To most Korean university students, learning English is one of the most important things to do. To understand a new language, however, one also has to understand the culture. This is difficult, especially for someone who has never lived abroad. A fun way to learn English more easily is by doing what I chose to do this summer: watch American television.
“How I Met Your Mother” is a great show you can watch. It’s an American sitcom about how the main character Ted meets his wife. Every episode begins in the year 2030, when Ted starts to tell the story to his children in his living room. Within the main story of how Ted meets his wife, we also learn about the lives of Ted’s best friends Barney, Marshall, Lily, and Robin. They are the biggest reason I watch this show. “How I Met Your Mother” is set in New York, so viewers can see what life is life for Americans in their twenties. Most of all, through the joyful story of Ted and his friends, we can also learn small but meaningful lessons.
How can we study English by watching American television? Watching with subtitles helps a lot. Using both Korean and English subtitles will help you take an interest in the story and get accustomed to English. Of course, that means watching each episode several times. Remember, you are studying. Once you get used to it, you can gradually remove the Korean subtitles then the English ones. It seems simple, but it will help your listening and conversational skills — even your reading skills!
If you want to have a better time studying English, take my advice and start watching “How I Met Your Mother” right now!