Native Americans Celebrate Patriotism, Unity At Pow Wows

It is pow wow season in the United States. That is a time when Native American groups gather to connect, celebrate tribal cultures, and express their patriotism. On any weekend this summer, a pow wow is taking place somewhere in the country. The term “pow wow” comes from the Algonquian language. It meant a gathering of spiritual healers celebrating successful hunts, battles or trade. A pow wow is an expression of unity within and among Native communities. In 1883, the government banned “old heathenish dances.” Officials said they were trying to prevent an inciting of what they called “warlike passions” of tribal youth. However, tribes continued to carry out the activity, and the ban was ended in the 1930s. The drums  The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of northwest Montana held pow wows as Fourth of July celebrations. Other tribes held pow wows as cultural displays for non-Natives. Becky Olvera Schultz is an artist and writer of Azteca and Kickapoo ancestry. She said all pow wows center around dance, and central to dance is the drum. “The drum is the heartbeat of the pow wow,” she said. “Drum refers to both a large instrument and the group of drummers and singers who provide the pulse for pow wow dances.” The drums make music of many kinds, from war songs to religious. Many are sung in “vocables,” non-word sounds that can be understood and shared among tribes. Drums may include members of different tribes. Some well-known groups are in high demand and travel from one event to another to perform. Honoring the warrior All pow wows open with the Grand Entry into the dance arena. “The veterans head the Grand Entry, carrying flags and eagle staffs,” Schultz said. Covered in animal skin and eagle feathers, the staff is a sacred symbol of its tribe or nation. Dignitaries, chiefs, princesses, elders and pow wow organizers follow the veterans during the Grand Entry. "Then come the male dancers, in different categories and age groups, and then the women dancers in theirs,” explained Schultz. When all are in place, a song is sung to honor the veterans and a prayer is said to open the dancing. A presenter leads the activities, announcing events and introducing dancers. “Competition pow wows, which are usually larger, have a purse, prize money, and some of them are quite large," Shultz said. "A lot of the dancers will go from pow wow to pow wow, and some of them win a good amount of money,” she added. Grass dance, fancy shawl dance and more Men, women and children dance in several categories, which have developed as a mix of traditions from different tribal nations. The men’s Fancy Dance, for example, is a colorful and energetic dance in which men wear feathered bustles. Men in the Grass Dance, on the other hand, wear long strips of material that represent the movement of windblown prairie grass. The Fancy Shawl Dance has women wearing shawls over their shoulders. The dancers’ shawls are large, colorful and have many strips of material, called fringe, hanging along the edge. “They swing around and hold their shawls out,” Schultz said about the dancers. “The purpose is to make the fringe sway back and forth. It’s very pretty and fluid,” she said. A dance for healing Californian Alorha Baga is a member of the Rosebud Lakota tribe and a competitive jingle dancer. She said jingle dancing began in the early 20th century as a healing dance among the Northern Ojibwe, or Chippewa tribe. She said, “An elder was trying to figure out a way to cure an ailing woman named Maggie White. He was gifted a vision, and in that vision, he was told exactly what to do." At first, Baga explained, Maggie was too sick to move. But as tribal women danced, Maggie began getting better.​ “And by the time they were finished, she was cured,” Baga said. The jingle dress includes beadwork and the rolled covers of metal tobacco containers. The metal rolls hang from strips of cloth attached to the dress, producing the jingle sound. Today, Baga not only performs at pow wows but teaches the dances to children. “Part of our teaching of pow wow dancing is making sure that our children and even adults know how these dances came to our tribes, their origins and their histories,” she said. Pow wows may take place over two or three days, attracting large crowds and generating substantial income. “I don't dance at pow wows, but I attended all my life and I am 60 years old now,” said a Rosebud Lakota tribe grandmother. “We have the Rosebud Fair every year here on the reservation,” she said, “and everybody attends either for pow wow, the rodeo, mud racing or bread-making contests.” And, she added, the food. I’m Dorothy Gundy. And I’m Caty Weaver. VOA reporter Cecily Hilleary wrote this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story heathenish – adj. non-Christian; or non-religious pulse – ​n.  a strong, regular beat or pattern of sounds in music — usually singular​ sacred – adj. worthy of religious worship: very holy​ elder – ​n. a person who has authority because of age and experience​ category – ​n. a group of people or things that are similar in some way​ bustle – ​n. a frame or pad worn in the past under a skirt or dress to hold it out from the body in the back​ swing – v.  to move backward and forward or from side to side while hanging from something​ ail – to suffer bad health​ rodeo – n. an event in which people compete at riding horses and bulls, catching animals with ropes, etc. contest – ​n. an event in which people try to win by doing something better than others​

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June 30, 2017

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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When Should Race Influence Choice of Actors?

When the musical “Miss Saigon” first opened in New York City in 1991, critics questioned the choice of Jonathan Pryce to play a French-Vietnamese engineer. “Miss Saigon” is a love story between a Vietnamese woman and an American soldier. Pryce, a white actor, was from Britain, not Asia. A labor union representing actors criticized the decision. "Equity (the actors’ union) believes the casting of Mr. Pryce as a Eurasian to be especially insensitive and an affront to the Asian community,” the union said in a protest letter. Twenty-six years later, “Miss Saigon” is back on New York’s Broadway. This time an Asian actor is playing the engineer. Linda Winer reported on the show for the New York newspaper Newsday. She noted that while the music is much like it was in 1991 and the show still has a helicopter seeming to lift people away at the end of the Vietnam War, there are differences. “Most obviously, many of the main roles and, especially the engineer…” are now cast “with powerhouse Asian-Americans,” she wrote. Parts played by white actors wearing makeup For years, Asian and black characters were often played by white actors. Those actors wore makeup to make them look less white. One example is the decision to cast Katharine Hepburn as a Chinese women in the 1944 war movie, “Dragon Seed.” More recently, theater critics questioned the casting of a white actor as Michael Jackson, and a Hispanic actress as singer Nina Simone, an African American. Today, more shows like “Miss Saigon” are casting actors who have the ethnic and racial backgrounds of the characters they represent. But some directors are choosing diverse actors for parts that, in the past, went to white actors. As New York director Jackson Gay says, there are parts that really are not clearly connected to a racial or ethnic group. Gay recently cast African-Americans as Russian soldiers in a production of the 1900 play “Three Sisters.” The play was written by Anton Chekov more than a century ago. It was performed recently at the Studio Theater in Washington, D.C. Russian soldiers in the late 1800s and early 1900s were generally not black. But Gay said the emotions and pressures felt by soldiers are universal -- meaning that gifted actors of any race could play the roles.  An all black production of ‘Proof’ Dawn Ursula starred in a recent production of “Proof” at the Olney Theater in Maryland. The play had all white stars when it opened on Broadway in 2000. Later, it was made into a movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins. But at the Olney Theater, Ursula and the other three actors are all African-American. Ursula played the part of Catherine, a woman who is good at mathematics like her father. But she is afraid she also might have some of his mental problems. Did the African-American cast make a difference? Ursula said it did to some theater goers. There are lots of African American mathematicians. But that did not stop theater goers from reacting approvingly to the casting of blacks as math geniuses. Ursula recalls her satisfaction watching some older African-American men stand and cheer after her performance – happy that “Proof” showed four successful people – all of them African-Americans. That kind of reaction made Ursula feel “like I had crossed the finish line in some Olympic sport that ‘black’ people may not normally be associated with and had won the Gold.” Some white audience members told her that an all African-American cast did not make a difference to them. They just enjoyed watching excellent acting. Ursula is thankful for their praise, but hopes the day will come “when those pronouncements are not necessary.” Taunya Lovell Banks is a professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Law. She often writes about ethnic and racial diversity in theater. She said casting decisions can be a difficult balance. Normally, Banks supports open casting. Casting an African American, for example, in a part usually performed by a white actor can bring new meaning – even to an established show. That happened in “Proof,” when Ursula’s character discusses a conflict she had with police officers. Washington Post theater critic Celia Wren said the discussion produces more tension with an African American cast “in the aftermath of the police-related incidents that have fueled the Black Lives Matter movement.” But Banks said that casting at times can still be a divisive issue. Recently, the estate of playwright Edward Albee refused to approve a Portland, Oregon production of his famous play, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf.” The reason: the director wanted to cast an African-American actor in the part of Nick, a young professor. Director Michael Streeter went on Facebook to express his anger with the decision. Sam Rudy, spokesman for the Albee estate, said the playwright had created Nick as a character with “blond hair and blue eyes.” Rudy said the casting proposed by the Portland director would have led to a mixed marriage between a black man and white woman. He said “that would have not gone” unnoticed at the time the show is set -- in the early 1960s. Other parts in Albee plays carry no limitations on the race of the actors, Rudy said. I’m John Russell. And I'm Ashley Thompson.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cast – v. give someone a part in a show or movie affront – n. an insult role – n. the part that an actor has in a movie or play character – n. a person in a story or play diverse – adj. including people of different races and ethnic groups audience – n. people attending the performance of a show genius - n. a very intelligent person associate – v. connected to something or someone pronouncement – n. a message estate – n. the things left by someone who has died  

