TV shows, series, cinema and cartoons

A good way to improve your pronunciation is to watch shows and series in their original version. Now that DTT reaches almost everybody you have no excuse: press the language button on your remote control and choose the original version option. The experience will be even better if you press the subtitle button to switch languages: you will be able to read (in English!) what the characters are saying (on Digital + you will need to press the "+" button at the bottom of the remote control).

You will be amazed at:

• how much English you already know and understand.
• the pace at which you can learn and improve two of the four basic skills: listening and reading.
• the actual voices of the actors and actresses — they are so much deeper, richer and more luring than their dubbers' voices.
• the accents: Henry VIII's accent in The Tudors is so different from Dexter's or Mary Alice Young's in Desperate Housewives!... or compare the British accent of Dr Cal Lightman (an expert in facial microexpressions played by actor Tim Roth  — a macroexpressive actor in fact!) in the show Lie to me to the accents of the rest of the cast.

Many people find the opening credits of a show a basic reason to start following it. are Here are a few examples of brilliant opening credits of shows I definitely recommend:

The Tudors (C+: Los Tudor):

You think you know a story,
but you only know how it ends.
To get to the heart of the story
You have to go back to the beginning

Desperate Housewives:


Flashforward (Cuatro; not the opening credits but a promo trailer):

Dexter (Cuatro):


House (Cuatro) (3 different jingles put together in one preview):


Lie to Me (Antena 3: Miénteme; the song is Brand New Day, by Ryan Star; full lyrics of the song at the end of the post):

There are 6 and a half billion people in the world, but we all look the same when we lie: dilated pupils, oblique eyebrows, an upturned lip, the smallest line on your face, the slightest body move... it all tells a story. It may be human nature to lie, but the truth is written all over your face...

:
Dream
Send me a sign
Turn back the clock
Give me some time
I need to break out
And make a new name
Let's open our eyes
To the brand new day


Damages (Canal +: Daños  perjuicios):

Brand New Day lyrics, by Ryan Star:

I've stayed in one place for too long
Gotta get on the run again
I saw the one thing that I want
Hell bent, get outta bed
I'm throwing rocks at your window
You're tying the bed sheets together
They say that we're dreaming too big
I say this town's too small

Dream
Send me a sign
Turn back the clock
Give me some time
I need to break out
And make a new name
Let's open our eyes
To the brand new day
It's a brand new day

I've taken hits like a brother
But I'm getting back up again
And from the moment I saw her
I was hell bent with heaven sent
I'm throwing rocks at your window
We're leaving this place together
They say that we're flying too high
Well get used to looking up

Dream
Send me a sign
Turn back the clock
Give me some time
I need to break out
And make a new name
Let's open our eyes
To the brand new day
It's a brand new day

It's a brand new day
I know it's a brand new day
Come on to the brand new day
I know it's a brand new day

Dream
Send me a sign
Turn back the clock
Give me some time
I need to break out
And make a new name
Let's open our eyes
To the brand new day
It's a brand new day