WHO Concerned About Zika’s Spread in Southeast Asia

  The World Health Organization is increasingly concerned about the spread of the Zika virus in Southeast Asia. The United Nations organization is worried the virus, which is carried by mosquitos, could affect local populations in the area. Roderico Ofrin is the WHO regional emergencies director for Southeast Asia. He said countries need to carry out, in his words, “effective surveillance and reporting systems” to closely observe the disease’s spread. “WHO is working with countries across the South East Asia region to continue to prevent, detect and respond to Zika virus transmission,” Ofrin said in an email to VOA. He said the plan to deal with the disease places importance on limiting the spread of the disease and strengthening Zika virus and birth-defect surveillance. He added that increasing the abilities of laboratories to test for the disease and increasing communication with communities were also important. What is Zika? Zika is blamed for causing the birth defect microcephaly, which can cause babies to be born with unusually small heads and possible brain damage. So far, South America has suffered the most from the Zika virus. Brazil has reported hundreds of cases of microcephaly since the outbreak started there in 2015. Now, the medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases has identified China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand as high-risk countries. The medical publication also said that Africa south of the Sahara Desert faced increased risk because of its historical ties with Brazil. It warned that an estimated 2.6 billion people live in places where conditions for the spread of the virus exist. Pregnant women are most at risk. Health officials say the virus also is spread through sexual contact, blood transfusions and from mother to child. The Zika virus also has been linked to nerve damage that can result in weakened muscles and paralysis known as Guillain-Barre syndrome. Zika in Southeast Asia Southeast Asian governments have increased efforts to find evidence of the virus. They have also sprayed chemicals in places where mosquitos breed. However, Singapore has reported more than 240 cases. Malaysia and Thailand also have reported cases of infection, and the United States, Britain, Australia and Taiwan have given travel warnings for pregnant women. Singapore’s Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency reported that the Zika virus affecting its community came from Asia. It said it did not come from Brazil. Local news agencies in Thailand reported comments of a top official in the ministry of Public Health’s Department of Disease Control. The official said Zika has not become a serious outbreak in the country. However, Thai Public Health Ministry officials say two women in the San Sai district of the city of Chiang Mai are being closely watched. I'm Mario Ritter. Ron Corben reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   surveillance –n. carefully watching something or someone detect –v. to discover or notice the presence of something transmission –n. medical, passing an infection from one to another

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Possible Earth-Like Planet Next Door?

