‘La La Land’ Wins Big at Golden Globes

  The movie “La La Land” was the big winner at the 74th annual Golden Globe Awards in Hollywood, California. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association honored the musical with seven awards, including best actor and best actress. “La La Land” is about an actor and jazz musician who fall in love while seeking success in Hollywood. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling star in the film and each won a Golden Globe for their work.   “La La Land” also won awards for directing, writing and music. The award for best dramatic film went to “Moonlight.” It tells the story of a boy growing up, abused by his mother, in a poor neighborhood where crime and drugs are common. The story is told in three parts: boyhood, teenage years and adulthood. In other dramatic film categories, French actress Isabelle Huppert was honored for her performance in the movie “Elle.” And, American Casey Affleck won best actor for his work in “Manchester by the Sea.” Some industry experts consider the Golden Globes an early predictor of the Academy Awards, also called Oscars. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will hold the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles on February 26. “La La Land” and “Moonlight” are seen as strong possibilities for receiving honors that night. In television awards, the show “Atlanta” won the Golden Globe for best comedy series. For television drama, the British series “The Crown” won over nominees “Game of Thrones” and “Westworld.”   But the awards themselves might not have been the most memorable part of the night. Instead, much public attention has gone to actress Meryl Streep’s speech at the ceremony. Streep received a lifetime achievement award. During her acceptance speech she criticized President-elect Donald Trump. Streep noted his treatment of a disabled reporter during a campaign appearance.   The 67-year-old actress said she could not believe it when, in her words, “the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter.” “I still can't get it out of my head because it wasn't in a movie, it was real life,” she said. She called the president-elect a bully and said when “the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose. Trump answered the criticism early Monday on Twitter. The president-elect wrote that Streep was, in his words, “one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood.” He also criticized her for supporting his opponent, saying Hillary Clinton “lost big.” Trump denied, as he has in the past, that he was making fun of the reporter. "For the 100th time, I never 'mocked' a disabled reporter," he tweeted. There is video of the interaction between Trump and the reporter. It has been broadcast many times. Trump was mentioned at other times during the Golden Globes ceremony. Several other award winners also used their acceptance speeches to voice their opinions on the president-elect. The host of the show, television star Jimmy Fallon, joked that the Globes is "one of the few places where America still honors the popular vote.” Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in the American presidential election by close to three million ballots. But, she did not receive enough votes in the U.S. Electoral College to win the presidency. Fallon also joked about Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom U.S. intelligence officials have accused of trying to influence the election. He said, "Of course the ballots for tonight's Golden Globes were carefully tabulated by the accounting firm Ernst and Young and Putin.” I’m Caty Weaver.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, with material from VOA News, Associated Press and Reuters. Caty Weaver was the editor. What movies would you like to see win awards this year? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   annual – adj. happening every year achievement – n. success in doing something, usually by working hard imitate – v. copy the way someone looks, sounds or behaves mock – v. to laugh at someone or something in an unkind way mention – v. to refer to or suggest host – n. person who leads a television or radio show tabulate – v. to add up, calculate firm – n. a company

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US, North Korea Tensions Rise After Missile Test Threat

