US Tech Industry Blamed for High Cost of Housing

Housing costs are rising in northern California because of a small supply of rental apartments and growing demand for them by technology workers. A strong economy and the technology industry have been blamed for a housing crisis in the San Francisco Bay Area. The industry pays high wages to many of its workers. Because the area is home to many high-tech companies, the workers are willing to pay more for housing. The average cost for a one-bedroom rental apartment in San Francisco is nearly $3,590 a month, according to the website Zumper. Prices are similar in many nearby communities. That rent is even higher than New York City, the second-most costly market in the United States. Zumper reported this month that the average rent in New York for a one-bedroom apartment was $3,340. California renters can expect to pay a lot to live in places like San Jose, which is about 80 kilometers from downtown San Francisco. Across the bay in Oakland, some investors are buying up buildings and then turning them into high-priced apartments. While rental costs go higher, evictions from rental housing is also a problem. Activists say some landlords have forced people to move from rental units so they can be offered to tech workers, who will pay a higher price. Erin McElroy is with a group called the Anti-Eviction Mapping Project. “Because landlords know that people can pay $3,000 or $4,000 a month, who work in these [technology] industries, affordable housing is being neglected and lost,” she says. The mapping project keeps records of evictions as longtime residents are forced out of rental properties. Some groups and San Francisco Bay Area neighborhoods are looking for ways to control the rising cost of rental housing. San Francisco officials and activists agreed to keep rental housing costs under control in the city’s Chinatown neighborhood. The International Hotel was home to many Philippine and Chinese-American residents. The old hotel was torn down in 1981, but rebuilt in 2005. Local Roman Catholic officials worked with community groups to create affordable housing in the area. Some local governments are reacting, too. Oakland stopped rate increases for three months on its older housing in April. San Francisco activists want a similar law to help renters who are struggling with rental payments. Tourism is another reason for the high real estate prices. San Francisco is a popular stop for both U.S. and overseas travelers. This puts a high demand for hotel, apartments, single-family homes and office space. After San Francisco and New York, the top of most expensive U.S. cities for renters are Boston and Washington, D.C., says the Zumper website. The world’s most expensive city for housing is Singapore, according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit. I’m Dorothy Gundy.   VOA’s Mike O’Sullivan reported on this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   apartment – n. a rented room or set of rooms that is part of a building and is used as a place to live realtors – n. people who act as agents for the sale and purchase of buildings and land eviction – n. the act of forcing someone to leave a place real estate – n.  property consisting of buildings and land landlord – n.  a person who owns a house or apartment and rents it to other people

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Teams That Overcame the Odds

The Leicester City soccer team won England's top championship for the first time in 132 seasons. Leicester, known as the Foxes, started the season as 5000-to-1 underdogs.   This gallery highlights some other unlikely sports victories. For example, the Minnesota Twins baseball team won the World Series one year after being one of the worst teams in the league. Same with the St. Louis Rams in the National Football League. Just last year, Japan's rugby team defeated South Africa in the sport's World Cup. And in 1950, the soccer team from the United States defeated England in the World Cup. Take a look at some of the photos from these memorable matches.

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2100 UTC Hourly Newscast for May 2, 2016

From Washington, this is VOA news… I'm Dave DeForest reporting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wraps up a visit to Geneva. Kerry said the United States and its partners are discussing "several proposals" to stop the violence in Syria. He did not say what the proposals are. “And now we are very much working and focused on the question of restoring the cessation of hostilities to the remaining periods where it’s been disturbed but particularly to Aleppo.” News agencies quoted U.S. officials who requested anonymity as saying the United States is considering mapping out "safe zones" that would provide refuge for civilians and members of the moderate opposition. There was a tense calm Monday in Baghdad.  Protesters who stormed into the International Zone on Saturday largely toned down their demonstration and drifted out to celebrate a Shi'ite religious festival. Protest leader Muqtada al-Sadr vowed he would return Friday to call for either a change in the government or new elections. The activist group Greenpeace has leaked classified documents about the trade agreement being negotiated between the United States and the European Union.  Greenpeace says the documents show corporate interests are being given preference over environmental and consumer safety concerns. Jorgo Riss is the Greenpeace European Unit Director: “Our initial assessment from these chapters is that the EU in relation to environmental protection, public health, product standards, that are relevant for consumers, has a fairly bad position and the United States is much worse.” The activist group released the documents in Berlin. The United States did not immediately react, but EU trade commissioner said, "Many of today's alarmist headlines are a storm in a teacup." This is VOA news. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast wraps up –v. to end particularly –adv. especially anonymity –adj. the condition of being unknown, the condition of hiding from view and not having to actions known by most people refuge –n. a place of safety tone down –v. to reduce the intensity of something, to quiet or ease initial –adj. first assessment –n. the result of study or consideration standards –n. levels of quality that are desired or required relevant –adj. meaningful a storm in a teacup –idiom, a small thing that is treated as if it is important

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Can You Name Four of the Healthiest, Tastiest Spices?

