Majority of US Undergraduates Are ‘Nontraditional’

  There is a commonly held belief in the United States about the best path to a college education. Many Americans would say this path involves graduating from high school at age 17 or 18. Then, going off to university to live and study for just four years. And, at the end of that term, receiving a degree. But, that is not as usual a path as people might think. U.S. Department of Education research suggests that the majority of undergraduate college students take a less traditional approach. Carey Dwyer is an example. She graduated from high school in 2005 and began studying physical therapy at Temple University in Philadelphia. But, after her first year, she decided she wanted to study nursing instead. Dwyer moved back home and began seeking an associate’s degree at Montgomery College in Takoma Park, Maryland in 2006. However, medical issues forced her to take time off school. She started working full-time and going to school part-time. Dwyer faced several difficulties. But she says nothing was as hard as returning to school after she took the time off. In 2010, Dwyer completed her associate’s degree -- also called a two year degree. She was 24. Then, she joined the Army. Using the money she earned, Dwyer completed a bachelor’s degree at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina in 2015. Now married with three children, she says she does not mind that it took her almost ten years to complete her education. In the end, she says she only put in all the effort because she wanted to. "Ultimately, all that matters is that I got my degree done. I didn’t get it for anyone else. I did it for me, specifically, to follow my goals and my aspirations." Strayer University is a for-profit college with centers all over the country. Earlier this year, Strayer worked with the media company U.S News and World Report to create the 2016 College Experience Survey. The researchers gathered information from 1,000 U.S. undergraduate students. The study findings showed that 70 percent of the students questioned were “nontraditional.” But what does nontraditional mean? The Strayer report identifies nontraditional college students in several ways. A student who passes General Educational Development (GED) tests instead of earning a high school diploma is considered nontraditional. So is a student who works more than 35 hours a week, or studies part-time while seeking a bachelor’s degree. And, a student who was 25 years or older when they last took classes, or when they graduated, is also considered nontraditional. Information from the U.S. Department of Education suggests the nontraditional student population may be growing. In 2013 the department reported 29 percent of undergraduates were between 18 and 24 years old, studying full-time in four-year degree programs. Karl McDonnell is the chief executive office of Strayer Education, the company that owns Strayer University. McDonnell says there are so many nontraditional students now because many see education as the best way to reach new opportunities. But, he adds, nontraditional students also have much different needs.  "Over the last 5 to 10 years we’ve had a more challenging labor market. So as people try to find well-paying jobs and/or move up in their organization, a college degree is becoming more and more important -- you might even say essential. And the types of programs that higher education needs to pursue, they tend to be things that are flexible in nature." McDonnell notes that most of the students at Strayer University are nontraditional. They are often older people with years of work experience and families to raise. This means they need to be able to attend classes during the times that they are not working or caring for others, he says. McDonnell argues that most schools are much more concerned with their traditional students. Online courses like the ones Strayer offers are increasingly useful for nontraditional students, he says. But others suggest there is more schools need to do for nontraditional students than just offering classes over the internet. Eva Yuma is in the final year of her bachelor’s degree program at the University of Maryland (UMD). She also took a long path to get where she is now. Yuma took a year off from studies after graduating from high school. She then started seeking a degree in art history at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in 2009. More than two years later, she found she was unhappy and moved back to the U.S. In 2013, she returned to school and became a film major. Yuma says the most difficult part about going back to school was deciding to take on more debt to pay for her continuing education. But she also says her relationship to her school changed. For example, she says she does not seek new friends the way she did during her first few years of higher education. Yuma says she feels more professional than the traditional students. She believes she is less afraid to speak her mind. But Yuma argues UMD could do more to build connections between the nontraditional students. That way they could share their networks and experience. "There isn’t very much community for those students. I guess they assume that you already have an established community; you don’t need the undergrad experience like the other kids do." Yancey Gulley is an assistant professor for the higher education student affairs program at Western Carolina University. He has 15 years of experience as a college administrator. The educator says schools need to stop using the term “nontraditional.” He worries that the term could harm students. It may make some feel that their schools consider them less intelligent or less hardworking. "It really does say to them, ‘You are an exception. You shouldn’t belong here. You’re probably not going to be successful, but we’re gonna to let you give a good old try. Good luck to you.’ And that’s really demonizing students [that] walk around our campuses every day and take our classes." Gulley notes there are programs in place that are designed to support nontraditional students. For example, Fayetteville State University offers a program that opens a faster path to a nursing degree for people who already have nursing experience. The University of Maryland also works with a foundation to provide financial assistance to older students. But, Yancey Gulley says some schools may not realize they are failing to provide equal support to their students. The U.S. higher education system was designed for traditional students. Gulley says schools must make sure all their students can access all the same supports and services. I’m Pete Musto.   Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. How do people in your country define traditional and nontraditional students? How do schools treat both? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   graduating – v. earning a degree or diploma from a school, college or university undergraduate – n. a student at a college or university who has not yet earned a degree associate’s degree - n. a degree that is given to a student who has completed two years of study at a junior college, college or university in the U.S. bachelor’s degree – n. a degree that is given to a student by a college or university, usually after four years of study aspiration(s) – n. something that a person wants very much to achieve diploma – n. a document which shows that a person has finished a course of study or has graduated from a school challenging – adj. difficult in a way that is usually interesting or enjoyable essential – adj. extremely important and necessary flexible – adj. easily changed online – adj. done over the Internet assume – v. to think that something is true or probably true without knowing that it is true demonizing – v. trying to make someone or a group of people seem bad or wrong realize – v.  to understand or become aware of something

