With the surge of digital platforms, everyone is deeply rooted in web series or movies available online. Every year, thousands of candidates from non-English speaking nations take TOEFL as a language proficiency exam for further studies abroad or employment opportunities. Mostly the test takers who want to study further in foreign universities take TOEFL. Examiners completely measure the linguistic skills of the test-takers in TOEFL. Exam pattern of TOEFL is dissected into four sections mainly- Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. In this article, it will be discussed how web-series and movies help in three sections of TOEFL- Listening and Speaking. 

How to select web series for TOEFL?

While deciding web-series as one of the main sources to learn for TOEFL, one needs to keep a few things in mind 

1. It is not about anyone’s favorite TV Show, it is about from where the candidates can learn new vocabulary. Therefore shows like Game of Thrones may sound very attractive but the characters in the show used those words that are not used in contemporary times. 
2. It is preferred to take those web series where most of the characters are into different kinds of professions. 
3. Other than fiction it is necessary to watch fiction shows like a reality show or cookery show or travel show. 
4. It is not preferred to watch historical drama shows or web-series set in the old days, because the accent and usage of words have been changed. 
5. Try to look for those movies that have long monologues. Mostly in the TOEFL Listening section, lectures are in monologue, therefore it is necessary to find out those films where long monologues are there. 

How do TV shows help in TOEFL Listening?

In most of the audio clips played in TOEFL Listening sections are taken from lectures. It is believed that the examiners measure how well the test taker understand the words located in academic setting. It will be difficult to find out shows that have been set in academic background. Just to overcome these shortcomings, it is advisable to listen to every TV show or web-series keeping its captions off. One will also find differences in American and European accents. Before indulging in TV series for TOEFL Listening, one must know which web-series are the best to watch. 

1. Stranger Things is one of the most acclaimed American series belong to the science fiction horror genre. This web-series is set in contemporary times, then it will be easier for the test takers to learn vocabulary. 
2. Next on the list is The Crown. It is not favorable to watch historical drama as there will be great differences in language due to time frame. Whereas one can easily watch this historical drama due to its background setup. This web series is a biographical story of Queen Elizabeth II and her reign. 
3. Next on your list should be the sitcoms like Friends or Big Bang Theory. In both of these shows, there are no long episodes. Therefore the spectators can remain glued to each episode without getting bored. Another important point that craters in both these shows are multiple characters with different shades. Both these shows are based on everyday conversation there it will be easier to know more about common vocabulary. 
4. Next show that will be talking about is The Office, American sitcom. The story revolves around the employees working at a paper company. If the test taker watches any show that is a comedy in nature, it will help them in learning vocabulary but on a lighter note. 
5. How I Met Your Mother is another good show to watch due to its content. In this show, most of the characters are somehow involved in a tricky situation. While watching the show, the spectators will learn more about language. 

How do TV shows help in TOEFL Speaking?

Like TOEFL Listening, test takers should also prepare for TOEFL Speaking. Before appearing for the exam, one should know the pattern of it. TOEFL Speaking has both dependent and independent tasks. For Dependent task in TOEFL Speaking, one needs to refer to other sections of the exam. Now coming to the independent task which is all about articulating opinions and argument through speech within the stipulated time. This section is about how well the test takers express their own argument in proper English. Therefore to learn new vocabulary for this section one needs to use subtitles. This section comprises good English, proper grammar, and pronunciation. To learn pronunciation of new words, it is necessary to follow subtitles. 

1. Watch investigative or detective shows for this section. Thrillers are also worth to mention for practicing TOEFL speaking. These shows are mentioned mainly for its interrogative nature. With this kind of interrogation, one will learn how to articulate arguments and opinions. 
2. Watch shows like Prison Break, Suits, and Brooklyn 9-9 where one will learn more about legal statements or the opinions. 
3. Narcos is also another worth mentioning the TV show that will help you in this section particularly. As the show is based on drug smuggling and its kingpin, therefore, the spectators will get chances of how to negotiate with the situation. This attitude will help in the long run to the TOEFL test takers to articulate an argument in a proper streamline. 

How to use these TV shows as a practice method?

As most of TOEFL speeches or reading pieces are taken from academic content therefore the test takers have to be very conscious while dealing with the entertainment content. While using these TV shows as practice methods, one needs to keep in mind the following steps 

1. Firstly, it is mandatory to find out the structure of the piece. Without the structure, it will be quite difficult for the test takers to understand the opinions. For TOEFL listening, there will be complicated piece information as an audio clip, whereas the TV shows deal with everyday characters with fewer complications. 
2. While watching these shows, it is advised to take notes for important sections. Therefore one will find out specific information while noting down important points which in later times will help in finding out the main concept of the conversation. 
3. In many cases, test takers lose focus in the mid of the exam that in turn will cause a huge problem in answering questions. Without recollecting a few points, one can easily find out the answer by looking at the notes. 
4. While listening one will find out unfamiliar vocabulary that will be difficult to decode. Such difficult words will be challenging to test takers. Therefore try to listen properly to each difficult words used in the audio clip. 

If possible watch those series that are mostly based on travel, food, and lifestyle. In those shows, one will know more about the essential lifestyles of a human being. Now watching web-series has become one of the major passing time, but the TOEFL takers have to learn how to use these shows for learning vocabulary.