James Madison: Not Your Everyday Politician

    VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. James Madison was elected in 1808. He was a capable president who served two terms. But most Americans do not remember Madison for his presidency. They remember him for work he did earlier. After the Revolutionary War, in which the American colonists separated from Britain, Madison proposed that the new United States form a stronger national government. Madison’s vision for a three-part government – with an executive, a legislature, and an independent Supreme Court – became the basis for the Constitution we still use today. Madison went on to persuade voters to accept the proposed Constitution. He explained how a system of checks and balances would prevent any one part of government from becoming too powerful. And, when voters demanded more protection for individual liberties, Madison wrote the amendments that became the Bill of Rights. These actions earned Madison the name “Father of the Constitution.” Opposites attract Madison did not have the appearance of most politicians. He was a short man with a soft voice who had been sick often as a child. He grew up in a wealthy family in Virginia. He liked to read books, and to study. He went to college at the school that later became Princeton University in New Jersey. When the Revolutionary War started, Madison’s intelligence and knowledge – as well as family money – helped him participate in debates about independence. Madison also held positions in the new American government he helped create, including as secretary of state under President Thomas Jefferson. Madison did not have much of a personal life. Many people were surprised when he married a young widow named Dolley Payne Todd. She was 26; he was 43. The couple did not have children, but they raised Mrs. Madison’s surviving son together. Stories suggest the two were very happy, although they had different personalities. Dolley Madison was energetic, warm, and social. She loved to throw parties – and her guests loved to attend them. Historian Catherine Allgor notes Dolley Madison often dressed dramatically – including wearing turbans covered with peacock feathers. Her weekly gatherings at the president’s house were so crowded that they became known as “squeezes.” As first lady, Dolley Madison did not follow her husband’s idea of a strict separation of powers. She invited officials from all parts of the government to her parties, as well as people from opposing political groups. Allgor says Dolley Madison succeeded in making the president’s house a symbol of unity and glamor. She remains one of the best- known and most-loved first ladies in U.S. history.  But his wife’s popularity could not prevent Madison from facing a difficult presidency. Conflict abroad and at home During his first term, the U.S. faced increasingly tense relations with Britain. Madison accused the British of interfering with international trade and seizing American sailors. At the same time, European-American settlers blamed the British for helping native tribes fight against them. But, the settlers had violated treaties between the U.S. government and the Native Americans. In 1811, native warriors attacked U.S. soldiers at the Battle of Tippecanoe in today’s state of Indiana. A U.S. general named William Henry Harrison led his troops to fight back. The result was not clear, but Harrison declared victory. The following year, Madison proposed war against Britain. Congress approved. The War of 1812 began. War of 1812 For most of the war, American forces failed. But in 1813, they had two notable victories in Canada. They captured and burned the city of York, in Toronto. And General Harrison had another major fight with native warriors at the Battle of the Thames. The Native Americans were defeated. The leader of the tribal alliance, Tecumseh, died from the wounds he received there. That loss ended, for the most part, the efforts of eastern Native American tribes to push back white settlers.  In 1814, the war turned again. British soldiers took the U.S. capital of Washington, DC. Madison had already left the president’s house to meet with generals in the field. Dolley Madison remained. But when she learned the British were approaching quickly, she acted. She famously ordered her servants, as well as a 15-year-old house slave named Paul Jennings, to take down a painting of George Washington. The servants, slaves, first lady, and painting all escaped to safety.  Commanders of the British force took a group of men to the Capitol building and set it on fire. Then, they went to the president’s house. They found the table set for dinner. The British commanders stopped to toast the president before they burned his home.   By the time Washington, D.C. burned, American and British officials were already in peace talks. But in the U.S., one more major battle was being fought. A militia general named Andrew Jackson led a ragtag army against a British attack in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Americans’ rain of bullets and shells was so deadly that only one British soldier reached the top of the American defenses. When the British finally withdrew, they left behind more than 2,000 dead and wounded. Five hundred other British soldiers had been captured. Thirteen Americans were killed. The Battle of New Orleans was considered a great victory for the U.S; however, it was not necessary. The war had ended, by treaty, two weeks earlier. Legacy The War of 1812 almost bankrupted the U.S. government and cost the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers. It was devastating for many Native Americans. It did provide a chance for several thousand slaves to escape to freedom by serving in the British military. But it did nothing to improve the lives of most of 1 million enslaved people in the U.S. at the time. Despite all this, the war united most of the country. Albert Gallatin, Madison's treasury secretary, said people felt "more American" after the war. They acted more like a nation, he said. The song that would become the country’s national anthem, “The Star-Bangled Banner,” was written during the War of 1812. Madison benefited from most people’s belief that the war was a success. The end of his second term began what historians call the “Era of Good Feelings.” Madison left the presidency more popular than when he had started it. After he retired, Madison lived on his Virginia estate for nearly another 20 years. He died in his bed at age 85. A niece was in the room. She says that a strange look passed her uncle’s face. She asked him what was wrong. Madison’s last words were: “Nothing more than a change of mind, my dear. I always talk better lying down.” I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this report for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.    See how well you understand the story of James Madison by taking this listening quiz. Play each video, then choose the best answer. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   capable - adj. skilled at doing something or able to do something well participate - v. to be involved with others in doing something widow - n. a woman whose husband has died dramatic - adj. attracting attention or causing people to carefully listen and look turban - n. a head covering made of a long cloth wrapped around the head feather - n. any one of the light growths that make up the outer covering of the body of a bird squeeze - n. a small or crowded space glamor - n. a very exciting and attractive quality approach - v. to move or become near or nearer to something or someone toast - v. to drink and say or agree to words that honor someone or express good wishes ragtag - adj. made up of different people or things and not organized or put together well devastating - adj. causing great damage or harm