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Here in the United States, there is a saying: “Diversity is the spice of life.” This means that having a nice, healthy mix of people, thoughts, and experiences can make your life more interesting and, well, spicy. Spices and herbs do the same with our meals. Every country uses spices to make cooking distinct. Centuries ago, some spices were quite valuable. They were used as currency throughout the world. These days, most spices are reasonably priced and easy to find in stores. But they are still extremely valuable when it comes to keeping us healthy. As with many traditional or natural cures, there is little scientific evidence to prove spices have healing qualities. The U.S. National Institutes of Health says it is possible that spices have health benefits. But there is not enough strong evidence to confirm such claims. However, it does not hurt anything to add a few spices to your diet. So, here are four of the healthiest and tastiest spices. 1. Ginger From India to Japan to China, ginger is popular in many food dishes. Ginger has a hot, fragrant flavor. You can add ground ginger to many dishes, baked products and smoothies or other thick drinks. You can grate fresh ginger root, adding the small pieces to your favorite dishes. Candied ginger is a popular treat in many countries. Besides tasting great, ginger helps the body in many ways. Researchers have studied the anti-inflammatory qualities of ginger. An anti-inflammatory reduces swelling – the enlargement of a body part, often resulting from a build-up of fluid. So, ginger may help reduce pain in muscles and joints after you exercise. Thai researchers found that healthy, middle-aged women who took a ginger supplement every day for two months improved their mental ability. These women had a greater attention span and scored higher on memory tests than women who took a harmless substance or placebo. Ginger is a well-known cure for nausea, motion sickness and pregnancy-related health disorders. There is some evidence that ginger might help cure joint and muscle pain. And drinking tea with ginger root can reduce sore throat pain. 2. Turmeric Turmeric is the main spice in curry and a relative of ginger. As a traditional medicine, many cultures use turmeric to fight depression, liver disease and skin disorders. This information comes from the U.S. National Institutes for Health. There is no hard-and-fast proof that spices fight disease. But the NIH says there is research showing that turmeric has helped patients with arthritis and indigestion, or heartburn. Some Indian researchers claim that a chemical in turmeric called curcumin can slow or stop the growth of tumor cells. They say it also can suppress enzymes that activate cancer-causing agents. 3. Cumin One tablespoon of cumin seeds can supply 22 percent of your daily requirement for iron. Iron helps keep your energy levels high and strengthens the body’s natural defenses against disease. According to early research, cumin may also improve your brainpower: In an animal study, cumin extract was shown to improve performance on memory tests. Cumin may help people with diabetes by keeping their blood sugar level in check. It may also have powerful germ-fighting qualities. 4. Cinnamon Cinnamon is a common spice. It adds a warm, sweet taste to both sweet and savory dishes. There are two main kinds of cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is considered by many to be true cinnamon. And it can be very pricey. Cassia cinnamon or Chinese cinnamon generally costs less than Ceylon cinnamon. This is the kind that we put on top of coffee or hot chocolate. Cinnamon is also found in many baked goods here in the United States. According the National Institutes of Health, cinnamon has been used as a spice and traditional herbal medicine for centuries. The NIH website says there is research to suggest that cinnamon, like cumin, may lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon may also reduce cholesterol levels, help to reduce inflammation and kill germs that cause disease. These are only four of the many spices used around the world to flavor our food and possibly keep us healthy. I’m Anna Matteo. Let us know about your favorite spice in the Comments Section and on our Facebook page. Anna Matteo wrote this article for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   distinct – adj. noticeably different affordable – adj. to be able to pay for (something) fragrant – adj. having a pleasant and usually sweet smell flavor – n. the quality of something that you can taste : a particular type of taste : a good or appealing taste in check – idiomatic expression : under control savory – adj. having a spicy or salty quality without being sweet   placebo – n. medicine : a pill or substance that is given to a patient like a drug but that has no physical effect on the patient nausea – n. the feeling you have in your stomach when you think you are going to vomit hard-and-fast – adj. used to say that something (such as a rule) cannot be changed indigestion – n. an unpleasant feeling (such as pain or a burning sensation) in your stomach or chest that is caused by difficulty in digesting food heartburn – n. an unpleasant hot feeling in your chest caused by something that you ate suppress – v. to restrain from a usual course or action : to inhibit the growth or development of activate – v. to make active or more active

