Sunken Passenger Ship Raised in South Korea

A recovery operation has raised the Sewol ferry, which sank off South Korea’s southern coast almost three years ago. An official overseeing the operation said the ferry reached the water’s surface shortly before five o’clock, local time. Three-hundred-four people, many of them high school students, died when the Sewol sank in April 2014. The sinking is considered one of South Korea’s worst maritime disasters. It has been an issue of deep sadness, anger and division. Families of the victims have called for the Sewol to be raised and for a more complete investigation of the sinking. The head of a group representing the victims’ families, Yoo Kyung-geun, released a statement on Thursday. It urged the government to “work on the recovery of the missing victims first.” A Chinese salvage company raised the hull of the passenger ship, which sank in 40 meters of water near Jindo Island. An official of South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said it will take 12 to 13 days to bring the ship to the port of Mokpo. Recent efforts to raise the ship have been slowed by weather and strong waves. The sinking shook South Korea and its politics The Sewol was carrying 467 people on the day it left for the South Korean island of Jeju on April 16, 2014. Investigators say the ship was dangerously overloaded with goods, making it unbalanced. The ship overturned while trying to make a turn at high speed. Adding to the anger over the tragedy was the reported failure of the crew and officers to ensure the safety of the passengers. Crew members reportedly told many of the 250 teenagers who died while on a school trip to stay in their room. The Sewol’s captain and crew members later left the ship. The captain was found guilty of gross negligence charges and sentenced to life in prison. Fourteen crew members were given sentences of up to 12 years for abandonment and violating maritime law. The rescue efforts of the South Korean coast guard were also criticized. The sinking led to a sharp drop in approval of the government of then-president Park Geun-hye. She was blamed for disappearing for seven hours during the incident. She made no public statement while the ship sank. The public’s trust in Park never fully recovered. The South Korean National Assembly voted to remove her from office last December. It noted Park’s reaction to the sinking and her reported links to illegal payments to an organization controlled by her friend as reasons for its vote. The Constitutional Court voted to support the assembly’s decision earlier this month. A new presidential election is to take place on May 9. I’m Mario Ritter.   Brian Padden and Esha Sarai reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted their report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   salvage – v. to carry out an effort to save or recover something that has been lost hull – n. the body of a ship maritime – adj. of or related to the sea gross – adj. extreme negligence – n. failure to exercise care abandonment – n. rejection of one’s rights and responsibilities

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Islamic State Claims Responsibility for London Attack

Prime Minister Theresa May said the attacker who killed three people near the British Parliament was born in Britain. And he was investigated by the country's intelligence agency MI-5 "in relation to concerns about violent extremism." May added that there was no earlier information on the suspect’s plan or his reason for carrying out the attack. Investigators believe that the attacker was influenced by “Islamist ideology." Shortly after May spoke with members of the parliament, the Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility saying the attacker was a "soldier of Islamic State." On Wednesday, the attacker crashed an SUV into pedestrians near the Parliament building. The large vehicle killed two persons and injured many others. The attacker then stabbed a police officer to death before being fatally shot by another officer. The attack injured about 40 people, including visitors from South Korea, China, Germany, France, Romania, Greece, Ireland, Italy and the United States. Twenty-nine people have been hospitalized. Seven are in critical, or extremely serious, condition.   Investigation   British police have arrested eight people in connection with the attack. The arrests were carried out in London, Birmingham and other parts of the country. Mark Rowley is deputy commissioner for London's Metropolitan Police Service. Rowley did not say how those arrested were linked to Wednesday's attack. He said the “attacker acted alone and was inspired by international terrorism." As the British Parliament reopened for its normal meetings Thursday, May told lawmakers that it "was an attack on free people everywhere." "Yesterday an act of terrorism tried to silence our democracy, but today we meet as normal, as generations have done before us and as future generations will continue to do, to deliver a simple message: We are not afraid and our resolve will never waver in the face of terrorism," she said. In Washington, the White House said President Donald Trump spoke with Prime Minister May and was briefed on the attack. Just days earlier, the United States and Great Britain banned larger electronic devices on direct flights from several nations in the Middle East and North Africa. Officials said that unspecified threats were the reason. I'm Jonathan Evans.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting from VOA, the AP and Reuters. Mario Ritter was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   ideology - n. the set of ideas and beliefs fatally - adv. causing death inspire - v. to cause someone to have a feeling or emotion resolve - n. strong determination to do something