  North Korea says it could test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at any time and from anywhere it wants to. The North Korean state news agency KCNA made the announcement on Sunday. American Secretary of Defense Ash Carter reacted by stating that an ICBM launch would be a “serious threat” to the United States. He said the U.S. military would shoot down the missile if it crossed into the territory of the U.S. or its allies. Carter spoke on NBC television. "If it were threatening to us, yes. That is, if it's predicted impact or one of our friends or allies, yes, we would shoot it down."   He said the U.S. military has strengthened its missile defenses and deployed them in South Korea, Japan and Guam. North Korea did not say for sure that it will carry out an ICBM test in the near future. But the statements could suggest the two sides are getting ready for a new relationship when Donald Trump becomes U.S. president. He will take office on January 20. In a New Year’s message, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that his country had reached the “final stages” of ICBM development. Two days later, Trump tweeted that the possibility of North Korea developing a nuclear weapon that can reach the U.S. “won’t happen!” A North Korean Ministry spokesman said on Sunday that his government has the right to test missiles whenever it sees fit. “The ICBM will be launched anytime and anywhere determined by the supreme headquarters of the DPRK,'' the spokesman told the KCNA news agency. DPRK is short for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Troy Stangarone is with the Korean Economic Institute in Washington, D.C. He told VOA there are good reasons for the North to delay testing of its missile. They include the start of the Trump presidency, and the political situation in South Korea.  “With everything going on in the region right now, with the transition to President Trump, with the political situation in South Korea, delaying might actually make more sense for them, in the sense that Trump is a wild card and you do not know how he might respond, and if they were to take and engage in a test now, they could end up actually unifying the populace on the conservative side rather than potentially allowing a liberal president to take power in South Korea if Park Geun-hye is impeached.” On Monday, South Korean officials said they believe the North’s threat of a missile test is meant to influence relations with the new U.S. administration. Jeong Joo-hee is a spokesman with South Korea’s Unification Ministry. He suggested that North Korea made the threat in hopes of forcing the Trump administration to deal with the North on its own terms. He said the goal was to “shift responsibility (to the U.S.) when North Korean fires (a missile) in the future.” The South Korean Defense Ministry called North Korea’s talk of an ICBM test “regrettable.” It said there would be consequences, or results, like international sanctions. Sanctions or other measures have yet to stop North Korea’s nuclear activities and missile development program. The North has carried out two nuclear tests and launched 24 missile launches in the past year. Commenting on the North’s nuclear program last week, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said “with every passing day, the threat does get more acute.” North Korea is believed to have the ability to hit South Korea or Japan with a nuclear weapon. But there are still questions about whether the North’s missiles can reach the U.S. mainland. North Korea says it has successfully made a nuclear device small enough to sit on the head of a long-range missile. But it has not demonstrated that ability. Also, it has yet to test the missile’s re-entry ability. An ICBM test would be the next step in the development process. Neither China nor Japan offered any strong official reaction on Monday to the ICBM statements coming out of North Korea and the United States.   In a tweet last week, U.S. President-elect Trump criticized China for not controlling North Korea’s nuclear threat. North Korea depends on China for 90 percent of its trade. But China has been unwilling to put strong economic pressure on its ally. China fears that would lead to increased instability on its border and a stronger U.S. presence on the Korean Peninsula. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman last week defended his country’s efforts to peacefully resolve the nuclear issue. He urged the incoming Trump administration to “avoid remarks and actions to escalate the situation.”   I’m Anne Ball.   Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English with materials from VOA and the Associated Press. 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   intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) – n. a type of missile that can fly form one continent to another a wild card – n. a person or thing that could affect a situation in a way that cannot be predicted : an unknown or unpredictable factor potential – adj. possible acute - adj. very serious or dangerous; requiring serious attention or action sanction – n. an action taken, or an order given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc. instability – n. the quality or state of being unstable escalate – v. to become worse or to make (something) worse or more severe

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Consumer Electronics Show 2017: Homes Think for Themselves

  Many people traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada last week for the 50th Consumer Electronics Show, or CES. The show is said to have the largest collection of new electronic devices in the world. The 2017 show had many examples of “smart home” devices. “Smart home” technology is designed to make life easier for people by letting computers control many things inside our homes. One such device actually begins working outside the home, when someone arrives and rings the doorbell.   Jeremy Warren is with smart home service provider Vivint. “When someone comes to your front door and rings the doorbell, the light can turn on immediately. I get a notification when I’m halfway around the world that someone came, and I can start talking to the person who’s at my front door, and I can say, ‘Oh, here let me let you in.’ I can unlock the door for them very easily.” Another use of smart home technology is being able to watch what is taking place in your home – whether you are just around the corner or half way around the world. Devices can even let homeowners look in on dogs, cats or other pets when they are away. One electronics maker launched a device that lets people see and interact with their animals when they are away. The device, from Petcube, lets you remotely watch and talk to your pet through a personal device, according to a company official. It can even give the pet a treat – if you approve and order it. For heating or cooling, there is a smart thermostat. This device can also send you a message if a big storm causes leaks or flooding. “We’re trying to catch it with just a few drips before it becomes a real big problem,” said Mike Sale of iDevices. Another product, from iDevices, can turn your smartphone into a remote control for an electric fireplace. While most of the devices can be controlled from anywhere, they also work in the same way when you are at home. Some devices, like Amazon’s Echo and Google Home, even let you use voice commands to talk to them. A concern for many homeowners is the possibility that someone else might find a way to attack these smart home devices. An official from Vivint said his company is sure that only owners of the home can gain use of information on the devices. Warren Katz from iDevices said his company employs engineers from the defense industry to help prevent hacking. “So they’ve spent time working on the Patriot Missile and others, and we spend an awful lot of time ensuring that our products are both safe and safe from attack.”   Many of these devices at the Consumer Electronics Show were available before. But now they communicate better and can learn repeat behavior and habits. All of them can be bought separately, many for less than $100. I’m John Russell. George Putic reported this story for VOANews.com. Bryan Lynn adapted it 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   doorbell – n. a bell outside a home that people usually ring by pushing a button notification – n. a message used to carry information around the corner – phrase. very close; happening soon thermostat – n. device that adjusts the temperature of a room drip – n. small drop of liquid remote – adj. far away ensure – v. make sure something happens habit – n. something someone does often in a regular and repeated way  