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'The Law of Life,' by Jack London, Part Two

We present the last of two parts of the short story "The Law of Life," by Jack London. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. Koskoosh placed another stick on the fire and let his thoughts travel deeper into the past. There was the time of the great famine. He had lost his mother in that famine. In the summer the usual plentiful catch of fish had failed, and the tribe looked forward to the winter and the coming of the caribou. Then the winter came, but with it there were no caribou. Never had the like been known, not even in the lives of the old men. The rabbits had not produced any young and the dogs were skin and bone. And through the long darkness the children wept and died. So did the women and the old men. Not one in ten lived to meet the sun when it returned in the spring. That was a famine! But he had seen times of plenty, too, when the meat spoiled before it could be eaten. Even the dogs grew fat and were worth nothing from eating too much. In these times they let the animals and birds go unkilled and the tents were filled with newly born children. Then it was that the men remembered old quarrels and crossed to the south and to the west to kill ancient enemies. He remembered, when a boy, during a time of plenty, when he saw a moose pulled down by the wolves. Zing-ha lay with him in the snow and watched. Zing-ha was his friend who later became the best of hunters. One day he fell through an air hole on the frozen Yukon River. They found him a month later, frozen to the ice where he had attempted to climb out. Zing-ha and he had gone out that day to play at hunting, in the manner of their fathers. Near a creek they discovered the fresh track of a moose and with it the tracks of many wolves. “An old one,” Zing-ha said. “It is an old one who cannot travel as fast as the others. The wolves have separated him from his brothers, and they will never leave him.” And it was so. It was their way. By day and by night, never resting, biting at his heels, they would stay with him to the end. How Zing-ha and he had felt the desire to see blood! The finish would be a sight to remember! Eagerly, they started up the trail. Even he, Koskoosh, who was not a good tracker, could have followed it blind, it was so wide. They were not far behind the hunt, reading its awful story at every step. Now they saw where the moose had stopped to face his attackers. On every side the snow had been stamped heavily. In the middle there were the deep footprints of the moose. All about, everywhere, were the lighter footmarks of the wolves. Some had moved to one side and rested while their brothers tried to seize the moose. The full-stretched impressions of their bodies in the snow were as perfect as though they’d been made the moment before. One wolf had been caught in a wild dash at the moose and had died under its heavy stamping. A few bones remained as witness. The two boys stopped again at a second stand. Here the great animal had fought with despair. As the snow indicated, he had been dragged down twice. And twice he shook off his enemies and gained his footing once more. He had finished his task long before, but nevertheless, life was dear to him. Zing-ha said it was a strange thing for a moose once down to struggle free again. But this one certainly had done so. The medicine man would see signs and wonders in this when they told him. Then they came to the place where the moose had tried to climb the riverbank and go into the woods. But his enemies had attacked from behind, until he leaped high and then fell back upon them, crushing two deep into the snow. It was clear that the kill was near, because the two dead wolves had been left untouched by their brothers. The trail was red with blood now, and the distance between tracks of the great beast had become shorter and shorter. Then they heard the first sounds of the battle—the quick bark of the wolves which spoke of teeth tearing flesh. On hands and knees Zing-ha and Koskoosh made their way through the snow. Together they pushed aside the low branches of a young pine tree and looked forth. It was the end that they saw. The picture, like all of youth’s memories, was still strong with him. His eyes now watched the end acted again as clearly as in that earlier time. Koskoosh was surprised at this, because in the days which followed, he had done many great deeds. He had been a leader of men and his name had become a curse in the mouths of his enemies. For a long time he recalled the days of his youth, until the fire grew cold and the frost bit deeper. He placed two sticks on the fire this time. Then he figured how much life was left by the amount of wood that remained in the pile. If Sit-cum-ha had remembered her grandfather, and gathered a larger armful, his hours would have been longer. It would have been easy. But she was always a selfish child. She had not honored her ancestors from the time the Beaver, son of the son of Zing-ha, first looked at her. Well, what did it matter? Had he not done the same in his own quick youth? For a while he listened to the silent forest. Perhaps the heart of his son might soften. Then he would return with the dogs to take his old father with the tribe to where the caribou ran thick and the fat hung heavy upon them. He strained his ears. There was not a sound to be heard. Nothing. He alone took breath in the middle of the great stillness. It was very lonely. Wait! What was that? His body suddenly felt cold. A familiar cry broke the silent air, and it was close to him. Then his darkened eyes again saw the old moose—the bloody sides, the torn legs, the great branching horns, fighting to the last. He saw the flashing forms of gray, the bright eyes, the dripping tongues and the sharp teeth. And he saw the circle move closer until it became a dark point in the middle of the stamped snow. A cold nose pushed against his face and at its touch his soul leaped back to the present. His hand shot into the fire and dragged out a burning stick. Overcome for the moment by his fear of man, the beast drew back, raising a call to his brothers. Greedily they answered, until a ring of gray was stretched around him. The old man listened to the steady breathing of this circle. He waved his flaming stick wildly, but the beasts refused to scatter. Now one moved slowly forward, dragging his legs behind. Now a second, now a third. But now, not one moved back from his flaming stick. Why should he so desire life? He asked, and dropped the burning stick into the snow. It made a slight noise and then there was no more fire. The circle murmured uncertainly but held its place. Again he saw the last stand of the old moose, and Koskoosh dropped his head hopelessly on his knees. What did it matter? Was it not the law of life?   To download a lesson plan to accompany this part of the story, click here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. What is the oldest age you would like to live to? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   famine – n. a situation in which many people do not have enough food to eat caribou – n. a large type of deer that lives in northern parts of the world rabbit(s) – n. a small animal that usually lives in holes in the ground and has long ears, soft fur, and back legs that are longer than its front legs wept – v. (past tense of: weep)to cry because you are very sad or are feeling some other strong emotion spoil(ed) – v. to decay or lose freshness especially because of being kept too long quarrel - n. an angry argument or disagreement moose – n. a large animal with very large, flat antlers that lives in forests in the northern part of America, Europe and Asia wolves - n. (plural form of: wolves) a large wild animal that is similar to a dog and that often hunts in groups manner – n. the way that something is done or happens creek – n. a small stream track – n. a mark left on the ground by a moving animal, person, or vehicle stamp(ed) – v. the act of bringing your foot down heavily and noisily impression(s) – n. something (such as a design or a footprint) made by pressing or stamping a surface despair – n. the feeling of no longer having any hope indicate(d) – v. to show something task – n. a piece of work that has been given to someone dear – adj. loved or valued very much leap(ed) – v. to jump from a surface knee(s) – n. the joint that bends at the middle of your leg branch(es) – n. a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk youth – n. the time when a young person has not yet become an adult frost – n. a thin layer of ice that forms on the ground or on grass when the air becomes cold strain(ed) – v. to try very hard to do or get something horn(s) – n. one of the hard pointed parts that grows on the head of some animals flashing – n. (gerund) – appearing quickly or suddenly dripping – n. (gerund) – (liquid) falling in drops tongue(s) – n. the soft, movable part in the mouth that is used for tasting and eating food and in human beings for speaking soul – n. the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many religions is believed to live forever flaming – n. (gerund) - having a bright or glowing red or orange color

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Stephen Hawking Calls for Return to Moon

  Physicist Stephen Hawking said people should return to the Moon and go to Mars because leaving Earth may be the only way to save humanity. Hawking said that as Earth faces climate change and pressure on natural resources, human beings need to reach beyond our planet. "We are running out of space and the only places to go to are other worlds,” he said. “It is time to explore other solar systems. Spreading out may be the only thing that saves us from ourselves. I am convinced that humans need to leave Earth," he added. "If humanity is to continue for another million years, our future lies in boldly going where no one else has gone before.” The University of Cambridge professor spoke during a visit (in June) to the Starmus Festival in Trondheim, Norway. Hawking said human beings should return to the moon by the year 2020 and Mars by 2025. This, he said, will unite humans in the shared purpose of exploring the universe. "Spreading out into space will completely change the future of humanity," he said. "I hope it would unite competitive nations in a single goal, to face the common challenge for us all.” Hawking added that reaching the Moon, Mars and other plants would get young people interested in space-related sciences.   He said making the first moves into space would “elevate humanity” because it would have to involve many countries. "Whenever we make a great new leap, such as the Moon landings, we bring people and nations together, usher in new discoveries, and new technologies," Hawking said. "To leave Earth demands a concerted global approach, everyone should join in. We need to rekindle the excitement of the early days of space travel in the (19)60s." The European Space Agency has announced a plan to create a “Moon Village” after the International Space Station is taken out of service in 2024. China is also reportedly interested in sending an astronaut to the Moon. The United States is working on sending astronauts to Mars. The U.S. space agency, NASA, hopes to do this by the 2030s. I’m Anne Ball.   VOANews.com reported this story. Anne Ball adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   resource - n. something that a country has and can use to increase its wealth​ beyond - adv. on or to the farther part or side​ convince - v. to cause (someone) to believe that something is true​ boldly - adv. not afraid of danger challenge - v. to question the action or authority of someone or something elevate - v. to lift up leap  - v. to move forward quickly or by a lot​- rekindle - v. to cause something, like a feeling, to be strong or active again  

