August 31, 2017

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

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Facebook Opens Training Center in Brazil

  The social media service Facebook plans to open a training center in Brazil for computer coders and people interested in starting a business. It will be the company’s first such training center in a Latin American country. Facebook hopes it will encourage young Brazilians to consider a career in technology. Brazil has a high unemployment rate after a deep economic crisis. Many of the jobless are young people. The training center will occupy space in the middle of Sao Paulo. Diego Dzodan, Facebook’s regional vice president, said the center will connect unemployed, untrained young people with technology companies that need workers. “Imagine the opportunity,” he said. “You’ve got people without a job, so they can’t afford training. And yet there’s so much demand for positions that the market can’t fill.” The Reuters news service reported his comments. One in four Brazilians aged 18 to 24 -- most of them with more education than their parents -- were unemployed at the start of 2017. The country’s worst economic crisis has harmed the careers of a generation of young workers. Facebook plans to open the training center by December. It will offer free coding classes, career guidance, entrepreneur training and digital marketing programs for 7,400 Brazilians in its first year. The Facebook effort is one of several in Sao Paulo. Other companies are making the most of rising interest in technology and a drop in the cost of office space in Latin America’s largest business center. In June 2016, Alphabet Inc. opened the Google Campus Sao Paulo business center just a short walk from the new Facebook space. The Google campus also offers advice to Brazilians interested in creating start-up companies, as well as free community events. Dzodan would not tell Reuters how much his company was spending on its new space. He said the effort would be measured by the number of people receiving training and education, not actual cost of the physical training center. I’m Dorothy Gundy.   The Reuters news agency reported this story from Sao Paolo, Brazil. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the 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   encourage – v. to urge; to provide support coder – n. someone who creates orders or directions for a computer regional – adj. of or related to an area entrepreneur – n. someone who starts a business  

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Reported Speech and the 'Historic Present' Tense

  The 2008 film, The Dark Knight, tells the story of Batman, a fictional superhero. At one point in the movie, Batman's enemy, the Joker, says the following lines: My father was a drinker and a fiend. And one night, he goes off crazier than usual… He turns to me, and he says: 'Why so serious?' Today's report is not about violent stories. Nor is it about superheroes. Instead, it is about reported speech. You will learn how Americans report speech in everyday situations. You will learn about different verb tenses speakers use to report speech.  So, what is the link between the Joker's lines and reported speech? We will tell you, but first we must give you some definitions. Reported Speech In everyday speech, speakers often report what others say. They quote what other people told them, or they repeat what they said themselves. This is known as direct speech. The verb say is often used to report direct speech in conversation, note Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber, two English grammar experts. Here is an example: "I called the mechanic and said I was ready to come pick up my car – a white convertible, and he said, "Oh, sorry, somebody already picked it up," and I said, "Excuse me, who did you give my car to?" In the example, the speaker used the verb say in the past tense just before the speech that he was reporting. This is a conversational, informal way of reporting what a person said. You can imagine that the speaker is a little angry about this story – his car seems to have disappeared! "Historic present tense" Direct speech makes a story more exciting. To make the story even more interesting, some speakers use the quoting verb in the "historic present" tense. This means that a present tense verb is used to refer to past time. Here is an example: "He was sitting there drinking his coffee, and he says what is this? It was a tooth! " In the example, the speaker uses the present tense – she said says instead of said. This is the "historic present tense." Speakers use this form because it makes the story sound more immediate, more exciting, and less formal. You heard an example of the "historic present" at the beginning of this report. The Joker had already shown that he was talking about the past when he said, "My father was a drinker and a fiend." Then, he changes to the "historic present" tense: "He turns to me, and he says: 'Why so serious?" The good news about the so-called "historic present" is this: you do not need to use it. You should not use it in writing, and you should probably not use it in speaking, either. However, it can be useful to understand it. Native speakers might use it in conversation – and when they do, you will understand what they mean. Other common verbs or expressions used to report something In everyday, informal speech, Americans often use other verbs and expressions to report direct speech. Some of these verbs and expressions have the same meaning as say. The most common of these is probably the verb go. Often used in the simple present tense, the verb go is used commonly by young people, although older people use it too. Here's an example: I asked him why he didn't call me back, and he goes, "Well, I didn't get your message." Here, the verb go is taking the place of the verb say. The speaker could have said "and he said, "Well, I didn't get your message." Americans also use the expression be like to replace the verb say. Be like is commonly used among young adults, but many older people also use it.  This structure is primarily used among friends. Consider this example: I'm like are you from Washington, D.C.? and she's like yeah, how did you know? Be like can also be used to report thoughts, rather than speech. When speakers use be like in this manner, it takes on the meaning of "to be thinking (something)." What can you do? The next time you are watching television or talking to an American, try to listen for examples of reported speech. Does the speaker report speech using the verb say, or does he or she choose a different word or expression? Ask yourself if the speaker is using the "historic present" tense to add excitement to the story. With time, and with practice, you will learn how Americans report speech. You might even be able to report speech in a similar manner. However, one warning: do not try to use the historic present tense – if you use it incorrectly, you might confuse others! We did not talk about formal reported speech today. If you would like to learn more about formal reported speech, please read our previous Everyday Grammar story, "They Say That Reported Speech Is Easy." You can find it on our website, learningenglish.voanews.com I'm John Russell. And I'm Alice Bryant.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   superhero – n. a fictional character who has amazing powers (such as the ability to fly) fiend – n. a very evil or cruel person tense – n. grammar : a form of a verb that is used to show when an action happened informal – adj. having a friendly and relaxed quality quote –v.  to write or say the exact words of (someone) practice –n. the activity of doing something again and again in order to become better at it confuse – v.  to make (someone) uncertain or unable to understand something  

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Tennis Players Show Off Fashion at US Open

  This is What’s Trending Today. Tennis players must wear almost all white at Wimbledon. That includes shorts, shirts, hats, dresses, shoes and socks. But when they get to New York in the late summer for the U.S Open, they let their personalities come out through their clothing.Serena Williams is one player who always wears something special. In 2004, Williams wore calf-high, shiny black Nike tennis shoes. But this year, Williams is not playing due to her pregnancy. It turns out other players are taking over the fashion show. On Monday night, Maria Sharapova played in her first major tournament in over a year. She was suspended for taking a banned drug in early 2016. She impressed the crowd with a shiny black dress. The dress shined because it was embedded with crystals. After she won her opening match, she said: “Behind these Swarovski crystals and little black dresses, this girl has a lot of grit and she's not going anywhere." Among the male players at the tournament, people are talking about the clothing worn this week by Alexander Zverev from Germany. Zverev was the fourth-ranked player in the tournament. Tennis experts thought he could win the title. Against Darian King of Barbados, Zverev was wearing a tennis outfit similar to the one worn by Swedish star Bjorn Borg in the 1970s. He had a white headband with thin stripes holding back his long hair. He wore a similarly styled shirt and even completed the throwback look with high white socks. Tennis players have not worn those socks since the early 1980s. Zverev said his look was designed by singer Pharrell Williams. On Twitter, many people talked about the high socks. Some liked them; others did not. In his next match, however, Zverev lost to Croatia’s Borna Coric. This time, he was wearing shorter socks. Maybe that was the difference. One Twitter user, Jen, definitely thought so. She wrote: “Zverev clearly should have kept the long socks.”  And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a story by the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. Will you be watching the U.S. Open fashion? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   personality – n. the set of emotional qualities, ways of behaving, etc., that makes a person different from other people embed – v. to place or set (something) firmly in something else grit – n. mental toughness and courage throwback – n. a person or thing that is similar to someone or something from the past or that is suited to an earlier time — usually singular outfit – n. a set of clothes that are worn together look – n. a style or fashion

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Talks on Brexit Slowed Over Trade, Border Issues