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Common Bacteria May Control Disease-Carrying Insects

  Scientists think they have discovered a way to use a common bacteria to stop disease-carrying mosquitoes from reproducing. They say the discovery could make it possible to control the mosquito that spreads two viral diseases: Zika virus and dengue. The bacteria is called Wolbachia. It can infect up to 70 percent of the insect species on Earth. The bacteria has changed in different ways over time. Some insects need it to stay alive. Wolbachia can act as a parasite in other insects. It can even affect the ability of eggs to produce young. However, experts say it does not infect many disease-carrying mosquitoes. But researchers may have found a way to use the bacteria on mosquitoes that carry two viral diseases, Zika and dengue. Experts say a woman infected with Zika virus early in her pregnancy is at risk of giving birth to a baby with microcephaly. Microcephaly causes mental and physical disability, seizures and sometimes death. Dengue can make people very sick. A  person develops a condition like influenza. The disease can also turn deadly. John Bechmann is an entomologist — someone who studies insects -- at Yale University in Connecticut. “It’s kind of been the issue with the Wolbachia field is that all of the insects that are really, really medically relevant don’t have their own Wolbachia infection. So that’s one reason why this is such an important discovery is because that’s been one thing that's limited the field is people have always tried to make these fake or non-natural infections that can infect these mosquitoes. Now we don’t have to do that -- we can just put the genes in.” Aedes aegypti is the name of a mosquito that carries Zika and dengue.     Researchers at Yale and Vanderbilt University in Tennessee are studying the Wolbachia bacteria. They reported finding two genes that might make the mosquitoes unable to have young. The researchers have performed successful experiments in fruit flies. And they believe they can do the same with mosquitoes. The scientists reported success with two ways to stop the spread of Zika and dengue. The first was to place many male mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia in an area. When these males mate with uninfected females, the bacteria kills life in any eggs the female is carrying. ​The other method involved leaving male and female mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia in a mosquito population. Over time, the Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes replaced the Zika- and dengue-infected mosquitoes by making them sterile. Reports on the Wolbachia gene discovery were published in the journals Nature and Nature Microbiology. John Bechmann says controlling the two diseases may one day be as simple as breeding Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes, then releasing them into the wild. “The problem has always been figuring out systems that can work well in mosquitoes, and this seems like this is going to be one that’s going to be great for that.” He adds that the discovery may also work with Anopheles gambiae, the mosquito that carries malaria. The World Health Organization says there are 214 million cases of malaria each year. And the disease kills over 400,000 people a year worldwide. Because the mosquitoes are genetically engineered, Bechmann says he is concerned about legal  barriers on the release of sterilized mosquitoes. He and other researchers are working to find money to pay for more experiments. I’m Anne Ball.   VOA Health Correspondent Jessica Berman reported this story from Washington. John Smith adapted the story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson and George Grow were the editors.   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   parasite – n. an organism that feeds on or lives in an organism relevant – adj. relating to a subject in an appropriate way sterile – adj. not able to produce children, young animals, etc. offspring – n. the young of an animal or plant breed – v. to produce young animals, birds or insects; to produce offspring by sexual reproduction fake – adj. of or related to something made to seem other than it really is

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One Man’s Effort to Guard the US-Mexico Border