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Democrats, Republicans Disagree on Supreme Court Nomination

The Republican and Democratic U.S. senators who have served the longest in the current Senate disagree about whether they should take action on President Barack Obama’s nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court. President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February. Garland is currently an appeals court judge for the District of Columbia. Both political parties believe the nomination is important because whoever is confirmed will be able to influence the court’s decisions. Currently, the court is split: four justices are considered liberal, four are considered conservative. When Scalia was alive, conservatives won important cases because five conservative justices sat on the court. Republicans are worried -- and Democrats are hopeful -- that Garland will vote with the liberals now on the court. Patrick Leahy is the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which examines nominations of federal judges. He has been in the Senate longer than any current senator. He said “we need to do our job” and debate and vote on the nomination. Orrin Hatch has been in the Senate longer than any current Republican. He is also a member of the Judiciary Committee. He says the Senate does not approve a nominee just because a president wants that person to be on the Supreme Court. He and other Republicans believe Scalia should not be replaced until a new president is sworn in next January. But the Constitution does not limit when in a president’s term he or she can make a nomination.  On Tuesday, Hatch said “conducting a heated, divisive confirmation fight in the middle of an ugly presidential election -- and that certainly describes our presidential election season that is well under way -- would do more harm than good.” Hatch spoke at a recent meeting about the Supreme Court nomination, in Washington. At the same meeting, Leahy said “we’ve had numerous, numerous Supreme Court nominees confirmed in an election year.” The disagreement about whether the Senate should consider a Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year has caused a debate about what the U.S. Constitution requires the Senate to do. The document says the president “shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint…Judges of the Supreme Court.” Hatch said, “The Constitution gives the Senate the power of advice and consent, but does not specify how the Senate ought to exercise that power. Claims that the Constitution dictates when and how the confirmation process must occur -- immediate committee hearings or timely floor votes -- are false.” Leahy said, “What would be historic is to deny Judge Garland a public hearing and a vote. The Senate has considered controversial nominees. But in every one of those instances, the nominee received a public hearing and a vote.” But Hatch noted that “the Senate has never confirmed a Supreme Court nominee to a vacancy occurring this late in a president’s tenure.” Legal experts at the meeting also disagreed on what should take place. Martin Gold has served as a legal aide to several Republican senators. He said, “The Senate has a duty to consider a nominee, but how it exercises that duty is a matter of dispute. In a sense, [Senate] inaction is also action.” Jeffrey Blattner was a legal aide for Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy, who died in 2009. Blattner noted that, in 1988 – when the Senate was controlled by Democrats – it confirmed Anthony Kennedy to the Supreme Court during Ronald Reagan’s last year as president. It was also a presidential election year. Blattner said, “It did not occur to us [Democrats] ‘Well, it’s an election year -- [the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee] Michael Dukakis could win, and we don’t have to’” consider the nomination. People at the meeting agreed that Republicans, who now control the Senate, can refuse for an unlimited period of time to replace a Supreme Court justice who resigns or dies. The Constitution does not limit the amount of time the Senate can take to act on nominations. But Leahy says considering the nomination, even this late in Barack Obama’s presidency, is something the Senate has a duty to do. He said it is also in the best interest of the country. “We are elected to vote yes or no, not ‘maybe.’ You should demand your senators do their job by providing this nominee a public hearing. We are called to fulfill our constitutional duties. We are called to lead,” he said. But Hatch said “the Constitution leaves the judgment to” senators to decide when and how -- or even if -- it should consider a judicial nomination. A recent public opinion survey found that fewer than half of Americans understand the Senate’s role in confirming presidential nominees. Other surveys find that a majority of Americans believe the Senate should at least debate and vote on the nomination of Merrick Garland to be a justice of the Supreme Court. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA Senate Correspondent Michael Bowman reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly 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   conduct – v. to plan and do (something, such as an activity); to behave -- especially in a public or formal situation vacancy – n. a job or position that is available to be taken tenure – n. the amount of time that a person holds a job, office or title

