Learn English with Argo

As the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, a CIA 'exfiltration' specialist concocts a risky plan to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador.

Why learn English with Argo?

"Argo" tells the exciting true story of six Americans hiding in Tehran during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. The CIA creates a risky plan to rescue them by pretending they are a Canadian film crew scouting for a science fiction movie. The movie uses words like "coup," "exfil," "operatives," and "classified," which are related to government and espionage. You'll also hear terms like "bazaar," "ayatollah," and "embassy," which will teach you about Iranian culture and international relations. Learning these words will expand your vocabulary and help you understand news and historical events better. The movie is full of suspense and emotional moments as the characters face danger and uncertainty. You'll hear a mix of formal and informal English conversations, including dialogue between government officials, CIA agents, and the Americans in hiding. The movie also shows cultural differences and how people communicate in stressful situations. Paying attention to the characters' tone of voice and body language will help you understand the nuances of English communication, and learning common idioms and expressions will make your English sound more natural. Watching "Argo" can improve your English listening and comprehension skills because it features different accents, including American, Canadian, and British. The subtitles can help you follow the dialogue, and you can learn new vocabulary and expressions related to politics, history, and filmmaking. Because the movie is based on a true story, it can also be a starting point for learning more about the Iran hostage crisis and international relations, which can enhance your knowledge of world history and current events.

Words from Argo

Here are the first 15 of the more difficult words in Argo:

persian: relating to Iran or its language
shah: the title given to the kings of Iran in the past
secular: not related to religion or spiritual matters, especially in education or public life
democrat: a supporter of democracy
nationalize: to transfer ownership of a company or industry to the government
petroleum: oil found underground or under the sea, used to make products like petrol and diesel
coup: a sudden illegal and often violent change of government
depose: to remove someone from a position of power, usually a political leader
opulence: a show of great wealth
excess: an amount that is more than is necessary or allowed
bathe: to wash something, especially a part of the body, with water
concord: peace and agreement
starve: to suffer or die from a lack of something essential, especially food
ruthless: cruel and unkind; focused on achieving your goals even if it means harming others
torture: causing severe mental or physical pain, often to punish them or force them to act or speak