Learn English with Moneyball

The story of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball team on a budget, by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.

Why learn English with Moneyball?

"Moneyball" tells the true story of Billy Beane, a baseball manager who uses a new, data-driven approach to build a winning team with limited resources. The movie follows Billy's struggles and triumphs as he challenges traditional baseball wisdom. You'll learn lots of baseball vocabulary like "home run," "strikeout," and "on-base percentage." Beyond baseball terms, you'll encounter words related to business, strategy, and emotions, such as "negotiate," "analyze," and "frustrated." The dialogue offers a mix of formal and informal conversations, exposing you to different styles of spoken English. The movie explores themes of overcoming adversity, challenging the status quo, and the power of innovation. You'll witness a range of emotions, from hope and excitement to disappointment and frustration. The language used reflects these emotions, offering a valuable opportunity to understand how English speakers express themselves in different situations. You'll hear passionate speeches, heated arguments, and casual banter, all of which contribute to a rich and varied language learning experience. "Moneyball" is excellent for English learners because it offers a compelling story with relatable characters. The clear and relatively slow dialogue makes it easier to follow the conversations. The movie's focus on strategy and analysis encourages active listening and critical thinking, skills that are beneficial for language acquisition. By immersing yourself in the world of "Moneyball," you'll not only improve your vocabulary and comprehension but also gain a deeper understanding of American culture and the world of sports.

Words from Moneyball

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

triple: three times as much or as many
opener: a tool used for opening objects
inning: one of the nine parts of a baseball game where each team takes turns hitting the ball
athletic: strong, fit and plays sports or exercises often
yankee: a person from the US, especially from the northern states
elimination: the act of getting rid of something, especially by killing or defeating an enemy or removing them from a competition
anticipate: to think about or prepare for something that will probably happen in the future
hectic: very busy and filled with activity
roar: to make a very loud, deep sound, as by an animal or a machine
champagne: a fizzy white wine made in a region of France, often enjoyed during celebrations
poster: a large notice, usually with an image, put in a public location for advertising something
stab: pushing a sharp pointed object into something, often causing injury
pinstripe: thin white vertical lines on dark cloth, often used for suits
pilfer: to steal small amounts of items, often from your workplace
killer: a person, animal, or thing that kills others