  British and EU officials say they are “deadlocked” after four days of negotiations on Britain’s exit from Europe, known as “Brexit.” The two sides appear to disagree on which parts of Brexit should be negotiated first. EU officials unclear on the British negotiating position EU officials say British negotiators are not clear about what they want. But, the British side says negotiating a trade deal should come before talks on terms for leaving the EU. Another point of disagreement is the amount of money Britain will have to pay the EU when it leaves. Some estimates place the amount at $89 billion. The EU is seeking the money for budget payments and to pay for projects and loans that were agreed to in 2013. That is before the referendum on June 23 of 2016 when Britons voted to leave the EU. Michel Barnier is the chief EU negotiator for Brexit. He told reporters, “To be flexible you need two points, our point and their point. We need to know their position and then I can be flexible.” The European parliament’s coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt said, “the other party is not responding.” Because of this, he said, it “is difficult to start a negotiation.” Verhofstadt also released a video of himself talking about the difficulties of the negotiations on the social media network Twitter. He tweeted, “I fear that some of the #Brexit hardliners don’t want to negotiate.” Brexit and trade talks, which comes first? The EU wants the two sides to make progress on an agreement for Britain to leave the group by October. The EU does not want trade talks to begin until this step is reached. Experts say that the British side does not want to settle on a Brexit payment until they have secured a good free trade deal. The EU, however, has described the Brexit payment and future trade agreement as two separate issues. British Prime Minister Theresa May said, “I think a good trade deal is not just about the UK, it is about what is good for businesses in what will be the 27 remaining states of the EU as well.” May admitted that Britain would have to pay money to the EU on leaving the group. But trade remained the main issue, “I think it is in all our interest to move on to those trade talks and to get a good idea.” Questions about border Border policies are another issue that has slowed talks. The two sides have made little progress on how Europeans will be treated under British law and other border issues. The sides must agree on the rights of more than two million European citizens and their families who are living and working in Britain. And an estimated 1.3 million Britons live in EU countries. In addition, Britain must work out border issues with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member. Ireland and Northern Ireland oppose harsh border policies fearing a renewal of the Irish conflict. Ireland also has threatened to veto trade negotiations until officials are satisfied with the border agreement. Disagreement within Britain Some former British officials have criticized the British governments negotiating strategy. They say it shows sharp disagreements between members of May’s cabinet and Conservative Party parliament ministers. They disagree on whether Britain should remain a member of the EU single market and customs union. Such a move would make trade easier, but Britain would have no control over trade rules set by the EU after it leaves the group. Finance minister Phil Hammond has the support of many top business leaders. He is trying to influence the Conservative Party away from a sharp break with Europe and its rules—what is being called a “hard Brexit.” The public is growing more concerned about Brexit according to opinion studies because of increasingly bad economic news. There also are concerns that Britain will lose many of the EU citizens who live and work in the country. The professional services company KPMG said in a study that about one million EU citizens, many who are highly educated, are planning to leave the country because of Brexit. I’m Mario Ritter.                                                             Jamie Dettmer reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   deadlocked –adj. unable to move forward, flexible –adj. willing to change or do things differently customs –n. the system of taxes and costs that a government seeks when goods come into the country from another country   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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US, Allies in Show of Force against N. Korea

The United States and its allies have again responded to a North Korean missile test. This time, the response included a military exercise using real ammunition. American military aircraft included two B-1B bombers from a base in Guam and four F-35B stealth fighter jets from a base in Japan. Four South Korean fighter jets joined the Americans to fly over the Korean peninsula. And Japanese military aircraft flew over Japanese waters in the 10-hour operation. The combined forces released live weapons at the Pilsung Range training area. The show of force came two days after North Korea fired an intermediate-range missile over Japan. General Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy is the commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces. He said, "North Korea's actions are a threat to our allies, partners and homeland, and their destabilizing actions will be met accordingly. Our forward deployed force will be the first to the fight, ready to deliver a lethal response at a moment's notice if our nation calls." North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency issued a statement calling the exercise a “rash act of those taken aback” by North Korea’s recent missile launch. The U.S. military frequently responds to North Korean actions with a show-of-force display of its attack aircraft. In July, the U.S. and South Korean militaries also fired missiles into South Korean waters. The action was in response to a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile launch. Joseph Dunford is the top general of the U.S. military. On a recent trip to the region, he said the military's main goal is supporting U.S. efforts to denuclearize the Korean peninsula. But he added that the U.S. is preparing what he called "viable military options" in the event that those efforts fail. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Carla Babb reported this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   destabilize – v. to cause something to be unable to continue existing or working in the usual or desired way; to make something unstable lethal – adj. causing or able to cause death stealth – adj. used to describe military aircraft that are designed so that they cannot be easily seen by radar viable – adj. capable of being done or used; workable

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News Words: Empathy

Empathy is a human trait. Find out what it means in the week's News Words.

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Lesson 51: A Good Habit

Summary Anna has a new goal - to run in a marathon. Her friend Ashley knows that training a little every day is a good idea. Will Anna be able to meet her goal? Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about gerunds and infinitives. ​Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how Americans pronounce the reduced form of "to" in sentences with infinitives. Conversation   Anna: D.C. is a popular city for marathons! A marathon is a long race. Many marathons raise money for charity, you know - good works. A marathon is a good fitness goal too. I want to challenge myself in a marathon and maybe win a medal! Hey, there’s Ashley. Ashley! Wait for me! It’s Anna! Anna: Ash … ley. Ash … ley. Ashley: Are you okay, Anna? Anna: I just ran … from over there. Ashley: Do you want to sit down, Anna?  Do you want some water? (Anna takes the bottle and tries to return it.) No thanks. You keep it. Anna: Thanks. I didn’t know you like to run. Ashley: I love running. In fact, this weekend, I will run in my first marathon. Anna: Me … too. Ashley: Really? You are running in a marathon? Anna: Yeah. In a couple of days. Why do you ask … like that? Ashley: What do you know about running in a marathon? Anna: I know that there’s a lot of running and sometimes you can win a medal.  Ashley: How long have you been training? Anna: I started today. I’ve been training for an hour … no, an hour and seven minutes! Ashley: Anna, training a little every day is a good habit to get into. Not all at once! Anna: Thanks for the advice, Ashley. But I’m running in a special race. Ashley: What marathon is it? Anna: I don’t remember the name. But the website said everyone gets a medal. Ashley: Okay, well, good luck, Anna! Anna: Thanks, Ashley. Good luck to you, too. Ashley: Thank you. Anna: Bye! Ashley: Bye, Anna! Anna: See you! (At the race: an announcer calls out race information) Anna: Hello. I am here to enter the race! Woman: But ma’am you can’t enter the race. Anna: What? How am I going to meet my goal? Woman: Ma’am, this race is for children. You can’t run with the children. Anna: Children? Children. That’s perfect. I just might win! Woman: No, ma’am. You really can’t run with the children. Anna: I’m sorry. Of course. I was only thinking of my goal. Woman: Well, you can help us with our goal, which is to raise money for sick children. Would you like to help us? Anna: I’ve just found my new goal. And I get to wear a medal. (to child who finished race) Good job! Writing In this lesson, Anna helps at a charity event. Have you ever helped with a charity? Tell us about what you did to help. Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet to practice using gerunds and infinitives to talk about sports.  Please note, our activity sheets now can be completed on the computer. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Set a Goal. This strategy is what we do when we plan to do something. In learning a language, setting a goal means we have a reason to learn. That helps us focus on our study and practice more often.  In this lesson, Anna has a goal of running in a marathon. Her friend Ashley has the same goal. But Ashley has been training so she can run the long race. She set a goal and is working hard to meet it. Anna's goal is not easy to meet because she has not been training, or preparing to run well. She learns that she can have a new goal in this week's lesson. That goal is something she will be able to meet. What is your goal for learning English? Write to us about the goals you have and how you are working to meet them 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 challenge - v.  to test the ability, skill, or strength of (someone or something) charity - n.  a organization that helps people in need fitness - n.  the condition of being physically fit and healthy goal - n.  something that you are trying to do or achieve habit - n.  something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way marathon - n. a running race that is about 26 miles (42 kilometers) long medal - n.  a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement race - n.  a competition between people, animals or vehicles to see which one is fastest special - adj. different from what is normal or usual train - v.  to try to make yourself stronger, faster, or better at doing something before competing in an event or competition ______________________________________________________________ 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 using gerunds and infinitives to talk about sports. 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: Review of Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous; Gerunds; Infinitives (to + verb) Topics: Habits; Discussing things you dislike doing; Expressing appreciation Learning Strategy: Set a Goal Speaking and Pronunciation: Reduced "to" in infinitives Poll _______________________________________________________________ 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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Let's Learn English Level 2 Lesson 1: Budget Cuts

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America's Presidents - Woodrow Wilson

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Google Offers Questionnaire to Help Detect Depression