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Vietnamese Protest Mysterious Fish Kill

  Hundreds of people demonstrated in Vietnam on Sunday against a company they accuse of killing large numbers of fish along the country’s central coast. Some demonstrators criticized Vietnam’s government for reacting slowly to a major environmental disaster. An official investigation has found no links between the fish kill and a steel plant operating along the coast. The factory belongs to a Taiwanese company, Formosa Plastics. Public anger against the company was evident at the recent demonstration in Hanoi. Protesters carried signs reading, “Formosa destroying the environment is a crime” and “Who poisoned the central region’s waters?” Others signs said, “Formosa out of Vietnam!” and criticized Vietnamese officials for failing to take action. Demonstrations are rare in Vietnam. Police are usually quick to suppress them. Last weekend, police officers cleared traffic to let demonstrators march near a big lake in the center of Hanoi. Huge numbers of dead fish have appeared at fish farms and along the central coast since April 6. The dead fish include rare species that live in deep water, far from land. The fish kill has affected 200 kilometers of coastland in four provinces, with no known cause. At first, the environmental disaster was thought to have resulted from industrial waste. Some Vietnamese and environmental activists believe it came from the huge steel plant. Last week, Vietnamese officials said they failed to find evidence linking the fish kill to the factory. Tran Hong Ha, the top environmental official, apologized for the government’s reaction to the large fish kill. He demanded that the Taiwanese company dig up a waste pipe at the steel project so the government can study the waste. At first, the government said the cause of the fish kill could be a “red tide.” Red tides happen naturally when algae become so numerous that they discolor coastal waters. The organisms remove oxygen from the water. They can also release toxic substances that may sicken animals and human beings. The government also said that the fish kill could have resulted from chemicals released by humans. A comment by a Formosa official helped to fuel public anger in Vietnam. The official reportedly said that the country had to choose between catching fish and shrimp, and building a modern steel industry. Reports on Facebook say several hundred protesters marched in Ho Chi Minh City. However, state-controlled media have yet to report on any of the demonstrations. Social media and witnesses said protests also took place in central Vietnam last Friday. They said fishermen threw fish on a road after failing to sell their catch. The Reuters news service could not confirm the incident. On Saturday, the government ordered the trade and agriculture ministries to help buy seafood caught during deep-sea fishing. I’m Jonathan Evans.   The Reuter news service reported on this story. George Grow adapted this report for 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   species – n. a particular group of things that belong together or have some shared quality toxin – n. a poisonous substance and especially one that is produced by a living thing red tide – n. a discoloration of seawater caused by a bloom of toxic red organisms   algae – n. simple plants that have no leaves or stems and that grow in or near water

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Australian Revealed as Creator of Bitcoin?

This is What’s Trending Today: Do you know who Craig Wright is? Have you ever heard of Satoshi Nakamoto? Well, if you are a Twitter user, you probably saw both of those names trending on Monday. But who are they? Craig Wright is a real person. He is an entrepreneur – someone who invests in businesses – from Australia. Satoshi Nakamoto is not a real person. But Satoshi Nakamoto is the name many people have used when talking about the person who started the electronic currency called Bitcoin. Names people use to protect their true identities are called psuedonyms. People have tried for years to find out the real person behind Bitcoin. Newspapers and magazines have written articles investigating Bitcoin. Reporters have tried to put together clues that might lead to discovering Bitcoin’s founder. But on Monday, Craig Wright told three media organizations that he was the founder of Bitcoin. He talked with the BBC and The Economist and GQ magazines. During the meeting with the BBC, Wright did something that no one else but a person involved in the creation of Bitcoin could do. He used something called a cryptographic key to sign some documents. If you do not know a lot about Bitcoin, that might not seem like a big deal. But, each Bitcoin user has a special, encoded key. No one else can have the same key. And, the key that Wright used in his messages is connected to a very early collection of Bitcoins created by the mysterious Nakamoto. Some people who are Bitcoin experts are saying they believe Wright is the person who invented the currency. But others, like The Economist, have said “questions remain” about Wright’s claim. People who use Bitcoins do not have to use traditional banks, credit cards or other financial services when they use the electronic currency.  When they were introduced in 2009, Bitcoins were worth just a few pennies each. Now the price of one bitcoin is over $400. New Bitcoins are created, or “mined,” when people with powerful computers solve difficult math problems. The BBC reports there are now about 15 million Bitcoins in the world. Wright said he went public about his identity because hiding was becoming too stressful. “I don't want money. I don't want fame. I don't want adoration. I just want to be left alone,” he said. Many people and media organizations are still looking for more details before they believe Wright’s claim.   The Economist posted a poll on its website asking people whether they believe that Wright is the Bitcoin creator. More than 5,000 people have voted. Forty percent of people who voted are still not sure they believe what Wright has said. And That’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Do you believe Craig Wright was the founder of Bitcoin? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cryptography – n. the process of writing or reading secret messages or codes currency – n. something that is used as money entrepreneur – n. a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money pseudonym – n. a name that someone (such as a writer) uses instead of his or her real name  

