American Ballet Dancer at Bolshoi

Many young Americans dream of becoming a dancer for a prestigious ballet school. That dream is now a reality for 15-year- old Harper Ortlieb. Harper Ortlieb left her small town in Oregon to move to Moscow. She is following her dream of becoming a prima ballerina. She was accepted for study at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. There are 721 students in the academy and only 84 of them are foreigners. Harper is younger than most. She is also among the few to be integrated into the regular Russian program. Tatyana Galtseva is a teacher at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. She says Harper is very gifted. "She is very gifted,” said Galtseva . “She is all ballet, all inspiration.” The Bolshoi took notice of Harper when she took part in  a Bolshoi summer program held in Connecticut. The Bolshoi then offered her a place in its Moscow school. Harper says she feels accepted by her classmates and teachers.  But, she says the experience has been harder than she expected. "It's been very difficult, but with that comes strength and with that I improve,'' she said. "I feel like I came here to get better, to improve, not only technically but emotionally so when I dance people see something." Layne Baumann and Tim Ortlieb are Harper’s parents. In September, they left their only child in Moscow. In February, Harper’s mother decided to move to the Russian capital for at least the rest of the school year. She lives about two blocks from the ballet school.   Seventeen Americans study at the Bolshoi Academy. There are 28 students from Japan. The other foreign students represent 22 different countries.   Harper’s teacher believes the student has what it takes to be a classical ballerina. She says, "She is extraordinarily attentive. She is always smiling. Such a sweet, wonderful girl.'' Harper hopes to become one of the rare foreigners to receive a diploma from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. She has three difficult years ahead to reach her goal.    I’m Dorry Gundy.   Associated Press reported on this story. Marsha James adapted this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prestigious – adj. having high status prima ballerina – n. the main female dancer in a ballet company academy – n. a school that provides training in special subjects or skills integrated – adj. allowing all types of people to participate or be included inspiration – n. something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create classical – adj. of a kind that has been respected for a long time We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ​

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Critics Slam Batman vs. Superman Movie

This is What’s Trending Today: “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” is a movie a lot of people are excited about. You have Superman. You have Batman. Even Wonder Woman is in the movie. Actor Ben Affleck plays Batman. Since the Batman movie series started in 1989, movies with Batman have sold almost $2 billion of tickets in the U.S. That is according to the website Box Office Mojo. The same site says since 1978, the six Superman movies have sold over $800 million in tickets. So, the thinking goes, putting the two characters together, should result in a big movie. But what happens if critics do not like it? We will find out on Thursday night, when the film comes out in the U.S. Some early showings have produced disappointing reviews. Some critics say the two-and-a-half-hour film is too long. One critic from the magazine Us Weekly calls it “151 minutes of gloom and doom.” Another critic, Michael Phillips from the Chicago Tribune, says, “humankind deserves a better blockbuster.” The headline of his article is “Yawn of Justice.” That is a play on words based on the movie’s title, “Dawn of Justice.” Phillips writes about a scene with the famous Batmobile car, and calls it “empty noise,” with “absolutely no rhythm.” Other reviewers say the film is “too serious.” But not every reviewer hates the film. Scott Mendelson of Forbes says it is “one of the most visually beautiful comic book movies you have ever seen.” Will the negative reviews hurt the movie’s profits? Will it keep fans away? So far it looks like lots of fans ignored the reviews and purchased tickets in advance. The website The Wrap says 90 percent of the tickets sold for this weekend by a service called Fandango are for the movie. Earlier this week, Deadline reported the film will sell $350 million of tickets worldwide this weekend. If that happens, it will be one of the largest openings ever. And That’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Are you planning to see the Batman vs. Superman movie? If you go, add your review in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   gloom – n. darkness or a feeling of sadness doom – n. very bad events or situations that cannot be avoided blockbuster – n. something that is very large, expensive, or successful rhythm – n. a regular, repeated pattern of sounds or movements dawn – n. the beginning of something; sunrise yawn – n. used to describe something that is not exciting play on words – n. the act of making a pun slam – v. to criticize harshly

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Cherry Blossoms Signal Start of Spring

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Hunt for Suspects in Brussels Attacks