  Everyone feels sad from time to time. But what happens when that sadness lasts a long time? Is it just a passing feeling or the medical condition known as depression? Many people do not know whether what they are feeling is a passing phase or a serious condition requiring treatment. They may not know where to turn to find out if they should get help. Google is trying to change that by helping people recognize whether what they are feeling is actually depression. The company has teamed up with the National Alliance for Mental Illness, or NAMI, to offer a questionnaire to people who search for the word "depression" on Google’s website. The alliance says, "Clinical depression is a very common condition. In fact, approximately one in five Americans experience an episode in their lifetime.” However, the alliance says, only about 50 percent of people who suffer from depression actually receive treatment." Google has set up a short examination that can help people recognize whether they are suffering from clinical depression. The test will be offered to people who search for "depression" or "clinical depression" using Google on a mobile device. The search results will show information on depression with a link to a series of questions, to help identify if someone has signs of depression. The questionnaire is called Patient Health Questionnaire-9, or PHQ-9. Mental health experts use many of the same questions to help identify depression in their patients. While only a trained expert can identify depression, PHQ-9 can be a starting point to help you know whether to seek treatment. NAMI explains, "We hope that by making this information available on Google, more people will become aware of depression and seek treatment to recover and improve their quality of life." Using the depression questionnaire on Google To take the test, search for "depression" in Google’s search engine. The results should show an explanation about clinical depression. Below the explanation is a message that reads, "-> Check if you're clinically depressed." Click that message to begin taking the questionnaire. Google says the test takes about five minutes to complete. Touch the "Get Started" button to begin. At the end you will see a list of numbers from 0 to 27. It will show how likely you are to have signs of clinical depression. The website also shows what to do next, based on the results of the questionnaire. What else you need to know PHQ-9 was developed for adults, not children. The questionnaire is available on Google search results only on phones and tablets, not other computers. If you search using a computer, you will see information about depression, but not the link to PHQ-9. If you want to search for "depression" with a computer, or do not see the link to the questionnaire on your phone or tablet, you can search for "PHQ-9" on Google instead. By taking this questionnaire on Google, you will be sharing information about yourself with the company, if you are in your Google account. Google says that your answers will be kept private. They will not be shared with others. Google's privacy statement appears before the questionnaire: Other ways to assess depression There are other ways to help identify whether you are suffering from depression.  The PHQ-9 quiz is also available at the patientinfo.com website. You can take the test and see the results to help judge whether you suffer from depression. Mental Health America, or MHA also offers an online depression test. After you take the test, MHA asks for personal information, but you can ignore that part by clicking on the word "Submit" without answering any of the questions. You will see the results after you take the test, with suggestions about what to do next. The free Depression Test app for Android by Japps Medical also uses the PHQ-9 questionnaire. The app also gives users test results based on their symptoms of clinical depression. As with all computer software, be sure to read the permissions section before getting this app. Also, the magazine Psychology Today has a depression test you can take online. Its test lasts about 20 minutes and gives you a short report. If you want a full report, you will have to pay about $5. I’m Caty Weaver.    Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you like the idea of Google offering a depression questionnaire in its search results? Do you think this questionnaire will help people become more aware of depression? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   phase - n. a short period of time during which a person behaves in a particular way or likes a particular thing clinical - adj. requiring treatment as a medical problem approximately - adj. close in value or amount but not precise check - v. to get information by looking at something, asking about something, etc.

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Scientist: Warming Makes Storms like Harvey Wetter

  A storm named Harvey set a rainfall record in the continental United States this week. It dumped 1.32 meters of water over southeastern Texas. The former rainfall record was set in 1978 as Tropical Storm Amelia dropped 1.21 meters of rainfall in the same area, according to the National Weather Service. Scientists say this may show what the future will be because of global warming. They say climate change did not cause Harvey. But they note that warmer air and water mean wetter and possibly more intense hurricanes in the future. “This is the kind of thing we are going to get more of,” said Princeton University climate scientist Michael Oppenheimer. “This storm should serve as warning.” Scientific methods can be used to study if Harvey is tied to man-made climate change. It involves complex mathematical processes. And it will take weeks or months to complete the study and even longer to be reviewed by other scientists. But in general, climate scientists agree that the future storms will drop much more rain than the same sized storms that came before. Why is that? Warmer air holds more water. For every degree Celsius, the atmosphere can hold, and then drop an extra 7 percent of water, according to several scientists. Global warming also means warmer seas. And it is warm water that fuels hurricanes. Hurricanes need air temperatures of at least 26 degrees Celsius for fuel. The water in the Gulf was at least that warm, 100 meters deep, according to University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy. Jeff Masters is meteorology director for Weather Underground. He says when Harvey moved toward Texas, water in the Gulf of Mexico was nearly 1 degree Celsius warmer than normal. Climate scientists are still debating what role, if any, global warming may have played in causing Harvey to stall, or stop and sit over Texas. The storm not moving on was the big reason for the disastrous flooding. All that rain would not have landed in any one area if the storm had moved on like other normal ones Harvey stalled because it was between two high-pressure weather fronts. They pushed it in opposite directions, and trapped it in place. Princeton’s Oppenheimer theorizes that there is a connection between melting sea ice in the Arctic and changes in the jet stream and the weather patterns that make these “blocking fronts” more common. He is not the only one thinking this. But others say it is too early to know . Cliff Mass says climate change is not powerful enough to create an event like Harvey’s rainfall. He is an atmospheric scientist at the University of Washington. “You really can't pin global warming on something this extreme. It has to be natural variability,” Mass said. “It may juice it up slightly but not create this phenomenal anomaly.” “We're breaking one record after another with this thing,” Mass said. I’m Anne Ball.  Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English from several VOA News story. Hai Do 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   weather front – n. a boundary between two different air masses  that results in stormy weather jetstream – n. a strong current of fast winds high above the Earth's surface pin – v. to prevent or stop (someone or something) from moving by holding or pressing firmly against something variability – adj. able or likely to change or be changed : not always the same phenomenal – adj. very good or great : unusual in a way that is very impressive anomaly – n. something that is unusual or unexpected  

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Former Colombia Rebels Become a Political Party

A former rebel group in Colombia is becoming a political party. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia fought against the Colombian government for more than 50 years. It was the largest rebel movement in the country. This week, it launched a political party at a conference in the capital, Bogota. The former rebels said they would work with other groups to overturn the country’s traditional conservativism. The rebels signed a historic peace deal with the government last year. The agreements guarantee the former fighters 10 seats in Congress. The new party will get the same amount of financial support the government gives to Colombia’s 13 other political parties. The government also agreed to give the former rebels $500,000 to launch a research group to help the party develop its political beliefs. Rodrigo Londono was known as Timochenko when he fought for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also called the FARC. He recently told a group of former rebels they “are taking an extraordinary step in the history of the common people’s struggle in Colombia.” But he noted that the decision to sign the agreements doesn’t mean we are rejecting in any way “our fundamental principles.” The group has said that it still believes in the political and economic ideas of Karl Marx. And it says it will seek support for its social justice policies from poor people, workers and middle-class Colombians who live in cities. The group faces opposition from many who identify the rebels with kidnappings and terrorism. In August, an opinion study found that fewer than 10 percent of Colombians said they had complete trust in the rebels as a party. A large majority said they would never vote for a former guerrilla in congressional elections. Adam Isacson works at the Washington Office on Latin America, a research group. He says the former rebels are “not going to be received very warmly in most of Colombia. Their human rights record hurt them. Their media image is terrible. Most Colombians quite simply aren’t socialists or communists.” But Isaacson added, “All is not lost. A message of wanting to redistribute wealth and undo economic injustice could probably do quite well in a lot of poor areas of Colombia.” The group’s entry into politics is strongly opposed by politicians like former President Alvaro Uribe. He has sharply criticized the peace agreement. And the Supreme Court is now considering whether a law naming the former rebels a political party is constitutional. Earlier, the court had ruled it was. At a recent court hearing, former Peace Commissioner Camilo Gomez said “the fact that a war criminal could become president of Colombia makes no sense.” But many people support the peace deal. Ivan Cepeda of the Alternative Democratic Pole says bringing the rebels into the political process is the best way to guarantee a lasting peace. “We have had to pay a very high cost in lives, in infrastructure that today we are saving with the end of the conflict,” Cepeda said. “It’s more an investment in the democracy of Colombia.” The FARC was formed in the early 1960s by guerrillas allied with Colombia’s Communist Party. Over the next 53 years, at least 250,000 people were killed in fighting among the rebels, government forces and paramilitary groups. About 60,000 people are still listed as missing, and millions of people were displaced. Four years of negotiations in Cuba between rebel leaders and the Colombian government ended with the signing of the peace agreements. The rebels agreed to give up their weapons and admit to their crimes in a special peace tribunal. Most of them will not be sent to jail. The rebels must also return any property they seized to victims of the conflict. The agreement also deals with how to reduce the production of coca crops, from which the drug cocaine is made. The United States once named the FARC as one of the world’s biggest traffickers of illegal drugs. Colombian voters rejected the peace deal by a small number of votes. But the country’s legislature later approved a different version, with minor changes. Recently, the Colombian company Politmetrica asked Colombians whether they were hopeful about the peace process. The survey found that public optimism has dropped since the nationwide vote last October -- from 67 percent of those surveyed to just about 53 percent. I’m Phil Dierking. And I'm John Russell.   The Associated Press news agency reported this story from Bogota. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the 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   extraordinary – adj. very unusual; extremely good fundamental – adj. of or relating to the most important part of something principle – n. a law, moral rule or belief redistribute – v. to spread to other areas paramilitary – adj. of or relating to an armed group or militia tribunal – n. a court of justice survey – n. ​an activity in which many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something ​ optimism – n. ​a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future : a feeling or belief that what you hope for will happen​ We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Tajikistan to Start School During Muslim Religious Observance

