Learn english with Collateral

Cab driver Max picks up a man who offers him $600 to drive him around. But the promise of easy money sours when Max realizes his fare is an assassin.

Why learn english with Collateral?

"Collateral" is a thrilling story about a taxi driver, Max, whose life takes a dangerous turn when he picks up a mysterious passenger, Vincent. Vincent is a hitman, and Max becomes unwillingly involved in his deadly mission. Throughout the night, they travel across Los Angeles, encountering various situations and characters. The movie offers a chance to learn everyday English conversations, including directions ("Take Sepulveda to Slauson to La Brea"), descriptions ("dark pinstripe suit"), and expressions of surprise or frustration ("What the fuck?"). You'll also hear vocabulary related to crime and law enforcement, such as "crime scene," "witness," and "detective." The film explores themes of fear, ambition, and the choices we make in life. You'll experience a range of emotions, from anxiety and tension to moments of humor and reflection. The dialogue is a mix of casual conversation and more formal language, particularly when legal matters are discussed. Pay attention to how the characters express their feelings and how the tone of their voices changes depending on the situation. This will help you understand the nuances of spoken English, including slang and idioms. Learning English with "Collateral" will expose you to realistic language used in different social contexts. The fast-paced dialogue will challenge your listening comprehension skills, and the diverse vocabulary will enrich your understanding of the language. By following the conversations between Max and Vincent, and their interactions with other characters, you can improve your ability to follow complex plots and understand American accents. This movie can also help you learn how to describe locations, give directions, and express opinions in English.

Words from Collateral

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

gearhead: a person who is passionate about cars or new technologies and devices
protector: a person or thing that protects someone/something
sarcastic: saying the opposite of what you mean, often to criticize in a funny way or be rude to someone
bullshit: a rude word for beliefs or ideas that you believe to be false or silly
makeover: changing the appearance of something to make it look better
sake: in order to help someone
pal: a casual word for a friend
shuttle: a plane, bus, or train that regularly travels between two locations
venue: a location where events like concerts, sports games, or conferences are held
downtown: in or towards the central part of a city, especially the main business area
transcription: a written or printed representation of something, such as spoken words or music adapted for a different instrument or voice
sixth: one of six equal parts
parking: a space or area where vehicles can be left temporarily
jammed: unable to move
woodwind: the group of instruments in an orchestra that are blown into and were once made from wood, such as the flute, clarinet, and bassoon