Learn English with Life

The six-member crew of the International Space Station is tasked with studying a sample from Mars that may be the first proof of extra-terrestrial life, which proves more intelligent than ever expected.

Why learn English with Life?

"Life" is a thrilling science fiction movie about astronauts on the International Space Station who discover a living organism from Mars. The story follows their exciting, but dangerous, research as the organism, named Calvin, grows and becomes unexpectedly hostile. While watching, you can learn space-related words like "capsule," "spacewalk," and "airlock," as well as scientific terms like "organism," "cell," and "atmosphere." The movie also uses everyday language in tense situations, which can help you understand how English is used in moments of fear and excitement. The movie explores themes of survival, fear, and the responsibility of scientific discovery. You'll see a range of emotions expressed, from joy and excitement at first contact with alien life to terror and desperation as the situation turns deadly. The astronauts use both formal and informal language, sometimes shouting or using slang under pressure, which can help you learn how tone and word choice change depending on the situation. You'll also hear scientific discussions using complex vocabulary and simpler explanations given to children during a live broadcast, giving you varied exposure to English. Watching "Life" can be a useful way to learn English because it offers a diverse range of vocabulary and demonstrates how English is used in different contexts. The exciting plot can help keep you engaged and motivated to follow the dialogue. Because the astronauts come from different countries, you may also hear slight accents and variations in pronunciation, giving you a broader understanding of spoken English. The intense emotional scenes can also help you learn how to express feelings in English and understand the nuances of spoken language.

Words from Life

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

quarantine: to isolate someone or something to prevent the spread of disease
capsule: a small container holding medicine, a substance, or liquid
mar: to damage or reduce the quality or success of something
utc: the time used by most countries, based on precise atomic clocks, also known as Coordinated Universal Time or Universal Coordinated Time
debris: scattered pieces of rubbish, waste, or unwanted material
veer: to change direction or way of developing
spacewalk: when an astronaut goes outside a spacecraft while in space
visual: seeing or being able to see objects or people
incoming: newly appointed
emu: a large Australian bird that cannot fly, but can run fast
psi: the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet, written as Ψ or ψ
airlock: a small room with two tightly closed doors to move between areas with different air pressure, such as on a spacecraft or submarine
spoiler: a device used to disrupt airflow or reduce lift, often for control or stability
ocd: a mental illness where someone feels they need to repeat specific actions or activities to stop fears or bad thoughts
concentrate: a liquid that has been made thicker or stronger because some water has been removed