Source: Wikipedia
Level: intermediate and upper intermediate and up
Time: under
5 min
I recently watched a science
fiction movie called “Arrival”, which is a thoughtful and exciting movie about the
power of learning languages. In this case, a linguist must quickly try to learn
a language of aliens who have come to Earth in twelve large ships for unknown
reasons. Learning the aliens’ language will totally change the perception of
herself and her life (and save the world as well). If you need some motivation to keep up your
language studies in the New Year, or you just want to watch a movie about the
power of language to change our lives, you should watch this movie.
Here you can watch the trailer for the movie and a short review of the movie as well.
Transcript:
This is the day they arrived... The object touched down 4o
minutes ago... Mama, what’s going to happen? I don’t know...Doctor Banks you’re
at the top of everyone’s list when it comes to translations... You hear any
words? Is that? Yes... Am I the only one having trouble saying aliens... So whadda
they look like? You’ll see soon enough... They need to see me... Doctor Banks!
Now that’s a proper introduction... More objects have landed around the world...
It’s their language... You’ve got 21 hours. Before they start global warring...
They’re not our enemy... We need to talk to them... It’s more complicated than
that... How is it more complicated than that? Are you dreaming in their
language... What does it say? Weapon... So how do we clarify their intentions?
I go back in... What is she doing? You are committing an act of treason... Do
you trust me?
Vocabulary:
Vocabulary: To help learners fully understand the audio
and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level
is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target
level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general,
it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).
Definitions
are written with the help of various sources including Merriam-Webster’s
Learner’s Dictionary
Arrive: to come
to or reach a place after traveling, being sent, etc.
To touch
down: the moment when an airplane or spacecraft touches the ground
at the end of a flight.
Alien: Something
or someone from somewhere other than the planet Earth.
Whadda: (informal)
what do.
To look
like: It be similar or the same in appearance to something else.
Introduction:
the
act of making a person known to others by name — usually plural.
To land: to return
to the ground or another surface after a flight.
Enemy: someone
who hates another: someone who attacks or tries to harm another.
Weapon: something
(such as a gun, knife, club, or bomb) that is used for fighting or attacking
someone or for defending yourself when someone is attacking you.
Intention:
the
thing that you plan to do or achieve: an aim or purpose.
To commit
treason: the crime of trying to overthrow your country's government or
of helping your country's enemies during war.
To trust:
to
believe that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, etc. to
have confidence in (someone or something).
Transcript
Arrival, the latest movie about communicating with alien life.
It’s based on a short story by Ted Chiang, called “Story of your Life, and was
directed by Denis Villeneuve , whose currently working on a Blade Runner
sequel, due to released next year. Villeneuve loved the story, and says that
making the movie was a way to get back to into a relationship with death and
nature and the mystery of life. When twelve UFOs appear around the world,
expert linguist Louise Banks is brought in to head up an elite team to establish
‘whadda they want, where are they from” inevitably governments around the world
go into melt down, and mankind teeters on the verge of global war, and it’s
down to Banks who’s suffering the loss of a child to avert disaster. At the
heart of Arrival is communication and a number of related things are explored
including Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, or as author Chiang put it, the idea that the
language you speak determines how you perceive the world and even what kind of
thoughts you can have. To deal with such complex themes Arrival needed a strong
female lead. A role that went to the brilliant Amy Adams who brings
vulnerability, sensitivity, intelligence, and range to a character that, as
Chiang puts it, gradually learns an alien language, which changes the way she
understands her own life.
Vocabulary:
Alien: Something
or Someone from somewhere other than the planet Earth.
Based on:
to
form, make, or develop (something, such as an opinion, decision, or
calculation) by using (something, such as information) as a basis, starting
point, etc.
Due to: because
of (something).
Mystery: something
that is not known or difficult to
understand.
UFO: (Unidentified
Flying Object) a flying object in the sky that some people believe could be a
spaceship from another planet.
Whadda: (informal)
What do.
To melt
down: a very fast collapse or failure.
Teeters:
to
move in an unsteady way back and forth or from side to side.
Verge: to move
in an unsteady way back and forth or from side to side.
To be
down to someone: to the last person or thing that can be used.
Avert: to
prevent (something bad) from happening.
Disaster:
something
(such as a flood, tornado, fire, plane crash, etc.) that happens suddenly and
causes much suffering or loss to many people.
Hypothesis:
an
idea or theory that is not proven but that leads to further study or discussion.
To determine:
to
be the cause of or reason for (something).
To
perceive: to notice or become aware of (something).
Lead: the main
role in a movie or play.
Questions:
1. How can a new learning a new language change your
perceptions of the world?
2. Do you think in another language?
3. What are the advantages to thinking in a new language?
4. If humanity made contact with aliens, how would we communicate
with them?