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As Violence Increases in Syria, US Seeks to Restart Peace Talks

  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wants Russia’s help to stop the violence in Syria. Government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have attacked the rebel-held city of Aleppo for more than a week. Over 250 people have been killed. At a meeting in Geneva with other diplomats, Kerry said he is, in his words, “getting closer to a place of understanding” on restarting a cease-fire in Syria that includes the city of Aleppo. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did not attend the meeting. But Kerry said, “We are talking directly to the Russians, even now.” He wanted Russia to use its influence over the Syrian government to stop the violence. Earlier, the U.S. secretary of state urged Russia to help restore calm during a visit to Jordan. “These are critical hours. We look for Russia's cooperation, and we obviously look for the [Syrian] regime to listen to Russia.” The Syrian military said last week that it would impose a temporary “regime of calm” in the areas around the capital, Damascus, and in Latakia province. However, Aleppo is not among these areas. Kerry has said ending the violence in Aleppo is of top importance. Most of the victims are civilians. Hospitals and medical centers also have been targets of the fighting. A deadly bombing of a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders last week caused an international outcry, but the air strikes have continued. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was among those Kerry spoke with on Monday. He condemned the airstrike on the hospital and called on Syrian president Assad to step down. On Sunday, Pope Francis also urged parties in the conflict to return to peace talks. I’m Mario Ritter.   Zlatica Hoke and Luis Ramirez reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Do you have an opinion on the violence in Syria? Please leave a comment below and post on our Facebook page, thank you. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   critical –adj. extremely important regime –n. a form of government

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Chinese Expand Global Real Estate Buying

Chinese buyers are increasing their search for real estate around the world, although government restrictions limit the movement of money out of China. Some European countries have offered Chinese buyers visa programs linked to buying property. Greece and Cyprus offer residency for three generations of family members. Spain and Portugal are offering five-year residency permits. Those countries are attempting to access a share of a real estate market with an estimated value of $25 billion. They are also competing with the United States and Australia for real estate business. Chinese real estate buyers have bought a lot of property in the United States and Australia in past years. However, Australia’s government on Friday blocked the sale of a large ownership share of S. Kidman & Co. to a group of Chinese companies, according to Reuters news agency. S. Kidman & Co. is the country’s largest private landholder. China increases controls on money flowing out of the country The Chinese government has increased its efforts to stop the flow of money out of the country. The People's Bank of China recently restricted money taken out of automated teller machines (ATM) from Chinese bank branches in western countries. The bank did this because Chinese tourists often leave behind unused money in foreign cities. The Chinese tourists leave funds in case they return. The high rate of property buying in 2015 shows that Chinese buyers have been spending more than the limit of money permitted by the Chinese government’s rules. China limits foreign money transfers to $50,000 a year. Chinese property buyers increased their purchases by an estimated 30 percent in 2015, according to the company Savills Research China. Office building sellers have also noticed an increase in Chinese buying. One property consultant company, Global Capital Markets, estimated a 46 percent increase in commercial property sales to Chinese clients. Chinese buyers seek new markets Chinese buyers also are exploring new property markets. One is in the Middle East. Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates. Chinese interest in Dubai’s property market has been high in recent years. Yousuf Kazim is chief executive officer (CEO) of Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. He said, "Interest in Dubai’s real estate from China is already on the up, with interest said to have surged 1,200 percent year-on-year in August 2015."  He added that, "We see huge potential to market in China. There is a growing affluent and wealthy population seeking to ‘internationalize’ a share of their assets…." An important reason Chinese buy property in foreign countries is their desire to leave China now or in the future. Some want to move their children to provide them with educations at western colleges or universities.  “Chinese migration is at an all-time high. So they are a majority of our clients,” said Christian Numa, director of Amity Property Group based in Melbourne, Australia. Getting foreign buyers to purchase real estate has become very competitive. Several European countries, like Portugal, Spain, Greece and Cyprus, offer long-term residency permits to investors who buy houses or a commercial property. Bobby O'Reilly, a real estate company manager in Portugal, said a large number of foreign investors who have used Portugal’s visa program are Chinese. “The minimum investment requirement is 280,000 Euros for (a) golden visa and entry into Portugal,” O’Reilly said. The United States continues to be the main place for Chinese property buyers. However, some realtors say there are few good properties available and very little new construction is taking place. “A good part of the property is already held by the Chinese, who do not sell. They like to hold property long-term. That is why there (are) few properties available for sale in the market these days,” explained Fred Lam, president of Dragon1 USA, a real estate company in California. During the past two years, NBC News reports that Chinese investment in property has increased in Detroit, Michigan. The Associated Press reports that foreign buyers make up only a small part of the housing market in the U.S.  However, in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and Irvine, California, foreign buyers, including Chinese ones, have influenced the market. I’m Mario Ritter.   Saibal Dasgupta wrote this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted the story for Learning English. He also included information from NBC News and the Associated Press. Hai Do and Mario Ritter were the editors. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   real estate – n. property consisting of buildings and land residency – n. a period of time when someone lives in a place clients – n.  people or businesses who pay a professional person or organization for services commercial – adj. used to make a profit as a business or designed for businesses chief executive officer – n.  a person in a top-ranking corporate position, responsible for overseeing operations automated teller machine – n.  a machine that people use to get money from their bank accounts by using a special card tourists – n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure affluent – adj. having a large amount of money and owning many expensive things assets – n. something that is owned by a person or company golf course – n. a large area of land set up for the game of golf migration – n. the move from one country or place to live or work in another