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English in a Minute: Sink Your Teeth Into

What do you want to sink your teeth into? This expression is not always about eating. Find out how to use this phrase in this week's English in a Minute!

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Report: Volunteer Who Dressed as Clown for Syrian Kids Killed

  A volunteer who helped entertain children in war-torn Syria reportedly has been killed. The man, 24-year-old Anas al-Basha, was center director for the group Space for Hope. It supports hundreds of children who lost parents in Syria’s civil war. The Associated Press reported Basha was killed in an air strike Tuesday in the northern city of Aleppo. Syrian rebels control eastern Aleppo, where an estimated 250,000 civilians are trapped. An estimated 100,000 of them are believed to be children. The rebels are fighting government forces, supported by Russia, that are trying to retake Aleppo. United Nations officials have said intense bombing in eastern Aleppo had left every neighborhood there unsafe. They said the fighting has “devastated” civilian living conditions. Attacks have also killed and wounded aid workers.    The Space for Hope supports 12 schools and four centers providing psychological and financial aid to children. Anas al-Basha helped lead these efforts. He also was known for dressing as a clown to try to cheer up the children and make them laugh. The Associated Press reported that Basha was killed in an air strike in the Mashhad neighborhood of eastern Aleppo. Many civilians, including Basha’s parents, had already fled the increasing attacks in the city. Basha’s brother Mahmoud wrote about the loss on his Facebook page. He said his brother remained in Aleppo to “help the civilians and give gifts for the children in the streets to bring hope for them.” He said Basha “lived to make children laugh and happy in the darkest, most dangerous place.” A co-worker of Basha told the AP she will remember him as a friend who loved his work with children. “He would act out skits for the children to break the walls between them,” she said. She noted that workers trying to help suffering children in Syria are currently “exhausted.” She said they are trying to stay strong so they can provide psychological support to young war victims. Anas al-Basha’s wife remains trapped in Aleppo. The two got married just two months ago. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on a report from the Associated Press. Caty Weaver 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 devastated – adj. completely destroyed psychological – adj. relating to the human mind and feelings clown – n. someone who dresses in funny clothes and has a painted face and makes people laugh seal – v. to close off to prevent people from entering or leaving skit – n. a short, funny performance  

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Thousands of Veterans to Join Dakota Pipeline Protest