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Language Experts Choose ‘Dumpster Fire’ and ‘Aleppo’ as 2016 Words of the Year

  This is What's Trending Today.  What do the words "dumpster fire," "Aleppo," "Drumpf," "post-truth" and "locker-room banter" have in common? All five words have appeared in news stories over the past year because of incidents related to the American election campaign. Language experts nominated the five [phrases] as best representing what Americans were talking about in 2016. Every year since 1990, the American Dialect Society has voted on its words of the year in several groupings. The society’s top word last year was the pronoun "they," when used as a neutral singular pronoun. This year, it is not surprising that most of the words under consideration were related to the election campaign in the United States. Among the nominees for political word of the year were "deplorables" (as in "basket of deplorables"), "nasty woman," "Pantsuit Nation," "post-truth," "woke" and "unpresidented." The winner was "post-truth." Oxford Dictionaries called it the most frequently used term internationally in 2016.  U.S. President-elect Donald Trump mistakenly spelled the word "unprecedented" as "unpresidented" in a tweet.   The spelling was later corrected, but not before it resulted in many re-tweets that played on possible meanings of the word. The term “dumpster fire” was the winner of the overall Word of the Year. "Dumpster fire" means an exceedingly disastrous situation.     The expression "dumpster fire" was used in the political campaign, but can also describe unrelated events, like singer Mariah Carey's audio problems on New Year's Eve.   Another group’s members voted on the most important names of 2016. The American Name Society chose from choices that included Drumpf, which won as Personal Name of the Year. John Oliver, of the television show “Last Week Tonight,” urged his viewers to use the German form of Trump's last name. The American Name Society said that "the continued use of “Drumpf” shows the power of naming and name-calling." Another American politician found that he should have known the name of a city in Syria. Over four years, the Syrian civil war spread into the city of Aleppo. But Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson did not remember its name when asked for his opinion on how to help those living in the city. Johnson answered, “What is Aleppo?” The American Name Association chose "Aleppo" as Place Name of the Year and overall Name of the Year. Finally, "Brexit" was chosen as the Trade Name of the Year. The word “Brexit” is a combination of Britain and the word exit, meaning to leave. It describes the vote by British citizens to leave the European Union.   And that's What's Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What were the most important words of the year in your life for 2016? Write to us by email or in the comments. We'll add them to our list here. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   deplorable - adj. very bad in a way that causes shock, fear, or disgust basket of deplorables - n. phrase used by Clinton in speech about Trump supporters  nasty woman - n. phrase Trump used about Hillary Clinton in final presidential debate Pantsuit Nation- n. a popular Facebook group for Clinton supporters post-truth - n. belonging to a time in which facts matter less than beliefs and emotions woke - adj. socially aware or enlightened. unprecedented - adj. not done or experienced before Drumpf - n. original German form of President-elect Donald Trump's family name locker-room banter – n. private discussions with one or more individuals; a phrase used by Trump and his supporters to defend his 2005 remarks about women 

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Iranians Remember Former President Rafsanjani