  Scientists say they discovered an Earth-like planet orbiting the star closest to our planet other than the Sun. It is the closest planet ever found outside our solar system that could support life as we know it. This exoplanet is just 4.2 light years away from us. It is so close that space scientists have likened it to a next door neighbor. They say it could be reached by an unmanned spacecraft before the end of the century — in time for people alive today to see it. An international team of astronomers found the planet orbiting the star “Proxima Centauri.” The scientific publication Nature published their findings last month. Not-too-hot, not-too-cold Scientists have long thought that a planet with water and a not-too-hot, but not-too-cold climate are important for life. That is, if the planet has an atmosphere. Because the exoplanet exists, scientists say, other Earth-like planets may be everywhere in our galaxy. The newly-discovered planet is a little larger than Earth. Scientists have named it Proxima b. It orbits its sun -- Proxima Centauri – once every 11 days.  The American space agency NASA has been using the Kepler telescope and other instruments for years to look for earth-like planets. In 2013, scientists’ best guess was that there are about a billion “Earths” in the universe. Alan Boss is the Chair of NASA’s advisory group for Exoplanet exploration. He told VOA that Proxima b not only confirms the discovery of a planet, but also increases the number of other possible “Earths” by a huge amount. Boss said it is possible, even likely, that most stars have at least one earth-like planet orbiting them, which he considers “astounding.” So from the early estimates of a billion, this new research suggests there may be as many possible Earth-like planets as there are stars in our galaxy. That is, anywhere from 250 billion to 500 billion “Earths.” This makes the possibility of living organisms increasingly likely. Boss said he believes human beings will prove that there is life in places other than Earth in his lifetime. “I am 65,” he told VOA, “but I expect to still be alive when it happens.” Paul Butler works at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. He told VOA that finding Proxima b “makes the case concrete” that there are other planets where life could exist. The confirmation of this planet came from a team of astronomers that call themselves “The Pale Red Dot Campaign.” The name comes from the star Proxima Centauri, which is classified as a Red Dwarf star. Astronomers say it is seen as a “pale red dot” in the sky.  The Pale Red Dot Campaign looks for planets near Proxima Centauri. The scientists studied a very small back-and-forth wobble in the star. They believe that movement could result from the pull of an orbiting planet. Paul Butler said the researchers used two telescopes in different countries to look for possible planets like Earth. Discovering Proxima b, he believes, changes the world. “This work has resulted in the discovery of hundreds of planets around the nearest stars, and now a potentially habitable planet around the nearest star in the sky,” Butler said. He added, “This work confirms, that potentially habitable planets are common, and points the way to the future when such planets will be directly observed with giant ground- and space-based telescopes.” What would it take to get there? Proxima b is 45 trillion kilometers away from Earth. Alan Boss said that humans might be able to get a robot spacecraft there, in about 50 years or so, if we leave tomorrow. The spacecraft would have to move really fast, about 10 percent the speed of light. Once it got there, a camera could take pictures and send them back at the speed of light. Some people alive today might get to see the first real pictures of a planet beyond our solar system. And that, is something to think about. I’m Anne Ball.   Kevin Enochs reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and find us on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   exoplanet – n. a planet that orbits a star other than our sun galaxy – n. any one of a very large group of stars that make up our universe guess – n. an opinion or answer on something you do not know much about astounding – adj. causing a feeling of great surprise or wonder concrete – adj. solid, like the hard strong material of concrete wobble – n. a very small movement habitable – adj. something than can support life

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Everyday Grammar: Commonly Confused Words, Part Two

This video is based on an article in the Everyday Grammar series: http://ift.tt/1YnXkJd

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Lesson 28: I Passed It!