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March 22, 2017

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

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Number of International Students at US Colleges Likely to Drop

  One-point-two million international students attended American colleges and universities in 2016. That is an increase of 6.5 percent from the year before and the highest number ever. But the steady growth in the number of international students may not last. Applications from foreign students for the next school year are down. A new report by the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers says four out of 10 U.S. colleges reported fewer international applications. The number of undergraduate applications from countries in the Middle East fell by 39 percent. Michael Reilly is the association’s executive director. He said there may be fewer applicants because some people see America “becoming less welcoming of international students.” Reilly said colleges are telling students “their studies or travels will not be disrupted by future policy changes.” Applications down from India Wim Wiewel is president of Portland State University in Oregon. He said his school saw a 37 percent reduction in applications from India for the new school year. Most of the decrease, he said, is because of recent monetary changes in India. Those changes have some parents worried they might not be able to afford the cost of an American college education. But he said some parents also worry about their children’s safety after several recent attacks on Indian immigrants in the U.S. In the worst attack, two engineers from India were shot last month at a bar in the state of Kansas. One of the engineers, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32 years old, died. The attacker told the two men they are not welcome in America, police said. Wiewel recently traveled to Hyderabad in southern India to meet with 10 students already admitted to his school’s graduate engineering program. The students’ parents worry about their safety. His meeting came just after a funeral in Hyderabad for the Kansas shooting victim.  “I tried to reassure them that America is still very safe and very welcoming to international students,” he said. At Portland State, about 1,900 of the school’s nearly 28,000 students are from outside the United States. Students from outside Oregon pay about three times the $8,000 tuition paid by state residents. The extra money helps the school improve its educational offerings, Wiewel said. Student from Mali talks benefits of international students Twenty-two-year-old Mahamadou Sissoko is from Mali in West Africa. He is finishing his senior year at Portland State University and is majoring in finance. Sissoko said his experiences at Portland State have been mostly good --after a difficult start as he worked to improve his English skills. He said that President Donald Trump’s effort to put in place a ban on immigration from six Muslim majority nations does not affect him directly. But he said the “anti-immigrant” message he hears from the president and others worries him. As Sissoko sees it, he and other international students benefit by learning about American culture. But, he said, they help American students learn about their countries’ cultures. “Some American students can’t or don’t want to travel outside the U.S.,” Sissoko said. “They don’t have to. We are coming to them. And they can get to know us.” As a Muslim, he said Portland State gives him a chance to practice his religion. “It isn’t perfect,” he said. Prayers are held in a room that is below a room used for musical performances. “It is supposed to be a silent place.” The countries with the largest number of students studying at U.S. colleges in 2016 were: China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada. Other countries on the list included Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil and Mexico. That information comes from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Some question if colleges are giving special consideration to international students, who often pay higher tuition. Last year, California State Auditor Elaine Howle said state colleges were accepting too many students from outside California. That includes international students and students from other U.S. states. As a result, Howle said, qualified state residents were being denied admission to their top choices for college. In some cases, she said, the colleges lowered admission standards to admit non-state residents who pay higher tuition. California state colleges collect an average of $28,000 per year from state residents for tuition and living costs like rooms and food. But they receive nearly twice as much from non-residents. Because of this issue, the California University board is considering a proposal. It would limit the three California colleges with the largest percentage of out-of-state students to their current percentages. The three schools are UCLA in Los Angeles, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, San Diego. The three now have more than 20 percent of their students from out-of-state. Gene Block, the chancellor at UCLA, recently spoke to the board. He told the group that money received from non-California residents helped the school offer more educational programs to all its students. I’m Bruce Alpert. And I'm Dorothy Gundy.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   steady - adj. lasting or continuing for a long period of time application - n. a formal and usually written request for something such as a job or admission to a school disrupt - v. to interrupt normal progress or activity bar - n. a building or room where alcoholic drinks and sometimes food are served resident - n. someone who lives in a particular place benefit - v. a good or helpful result or effect practice - v. to live according to the customs and teachings of a religion tuition - n. money paid to attend classes at a school  