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Study: Serious Head Injuries Ignored in World Cup

  Cristoph Kramer is a football player from Germany. Just weeks after playing his first match for the national team, he was added to the list of players for international football’s 2014 World Cup. In the United States, the sport is called soccer. Christoph Kramer left for Brazil, not expecting to play much in the World Cup. But when a German teammate was injured before the final against Argentina, Kramer found himself in the starting lineup. He was given a chance to compete in the championship match. In the first half, Kramer was hit hard in the head by the shoulder of an Argentinean player while they both went for the ball. Kramer fell to the ground, hard. He was clearly injured. But he stayed in the game because he could still walk, and was not bleeding.   Finally, after playing 13 minutes without understanding what game this was or where he was playing, Kramer was replaced. He went to the sidelines while another German player took the field. Germany went on to win the game and the World Cup title. Later that year, in an appearance on a German television show, Kramer and his teammates joked about what happened. But he had suffered a serious head injury. It was not a joke. A new report accuses FIFA, football’s governing body, of not taking head injuries seriously. The article was published in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The article said 61 players had at least one head collision in the 64 matches of the 2014 World Cup. There were 81 total collisions. Only 12 times did players who might have suffered a head injury get a proper examination. The head injury Kramer suffered is called a concussion. It happens when the brain hits the skull, the bone inside the head. A concussion is hard for trained medical specialists to confirm. It is an internal injury and, most of the time, a football player can stay on his feet. But the article argues that when a player looks like he may have suffered a concussion, doctors should take a close look at him right away, for at least seven minutes. People who have concussions are slow to get up. They often do not know where they are, hold their head in their hands and have trouble keeping their balance. Michael Cusimano works as a neurosurgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada. Cusimano is an expert on the central nervous system, including the brain. He helped to prepare the journal article. In the 2014 World Cup, Cusimano said, there were only two collisions where he could be “happy and confident” that the players were getting good care. That finding goes against the Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport, which FIFA signed. The statement says any player showing signs of a concussion should leave the game and be examined right away. That did not happen. Cusimano wondered why team coaches and trainers will remove a player who hurts his knee but not his head. FIFA officials did not speak with VOA about the report. But the organization noted a recent rule change that permits stoppage of play for up to three minutes so an injured player can be examined. But Cusimano says three minutes is not enough. Sometimes it takes longer to be sure a player is in good health. He also wants to be sure an independent doctor looks at the players. Team doctors can feel pressure to send an injured player back into the game. Some people say football organizations must make another rule change: teams should be able to use a replacement player while doctors attend to the injured. A FIFA spokesman said protecting the health of players “is a top priority in developing the game.” Cusimano said he and the other researchers chose the World Cup for their study because so many people watch the games. They felt that if FIFA makes a change for football’s championship, other sports organizations will follow. “The whole world is watching,” Cusimano said. “FIFA has all the ability to do this properly.” I’m Dan Friedell.   Ben Thompson wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you think FIFA does enough for players who might have head injuries? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   match – n. a contest between two or more players or teams collision – n. a crash involving two or more things (or people) internal – adj. existing or occurring within your body confident – adj. certain that something will happen or that something is true consensus – n. a general agreement about something : an idea or opinion that is shared by all the people in a group priority – n. something that is more important than other things and that needs to be done or dealt with first properly – adv. in a way that is acceptable or suitable

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English @ the Movies: 'Time Flies When You're Having fun'

Here on English @ the Movies we have the saying "time flies when you're having fun," from the movie "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets." It is about two agents trying to save life from a thousand planets. Take our quiz and see if you know what "time flies when you're having fun" means!

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Trump, Moon Show Unity Against North Korea

President Donald Trump says the United States can no longer be patient with North Korea. Trump spoke after meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the White House Friday. Their talks lasted 30 minute longer than officials planned. "The era of strategic patience with the North Korean regime has failed," the U.S. leader said. "Many years and it's failed, and frankly, that patience is over." Trump was speaking about the U.S. government’s policy for dealing with North Korea during the presidency of Barack Obama. The Obama administration chose to isolate North Korea while increasing sanctions as a way of forcing it to return to disarmament talks. Yet the North Korean government has continued to carry out nuclear and missile tests. The country’s leadership sees the programs as important to their survival. On Friday, President Trump promised what he called a "determined response" against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. Trump and Moon differ over exactly how much to pressure the North into giving up its weapons programs. Both leaders also have criticized parts of defense cooperation between their countries. But on Friday the two men presented a united front. Moon said they were able to agree on a series of issues from defense ties to the North Korean nuclear program. "The North Korean nuclear issue must be resolved without fail," he added. The meeting was the first between Trump and Moon, a liberal human rights lawyer who took office last month. The talks were closely watched, not only because of the personality differences between the two men, but also for possible areas of disagreement. During the 2016 election campaign, presidential candidate Trump criticized South Korean trade policies. He also said that South Korea and other U.S. allies are not paying enough for defense protection from U.S. forces. On Friday, Trump told Moon that the U.S. "will always defend our allies." But he added that there needs to be "fair burden-sharing in South Korea." On trade, Trump said the existing trade agreement between the countries has been difficult for the U.S. He added that he is working to create a fair economic relationship with South Korea. Since the current trade deal went into effect in 2012, the U.S. trade deficit with Seoul has doubled. "Not exactly a great deal," Trump said on Friday.   I’m Jonathan Evans.   William Gallo wrote this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted his report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   strategic – adj. useful or important in executing a plan regime – n. a government in power isolate – v. to set apart or separate from others sanction – n. an action taken by one or more nations to make another country obey a rule determined – adj. firm; having reached a decision response – n. an answer or reaction   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Lesson 27: I Can't Come In

Summary Anna does not feel well. She calls her boss and her doctor. What do they tell her to do? And will she follow their advice? Speaking Learn to pronounce the new words for this lesson. You also learn about irregular past tense verbs. ​ Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how to ask two kinds of questions: WH-questions and Yes/No questions. Conversation   Anna: Hello! I am sure that today, in Washington, D.C,. there are a lot of great things to do.  But I am not doing any of them. I am sick. Right now, I'm going to call my boss and tell her I cannot come in to work. Caty: Hello? Anna: Ms. Weaver, Hi. I can’t come to work today. Caty: Why not? What is wrong? Anna: Well, yesterday I felt fine. Anna: In the morning, I painted for hours. In the afternoon, I cut wood. Then, I built a fire. Caty: Anna, what do you mean? Why can’t you come to work today? Anna: I do not feel well. I think I’m sick. Caty: I’m sorry to hear that. I was sick last week, too. I had the flu. Anna: (sneezes) What did you do? Caty: I slept a lot and I drank a lot of water. Do you have a doctor? Anna: Yes, I do. Caty: You should call your doctor. And get lots of rest! Anna: Thanks, Ms. Weaver. I’ll call right now. I'm calling my doctor. Dr. Bennett: (to herself) Now, where does this thing go? Dr. Bennett: Hello. This is Dr. Bennett. How can I help you? Anna: Hello, Dr. Bennett. This is Anna. Dr. Bennett: Oh, Hi, Anna. How can I help you? Anna: I think I’m sick. Dr. Bennett: Let me ask you a couple of questions. Do you have a sore throat? Anna: Yes. I have a sore throat. Dr. Bennett: Do you have a cough? Anna: Yes. I have a cough. Dr. Bennett: When did you start feeling sick? Anna: This morning. Yesterday I felt great. In the morning I painted, for hours - in the afternoon I cut wood - Dr. Bennett: Excuse me, Anna. But I don’t need to know all that. Do you have a fever? Anna: Oh. My thermometer says 125 degrees?! What?? Dr. Bennett: Yeah, that’s not right. Anna: Oh. Wait. The thermometer was in my hot cup of coffee. Dr. Bennett: Please take it again, Anna. Anna: Okay, the thermometer says 100.5 degrees. Dr. Bennett: 100.5 degrees is not too high. I want you to drink lots of water. Rest in bed and get lots of sleep. Anna: That is what my boss said to do. Um, Dr. Bennett, when can I go to work? Dr. Bennett: Don’t go to work for a couple of days. Anna: Yes! I mean, I don’t want to make my co-workers sick. Dr. Bennett: That’s right. Call me back in a couple of days. Anna: I will, Dr. Bennett. And thanks. Anna: Well, you heard the doctor – no work for a couple of days. I need water, sleep and um … lots of movies! Well, the doctor didn’t say anything about movies. But it can’t hurt! Until next time! Writing What happens when you get the flu? Does your family have a special way to get well again?  Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about health problems with a friend. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Analyze Information. When we are learning a second language, we can think carefully about the new information we learn, and make a decision. That is what analyzing information means. In the video, Dr. Bennett asks Anna many questions. Then she analyzes the information she learned. She tells Anna to stay home, drink water and sleep.  Can you find another time in the video when someone analyzes information? Write to tell us about it in an email or in the Comments section. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more on how to teach this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz.  ______________________________________________________________ New Words cough - n. the act of forcing air through your throat with a short, loud noise often because you are sick doctor - n. a person who is skilled in the science of medicine fever - n. a body temperature that is higher than normal fire - n. the light and heat and especially the flame produced by burning flu - n. a common disease that is caused by a virus and that causes fever, weakness, body aches, and breathing problems; also called influenza rest -v. to stop doing work or an activity sick - adj. affected with a disease or illness; ill sneeze - v. to suddenly force air out through your nose and mouth with a usually loud noise because your body is reacting to dust or a sickness sore - adj. feeling or affected by pain thermometer - n. an instrument used for measuring temperature throat - n. the tube inside the neck that leads to the stomach and lungs wood - n. the hard substance that makes up the stems and branches of trees and shrubs Past Tense Verbs cut / cut - v. to use a sharp tool (such as a knife) to open or divide (something, such as paper or wood) do / did - v. to perform an action or activity drink / drank - v. to take a liquid into your mouth and swallow it feel / felt - v. used to describe someone's physical or mental state hear / heard - v. to be aware of (sound) through the ear hurt / hurt - v. to be a source or cause of pain paint / painted - v. to cover (something) with paint or to put paint on (something) say / said - v. to use your voice to express (something) with words sleep / slept- v. to rest your mind and body by closing your eyes and becoming unconscious ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice talking about health problems.   For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Irregular past tense verbs Topics: Asking about health problems; giving advice for health problems Learning Strategy: Analyze Information Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Wh-questions and Yes/No question intonation; Groups of verbs with irregular past tense forms ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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First Woman Captain Leads Britain’s Changing of the Guard