  Fifteen years ago, Glenn Spencer left his home in California for a reason: “to help secure the border” between the United States and Mexico. Spencer now lives on a ranch in Arizona, about 100 meters from the metal barrier that separates the two countries. His one-man effort against illegal immigration has put people crossing the Sonoran Desert at risk. Spencer says he has reported or captured thousands of people over the past 15 years. He believes most of them were transporting illegal drugs. However, most experts say that drugs are rarely brought across the border that way. Spencer uses drone aircraft launched from his farm in Cochise County. He developed the drone technology he uses. “The computer is looking at five miles of information, and then when something happens the algorithm says ‘hey, there’s people out there.’” Spencer leads a group called the American Border Patrol. It is considered a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that reports on and fights discrimination. Spencer says he has spent one million dollars of his own money to stop the illegal movement of people across the border. He believes it is the reason he was born. “I just kept digging and digging and digging. The more I dug, the uglier it became…" Spencer says he wants to show what he calls the truth about illegal immigration. He believes that Mexicans are plotting to take control of the southwestern United States by becoming a voting majority. He says that when immigrants vote in U.S. elections, they are voting in Mexico’s best interests. He believes they want to cancel the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Under the treaty, Mexico gave the United States 1.3 million square kilometers of land. Spencer is almost 80 years old. He says he is saddened by changes to the local population. He says they show that white people will no longer be in the majority. “This is not natural. Most of this is because of illegal immigration and what they call anchor babies. And then family reunification. I think we have to put a stop to this because if you get a power bloc of Hispanics -- and they have said this themselves -- they are going to be a swing vote.” Juanita Molina is the head of a rights group called the Border Action Network. She says there are many people along the border who share Spencer’s beliefs. “You see this trend, and you can see this in this presidency, of a culture of scarcity, this feeling that the America that they once knew is slipping away and is being stolen…” Mo Goldman is an immigration lawyer. He says many people in Arizona reject the actions and beliefs of people like Spencer. He believes Spencer, and those like him, are wasting their time. “Their viewpoint is: ‘Hey, we’re patriotic, we’re going to seal up the border, we’re going to catch these people and we’re going to call the Border Patrol.’ You know, if that’s what they want to do, fine. (But) I think a lot of people in this community think that that is not the right thing to do and they reject that mentality.” Spencer says many opponents of illegal immigration have stopped giving money to his group because they believe President Donald Trump will close the border. But Spencer says even if others stop supporting him, he will keep watching the border. He adds, “America can’t start over again. That won’t happen again. If we lose that, that’s it. We have got to keep it. We’ve got to hold it. We’ve got to defend it. And that’s what I do.” I’m Bryan Lynn.   VOA Correspondent Ramon Taylor reported this story from Cochise County, Arizona. John Smith adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   ranch – n. large farm where animals are kept  algorithm – n. set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process dig – v. look for information about something anchor babies – n. term, considered offensive to many, to describe children who gain citizenship when born in the United States to noncitizen parents bloc – n. group of people who share the same political ideas swing vote – n. vote that has a major influence on the result of an election scarcity – n. very small amount of something viewpoint – n. way of thinking about something seal – v. to close, cut off  

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UN Fund to Fight Cholera in Haiti at 2 Percent of Goal

  Late last year, the United Nations promised to strengthen its fight against the spread of the deadly cholera disease. U.N. peacekeeping troops unknowingly brought the disease to Haiti seven years ago.   But, so far, the U.N. has raised just a small amount of the estimated $400 million it needs over the next two years to fight the disease. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote that the voluntary funding received so far makes up only 2 percent of its goal. It has received around $8 million in funding. The letter said that, as of February 8, Chile, France, India, Liechtenstein and South Korea together had promised almost $2 million. Outside of that fund, Japan has promised $2.6 million and Canada has committed about $6 million. Guterres asked all member states to notify him by March 6 of their plans to help finance the campaign. U.N. peacekeepers arriving from Nepal are believed to have caused Haiti’s current cholera epidemic. The disease spread near a U.N. base in October of 2010. Since then, more than 788,000 cases of the infectious disease have been reported. At least 9,000 people have died. Last December, former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon apologized to Haiti’s people, on behalf of the United Nations, “for the loss of life and suffering caused by the country’s cholera epidemic.” Two pathways The U.N. has two goals for the funding: reducing cholera and aiding victims. Its aim is to decrease the number of yearly cases from the current 30,000 to fewer than 10,000 by the end of 2018. It also plans to help all Haitians have clean drinking water and toilets by 2030. Right now, about 25 percent of the population owns or lives near toilets, the U.N.’s recent letter said. Vibrio cholerae bacteria spread through food and water polluted by an infected person’s feces - or waste - the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The disease is most common in places with poor waste and health systems. Reparations considered The U.N. also plans to provide “material assistance” to aid Haitians most affected by the epidemic. Brian Concannon is the director of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti. The nonprofit organization supports Haitian cholera victims and their relatives. He told VOA that, at one point, half of the expected $400 million was promised to victims. That money would be used for either community projects such as new hospitals and schools or direct payment to the families. But, since little money has been raised, Concannon said that some have warned the victims to lower their expectations. However, he said that “the cholera victims have a right to compensation under international law” and that the U.N. must obey this law. Holding out hope Gabriel Thimothé is general director of Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health. He said Haitians “have not given up hope” that the U.N. will meet its funding goal. Right now, Thimothé said, the ministry is trying to reduce infections. It gave out a million vaccine doses in southern Haiti after the damaging hurricane last October. The U.N.’s World Health Organization provided the vaccines. And the ministry is planning a national vaccination program. The ministry is also teaching the public good cleanliness practices and providing clean water. I'm Alice Bryant. And I'm Bryan Lynn.   Carol Guensberg and Ronal Cesar reported this story for VOA’s Creole Service. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cholera - n. a serious disease that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea and that often results in death finance - v. to provide money for something or someone epidemic - n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people toilet - n. a large bowl attached to a pipe that is used for getting rid of bodily waste and then flushed with water feces - n. solid waste that is released from the body dose - n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken or given at one time

