EnglishClub

In today’s digital world, technology integration allows for limitless learning. Thanks to the internet, you can now learn English at your fingertips.

We’ve talked about learning English with podcasts and TV shows before. Now, we’re diving into learning English with e-learning videos.

On YouTube — the home of videos, you can find a variety of channels that help you to develop your English skills while being totally entertained and accompanied at the same time. 

With those interactive videos, you can “sit-in” on every lesson from anywhere at any time and might as well learn at your own pace, play the videos, pause it, and rewatch it, until you have a solid grasp on the concept.

While it’s hard to find the true gold among a bunch of videos that show up in searches, we’ll tell you some of our favorite YouTube channels to learn English effortlessly.

1. EnglishClub

EnglishClub provides you with a variety of ways to learn English on its channel. From songs to chats, this channel offers you lessons in a fun, engaging way.

EnglishClub shows that learning English doesn’t have to be all complicated and daunting. With short and simple videos, you can memorize the words and distinguish them more easily and quickly.

This channel is suitable both for elementary school students and adults that want to develop their English skills in such a light-hearted way.

2. Learn English with EnglishClass101

This channel is pretty rich in content. Whether you’re preparing for TOEFL or just improving your conversation skills, this channel offers you the content you need.

Learn English with EnglishClass101 also offers you 24/7 live streaming, so you don’t have to be confused about what video you should begin with. 

In this channel, you’ll meet Alisha, who guides you through the lessons. From vocabulary to actionable tips, she’ll help you to improve and develop your English skills seamlessly.

3. Learn English With TV Series

If you love watching TV and want to learn English at the same time, then you’ll love this channel. Learn English With TV Series allows you to improve and practice your listening comprehension using your favorite TV shows or movies.

It breaks down vocabulary on the TV shows or movies and gets more in-depth about it. You’ll know how native speakers really pronounce the words and what they actually mean.

Overall, this channel provides you with dynamic English lessons with some everyday humor and real-life examples of English pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

4. JamesESL English Lessons

When you learn English with James, it’s like you’re learning from a friendly, easygoing mentor. He teaches you English using a whiteboard so it can put you in learning mode as if you’re in a class.

James provides lessons that are 10-30 minutes long and focus on subjects such as pronunciation, phrasal verbs, vocabulary, and grammar usage.

The videos on this channel cover a variety of practical tips and clear instructions. JamesESL is a great resource for learners from any country.

5. Shaw English Online

Shaw English Online is like your online English course — except it’s free. You’ll meet some teachers that will teach you the lessons.

From grammar lessons, conversations, pronunciation, those teachers help you in making your English better and more natural.

There are hundreds of English videos you can watch. Not only lessons or courses, though, this channel also includes podcasts and Q&As so you can get actionable tips from the experts.

6. English with Lucy

If you want to learn more about British English, then you should check out English with Lucy. Learning English through this channel is like learning with your friend as Lucy brings a quirky sensibility to learning English. 

Her lessons are informative, practical, and a lot of fun. The lessons are delivered in an engaging way using casual and conversational words so you can digest the concept much better.

In this channel, you’ll learn how to pronounce words, use phrases, learn new vocabulary — all of them in British English. You can also watch some fun videos of Lucy and friends that compare English accents and slang from different English-speaking countries.

7. 7ESL Learning English

7ESL Learning English provides a compelling way to improve English skills using animations. As an ESL student, you must’ve noticed that learning English is much more than memorizing vocabulary and studying grammar.

You also need to be familiar with idioms and expressions to sound fluent. In other words, you need to understand the language structure.

This is what this channel aims for — to help you get to know new cultures and think in English.

8. Oxford Online English

Oxford Online English is a UK-based channel that spoils you with premium-quality online English lessons to suit your needs.

This channel provides not only basic lessons for beginners but also advanced tips for IELTS, Cambridge B1 Preliminary exams, Cambridge FCE (B2), and more. That’s what makes this channel suitable for both beginners and advanced ESL learners.

There’s a new lesson every week so you won’t run out of lessons.

9. Easy English

As the name suggests, Easy English makes learning English easy. With cartoon animation, the lessons are easy to understand for almost everyone. They mostly contain conversations on various topics that will help you improve your vocabulary.

The videos stage skits where the cartoon characters simply have a common everyday conversation about a certain topic in a specific situation. There are also subtitles to help you understand better what they’re talking about and what the uncommon words mean.

10. Rachel’s English

Rachel’s English focuses on American pronunciation. Since the owner, Rachel, has a background in classical singing, she brings her expertise of voice and pronunciation to her channel. 