  Officials in Tajikistan have decided to begin the new school year this Friday, even if Friday is one of the holiest days for the country’s Muslims.  The Education Ministry confirmed to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Monday that classes will be held in schools and universities across Tajikistan on September 1. This is the same day as the start of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, or “Feast of the Sacrifice,” which takes place over several days.  Eid al-Adha is one of two major religious observances named as public holidays in Tajikistan’s 1994 constitution. The other is Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim festival that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.  The country also observes September 1 as the Day of Knowledge, which marks the beginning of the school year. Tajik officials said they decided to start the new school year on this date. But they also chose to give students a public holiday on Saturday, September 2, to celebrate Eid al-Adha.  Students in Tajikistan attend school six days a week, including Saturday.  “Eid al-Adha is celebrated for three days, so our students will still have an opportunity to celebrate it on Saturday and Sunday,” the ministry spokesman said.  The decision was supported by imams across Tajikistan, where about nine out of 10 people are Muslim. The religious leaders urged parents to honor the government’s decision and send their children to school on September 1.  Imams in Tajikistan largely support the country’s secular system of government. In recent years, Tajik leaders took steps to tighten control over some Islamic customs as officials warned of the possibility of growing extremism.  The hijab head covering and other forms of Islamic clothing are not permitted in Tajik schools and government offices. Children are mostly barred from praying in mosques. Other Central Asian states that declared independence from the Soviet Union have made their own decisions on how to handle Eid al-Adha and the start of school.  Kyrgyzstan will mark both the religious festival and the first day of school on September 1, but has canceled classes. Instead, schools will hold gatherings to mark Education Day.  Kazakhstan moved the first day of school to September 2 to enable Eid al-Adha celebrations.  Uzbekistan did not need to make changes because September 1 is already a public holiday held to mark Independence Day.  Turkmenistan’s state media reported that Eid al-Adha would be celebrated with a three-day public holiday starting on September 2. The country announced an additional “day off” September 5, to make up for the Sunday that happens during the Eid al-Adha festival.  I’m Dorothy Gundy.    Farangis Najibullah wrote this story for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ______________________________________________________________  Words in This Story    imam – n. Muslim religious leader  secular – n. not related to religious or spiritual matters  hijab – n. head covering worn in public by some Muslim women   

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UN Official Criticizes Trump’s Attacks on News Media

  A top United Nations official has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for his repeated criticisms of the news media. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein is warning Trump’s comments could incite violence against news media workers. He also accused the president of attacking “freedom of the press.” Trump has repeatedly criticized news organizations such as The New York Times newspaper and CNN television for their reporting. He has also been critical of The Washington Post newspaper, which is part of the internet business Amazon. The president criticized some media organizations for their reports on violence in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this month. The violence took place at a demonstration called by white nationalists. Their opponents launched a counter-protest to answer the demonstration. One counter-protester was killed in the violence. Later, Trump criticized the media for their reporting, calling some reporters “truly dishonest people” for the way they described those events. Al-Hussein spoke about Trump’s recent comments in Geneva Wednesday. “To call these news organizations fake does tremendous damage,” the U.N. official said. He went on to question criticizing individual reporters. “Is this not an incitement for others to attack journalists” he asked? Al-Hussein called the violence in Charlottesville an “abomination.” He added that a reporter from the Guardian newspaper had been, in his words, “assaulted in the United States most recently.” The U.N. official also expressed concern over Trump’s decision to pardon Joe Arpaio, a former Arizona law enforcement official. A court had found Arpaio guilty of disobeying the order of a federal judge to halt targeting immigrants at traffic stops. The Trump administration announced the pardon last Friday. Al-Hussein also said he was worried about comments the president has made in the past about women, Mexicans and Muslims. Al-Hussein formerly served as Jordan’s ambassador to the United States. He has been the U.N.’s top human rights official since September 1, 2014. I’m Mario Ritter.   Wayne Lee reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted his report for Learning English. His story includes additional material from the Reuters news agency. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fake – adj. not real tremendous – adj. to a very great or high level abomination – n. something that causes horror or hatred We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Houston Restaurant Sends Rescue Boat for Flood Victims

  This is What’s Trending Today. There have been a lot of stories about people being rescued from flooded homes in and around Houston, Texas. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States. The area has received over 120 centimeters of rain in just a few days. Many Houston neighborhoods are flooded. Many people decided to wait out Hurricane Harvey when it first hit southeast Texas on Friday. But after so much rain, they found the water had entered their homes and they needed to leave. That is what happened on Monday to J.C. Spencer and his wife Karen, who live in north Houston. “We had to get out of there,” J.C. Spencer told the television show Good Morning America. With local police and fire department crews overwhelmed with life-saving efforts, some Houston residents had trouble getting help. Some people said telephone calls to 9-1-1, the number U.S. residents call when they are in danger, were going unanswered. The Los Angeles Times newspaper reported that some Houston residents calling 9-1-1 found out their call would not be answered for over two hours. So many residents turned to social media websites like Twitter and Facebook and posted messages asking for help. The Spencers had another idea. They called a restaurant where they often had dinner. The restaurant is Chick-fil-A, an eatery known for both its chicken sandwiches and friendly workers. When the Spencers explained their problem, the store’s manager sent her husband to their house on a boat.   J.C. Spencer said the phone call went like this: “I called Chick-fil-A, now that sounds kind of funny,” he said. “I ordered two grilled chicken burritos with extra egg and a boat.” The Spencers loaded their belongings onto the boat, but there was not enough room for them to get in. Next thing they knew, two more people riding Jet Skis arrived to help. A Jet Ski travels on water like a small boat, but moves fast, like a motorcycle. The Spencers got on the Jet Skis and were taken to a safe place. They said they were “grateful” for the help. A number of people reacted to the story on Twitter. One wrote: “don’t forget to give that manager a raise!” Another called it “the best story of the day.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on reports by ABC News and the Los Angeles Times. George Grow was the editor. What do you think about the chicken restaurant sending a boat? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   overwhelm – v. to cause (someone) to have too many things to deal with manager – n. someone who is in charge of a business or office grill – v. to cook food on a metal frame over a fire burrito – n. a Mexican food that consists of a flour tortilla that is rolled or folded around a filling (such as meat, beans, and cheese) grateful – adj. feeling or showing thanks raise – n. an increase in the amount of your pay

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August 30, 2017

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

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Trump to N. Korea: All Options Are on the Table

President Donald Trump says “all options are on the table” in connection with North Korea’s launch of a missile over Japan. Trump released a short written statement Tuesday. It said the launch signaled North Korea’s “contempt for its neighbors, for all members of the United Nations.” The statement also said that, “Threatening and destabilizing actions only increase the North Korean regime’s isolation in the region and among all nations of the world.” Trump later told reporters, “We’ll see, we’ll see” when asked what he would do about North Korea. Trump was leaving the White House for a trip to examine storm damage in the American state of Texas. Hours earlier, North Korea had fired a midrange ballistic missile that flew over Japan’s Hokkaido Island and landed in the sea. This marked the first time that North Korea sent a missile over territory of a U.S. ally. With minutes of the launch, residents on the northern Japanese island received emergency messages on their cellphones. Officials sounded alarms and sent emails telling people to stay indoors. Speakers broadcast a message saying, “missile is passing, missile is passing.” The launch followed three other short-range missile tests last week as the U.S. and South Korea were holding their joint yearly military exercises. North Korea has repeatedly described the exercises as preparation for invasion. U.S. officials, including former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, have said “all options on the table” in answer to North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests before. But many experts believe that the North would likely answer a U.S. strike by attacking South Korea or Japan. About 25 million people live in or near the South Korean capital, Seoul, within range of North Korean artillery fire along the border. The U.S. has said it wants to use economic and diplomatic pressure to win a negotiated solution. Just last week, Trump praised North Korea’s decision to back down from its earlier threats to launch missiles into the sea close to the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. He added, “Kim Jong Un, I respect the fact that I believe he is starting to respect us… And maybe, probably not, but maybe something positive can come about.” Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan spoke on the telephone about the latest missile test. The White House said the two leaders agreed that North Korea creates “a grave and growing direct threat” to the U.S., Japan, South Korea and countries around the world. Abe said in a statement that Trump also expressed his “strong commitment” to defending Japan. I'm Caty Weaver.   Hai Do adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on Reuters and Associated Press news reports. Caty Weaver was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   option - n. choice or possibility midrange - n. middle distance resident - n. someone who lives in a particular place positive - adj. good or useful  

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Can Computer Programs Help Students, Teachers?

