Successful Debate Is Like Building a House

From VOA Learning English, this is the Education Report. As an English learner, you want to be able to understand and to discuss a subject. You want to have the ability to express your opinions, and to support that opinion with a clear argument. You can learn these skills by learning how to debate. What is debate? In everyday conversation, Americans use the word debate to talk about discussions among people. When people debate, they give their own opinions about a topic. Another use of the word debate describes a more formal discussion. Debaters work on a team to convince a judge that their opinion about a topic has more value than the opposite side’s opinion. The National Speech and Debate Association says that students of debate research both sides of a topic. They “learn to think critically about every argument that could be made on each side.” Debate as a democratic skill Debate is part of the tradition of forensics started in Ancient Greece. The Greeks thought that, in a democracy, people needed to have certain skills. These skills included speaking in public in favor of an opinion, and providing evidence to support one’s opinion. The Greeks supported the development of these skills by holding contests. Western education today continues the tradition with competitions between debate teams. A debate contest traditionally has this structure: Teams agree to debate a resolution, a statement, such as “Nuclear power should be banned.” One team is the affirmative team, in support of the resolution. One is the negative, against the resolution. Each team gives an argument for or against the resolution. Then each team asks questions about the other team’s argument. After answering the questions, each team makes more statements to support their argument. Finally, they summarize the arguments. In a classic debate, teams may take 12 turns, in which one member of the team speaks. If you have never seen this kind of debate, you can imagine that it is a difficult activity, even for native English speakers. Another approach to teaching debate Professor Charles LeBeau teaches English and debate in Japan. He says that many English teachers in Japan did not think their students could take part in a debate. The teachers had no experience with debate, and they thought it was too difficult for their students. Instead, they focused on teaching presentation. “There is a huge gap between presentation, which is mostly a one-way experience, and then we have something on the other end of the spectrum, which is discussion. The problem with discussion is that there is no real clear, exacting format.” Mr. LeBeau says that most “people mistake debate as being mostly a speaking skill.” But debate is a more natural kind of discussion than what happens in those classrooms. That is because debate requires understanding the other person’s opinion. “The nice thing about debate is debate leads towards a more natural discussion. ... First, I give my position and then you give your position, and then I would address each of the points in your position and comment on them. And then you would have the opportunity to address each point in my position and comment on it.” Building a strong argument Charles LeBeau wrote a book with Michael Lubetsky called, “Discover Debate,” to help teachers understand a simpler way to teach debate. The method depends on creating a kind of visual aid known as a graphic organizer. The visual aid reflects the way we talk about critical thinking and developing an argument. Mr. LeBeau says: “I think that an easy way to visualize the metaphor is as if it’s a house; a house has a roof, and it usually has some sort of pillars or supports, and then there is a concrete foundation.” Students work with the idea of building their argument just like they would build a house. They would draw their house on paper or a whiteboard and list: The focus of the discussion or the debate is the roof. The reasons and arguments are the “pillars” to support the roof. The data, numbers, examples, and expert opinions provide the concrete foundation. The house metaphor helps students who have not experienced a debate in their own culture. It gives students a way to plan what they will say to support their message. As many nervous speakers know, having a visual aid is very helpful when speaking in public in a second language. “In a sense, they are presenting the house, they are giving the audience a tour of the house. It’s not just a bunch of words. There is something concrete and visual that is the center the debate."    In Part Two of our series next week, we will introduce the kind of debate topics that work well for English learners. Mr. LeBeau will also introduce tips for organizing a debate in a large class and judging arguments. In Part Three, we will explain the reasons for learning to debate in business as well as the academic world. We will discuss how debating gives students a better understanding of Western culture and lets students practice critical thinking. For the VOA Education Report, I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm Jonathan Evans.   Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   convince – v. to cause (someone) to believe that something is true​ critical thinking - n. the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.​ forensic - adj. belonging to, used in, or suitable to courts of law or to public discussion and debate affirmative - adj. saying or showing that the answer is “yes” negative - adj. expressing denial or refusal; saying the answer is “no” summarize - v. to tell (information) again using fewer words classic – adj. used to describe something that has been popular for a long time graphic - n. a picture, drawing, or graph used as a decoration or to make something (such as magazine article) easier to understand metaphor n. an object, activity, or idea that is used as a symbol of something else  Now it’s your turn. Have you studied debate in school? What do you think about the value of debating skills? Write to us in the Comments section and on our Facebook page.