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Netflix Update Changes How Users Rate, Watch Shows

The media streaming business Netflix is changing how users can rate and find shows. The new method is designed to better connect viewers with shows they might like. The changes may save you some time as you binge-watch your favorite shows. Netflix User Rating Update No longer will users be able to use stars (*****) to rate what they watch on Netflix. The update changes user ratings to a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down system. This makes it simpler for viewers to post ratings and is similar to YouTube ratings.           The company has been testing the new up or down system with hundreds of thousands of users around the world. Results showed that viewers were 200% more likely to rate a show with a thumbs up or thumbs down system than a five-star scale. Netflix wants to encourage more viewers to rate shows. So, it went with the up or down system. Netflix also hopes that the up and down ratings will better predict which shows viewers enjoy. The company discovered that viewers' star ratings did not indicate what shows they were more likely to watch. For example, many viewers rated documentaries higher than comedy shows, although they watched comedies more often. With the five-star rating system, viewers seemed to be rating whether others would enjoy a show, but with the up and down ratings they voted on what they liked themselves. Netflix Updates Recommendations The update also changes how Netflix suggests shows for users, based on their past likes and ratings. Netflix will use a percentage measure to indicate how closely a show matches a user’s preferences. If you see a “95%” next to a listed show, Netflix is almost certain you will enjoy it. On the other hand, you might want to ignore a movie rated as a 50% match. And that is as low as the system will go. Netflix will not report percentages below 50. If a show does not have a percentage noted, it could mean Netflix does not think you will like it. But it also could mean that Netflix does not have enough information to know whether you would like it. This update will begin in April and be available to users over the next few months. Skip Intro Update Netflix is also currently testing a “Skip Intro” button that lets users fast-forward through opening credits of a show. If you are a binge-watcher you are likely to enjoy this new feature. Some Netflix viewers have already seen the Skip Intro button on original Netflix series and on other television shows, when watching Netflix on their computers. Of course, you are still free watch the intro if you would like. The “Skip Intro” button is optional. I’m Caty Weaver.   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Would you be more likely to give a show a star rating or a thumbs up or down rating? Do you like the new matching feature on Netflix? Have you seen the Skip Intro Button? Would you use it? Do you hope Netflix makes the Skip Intro button available to everyone? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   binge-watch - v. watch multiple episodes of a show, typically by means of digital streaming. scale - n. a range of numbers that is used to show the size, strength, or quality of something ​ encourage - v. to make (something) more appealing or more likely to happen indicate - v. to show that (something) exists or is true documentary - n. a movie or television program that tells the facts about actual people and events percentage - n. a number or rate that is expressed as a certain number of parts of something divided into 100 parts match - v. to be suited to (someone or something) preference - n. a feeling of liking or wanting one person or thing more than another person or thing intro - n. a short introduction to something (such as a performance or a musical work) credits - n. (plural) a list of the names of the people who have worked on or performed in a movie, television program, etc. optional - adj. available as a choice but not required  

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Americans Shocked by Simple Mistake on TV Game Show