There are many easy-to-follow tips and instructions that can improve your pronunciation and shape the way you talk. They help you pronounce words properly.

This channel should be your go-to if you want to refine your pronunciation and speak American English just like a native speaker.

Wrapping Up

Now that ESL/ELL teachers have been willing to turn the cameras on themselves and teach you online — for free, you can find thousands of lessons to help improve your English on YouTube. So if you want a quick and easy way of learning English, then the platform is one of the best places to go. In the platform, you’ll know how words are really said by real people and what expressions they use. That way, you won’t only learn new vocabulary and grammar, but also understand how English speakers talk and interact.

I’m writing this in the middle of a blizzard. No worries, though! I’m not outside braving the elements. I’m inside—sitting “as snug as a bug in a rug.” As I cuddle with a cup of hot tea (in between putting my thoughts on paper and looking out the window), the howling wind is swirling the snow into small mounds. If the “white stuff” and wind continue, these small piles will morph into colossal snowdrifts that will require a trusty tractor, snazzy snow blower or a simple snow shovel and some energetic elbow grease to clear paths or roads. I imagine radio announcers are urging people to stay at home as they mention road closures and dangerous whiteout travel conditions.

You may be asking, “What does experiencing a blizzard have to do with learning English?” I’m glad you asked. Pull up a chair and chillax with me as I try to sell you on the idea that learning English is similar to the snow spiraling around outside. Don’t worry. I’ve never been accused of being able to sell ice to an Eskimo, so I’m not giving you a snow job. Maybe you’ll agree with me, maybe you won’t. If nothing else, perhaps you’ll walk away with a new word or two or maybe you’ll understand and be able to use some idioms dealing with winter, cold or snow.

As I was saying—learning English is like the snow falling outside. At first, a few snowflakes fall. A single snowflake or a few flakes falling aren’t worrisome or much of a concern. People might stop to enjoy and note the beauty of these simple yet intricate, fragile, falling ice crystals. Living in an area that receives plenty of snow each year, I often anticipate the first snowfall of the season with a sense of awe. This is what I call the wonder factor. Each snowflake is reported to be unique and special in design. Similarly, when people learn English, the beauty and enjoyment of being able to communicate in a new way is the wonder factor. When babies utter their first words, parents smile with delight and applaud their little ones’ efforts. Later, when the blizzards—barrages of words, questions, or arguments come, parents might ironically smile, think or say, ‘I couldn’t wait for my babies to talk, but now I can’t wait for them to hush and just listen.” (God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.)

Another reason learning English is similar to the snow falling outside right now is that as the snow accumulates, so does its influence on peoples’ lives. As noted earlier, a few snowflakes aren’t worrisome, and they are of little consequence. Some snowflakes melt and vanish shortly after they hit outstretched hands, open mouths, or solid ground. Others accumulate and can be used to form a snowball or friendly snowman. However, when snow’s collective magnitude is coupled with strong wind, it can quickly snowball into an impacting event. I’m not just talking about the impact a few well-aimed snowballs can make. I’m talking about a life-changing, wallop. I’m talking about a powerful blizzard. Likewise, learning English can have a life-changing effect on people as well. Communicating well in English can increase your potential job possibilities, enlarge your circle of relationships, and even change your way of thinking.

Yet another similarity between really experiencing the snow and learning English is that both are best done using all of your senses, or as many senses as you possibly can. To fully appreciate the snow and experience it most memorably, you should not only see the sparkling snow. You should feel its chilliness against your cheeks and hear the crunch of snow under your shoes as you walk in it. You should even try to taste its icy goodness melting on your tongue. Admittedly, smelling or describing snow’s scent might require more creativity and imagination on your part, unless you collect some snow (avoid yellow snow) and add other ingredients to your freshly collected snow to make snow ice cream. Then whatever snow ice cream flavor you made can be the scent of snow to you. Nonetheless, you’ve just thought about snow trying to use all your senses. If you do get to experience snow with all of your senses, perhaps the total experience will be frozen in your memory banks forever.