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Heavy Shooting in Brazzaville, Congo

People opposed to the government exchanged gunfire with police in the Republic of Congo capital of Brazzaville Monday. A police station and a government building were attacked in the Makelekele district of the city, according to the BBC. Violence also occurred in the Bacongo neighborhood of Brazzaville. The Associated Press reported that police battled militia fighters. Reuters news agency said that young, male Congolese who oppose President Denis Sassou Nguesso battled police. There are no reports of injuries or deaths from Monday’s shootings. A government official told the Associated Press the militia are known as the Ninjas. They take their name from an anti-government group in the 1998-1999 civil war. The violence comes a month after Nguesso won re-election. Some accused him of “massive fraud” in the 2016 election.   He ruled the Republic of Congo from 1979 to 1992. He won disputed elections in 2002 and 2009. I’m Jim Dresbach.   VOANews.com reported on this story. Jim Dresbach adapted the report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck 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   according - adv. as stated by or in massive – adj. large in amount or degree fraud – n. using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person

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Best College Basketball Game Ending Ever?

This is What’s Trending Today. It may be the month of April, but Americans are still talking about March Madness. March Madness is the nickname for college basketball tournaments each year. They start in March and end in early April. The men’s game on Monday night for the championship was between  the University of North Carolina and Villanova University, a school near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fans are calling it one of the best finishes ever. But was it as good as the game in 1983 between North Carolina State and the University of Houston? Both games had surprise endings. Tense fans watched the final seconds, sitting on the edge of their seats. Both games featured last-second, game-winning shots. And both games even featured teams from the state of North Carolina! In fact, the games were played on April 4th, but 33 years apart. The magazine Sports Illustrated has called the 1983 game one of the “100 Greatest Sports Moments.” In that game, North Carolina State was winning against Houston, which was the favored team to win. Houston had many players on that team who became professional basketball players. They were known for their exciting slam-dunk shots. Those shots are when players push the basketball through the net with their hands very powerfully. But in the end of that 1983 game, North Carolina State won, with a score of 54-52. The team made a basket with less than one second left on the game clock. The lasting image from that game was of North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano running around, celebrating. He was looking for someone to hug. Now on to this year’s game. The University of North Carolina is one of the most famous college basketball teams in the United States. Michael Jordan went there before starring in the NBA (National Basketball Association). North Carolina moved through the college tournament by winning five games by more than 10 points. Villanova was also a very good team this year. But going into the championship game, North Carolina was the favorite. Right after halftime, North Carolina was ahead by seven points. Then with five minutes left, Villanova was ahead by 10 points. It went back and forth in a duel for the win. With only four seconds left, a player from North Carolina made a difficult shot to tie the game at 74 points each team. There was one second left. Villanova player Kris Jenkins stood at the edge of the zone where a ball through the net is worth three points. He reached up with the ball and launched his throw to the net. His ball flew in the air as the time ran out and a loud buzzer filled the court. But a ball in play before the buzzer meant it could count if the ball successfully went in the net. Jenkins three-pointer sailed right into the net.  He scored!    Villanova became the college basketball champion for the first time since 1985! Even former North Carolina player Michael Jordan was impressed. But was it the best finish to a national championship game ever? People are still debating. And the debate is What’s Trending Today. I’m Ashley Thompson.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Which college basketball championship game was better, 1983 or 2016? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   madness – n. behavior or thinking that is very foolish or dangerous feature – v. to have or include (someone or something) as an important part slam-dunk – v. to jump high in the air and push (the ball) down through the basket back-and-forth – adj. between two places or people hug – v. to put your arms around someone in order to show love or friendship impress – v. to cause (someone) to feel admiration or interest  

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Want to Lose Weight? Listen to Yourself Eat