This is What’s Trending Today. An American television program called “Wheel of Fortune” made news on Wednesday. Wheel of Fortune is a game show. Each show usually has three players. They attempt to solve word puzzles by guessing letters, one at a time. The players use the letters to complete words, names or expressions. They win money if they call out the correct letters and solve the puzzle. Wheel of Fortune was first broadcast on American television in the 1970s. Many countries now have their own version of the TV show. In the program broadcast Tuesday night, a contestant named Kevin had a chance to solve the puzzle. He and the other players were given a clue: to think of the name of a famous play. All Kevin had to do was identify the last remaining letter correctly and he would win. Before his final spin of the wheel, the puzzle read: “A Streetcar N-A-_-E-D Desire.” This week, Wheel of Fortune is recognizing the southern United States. Most of the puzzles are related to something from the south. Many people thought Tuesday night’s puzzle was easy to solve. It was the name of a famous play set in the southern state of Louisiana: “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Tennessee Williams wrote the play in 1947. “A Streetcar Named Desire” won the Pulitzer Prize, an award given to American writers and publications. The play, and the film version, starred Marlon Brando. In 1951, the film won three Academy Awards. “A Streetcar Named Desire” is one of the most well-known American plays of the 20th century. But what letter did Kevin call out to solve the puzzle? He asked for the letter “k.” No one watching the show could believe his mistake. People in the TV production studio groaned. Pat Sajak is the show’s host.  All he could do, was say “nooo,” sadly. The next contestant, Lisa, easily solved the puzzle, and won $1,000. People on social media have been talking about the mistake since the show was broadcast. One person said the mistake made him want to go lie down. Another said “I feel so alive.”  Sajak told Lisa: “although you got the right answer, I’d rather see Kevin’s play.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think of Kevin’s mistake? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   contestant – n. a person who takes part in a contest guess – n. an attempt to give an opinion or answer about something when you do not know much about it or are not sure about it spin – v. to turn or cause someone or something to turn around repeatedly groan – v. to make a deep sound because of pain or some strong emotion (such as grief or disappointment) host – n. a radio or television presenter

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World’s First ‘Smart Jacket’ Ready to Launch

  A jacket that communicates with electronic devices is the latest invention in wearable technology. The “smart jacket” was developed by Google in partnership with the American clothing manufacturer Levi’s. The two companies recently demonstrated the jacket at the South by Southwest technology conference in Austin, Texas. The jacket is made from the same denim material that Levi’s is known for worldwide. But it also comes equipped with wireless connectivity. The technology uses fabric made with materials that can carry electronic signals. This lets people touch an area of the jacket near the wrist to perform wireless actions. The interactive jacket includes a small “smart tag” that attaches to the end of the sleeve. This connects with Bluetooth technology to communicate with other devices. If this tag is removed, the jacket can be washed just like other pieces of clothing. The jacket is expected to begin selling this autumn for $350. The new product demonstrates Google and Levi’s desire to create a modern version of denim. The material was first introduced in 1873. The jacket lets users easily control mobile devices while doing other activities, the project website says. Users can connect directly from the jacket to several different services, including phones, music or maps. Developers expect the jacket to be especially popular among bicycle riders. They may find the technology easier to use than a smartwatch. The project website says its team expects to see many other kinds of wearable technology in the future. It also urges designers to come up with their own ideas. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson 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   jacket – n. a piece of clothing that is worn on your upper body over another piece of clothing such as a shirt denim – n. strong cotton material, usually blue, used to make jeans and other clothes fabric – n. woven or knitted material used to make clothes and other things wrist – n. part of the body joining the hand to the arm tag – n. small piece of cloth, paper, metal, etc. that attaches to something else sleeve – n. the part of a jacket or shirt that covers the arm  

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Silicon Valley Company Offering Workers Money to Leave Bay Area