  Junior Alvarado was worried when he began his first year at a public charter high school in Washington, DC. He often struggled in his math classes and earned poor grades in middle school. But the teachers at the Washington Leadership Academy used computer programs to identify the areas he was weak in and design a learning plan just for him. As Alvarado started geometry in his second year of high school last week, he says he felt much better about his math skills. “For me personalized learning is having classes set at your level,” the 15-year-old said, in between lessons. “They explain the problem step by step, it wouldn't be as fast. It will be at your [speed].” Many schools in the United States struggle to raise the high school graduation rate. They also have difficulty helping many minority and low-income students perform at the same level as others. So many educators see digital technology as a way of solving these problems. ​ Personalized learning The use of technology in schools is part of a larger idea of personalized learning. This idea has been gaining popularity in recent years. Personalized learning is a way of teaching centered around the interests and needs of individual students instead of entire classes as a whole. It includes flexible learning environments, specially-designed education plans, and letting students help decide what and how they learn. Under the Obama administration, the Education Department put $500 million into personalized learning programs in 68 school districts. These programs served almost 500,000 students in 13 states and Washington, D.C. Organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have also invested heavily in digital tools and other student-centered methods. The International Association for K-12 Online Learning supports the growth of education technology. It claims that up to 10 percent of all of America's public schools now us some form of personalized learning. Rhode Island plans to spend $2 million to become the first U.S. state to make teaching in all of its schools individualized. And current U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos also supports personalized learning. Supporters say traditional methods, where teachers just speak at the front of the class and test students all at once, do not match the modern world. Ken Wagner is the Rhode Island Education Commissioner. He said, “The economy needs kids who are creative problem solvers, who synthesize information, [form] and express a point of view.” At Washington Leadership Academy, educators use computer programs to collect information on students’ performance. This information helps teachers follow their students’ progress and make changes to lessons that meet students’ individual needs. That way students are able to master subjects at their own speed. In English classes, for example, students reading below their level would have the same books or reading materials as their classmates. But complex words in the reading materials would have notes helping explain the words shown on the students’ computer screens. Joseph Webb is the principal who helped establish the Washington Leadership Academy last year. The school serves about 200 mostly African American students from high-poverty and high-risk areas in Washington, D.C. He says the digital tools help teachers identify problems students are facing before they become too serious. “We can [solve them] right then and there; we don't have to wait for the problem to come to us,” he said. Too early to tell Still, many researchers say it is too early to tell if personalized learning works better than traditional teaching. The Rand Corporation recently did a study of personalized learning and found that it only led to small improvements. It found only a 3-percentile improvement in math and even smaller improvements in reading compared to schools with traditional teaching methods. Some students also complained group work in personalized learning classes was more difficult as each student had different tasks to complete. In addition, experts in children’s health say the overuse of technology presents other problems. They warn that too much time looking at screens can damage face-to-face relationships and young people’s interest in physical activity. Some teachers have their doubts as well. Marla Kilfoyle is the executive director of the Badass Teachers Association, an education activist group. She admits that technology can be helpful in the classroom in many ways. But she argues that no computer program should ever replace the personal touch, support and inspiration teachers give their students. “That human element is very important when children learn,” Kilfoyle said. I’m Lucija Milonig. And I’m Pete Musto.   Maria Danilova reported this story for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. How much technology should teachers and students use in classrooms? How important is the personal connection between teachers and students? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   charter – n. a document which declares that a city, town, school, or corporation has been established   graduation – n. the act of completing an education program at a school, college, or university income – n. money that is earned from work, investments, or business digital – adj. using or characterized by computer technology flexible – adj. easily changed district(s) – n. an area or region containing the schools that a school board is in charge of match – v. to be suited to (someone or something): to go well with (someone or something) synthesize – v. to combine things in order to make something new screen(s) – n. the usually flat part of a television or computer monitor that shows the images or text complain – v. to say or write that you are unhappy, sick, uncomfortable, etc., or that you do not like something doubt – n. a feeling of being uncertain or unsure about something inspiration – n. something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create

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Arctic Warming Means Battles for Shipping and Riches

  At the top of the world, under the ice, lies a large number of natural resources. Gas, coal, uranium and other minerals, even diamonds, sit under the ice inside the Arctic Circle. As climate change pushes the cold and ice farther north each year, discussion increases about how to get to those resources. Less ice also means possible new business in shipping, tourism and fishing. But, industry experts, researchers and people in the far north say there are many problems in reaching those rich resources. People who want to protect the environment are against any large effort to take Arctic resources.  They warn that the fragile environment could be harmed past repair. The Northwest Passage, between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is one of the last unexplored areas of the planet. But, that is changing as more companies seek business possibilities in the frozen north. Ships are now taking passengers through the Arctic Circle. Last year, the cruise ship Crystal Serenity sailed through the passage. On board were 500 crew and 1,100 “adventure tourists,” who paid at least $22,000 each for the four-week trip. The trip was unusual, however. Fewer than 500 ships have sailed through the passage since the first in 1906. Such trips require approval of almost 30 Canadian agencies, including Nunavut territory officials. In addition to tourism, shipping companies may start using the passage to save on fuel costs. Sailing through the passage cuts the travel distance between East Asia and Western Europe by more than 10,000 kilometers. Such travel usually moves through the Panama Canal. However, businesses may want to do more than move through the area, like mine for resources. “As the world demand for raw materials is ever increasing, and (with) a realization that a large part of the unexplored deposits are in the Arctic, there is a natural shift to focus on that area,” said Mads Boye Peterson, head of Denmark’s Nordic Bulk Carriers Shipping. Petersen noted that rising temperatures make operations more difficult because the moving ice floes are less predictable than solid ice sheets. The Arctic is a 14.5 million square kilometer area around the North Pole. But, it is not all ice and ocean. It also has a mix of plant and animal life. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that up to 30 percent of the world’s undiscovered gas and 13 percent of its undiscovered oil are inside the Arctic Circle. But there could be other resources also, like diamonds, uranium, phosphate, nickel, platinum and other minerals. Morten Smelror is the director of the Geological Survey of Norway. He also said lithium and cobalt have been found in important amounts in the Arctic regions of Russia, the Nordic countries and Greenland. Lithium and cobalt are used to make batteries that power the growing number of electric cars and small electronic devices. And the Arctic’s huge Baffin Island holds large amounts of pure iron, which is used to make steel. “The Arctic is certainly among the last frontiers with respect to undiscovered mineral resources, along with the deep oceans,” Smelror said. Countries in the Arctic region are making claims to land and resources in the area. Greenland claims the Lomonosov Ridge, an underwater ridge, 1800 kilometers long.  But Russia disputes the claim. The United Nations is working to settle the disagreement. Russia also has claimed ownership of a large Arctic Ocean area and, ten years ago, placed a Russian flag underwater at the North Pole. Canada and the United States also dispute ownership of parts of the Arctic region. In April, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that cancelled restrictions on oil exploration in the Arctic and other places. I’m Anne Ball. And I'm Caty Weaver. Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English from VOA News and AP reports. Caty Weaver 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   fragile – adj. easily broken or damaged cruise – adj. a kind of boat or ship that travels to a number of places for vacation adventure tourism – n. tourism that involves travel to remote areas and usually involve physically challenging activities realization – n. the state of understanding or becoming aware of something deposit – n. an amount of a substance (such as oil or coal) that exists naturally in the ground icebreaker – n. a special ship that can move through icy water by cutting the ice complicated – adj. something that is sure to happen or be successful Nordic – adj. of or relating to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and sometimes Finland and Iceland, or to the people who live there ice floe – n. a large, flat area of ice floating in the ocean ice sheet – n. a very large and thick area of ice that covers a region frontier – n. a distant area where few people live ridge – n. a long area of land that is on top of a mountain or hill

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How Will Angola's New President Deal With Economic Problems?