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Everyday Grammar: Making Suggestions

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Lesson 48: Have You Ever ...?

Summary Anna helps a tourist find interesting museums in Washington, D.C. She gets some help herself, too. Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about using the present perfect verb tense. Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how Americans pronounce "been," the present perfect form of BE. Conversation Anna: Hello! I have lived in Washington, D.C. for a long time now. And I have done a lot. I feel that I know this city pretty well. (walks off and comes back) That's the wrong way. Where is it again? Anna: (sees a tourist at a sign) Excuse me, can I help you? Have we met before? Jean: I don’t think so. I’ve just flown in from Boston. My name is Jean. Anna: Hi, Jean! I'm Anna. I really feel like we’ve met before. Anyway, how can I help? Jean: I want to see an interesting museum but I don’t know which one. Anna: I can help with that. I’ve lived in Washington, D.C. a long time. I think I’ve seen all the museums. Jean: Wow, thanks. So, tell me, which museums are good? Anna: Well, they are all good. But they’re all different. There are science museums and history museums and art and culture museums. Jean: I want to see an unusual museum. Anna: I like the Sculpture Garden. Have you ever seen sculptures in a garden? It is really artistic! Jean: I have never seen a garden of sculptures! I’ll write that on my list! Anna: Have you been to the Museum of the American Indian? I’ve visited that museum many times. It is very peaceful. Jean: I have always liked American Indian culture. Jean: I’ll put that on my list. (writes on list) Do you have any other suggestions? Anna: Well, if you like plants, you can visit the U.S. Botanic Gardens. It's very organic. Jean: I have always loved plants. I’ll write that on my list, too! Wow, you know so much about D.C.’s museums. Anna: Well, I have lived here for over a year. Jean: You’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful city filled with so many museums and a zoo! Anna: What? D.C. has a zoo? Jean: Yes, and it’s beautiful. You’ve lived here for so long and you haven’t been to the zoo? Anna: I've never been to D.C.’s zoo. I've never been to any zoos! Jean: You have never seen zoo animals? Anna: I grew up on a farm, Jean. I've known farm animals my whole life. Jean: But the zoo has lions (makes sound of lion roaring) and elephants (makes sound of elephant trumpeting) and zebras (makes no sound)! If you have never seen a real, live elephant, you must. They are so majestic. Anna: I will. I will! (writes list) There. I’ve written my own must-see zoo animal list! Jean: Have fun at the zoo and thanks, Anna! Anna: Have fun at the museums, Jean! And thank YOU! Anna: This has been awesome! And I have seen every animal on my list! Jean, the tourist, helped me see more of my city. But where have I seen her before? Oh well. Until next time …   Writing In this lesson, Anna helps Jean learn about places to see in Washington, D.C. Have you ever visited a museum, a zoo, or a public garden? Where was it? What did you see there? If you have not, what would you tell a tourist to see in your home town? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about things you have seen or done. Please note, our activity sheets now can be completed on the computer. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Focus Attention. This strategy is what we use when we want to finish a job and make sure we do all of the things we want to do. In this lesson, Jean is a tourist in Washington, D.C. Anna tells Jean about the interesting museums in the city. Jean makes a list so she can remember to visit all of the interesting museums. When Jean makes at her list, then looks at it later, she is focusing attention on what she wants to do. As she sees each museum, she can check each museum off on the list. What do you do to focus your attention on the things you are learning in English? Write to us about it 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 American Indian - n. a member of any of the first groups of people living in North America or South America. The members of these nations are also called Native Americans or by the name of their tribal nation, as in "a member of the Navajo tribe." animal - n. a living thing that is not a human being or plant U.S. Botanic Garden - n. a large public garden in Washington, D.C. where plants are grown in order to be studied elephant - n. a very large gray animal that has a long, flexible nose and two long tusks lion - n. a large wild cat that has golden brown fur and that lives mainly in Africa majestic - adj. large and impressively beautiful own - v. to have (something) as property or to legally possess (something) plant - n. a living thing that grows in the ground, usually has leaves or flowers, and needs sun and water to survive science - n. knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and observation sculpture - n. a piece of art that is made by carving or molding clay, stone, wood or metal suggestion - n. an idea about what someone should do or how someone should behave zebra - n. an African animal that looks like a horse and has black and white stripes covering its body zoo - n. a place where many kinds of animals are kept so that people can see them​ ​______________________________________________________________ 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 using the present perfect verb tense.   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: Present perfect verb tense​  Topics: Review of making recommendations; Talking about things to do and see  Learning Strategy: Focus Attention Speaking & Pronunciation: Past participle of BE​ _______________________________________________________________ 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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New York Show About Lonely Teen Brings Audiences to Tears