  Iranians are remembering former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. He died on Sunday after suffering a heart attack. He was 82 years old. State television suspended programming to announce the death. It said Rafsanjani spent his life working in support of “Islam and revolution.” Rafsanjani served as Iran’s president from 1989 to 1997. He also advised Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Presidency and political career During Rafsanjani's presidency, Iran worked to rebuild its economy. It was in ruins following an eight-year war with Iraq.  Rafsanjani’s presidency led to a series of cautious reforms. The changes increased some freedoms, especially in Iran's media. Over time, however, Rafsanjani's political influence fell sharply. After his presidency, Rafsanjani lost a bid for a seat in parliament. In 2005, he sought a second term as president. But he lost to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a conservative. And in 2013, he attempted – but was denied – another term as president. At that time, Iran’s powerful Guardian Council barred him from the ballot. Rafsanjani’s influence suffered, in part, because conservatives criticized his reform efforts, especially his outreach to the West. A speech Rafsanjani made in 2009 further alienated him from conservatives and Iran’s military. In the speech, Rafsanjani called for greater personal freedoms. At the time, the government was taking steps to punish Iranians protesting the results of presidential elections. Legacy In 2013, Rafsanjani’s political protégé, Hassan Rouhani, won the presidency. Rouhani asked Rafsanjani to oversee planning for direct nuclear talks with the United States.  On Monday, the president praised Rafsanjani. He said the former leader had more wishes for the country, and that up until his death he showed people the right path. "We are all hopeful to continue his path," Rouhani said. I’m Ashley Thompson. VOA’s Lou Lorscheider and Chris Hannas wrote this story. Kelly Jean Kelly adapted their report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   bid – n. an attempt to win, get, or do something cautious – adj. careful about avoiding danger or risk alienate – v. to make someone unfriendly towards you protégé – n. a young person who is taught and helped by someone who has a lot of knowledge and experience

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Looking on the Bright Side Might Help You Live Longer

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Imagine there is a glass of water on a table in front of you. It has water in it but it is not full. How do you describe the glass? Do you say it is half full or half empty? If you say half full, you might be an optimist. If you say, half empty, you might be the opposite -- a pessimist. Optimism and pessimism represent your general attitude toward certain situations or to life in general. And your attitude about life may be more important to living than you think. A new study suggests that your level of optimism may affect your health. People who are optimistic may live longer than those who are pessimistic. Researchers at Harvard University’s School of Public Health in Boston did the study. They compared women with "a general expectation that good things will happen" to women who were less optimistic. They found that the optimists had a much lower risk of getting several deadly diseases, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and certain types of infection. The researchers published their findings in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Epidemiology is the study of how diseases spread and how they can be controlled. Eric Kim is one of the study leaders. He says there is increasing evidence that strengthening psychological resilience may help prevent disease. Resilience is the ability to recover from difficulty or change. Kim says that these new findings suggest that people should make efforts to increase their resilience and optimism. He says optimism is connected with healthier behaviors and healthier ways of dealing with difficulty. Optimists tend to take better care of themselves by exercising, eating healthy foods and getting enough sleep. However, the researchers say that healthy behaviors of optimistic people only partly explain the connection with reduced risk of disease. For the study, researchers looked at information gathered on 70,000 women in the Nurse's Health Study. This massive study began in 1975. It collects health information on those involved in the study every two years. The Harvard researchers looked at the level of optimism of the women, as well as other factors such as race, diet, physical activity level and overall health. They found the most optimistic women had nearly a 30 percent lower risk of dying from disease. When compared to the least optimistic women in the study, the optimistic women had: an almost forty percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, stroke and respiratory disease, a fifty percent lower risk of dying from infection, and a sixteen percent lower risk of dying from cancer. The researchers note that other studies have linked optimism with reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease. This, however, is the first study to link optimism with reduced mortality from other diseases. Kaitlin Hagan, another study leader, says earlier studies show that a person can use simple, low-cost methods to increase optimism. For example, she says people can think about and write down the best possible outcomes for areas of their lives, like their careers or relationships. Leslie Ralph is a clinical psychologist and counselor at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She also blogs about stress management. Ralph has several ideas about how to increase optimism. She says each night plan to do two or three simple, enjoyable activities the next day. These activities might include watching the sun rise, visiting a friend, dancing to a favorite song or reading a story with your child. She also suggests that if your day starts badly, simply close your eyes for a moment and take a deep breath. When you open your eyes, imagine your day has started over. It’s like having your own restart button. And the counselor adds offering praise or support to someone can also improve your own outlook. A smile and “thank you” from another person may help you feel more optimistic.  I’m Anna Matteo. “ ... Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side, keep on the sunny side of life. It will help us everyday. It will brighten up your day. Keep on the sunny side of life ...” Are you an optimist or a pessimist? What do you do to help keep your optimism high? Let us know in the Comments Section. Writers for VOA News reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anna Matteo adapted it and added additional reporting for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. The song is "Keep on the Sunny Side," written in 1899 by Ada Blenkhorn, and performed here by a group called The Whites.   ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   optimism – n. a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future : a feeling or belief that what you hope for will happen : optimist is a person who is optimistic pessimism – n. a feeling or belief that bad things will happen in the future : a feeling or belief that what you hope for will not happen : pessimist is a person who is pessimistic resilience – n. an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change epidemiology  – n. medical the study of how diseases spread and how they can be controlled. cardiovascular – adj. of, relating to, or involving the heart and blood vessels mortality – n. the quality or state of being a person or thing that is alive and therefore certain to die : the quality or state of being mortal  