Summary Anna tells her roommate, Marsha, about the problems she had in her driving test. Then Anna says she wants to drive to a special place in Washington, D.C. Where will she drive? Speaking Learn to pronounce the new words for this lesson. You can also learn about the imperative verb form. ​ Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how people say "well" to give bad news, or an answer someone does not expect. Conversation   Anna: Hello! Guess what this is? This is my driver’s license! I passed my driving test! Today, I rented a car so I can drive around Washington, D.C. You can see more of the city this way. Marsha! Marsha: Anna, did you get your driver’s license? Anna: I did! But it was not easy. Marsha: Why? What happened? Anna: Well, you know, I can drive farm equipment really well. But I was really nervous driving in Washington, D.C. traffic! Marsha: Did you pass the test the first time? Anna: Well…no. But I did pass the second time. Marsha: What happened during the first test? Anna: It started fine. John: Okay … Anna. Is your seatbelt buckled? Anna: Yes, sir! John: Great. Please start the car. Anna: (to herself) Okay, Anna, start the car.Started the car. Good job, Anna. John: Why are you talking to yourself? Anna: I am a little nervous. When I’m nervous, I talk to myself. John: You don't need to be nervous. Anna: Listen to that engine! John: Please, stop pushing the gas pedal! Anna: Sorry. John: Okay, when you are ready, turn. Anna: Great! John: Not now! You almost hit that car! Anna: You said “turn!” John: Look first! There were cars in the street. Anna: Please don’t yell at me! John: I’m sorry! I was afraid. Anna: You were yelling. John: Look out for that car! Brake! Brake!! Anna and John: Ahhh! Anna: Why is everyone honking at us? John: You were driving too slow! Anna, stay on the street! John: Hands on the wheel, Anna. Anna: What’s that sound? John: That, Anna, is the police. Marsha: That sounds awful. Anna: Yes, it did not go well. But, I practiced and passed the second time! Marsha: Do you know where you want to take your first drive in Washington, D.C.? Anna: Yes! Let’s go! Anna: There it is … the White House! Marsha: Anna, you do you know you can’t drive up to the White House, don’t you? Anna: Yes. No. I didn’t know. I guess we walk from here! Anna: Sometimes you can see more of Washington, D.C. in a car. If you want to see the White House, you need to walk. Until next time … ! Writing Do you know how to drive a car? Were you nervous when you first learned? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice using imperative verbs with a friend. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Self-Talk. When we need to be more confident, we can use Self-Talk. In this lesson, Anna uses Self-Talk. Notice that John asks her about it. John: Why are you talking to yourself? Anna: I am a little nervous. When I’m nervous, I talk to myself. John: You don't need to be nervous. Talking to yourself in English can have two benefits. It may help you relax and do better. It can also give you more chance to practice using English. How about you? Do you sometimes talk to yourself?  Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan  for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz ​Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ______________________________________________________________ New Words afraid - adj. feeling fear brake - v. to use the brake on a vehicle - n. a device for slowing or stopping something (such as a wheel or vehicle) buckle - v. to fasten (something, such as a belt) with a buckle equipment - n. supplies or tools needed for a special purpose gas pedal - n. a pedal in a vehicle that is pressed down to make the vehicle go faster Guess what? - expression. a phrase used to build anticipation pass / passed - v. to complete a test or a class successfully police - n. the people or the department of people who enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make arrests seat belt - n. a strap on a vehicle's seat that holds a person in the seat if there is an accident tractor - n. a short, heavy truck that is designed to pull a large trailer traffic - n. all the vehicles driving along a certain road or in a certain area turn - v. to move in a particular direction and especially toward the left or right turn signal - n. one of the lights on a vehicle that flash to indicate that the vehicle is turning left or right White House - n. the place in Washington, D.C., where the U.S. President lives yell - v. to say (something) very loudly especially because you are angry, surprised, or are trying to get someone's attention ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice talking about associations with sports and warnings using "look out." For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus:  Imperative verb forms, Past tense of BE Topics: Giving a reason or excuse,  Apologizing  Learning Strategy: Self Talk Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Imperative verbs, Extending the word "well" ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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UNICEF: 50 Million Children Displaced Worldwide

  Nearly 50 million children in the world are refugees, migrants or without a home, the United Nations Children’s agency reported. UNICEF said 28 million children have fled violence or conflict, according to a written report. The agency called the situation “a growing crisis.”   Last year, almost half of all children registered as refugees came from two countries: Syria and Afghanistan. But UNICEF said this crisis affects children from all parts of the world. The UNICEF report mentioned that Central America, Asia and Africa also have refugees who are children. The report notes that when and if children reach their final stops, the threats they face often do not disappear. Those threats include sex trafficking, criminal gangs and smuggling. Children continue to need help and protection. UN summit World leaders gather in New York for the annual U.N. General Assembly later this month. There will be two separate meetings on migration and refugees. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will host the first meeting. U.S. President Barack Obama will host the second meeting. UNICEF said it hopes the summits will be committed to children. The UNICEF report called for addressing the root causes of migration and refugees. The agency said conflict, violence and extreme poverty are the root causes. The report also urges measures to stop xenophobia and discrimination against refugees. And, it introduced measures to prevent the abuse of children on the move. I’m Anna Matteo. The staff at VOA News wrote this story. Jim Dresbach adapted it for 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   gang – n. a group of young people who do illegal things together and who often fight against other gangs smuggling – v. to move someone or something from one country into another illegally and secretly xenophobia – n. fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners migrants - n. people who move from one place to another, often for economic reasons mentioned - v. noted annual - adj. yearly; taking place once a year committed - v. to decide to use or do something for a reason host - v. to lead or chair an event

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US Presidential Candidates Prepare to Take Office