  A technology company based in California’s Silicon Valley is offering its workers money to leave the area. The startup company, Zapier, describes itself as “100 percent remote.” That means that employees have the choice to work from any location. The CEO and founder of Zapier announced last week the company is offering workers $10,000 to move away from the so-called Bay Area. That is the name for the area around San Francisco Bay. It is known for its good weather, beaches, nearby mountains and, of course, high-paying technology jobs. It is also one of the most costly places to live in the United States. A one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco costs, on average, $3,400 per month in rent. In nearby San Jose, California, a one-bedroom costs about $2,200 per month. That is according to ApartmentList.com’s March 2017 rent report. Even senior-level tech workers at Silicon Valley companies like AirBnb, Twitter and Uber use about half of their monthly earnings to pay rent, Quartz Media reported. The Bay Area is also facing an increasingly severe housing shortage. Zapier CEO Wade Foster describes the company’s offer as a “de-location package.” That is a play on words for “relocation package.” Some companies provide financial help to those who must move from a different city to begin a new job. Foster wrote that, “The recruiting industry has long offered relocation assistance to convince you to move somewhere you may not prefer. We think it's time to get assistance to take a new role you'll love and move to the exact place you want to be.” More workers are telecommuting Working remotely -- or telecommuting -- is becoming increasingly common in the United States. A recent Gallup study found that the number of Americans who telecommute at least four days a week rose from 24 percent to 31 percent between 2012 and 2016. More than half of all employees in computer, information systems and mathematics industries work remotely at least some of the time, the New York Times reported last month. Supporters of remote working say it decreases workers’ stress and saves both companies and workers money. Employees who work remotely say they are more productive, or get more done in a day. Foster says his company hopes to help workers and their families improve their “standard of living,” something that can be difficult to do in the costly Bay Area.  “The housing crunch and high cost of living simply price out many families,” Foster wrote. “Despite loving the area, the realities are many of us need to look elsewhere to create the life we want for our families.” I’m Anne Ball. Ashley Thompson wrote this article based on materials from Quartz, the New York Times, and Zapier.com. Hai Do was the editor.  ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   remote – adj. connected to a computer system from another place bay – n.  a large area of water that is part of an ocean or lake and partly surrounded by land recruit – v.  to find suitable people and get them to join a company, an organization, the armed forces, etc. telecommute – v. to work at home by using a computer connection to a company's main office productive – adj. doing or achieving a lot : working hard and getting good results standard of living – n. the amount of wealth, comfort, and possessions that a person or group has crunch – n. a situation in which there is not enough of something  

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Chinese Supermarkets Stop Selling Brazilian Meat After Food Safety Scandal

  Some of China's largest food suppliers have stopped selling Brazilian beef and poultry. The move comes following a scandal over Brazil’s meat processing industry.  Fears over Brazilian meat safety have grown since police accused inspectors of taking bribes to permit the sale of rotten and infected meats.  Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of beef. The announcement from the Chinese food suppliers comes days after China temporarily suspended Brazilian meat imports. Sun Art Retail operates 400 Chinese hypermarkets. A spokeswoman for Sun Art said its stores removed Brazilian beef on Monday from two of the country’s top meat exporters. Brazilian beef makes up less than 10 percent of Sun Art's beef supply, she said. Wal-Mart stores in China have also removed Brazilian meat products from its stores, the Reuters news agency reported. And Germany's Metro has withdrawn Brazilian chicken products from its Chinese stores, a manager said. Hong Kong, Japan, Canada and Mexico have also announced they were stopping major imports of some Brazilian meat. An economic embarrassment President Michel Temer said the sale of rotten meat was an “economic embarrassment for the country.”  The Brazilian government has so far barred the exports of meats from 21 plants under investigation. Brazilian officials on Tuesday tried to calm consumers. They said the recent investigation has found only isolated problems with rotten or infected meat. However, the reaction by Chinese food suppliers suggests that the investigation could have a big effect on the world's top meat exporter. Brazil's trade associations for meat producers warned that the scandal could affect employment and the economy. Meat exports make up 15 percent of total exports. Cattle-raising is also an important part of Brazil's culture.  Sensitive to scandal China has had its own share of food safety scandals in recent years. Food suppliers want to avoid any possible risks. Sun Art’s spokeswoman said it removed Brazilian beef from its shelves before the Chinese government formally commented on the issue. Brazil is the top supplier of beef to China. Importers must now wait several days before they try to find different meat suppliers. The meat will likely be more expensive than Brazil’s. Hong Kong was the second-biggest buyer of Brazilian meat last year. The Hong Kong supermarket chain PARKnSHOP said it had removed all Brazilian pork, beef and chicken from its stores’ shelves. PARKnSHOP said in a statement, "To cater for the needs of customers, we will increase the supply of meat and poultry products from other countries.” I’m Phil Dierking.   This story was originally written for Reuters.com by Dominique Patton.  Phil Dierking adapted this story for VOA Learning English using multiple media.   Ashley Thompson was the editor. Do you know where the meat you eat comes from?  Is it safe?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong bribe – n. something valuable, such as money, that is given in order to get someone to do something consumer – n. a person who buys goods and services hypermarket - n. a very large store with a wide range of goods and a large parking lot, typically situated outside a town. investigation – n. to try to find out the facts about something, such as a crime or an accident, in order to learn how it happened, who did it, etc. plant - n. a building or factory where something is made​ rotten - adj. having rotted or decayed and no longer able to be used, eaten, etc. (rot - v. to slowly decay or cause something to decay) ​ supplier – n. a person or company that supplies goods or services expensive - adj. costing a lot of money