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Researchers Testing New Cancer Treatment

  Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, and now researchers are developing new forms of treatment. If tests show you have liver cancer, there are several  ways to treat the disease. One is removing the cancerous part of the liver. The other is having doctors replace the organ through a transplant operation.    Patients who get someone else’s liver must take immuno-suppressant drugs the rest of their life. The drugs keep the body from rejecting the new organ. There may be serious side effects that come with taking those powerful medicines. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are also used to treat liver and other cancers. Those treatments require the patient to take strong drugs or exposure to radiation. The drugs or radiation destroy the cancer cells.  But then, the healthy cells around the tumor are damaged. Now scientists are working on an experimental, minimally invasive treatment. They say it reduces the chances of harming the patient. This treatment involves the use of natural, non-poisonous chemicals from plants. That is why the researchers call it a “green” method for fighting cancer. Kattesh Katti is a professor of radiology and physics at the University of Missouri’s School of Medicine. For more than 10 years, he has studied the use of nanotechnology to fight cancer. Nanotechnology is the science of making things unimaginably small. For this study, Katti used extremely small objects to target and destroy precancerous tumor cells in the livers of mice and human cells in the laboratory. “It sounds like a fairy tale, but we are really in advanced stages in terms of tumor treatment, in terms of disease diagnostics." Kattesh Katti used very small particles of gold. The gold was covered in a protective material called gum arabic. It comes from an acacia tree. He says the particles attract precancerous and cancer cells. Those cells are far more affected by lower levels of heat than healthy cells. Once the particles travel to and connect with the cells, they are heated with a laser. That destroys the  cancer cells, but the healthy ones around them live. Katti explains how the treatment would work on a human patient. “The patient will be administered with these nano particles. Within a couple of hours, the patient will be treated with lasers, and then the patient can go home. So, there is no radioactivity. There is no toxic waste. There is no toxicity, systemic toxicity, to the patient.” What that means is the patient would not have the same side effects one can have from radiation and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs often are toxic. While they kill off the cancer tumors, they are also poisonous to the healthy cells and the patient can get very sick. Katti says the cost of treatment will be low because one gram of gold can be used to treat 50 patients. He says this form of treatment could be used for other types of cancer, arthritis and other diseases. The next step is testing in human subjects.​ If this treatment method works, it will be good news for the nearly 800,000 people who are found to have liver cancer every year. It may also help save the lives of some 700,000 people who die every year from the disease. More than 80 percent of the liver cancer cases are found in less developed countries, with the highest numbers in Asia and Africa. In the United States, liver cancer is one of the top 10 cancers that kill. I’m Anne Ball.   Carol Pearson reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   immuno-suppressant – n. a substance that control’s someone’s immune response to a foreign organ in their body chemotherapy – n. treatment for disease like cancer that uses strong chemicals to kill the disease precancerous – adj. tending to become cancerous minimally invasive --adj. affecting the body in the smallest possible way fairy tale – n. a children’s story with magical creatures that is not true and usually has a happy ending toxic – adj. containing poisonous substances exposure – n. the fact or condition of being affected by someone or something else; public attention attract – v. to pull toward oneself or itself  