  More than 2,000 U.S. military veterans are expected to join a protest at a camp in North Dakota. Thousands of activists have been protesting against a large oil pipeline project near a Native American reservation. A reservation is an area of land in the United States that is kept separate for Native Americans to live and govern. The protesters, who call themselves "water protectors," are concerned about drinking water on the reservation and downstream on the Missouri River. At the camp, activists are facing snow, storms and below-freezing temperatures. The veterans are part of a group called Veterans Stand for Standing Rock. They are building temporary housing and working with protesters. Protesters have spent months opposing plans to build the Dakota Access Pipeline beneath a lake near the Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s reservation. The protesters say the $3.8-billion pipeline is a threat to water resources and holy Native American burial grounds. The veterans plan to form a human wall in front of police to protect protesters. Local police officers say they have made more than 525 arrests connected to the protest since August.  On November 21, police fired tear gas and large water cannons in below-freezing temperatures. They also fired rubber bullets. Some people were wounded. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s department said protesters had started fires on the bridge and other places that night. But protesters said they lit controlled fires for warmth. CNN reported that protesters also said police flares started fires in the grass. Protesters ordered to leave On Monday, North Dakora state officials ordered that activists leave the camp because of dangerous weather conditions. On Wednesday, however, officials also said they would not force the people to leave. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineeres controls the land where the protest is taking place. However, the protesters say the Standing Rock Sioux tribe owns the land under a treaty from the 1800s. On Thursday, North Dakota's chief law enforcement official called some of the protesters “frightening” and said it was "time for them to go home.” U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday said he supports the completion of the pipeline. Trump’s transition team also said he supports peaceful protests. Members of the North Dakota Veterans Coordinating Council condemned the involvement of veterans and asked them not to take part. North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple has said it was probably not possible to build the pipeline in a different place. But, he said he would try to rebuild a relationship with Standing Rock Sioux leaders. Dalrymple said that state officials never thought about forcibly removing protesters. He also said his order for them to leave was mostly because of concerns about extreme weather putting people in danger.​ The Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners, LP, owns the 1,885-kilometer pipeline project. It is complete except for the part under protest.  I'm Alice Bryant.  And I'm Anne Ball.    Alice Bryant adapted this story for Learning English from Reuters. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   veteran - n. someone who fought in a war as a soldier, sailor, et cetera pipeline - n. a line of connected pipes that are used for carrying liquids and gases over a long distance downstream - adv. in the direction in which a stream, river, etc., flows water cannon - n. a machine that shoots a large, powerful stream of water and that is used by police to control violent crowds flare - n. a weapon that fires out a large flame – often used to attract attention attorney - n. lawyer; a person whose job is to guide and assist people in legal matters transition team - n. a group of people who manage the change between one system or administrative regime and another

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New Starbucks CEO to Take Over in 2017

  This is What’s Trending Today. The coffee company Starbucks said its chief executive officer, Howard Schultz, plans to leave his position in April of 2017. He will reportedly work on a new Starbucks brand. Schultz, 63, is credited with greatly expanding the company and its brand worldwide. He began working with Starbucks in 1982 as the operations and marketing director. At the time, Starbucks had just four coffee shops. All were in Seattle, Washington. Today, the company has 24,000 stores in 70 countries. Starbucks opened its first store outside of the U.S. in 1996 in Tokyo, Japan. Since then, Starbucks stores have opened in China, Dubai, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico and many other places. Schultz was the company’s CEO from 1987 until 2000. He became the CEO again in 2008. Kevin Johnson will replace him. Johnson is currently the company’s chief operating officer and once worked with Microsoft. Schultz said that after he steps down, he will work to make a special Starbucks brand bigger. That brand is called Starbucks Reserve. It serves high-quality drinks. The coffee served in its cafes can be two times more expensive than regular Starbucks coffee. There are still very few Starbucks Reserve stores.  But, Starbucks reportedly plans to open many more of these cafes around the world in the near future. People reacted to the news of Schultz’s departure on social media. Some Twitter users had not heard of Starbucks Reserve stores before. One person wrote: “high-end coffee? Isn’t that what Starbucks is? If paying $3.16 for an iced medium coffee isn’t high-end, I don’t know what is.”  Another person wrote: “I’ll not purchase one $12 coffee in my lifetime.” Others on social media wondered if Schultz was considering running for president in 2020. He supported Democrat Hillary Clinton in the recent U.S. elections.  And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What do you think of the Starbucks change? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   brand – n. a category of products that are all made by a particular company and all have a particular name chain –n. a group of businesses (such as stores, restaurants, or hotels) that have the same name and basic appearance and sell the same products or services high-end –adj. higher in price and of better quality than most others credit –v. to give honor or recognition to (someone or something) for doing something or for making something happen

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December 2, 2016

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

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Virgin Islands National Park: America's Paradise

The Virgin Islands National Park sits between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea on a small island. It is rich in beauty and history.

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Austria Could Elect EU’s First Far-Right Leader