Of the 28 shows playing on New York City’s Broadway, the musical “Dear Evan Hansen,” probably gets the most people crying. The show centers on a lonely teenager, Evan Hansen, and his schoolmates. They find communicating with each other to be difficult -- even with tools such as Facebook. New York Times theater critic Charles Isherwood praised the show and the young actor who plays Evan, Ben Platt. Isherwood wrote that Blatt’s eyes “blink in continual embarrassment” whenever “he has to interact socially, which isn’t often.” But Isherwood said that, below all the insecurity, Platt shows the character’s strong desire to be liked -- or even just to be noticed.   The “Dear Evan Hansen” story centers on what happens when a teen-ager at Hansen’s school kills himself. Before the tragedy, Evan had been writing “Dear Evan Hansen” letters to himself at the suggestion of a doctor. The doctor wanted Evan to start out each day by saying something positive about himself. But one of Evan’s letters was taken by the boy who killed himself. The boy’s parents found it in his clothing. They thought their son had written the letter to Evan. They believed Evan was a friend they did not know their son had. They reached out to Evan. But, Evan did not admit to them that he and their son were not really friends. Evan later “trended” on Facebook after he gave a speech urging people not to let his so-called “friend’s” brief life go unnoticed. Steven Levenson wrote the book for the musical. That means he wrote all of the words that are not part of a song in the show. He says audiences feel strong emotional reactions because of the show’s actors. “I know that lot of cast members have gotten letters from people saying I saw myself in you, seeing the show inspired me to have hope, which is really truly incredible and the best gift that you can ask for as a creator.” Some audience members said the show helped them talk to their children “about things that are difficult to discuss,” he added.   Michael Park is one of the show’s adult stars. From the stage, he said, he does not notice people crying in the audience. But Park said he and other actors can feel the energy from audience members, as they react to the emotional story line and powerful songs. He often hears directly from audience members after the show, when people line up to get their programs signed. Some parents quietly say the words, “thank you,” after he and other actors sign programs for their children. One time, Park said, he was asked, ‘can you be my dad?’ “That’s a pretty powerful reaction,” Park said. “You just kind of pause and give a hug. It’s all you can do.”   Evan Hansen selling all seats “Dear Evan Hansen” is a success. The show is selling out all performances. And it is likely to win the “Tony Award” for best musical. Ben Platt, its star, is expected to win the Tony for best actor in a musical. Platt and the show’s creators are all young.  Platt is 24 and is signed to play Even Hansen through November. Benj Pasek, 31, and Justin Paul, 32, wrote the music. This is a good year for them. They already won the Academy Award for best song written for a movie. That movie was “La La Land.” Levenson, who wrote the book, is 32. He also has a second hit show playing in New York. It is called, “If I Forget.”  And he is working on a new musical movie. Levenson said he owes a lot to his playwriting teacher at Brown University in Rhode Island. Her name is Paula Vogel. At the end of the semester, Vogel takes each of her students out for coffee to discuss their work and what should come next. Levenson said at the time he was getting ready to graduate from Brown and had “no idea what he would do next.” “She said if this is something you want to do -- this writing thing -- I believe that you can do it.” “That kept me going for several years, just that one conversation -- you know through sort of the darker moments of being in New York and trying to figure it all out. So, I give her all the credit for that.” I'm Dorothy Gundy. And I'm Bruce Alpert. Bruce Alpert reported on this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Have you ever felt lonely? _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   blink - v. to close and then open your eyes very quickly embarrassment - n. the state of feeling foolish in front of others stage - n. a raised platform in a theater where the performers stand audience - n. group of people who gather together to listen to a concert or watch a play or movie pause - v. to stop what you are doing hug - n. to put your arms around someone especially as a way of showing love or friendship inspire - v. to make someone want to do something incredible - adj. difficult or impossible to believe conversation - n. a discussion