Aides for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are hard at work in the same building in Washington, D.C. The election is not until November. But each team is preparing for their candidate to become president in January. The news website FederalTimes.com reported that the aides moved into a building near the White House in early August. Congress has approved a budget of more than $13 million for the transition planning. President Barack Obama will leave office and the new president will take office on January 20th, 2017. That is less than three months after the election on November 8th, 2016. Recently, top transition officials from both campaigns met with Obama’s top aides. Obama’s spokesman told reporters that the administration will be helpful to both candidates as they take part in transition planning. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said everyone who took part in the meeting “understands the serious responsibility that they have to ensure a smooth and effective transition.” Experts say a strong and well-organized transition effort can help the new president be successful early in the first term. The transition team is to work to create plans to govern. It also is expected to help the new president honor campaign promises. Hillary Clinton has already taken part in two presidential transitions. In 1992, her husband Bill Clinton was elected president. She experienced the transition from the administration of President George H.W. Bush, the 41st president. She dealt with the transition from the other side as well, when her husband left office and George W. Bush became president. The transition efforts are technically separate from the campaigns of the nominees. However, most of the transition officials for Trump and Clinton are, or were, top aides to the candidates. The “Pre-Election Presidential Transition Act of 2010” gives money and offices to the major party nominees to help prepare them to govern the nation. The law was strengthened by the “Presidential Transitions Improvements Act of 2015.” It requires the outgoing president to begin planning the change of power at least six months ahead. Until recently, new presidents did not begin officially preparing for office until after the election in November. It leaves little time to do a lot. Thousands of workers are needed to run the White House. The president must also choose senior officials to lead agencies throughout the government. The transition is a costly effort. Time magazine reported that in 2012, between 300 and 500 people worked on Republican Mitt Romney’s pre-election transition effort. It cost almost $9 million. Romney did not win the election. Because President Obama was already in office, he did not take part in transition planning. The Partnership for Public Service is a non-profit organization that works to improve the effectiveness of the federal government. It has created The Center for Presidential Transition. The center helps to make the next president ready to govern on the first day in office. Researchers at the center have interviewed former leaders of presidential transitions, read academic reports and collected documents from previous transitions. Max Stier is one of the leaders of the center. He told ABC News that “winning and not being ready to govern is a big problem.” He notes that the new president and aides will be leading an organization with four million employees and an almost $4 trillion budget. Stier told an interviewer that the transition “is a moment of both incredible power and vulnerability. It is powerful in the sense that it’s a representation of our democratic practice. But the transition is also a time in which we present to the world an opportunity for mischief.” The center says transitions can be too hurried, resulting in a new administration being unprepared to deal with an emergency. The center provides plans to help the candidates as they create a protected computer network, get needed security clearances and organize offices, among other duties. Stier said the new president must name 4,000 new leaders of government agencies. He says about 25 percent of them require Senate approval. This is the first presidential transition in which aides for both candidates are working in the same office building. The team whose candidate wins the election will quickly speed their plans to take control of the federal government. The team whose candidate loses, however, must leave the offices provided by the federal government within a few days. I'm Caty Weaver. And I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Christopher Jones-Cruise reported this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver 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 transition – n. a change from one state or condition to another interview – v. to question or talk with (someone) in order to get information or learn about that person academic – adj. of or relating to schools and education vulnerable – adj. open to attack, harm or damage opportunity – n. chance; an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done mischief – n. a playful desire to cause trouble; behavior or activity that is annoying but that is not meant to cause serious harm or damage  

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More Russians Growing Their Own Food