  Austrian voters could elect the European Union’s first far-right leader in a presidential election on Sunday. Norbert Hofer of the far-right Freedom Party is running against Alexander Van der Bellen. Van der Bellen is an independent candidate who led The Greens party earlier. Recent public opinion studies have shown the two candidates with about equal support. Austria held a presidential election in May. Van der Bellen won that election narrowly. But those results were overturned by Austria’s constitutional court because of problems with voting procedures. Hofer has taken a strong anti-immigration position during his campaign. Earlier in the campaign, he said he might call a referendum on whether Austria should leave the European Union. Hofer also opposes Turkey’s efforts to join the EU and has spoken out against EU attempts to get too much control over individual states.   Van der Bellen criticized Hofer for his positions during a recent presidential debate. He said Austria’s possible withdrawal from the EU could result in a flood of “right-wing populism.”  Van der Bellen has called for continued close relations with Germany, Austria’s neighbor to the north and biggest trading partner. Hofer has said he wants to strengthen relations with other central and eastern European nations, including Russia. He denounced German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a debate. Hofer said Merkel had caused “serious damage” to Europe by supporting open policies for migrants. He said her actions had allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to pass through Austria, “including terrorists.” Experts say the presidential campaign in Austria has been heavily influenced by the election of Donald Trump in the United States. President-elect Trump has called for severe immigration enforcement and criticized Merkel’s policies on migrants. Political experts say Britain’s vote in June to leave the EU – often called Brexit - also drew attention to the immigration issue.    An opinion study by the U.S.-based Gallup organization asked 800 Austrians how Trump’s victory might affect the voting. About 53 percent said Trump’s win will be better for Hofer, while 9 percent said it will help Van der Bellen. The office of president in Austria is largely ceremonial. But the president does hold the power to shape policies, appoint and dismiss government ministers and call parliamentary elections. Some political observers say the outcome in Austria could mark the beginning of a wave of populist candidates across Europe. In  France, the leader of the far-right National Front, Marine Le Pen, says she believes the Trump and Brexit votes gave her campaign momentum. Le Pen is seen as a possible competitor in France’s presidential election next year. On Sunday, right-leaning presidential candidate Francois Fillon won a primary election for France’s Republican Party. Fillon, a former prime minister, could face Le Pen in a runoff vote in the country’s two-round election system. France’s Socialist President Francois Hollande has announced he will not run for re-election.  The leaders of right-wing movements in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are also hoping to gain from Trump’s election. Opinion studies show support for the Freedom Party of Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders. A general election will take place in March. Wilders has repeatedly made statements against Islam. He was also tried for violating a hate speech law and is waiting for the court’s decision. A court charged him with inciting hatred after leading a chant at a meeting calling for the Netherlands to accept fewer Moroccan immigrants. Wilders recently described a worldwide movement that, he says, agrees with his political message and the ideas of other far-right leaders. He says the movement is driven by voters. He says they are tired of “politically correct” ideas from traditional politicians and media companies. "Brexit proved it. The American election proved it,” he said. I’m Jill Robbins. And I'm Bryan Lynn. Henry Ridgwell and Luis Ramirez reported on this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English, with additional material from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse. Mario Ritter 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   procedure – n. the official or usual way of doing something referendum – n. a direct vote in which people cast ballots to decide on a specific issue or policy populism – n. related to policies that supposedly represent the opinions of ordinary people momentum – n. the strength or force allowing something to continue or grow stronger chant – n. the repeated saying of a word, phrase or slogan by a crowd of people 