For the first time, a woman captain led Britain’s Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Canadian officer Megan Couto made history on June 26 by commanding the troops guarding Queen Elizabeth’s London home. Couto, 24, led her Canadian unit in the ceremony, which is witnessed by thousands of visitors to London each year. Her unit is the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, also known as "The Patricia's." "I'm just focusing on doing my job as best I can and staying humble," said Couto about the historic event. She told Reuters news agency just before leading the troops she was feeling “a little bit of healthy stress.” She added: "This is definitely a big deal for us." The Queen’s Guard ceremony usually is led by a soldier from the mostly male British Army’s Household Division. The British Army said Couto was the first ever female infantry officer to lead the ceremony. “We look forward to seeing a British Army female infantry captain of the queen's guard when roles are opened up to women by the end of next year,” a statement read. Women were barred from serving in the British infantry and other combat roles until the military changed the rule last year. The Canadian unit was invited to Britain to mark Canada’s upcoming 150th anniversary. Canada Day is celebrated on July 1. Canada was established on July 1, 1867, when Britain’s parliament approved the British North America Act. The act established the Canadian Confederation out of three British colonies. Canada, along with several other nations, still belongs to the British Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth still serves as the country’s official head of state. Many celebrations will be held throughout Canada to mark the country’s 150th birthday. Among the activities will be parades, music and cultural performances and fireworks. Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla are to spend three days visiting Canada to mark the anniversary. In Britain, people plan to gather in London’s Trafalgar Square to take part in a celebration for Canada Day. The event will feature musical performances, Canadian food, sports and other activities. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Reuters and the Associated Press. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   focus – v. direct attention to something humble – adj. not proud; not believing you are better than others stress – n. causing strong feelings of worry or mental tension infantry – n. part of an army that has soldiers who fight on foot role – n. job a person holds in a particular situation combat – n. active fighting, especially in war  

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Studying Sentence Patterns to Improve Your Writing: Part Two

In a previous Everyday Grammar story, we discussed two common sentence patterns using the word “be.” This week, we are going to give you more information about another common pattern in English: the linking verb pattern.  To get you started with linking verb patterns, consider this passage from a story called “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz,” by the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald:  "As he approached the end his sentences became broken, became short and uncertain, and his body seemed tense, seemed strained to catch the slightest pressure or whisper of life in the spaces around him."  By the end of this story, you will be able to recognize one major linking verb pattern that Fitzgerald uses many times in this sentence.   An important point about sentences and clauses  Remember: a sentence has a subject and a predicate. A clause has a subject and a predicate, too. The predicate is the verb phrase. It has a main verb, such as a linking verb, and other words, such as a subject complement, that give more information about it.   When you capitalize the first word of a clause and put a period at the end of it, a clause becomes a sentence. Keep this idea in mind, because it will help you understand sentences that use several clauses.   What is a linking verb?  In the book "Rhetorical Grammar," Martha Kolln says that the term “linking verbs” applies to verbs that are completed by a subject complement – the adjective or noun phrase that describes the subject.  Many grammar experts consider the verb BE to be a linking verb, but Kolln says BE verb patterns are sometimes different from other linking verb patterns. This is because adverbial information often follows BE verbs, such as in the following sentence:  My sister is at the store.   In this case, an adverbial structure, a prepositional phrase, tells about the location of the subject, “my sister.” This BE pattern is one we discussed in a previous Everyday Grammar story. In contrast, the usual linking verb structure is this: Examples of linking verbs 1: verbs of the senses Some of the most common linking verbs are verbs of the senses. They include “taste,” “smell,” “feel,” “look,” and “sound.”   These verbs often link an adjective to a subject.   For example, consider these memorable lines from “Dirty Harry,” a famous American film. Clint Eastwood, the actor who plays the character of Dirty Harry, says: “You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?” In the sentence "Do I feel lucky?", the adjective “lucky” acts as the subject complement. It describes the subject, “I.”  If you were to answer the question, you might say this:   Examples of linking verbs 2: “remain” and “become” Verbs of the senses are not the only linking verbs. Two other common examples of linking verbs are “remain” and “become.” These verbs often link a noun or noun phrase to a subject.  Consider the opening lines from “Casablanca,” another classic American film:  "With the coming of the Second World War, many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully or desperately toward the freedom of the Americas. Lisbon became the great embarkation point." In the second sentence — “Lisbon became the great embarkation point”— you can see the basic linking verb pattern, even though the subject complement has several words. “Lisbon” is the subject of the sentence. The predicate has the linking verb “became,” as well as the noun phrase “the great embarkation point.   Examples of linking verbs 3: “prove,” “seem” and “appear” Aside from the verbs of the senses and “become” and “remain,” there are three other common linking verbs. They are “prove,” “seem” and “appear.”   Like other linking verbs, these verbs link an adjective or noun phrase to the subject. All these verbs use the same basic pattern: Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement. What do linking verbs have to do with F. Scott Fitzgerald?  Think back to this passage from "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz":  "As he approached the end his sentences became broken, became short and uncertain, and his body seemed tense, seemed strained to catch the slightest pressure or whisper of life in the spaces around him. "  Fitzgerald uses some phrases that do not fit into the linking verb pattern. But, if you look closely, you will see that he uses the Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement pattern in the sentence.  Consider these clauses:    Fitzgerald then repeats the linking verb pattern, but does not say the subject. The repeated subject is understood:    This sentence contains other structures that are more complicated than the basic linking verb pattern. But you can still see that these basic patterns can serve as the starting point for very long, complicated sentences.   What can you do?  Learning how to use linking verb patterns will help you improve your writing. You can think about creative ways to use them, or you can learn to recognize when you use them too often. To start practicing this pattern, try finding the linking verb in the sentences at the end of this story. Identify the subject of the sentence, the linking verb, and the subject complement. Be careful, because one or more sentences may be tricky!   We will give you the answers next week in the comments section and on our Facebook page.   The lake became a clear pool, pale and quiet. – "Winter Dreams" by F. Scott Fitzgerald Her slight unsteadiness seemed part of an enchanted dream. – "The Jelly Bean" by F. Scott Fitzgerald John T. Unger was on the eve of departure. – "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" by F. Scott Fitzgerald I'm Jonathan Evans. I'm John Russell. And I'm Jill Robbins. John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Kelly J Kelly was the editor. Do you like learning about sentence patterns? Is there a pattern you'd like us to explain here? ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story strained – adj. feeling or showing the effect of too much work, use, effort, etc. complement – n. a word or group of words added to a sentence to make it complete adverbial – adj. like or relating to an adverb. analyze – v. to learn the nature and relationship of the parts of (something) by a close and careful examination phrase – n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence adjective – n. a word that describes a noun or a pronoun prepositional phrase – n. a phrase that begins with a preposition and ends in a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase embarkation – n. a place where a journey begins tricky – adj. difficult to do or deal with

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Honored Vietnamese Activist Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