With high inflation and food shortages across Russia, some Russians are growing their own vegetables. The country’s struggling economy has kept food prices rising and put millions of people in poverty. In the former Soviet Union, Russians who lived in traditional country homes – called dachas – often grew their own food. Today, many Russian families – including some in cities - are again growing food to deal with the hard economic times. Irina Bulozhenko lives and works in Moscow. “Our grandma has a dacha where she grows lots of things like cabbage and beets. I am cooking borscht right now and I am using our beets and carrots. The onions are ours. So we are saving on what we have grown in the summer. So that's why we don't feel it so badly.” But for some families, growing their own food is still not enough. To help them, Russian volunteers have set up food-sharing programs. The food is donated by restaurants or individuals, and given to those in need. Tatyana Golubyeva told VOA that receiving food through the program has become important to her family. “We spend now a lot less on food than before, when we did not know about food-sharing and did not use it. Now we hope that we'll get not only bread, but some other food, as well...” She noted that the donations have cut the amount her family spends on food in half. Food-sharing volunteer Svetlana Kalmykova said the program is just getting started. But she believes it can go a long way to help needy people. “I think that food-sharing has a big future and big prospects in Russia. The main thing is to inform the public about it, so that people learn what it is and what is needed to be done. I think that many will join.” Russians are hoping the country’s economy will recover soon, so more food will be available and prices will go down. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Daniel Schearf reported this story for VOANews.com. Bryan Lynn 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 our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story borscht – n. a soup made mainly from beets prospect – n. the possibility that something good can happen  

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15 Years After 9/11 Attacks, Americans Remember

Fifteen years ago, two hijacked passenger airplanes brought down the World Trade Center towers in New York City. Another hijacked plane hit the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Defense Department. A fourth plane crashed in a field in the state of Pennsylvania. The areas where the September 11 attacks took place have been repaired and rebuilt, but the ground — and the lives of many Americans -- were forever changed.             The Pentagon is a large, five-sided building in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Reporter Jamie McIntyre was following the U.S. military for CNN television on September 11, 2001. He spoke with VOA near the place where American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon. "You know, I always feel like this is sacred ground... I stood here on September 11…." And McIntyre reported what he saw – smoke rising from the building. He reported information that, at the time, seemed hard to believe. "Which would indicate that the entire plane crashed into the side of the Pentagon…" The events of that day are now known as the 9/11 terrorist attacks.The attacks were carried out by Islamic extremists. Fifteen years later, McIntyre cannot forget that day. He calls it “a defining moment in your life.” "And to see this building, which is such an iconic structure, and almost looks like a fortress, to see part of it just crumble down into rubble and realize the number of people who died in the building and on the plane, it was one of those days when you could feel the world changing." In all, 184 people were killed at the Pentagon that day. One hundred twenty-five were in the building. Fifty-nine others were on the plane. James Laychak’s world changed that day, too. He lost a brother. Now he is president of the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Fund. The fund was set up to raise money to build a memorial near the place where the plane came down. "My brother Dave, my younger brother, was killed in the Pentagon on 9/11. I do this to honor my brother's memory and to honor all the people who died here so we never forget them and remind people about what happened that day...”                     World Trade Center Towers Targeted In New York City, the look of lower Manhattan changed when the two World Trade Center towers were brought down on 9-11. Now, One World Trade Center stands close to where those twin towers once stood. The new structure is taller, and serves as an example of the city’s strength, and ability to come back from such a tragic event. Alice Greenwald is director of New York’s 9/11 Memorial Museum. She says there is progress at “ground zero”— the name given to the area where the towers once stood. It is the place where almost 3,000 people lost their lives. "You have magnificent new towers that are standing. You have tower three rising, you have the new transportation hub and you have this magnificent memorial in the center of it. So it is a place now of commemoration and of life..." People who were there that day will never forget what happened. Flora Mazzariello was a school teacher. "There were people who were involved and working in that area and they came to school to pick up their kids, they were full of plaster." Many New Yorkers who survived the attack can still agree on one thing: there is no place they would rather be. A Field in Pennsylvania: They Fought Back The fourth attack on 9/11 gets less attention than the ones in New York and the Pentagon.     The Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, remembers the 40 passengers and crew who died there. The huge 757 plane crashed into a grassy field, killing everyone on board. Terrorists had taken control of the plane. It was decided later that they were on a suicide operation to Washington. The passengers knew about the other attacks that had taken place a short time earlier. They understood what was probably going to happen to them, and decided to fight back. The plane then crashed into the ground. The U.S. National Park Service operates the national memorial in Shanksville. It has recordings of messages some passengers left on loved ones' voicemails. “Tuesday, 9:47 a.m. Hi Baby. Baby, you have to listen to me carefully. I’m on a plane that’s been hijacked, I’m on the plane, I’m calling from the plane. I want to tell you I love you. Please tell my children that I love them very much..” CeeCee Lyles was a flight attendant on the plane. She tells her husband three men had hijacked the plane and that she was trying to stay calm. Then, just before the plane crashed, she ends her heart-breaking message this way:  “I hope to be able to see your face again baby, I love you. Goodbye...”   At the Shanksville memorial, CeeCee Lyle’s name is on a wall in her memory, along with the other people who lost their lives in the Pennsylvania field on 9/11, 2001. I’m Anne Ball.   Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English, with reports by VOA’s Carla Babb, Ramon Taylor and Julie Taboh. 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   iconic – adj. widely known fortress – n. a place that is protected from attack crumble – v. to break something into small pieces, fall apart rubble – n. broken pieces of stone, brick, etc. from walls that have fallen skyline – n. the outline of buildings against the sky twin – n. one of two exactly the same magnificent – adj. very grand commemoration – n. something that honors an important event or person in the past plaster - n. a web substance that hardens when it becomes dry and that is used to make smooth surfaces