  Angolans have elected their first new president in nearly forty years. Joao Lourenco, the president-elect, has said he wants to reduce the country's dependence on oil. But critics say the country's economic problems and inequality do not come from dependence on oil. Rather, they say that these problems come from bad governance. Many Angolans hope economic conditions improve. Kialopo Feliciana sells food at a market in Luanda. She makes about $18 a day. But, the business is very costly, she told VOA recently. That is why she has little money for her home and family.   Of the money she makes, Feliciana brings home about $9 a day. But her family depends on the money, she says, because her adult son cannot find a job. Unemployment is around 26 percent in the country. On the other side of town from Feliciana, there are large houses and upscale stores on many streets. At a gelato shop, customers spend what is equal to Feliciana's daily income in one visit. Retiring President Jose Eduardo dos Santos lives in this neighborhood. During his 38-year rule, he was often accused of spending the government's oil income on himself and those close to him. Angola is Africa's second-largest oil producer, but that wealth has not helped all Angolans. President-elect Lourenco says he wants to develop industries other than oil. Before the election, he told a crowd that he wants to increase activity in agriculture, tourism, industry, and other areas of the economy. Accusations of Bad Governance But his critics say the problem is far simpler. Manuel Fernandes is an opposition lawmaker. He told VOA that poverty in the country is not because of the drop in oil prices. Poverty in the country, he said, comes from bad governance. Government critic and reporter Rafael Marques says Lourenco is in a difficult situation because dos Santos still controls much of the nation's wealth. "The question is, how is he going to run the country without money,” he said. Marques says that people who were members of the government “are living with a tight control over the economic assets of the country, which they will not pass on to the new president." It is a difficult situation for Lourenco. Once the official vote count is confirmed, he must turn to the task of governing. I'm John Russell.   Anita Powell reported on this story for VOA News. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   upscale – adj. relating to or appealing to people who have a lot of money gelato – n. Italian or Italian-style ice cream asset – n. a valuable person or thing  

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Maria Sharapova Returns to Grand Slam Tennis

This is What’s Trending Today. The U.S. Open is the last big event of the year in international tennis. The late-summer championship in New York, the Australian Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon are known as the “Grand Slams.” Maria Sharapova, the Russian tennis star, has not played in a Grand Slam event since January 2016. After the Australian Open in 2016, she tested positive for a banned drug called meldonium. She was suspended from tennis for 15 months. Meldonium is thought to help the heart process energy more easily and allow athletes to play and practice harder without getting sore and tired. Sharapova returned to competitive tennis earlier this year after serving her punishment. On Monday night in New York, she defeated second-ranked Simona Halep of Romania in three sets. The match took three hours, which is unusual for the early rounds at the U.S. Open. Normally, those matches are faster because one of the top-ranked players in the world is playing a much weaker opponent. Due to her suspension, Sharapova is no longer ranked as one of the best in the world, but she is still a very good player. After the match, Sharapova moved up to 134th in the world. Many tennis fans and reporters had the same reaction: “She’s back!” Even Halep was impressed. “She played really well,” Halep said, about Sharapova. Others said Sharapova celebrated as if she had won the championship. Sharapova’s return to high-level tennis may turn out to be good news for the U.S. Open. The tournament is missing a number of top players. Serena Williams is not playing because she is in the last month of her pregnancy. Williams announced she was pregnant in April and the baby will be born sometime soon -- perhaps while the tournament is still going on. In the men’s tournament, three of the world’s top players are missing. Andy Murray of Great Britain decided not to play due to a hip injury. Last year’s finalists – Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka – are not playing either, due to injuries. Long-time favorites Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are in the tournament, but they cannot meet in the finals. They are in the same half of the bracket. Overall, five of the top 11 men in the tennis rankings are missing. That means more people may be paying attention to Sharapova’s matches if she keeps winning. She is scheduled to play again on Wednesday morning. Chris Evert is a former champion player and a tennis commentator. She said: “women’s tennis needs her, and I’m glad she’s back.” Ben Rothenberg is a New York Times tennis writer. He said the match might have been the best-ever first-round match of a Grand Slam. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on reports by Tennis.com and the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. Will you follow Sharapova’s progress in the U.S. Open? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tournament – n. a sports competition or series of contests that involves many players or teams and that usually continues for at least several days practice – n. to do something again and again in order to become better at it sore – adj. feeling or affected by pain rank – n. a position in a society, organization, group, etc. impress – v. to cause (someone) to feel admiration or interest bracket – n. a chart showing the series of games to be played during a tournament

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August 29, 2017

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

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Lesson 50: Back to School

Summary Anna has been wanting to go back to school for a long time. In this lesson, we go to class with her at Georgetown University, where she is getting ready to give a report in her class. Did she understand the directions? Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about the present perfect continuous verb tense. Pronunciation This video teaches about how the word "for" is pronounced quickly in sentences using the present perfect continuous and a time phrase. Conversation   Anna: Hello, and welcome to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.! I am going back to school! Georgetown is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the United States. The Jesuits are a religious order known worldwide for their many colleges and universities. Students have been studying here since 1792! Sarah: Hey, are you finished with your report? Taylor: Almost. I have been writing and re-writing since last night! The subject is really interesting to me. Sarah: Me too! I have been studying this topic* for a long time. Anna: Am I late? Sarah: You’re a little late. But don’t worry. The professor isn’t here yet. Anna: How long has the class been waiting? Taylor: We’ve only been waiting for about 10 minutes. Anna: Oh good. Oh, no! I forgot my pencil sharpener. Excuse me, do you have a pencil sharpener I can borrow? Taylor: No, sorry. Anna: Oh wait. I found my extra one! Whew, that was close. Anna: So, how long have you been studying at Georgetown? Andrew: I’ve been studying here since 2015. Anna: Awesome. You know, I've been wanting to go back to school for a long time. So, here I am! Andrew: Well, you picked a great school. I’ve been really happy here. Anna: Awesome. See, I’ve been working for several years now. So, going back to school makes me a little nervous. Randall: Don’t be nervous. Just pay attention and do your best! Anna: That is great advice. You know, I have been paying attention. But sometimes I still feel like I don’t understand. Like last week … Anna: What’s that? Jada: This is my draft. Anna: What draft? Jada: The professor told us to bring our drafts. Anna: I think she said “giraffe.” Jada: No. She didn’t. Anna: Here comes the professor. Dr. Jones: Hello class! Sorry I'm late, but the snow storm made getting here really difficult. I see you’ve been waiting very patiently. So, let’s get started! Who wants to give their talk first? Anna: Oh! Oh! Please, please pick me. Dr. Jones: Anna? Anna: Who me? Sure. Thanks. Anna: Here is my report on “Violins in the City.” Anna: People have been looking for a solution to the problem of violins in the city. I say stop! Stop! They are not the problem! In fact, violins are part of the solution! Anna: Violins create beautiful music that can fill a city with hope. Dr. Jones: Anna … Anna: If we put a violin in the hands of every child … Dr. Jones: Anna! The topic is “Violence in the city.” Violence. Not violins. Anna: Until next time …Like I was saying, many people are saying that violence in the city is a problem. A very big problem. *  topic = subject Thanks to Georgetown University for allowing us to film on their historic campus. And a special thanks to the Georgetown students and staff who appeared in this episode: Andrew Debraggio, Sarah Mucha, Taylor Soergel, Jada Bullen, and Randall-Grace Johnson.   Writing In this lesson, Anna goes back to school. Did you ever take a special training course or classes? What did you learn? If you have not gone back to study, do you want to study something? Tell us about it. Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice using the present perfect continuous tense and monitoring what you hear. Please note, our activity sheets now can be completed on the computer.   Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Monitor. This strategy is what we use when we are speaking, and we want to know if our listeners understand what we say. We also monitor while we are listening, to check on whether we understand what we hear. In this lesson, Anna goes back to school. She misunderstands the professor, and gives her report on the wrong topic. As she is speaking, she looks at her classmates. Their faces show they are confused. Anna should be monitoring here, to see that the other students cannot understand why she is talking about violins.  After the professor corrects her, she begins talking about the topic of violence. What do you do to monitor when you are speaking in English? Write to us about it 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   Catholic - adj. of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church class - n. a group of students who meet regularly to be taught a subject or activity draft - n. a version of something (such as a report) that you make before you make the final version confused - adj. unable to understand or think clearly giraffe - n.  a very tall African animal that has an extremely long neck and legs Jesuit - n. a man who is a member of a religious group called the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus order - n. a religious organization whose members usually live together and promise to follow special rules and traditions patient - adj. able to remain calm and not become annoyed when waiting for a long time pay attention - phrase to listen to, watch, or consider something or someone very carefully pencil - n. an instrument used for writing and drawing that has a hard outer part and a black or colored center part professor - n. a teacher especially of the highest rank at a college or university religious - adj. believing in a god or a group of gods and following the rules of a religion report - n. a written or spoken description of a situation or event sharpener - n. a tool or machine that makes something sharp since - prep. in the time after (a specified time or event in the past) orfrom (a point in the past) until the present time solution - n. something that is used or done to deal with and end a problem study - v. to learn about something by reading, memorizing facts or attending school understand - v. to know the meaning of something violence - n. the use of physical force to harm someone or to damage property violin - n. a musical instrument that has four strings and that you play with a bow ______________________________________________________________ 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 using the present perfect continuous verb tense.   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: Present perfect continuous verb tense   Topics: Discussing duration of activity; Expressing surprise; Reassuring someone    Learning Strategy: Monitor Speaking & Pronunciation: Reduced "for" in sentences using  the present perfect continuous and a time phrase Poll _______________________________________________________________ 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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More Americans Died From Drugs Than Ever Before