A Vietnamese blogger, honored by the United States for her activism, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in Vietnam. Mẹ Nấm, or Mother Mushroom, received the sentence Thursday at the end of a one-day trial in central Vietnam. A court found her guilty of charges related to "conducting propaganda” against the government. Mother Mushroom, whose given name is Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, had been detained since October 2016. The law used against her has drawn international criticism for giving the government power to limit free expression. Her lawyer said her conviction related to several articles on her Facebook page, as well as interviews with foreign news organizations. The lawyer called the sentence “too heavy and unfair.” He said he planned to appeal the decision. Quynh began blogging as Mother Mushroom in 2006. She is also a founding member of the Vietnamese Bloggers Network. It is one of the few independent blogging groups in a nation where the ruling Communist Party tightly controls the media and writers. She was honored with America’s International Women of Courage Award in March. She was not able to attend the award ceremony in Washington led by first lady Melania Trump. A State Department spokeswoman praised Quynh for “exposing corruption, raising awareness about environmental protection and reporting on human rights violations in Vietnam.” Quynh also received awards from the organizations Civil Rights Defenders and Human Rights Watch for speaking out freely against injustices and human rights abuses in Vietnam. The deputy director for Human Rights Watch Asia, Phil Robertson, criticized the trial. He urged the international community to call for her release. He said, “International donors and trade partners should publicly condemn her arrest and urge the Vietnamese government to immediately and unconditionally release her.”  Among her recent campaigns, Mother Mushroom blogged about the government's handling of a chemical spill at Formosa, a Taiwanese-owned steel plant in central Vietnam. The spill killed 80 tons of fish and embarrassed the Vietnamese government. Thousands of protesters demonstrated at the plant and in cities throughout Vietnam. The April 2016 incident is widely seen as having raised environmental awareness and activism in Vietnam. The movement led the steel company to accept full responsibility for the fish kill. It also pledged to pay $500 million in damages for dumping toxic wastewater into the South China Sea. I’m Caty Weaver .   Bryan Lynn adapted this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports by VOA Vietnamese, the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   blogger – n. person who writes on the internet about experiences or issues conduct – v. to carry out conviction – n. a finding of guilt by a court of law interview – n. a meeting between a reporter and another person in order to get information for a news story​ expose – adj. cause to be known, especially something secret or dishonest awareness – n. the state of knowing about something plant – n. a factory embarrass – v. make someone look foolish toxic – adj. containing something poisonous  

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Australia Charges Vatican Official with Sex Crimes

  Police in Australia have charged a top Vatican official with "historic sexual offenses." Police officials did not give details of the charges against Cardinal George Pell. But they did say the charges are based on claims by more than one person. Pell has been ordered to appear for a hearing in a Melbourne court on July 18. The cardinal serves as chief financial adviser to Pope Francis. The case increases pressure on the pope to act on promises to fight sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church Pell told reporters in Vatican City that he is innocent of the charges. He said the charges are an attack against his character. He added that “The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me," and that he is looking forward to having his day in court. A Vatican spokesman expressed respect for the Australian justice system. He also said that Pope Francis has given Pell a leave of absence -- an extended period of time away from his job. The Australian cardinal is the highest Roman Catholic clergyman to face charges of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse in the church first captured the world's attention in 2002. That is when reports about sexually abusive Catholic bishops in the American city of Boston, Massachusetts, began appearing in the news. The reports found that clergymen would move abusers to new positions in the church instead of dismissing them. Thousands of cases of sexual abuse have since been reported worldwide. Investigators have urged victims to go public. The Roman Catholic Church has paid more than $2 billion in compensation to the accusers. I’m Pete Musto.   This story first appeared on VOANews.com. George Grow adapted this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   abhorrent – adj. causing strong dislike or hatred; not agreeable compensation – n. payment; legal judgment for damages We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.  

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Apple iPhone Turns 10 Years Old

This is What’s Trending Today. The iPhone turned 10 years old on Thursday, and many people took a moment to remember the first time they saw the Apple device. When it came out on June 29, 2007, people were lining up outside stores around the world to buy the phone. It was a big success for the computer company that made the Macintosh and the iPod. The hashtag #iPhoneAt10 was trending on Twitter most of the day. One person called it a “revolution,” and others posted about the phone’s “evolution” in the last 10 years. “Massive” is the word CNN used to describe the businesses that grew up around the phone’s popularity. The current version is iPhone 7, but many people expect an iPhone 8 to come out soon. Some technology reporters say the next iPhone will come out in September, and it will be even larger than the ones we see today. The first iPhone’s display was about nine centimeters. The newest one is expected to be about 14 centimeters. The first phone cost close to $500. The current version of the phone costs a little more than $600. According to Entrepreneur magazine, the 2008 version of the iPhone, known as the 3G, was the first to use faster cellular networks, GPS and allowed users to buy apps from the App Store. ​ Small improvements were made along the way. The largest iPhone, the 6 Plus, came out in 2014. By 2016, there were over 2 million apps available. That is also when Apple sold its 1 billionth iPhone. One Twitter user called the iPhone “astonishing” and wrote “hard to imagine going without it now.”  A designer in Minnesota found her old iPhone and plugged it in to see if it would still start up. “It still boots!” she wrote. While many people said the iPhone made their lives easier, others were happy to point out its flaws. Autocorrect is supposed to fix typing mistakes when you write messages on your phone. Many people say it still has problems, even 10 years later. Others complained about the phone’s battery, memory and charger. Even the London, England fire brigade wrote: “don’t use cheap, dodgy chargers. You could have a nasty surprise.”  And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. How many iPhones did you use in 10 years? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   evolution – n. a process of slow change and development massive – adj. very large timeline – n. a line that includes marks showing when particular events happened in the past app – n. a computer program that performs a special function boot – v. to start a computer dodgy – adj. false, dishonest or risky flaw– n. a small fault or weakness astonishing– adj. causing a feeling of great surprise or wonder

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News Words: Troll

Watch this week's News Words to learn about an internet troll.

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New Rules for US Travel Ban to Require Family, Business Ties

The Trump administration has set new visa requirements for people from six mainly Muslim nations and all refugees. The Associated Press (AP) says the new rules require those seeking a visa to have a close relationship with a family or business in the United States. The move came after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to parts of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. Critics of the order compared it to a ban on Muslims. The State Department released the guidance for U.S. diplomats on Wednesday. The government is not canceling visas that have already been approved. The new rules affect visa applicants from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It said they must prove a relationship with a parent, husband or wife, child, the husband or wife of an adult child, a brother or sister already in the United States to be considered for a visa. But other family members are not considered close relations under the new guidelines. They include grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins and other extended family members. The same requirement, with a few exceptions, is in effect for would-be refugees who are still awaiting approval for admission to the U.S. The new rules take effect at 0000 Universal Time (UTC) on Friday, the AP report said. The State Department will consider whether visa applicants from the six countries have business ties to the United States. It said an acceptable business relationship has to be “formal, documented,” and not created for the purpose of avoiding the ban. The new guidance said a hotel or rental car agreement would not meet the requirement. The new rules do not affect news reporters, students, workers or speakers who have valid invitations or offers of employment in the U.S. On Monday, the Supreme Court partially lifted lower court rulings against Trump’s executive order, which had temporarily banned visas for citizens of the six countries. The new guidance will remain in place until the Supreme Court makes a final ruling on the issue. The court will not hear arguments in the case until at least October. So the temporary rules will remain in place for at least the next three months. Shortly after taking office, Trump ordered the refugee ban and a travel ban affecting the six countries, as well as Iraq. He said it was needed to protect the United States from terrorists. But opponents said it was unfairly severe and was designed to meet his campaign promise to keep Muslims out of the country. After a federal judge rejected the bans, Trump signed another order designed to overcome legal issues. That was also rejected by lower courts, but the Supreme Court ruled that parts of the order are constitutional. I’m Jonathan Evans.   The Associated Press reported this story. George Grow adapted the report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   executive – adj. of or relating to the execution of laws applicant – n. someone who asks for something; a candidate formal – adj. following an established form or custom valid – adj. having legal force; justifiable   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Explainer: Robot Workforce

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The Law of Life by Jack London, Part Two

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Sleep Expert Tells Students All-Night Study Hurts Performance

