T.V programmes you can watch for improving your listening: Dracula, Crazyhead, Merlin, Black Mirror, The Last Kingdom, Peaky Blinders, Sherlock. haunting of Bly Manor, Doctor Foster, The Queen

Soap operas: EastEnders, coronation street, Emmerdale

Reality shows: Dragon´s Den, Come Dine With Me, First Dates, MasterChef, Great British Bake Off, Four in a Bed.

Books/novels: Harry Potter, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery, Matilda by Roald Dahl, Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah, Animal Farm by George Orwell

Grammar/activity books: Grammar and Vocabulary for Advanced. Book with Answers and Audio: Self-Study Grammar Reference and Practice (Cambridge Grammar for Exams)

UK Pop singers/groups:

All time: Elton John, Queen, The Beetles, David Bowie, Tom Jones

Modern: Adele, Ed Sheeren, Ellie Goulding, Zain Malik, One Direction, Dizzee Rascal, Wiley

Pronunciation resources for both adults and children (British Accent/s):

Sounds of the alphabet for kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEiQX__x7S0

Popular English nursery rhymes (watch with subtitles):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6n0Y2RyeWE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmfriXprSRk Postman Pat (Children's cartoon)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Acf5VawypmI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uZJ-uVpmNM

Pronunciation general info:

https://englishpost.org/teaching-children-pronunciation-activities/