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle Report. In 2016, more than 60,000 people died in the United States because of drugs. That is the highest number of drug deaths and the fastest yearly increase in recorded history. Early data suggests that deaths from opioids and other drugs will continue to rise in 2017. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein made this statement in June 2017 at a news conference with Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officials.   Rosenstein called it a “horrifying surge in drug overdoses." He added that drug abuse is wrecking families and communities throughout the U.S. More than two million Americans have some sort of physical dependence on opioids. Opioids are a type of painkiller that are legally prescribed to many people. Opioids are addictive if people take too much of them or take them for a long period of time. New types of illegal killer drugs However, there is a new and even more dangerous part of the opioid crisis and it is happening much more often. This is the making and selling of extremely strong, illegal types of drugs that copy ones that already exist. One such drug is fentanyl. Fentanyl is so strong that even the smallest amounts — as little as two or three grains — can kill. Police officers and other first responders who try to help drug overdose victims are often affected by the drug themselves. DEA does not yet have data on this part the problem. However, officials say there is a clear increase in cases where first responders have become ill while handling evidence or helping overdose drug victims. Chuck Rosenberg is a high-level official at the DEA. He has warned emergency responders to take great care in drug-overdose cases. He advises them to wear protective gear such as masks and gloves.   Even dogs trained to find illegal drugs are at risk. Their handlers have begun carrying antidotes for both the animals and themselves. However, these new synthetic drugs are so powerful that many doses of antidotes are sometimes needed to save the rescuers.   Rosenberg summed up DEA advice to emergency teams at an overdose scene: "If you don't know what it is, assume there's something in it that will kill you.'' Increasing danger in Europe The extremely fast rise in opioid problems is also happening in Europe. The European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction reported in June 2017 that dangerous synthetic drugs similar to heroin and morphine are a growing health threat in the European Union. Experts at the center say on its website that more than 8,000 people died from overdose in the EU in 2015. This is the third year in a row that the number of overdoses has increased in the EU. And the center warns that drug-related deaths in Europe could be much higher. For this, it blames delayed reporting and “under-reporting in some countries.” And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo. _____________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz. ​ _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   data – n. acts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something opioid – medical n. possessing some properties characteristic of opiate narcotics but not derived from opium horrifying – adj. something that causes someone to feel horror surge – n. a sudden, large increase antidote – n. a remedy to counteract the effects of poison sum up – phrasal verb to present a summary : to assess and then describe briefly synthetic – adj. made by combining different substances : not natural  

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Houston Faces Worsening Flooding Conditions

Houston, a city in the American state of Texas, will face worsening flooding conditions as Tropical Storm Harvey continues to rain on the city. On Friday, Harvey, the strongest storm to strike Texas in 50 years, came ashore near Corpus Christi, about 354 km south of Houston. It has since remained around Texas' Gulf Coast. The storm's rains submerged cars and flooded highways. Schools, airports and office buildings in the fourth largest city in the United States were closed as high waters filled some neighborhoods. More flooding is expected to come as the storm moves back in the direction of Houston. Weather reports say some areas in Texas could have as much as 1.27 meters of rain from the storm. Brock Long is the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. At a news conference on Monday, he said that more than 30,000 people are expected to be placed temporarily in shelters. The area immediately surrounding Houston, called the metropolitan area, is home to 6.8 million people. It is also home to many oil refineries in the U.S. Many have stopped operations, likely for weeks, due to the storm, including Exxon Mobil’s facility in Baytown. It is the United States' second largest refinery. As of Monday morning, the shut down reduced about 2.4 million barrels of oil, or 13 percent of daily U.S. production. The outages will limit the availability of U.S. gasoline and other refined products and push prices higher, experts said. Federal authorities predicted it would take years to repair the damage from Harvey. The rains brought back memories of Tropical Storm Allison, which struck Texas in 2001. It flooded 70,000 homes and caused $9 billion in damage. Damages are not likely to be as extensive as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which killed 1,800 people in and around New Orleans. Nor will damages likely be as high as Sandy, which hit New York in 2012. Those storms caused $80 billion and $36 billion in insured losses, respectively, according to Hannover Re, one of the world’s largest reinsurance companies. I'm Alice Bryant   Ruthy Munoz and Marianna Parraga reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   worsen – v. to make (something) worse or to become worse administrator – n. a person whose job is to manage a company, school, or other organization refinery – n. a place where something, like oil, is refined reinsurance -- n.  insuring (something) again so that the insurance is shared by more than one company

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India, China Agree to End Tense Border Conflict

  India and China have reached an agreement to end the most serious dispute in years between the Asian powers.  The two sides agreed to settle a border dispute at Doklam in the eastern Himalayas. Increased tensions there had raised fears of a wider conflict between the two countries. India’s foreign ministry says the decision followed diplomatic communications between Chinese and Indian officials. A quick removal of border personnel from the disputed area at Doklam “has been agreed to and is on-going,” said a ministry statement on Monday. It added that, “We were able to express our views and convey our concerns and interests." China’s foreign ministry said that Chinese soldiers will continue to patrol the area. A foreign ministry official said "China will continue to exercise sovereignty rights to protect territorial sovereignty in accordance with the rules of the historical boundary." The announcement comes days before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to China for meetings of the group of nations known as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). These talks are to take place next week. The timing of the BRICS summit had put pressure on China and India to find a solution before Modi’s visit. The dispute over the Doklam plateau in the Himalayas started two-and-one-half months ago. It has lasted much longer than earlier border conflicts between China and India. The two sides disagree about other parts of their 3,500 kilometer long border. The conflict began when Indian troops prevented China from building a road at Doklam, a plateau disputed between China and Bhutan. Since then, about 300 troops from each side have been sent to the area. This has raised fears of a larger conflict. India has refused to leave the territory. It fears that Chinese control of the plateau would give China easy access to a small piece of land connecting central India to the country’s northeast.  China has accused India of entering its territory. The Indian government, however, has claimed that the plateau was disputed territory between Bhutan and China. India also said its forces had moved in to help its small neighbor. India wanted both countries to remove their troops. China had demanded that India pull its troops back from the disputed area.  Chinese media also called on India to remember its defeat in a war fought between the two sides in 1962. In China, a spokesperson said, "China hopes India respects the historical boundary and works with China to protect peace along the border on the basis of mutual respect of each other's sovereignty." Commentators in India welcomed the decision on Monday. They said both sides appeared to have found a face-saving solution. Former India diplomat K.C. Singh told NDTV television India would not object to Chinese troops guarding the area because they did so in the past also. Singh also said, "What they (India and Bhutan) have objected to is changing the status quo, which is building a road.” I’m Phil Dierking.   Anjana Pasricha reported on this story for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted her report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.  What do you think is the best way for countries to resolve border conflicts?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   ______________________________________________________________  Words in This Story    convey - v. to make (something) known to someone patrol - v. to walk or go around or through especially in order to make sure that it is safe​ plateau - n. a large flat area of land that is higher than other areas of land that surround it​ sovereignty - n. a country's independent authority and the right to govern itself​ accordance - n. in a way that agrees with or follows something, such as a rule or request) access - n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone​ mutual - adj. shared between two or more people or groups​ face-saving - adj. done to keep someone from looking foolish​ status quo - n.  the way things are now​

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Calls for End of Hate, Racism at MTV Awards