  Sleep expert David Earnest often tells college students that a good night’s sleep is important for academic success. Not that they listen to him. Earnest is a professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine. He explains that so-called “all nighters,” in which students spend all night studying instead of sleeping, are not effective – or healthy. “The sort of common approach for college students…is to wait until the last minute in terms of preparing or studying for an exam -- do all nighters, especially before final exams. Because that way, you can cram all of your studying into a very short period of time." “But in the process obviously that compromises sleep and unfortunately it’s counterproductive.” Waiting until last minute College students often wait until the last minute to review information and study for an exam. They may stay up all night ahead of the test. Research shows, however, it is not worth it. Earnest explains that people who stay up all night do not remember as much about what they read or studied. There is also some evidence that people even suffer temporary drops in their IQ, or intelligence quotient, he said. If a student must prepare for an exam at the last minute, Earnest suggests studying until about 2 a.m., sleeping for four hours, and then reviewing the material again early in the morning. Four hours is not enough sleep, but it is better than no sleep, Earnest said. Company uses device to measure student sleep Jawbone is a company that sells a small device that people attach to themselves to measure exercise and sleep. The company used information from device users to measure how much time college students sleep. It found that college students slept an average of 7.03 hours during the week and 7.38 hours on weekends. Female students slept more than male students; they get an extra 23 minutes of sleep on week nights and 17 more minutes on weekends. Jawbone’s study seems to suggest that college students are getting enough sleep. The numbers are within the numbers suggested by the National Sleep Foundation. It recommends between seven and nine hours of sleep daily for people aged 18 to 25. But Jawbone said the “average” hours of sleep in its study can be misleading. Its study also found that nearly half of the time, students get less than seven hours of sleep a night. Jawbone also found some other interesting sleep information. Students at America’s military academies, West Point, the Naval Academy and Coast Guard Academy, all require students to get up before 7 a.m. That is the earliest required waking time for college students. As a result, students at the three schools average 6.38 hours of sleep, the lowest among American college students. Other colleges where students average less than seven hours of sleep on weeknights include Columbia University in New York, the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. Students at the University of New Hampshire, the University of Oregon and the University of San Diego got the most sleep, Jawbone said. 2014 report finds sleep problems for many students A 2014 report for the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health reported that daytime sleepiness and irregular sleep schedules are common among college students. The report said a lack of sleep can result in lower grade point averages. It also found it can lead to increased risk of academic failure and of emotional distress. The National Sleep Foundation offers suggestions for better sleep: Go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time in the morning. Make sure your bedroom is a quiet, dark, and relaxing environment, and that it is neither too hot nor too cold. Make sure your bed is comfortable, and that you do not use it for other activities such as reading, watching television or listening to music. Remove all TVs, computers, radios, and telephones from the bedroom. Avoid large meals before bedtime. Here’s wishing you a good night’s sleep! I'm Bruce Alpert. And I'm Jill Robbins   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your experiences on our Facebook Page. Do you get enough sleep? If you don’t, how does it affect you? And what’s your “secret” to falling asleep quickly? ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   approach - n. a way of dealing with something especially - adv. more than usually cram - v. to prepare for a test by trying to learn a lot of information quickly counterproductive - adv. not helpful attach - v. to fasten or join one thing to another recommend - v. suggest irregular - adj. not normal distress - n. feeling unhappy or pain comfortable - adj. producing physical comfort

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Five Fun Puzzle Apps to Stretch Your Brain

  Fun puzzle apps are handy to have on your phone. Keep them ready when you need to clear your mind. Maybe you are stuck in the office on a Friday afternoon, or trapped in a car on a long road trip, or waiting on a flight that is delayed. Puzzle apps can help make that time more enjoyable. The apps can also help avoid the oft-repeated question, "Are we there yet?" from your young travelers. But puzzle apps can do more than entertain you. They can also improve your mental skills, to help keep you sharp. While you are having fun, your brain can be solving problems, learning new English words and more. Warning: These games may be addictive! Only start playing them if you have time for fun. 1010! If you are a fan of the classic video game Tetris, you will enjoy 1010! This puzzle game is a lot like Tetris but without the time pressure. 1010! shows a game board of 10 spaces across and 10 spaces down. In each part of the game, you get three shapes to place on the board. The shapes are similar to the Tetris shapes and are made from squares. You must place them on the boards in the free spaces. Like Tetris, in 1010! a row or column is cleared if it is filled with squares. Players earn points when they clear rows and columns. Clearing the board is also important to have enough open spaces to place the shapes. This video shows how 1010! works: As with Tetris, you cannot really "win" at 1010! The game is over once your board is too full to fit another shape. But the higher you score, the better. And you can always try to beat your best score. You can find tips and tricks to master 1010! on the app’s website under “Tips, Tricks and Such.” 1010! Tips, Tricks and Such 1010! is available for free. An in-app purchase is available to remove ads. 1010! for iPhone 1010! for Android 1010! for Amazon Fire tablets Monkey Wrench Monkey Wrench is a word search game with a twist: you have to clear the board by finding words. Each puzzle has categories of words you must find. The categories may be from history, sports, pop culture, music, food, people and more. Instead of letters being in a square, letters in Monkey Wrench are in hexagons. The first letter of each word is darkened. Swipe your finger along the letters when you find the word. The word will be cleared from the puzzle. When you clear all of the words you have solved the puzzle. You can choose from three levels of difficulty: easy, medium and hard. The easy level shows the words you must find. Medium gives you the first letter of the word and shows how many letters are in each word. Hard shows you how many letters are in each word but no letters are given. You have to figure out the words yourself. This video shows how Monkey Wrench works. The puzzle in the video is at the medium level:   ​Monkey Wrench starts off with a free pack of 50 puzzles. Each day a new free puzzle is added. Players can buy puzzle packs or just wait and play a free puzzle each day.   Monkey Wrench for iPhone and iPad Monkey Wrench for Android Monkey Wrench for Amazon Fire tablets Sudoku People who enjoy the number puzzle game Sudoku will be happy to know that now it’s as close as your phone! The Sudoku app means you can play this interesting game wherever you are. Sudoku players fill in numbers on a grid of nine squares. Each square is divided into another nine squares. Each row and column in the grid must have the numbers 1-9 filled in without repeats. Each large square must have the numbers 1-9 within it, again without repeats. Some numbers are provided and it is up to you to fill in the rest. The game can be simple on an easy level where lots of numbers are provided. Or the game can be difficult with very few numbers provided. The Sudoku app from the developer Finger Arts offers different themes so you can make your board look the way that works best for you. You can play at different levels from easy to expert. Try each to find the level best for you. When you fill in the grid with three mistakes or fewer, you win! The goal of this app is to have a string of wins. If you have four or more mistakes, you can continue playing but your string will be broken. This app offers many different settings permitting you to make changes so the game is more enjoyable. Sudoku from Finger Arts is available free for the iPhone and iPad. Sudoku + is from the same developer but removes ads. Sudoku + is available for  just under $5. Many free Sudoku apps are in the app stores. Also check out Sudoku from Branium Studios. Branium Sudoku for iPhone and iPad Branium Sudoku for Android Branium Sudoku for Amazon Fire tablets 7 Little Words 7 Little Words is another word game app from the developer of Monkey Wrench. But instead of trying to find words, you have to put puzzle pieces together to figure out words. To play 7 Little Words, players read clues for seven different words. The clues tell the meanings of the words and how many letters are in each word. Below the clues are puzzle pieces that are groups of letters. Players must put together the groups of letters to form the word. Form all seven words to win the game. Like Monkey Wrench, 7 Little Words is a free app and players are given a puzzle pack with free puzzles. Each day a new free puzzle is added to the game. You can buy additional puzzle packs if you cannot wait for tomorrow's puzzle. 7 Little Words for iPhone and iPad 7 Little Words for Android 7 Little Words for Amazon Fire tablets The game is also available on the 7 Little Words website and in French at 7 Petits Mots. Sembl Sembl is a free puzzle game that shows you a shape with colors and patterns. You then try to match it with the same shape that starts out blank. You can add patterns and colors, spin the shape, and cut it to try to make it look the same as the one above. To make the game more difficult, players must make the changes in the right order to match the shapes. Sembl has Journey setting, an untimed version of the game, or Challenge mode, which is timed and more intense. This video shows how Sembl works: The game starts out easy but gets more difficult as players rise through the levels. The app has 32 levels with 190 total puzzles. Sembl is free for iPhone and iPad. I’m Dan Friedell. And I’m Caty Weaver.   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Catherine Kelly Weaver was the editor. Have you played any of these puzzle apps? Do you have any suggestions for fun puzzle apps? Do you like playing games that make you think? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   puzzle - n. a question or problem that requires thought, skill, or cleverness to be answered or solved entertain - v. to provide amusement for (someone) addictive- adj. very enjoyable in a way that makes you want to do or have something again fan - n. a person who likes and admires someone (such as a famous person) or something (such as a sport or a sports team) in a very enthusiastic way classic - adj. used to describe something that has been popular for a long time row - n. a horizontal section of a page; items that are next to one another column - n. a vertical section of a page; items that are underneath and above each other category - n. a group of people or things that are similar in some way hexagon - n. a flat shape that has six angles and six sides grid - n. a pattern of lines that cross each other to form squares on a piece of paper, a map, etc. theme - n. the color and style of a website or app  

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Fake TIME Magazine Covers Hang at Trump Golf Courses

  This is What’s Trending Today. Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold followed Donald Trump throughout the 2016 presidential election campaign. He wrote about then-candidate Trump’s promises to give money to charity. He reported that Trump’s own organization donated very little money over the years. He also reported on an old recording in which Trump is heard talking about touching women without their permission. Fahrenthold won a Pulitzer Prize this year for his reporting on Trump. The yearly prize honors journalists who do great work. This week, Fahrenthold reported on another Trump-related issue for the Post. He wrote about a framed TIME magazine cover that hangs on the walls at some of Trump’s golf courses in the United States, Ireland and Scotland. The cover features a photo of Donald Trump himself. It is dated March 1, 2009. The cover says Trump’s television show, “The Apprentice,” is a big success. But, there is one problem. TIME was not published on that date. The real TIME magazine cover closest to that date came out on March 2, 2009. It has a picture of British actress Kate Winslet. Traditionally, TIME magazine covers have a red border with a thin white line surrounding the cover photo.  The version hanging at Trump’s golf courses is different. Staff members who work for the president at the White House and those who run the golf courses did not respond to the Washington Post’s questions about the fake magazine cover. TIME said it has asked Trump’s business, known as the Trump Organization, to take down the fake magazine covers. TIME named Trump its 2016 Person of the Year. He was on the magazine’s cover at the end of last year. Many people on social media reacted to the story. They used photo-editing software and made their own versions of magazine covers featuring themselves -- and even their cats. One politician made up his own TIME cover. Some also remembered a scene from the 1998 movie, “The Big Lebowski.” In the film, the main character looks into a mirror that looks like a TIME magazine cover.  Trump tweeted about the Washington Post’s story on Wednesday, calling the newspaper “fake news.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Do you think President Trump should take down the magazine covers? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   charity – n. an organization that helps people who are poor, sick, etc. frame – v. to put (something) inside an open structure that holds it feature – v. to have or include (someone or something) as an important part border – n. a decorative design along the edge of something (such as a rug or wallpaper) edit – v. to change, move, or remove parts of (a film, recording, photo, etc.) software – n. the programs that run on a computer and perform certain functions character– n. a person who appears in a story, book, play, movie, or television show​