Leaked Files Show How Rich Hide Their Money

More than 11 million leaked financial documents show world leaders have used their power to hide money and avoid taxes. It is being called “the biggest global corruption scandal in history.” The leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as his friends, moved $2 billion through secret accounts. The documents were leaked to journalists. A group of journalists, called a consortium, reviewed the documents. The group is called the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The documents show the secret financial dealings of the wealthy and powerful. (You can read the consortium’s reports here.) People often open up offshore accounts to avoid taxes and giving information to the public about their financial holdings, the consortium said. Some of the accounts were used by wealthy men to hide money in divorce cases. Among the world leaders linked to offshore accounts are Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, Argentinian President Mauricio Macri and Saudi King Salman. News reports in Pakistan said the leaked documents show three children of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had money in an offshore account. Most of the world leaders named in the reports denied wrongdoing. But there were immediate calls for investigations. In Iceland, some members of Parliament Monday demanded a vote of no confidence for the prime minister. The Associated Press said the account was opened for Gunnlaugsson in 2013 when Iceland was going through a major financial crisis. Here is how the information came out: Tax records for more than 200,000 companies and 14,000 clients from a law firm in Panama were obtained by an unnamed person. That person offered the documents to a German newspaper. The person did not ask for money, but asked for unspecified security procedures. The documents were reportedly hacked from the Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca. The firm specializes in creating offshore accounts. It denied wrongdoing. The impact of the disclosures has been dramatic. A Washington Post column Monday called it “the biggest global corruption scandal in history.” Russian television Monday did not cover the news about offshore accounts of people linked to Putin. One of Putin’s friends identified from the leaked documents is Sergei Rodulgin. He is a well-known cellist. Putin’s spokesman is Dmitry Peskov. He said the “lack of details” made it impossible to respond. Last week, he predicted an “information attack” on Putin. He said the leaks are timed for September’s Russian Parliament elections. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists reported on the divorce proceedings of Dmitry Rybolovlev and his wife, Elena. Elena Rybolovlev said her husband, a Russian mining executive, had hidden money. The consortium said the leaked documents show Rybolovlev had purchased a New York City penthouse for $88 million and art work for $630 million. The artwork was obtained with the help of Mossack Fonseca, the consortium said. Among those found to have offshore accounts were former top government leaders of Georgia, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Sudan, Abu Dhabi, and Ukraine. In India, the Associated Press said 500 people were connected to offshore accounts. They include Indian superstars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan. India’s Finance Minister said those who did not declare illegal overseas assets by last year’s deadline would face “extremely costly” penalties. In France, President Francois Hollande said the leaked documents are “good news” because it will help the government recover money hidden in offshore accounts. In Norway, the DNB Bank apologized for helping about 40 customers open offshore companies. “That it was legal to set up this type of companies doesn’t mean that it was correct for us to do it for these customers,” the bank said. The Czech Center for Investigative Journalism said it found 283 Czech citizens with off-shore companies. That includes Petr Kellner, the wealthiest businessman in the Czech Republic. And in Australia, officials said they are investigating more than 800 wealthy residents for possible tax evasion related to off-shore accounts. I'm Caty Weaver.   Ken Bredemeier reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted his report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in this Story scandal –  n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong account – n. a record of money that has been paid and money that has been received offshore – adj. located in a foreign country journalist – n. the activity or job of collecting, writing, and editing news stories for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio divorce – n. ending a marriage by a legal process confidence – n. a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something hacked – v. to secretly get access to the files on a computer or network in order to get information, cause damage impact – n. to have a strong effect disclosure – n. the act of making something known dramatic – adj. sudden and extreme respond – v. to say or write something as an answer to a question or request proceedings – n. a meeting penthouse – n. an apartment on the top floor or roof of a building client – n. a person who pays a professional person or organization for services firm – n. a business obtain – v. to gain or get something specify – v. to be specific about something procedure – n. a series of actions that are done in a certain way or order specialize – v. to limit your business or area of study to one specific subject superstar – n. an extremely famous and successful performer or athlete asset – n. a valuable person or thing penalty – n.  punishment for breaking a rule or law resident – n. a person who lives in a community evasion – n. the act of avoiding something that you do not want to do or deal with

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Air France Female Crew Object to Hijab

France’s national airline will allow female staff to volunteer for a new route to Iran rather than require them. Air France announced that female flight attendants must wear a headscarf, also known as hijab, on arrival in Iran.   Some flight attendants objected. The union representing crew members said they worried that females would face discipline if they refused to work the flight. The airline now says female participation on the route to Iran will be on a volunteer basis. The airline begins three flights a week between Paris and Tehran on April 17.  The headscarf issue puts the two cultures in conflict. Women in Iran have been required to wear hijab since a revolution in 1979. In France, religious headscarves are not allowed in some schools and offices. It is also against the law to wear the full-faced veil in public in France. I’m Kathleen Struck.   VOANews.com reported on this story. Jim Dresbach adapted the report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck 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   headscarf – n.  a piece of cloth worn over a woman's or girl's head hijab – n. a head covering worn in public by some women

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What Was So Cute It Stopped Bay Bridge Traffic?