Belgian security forces are continuing to search for a man seen with two suicide bombers in the airport and metro attacks in Brussels, Belgium. At least 31 people were killed and 271 wounded. The Islamic State terrorist group is claiming responsibility for the attacks. A U.S. official told VOA there is no reason to doubt the claim. Belgian federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw confirmed that two of the attackers were brothers -- Khalid and Ibrahim el-Bakraoui. On Tuesday, Belgian police released a photograph of three men taken from closed-circuit television at the airport. Van Leeuw said Ibrahim and an unidentified man, both wearing dark clothing, died in the airport attacks.     Security forces are now looking for the third person in the photo. The man was wearing a white jacket with a black hat. Earlier, Belgian media reported the man was 25-year-old Najim Laachraoui and that he had been arrested. The report was later withdrawn, and Van Leeuw confirmed no one has been arrested in connection with the attacks. Van Leew said Ibrahim also left a will in a trash can at the airport. And Khalid, the other brother, was the suicide bomber on a metro train at the Maelbeek station. Belgian broadcaster RTBF says the el-Bakraoui brothers were known to police and had criminal records, but no history of terrorist activity. It said Khalid el-Bakraoui used a false name to rent an apartment in Brussels that police raided last week. They also found weapons and a fingerprint for Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the deadly bombings in Paris November 13. He was arrested Friday. Moment of silence On Wednesday, people in Brussels honored the victims of the bombings with a minute of silence. Then, they began clapping in a defiant show of solidarity. One person yelled “Long live the Belgians!” which caused more clapping. Officials said there would be no flights into or out of the airport at least through Thursday. In a statement, they said “until we can assess the damage, we are unable to confirm when operations at the airport can be resumed.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Lisa Bryant and William Gallo reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do 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   will – n. a legal document in which a person states who should receive his or her possessions after he or she dies closed-circuit – adj. used to describe a television system that sends its signal through wires to a limited number of televisions metro – n. the name often given to a city’s underground train system, also called a subway ​

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US Presidential Candidates React to Brussels Attacks

Muslim-Americans and rights groups denounced U.S. presidential candidate Ted Cruz’s call for increased surveillance of Muslim neighborhoods after the attacks in Brussels. Cruz said police should be permitted to “patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized.” The Republican Senator from Texas praised New York City’s program of surveillance on Muslim neighborhoods after 9/11 attacks in the U.S. The program was discontinued after complaints of religious and racial profiling. The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Cruz’s statement. It said his comment “send[s] an alarming message to American Muslims who increasingly fear for their future in this nation.” The Anti-Defamation League is an American organization that fights anti-Semitism. The group said, “demonizing all Muslims is a misguided and counterproductive response to the terrorist threat.” And it compared Cruz’s approach to the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Reactions from other U.S. presidential candidates Businessman Donald Trump, the leading Republican presidential candidate, told CNN that he supports Cruz’s idea “100 percent.” After the terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, California last November, Trump called for a temporary ban on Muslims from other countries entering the United States. Trump also repeated his call for American investigators to be permitted to use stronger questioning methods. He said Belgium could have kept the bombings from happening if it had tortured a suspect in last year’s terrorist attacks in Paris after he was arrested last week. Ohio Governor John Kasich is another Republican presidential candidate. He told MSNBC that President Obama should return to the U.S. from his trip to Cuba and Argentina. “He ought to work with the heads of state around the world. They ought to assemble teams and they need to examine these vulnerabilities we have, because without effective human intelligence, without coordination and cooperation among all the civilized nations, we get these gaps and these gaps get exploited by these people who are intent on killing civilized people.” Democratic response Democratic candidate and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton told CNN that terrorists are developing ways of building bombs that are hard to discover. She said “we have to continually be learning and getting ahead of these thugs and criminals in order to prevent them doing what they did in Brussels.” Clinton called for the United States and European nations to increase the amount of information they share. In a statement, Democratic candidate Senator Bernie Sanders said the attacks were “another cowardly attempt to terrorize innocent civilians.” He called the attacks “a brutal reminder that the international community must come together to destroy ISIS. This type of barbarism cannot be allowed to continue.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Christopher Jones-Cruise reported this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do 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   radicalize – v. to cause (someone or something) to become more radical especially in politics racial profiling – v. the act or practice of regarding particular people as more likely to commit crimes because of their race internment – n. the act of putting someone in a prison for political reasons or during a war gap – n. a missing part of a program; a space where something is missing exploit – v. to use (someone or something) in a way that helps you unfairly barbarism – n. cruel and violent behavior