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International Students Face Similar Challenges in the US

Anyone who seeks a college education will face some challenges. These include difficult projects, busy schedules and complex social situations. The new responsibilities of being an independent adult can be frightening. And for an international student, this experience can be even more intense. Over one million international students studied at the many colleges and universities in the United States last year. Many of them came from countries where English is not the native language. But language was not the only barrier they faced. ELS Educational Services is a company that operates several centers at colleges across the U.S. These centers help international students improve their English. In February, ELS researchers presented a study at the yearly conference of the Association of International Education Administrators. This study collected the opinions of 662 international students at 23 different U.S. colleges and universities. Many expressed concerns about their relationships with professors. More than a third said they wished their professors would provide additional helpful criticism. Thirty-three percent wished professors would try harder to understand the international student experience. And 28 percent of the students wished professors would provide non-U.S. examples in class materials. "Ultimately, to be successful in a classroom you have to understand what the expectations are, but also, the right way to express concerns and questions." John Nicholson is the vice president of marketing and communications for ELS. Nicholson says the way students prepare to study in the U.S. affects their experience. He says many believe if they know enough English to pass a standardized test, they are ready for American higher education. But, he says, this level of language ability alone will not prepare them enough for their new learning environment. "Ultimately, to be successful in a classroom you have to understand what the expectations are, but also, the right way to express concerns and questions." Lisa Giragosian is the director of the international student office at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She says the findings of the study are common among the students she meets. And, she says teachers share in the responsibility for the difficulties expressed by international students. "For every faculty member who’s very conscious … and globally-minded and seeking an international student’s opinion, there’s somebody else who’s not. And I’m afraid sometimes we’re dealing with the mentality that you’re studying in the United States and getting the knowledge from this particular professor or class, and that being totally inclusive is not taking priority." Giragosian argues that international students add a great deal to the experiences of American students. As a result, she says, professors need to be equally open and accepting of all their students. That is why Duke offers training programs for professors to better understand how their international students think and learn.   But, Giragosian admits students from other countries will have to work especially hard for their U.S. education. The education systems in many countries do not put the same value on student involvement that the American system does. For example, American professors expect students to ask questions and lead discussions. Also, every nation has its own cultural history and rules for young people to learn and follow. So, Giragosian suggests international student should try to find as many resources as they can to help them. This includes both before and during their studies in the U.S. She says students should try to meet with professors in their office hours outside of class. Also, she suggests they form groups with other international students. They can meet to discuss their shared concerns and practice things like speaking in class. When I was in Ethiopia, I was taught to be more reserved, more quiet. Whereas here everyone tends to speak up, express their opinions all the time. Kedest Mathewos is from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She began studying global health at Duke in August of 2016. The 19-year-old attended an international high school in her home country. So, she says, she knew some of what to expect when she came to the U.S. However, she admits she still struggled at first, even with extra preparation. "When I was in Ethiopia, I was taught to be more reserved, more quiet. Whereas here everyone tends to speak up, express their opinions all the time. So, it’s kind of hard to get used to that." Mathewos earned a MasterCard scholarship to help pay for her education. The program chooses several students from African nations and supports them as they seek college degrees. Mathewos says the program has helped her a lot by connecting her with past members. She has learned from their experiences. Sharing experiences continues to be very important to Mathewos. She often meets with other international students to talk about the problems they are having, like those listed in the ELS study. Also, she recently created a program that gives letters to professors at the beginning of a study term. The letters ask professors to consider the special challenges international students face. The first-year student hopes the program will help get professors and students to work together to find ways to solve these problems. I’m Pete Musto.   Pete Musto reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. What problems do you have as an international student in the U.S. that this story did not discuss? How else do you think international students and professors can work together to deal with these challenges? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   challenge(s) – n. a difficult task or problem schedule(s) – n. a plan of things that will be done and the times when they will be done class – n. a series of meetings in which students are taught a particular subject or activity marketing – n. the activities that are involved in making people aware of a company's products, making sure that the products are available to be bought standardized test – n. a test where all test-takers take the same test under the same or reasonably equal conditions ultimately – adv. at the most basic level faculty – n. the group of teachers in a school or college conscious – adj. knowing that something exists or is happening globally – adv. involving the entire world mentality – n. a particular way of thinking particular – adj. used to indicate that one specific person or thing is being referred to and no others priority – n. the condition of being more important than something or someone else and therefore coming or being dealt with first reserved – adj. not openly expressing feelings or opinions tend(s) – v. used to describe what often happens or what someone often does or is likely to do scholarship – n. an amount of money that is given by a school, business or an organization to a student to help pay for their education

