What British TV series could recommend as the closest to contemporary real-life conversations and colloquial English?

S

svetlana14

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2013
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Interested in Language
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Ukrainian
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What British TV series could you recommend as the closest to contemporary real-life conversations and colloquial English? I know that some of you are a little bit sceptical about texts in films claiming that they are more staged and selected. My purpose is to pick up some useful phrases for socialising while enjoying the film as well. Business conversations would be a great plus.
 
Generally you will find that provincial accents are softened and dialect avoided.

The two big soap operas are Eastenders and Coronation Street set in working class environments in London and Manchester respectively.

For crime dramas you could try New Tricks which was a long running series that is still regularly rebroadcast. With an ensemble cast that changed over time you would encounter a variety of accents and some working class London dialect.

Do try and avoid picking up local dialect expressions, they never sound natural coming from a non native speaker.
 
If you want real life conversations, then watching scripted shows isn't ideal. Why not just watch reality shows instead?
 
jutfrank said:
If you want real life conversations, then watching scripted shows isn't ideal. Why not just watch reality shows instead?
Click to expand...
Most shows are not either available in my country or have no subtitles which makes the learning process troublesome. That is why I bother you from time to time asking for your assistance with understanding phrases from Youtube.
 
You can find lots of British reality TV on YouTube.
 
jutfrank said:
If you want real life conversations, then watching scripted shows isn't ideal. Why not just watch reality shows instead?
Click to expand...
Now I am watching Made in Dagenham. Can you have a look at the episode below? Would it work for real-life (social context, for instance) situations in the UK today? Can I use "ain't" while initiating a social contact in London?

Gotta catch a bus.

I really am sorry,



1159

01:22:41,392 --> 01:22:43,622

but you ain't been

perfect either.



1160

01:22:43,794 --> 01:22:47,730

This really ain't the time, Eddie.

Yes, it is, because it needs saying.



1161

01:22:49,100 --> 01:22:52,365

I know you reckon I ain't bothered

about the important things.



1162

01:22:52,536 --> 01:22:56,632

And I drift along and I'm more

interested in fiddling with motorbikes



1163

01:22:56,807 --> 01:23:01,141

or making tents out of seat covers,

but, you know, I try me best.



1164

01:23:02,246 --> 01:23:04,680

You know? I have a go.



1165

01:23:07,118 --> 01:23:10,144

I like a drink, but I ain't out

on the beer every night
 
Try again, Svetlana. There's no link.

svetlana14 said:
Would it work for real-life (social context, for instance) situations in the UK today?
Click to expand...

I don't understand what you mean. Would what work? For what?

svetlana14 said:
Can I use "ain't" while initiating a social contact in London?
Click to expand...

No! You should never use 'ain't'.
 
Try again, Svetlana. There's no link.
Click to expand...
I did not insert the link in my previous comments. Here is the link to the description of the film.





I don't understand what you mean. Would what work? For what?
Click to expand...
Can I use expressions of the mentioned film's episode in everyday communication in the UK?
No! You should never use 'ain't'.
Click to expand...
I ask just because I have come across a lot of YouTube-related stuff where guys like this one say about the use of ain't in spoken and street English in the UK.
 
Last edited:
svetlana14 said:
Can I use expressions of the mentioned film's episode in everyday communication in the UK?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I don't understand. You just seemed to have picked some random excerpts. What do they have to do with everyday communication or socialising?

svetlana14 said:
I ask just because I have come across a lot of YouTube-related stuff where guys like this one say about the use of ain't in spoken and street English in the UK.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's very common for native speakers to use 'ain't' but that doesn't mean you as a non-native speaker should attempt to use it. Don't try to use it. It's not standard English and it's not for you.

If your goal is to improve your pronunciation and vocabulary, it's important you find a good model to imitate.
 
jutfrank said:
Sorry, I don't understand. You just seemed to have picked some random excerpts. What do they have to do with everyday communication or socialising?
Click to expand...
I agree that those excerpts are not appropriate in my context. Sorry for that. However, I would like to understand the general idea. Why don't to take some conversations or phrases from a British film like that one and use them as a model for communication purposes? (Even if conversations are scripted). The cited film has a lot of conversations which at least contextually fit real life in general, not just the UK. For instance, trade unions lexicon, employment, resolving family issues, parties, etc. What do you think?
 
The problem is that I don't know that film so I can't really judge it well, but it seems to me that it probably has quite a lot of very colloquial dialectic English, which is not a good model for you. I can't really say more until I see and hear it.