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Fifteen Million Americans Work for Themselves

About 15 million people in the United States work for themselves. That finding comes from the Pew Research Center, a not-for-profit research group. The center prepared a report on the kind of work Americans do and the wages they receive. Pew found that the 15 million people who work for themselves are not always working alone -- even if they do not report to someone else. They often employ people to help them do their work, the report said. In 2015, Pew reported that millennials, people from 18 to 34 years old, became the largest age group in the U.S. workforce. Millennials replaced Generation Xers, aged 35 to 50 -- as the largest age group. Pew also reported that women earn 83 percent as much as men. But younger women come closer to pay equity.  Women aged 25 to 34 earn 91 percent as much as men, the report said. Also releasing employment information this month was Project Time Off, a group based in Washington, D.C. The group argues that people should take time off from work both for employees' well-being and more success in the workplace. An employee who takes time off is not only more rested, but more productive, Project Time Off said. But the group reported that in 2015 more than half of American workers did not use up all their vacation time. These Americans left 658 million vacation days unused, it said. Millennials, aged 18 to 34, are the least likely generation of workers to take a paid holiday, the group said. And they generally earn fewer vacation days than older workers. Another report found that nearly 9 percent of American businesses with paid workers are less than two years old. That information comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. A much smaller percentage, about 3 percent, has been in business for 16 years or longer, the Census Bureau said. The report suggests it is easier to open up a business than to keep it going for many years. The Pew Research Center’s report provided lots of other information about American workers. Among its findings: The difference in wages between young workers with college degrees and those with less education is the biggest in years. Pew said college graduates, aged 24 to 34 and working full time, now earn about $20,000 more a year than young adults without a college degree. Fewer teenagers are working in the summer now compared to the 1990s. In 2014, 32.3 percent of U.S. teenagers had paid jobs in the summer, compared to rates over 40 percent in the 1990s. But older adults are working more. In May, 18.8 percent of Americans aged over 65 were working. In 2000, the percentage was 12.8 percent. I’m ​Bruce Alpert. Bruce Alpert reported this story for VOA Learning English. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Tell us about your job. Does your boss treat you fairly? ___________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   millennials - n. young people who finished high school in 2000 or later equity - n. meaning that people are treated and paid the same way, regardless of gender or race vacation – n. the days for which an employer agrees to pay workers while they are not working; a period that a person spends away from work

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Table Tennis, Anyone?