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'Luck,' by Mark Twain

  Our story today is called "Luck."  It was written by Mark Twain. Here is Shep O’Neal with the story. I was at a dinner in London given in honor of one of the most celebrated English military men of his time. I do not want to tell you his real name and titles. I will just call him Lieutenant General Lord Arthur Scoresby. I cannot describe my excitement when I saw this great and famous man. There he sat, the man himself, in person, all covered with medals. I could not take my eyes off him. He seemed to show the true mark of greatness. His fame had no effect on him. The hundreds of eyes watching him, the worship of so many people, did not seem to make any difference to him. Next to me sat a clergyman, who was an old friend of mine. He was not always a clergyman. During the first half of his life he was a teacher in the military school at Woolwich. There was a strange look in his eye as he leaned toward me and whispered – “Privately – he is a complete fool.” He meant, of course, the hero of our dinner. This came as a shock to me. I looked hard at my friend. I could not have been more surprised if he had said the same thing about Napoleon, or Socrates, or Solomon. But I was sure of two things about the clergyman. He always spoke the truth. And, his judgment of men was good. Therefore, I wanted to find out more about our hero as soon as I could. Some days later I got a chance to talk with the clergyman, and he told me more.  These are his exact words: About forty years ago, I was an instructor in the military academy at Woolwich, when young Scoresby was given his first examination. I felt extremely sorry for him.  Everybody answered the questions well, intelligently, while he – why, dear me – he did not know anything, so to speak. He was a nice, pleasant young man. It was painful to see him stand there and give answers that were miracles of stupidity. I knew of course that when examined again he would fail and be thrown out. So, I said to myself, it would be a simple, harmless act to help him as much as I could. I took him aside and found he knew a little about Julius Caesar’s history. But, he did not know anything else. So, I went to work and tested him and worked him like a slave. I made him work, over and over again, on a few questions about Caesar, which I knew he would be asked. If you will believe me, he came through very well on the day of the examination.  He got high praise too, while others who knew a thousand times more than he were sharply criticized. By some strange, lucky accident, he was asked no questions but those I made him study. Such an accident does not happen more than once in a hundred years. Well, all through his studies, I stood by him, with the feeling a mother has for a disabled child. And he always saved himself by some miracle. I thought that what in the end would destroy him would be the mathematics examination.  I decided to make his end as painless as possible. So, I pushed facts into his stupid head for hours. Finally, I let him go to the examination to experience what I was sure would be his dismissal from school. Well, sir, try to imagine the result. I was shocked out of my mind. He took first prize! And he got the highest praise. I felt guilty day and night – what I was doing was not right. But I only wanted to make his dismissal a little less painful for him. I never dreamed it would lead to such strange, laughable results. I thought that sooner or later one thing was sure to happen: The first real test once he was through school would ruin him. Then, the Crimean War broke out. I felt that sad for him that there had to be a war.  Peace would have given this donkey a chance to escape from ever being found out as being so stupid. Nervously, I waited for the worst to happen. It did. He was appointed an officer.  A captain, of all things! Who could have dreamed that they would place such a responsibility on such weak shoulders as his. I said to myself that I was responsible to the country for this. I must go with him and protect the nation against him as far as I could. So, I joined up with him. And away we went to the field. And there – oh dear, it was terrible. Mistakes, fearful mistakes – why, he never did anything that was right – nothing but mistakes. But, you see, nobody knew the secret of how stupid he really was. Everybody misunderstood his actions. They saw his stupid mistakes as works of great intelligence. They did, honestly! His smallest mistakes made a man in his right mind cry, and shout and scream too – to himself, of course. And what kept me in a continual fear was the fact that every mistake he made increased his glory and fame. I kept saying to myself that when at last they find out about him, it will be like the sun falling out of the sky. He continued to climb up, over the dead bodies of his superiors. Then, in the hottest moment of one battle down went our colonel. My heart jumped into my mouth, for Scoresby was the next in line to take his place. Now, we are in for it, I said… The battle grew hotter. The English and their allies were steadily retreating all over the field. Our regiment occupied a position that was extremely important. One mistake now would bring total disaster. And what did Scoresby do this time – he just mistook his left hand for his right hand…that was all. An order came for him to fall back and support our right. Instead, he moved forward and went over the hill to the left. We were over the hill before this insane movement could be discovered and stopped. And what did we find? A large and unsuspected Russian army waiting! And what happened – were we all killed? That is exactly what would have happened in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred.  But no – those surprised Russians thought that no one regiment by itself would come around there at such a time.   It must be the whole British army, they thought. They turned tail, away they went over the hill and down into the field in wild disorder, and we after them. In no time, there was the greatest turn around you ever saw. The allies turned defeat into a sweeping and shining victory. The allied commander looked on, his head spinning with wonder, surprise and joy.  He sent right off for Scoresby, and put his arms around him and hugged him on the field in front of all the armies. Scoresby became famous that day as a great military leader – honored throughout the world. That honor will never disappear while history books last. He is just as nice and pleasant as ever, but he still does not know enough to come in out of the rain. He is the stupidest man in the universe. Until now, nobody knew it but Scoresby and myself. He has been followed, day by day, year by year, by a strange luck. He has been a shining soldier in all our wars for years.  He has filled his whole military life with mistakes. Every one of them brought him another honorary title. Look at his chest, flooded with British and foreign medals. Well, sir, every one of them is the record of some great stupidity or other. They are proof that the best thing that can happen to a man is to be born lucky. I say again, as I did at the dinner, Scoresby’s a complete fool. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story   ally– n. (pl. allies) a country that supports and helps another country in a war disabled – adj. having a physical or mental disability : unable to perform one or more natural activities (such as walking or seeing) because of illness, injury, etc. dismiss – v. to send away; to refuse to consider dismissal – n. the act of sending a person away (from a position at work or in a school) join up – (idiom) enlist in the military service superiors – n. a person of higher rank or status than another

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English @ the Movies: 'It's Crunch Time'

Today on English @ the Movies we talk about the saying "it's crunch time." The movie is "Hidden Figures"-- a true story about African-American women who helped with the American space program. Want to know what "it's crunch time" means? Watch and find out!

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