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Protesters Arrested Days Before Hong Kong Marks 20 Years Under China

  Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of Britain handing over Hong Kong to China. The city plans a major celebration of the change that took place on July 1, 1997. The Chinese military will hold a huge fireworks show, and Chinese President Xi Jinping is making a state visit starting Thursday. But, as the city prepares, not everyone is welcoming the events. Concerns over ‘one country, two systems’ Twenty-three-year-old Nathan Law is Hong Kong’s youngest-ever lawmaker. He is a member of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. “People are not celebrating but worrying about Hong Kong’s future and its current situation,” he told the Associated Press. Law was a student leader in the huge pro-democracy demonstrations that took place in 2014. Those demonstrations failed to change the election process for Hong Kong’s chief executive. Carrie Lam will be sworn-in as Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region on July 1. She, like current executive C.Y. Leung, has been criticized as being too close to the government in Beijing. Law said there are growing concerns that the policy known as “one country, two systems” for Hong Kong is changing. Under the policy, Hong Kong has kept its government and capitalist economic system. It also kept a “high degree of autonomy” not enjoyed on the mainland. But Law told AP that the Chinese government appears to be reducing freedoms in the territory. “There are lots of people describing the current system as ‘one country, 1.5 systems,’” he said. Incidents that have caused people in Hong Kong concern include the disappearance of five booksellers in late 2015. They were detained by the government for reportedly publishing books critical of Chinese politicians. One man, Gui Minhai, is still being held. In another case, a Chinese-born businessman who held a Canadian passport disappeared from his hotel room earlier this year. News reports have said he may have been detained by Chinese security, which would be a violation of Hong Kong’s laws. Some Hong Kongers have started to show their displeasure. About 30 pro-democracy protesters were arrested on Wednesday, one day before Xi’s visit. The protesters gathered around the “Forever Blooming Golden Bauhinia” statue. The monument marks where the handover on July 1 took place. The activists were demanding full democracy and the unconditional release of Liu Xiaobo, the activist and Nobel Prize winner. The 61-year-old writer was recently diagnosed with liver cancer and was released for health reasons. During the protest, democracy supporters shouted, “Democracy now. Free Liu Xiaobo,” as they placed a black cloth over the Golden Bauhinia statue. Britain first took control of Hong Kong in the 1840s.   I’m Mario Ritter. Mario Ritter adapted this story from VOA and AP materials for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.​ ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Degree –n. a level or amount Autonomy –n. the ability to self-rule with some restrictions Diagnose –v. to identify, usually a disease or problem  

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Farming Takes Hold in Undeveloped Areas of Los Angeles

  For years, farming on empty land was a big issue in one of America’s biggest cities -- Los Angeles, California. The city government refused to permit planting of crops in vacant, undeveloped areas. But Los Angeles residents pressured local leaders to let them grow food in open spaces, including strips of land between the street and sidewalks. Two years ago, city officials gave residents permission to plant crops in such spaces. Ron Finley is now growing food on a small piece of land near his home. He spends most of his mornings there. “This is a food forest. There’s fruit trees, there’s also weeds that are edible in here. I want to educate people to the fact that there’s food all around you.” The Los Angeles man often speaks to groups. He urges them to start community gardens much like his. Finley has been growing crops in the city for many years -- even before the government gave its permission. Until recently, he had been told by city officials not to do so. He had even been ordered to go to court.   Tomatoes, edible flowers, fruits and vegetables are not often seen in the inner city. It is easier to buy unhealthy food and alcoholic drinks. Tamiko Nakamoto helps 22 people grow crops in their community garden in South Los Angeles. He says they are growing both fruits and vegetables. “Collard greens, sugar cane, banana, tomato trees, cabbage.” This month, the Los Angeles city council agreed to lower property taxes for people who let their vacant land be used as community gardens. Finley says urban gardening is good for everyone. Because of the gardens, more families in the city are eating fresh fruits and vegetables. “And it’s making you healthy all over, not just your body, your mind-set, everything because looking at this, smelling this affects every sense in your body.” I’m Dorothy Gundy.    VOA Correspondent Mike O’Sullivan reported this story from Los Angeles. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   vacant – adj. not filled, used or lived in resident – n. someone who lives in a particular place strip – n. a long, narrow piece of land weeds – n. a plant that grows very quickly where it is not wanted and covers or kills more desirable plants edible – adj. suitable or safe to eat mind-set – n. a particular way of thinking; a person’s attitude or set of opinions about something

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June 28, 2017

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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Houston: Most Diverse Large City in US

America’s population is becoming older and more diverse. VOA visited Houston, Texas, the most diverse large city in the United States.

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America's Presidents - Ulysses S. Grant

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Lesson 26: This Game Is Fun!

Summary Anna plays the game "Catch Americana" and learns more about U.S. Presidents. She also learns to watch where she walks! Speaking Learn to pronounce the new words for this lesson. Find out more about the U.S. Presidents and the symbols in the game Anna and Dan play in the video. You can also learn another way to warn someone of danger. ​ Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how people say "ought to" in fast speech. Conversation   Anna: This is the Roosevelt Memorial. Where is the symbol? Anna remembers that Dan said: You have to find things that aren't really there. ... When you find an American symbol, you win points and a Fun Fact about a U.S. President. Anna: Yay! I found Uncle Sam and I won another 40 points! What is the Fun Fact? Voice: Franklin Roosevelt was the first to fly in a plane as president! Anna: I didn't know that. This is a really beautiful memorial. Anna: This is the Lincoln Memorial! Where is the symbol? Anna: I found it! The Statue of Liberty! Please give me my Fun Fact. Voice: Abraham Lincoln was a great wrestler! Anna: I didn't know that. Lincoln wanted freedom for all people. So, the Statue of Liberty works well. Anna: And I won 20 points! Time to find the next symbol. Dan: Hey! Look out! Anna: Sorry. Hey, it's you! Now, I should be more careful. Dan: That’s okay. Anna: This game is a lot of fun. Hey, what’s your name? Dan: Dan. What’s yours? Anna: Anna. Dan: Like Americana! Anna: Yeah, I guess so. Dan: Did you find any symbols? Anna: Yes, I found three and won 120 points! Dan: Me too. But, did you find the bald eagle? Anna: No. Did you? Dan: No. Anna: First one to find it wins? Dan: Anna, look out for that tree! Anna: I learned a lot about presidents with this game. But I ought to be more careful. Until next time …! Writing Are there any memorials to famous leaders in your town or in your country? Tell us about them. Do you admire the leader? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about sports with a friend. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Make Associations. When we think of connections between things we are making associations.  In this lesson, Dan makes an association to help himself remember Anna's name. After Anna tells him her name, he says, "Like Americana!" The name "Anna" sounds like the end of the word "Americana" to Dan.  Can you find another example of making associations in the conversation? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan  for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz ​Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ______________________________________________________________ New Words (air)plane - n. a vehicle that has wings and an engine and can carry people or things in the air fly - v. to travel in an aircraft or spacecraft freedom - n. the power to do what you want to do or the ability to move or act freely Look out - phrasal verb. used to tell someone to be aware of something dangerous wrestler - n. someone who competes in the sport of wrestling yay - interjection.used to express joy, approval, or excitement   American Presidents and Symbols (Part Two) Abraham Lincoln: America's 16th President, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. It said the 3 million enslaved people in the South were free. They could enjoy some kinds of freedom after the end of the American Civil War. Franklin Delano Roosevelt America's 32nd president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was president from March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945. He was the only President elected to four terms, and the only paralyzed President. FDR led the United States through World War Two. (President Roosevelt's symbol in the Catch Americana game is Uncle Sam. The Uncle Sam symbol called many American men to join the U.S. Army to fight in the World Wars.  George Washington ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice talking about associations with sports and warnings using "look out." For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: modal "ought to;" irregular past tense verbs Topics: U.S. Presidents; Americana symbols Learning Strategy: Make Associations Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Pronouncing "ought to" in fast speech; Giving warnings with the expression "look out;" Symbols associated with American Presidents ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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US Tech Companies Face Big Legal Problems in Europe