  Hello and welcome to Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English! On this program, we explore the stories behind common expressions in American English. Today, we talk about an object found in every home. We eat off them. We can also work at them. We play games on them and, at other times, we simply gather around them. They are tables! A table is often at the center of many activities. So it is not surprising that the word “table” is used in several common expressions. Let’s start with a very simple one: to table something. George Bernard Shaw was a famous playwright. He reportedly said that “England and America are separated by the same language.” However, he may not have said that. It was the Irish writer Oscar Wilde who wrote years earlier in his 1887 story The Canterville Ghost, “… we have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.” Regardless of who said it first, there is truth in this funny statement. Similar expressions can sometimes mean different things in the U.K and the U.S. For example, the term to table means one thing in Britain, while it means the exact opposite in the United States. When Britain’s parliament wishes to consider an issue for discussion, members vote “to table it.” On the other hand, when the United States Senate or House of Representatives votes “to table” a proposal, lawmakers decide to set aside the plan or even kill it altogether. These differences led to misunderstandings between the two countries shortly after the United States entered World War II. As the Americans and British began to develop joint military plans, the term “to table” usually required a clearer explanation. There were British proposals that the Americans were strongly opposed to. They did not even want to discuss them. Respectfully, they said, “Let’s table them.” The British were happy to hear that. They thought the Americans were ready to give the proposals serious considerations. Boy, were they wrong! For a time, the misunderstandings could be troublesome. But in time, the two sides grew to understand what each meant by the expression “to table.” And communications between them improved. So did their military situation. In time, the Allies turned the tables on Nazi Germany. After being on the defensive for a long time, allied forces moved forward to take the offensive on all battle fronts. The Allies turned the tables on German forces and defeated them.    Hear another dialogue using the expression "to turn the tables" on this episode of English in a Minute. The expression “to turn the tables” means to give opponents the same treatment they have been giving you. This saying comes from a popular 16th century card game. In the game, a player might have found themselves in a worse position than his opponent. And so, turning the board, or table, around put the other person in the same position. Now, let us hear this expression used in an everyday conversation. A: Hey did you watch your boss’s television interview about education reform? B: Not yet. I hate watching her speak to reporters. Most of them are unfair and unprepared. A: Well, your boss was ready for them. She turned the tables on all of them. She brought all her facts and knowledge about the issue to the table. She supplied hard evidence that proved their accusations wrong. B: In that case, I’ll watch that interview right away! Nothing is better than seeing the tables turn against unfair reporters. So the expression “turn the tables” comes from a game and so does the expression cards on the table. If we put our cards on the table we lay everything out in plain view. Nothing is hidden. However, people who want to keep their plans secret, deal under the table. This expression is used to describe dishonest activities, such as cheating. An employer who pays a worker under the table is paying them illegally without taking out taxes. But if you bring something to a party, you don’t put it under the table. You put it on the table. Often when people are invited to parties, they bring something to eat or drink to share. Whether it is a bottle of wine or a chocolate cake, these gifts go on a table for everyone to enjoy. In American English, however, what you bring to the table is not limited to food or something to drink. What you bring to the table can be interesting stories, personal knowledge of a subject or a witty sense of humor. These things all make the event better. So, people who bring something to the table are those who bring something of value to a party, a meeting or event. On the other hand, if someone does not bring anything of value to a gathering, for whatever reason, we can say that person brings nothing to the table. You might ask, what does VOA Learning English bring to the table? We create stories and programs every day that hopefully help you improve your English. Thanks for listening. I’m Anna Matteo.   Anna Matteo wrote this report, with additional information written by Harold Berman. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   witty – adj. funny and clever sense of humor – n. a personality that gives someone the ability to say funny things and see the funny side of things

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American Athletes Protest National Anthem

