7 best films to improve your English skills during the holiday season

The holiday season is the perfect time to relax and enjoy some great classic movies. By watching English films, you can combine entertainment and education. You can boost your English skills by listening to how words are pronounced and expanding your vocabulary and sentence structures in an engaging way. Here are the 7 best films to improve your English skills during the holidays. Each of these films provides practical lessons for you to enhance your language skills. Join us today to add a fun learning element to your holiday viewing experience. 

Home Alone (1990) 

Home Alone is the story of an eight-year-old boy, Kevin McCallister, who is accidentally left behind when his family goes on vacation. In this family-friendly comedy, he learns to defend his home from two burglars by using clever traps. The dialogue in the film is simple and easy to follow. You will hear everyday vocabulary and phrases that are useful in daily life. The humour and emotional moments will help you understand different expressions and slang.  

The Grinch (2018) 

In this animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s classic story, you will follow the Grinch as he tries to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville. Along the way, you will see him learn about the true spirit of the holiday. The film features clear dialogue, combining humour with heartwarming moments. You will also notice the characters use expressive language, which will help you understand different emotions and tones in conversation. You can practise fun phrases like “Merry Christmas!” and “I’m going to steal Christmas!” 

The Holiday (2006) 

The Holiday is the story of two women who swap homes for the Christmas season. Their spontaneous decisions lead to surprising romances and personal growth. This romantic comedy is filled with everyday conversations, making it a perfect film for you to learn common phrases and informal expressions. You will hear different accents and cultural references, which will help you understand various ways English is spoken. 

Toy Story (1995) 

The film Toy Story is about the secret life of toys when humans aren’t around. It’s about the friendship between Woody and Buzz Lightyear. This animated classic offers simple, heartwarming dialogues that are ideal for English beginners. The characters express their feelings clearly, which will help you understand emotional vocabulary. After watching the film, you can use expressions like “You’ve got a friend in me!” when you talk to friends, which will help you have positive interactions. 

A Christmas Carol (2009) 

This animated version of Charles Dickens's classic story follows Ebenezer Scrooge as he learns about kindness and generosity after visits from three ghosts. The film includes rich vocabulary related to feelings and moral lessons. Watching it will help you understand idioms and the historical language used in storytelling. 

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) 

This classic film is about George Bailey, who discovers the value of life with the help of his guardian angel. The dialogues are warm and use familiar phrases that you can connect with everyday conversations. You will also learn what American culture was like during the 1940s. You will hear polite phrases like “Merry Christmas to all!” and the touching dialogue will help you understand expressions of gratitude and hope. 

The Polar Express (2004) 

The film The Polar Express takes you on a magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. You will see beautiful visuals and hear clear narration, which makes it easy to enjoy the story. The themes of belief and wonder will introduce you to new words about imagination and adventure. This enchanting animation has simple yet engaging language, which is perfect for you to practise your listening skills. By the end, you should be able to understand phrases like “Believe!” in your holiday conversations to spread some festive cheer. 

Benefits of watching films to improve your English skills 

There are several benefits of watching English films to improve your language skills: 

• Enhance your listening skills by listening to native and other English speakers.  
• Expand your vocabulary by picking up new words and phrases when watching different films.  
• Gain cultural insights by watching films that explore different themes and customs.  
• Make your English language learning journey a more enjoyable experience and less daunting.  
• Improve your pronunciation skills by mimicking characters and refine your speaking skills. 

Tips for watching films to improve your English skills 

Now that you have a list of films to enjoy during the holiday season, here are some simple tips to make your learning experience better: 

• Use subtitles: You can start with subtitles in your native language. Once you’re comfortable, switch to English subtitles.  
• Pause and repeat: If you don’t understand something, pause the film and rewind to watch that part again. 
• Take notes: It’s always a great idea to keep a notebook with you when watching a film. You can write down new words or phrases and try them later.  
• Focus on the story: The goal of watching an English film is to improve your language skills. Pay attention to the plot and how words are used in different situations.  
• Mimic the actors: Watching a film is not enough. You should also try repeating the dialogue out loud. Try to say it just like the characters do. 

Learning English doesn’t have to be a dull or boring experience. With these films, you can improve your English skills and turn this holiday season into a productive and fun learning experience. Don’t forget, repetition is key. 

Happy holidays!