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Zimbabwe’s “Friendship Bench” a Possible Model for Mental Health Treatment

  Health workers in Zimbabwe are helping people with mental health problems through a new program. Experts say the treatment could serve as a model for other countries in Africa. Doctors estimate that about one quarter of Zimbabweans suffer from depression or anxiety. But there are only 12 psychiatrists in the country of 14 million people. Psychiatrists are doctors who treat mental or emotional problems. The University of Zimbabwe, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and King’s College London worked together to create a new kind of treatment. Dr. Victoria Simms works at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “We can’t possibly go the route of training psychiatrists and psychologists because it would take 15 years. How are we going to provide treatment?” So, doctors created a simple but effective program. They placed wooden seats – which they call “Friendship Benches” -- outside several health clinics in the city of Harare. Dr. Simms says people were given the chance to meet on the benches for six sessions with health workers. They call these workers “grandmother health providers.” “So the patient explains what all their problems are and its opening up the mind in the sense of allowing the patient to see that they can do something about their problems.” The Friendship Bench study involved more than 550 patients. After six months, only 14 percent of the patients in the Friendship Bench group said they were still depressed. That compares to 50 percent of those who did not receive treatment. Those who received the treatment were also five times less likely to have suicidal thoughts. Dr. Dixon Chibanda is with the University of Zimbabwe. He is one of the founders of the Friendship Bench program. He told VOA that the program has many benefits. “Not only a mental health sort of package, but a package that actually improved outcomes of things like hypertension, diabetes and, and adherence to medication for people living with HIV.” Friendship Benches are now placed in 60 clinics in Harare and two other cities. The Canadian government is helping to pay for the program’s expansion through its Grand Challenges Canada aid program. Researchers say the program could be a model for mental health efforts in poor areas as well as in wealthier countries. I’m John Russell.   Correspondent Henry Ridgwell reported this story from London.  Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report for Learning English. Ashley Thompson 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   depression – n. a serious medical condition in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, and unimportant and often is unable to live in a normal way anxiety – n. fear or nervousness about what might happen psychiatrist – n. a doctor who treats mental or emotional disorders; a doctor of psychiatry psychologist – n. a scientist who specializes in the study and treatment of the mind and behavior; a specialist in psychology treatment – n. something that deals with a disease, injury, etc., in order to make someone feel better or become healthy again; medical care patient – n. a person who receives medical care or treatment benefit – n. a good or helpful result or effect adhere to – phrasal verb to act in the way that is required by (something, such as a rule, belief, or promise)

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Experts Divided over How Trump Policies Will Affect Oil Industry

  Oil industry leaders and experts have conflicting opinions about what the policies of U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump could mean for the oil industry. Low oil prices have hurt profits for leading oil companies in recent years. However, prices are rising again, creating other problems. Jack Gerard is president of the American Petroleum Institute, a group that represents the oil industry. Gerard notes that Trump has promised to change regulations and reform taxes. He says that could help energy companies and lead to more oil industry jobs. Gerard said America’s oil and natural gas industries support 9.8 million jobs. He thinks the industry could create hundreds of thousands of additional jobs if what he called “smart” regulation was put in place. He says the “smart” rules would replace ones that appear to duplicate existing measures or are in competition with them. Other observers say some of Trump’s proposed policies and his statements present problems for international oil markets. Diane Munro is an oil industry expert. In December, she wrote a story for the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, DC. The non-profit group aims to increase understanding of the Gulf States in the United States. Munro wrote that some of Trump’s statements present, in her words, a “cauldron of contradictions.” For example, Trump has strongly criticized the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers. The agreement eases many economic restrictions on Iran in return for limits on its nuclear activities. The president-elect said he would consider canceling the deal. Munro wrote that Trump also has threatened to ban oil imports from the Middle East, accusing oil producers there of unfairly controlling prices. Statements against the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have been considered unfriendly to Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia, she noted. Munro added that such statements are likely to cause concern or “rattle” the oil market. They also might hurt already the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia, which she described as “fraying.” Trump’s choice for secretary of state called “oil-centric” At least one nominee for Trump’s cabinet has strong ties to the oil industry. His choice for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, retired as chief executive officer at ExxonMobil earlier this month. Tillerson is to receive a retirement deal valued at $180 million from his former employer. Gerard praised the nomination as “world class.” He said Tillerson’s skills can represent the nation well. But Munro called the choice “oil-centric.” She wrote the nomination appears to show the growing influence of Russia on U.S. policy. She said this will create a mixed message for America’s Middle East allies. Tillerson has good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Under his leadership, ExxonMobil has developed oil projects in Russia and also in the South China Sea, with Vietnam. Oil prices have been rising since OPEC members announced a deal to reduce production in late November. OPEC has historically had a difficult time enforcing its agreements, however. It is difficult to predict how the cartel’s latest move will affect prices this year. I’m Mario Ritter. Jim Randle reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   regulation – n. an official rule about how something should be done duplicate – v. to make something that is basically a copy of something else contradict – v. to make the opposite argument cauldron – n. a large pot used to mix things in, often magical potions cartel – n. a group that fixes prices among members of a group of producers