  The National Football League opens its season in cities across the United States this weekend. Fans will be cheering for their favorite teams and players during games Sunday and Monday. But many people will also be paying attention to what happens before the game. America’s national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” is played before many sporting events in the U.S. This has been the case for about 100 years. In most cases, fans and players stand up, look toward the flag, and sing the words to the song. But recently, one player has not done that. Colin Kaepernick is a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick did not stand for the anthem before the San Francisco game on August 26. The game was an exhibition. The results do not count toward the teams’ standings. Colin Kaepernick said he chose not to stand as protest. He said he was objecting to the way black people and people of color are treated in the United States. He spoke about police killings of unarmed African-Americans. He said “there are bodies in the street” and “people … getting away with murder.” There was mixed public reaction to Kaepernick’s action. The Associated Press news agency talked to two fans at a game the following week. The 49ers were playing the San Diego Chargers. Leo Uzcategui is a Navy veteran. He was not happy to see Kaepernick. Uzcategui said he understood Kaepernick’s right to express his views. But he objected to the way the athlete did so. Uzcategui told the AP: “I was in the Navy and I saw men and women bleed and die for this flag … you don't sit during … the national anthem. That is not the way to do it.” Another fan, Domenique Banks, asked Kaepernick to sign a shirt she had. “I told him I appreciate what he is standing up for,” Banks said. “Most of the people I talk to say the same thing. I don't like that he is sitting during the national anthem, but I appreciate what he is standing for,” she said. The news media also asked President Barack Obama about Kaepernick. “I think he cares about some real, legitimate issues that have to be talked about,” Obama said. “And, if nothing else, what he’s done is he’s generated more conversation around some topics that need to be talked about. Sometimes it's messy, but it's the way democracy works.” Other NFL players and athletes in other sports said they support Kaepernick. Megan Rapinoe is a soccer player and a member of the USA women’s soccer team. She did not stand for the national anthem before her team’s game on September 4. Rapinoe said she wanted to show support for Kaepernick. She also said that she feels her personal liberties are not always protected because she is gay. Is Kaepernick’s protest just one part of a trend? It seems athletes might be speaking more freely about social issues than in recent years. On the final day of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, Ethiopian runner Feyisa Lilesa won a silver medal in the marathon. As he crossed the finish line, he crossed his arms just above his head to make the shape of an “X.” Lilesa was protesting the Ethiopian government’s killing of Oromo people. Human Rights Watch says more than 400 Oromo activists were killed last year. The Oromo had used the sign during protests. The Ethiopian government says Human Rights Watch inflated the number of dead. Lilesa has told reporters he will be punished if he returns home to Ethiopia. That country’s government has said he would be treated like a hero. American basketball stars LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul recently spoke about the subject of athlete protest. They said professional athletes should speak when they see something about society they do not like. “We all have to do better,” James said. Ricky Jean-Francois is an NFL player for the Washington Redskins. He told VOA that he agreed: Athletes should not stay silent. ”Each and every other day, we’re talking about change. But if nobody’s voicing their opinion, or no one’s taking action, we get screamed at each and every other day and nothing’ll be done. So now, as you can see, slowly but surely, things are changing, things are being brought to attention. Topics are not being washed away no more. Now they’re here. So hopefully as time goes on, things will change with that.” All of Kaepernick’s protests came during exhibition games. Many people are curious what will happen before San Francisco’s first game of the new season on Monday night. Recent news reports say that players from another NFL team are considering a protest. Jeremy Lane, a player for the Seattle Seahawks, did not stand during the anthem before his team’s last game. Seattle plays Sunday. Bobby Wagner is a Seattle player. Wagner told reporters in Seattle all of the players would do something together. “The world needs to see people coming together versus being individuals,” Wagner said. Kaepernick said he would give money to human rights groups. He promised $1 million of his earnings this season. He also said he would donate the money that comes from the sales of shirts with his name. Late in the week, San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York said the team would also donate $1 million to two local organizations. They work on solving the racial and economic inequality in the area. I’m Dan Friedell. And I’m Caty Weaver.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English with material from the Associated Press. Caty Weaver was the editor. What do you think about athletes like Kaepernick protesting? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________   Words in This Story anthem – n. a formal song of loyalty, praise, or happiness high-profile – adj. attracting a lot of attention in newspapers, on television, etc. adopt – v. to take a child of other parents legally as your own child legitimate - adj. real, accepted or official generate – v. to produce (something) or cause (something) to be produced messy – adj. not clean or tidy versus – prep. used to indicate two different things, choices, etc., that are being compared or considered medal – n. a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people : the act of talking in an informal way topic – n. someone or something that people talk or write about appreciate – v. to be aware of (something) : to recognize or understand (something)

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