This is What's Trending Today. The area around the California city of San Francisco has some of the worst traffic in the United States. One of the main bridges that connects San Francisco with Oakland, another big California city, is called the Bay Bridge. It goes across the San Francisco Bay. An average of 270,000 cars cross the Bay Bridge every day. If anything stops traffic on the bridge, it becomes a big problem. In 1989, an earthquake caused part of the bridge to collapse. The bridge was closed for a month before repairs were complete. San Francisco drivers were not happy. This past weekend, on the morning of April 3, police officers on motorcycles stopped traffic on part of the bridge. The traffic lanes on the normally crowded bridge were empty, except for some police on motorcycles...chasing something down.   What were they chasing? A small, black dog, called a Chihuahua, running around on the bridge. Although the dog weighs only about 5 kilograms, it could run pretty quickly. Police had trouble catching the dog. They finally caught with the dog by throwing a piece of clothing on him. They saved him from getting hit by any cars. On social media, people joked about the “high-speed” police chase. One Twitter user said, “What can shut down one of the largest bridges in the United States? An adorable Chihuahua it seems.” The police are still looking for the dog’s owner. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Ashley Thompson.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Have you ever been in a traffic jam caused by something unusual? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   motorcycle -  n. a vehicle with two wheels that is powered by a motor and that can carry one or two people adorable - adj. very appealing or attractive: very lovable

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Chinese Travel Up Despite Economy Down

Over the past five years, the number of Chinese travelers has grown to 120 million people. One in 10 international travelers is from China.   New airports and better infrastructure have made travel easier for Chinese citizens. Young Chinese citizens are benefiting from reduced visa restrictions around the world. James Roy, a business analyst at China Market Research Group, said Chinese travelers are going to many more destinations than they did in the past. “You know, in the past where it was more about buying an expensive watch or a bag, and showing that off. Now it’s much more about sharing on social media all of the exotic places that you’ve been to,” Roy said.   The World Travel and Tourism Council says that the number of Chinese tourists grew by 53 percent in 2015. Last year, travelers from China spent $215 billion outside the country. Economic slowdown The increased spending on tourism outside of China comes at a time when Chinese officials are dealing with a slowing economy at home. Exports fell 20 percent in February, leading to fears of domestic job losses. Concerns about the economy have not stopped Chinese travelers. Instead, concerns about the economy may encourage Chinese to look for investments abroad. Wolfgang Arlt, the director of China Outbound Tourism Research Institute in Hamburg, said China's growing investments make trips abroad necessary. “First of all, it’s not all about leisure. There is an increasing part of outbound tourism which is simply business tourism, as China is investing overseas and as China has a lot of trading relations and business relations overseas,” Arlt said. Other countries benefit from Chinese tourism Some countries have benefited from tourism from China. Iceland, a popular destination for Chinese tourists, saw its tourism industry grow by 19.4 percent in 2015. Japan had 37 percent growth in visitor spending. The growth in the number of Chinese travelers is contributing to the global growth of the tourism sector, which has added 7.2 million jobs worldwide. Mark Tanner, the managing director of the marketing agency China Skinny, said as Chinese tourists travel in their own country, many will look for new experiences in other parts of the world.  “They are getting a little more adventurous and going a little further afield. And I think that is the same with domestic tourism. They may whet their appetite with some of the local destinations, and increasingly travel abroad,” he said.   Shannon Van Sant reported on this story for VOANews.com. John Russell adapted the report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   infrastructure – n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly tourism – n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure domestic - adj. of, relating to or made in your own country destination - n. a place where an individual is going or something is being sent sector - n. an area of an economy

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How America Elects: Conventions

The purpose of a political convention is for each party to officially declare its presidential candidate.

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New Study Shows Best, Worst Pay for Women