What is your main long-term goal here? Are you planning to come to live in the UK?
 
The problem is that I don't know that film so I can't really judge it well, but it seems to me that it probably has quite a lot of very colloquial dialectic English, which is not a good model for you. I can't really say more until I see and hear it.
Click to expand...


Sorry. Here is the link to the film (a very short episode) where trade unions are involved.
What is your main long-term goal here? Are you planning to come to live in the UK?
Click to expand...

My long-term purpose is to understand native speakers both from the UK and America. No matter what topic is involved. However, I understand that it makes no sense (for me at least) to listen to youtube teachers like English with Lucy as such teachers speak so clearly that you will never understand people in the natural environment. Again, the problem with British reality shows is that they have no subtitles which makes me post questions and bother you each time (which the forum teachers do not like to respond to). The same is true for political channels like LBC, the Times, etc. By the way, I have found some YouTube Channels with spontaneous street interviews provided with true subtitles which makes my listening skills effort less cumbersome. However, such stuff is very limited and I still consider films as a very important element of my learning process. There are a variety of reasons: 1. Any film has a lot of specific topics even if the main storyline is different; 2. there are English subtitles available in most cases; 3. one of the main factors contributing to Dutch people speaking English so fluently is the fact that they have watched movies in English since their childhood.
 
svetlana14 said:
Sorry. Here is the link to the film (a very short episode) where trade unions are involved.


My long-term purpose is to understand native speakers both from the UK and America. No matter what topic is involved. However, I understand that it makes no sense (for me at least) to listen to youtube teachers like English with Lucy as such teachers speak so clearly that you will never understand people in the natural environment. Again, the problem with British reality shows is that they have no subtitles which makes me post questions and bother you each time (which the forum teachers do not like to respond to). The same is true for political channels like LBC, the Times, etc. By the way, I have found some YouTube Channels with spontaneous street interviews provided with true subtitles which makes my listening skills effort less cumbersome. However, such stuff is very limited and I still consider films as a very important element of my learning process. There are a variety of reasons: 1. Any film has a lot of specific topics even if the main storyline is different; 2. there are English subtitles available in most cases; 3. one of the main factors contributing to Dutch people speaking English so fluently is the fact that they have watched movies in English since their childhood.
Click to expand...
Your forum has a unique feature (many thanks to everybody) where teachers help with listening skills. Other forums like WordReference Forum do not allow such questions at all according to their rules.
 
svetlana14 said:
Sorry. Here is the link to the film (a very short episode) where trade unions are involved.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Is there a particular reason why you're interested in British trade unions?

svetlana14 said:
My long-term purpose is to understand native speakers both from the UK and America. No matter what topic is involved. However, I understand that it makes no sense (for me at least) to listen to youtube teachers like English with Lucy as such teachers speak so clearly that you will never understand people in the natural environment.
Click to expand...

Okay. You should then listen to a diverse range of speakers, as you're currently doing.

svetlana14 said:
Again, the problem with British reality shows is that they have no subtitles which makes me post questions and bother you each time (which the forum teachers do not like to respond to).
Click to expand...

We don't dislike helping you with that. Please don't hesitate to ask us whenever you want.

svetlana14 said:
By the way, I have found some YouTube Channels with spontaneous street interviews provided with true subtitles which makes my listening skills effort less cumbersome.
Click to expand...

Those channels look really good for you.

svetlana14 said:
However, such stuff is very limited and I still consider films as a very important element of my learning process. There are a variety of reasons: 1. Any film has a lot of specific topics even if the main storyline is different; 2. there are English subtitles available in most cases; 3. one of the main factors contributing to Dutch people speaking English so fluently is the fact that they have watched movies in English since their childhood.
Click to expand...

Oh, yes, I think we all agree that watching films is a great way to learn. I didn't mean to suggest otherwise. Keep it up! :)
 
It is a series not a movie (and I'd echo the comments about not trying to copy it), but I found the comedy W1A to be a good reflection of how British people really communicate (and miscommunicate) in business.
 
jutfrank said:
Thank you. Is there a particular reason why you're interested in British trade unions?
Click to expand...
No. But the way guys speak in the film (or any film like that) contributes to my better understanding of British political shows or blogs (like LBC, Times, BBC, TalkTV, and the like). Beyond listening skills, I just enjoy people speaking in your country and better understanding various features and nuances of your and American English dialects makes me happy and motivated.
 
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