Learn english with The Help

Aibileen Clark is a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children and has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson is an African-American maid who has often offended her employers despite her family's struggles with money and her desperate need for jobs; and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan is a young white woman who has recently moved back home after graduating college to find out her childhood maid has mysteriously disappeared. These three stories intertwine to explain how life in Jackson, Mississippi revolves around "the help"; yet they are always kept at a certain distance because of racial lines.

Why learn english with The Help?

"The Help" tells the story of African-American maids working for white families in Mississippi during the 1960s. It shows the difficulties they faced because of racism and segregation. By watching this movie, you can learn about American history and culture during this important time. You'll also learn new vocabulary related to housework, like "ironing," "groceries," and "cleaning," as well as words related to social issues like "racism," "discrimination," and "equality." The movie also uses common phrases like "Yes, ma'am" and "No, sir," which are important for understanding polite Southern American English. This movie explores important themes of friendship, courage, and fighting for what is right. You'll see a range of emotions, from sadness and anger to hope and joy. The language used in the movie is a mix of formal and informal English, with some characters speaking in a Southern dialect. This will help you understand different ways that English is spoken. The movie has a lot of dialogue, so you will get used to hearing and understanding spoken English. You'll also learn about how tone of voice can express different feelings. Watching "The Help" is a great way to improve your English listening and comprehension skills while learning about an important period in American history. The story is engaging and will keep you interested. Because the movie deals with complex social issues, it can also help you develop your critical thinking skills and improve your understanding of different cultures. Discussing the movie with others can further enhance your English speaking and vocabulary skills.

Words from The Help

Here are the first 15 of the more difficult words in The Help:

plantation: a large area of land where crops or trees are grown
maid: a female servant, typically in a house or hotel
mama: a casual word for mother
slave: a person who is legally owned by another person and forced to work for them
cooking: food that is prepared by heating it
grocery: food and products sold at markets
paprika: a red powder made from dried red peppers, used as a spice
homemade: made at home and not bought from a store
reckon: to have an opinion or idea about something
birthing: the process of giving birth
blackly: making jokes about dark or serious topics like murder
guarantee: a promise to make sure something happens
ole: used in casual written English to represent some people's way of saying ‘old’
rebel: a person who fights an authority, such as a government, an organization, your parents, etc
rejection: the act of refusing, dismissing, or not accepting something or someone