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Solar Powered Library Helps Remote Students

Alexis Cullen works as a volunteer in Vanuatu, one of the Peace Corp's most remote postings.  In the village where she works, called Naviso, some people have never heard of the Internet. That is not uncommon in the South Pacific, where some people have limited access to learning resources.  "Nobody has ever seen the Internet. People don't know what the Internet is. … Some of them are very separated out from what the rest of the world is doing." And without the Internet, says Cullen, people in these areas are falling behind. It is not likely they will be able to access the Internet in the near future.  "As you sit and you wait, there are just the villages that get further and further behind. And how can you ever communicate, or be part of a global society, if people are waiting for you to get connected?”  The SolarSPELL unit To help with that problem, Dr. Laura Hosman, a professor at California Polytechnic State University, and her students developed a mobile library. It is called SolarSPELL.  Dr. Hosman says she wanted to get educational content to rural places. She wanted to create a digital library that would not be ruined in bad weather.  The SolarSPELL unit, which is powered by the sun, creates a WiFi hotspot. Although it does not use the Internet, it creates a similar experience.  "So, any device that can connect to the Internet can connect to our library,” Hosman says. “And it seems like they are on the Internet, even though they are not. So it's an offline website that really feels like you are online." It lets users practice using the Internet on a smaller scale. A digital library  Each SolarSPELL unit comes with a memory card, a small plug-in device that holds the educational content in a computer.  It only uses a small amount of space, and does not rely on power cables or electricity networks.  Hosman and her students worked hard to find content to put in the library. They wanted to choose content appealing to people who live in rural areas in the South Pacific, such as Vanuatu and the Federated States of Micronesia. "I wanted the students to be able to see themselves in the curriculum." Partnership with the Peace Corps The SolarSPELL team has partnered with the Peace Corps in Vanuatu and the Federated States of Micronesia. The Peace Corps has used about 50 SolarSPELL units.  The village where Alexis Cullen works, Naviso, has one unit. Alexis says that about 200 students have used it.  Using the SolarSPELL unit in other countries? Hosman says SolarSPELL units could be used in other countries in the South Pacific.  Gabriel Krieshok is the Information and Communication Technologies for Development Program Officer at the Peace Corps. He says some technologies are appropriate to some areas, but not to others.  "I think one of the big challenges that we have is that there is this tendency to want tohave a one size-fits-all solution… And while it's really tempting to go down that road, it never works. I have yet to see a place where you can have one thing that works for everyone." The challenge, he says, is balancing new technologies with what people need.  "How can I take what you guys have done here – like with, SolarSPELL is a really good example – and, you know, translate that to a post in East Africa or something like that?" I’m John Russell. Editor's note: Alexis Cullen's statements are her own opinions. They do not reflect the opinions of the Peace Corps.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section and on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   posting – n. the act of sending someone to a place to work for a long period of time as part of a job access – n. a way of being able to use or get something mobile – adj. able to move from one place to another digital – adj  using or characterized by computer technology appropriate – adj. right or suited for some purpose or situation 

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Trending Today: Doodle 4 Google