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Numbers of Mixed-Race Americans Growing

  The number of mixed-race Americans is increasing three times faster than the population of the United States as a whole. That information comes from the Pew Research Center in Washington, DC. In the 1970s, one percent of all American children were of mixed race. Now, 10 percent are. The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that, by 2060, the number of multiracial Americans will be three times larger than it is now. Many multiracial Americans experience life in a way that is very different from someone whose parents belong to the same race or minority group. Delia Douglas says problems sometimes result when you are multiracial and decide to marry someone of another race. “Especially in the first three years of my daughter’s life, people often would stop and ask me if I was the nanny, and there were days when that would be incredibly frustrating.” Douglas is white, African-American and Native American. Her 5-year-old daughter Soleil looks more like her father, who is white. She is light-skinned. “I think she surprised both of us. I never expected her to have golden blond hair.” Ronnie Nells is Douglas’ brother. He says life as a mixed-race person in the United States can sometimes be difficult. “I was pulled over, I think, once a month for a year and asked where I was headed and what I was doing.” The Pew Research Center reports four in 10 mixed-race Americans who are partly black say they have been unfairly targeted by police. The center says 69 percent of mixed-race Americans who are at least partly black say most people consider them black. They also say their experience is similar to that of black Americans. Some Americans say the Los Angeles area is more accepting of multiracial individuals than other parts of the country. Damona Hoffman’s parents are Russian-Jewish and African-American. “I found actually that it (LA) was where my people were because there were so many biracial people that were suddenly in my orbit that I really had not seen before growing up in the Midwest.” Many young mixed-race children in Los Angeles go to schools where many ethnicities are represented. At World City Center, 30 percent of the students are multiracial. Viviane Arlotto is Korean and Belgian. She is married to a white American. Her son attends school at the World City Center. “I grew up in a really homogenous neighborhood and felt like the ‘other,’ so it was important for my son to be in a place where he felt normal.” WorldSpeak is a school where children learn languages other than English. Eighty percent of the students there are of mixed race. Angelika Getmanchuk launched the school. She says children who come from a multiethnic background have an advantage. “They have more empathy towards other multiracial and multilingual children. They have more curiosity towards multiracial differences and acceptance.” Some mixed-race Americans like Ronnie Nells say there is a growing acceptance of people of mixed ancestry. He notes the success of former U.S. President Barack Obama. “We went from knowing all five other families that were mixed in the (LA) valley to a mixed man being the president, and that is (an) awesome thing.” Obama’s father was from Kenya, while his mother was a white woman from Kansas. I’m John Russell.   VOA Correspondent Elizabeth Lee reported this story from Los Angeles. John Smith adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   nanny – n. a woman who is paid to care for a young child usually in the child’s home frustrating – adj. causing feelings of anger and annoyance pull over – phrasal verb to force (a driver or vehicle) to move to the side of the road and stop orbit – n. the area over which or throughout which someone or something has power; the group of friends, coworkers and family members that one is familiar with homogenous – adj. made up of the same kind of people or things advantage – n. something (such as a good position or condition) that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others empathy – n. the feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions curiosity – n. the desire to learn or know more about something or someone

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Lessening Effect of Robots on the Human Work Force