  American women who work as computer programmers, chefs and dentists earn 28 percent less than men doing the same jobs.   Those are the jobs with the biggest wage differences between men and women, according to a new study by Glassdoor. Glassdoor is an economic research company and employment website in California. Overall, the study found that women earn 5.4 percent less than men for doing the same job, in the same location and for the same employer. The wage differences between women and men were similar in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and France, Glassdoor said. Andrew Chamberlain is the chief researcher at Glassdoor. He said 5.4 percent is a big difference in pay between men and women because it cannot be explained by women and men taking different kinds of jobs. It can only be explained by bias against women, or other causes – such as women not negotiating as well for pay, he said. According to the study, women earned at least 15 percent less than men in these job categories: psychologists, pharmacists, physicians, opticians, pilots and game artists. But in the fields of social work, selling merchandise, research assistants and physician advisors, women earn more than men, Glassdoor said. In social work, women earned 7.8 percent more than men, the report said. That was the job category with the biggest advantage for women. It was still far less than the 28 percent pay advantage for men in some fields. For its study, Glassdoor looked at salaries of 505,000 people. The salaries were entered voluntarily by users of the Glassdoor website. One problem with the research is some of the categories had small samples. For instance, only 138 computer programmer salaries were covered in the report. Catherine Hill is vice president of research at the American Association of University Women. She said the Glassdoor study provides important information. The association found similar results in 2012 when it compared salaries between women and men after one-year of college, working the same job. The study found women earned 7 percent less than men one year out of college. Research suggests that women do not negotiate as well as men when it comes to pay, Hill said. And women are generally more uncomfortable asking fellow employees how much they make – so they can see if they are being paid fairly. “Women are more comfortable talking about their sex lives than their paychecks,” Hill said. The U.S. Census Bureau has reported a bigger wage gap for men and women than the Association of University Women and Glassdoor studies. Comparing salaries for full-time workers, the Census Bureau said women earn only 79 percent as much as men. Both Chamberlain, the author of the Glassdoor study, and Hill said the lower wage gap in their studies does not mean women do not face discrimination. Chamberlain said the 5.4 percent difference was higher than he thought it would be. Over a lifetime, that much of a difference in pay can amount to a “large amount of money,” he said. Hill said the U.S. Census statistics are valid because they provide an important overview of the difference in pay for men and women. It is also the only available data that can be used to measure progress in reducing the gender gap, she said. The U.S. Census Bureau wage gap showed women only earned 57 percent as much as men in 1975. It is now up to 79 percent. That is progress, Hill said, but not enough. I'm Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English.  Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   chef – n. a professional cook who usually is in charge of a kitchen in a restaurant dentist – n. a person whose job is to care for people's teeth location – n. a place or position bias – n. tendency to believe that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others that usually results in treating some people unfairly advantage – n. something that helps to make someone better or more likely to succeed than others uncomfortable – adj. causing a feeling of physical discomfort overview – n. a general explanation or description of something

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Is IS Guerrilla Activity Coming to Europe?

Security agencies trying to break up Islamic State (IS) terror cells in Europe fear that IS supporters will use guerrilla tactics to attack major targets. Concerns were raised when images and floor plans of the Belgian prime minister’s office were found on a laptop computer. The computer was found during a search related to the suspects in the Brussels bombings. There is also the evidence that two of the Brussels bombers had video recordings of a scientist at Belgium’s Tihange nuclear center. These developments suggest some terror cells are ready to give up attacks on what have been called “soft targets,” such as train stations or eateries. Islamic State supporters instead might be preparing to attack bigger, more symbolic places. “They’re very invested in the pageantry of it all, so I wouldn’t be surprised,” said one U.S. official who knows about the intelligence on IS. "There is no question that they see Europe as a battlefield.” European officials are worried. And their ability to find and stop possible terror plots differs from one country to the next. “We still have a very high level of concern for new terror attacks,” a Western diplomat told VOA. “The level of engagement and commitment to discover potential attacks is very high.” The official agreed to speak after VOA promised not to release his name. Another concern is Islamic State’s growing use of the Internet to share intelligence between its leadership at home and their terrorist groups around the world. IS has specialized in putting all its combat lessons learned online, said Malcom Nance, a former intelligence and anti-terrorism officer. He now heads the Terror Asymmetrics Project. Nance said that armor-plated vehicles used in Ramadi are now showing up in Somalia and in Benghazi, Libya. “And all of their intelligence sharing is happening at a very rudimentary (or simple) level, and it’s very hard ... (to capture).” At first, intelligence was centered on IS militants using the November 2015 Paris attacks as a model. In other words, they were hitting many “soft targets” at once, and killing or wounding many civilians. But the Brussels attacks suggest the group is growing bolder – unafraid of its enemies. U.S. officials now believe IS is “deeply rooted” in Europe, making the situation more dangerous. There could be hundreds of jihadists who have returned home from Syria and Iraq, working to make thousands more into guerrillas who can still attack after suffering losses. Experts on terrorism like Malcolm Nance say the video of the Belgian nuclear scientist, and the laptop plans of the prime minister’s office, mean it is only a matter of time before IS fighters hit high value targets. “You absolutely should just assume that they are all ready to attack,” Nance warned. In the event of an attack on a nuclear center, Nance said, the goal would be to cause a meltdown inside. It would turn the reactor into a “dirty bomb,” and release radioactive material. But Belgian officials have said there is little to show such attacks are about to take place. However, in France, officials say a terror cell did appear to be on the edge of taking action. On Wednesday, government lawyers announced terror charges against 34-year-old Frenchman Reda Kriket. They said the supply of explosives and arms found in his home was a sign that he planned an act of “extreme violence” very soon. I’m Anne Ball.   VOA’s Jeff Seldin reported on this story. Anne Ball adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tactics - n. methods symbolic – adj. expressing or showing an idea or quality without using words pageantry – n. use of special clothing, traditions and ceremonies are part of a special event potential - adj. possible combat - adj. related to fighting jihadists – n. one engaged in armed opposition to Western influence and culture

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