This is What’s Trending Today. The MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night in Los Angeles included performances by popular musicians of the last 12 months. A number of musicians also denounced racism and discrimination after recent violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. Katy Perry hosted the event featuring singers and music groups, including Kendrick Lamar, Fifth Harmony, Miley Cyrus, and Lorde. Lamar opened the show with a hot version of his song, “Humble” that included back-up performers dancing on a wall of fire. They wore special suits that kept them from getting burned. “Humble” went on to win one of the night’s biggest awards: Best Hip-Hop Video. Critics, including Rob Sheffield of the music magazine Rolling Stone, wrote about the show. Sheffield said Perry’s attempts at comedy in her role of host fell flat and her performance of her song “Swish Swish” felt “labored and witless.” He was more excited to see British rock singer Rod Stewart’s appearance during the band DNCE’s version of “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” Stewart first recorded the song in 1978 and joined Joe Jonas on stage. Sheffield was also impressed by Lorde, who could not sing because of an illness. Lorde came on stage and danced along to a recorded version of her song “Homemade Dynamite.” Other performances of note came from the British girl-group Fifth Harmony and new rap artist Cardi B. Fifth Harmony performed its hit “Down” without Camila Cabello, who left the group in late 2016. Cardi B impressed fans with “Bodak Yellow,” one of the top rap songs of the summer. The music event also featured political comments from singers and special guests. Robert Wright Lee is a religious leader and a descendant of Confederate Civil War general Robert E. Lee. He introduced Susan Bro, saying he is “working to confront racism and white supremacy.” Bro is the mother of Heather Heyer. She was killed when a white supremacist drove his car into a crowd of activists protesting their presence Charlottesville, Virginia. Bro presented the Fight Against the System Award and announced the Heather Heyer Foundation, which will help people fight hate. Michael Jackson’s eldest daughter, Paris, presented the Best Pop Video award to Fifth Harmony. She also condemned the “violence, hatred and discrimination” from the white supremacist groups. Singer and actor Jared Leto honored singers Chis Cornell and Chester Bennington, who committed suicide over the summer. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on reports by The Associated Press and Rolling Stone. Hai Do was the editor. Did you watch the MTV show? What did you think? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story feature – n. an interesting or important part host – n. a person who talks to guests on a television or radio show witless – adj. very foolish or stupid descendant – n. someone who is related to a person or group of people who lived in the past white supremacist – n. a person who believes that the white race is better than all other races and should have control over all other races confront – v. to oppose or challenge (someone) especially in a direct and forceful way  

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A Desert Turns Green

On the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula, the desert turns green as clouds cover it like a blanket. This is the country of Oman's monsoon season. The natural event, which lasts for three months, draws hundreds of thousands of tourists with cool weather and beautiful views. It began this year on June 21. A 60-day festival, in Oman's Dhofar region, draws about 50,000 people every night for dance competitions, musical performances, and exorcisms. In the midst of the clouds, people celebrate Oman's cultural diversity of Arab, African, and Asian roots. ​The festival Officials in Dhofar region started the monsoon festival in 1998. The monsoon festival now draws performers from 40 countries, said festival director Talal al-Masahli. He added that 60 percent of the visitors come from Oman, while the rest come from nearby countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Each night, a different Omani city takes the main stage. The port of Sohar did a sea-themed show with cannons and a large wooden ship. The next night, a group from Bidbid chanted with swords while a musician blew into a ram's horn. Salem Ashoor, leader of the local Ahmad al-Kabir Sufi order, said diverse groups use the festival to share their cultures. The Sufi order, for example, performed a musical exorcism in front of almost of 500 people. More tourists come every year Khalid al-Najar is a meteorologist. He explains that the mountains surrounding Salalah, Dhofar's capital city, trap moisture from the Indian Ocean monsoon. Air pressure pockets above Saudi Arabia and Tibet drive air currents to Oman. These weather currents create a unique environment, which has heavy fogs and lush mountains and coasts. "It's magical," said Muna al-Ajmi, an Omani chemical engineer visiting the region with two children. Thomas Wagmann, on holiday from Dubai, noted, "Compared to Dubai, this [Dhofar region] is just fantastic because you can be outdoors all the time."  He added, "You don't even have to worry about sunburn because there's no sun." I'm John Russell.   Samuel McNeil wrote this story for AP News. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   monsoon – n. a wind in the Indian Ocean and southern Asia that brings heavy rains in the summer exorcism – n. to force (an evil spirit) to leave cannon – n. a large gun that shoots heavy metal or stone balls and that was once a common military weapon  blow – v.  to create a current of moving air by breathing meteorologist – n.  a scientist who studies the atmosphere and with weather moisture – n. a small amount of a liquid (such as water) that makes something wet or moist

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America's Presidents - Theodore Roosevelt

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Harvey Causes Unprecedented Rains in Texas

Tropical Storm Harvey has left at least two people dead as flooding and tornadoes presented continuing danger for the residents of southeastern Texas.

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Introducing Let's Teach English

Summary The Let’s Teach English video series offers free online training for English language educators worldwide. It is based on the Women Teaching Women English text for adult, beginning level learners. Voice of America and the University of Oregon are partners on this project. The course includes: 1.  An introductory video which summarizes the main topics of second language teaching and shows classroom examples of the topics. 2.  Ten 5-minute video episodes based on the units of Women Teaching Women English. Each of these episodes provides a model of communicative language teaching through simulated language classroom interaction. The course can be used by men and women. 3. English teaching materials from the course, Women Teaching Women English.  The student book, teacher’s manual, and audio files can be accessed for each unit. This course is the result of a collaboration between the University of Oregon American English Institute and the U.S. Department of State.    Teaching Topics Click on the image below for more details about the course and these teaching topics. Theory of Constructivism Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) Method Learner-Centered Practices and Active Learning     Transcript Tra Mi: You have been watching the videos. Your assignment was to choose a teaching topic, explain it in your own words, and give an example of where you see it in the video course. Can you tell me what you chose?   Rebecca Sui: I chose Constructivism.   Linh Dan: Mine is about the Communicative Language Teaching Method.   Laila Azimi: I looked for some Learner-Centered Practices, such as teaching students how to use learning strategies.   Tra Mi: Very good. Since Let’s Teach English is built on the theory of Constructivism, why don’t you start?   Rebecca Sui: Sounds good to me!   Rebecca Sui: When I think of building or “constructing” something, I see a house or a school. To me, constructivism means my students are taking in new ideas and new words, and building their own understanding of the world around them. I found an example of this in Unit 4. First, the teacher prepares students to read a story by talking about the content. She has her students bring in pictures of technology that they know about. In this way, students start with things they already know about. Then they can connect that to the new information in the story. The teacher gets her students interested in the story by previewing the title and images.   Rebecca Sui: The students know about technology and the internet. But, they do not know that someone could learn from the internet without having an internet connection. They read a story and learn about a mobile library called SolarSPELL, where information from the internet could be stored. Finally, her students make a picture to explain the SolarSPELL library in their own words.   Rebecca Sui: I think this is a good example. They knew something to start with, but they had to construct or build on their knowledge. They read about the Solar SPELL and then they told about it in their own words. They learned some new words in English and they also learned about a new place, Vanuatu.   Tra Mi: Okay, great start on constructivism. Who wants to talk next?   Linh Dan: I do! I decided to talk about the Communicative Language Teaching method.   Linh Dan: In Unit 5, the students do role-plays in groups, and each group has different information. That way, their role plays are all different. This is a great example of a real world task and Communicative Language Teaching. Students use their own words to shop, sell, and bargain in the marketplace. Video clip of shopping role play   Linh Dan: The students were in a real-world situation in this unit. They were using English in a meaningful way to do the task. They had a clear purpose for communicating. And, just as important, the activity was learner-centered because they had choices in the language and actions that they used.   Tra Mi: Thank you, Linh Dan! Now, for Layla’s presentation.   Laila Azimi: I want to tell you what I learned about Learner-Centered Teaching and Active Learning for students. In Unit 9, the students practice an interview for a job. They each choose the job that they want to get. Then, they practice the learning strategy of “predicting” in two ways. They predict what kinds of questions can occur in their interviews. And, during the role-play, the listening group predicts what questions might come next.   Laila Azimi: We saw one student’s interview for the job she chose. We know that every student chose a different job, did research about that job, and wrote her own interview questions.   Tra Mi: What was the teacher’s role in this?   Laila Azimi: The teacher’s job was to support the learners in their choices and research. She also gave them more control over their learning by teaching them to apply strategies. In this case, they predicted hard questions for the interview. They can use these strategies later in other real-world situations. Tra Mi: Thank you, all, for sharing these important topics of language teaching: Constructivism Communicative Language Teaching Learner-Centered Practices and Active Learning Tra Mi: So, let’s start with the first unit!   Laila Azimi, Linh Dan, and Rebecca Sui: Yes, let’s teach English together!   _____________________________________________________________   Poll

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