Learn English with Blood Diamond

An ex-mercenary turned smuggler. A Mende fisherman. Amid the explosive civil war overtaking 1999 Sierra Leone, these men join for two desperate missions: recovering a rare pink diamond of immense value and rescuing the fisherman's son, conscripted as a child soldier into the brutal rebel forces ripping a swath of torture and bloodshed countrywide.

Why learn English with Blood Diamond?

"Blood Diamond" tells the story of Solomon Vandy, a fisherman whose family is torn apart by the civil war in Sierra Leone. He finds a rare pink diamond and hopes to use it to save his family. He meets Danny Archer, a diamond smuggler, and Maddy Bowen, a journalist. Together they journey through dangerous rebel territory. The movie will help you learn vocabulary related to conflict, like "rebel," "smuggler," "atrocity," and "diamond mine." You'll also hear words about family, like "father," "son," "wife," and "daughter," and words related to journalism, such as "reporter," "story," and "publish." The movie explores important themes like war, poverty, and the impact of conflict on families. It evokes strong emotions like fear, hope, and determination. The characters speak English with different accents, including African and South African, which will expose you to a variety of pronunciations. The dialogue ranges from simple conversations to more complex discussions about politics and the diamond trade. This will help you learn different styles of English speaking. You'll also hear examples of slang and idioms. Learning English with "Blood Diamond" is useful because the story is gripping and will keep you engaged. The movie highlights the importance of communication in difficult situations. By listening to the characters interact, you'll improve your listening comprehension and learn how to express yourself in English. The movie’s themes offer opportunities for discussion and debate, which can further enhance your language skills. Finally, it raises awareness about real-world issues and the power of words to tell important stories.

Words from Blood Diamond

Here are the first 15 of the more difficult words in Blood Diamond:

utopia: an ideal place or situation where everything is perfect
someday: at a time in the future that is not yet known or specific
paradise: a place or situation that is extremely beautiful and peaceful, making you feel happy and relaxed
mend: to repair something that is broken or damaged
bastard: a rude word used to describe someone who is rude, unpleasant, or cruel
revolutionary: connected with a great or sudden political change
misery: feeling very unhappy or sad
ivory: a hard white substance that comes from the long teeth of elephants
devastating: causing significant damage or having a great effect, often upsetting
witness: a person who sees an event and can describe it to others
prohibit: to stop something from being done, especially by law, or make it impossible
import: bringing goods or services from one country to another, including information and data
anticipate: to think about or prepare for something that will probably happen in the future
diminish: to make or become less or smaller in size, degree, or importance
comprise: to consist of or to be made up of