Language students will always be looking up shortcuts, flash cards, here a podcast there, tongue twister everywhere. However, when you want to get down to business and learn how to converse, no one can beat a movie that is full of natural and realistic dialogue. Netflix is like a continent of treasure but where do you find those treasures among rare movies in which the conversation is foremost? The reality: not all famous movies belong to best films for learning English. This will require something that boxes in natural conversation, easy-to-understand vocabulary, easy-to-remember moments as well as that element of magic, rewatch ability.
This is how I dissect five films (as well as their reasoning modalities) that go beyond the entertaining. They will high energy-charge your English, exercise your ear, and plop you directly in the centre of colloquial conversation. Make your popcorn, make your note book. Your English is going to become much more keen.
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“The Fundamentals of Caring” (2016): Where Wit and Heart Collide
This indie hit cannot be left off any list of language learning. In the movie, The Fundamentals of Caring, you will find the most fluent one — Paul Rudd. The premise: a cynical caretaker and his equally jaded ward go on a road trip, trading insults, therapy sessions and enough truth to tell.
Why is this so special? The dialogue is as clear as the bell, never mumbled, never overpowered by explosions. It is written in such a way that people speak. The characters communicate with modern English, with some jokes, verbal fights, and connecting between people, as well as with some insulting; therefore, they cannot be twisted in ancient slang or local dialects. You will acquire American slang (“check out,” “hang out”) and idioms (“hit the road”), and humor. Dock yourself here in case you want a crash course in witty banter.
And although there are emotional scenes, which are true pull-on-the-heartstrings, you will not need tissues every five minutes. It is the language which sticks. It should not be a surprise that you will find yourself throwing in jokes into your own conversations.
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“Marriage Story” (2019): Modern Communication, Raw and Real
There are those times when you have to eavesdrop over difficult conversations. Marriage Story between the extension of Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson is not a blockbuster with pointless explosions, but two people working out their existence during the divorce.
What does this mean to English learners? The conversation is thoughtful, cautious, sour at times, affectionate at most. It is the kind of English that is used in a therapist room, quarrels, bargains, the not very sweet parts of life. You will listen to the bargaining process, the excuses, the comedy in pain, and these awkward pauses that tell you more than the words.
It is a gold mine to the advanced learners. The subjects range between casual information at the dinner table (“What do you want to eat?”) and the distinctions of a trial in the court. Also, there is a very discernable New York vs. LA accent and attitude difference—a bit of great Americana.
You may not like all of the decisions made by each of the characters, but you will learn to have a more developed idea of how English can adapt to the messiest conditions in the course of life.
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“The Social Network” (2010): Rapid-Fire English for Brainy Listeners
All the films of this list are not going to make you rest. The Social Network by Aaron Sorkin is fast-talk territory. In case you have ever been joggle to have kept pace with the Silicon Valley types, this is the field you can enjoy.
Here are notes: the language is modern, corporate and spiced with intellectual humor. One can find that characters speak fast, are interjected frequently and elevated language is clean, sharp, and even cutting. It is ideal to practice with upper-intermediate and advanced students who want to extend their limits.
You will not only learn business and tech lexicon here but also learn an idea about American sense of sarcasm, and subtext, and conflict solved through words rather than fists. Pause and re-watch when necessary — there are parts that pass so fast as a text-message chain in a scandal. Put yourself to the test: shadow a scene or two and say stuff in real-time.
Why Dialogue is better on Language Learning than Action
Before I continue, a short piece of advice: The action movies, crazy as they may be, tend to cheat the learners. Fewer conversations. More grunting, more running, and CGI. The talky movies are not the ones that shove words down your ear, however, they do the opposite — they place you in the scenario wherein hearing comes into play.
All trading provides you with background information. Facial expression, body language, embarrassing pauses — that is what makes film-based learning so much successful. It is immersion and not translation.
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“Her” (2013): Gentle English, Big Philosophical Questions
Her by Spike Jonze may appear farfetched, a reclusive man in the near future, falls in love with his digital concierge. Follow me. Why should this film making the list anyway? The English is mild, contemplative and very emotive.
The character of Joaquin Phoenix is slow to talk and is reserved in the expression of emotions. The discussions are personal — there is no need to speed. Suitable to medium level learners. You will also encounter warm, caring questions, hesitations, and colloquial language being dragged poetically too.
Using Dialogues to Work Your Own Way
Movies give you the opportunity to listen in on conversations without the threat of actually being perceived because you are using odd looks — you are not getting educated. Films with lots of dialogues are not just words lists. They also give teaching in timing, emotion, phrasing, even in sarcasm.
Learn to act out of your own mouth. Pretend to do a scene, to make gestures or intonation. Not only will you end up sharpening your English, you will also exercise your listening, speaking and cultural comprehension all at once.
The next time you browse through Netflix and can not settle on anything to watch, keep in mind that these five films are not only a great film choice, they are more like language learning gold. That is why, in each line, your English becomes a little fluent, a little natural, and a lot more enjoyable.