SHOW: “Abbott Elementary”
– B2-C1 (intermediate to advanced) –
Practice Your Listening Comprehension
Practice Your Reading Comprehension
Award-winning American sitcom “Abbott Elementary” is not only an amusing show to watch, but it is also appropriately educational. Among the many English-language shows that I recommend, this one is particularly more well-rounded in terms of what it offers English learners.
Season 1 follows a plucky new-hire at an elementary school as she learns what it means to be a teacher in the USA. We watch as she becomes both a victor and a victim of the successes and failures of the American education system, all while she navigates a journey of self-discovery. The format of the show takes on a mockumentary style that perfectly blends comedic irony with American culture references and sociopolitical commentary.
WHAT TO LEARN
While watching “Abbott Elementary,” you can expect to learn a great variety of language-related items, including:
listening comprehension (of various US accents)
reading comprehension (with English subtitles)
US English
African American Vernacular English
US culture
present simple
present simple continuous
future
imperative
conditional
simple question structures
complex sentence structures
informal language
adjectives
adverbs
LOTS of phrasal verbs!
LOTS of idioms!
LOTS of different uses of the verb, “to get,” in context!
reductions (e.g., gotta, gonna, wanna, Imma, etc.)
contractions
interjections
vocabulary related to:
education
work
change
time
opinion
expressing and meeting needs
problem solving
improvement
taking care of children
relationships (coworkers, parent-teacher, romance, etc.)
feelings and emotions (shock, disbelief, frustration, satisfaction, determination, ambition, passion, awkwardness, etc.)
and so much more…!