  This is What’s Trending Today…. Google has chosen the national winner of its “Doodle 4 Google” contest. “Doodle” means “draw.” School-aged children across the United States sent their drawings to Google in the contest in 2015. For the contest, students created “doodles” centered around the theme “What makes me...me.” Fifteen-year-old Akilah Johnson was this year’s winner. Johnson is a student at Eastern Senior High School in Washington, D.C. She titled her doodle “My Afrocentric Life.” She said in a Google blog post, “I based this picture off my lifestyle and what has made me into what I am today.” The word “Google” in Johnson’s doodle is drawn like a hair braid. She painted the word “power” in black, and drew the image of a woman’s fist that comes from one of her favorite artists. Johnson’s winning drawing also included signs from the Black Lives Matter movement. Her drawing trended on social media. ​ Johnson’s drawing was the main image on the U.S. Google homepage on Monday and Tuesday. She will receive a $30,000 college scholarship. And her high school will also receive a $50,000 award from Google. Johnson told the Washington Post newspaper, “I’m excited about the scholarship, and I’m excited about Google’s home page even more.” Google has hosted a Doodle4Google contest every year in the United States since 2008. Doodle4Google contests take place in many other countries, including India, Pakistan, Brazil, Mexico and Peru. In 2015, Google received more than 100,000 entries from students across the United States. And that's What's Trending Today.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   braid - n. an arrangement of hair made by weaving three sections together fist - n. the hand with its fingers bent down into the palm

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Obama Asks Cuba to 'Leave the Past Behind'

President Barack Obama said it is time for the United States and Cuba to move beyond their differences and toward a future that will help both nations. Obama made the statement during a televised speech in Cuba. "I have come here to extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people," Obama said.  "It is time for us to leave the past behind. It won't be easy and there will be setbacks and it will take time." He was speaking at the Gran Teatro de Havana. The gathering included Cuban President Raul Castro and other officials and civil leaders. Also present were members of Obama's government and U.S. lawmakers. Obama expressed hope for future relations between the United States and Cuba and their peoples. He said major policy changes between the former enemies must begin on a human level. He called for "understanding, forgiveness and listening." The audience clapped loudly when Obama said he believes in the Cuban people. The American president spoke about the two nations' painful history and separation. Appeal to Human Rights Obama also talked of the common values the nations share, including religion, patriotism, pride, family commitment and education. But he added there remain deep divisions in their beliefs on economic, societal and governmental issues. Obama said directly to Castro, "You do not need to fear a threat from the United States." And he added that the Cuban government does not have to fear the voices of the Cuban people. Obama said, "People should be able to criticize their government and choose those who govern them." The United States began to ease restrictions on travel and business linked to Cuba with the renewal of diplomatic ties in July. But, President Obama said Tuesday more changes are needed, especially on human rights. Obama said, "We need the space to change, individuals bring change." In Spanish he added, "El futuro de Cuba tiene que estar en las manos del pueblo humano." (Cuba's future must rest in the hands of its people.) Embargo Remains Castro has blamed the 55-year U.S. embargo on Cuba for many of the nation’s problems. He has repeatedly urged Obama to pressure the U.S. Congress to end it. Obama referred to that issue during his speech. "As president of the United States, I have called on our Congress to lift the Cuban embargo," he said, to huge applause. "It is an outdated burden on the Cuban people, it's a burden on the Americans who want to work or do business or invest here in Cuba." Lawmakers have criticized Obama's policy change from isolation to engagement with Cuba. Opponents say the policy compromises too much. After the speech, both leaders left the crowded theater to as the audience stood and clapped. Meeting with the Cuban people Obama next went to the new U.S. Embassy in Havana where he met with Cuban dissidents and members of civil society. Joined by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the president spoke about the importance of hearing "directly" from Cubans as the U.S. shapes its policy toward Cuba. Among those present was Berta Soler who was arrested Sunday with her Ladies in White dissident group. Also attending, Elizardo Sanchez, a spokesman for Cuban human rights group, Comision Cubana de Derechos Humanos y Reconciliacion Nacional (CCDHNR). "It requires, many times, great courage to be active in civil life here in Cuba", President Obama said.  "This is an area where we continue to have deep differences" with the Cuban government. Obama is attending a baseball game between Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team. He will then depart for Argentina. I’m Caty Weaver. What do you think of U.S. policy on Cuba? We want to hear from you. Post a message in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story setback - n.a problem that makes progress more difficult or success less likely​ clap - v. to hit the palms of your hands together usually more than once usually to show approval or pleasure. patriotism - n. love that people feel for their country​ commitment - n. a promise to be loyal to someone or something​ burden - n. someone or something that is very difficult to accept, do, or deal with​

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Aung San Suu Kyi Nominated to Myanmar’s Cabinet

Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been nominated to become a member of the cabinet Myanmar’s president-elect, Htin Kyaw. The Nobel Peace Prize-winner’s name was on a list of proposed ministers announced Tuesday by the speaker of parliament. The list has Aung San Suu Kyi's name next to four posts -- minister of the president's office, foreign affairs, energy and education. If she takes the post of foreign minister, she would have to give up her seat in parliament and leadership of the National League for Democracy party, or NLD. She led the party to a landslide victory in last November's parliamentary elections. The election ended fifty years of complete or partial military rule. Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from serving as president because of a provision in the constitution placed there by Myanmar's former military rulers. The constitution bars anyone with a foreign spouse or children from being president.  Aung San Suu Kyi's late husband and her two sons are British citizens. Aung San Suu Kyi has declared she will keep power over president Htin Kyaw. He is her handpicked president and a lifelong friend and confidant. It is unclear if Aung San Suu Kyi will accept a position in the Cabinet. Maung Zarni is an activist and a researcher at the London School for Economics. He told VOA that he welcomes the announcement. However, he said the military remains a strong force in the government. He added that it is not in the military’s interest to permit the NLD to carry out many reforms to the political system. I’m Mario Ritter.   Richard Green and Victor Beattie reported this story for VOA. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   landslide victory –adj.+ n. a very large, one-sided victory provision –n. a condition put in an agreement or document for a special purpose confidant –n. someone who is trusted, someone to be confided in

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What Are the Colors of Choice for Cars?

Many cars in advertisements, exhibits and at car dealerships in the United States are red, blue or green -- but almost 75 percent of new cars sold in the United States are black, white, silver or gray. Les Jackson is a reporter who writes about cars. He says the car colors Americans choose do not show dirt as much as the colors of other cars. He says that means the owners wash their cars less, saving money. And he notes some areas that are suffering from water shortages do not permit people to wash their cars often, if at all. Dan Benton works for a company called Axalta, which makes supplies for international carmakers. He says when white cars are sold by their owners, they often sell for higher amounts than cars of other colors. And he notes that white cars “absorb less energy” than cars of other colors. This means temperatures inside them are lower in warmer areas. Benton also says research at Monash University in Australia suggests that there is a lower risk of crashes during the day for white cars compared with darker ones. Car buyers in other countries also like white. Jane Harrington works for PPG Industries, a company that makes paint for cars. She said in China, buyers say white makes a small car look bigger. Axalta says about 11 percent of cars sold in North America are red and 8 percent are blue. In South America, 10 percent of new cars sold are red. Green has become less popular. Benton notes that in the mid 1990s, “green was the most popular color in North America. Today, green is hard to find.” Sometime in the future, people may not have to choose the color of their car -- technology may let owners change their car’s paint color anytime. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Carol Guensburg reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do 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   dealership - n. a business that sells a specific product absorb - v. to draw in (heat, light, energy, etc.)  

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US Sets Up First All-American Fire Base in Iraq

The U.S. military has built the first all-American fire base in Iraq. A fire base is an area in a war zone where artillery can be massed to provide firepower in support of other military units. The fire base is near the town of Makhmur, in northern Iraq. About 200 U.S. Marines have been assigned to the base. Their mission is to protect American advisers and Iraqis who are at a nearby Iraqi military base. An American spokesman, Colonel Steve Warren, said: “This is the first time that we’ve established a spot that’s only American.”  Warren continued to say deploying the Marines to a U.S.-only base was “a tactical decision” made “because of space” restrictions. The Iraqis are preparing an offensive to capture Mosul. The town has been occupied by the Islamic State for nearly two years. The fire base is behind the front lines, and the American base has been attacked. Islamic State fighters fired small arms at the base Monday. Two IS fighters were killed. No Americans were wounded. The arms exchange took place two days after U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Louis Cardin was killed at the base. IS fighters fired two rockets during that assault. I’m Jim Dresbach.   Carla Babb wrote this story for VOA News. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English and VOANews.com. Mario Ritter 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   firepower – n. the amount or strength of military weapons that can be used against an enemy mission – n. a specific military or naval task tactical – adj. used for a specific plan that is created to achieve a particular goal in war assault – n. a military attack

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