The European Commission (EC) has fined Google $2.7 billion for unfairly influencing online search results for its own businesses. It was the largest fine ever ordered by the EC against a single company in an antitrust case. Antitrust laws are designed to protect trade from unlawful restrictions and unfair business activities. European Union (EU) investigators said that in online searches with Google, the company listed links to its own online shopping services above those of competitors. “What Google has done is illegal under EU antitrust rules,” said European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. “It denied other companies the chance to compete on the merits and to innovate,” she added. Google, which operates under parent company Alphabet, denied any wrongdoing. "We respectfully disagree with the conclusions announced today,” chief lawyer Kent Walker said in a statement. Google said research shows users of its website like when they link directly to products they are looking for. “When you shop online, you want to find the products you are looking for quickly and easily,” Walker said. “And advertisers want to promote those same products. That is why Google shows shopping ads, connecting our users with thousands of advertisers, large and small, in ways that are useful for both.” The EC investigation lasted about seven years. It was launched after consumer websites accused Google of unfair business practices. In addition to the fine, the company is required to develop a plan to give competing shopping services equal treatment. Google has 90 days to stop suggesting its own links over those of competitors. If it does not make changes, it faces fines of up to 5 percent of Alphabet’s average daily worldwide earnings. The EU consumer group BEUC praised the fine. “This decision is a game-changer,” said director general Monique Goyens. “The Commission confirmed that consumers do not see what is most relevant for them on the world’s most used search engine, but rather what is best for Google.” In the past, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigated Google for possible antitrust practices. Part of that case also involved accusations that the company used its search engine to support its other businesses. The company ended up reaching a settlement with the FTC in 2013. At that time, the FTC said Google had “agreed to change some of its business practices to resolve (FTC) concerns that those practices could stifle competition.” Some of the changes related to Google’s online search advertising. American tech companies face legal problems Other American technology companies have also faced legal troubles in Europe. Facebook was recently fined $122 million for giving misleading information to officials during its purchase of messaging service WhatsApp in 2014. In 2016, the European Commission demanded that Apple pay about $14 billion in back taxes. The EC said Apple owed the money because it had received unfair tax assistance from Ireland that amounted to a form of “illegal state aid.” Apple, one of the world’s biggest companies, denied any wrongdoing and appealed the case. It said the EC findings were based on “fundamental errors” made during the investigation. The company criticized the commission for not explaining exactly how it reached its ruling.  The EC said Ireland gave too many tax breaks to Apple. It said this resulted in an effective tax rate on Apple’s European profits of just 0.005 percent in 2014. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from AP and Reuters. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story merit – n. a good quality innovate – v. do something in a new or different way promote – v. help or develop something consumer – n. someone who buys or uses goods or services relevant – adj. how something relates to something else stifle – v. stop something fundamental – adj. relating to the main part of something shopping – adj. of or related to buying goods or products  

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Build Muscle Memory to Improve Your Pronunciation

  What is your first memory of riding a bicycle? Was it easy, difficult, or somewhere in between? In the beginning, you may have wondered if you would ever be able to ride a bicycle at all. Then suddenly one day, you could ride without help from anyone. Doing a physical activity easily, without thinking, uses an ability we call "muscle memory." When you repeat a physical action many times, your brain develops permanent memory for how to do it. There are many examples, such as walking, swimming, dancing, driving a car, playing a musical instrument and speaking your native language. Elizabeth Marner-Brooks says your muscles can help you remember how to pronounce words. For nearly 30 years, she has taught English language classes at The New School and other universities in New York City. Pronunciation is one of her areas of expertise. At the start of her pronunciation courses, Marner-Brooks asks her students how often they practice their pronunciation skills. The usual answer is "once or twice a week." Then, she asks how long they think it would take a baby to learn to walk if they only tried that often. She hopes this discussion helps them see the connection between speaking and the memory we build into our muscles. Marner-Brooks recently spoke to VOA Learning English on Skype. "It's using the muscles. You have to give yourself permission because human nature dictates that we're going to be spurred on to doing things once we find results. But, we get the results by doing it. And, you can get results very quickly - very quickly - if you just do it." Right now, the muscles in your mouth, lips and tongue may feel strange as they try to make the shapes to produce the sounds of English words. This can require a lot of effort. But, Marner-Brooks notes that the muscles will soon remember how to produce the correct sounds with little or no effort. She works with her students to make consonant and vowel sounds. She also teaches them the use of stress and pitch, two other important elements of English pronunciation. Many English learners have told Marner-Brooks that other teachers only asked them to repeat English words. They did not teach how to produce the sounds. "One person said, 'Well, nobody ever showed me that my tongue goes up for a d and presses. Nobody ever showed me that. They would just do it and I had to copy it.'"    Unlike many languages, English has 16 different vowel sounds. So building memory for the correct tongue position is especially important, she notes. For vowels, she explains that the sounds have a natural progression, from the highest position of the tongue to the flattest position. So, for example, for a long "e" sound, the tongue is high up in the mouth "like a camel's back," she says. For a shorter vowel sound, the tongue is in the middle of the mouth. And, for the shortest, the tongue is flat. Try the sounds that Marner-Brooks pronounces to feel it for yourself. "So, /hi/ as in he, she, we and /hI/ as in him, women and /hɛ/ as in help, bread, head'." She adds that speaking is a creative action – we are creating sounds as we speak. A common misunderstanding people have about learning language is that it is only an intellectual action. "And when we're dealing with speech – with making the sounds – we're dealing with the creative side of the brain, not the intelligent, thinking side." To help build your muscle memory, Marner-Brooks says you can use pronunciation videos on the Internet. She suggests English learners avoid using the Internet to simply repeat words they hear. Instead, find short American English pronunciation guides on web sites like YouTube. Specifically, look for videos that demonstrate things like vowel and consonant muscle training. Marner-Brooks suggests students do vowel and consonant pronunciation exercises for 3-5 minutes four times each day. And, use a mirror to observe yourself as you practice the sounds. If these exercises feel foolish or strange, she has these final thoughts: "What I suggest is for you to be comfortable, take the risks, and enjoy speaking the language. That's the goal." I'm Alice Bryant. Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pronounce – v. to use the mouth and other organs of speech to say words correctly practice – v. to do something again and again in order to become better at it spur – v. to motivate someone to do something consonant – n. a speech sound (such as /p/, /d/, or /s/) that is made by partly or completely stopping the flow of air breathed out from the mouth vowel – n. a speech sound made with your mouth open and your tongue in the middle of your mouth, not touching one’s teeth or lips stress – n. greater loudness or force given to part of a word when speaking or to a beat in music pitch – n. the rise and fall of your voice when you speak camel – n. a large animal of Africa and Asia that has a long neck and one or two large humps on its back

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Charges Brought Against Brazil’s President

  Brazil’s President Michel Temer calls the corruption charges against him a “soap opera” and accuses the country’s top lawyer of seeking “revenge.” On Monday, Attorney General Rodrigo Janot charged Temer with accepting at least $150,000 dollars in payments. The payments are said to have come from the head of Brazil’s huge meat producing company JBS earlier this year. Temer took office last year after former president Dilma Rousseff was removed from office for breaking laws related to reporting the nation’s budget. More charges possible Reports say there is an audio recording of Temer reportedly plotting to pay money to a former house speaker and a Temer associate who was jailed for corruption. And Janot is considering other charges against Temer including obstruction of justice. After the attorney general’s charges, a complex process involving the nation’s highest court and congress could lead to a vote by the full lower house. The lower house of Brazil’s Congress called the Chamber of Deputies could decide whether to suspend Temer or try him on charges of bribery. Two-thirds of the 513-member group must agree to do so. If Temer is found guilty, he faces a $3 million fine and two to 12 years in prison. But observers think Congress will not force him out. Sonia Fleury is a political science professor at the Fundacao Getulio Vargas University in Rio de Janeiro. She says, "Several senators and deputies are in the same boat as he is, being accused in the same way.” Fleury adds they are protecting each other “to avoid prosecution.” The Brazil’s president has denied the charges and says that he will not step down. Public opinion studies show Temer has a very low rate of approval of seven percent. Charges make reforms more difficult South America’s largest economy is recovering from a deep recession. Unemployment and inflation remain high while economic growth has not been strong. The government has proposed unpopular reforms to the country’s finances including cutting payments to retired workers and labor reforms. Peter Hakim is the former president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a research group based in Washington. He says the charges against Temer make it difficult for lawmakers to vote on financial reforms and cuts to public spending. “There may have been enough votes for him to secure the economic reforms necessary but now people have to vote for unpopular reforms and for a unpopular defense of Temer.” I’m Mario Ritter.   Kenneth Schwartz, Victor Beattie reported this story for VOA News with additional materials from AP and Reuters. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   soap opera –n. a kind of dramatic television or radio program of continuing stories of the daily lives of a group of people revenge –n. the act of hurting someone because they hurt you first bribery –n. to receive an illegal payment in return for supporting a public law or policy obstruction –n. to block something from going forward in the same boat –idiom in the same situation prosecution –n. the process of facing charges in a legal court We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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