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US Government Targets Local Agencies For Refusing to Hold Illegal Immigrants

  The Trump administration says some American law enforcement agencies have failed to help the federal government detain undocumented immigrants. The administration has released a list of local agencies it says did not cooperate with federal immigration agents. This is the first of what the United States Department of Homeland Security says will be weekly reports. The first report is for the week from January 28 through February 3. President Donald Trump asked for the reports as part of an “executive order” on illegal immigration. Trump signed the order on January 25, five days after he became president. (What is an executive order?) In the first weekly report, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it asked local government agencies for help 3,083 times. ICE wanted them to detain people who it believes could be expelled from the country for violating immigration law. The report said local police failed to act on 206 of those requests. About two-thirds of the cases are from Travis County, Texas. Travis County includes Austin, the state capital. The county’s new sheriff, Sally Hernandez, announced last month that she would not act on all federal requests to hold people in the local prison. Major Wes Priddy works for the Travis County’s Sheriff Department. He said the county decided to hold only people jailed for major crimes, such as murder, sexual assault, human trafficking or crimes against children or old people. Priddy said that Sheriff Hernandez believes people accused of a crime have a right to a trial and that victims have a right to see the people responsible “brought to justice.” That explanation does not satisfy Texas Governor Greg Abbott. He said what Sheriff Hernandez is doing “puts the lives of our citizens at risk.”   The other agencies listed as turning down the largest number of detention requests are Clark County in Nevada, New York’s Nassau County and Cook County in Illinois. In a statement, ICE said a refusal to act on its requests to hold prisoners hurts the agency’s “ability to protect the public safety.” But some local government officials questioned the accuracy of the new report. Nassau County officials told the New York Times that they act on requests from ICE to hold prisoners for deportation. New York City was listed as turning down four requests to hold detainees at its prisons. Nisha Agarwal is New York’s Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs. She said the city accepts requests from ICE to hold people who are “a serious threat to the safety of all New Yorkers, immigrant or otherwise.” But it does not hold people in jail for minor offenses or people who have not been given a trial, she said. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has said his city does not want immigrants to be afraid to report crimes for fear they might be subject to deportation. Montgomery County, Maryland is just outside of Washington D.C. It, too, is included on the ICE list for refusing a request to hold a person charged with assault. Montgomery County said it provides information to ICE about people on federal lists for immigration violations, but only after they are found guilty of a major crime and have completed their prison sentences. On Monday, County Executive Ike Leggett spoke about the policy and how it would affect the arrest of two people last weekend. They are accused of raping a student at a high school. Both are listed by the federal government as being in the United States illegally, Leggett said. He added that if the two men are found guilty of the rape charges, they will serve their sentences in Montgomery County. After the sentences are completed, the county will work with ICE “to see that the two are deported” back to their native countries, he said.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for Learning English. His report was based information from VOANews.com, the Department of Homeland Security and other sources. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   update - n. a report that includes the most recent information about something assault - n. an attack custody - n. to hold someone in prison or a similar place accuracy - n. information that contains no mistakes deportation - v. to remove people from a country otherwise - adj. in all ways except the one mentioned  