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May 2, 2016

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

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Arts Fuel Tech Creativity in Children

An American library is giving children a new way to learn important life skills by combining art projects with traditional school subjects, like mathematics and science. The program is called STEAMtivity. It is offered at a public library in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. Diana Price is the head of youth services at the library. “STEAMtivity is a program that combines STEAM – science, technology, engineering, arts, and math – and creativity. They involve different technologies, such as LEGO Mindstorms robots. And some more kind of low-tech arts-focused programs, such as ‘make your own musical instrument.’ " Diana Price added that most of her library’s non-traditional programs are open-ended. This means the children can create any kind of product they want and take the path to creating that product any way they want. This model makes failure impossible, she said. It also makes children feel sure of their abilities, so they feel better about science, technology, engineering, arts and math. The library received money for the program from the American Library Association and the Walt Disney Company. On a recent day, a group of children, ages 8-12, gathered in a room at the Alexandria library. The boys and girls used small straws to build structures. The straws connect to each other to form designs. Michael Guysinger is a fourth grade student. He likes the exercises. “I like them because they’re very creative. There’s no instructions. You can do it really your own way. You don’t have to do this or that. You just do it your own way.” At first, Michael wanted to build a house with his straws. But he later decided to create a spaceship instead. Michael’s mother says he and her other children are taught at home, not at school. She says that, at the library, they enjoy learning things with materials not found at home. “And it gives them the opportunity to use their creativity and their imagination to come up with different ideas and things to do.” Another student, second grader Munira Khalif, said she also created something different than first planned. “I first made the flower, and then I thought I should make the sun because I like how the sun goes on top of the flower.” The program is part of the Alexandria library’s effort to serve immigrants and poor families in the community. Somali immigrant Mohamed Khalif said his two daughters could not wait to come back to the library for more activities. “It opens their eyes and make them think out of the box, and do something that they normally don’t do at home or a playground.” Price says the program lets children work independently and as a team, helping them learn skills they will be able to use for the rest of their lives.         I’m Kathleen Struck. June Soh reported this story for VOANews.com. Bryan Lynn adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Please leave us a comment below or on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   library – n. a place where a person can borrow books, magazines and other materials straw – n. a thin tube used for drinking liquid impossible – adj. not possible to be done or happen straw – n. a thin tube used for drinking liquid instruction – n. the action or process of teaching opportunity – n. a chance for advancing or progressing think out of the box - idiom. thoughts that are creative, unusual and not limited by tradition   ​

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