  Technology activists are appealing to tech companies and their leaders to build a future in which the effect of machinery on humans is lessened. Some workers have long feared that machines are coming to take away their jobs. Robots now are doing more work than ever before. Lasers being used to cut cloth at factories, while drone aircraft water crops. Tim O’Reilly heads O’Reilly Media, a technology advisory service. He says it is important for people and machines to work together. He says most computer software depends on human beings to keep it operating and current. “It’s so important that we have to think about not using technology to replace people -- but to augment them, to do something that was previously impossible,” O’Reilly said. He spoke last week at conference in Ho Chi Minh City. The meeting was a project of the Asia and Pacific Internet Association and APNIC – the Asia-Pacific registry for internet domain names. With more skills, people can work with machines, O’Reilly noted. For example, the ride-sharing companies Lyft and Uber use software designed to help human drivers. Most large airplanes are now flown by computers. But passengers will likely always want a human pilot on the plane. Jonathan Brewer is a trainer at the Network Startup Resource Center, a non-profit group based at the University of Oregon. He believes the next step in technology should improve on the one before it. Speaking at the conference, he noted that when factories began to be built in large numbers, many people were left with undrinkable water and unbreathable air. Today, Brewer said, technology experts must consider how their inventions can help people. He noted how sensors can warn people an hour before a mudslide takes place. There are other “life-saving devices that cost very, very little money.” He added there is not much reason to have machines do difficult work if people are not able to use and enjoy the results of their labor. O’Reilly said the world needs people. He told the conference’s delegates that “all of you, in some sense, are inside the internet. (If) you go away, it stops working. It’s not like a piece of software in (the) PC era where if you had a copy of Microsoft Windows running on your personal computer, it would keep running without the original programmers. Almost all of the software we depend on today is a service that depends on the work of people like you.” While some experts believe robots will help in the future, others are worried. In 2015 the consulting service McKinsey & Company said machines will someday perform 45 percent of the jobs humans now do. That may be why many technology experts support the idea of universal guaranteed earnings. Under the plan, a small monthly payment would be made to each person, even if they do not work. Brewer hopes that people and machines will continue to cooperate. He said there is technology that tells city workers when street lights need to be repaired or when trash cans are full. That means the workers do not need to examine the lights or cans, as many now do. But he said when the technology tells when repairs are needed or containers must be emptied, humans must still provide the service. Many delegates at the conference support technology and the changes it will bring. But many are also starting to think about its effect on humans and how to help people live in a world where machines do so much work. I’m Dorothy Gundy.   Ha Nguyen and Lien Hoang reported this story from Ho Chi Minh City for VOANews.com. John Smith adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   aircraft – n. a vehicle for traveling through the air software – n. a set of programs and related documentation ties to a system, usually a computer system augment – v. to make greater or more numerous era – n. an important date or period

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Los Angeles Permits People to Sell Goods on the Sidewalks

  People sell goods and food on the streets of many American cities, often without permits. Many of these sellers are immigrants, and some are in the United States without government permission.  Street vending is illegal in Los Angeles, California. People who do it anyway can be fined up to $1,000 and face six months in jail. For years, activists have asked Los Angeles officials to change the laws. Last week, the city council approved a plan to decriminalize street vending. Officials are worried that, under new national efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, arresting the sellers will result in some of them being deported. Thank you, Donald Trump Merced Sanchez sells goods on the city’s sidewalks. “For what we couldn’t accomplish in three years, I thank Mr. Donald Trump. Thanks to him, the council mobilized. This means peace. It means being able to work without fearing that the police will show up.” Sanchez says many people who are in the U.S. without government permission become street vendors because finding a job is difficult for them. She says the new city law legalizing street vending ends the threat of arrest. She says the change reduces vendors’ fears of being deported. A first step to economic security Doug Smith works for the Los Angeles Street Vendor Campaign. He says, for many people, selling goods on the street is the first step to becoming economically secure. “It’s the first way to start to build a business, and that is why we really prioritize the entrepreneurship elements of it. It’s about more than just permitting something. We want to actively create technical assistance and support to help people build a business and achieve economic mobility.” The new law takes effect in a few weeks. Legalization means vendors will need to pay for permits and will have to obey other rules. Guadalupe Santiago is a street vendor. She has two children. She says she will be happy to pay to get a permit and meet other requirements if following those rules means she does not need to be afraid of being arrested and deported. “It’s good for them to give us a permit. If they ask me for a better cart, I will need to buy it because I know it will be for my own good and for the city’s.” Who will pay for it? Norm Lagner owns a popular Los Angeles restaurant. He wants street vendors to be able to make a living. But he worries whether the city has enough money to enforce any new rules. “You can’t have any enforcement of the laws unless you have money to pay for it, and there is no money to pay for it. So I personally think it’s a bad idea at this time.” Lagner, who supports President Trump, adds that he does not want to make things easier for people who are in the U.S. illegally. “We have laws ...Laws aren’t written for each group, they’re written for people as a whole.” Eric Garcetti is the mayor of Los Angeles. He says he will sign the legislation to decriminalize street vending as soon as possible. He says it will “protect hard-working Angelenos who are trying to make an honest living.” I’m Phil Dierking.   Video Journalist Arturo Martinez reported this story from Los Angeles. John Smith adapted the story 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   vendor – n.  a person who sells things especially on the street​ accomplish – v. to succeed in doing something cart – n. a wagon with two wheels that is pulled by an animal economic mobility – the ability of an individual, family, or some other group to improve their income status mobilize – v. to bring people together for action permit –n. a document that allows someone to do something prioritize – v. to organize (things) so that the most important thing is done or dealt with first technical assistance – the providing of advice, assistance, and training relating to the installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment entrepreneurship – n.  the capacity and willingness to develop, organize and manage a business venture along with any of its risks in order to make a profit Angelenos – n. a native or inhabitant of Los Angeles an honest living – a good amount of money for one’s hard work

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