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Improve Your Knowledge of English Words by Testing Yourself

  Anyone studying a foreign language knows the importance of memorizing words and expressions in that language. The more you can remember, the bigger your vocabulary. Experts say English learners need to develop a large vocabulary to be successful on language tests and at English-speaking universities. This information comes from Alicia Biler and Ray Knight. They teach at the English Programs for Internationals at the University of South Carolina. In this Education report, we investigate why English learners need to develop a large vocabulary set. We will also tell you about ideas that teachers and scientists have for learners interested in expanding their understanding of words and expressions. I Can't Remember That Word! If you are like many people, you have probably faced a situation like this one in the VOA Learning English series Let's Learn English: ​Anna: They are playing a game. It’s a kind of handball. What do they call it? In the video, Anna Matteo has a hard time remembering a word.  Perhaps Anna has not heard the word enough times. Perhaps she has not thought about it in a very long time. Whatever the case, the point is this: it can be difficult to remember and use vocabulary words! Common challenge Ray Knight and Alicia Biler report that one of the most common problems English learners face is remembering and using vocabulary words. Biler says a student's success on proficiency tests and at an English-language university is related to the student’s vocabulary. "English has a wide vocabulary language. Unlike other languages that use more grammar or more word endings to express different meanings, English uses vocabulary to do that job… I think the suggested range for reading a newspaper is around 5,000 words but for students who want to be successful academically, let's say at a university level, they need to know somewhere around 10,000 words." Biler adds that English learners need to see or hear a word about 10 times before they feel at ease with the word and start using it. What can you do? If you need to learn a lot of unfamiliar words, and you have to remember those words, what can you do? How can you get vocabulary into your long-term memory? Mary Pyc is a cognitive scientist. She studies human learning. Pyc says one helpful method for long-term learning is to test yourself. The easiest way to do this, she explains, is to create your own flashcards. Each card is no bigger than your hand. The word in English can appear on one side of the card. The meaning in your native language can appear on the back.   By repeatedly using flashcards -- and slowly building up the number of cards – you can remember more words. Regular testing will also help you learn which words are difficult for you. The important point, Pyc says, is that you should not try cramming unfamiliar words if you want to have long-term learning. Cramming is a common method for studying. People try to memorize a lot of information in a hurry before a big test. This strategy can help students on some exams. "But," Pyc notes, "the caveat is that the day later you're not going to remember any of that information." She had other suggestions about how to improve the learning process, which we will discuss in future education stories. Try using free online tests Ray Knight says there are several websites that can help with testing. He suggests that sites such as Quizlet, Memrise, and English Central can be useful for English learners. Alicia Biler adds that English learners can be helped by taking free language tests, such as Nation's vocabulary test. While Nation’s test does not give you definitive answers about your English abilities, it can help show you where you need to improve, she says. Building a large vocabulary and getting all that information into long-term memory are not easy tasks. However, with effort, a little sacrifice, and training you can increase the number of vocabulary words that you know. In future Education Tips stories, we will explore other effective ways to practice. I’m John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story 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   vocabulary – n. a list or collection of words and expressions encounter – v. to deal with or experience something challenge – n. a difficult task or problem proficiency test – n. a test to see how well you can do something caveat – n. an explanation or warning that should be remembered when you are doing or thinking about something   Identifying information: Alisha Biler, Instructor / Reading / Vocabulary Coordinator, English Programs for Internationals, University of South Carolina Ray Knight, Instructor / Special Projects Coordinator, English Programs for Internationals, University of South Carolina Mary Pyc, Ph.D., Cognitive Scientist in Target Discovery at Dart NeuroScience. 

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