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Everyday Grammar: Could Have, Would Have

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Experimental School in California Has No Homework

    Khan Lab School is bringing back the one-room model to teach young students in Mountain View, California. The school is a laboratory for an experimental kind of learning. Silicon Valley, known for its technology companies, is also the birthplace of the school. Twelve-year-old Mishal Junaid loves the Khan Lab School’s untraditional methods. “When I wake up in the morning, I want to wake up, unlike my last school where I want to sleep in and not go to school...” Junaid and her sister’s reactions to the school surprise their parents. The girls’ father, Junaid Qurashi, told VOA: “Our children, they love going to school, to the point that even if they are tired or sick or have the flu,” they will not stay home from school. “To the point that we worry why kids come home so happy. Are they really learning things?” No homework Students ages 5 to 15 attend the experimental Khan Lab School. It has no grade levels and no homework. The students are in school from 8:30 in the morning until six o’clock at night. And, the school is open all year long, with small breaks here and there. Nine-year-old Holly Thompson enjoys going there. "You get to choose what you learn, and it's not just a teacher hands you a worksheet and tells you what to do. You get to set your own goals. You have a schedule. You go to different classes."   The school is the idea of Salman Khan, the founder of Khan Academy — famous for its educational videos. The videos are available on the internet free of charge and have millions of users around the world. Khan said he started Khan Lab School because he thinks the current education system has problems. He hopes to create a better learning model. “Where I see the future going is somewhat revisiting the past. There’s a lot of really good things about the one-room schoolhouse that you might have had in the rural areas that you still have today in a lot of places where you have mixed-age classrooms...” He said this system lets the older students take responsibility and help younger students. That means the younger children get a lot of help. They get the help of the teacher and the older students. Personalized learning Khan said students also learn the study material at their own speed through videos. And, they get more attention through one-on-one discussions with teachers. They also learn by doing projects. Malika Junaid noted a change in her daughters after they began attending the school. She said that, after six months, they seemed sure of their abilities. They are now not afraid to talk to adults and other students and now they always want to help. The school’s director, Dominic Liechti, said this way of learning better prepares students for the future. He said the duties of a teacher need to change from leading the class to being someone who guides students in their learning, and provides individual support. A teacher is also a life-long learner, he said, not just someone who gives presentations. Leichti also said the role of students is becoming more creative. Work in progress Salman Khan describes his Khan Lab School as a work in progress. “Like a R-and-D lab [research and development lab], the first time that you make the drug or the first time that you make the material,” Khan said. “It’s not scalable yet, but you need to make it the first time and say 'that’s a pretty strong material.' And then you can think about how do you make it so that it’s more affordable and more scalable.” Dominic Liechti says the community in the Mountain View area has been open to this new method to educating students. “Especially in Silicon Valley because that’s the culture that you can start something,” he said. “You can pioneer something, and people join that movement, and I feel that amongst my staff.” Liechti says he has that same feeling amongst his students and members of the community. I’m Alice Bryant.   Elizabeth Lee wrote this story for VOANews.com. Alice Bryant adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   flu - n. the flu, also called influenza, is  common disease that is used by a virus. It causes high body temperature, weakness, and breathing problems grade - n. a level of study that is completed by a student during one year scalable - adj. easy to make larger or more powerful pioneer - n. a person who helps create or develop new ideas or methods

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