Similarly, when you are learning English, try to use all of your senses, even when the language skill you are focusing on seems to predominantly rely on one sense. For example, typically if you are trying to improve your listening skills, your sense of hearing is at the forefront. However, even when you are concentrating on improving your listening skills, you can try to implement more of your senses in your learning process. Don’t just listen to words or phrases if you can find a video related to what you are learning in English. Use your sense of sight and hearing coupled together for a stronger learning experience. To incorporate your sense of smell into your listening learning process you may have to get a bit more creative. Maybe you could use an invigorating essential oil in a diffuser as you are listening. Some scents are reported to help stimulate productivity, increase your focus, or even put you in a peaceful or positive mood. Utilizing your sense of taste while improving your listening skills also might require you to use your creativity. If you are listening to new vocabulary words you could write the words or important phrases in something fun like chocolate pudding or use small pieces of candy to form your vocabulary words. Doing so would incorporate your sense of touch and your sense of taste as you could eat some of the pudding or candies while listening. Otherwise, perhaps you could just grab your favorite snack as you listen and write. As a chocolate lover, I can vouch that chocolate might not be the answer or solution for everything, but it might make whatever situation you find yourself in more enjoyable.

In conclusion, let me reiterate that learning English can be similar to experiencing a powerful blizzard. Just as snow can change plans or dramatically impact people’s lives, learning English also has the power to alter plans and impact lives. Finally, to make your English learning experience more memorable, use as many of your senses as possible when you are studying or practicing English. As an ancient Chinese proverb states, “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” Don’t get left out in the cold when it comes to your English learning. Realize that learning English well can be a life-impacting event. It makes sense to use as many of your senses as possible not only to make your English learning enjoyable but to also freeze the English you’ve learned into your mind so you can remember and use it.

Are you looking for a fun and effective way to learn English?

You are lucky, because unlike in old times, nowadays there’s plenty of creative resources to help you out.

One of the best ways (and certainly my favorite one!) is to learn English by watching TV shows and sitcoms.

What do you get by watching TV shows in English?

Well, let’s start by the fact that you are more likely to hear how real conversations sound on television, than in grammar books.

There’s a bigger chance you’ll learn popular slang and idioms, but most importantly you will get your ear used to the way English is used in real life.

A lot of students have been in your shoes. So, without further ado, here are the TV shows that have proven to be very effective in the language learning process.

1 Friends

I have this amazing show to thank for my ability to joke around in English (which was not possible before, trust me). It is very hard to develop your personality in another language. But this show has more than enough characters for you to identify with. Are you Monica? Or rather, Joey? With this show, you will be prepared for all social activities in English.

2 Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is the type of show that will help you build a rich and high-quality vocabulary. I would probably recommend it to intermediate level students who want to up their English game. Very sophisticated sentence structures and unusual words make Game of Thrones stand out.

3 Grey’s Anatomy

Even if Grey’s Anatomy is happening in the hospital with a lot of medical terms, it is, above all, a show about life. It’s a drama, not a medical show. So you are guaranteed to learn a lot about life situations too, but more importantly, you will learn it in English. Very emotional dialogues and complex narratives will definitely enhance your speaking skills.

4 The Simpsons

The Simpsons is not your usual cartoon, but it is very enjoyable and helpful. Homer Simpson, one of the greatest television characters, will help you identify your English mistakes and avoid them moving forward. The show is created in a very witty way so that you learn a lot about American culture, not just their language. Every language student should watch at least one season of The Simpsons.

5 Modern Family

One of the greatest family shows ever! There’s a lot of different characters, so naturally, you will learn a lot of different idioms and expressions if you choose to improve your skills with Modern Family. Gloria, a Hispanic character, will give you the confidence you need to get out there and speak in English. She is an inspiration for her energy and constant efforts to be a good English speaker. If she can do it, you can do it!

6 How I Met Your Mother

Similarly to the show Friends, How I Met Your Mother teaches you about real life, about friends and relationships. It is also a must-watch show if you want to improve your daily conversations. Episodes are short and sweet. You will also laugh a lot. I would recommend you watch Friends first and save How I Met Your Mother for later, as a rebound show after you are done with watching Friends.

7 Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl is for you if you prefer soap operas, constant drama, and mystery. It is a teen show, but adults are likely to enjoy it (I know I do). It is very easy to follow the shows without subtitles even if you don’t speak English that well. They speak nicely, and understandably so you will definitely enjoy the learning process while trying to solve the ‘Who is Gossip Girl’ mystery.

Final thoughts

Have you ever watched any of these shows?

I am sure you have watched at least one of the above. So why wouldn’t you watch these shows from another angle now?

Use your binge-watching superpowers to your advantage.

Soon enough, you will notice the improvement.

In the way you construct your sentences. In the way you think in English, not just translate from your native language.

Most importantly, you will feel more comfortable and free to talk with native speakers – and at that moment, you will know for sure that you are a fluent English speaker!

See also:
TV Series Vocabulary