Jodie Foster – the Enfant Terrible, or How We Can Learn English from a Movie Star
When we hear the name Jodie Foster, most people think of movies like Taxi Driver, The Silence of the Lambs or Contact. But behind her acting success there is something even more interesting for language learners: Jodie Foster studied English literature at Yale University and she also speaks fluent French. She even dubs all her films into French herself!
This shows us one important thing: learning languages is not only about grammar, but also about courage and originality.
Why Jodie Foster is an “enfant terrible”
The French expression enfant terrible is today understood as a compliment – it means someone brave, original and open-minded. That is exactly Jodie. Already as a teenager she surprised journalists with her quick answers. She never behaved like a typical celebrity. Instead, she built her career on talent, education and independence.
From Child Star to Icon
- 1960s–1970s: Born in 1962 in Los Angeles, she started acting at the age of seven for Disney. At 14, she became famous with Taxi Driver (1976).
- 1980s–1990s: She won two Oscars – for The Accused (1988) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991). She became one of the most respected actresses in Hollywood.
- 2000s: More successful films followed – Panic Room (2002), Flightplan (2005), Inside Man (2006). She also started directing (Little Man Tate, The Beaver).
- 2010s: In 2013 she received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for her lifetime achievement. She continued to work both as an actress and director.
- 2020s: She won a Golden Globe for The Mauritanian (2021) and played a lead role in the series True Detective: Night Country (2023).
What We Can Learn from Jodie Foster
- Be original – Jodie never followed the crowd. You also don’t need to study English only in a traditional way. Try movies, music or writing a diary.
- Don’t be afraid of mistakes – Jodie says she usually wears only jeans and a T-shirt. In languages, you also don’t need to be perfect. The important thing is to speak.
- Education matters – She graduated from Yale in English literature. Books, podcasts or articles can give your English more depth.
- A new language, a new life – French opened doors for Jodie in Europe. English can do the same for you.
Jodie Foster is proof that intelligence, hard work and openness can make someone not only a movie star but also an inspiration. When we learn English, we should remember her example: it’s not only about vocabulary and grammar rules, but about the courage to use the language to express yourself.
September 2025
Learning English Tenses with the Board Game STARE: A Fun Approach
Are you having trouble with English tenses? You’re not alone. Many learners find past, present, and future forms tricky. But there’s a fun way to tackle this: the board game STARE.
STARE isn’t just a game; it’s a fun learning tool. As you play, you describe pictures and scenarios using different English tenses. This helps you think quickly and use grammar rules in real situations. By linking tenses with images and stories, you’ll remember them better.
Playing STARE with friends or family makes learning collaborative. Talking about tenses helps you understand them more. Plus, the game gives instant feedback, so you can fix mistakes right away.
Adding STARE to your study routine can make learning English tenses enjoyable. It adds fun to your studies and works well with online courses. Why not try it out and see your confidence grow?
August 2025
Worksheets and speaking
Worksheets can be used, among other things, for independent learning and speaking at home, perhaps preferably when no one is present. Try to speak to yourself every day or about 5 days a week (let’s be realistic) for just 15 minutes. It’s not necessary, and perhaps not even advisable, to force yourself to speak longer and end up getting frustrated and discouraged for a long time. Choose a topic or talk about whatever is on your mind, whatever it may be. You can decide that today you will speak slowly and carefully, and other times push yourself to say as much as possible within a certain time frame. But be tolerant of any mistakes you might make. You can alternate these methods or come up with something else. From the provided questions and sample answers, create a short speech, and then add your own versions and continuously look up vocabulary related to your own topics.
Personally, today I told myself:The weather is nice. Today I am going to speak about my plans for the upcoming holiday…
It might not always be perfect, but “the ends justify the means,” and spoken language doesn’t have to be as precise as written language.
July 2025
