Lesson 51: A Good Habit

Summary Anna has a new goal - to run in a marathon. Her friend Ashley knows that training a little every day is a good idea. Will Anna be able to meet her goal? Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about gerunds and infinitives. ​Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how Americans pronounce the reduced form of "to" in sentences with infinitives. Conversation   Anna: D.C. is a popular city for marathons! A marathon is a long race. Many marathons raise money for charity, you know - good works. A marathon is a good fitness goal too. I want to challenge myself in a marathon and maybe win a medal! Hey, there’s Ashley. Ashley! Wait for me! It’s Anna! Anna: Ash … ley. Ash … ley. Ashley: Are you okay, Anna? Anna: I just ran … from over there. Ashley: Do you want to sit down, Anna?  Do you want some water? (Anna takes the bottle and tries to return it.) No thanks. You keep it. Anna: Thanks. I didn’t know you like to run. Ashley: I love running. In fact, this weekend, I will run in my first marathon. Anna: Me … too. Ashley: Really? You are running in a marathon? Anna: Yeah. In a couple of days. Why do you ask … like that? Ashley: What do you know about running in a marathon? Anna: I know that there’s a lot of running and sometimes you can win a medal.  Ashley: How long have you been training? Anna: I started today. I’ve been training for an hour … no, an hour and seven minutes! Ashley: Anna, training a little every day is a good habit to get into. Not all at once! Anna: Thanks for the advice, Ashley. But I’m running in a special race. Ashley: What marathon is it? Anna: I don’t remember the name. But the website said everyone gets a medal. Ashley: Okay, well, good luck, Anna! Anna: Thanks, Ashley. Good luck to you, too. Ashley: Thank you. Anna: Bye! Ashley: Bye, Anna! Anna: See you! (At the race: an announcer calls out race information) Anna: Hello. I am here to enter the race! Woman: But ma’am you can’t enter the race. Anna: What? How am I going to meet my goal? Woman: Ma’am, this race is for children. You can’t run with the children. Anna: Children? Children. That’s perfect. I just might win! Woman: No, ma’am. You really can’t run with the children. Anna: I’m sorry. Of course. I was only thinking of my goal. Woman: Well, you can help us with our goal, which is to raise money for sick children. Would you like to help us? Anna: I’ve just found my new goal. And I get to wear a medal. (to child who finished race) Good job! Writing In this lesson, Anna helps at a charity event. Have you ever helped with a charity? Tell us about what you did to help. Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet to practice using gerunds and infinitives to talk about sports.  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 Set a Goal. This strategy is what we do when we plan to do something. In learning a language, setting a goal mean we have a reason to learn. That helps us focus on our study and practice more often.  In this lesson, Anna has a goal of running in a marathon. Her friend Ashley has the same goal. But Ashley has been training so she can run the long race. She set a goal and is working hard to meet it. Anna's goal is not easy to meet because she has not been training, or preparing to run well. She learns that she can have a new goal in this week's lesson. That goal is something she will be able to meet. What is your goal for learning English? Write to us about the goals you have and how you are working to meet them 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 challenge - v.  to test the ability, skill, or strength of (someone or something) charity - n.  a organization that helps people in need fitness - n.  the condition of being physically fit and healthy goal - n.  something that you are trying to do or achieve habit - n.  something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way marathon - n. a running race that is about 26 miles (42 kilometers) long medal - n.  a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement race - n.  a competition between people, animals or vehicles to see which one is fastest special - adj. different from what is normal or usual train - v.  to try to make yourself stronger, faster, or better at doing something before competing in an event or competition ______________________________________________________________ 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 gerunds and infinitives to talk about sports. 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: Review of Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous; Gerunds; Infinitives (to + verb) Topics: Habits; Discussing things you dislike doing; Expressing appreciation Learning Strategy: Set a Goal Speaking and Pronunciation: Reduced "to" in infinitives _______________________________________________________________ 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 System to Measure 'Value' of College Education

Each year, millions of students complete their study programs at the colleges and universities across the United States. The new graduates receive an official piece of paper from their schools. This paper is known as their degree. It states what kind of program the student completed and what field they studied. But do all degrees have the same value? And do students from all schools studying the same program do the same amount of work? Do they graduate with the same knowledge and ability? These are all questions that students, parents, politicians and employers may be asking. These are hard questions to answer. But some are trying to make it easier. The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) has developed a system of measuring student learning. The system might change how educational performance is measured. It is called the Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education, or VALUE. Terrel Rhodes is a vice president for the AAC&U. The organization studies all parts of the American higher education system. Rhodes says that, in the past, people generally believed a college degree meant that a person had a certain amount of knowledge and understanding.         “Historically, there was little question about the quality of the [knowledge] that the students were receiving through their areas of study,” Rhodes said. But as the economy became more complex, he continued, “More attention was being paid to more scientific approaches in the measurement of learning.” In 2006, the U.S. Department of Education created a report on the American higher education system. The report included changes the system needed to make. It was called “the Spellings Commission,” named for the Secretary of Education at the time, Margaret Spellings. The report said that colleges and universities needed to make it more clear what graduates actually knew and could do beyond what their degrees said. The researchers suggested creating several measuring systems, including different standardized tests. This would make it easier to show how well individual schools educated their students. But Rhodes says there are several problems with this method. For example, a test of multiple-choice questions about a subject can measure how much a student knows about that field. But it does not show how well a student can connect that information to the real world. And, Rhodes says, it fails to show how well a student can think about problems in different ways. Also, most of the test results are not used to improve student learning. Their main purpose is to inform government officials who provide funding to schools, as well as accrediting agencies. In addition, the test results might not be correct, Rhodes says. Schools often give students the test near the end of the study programs. Students do not need to do well on these tests to graduate. And schools rarely share the results with students or professors. So students have little reason to try to do their best. “It [isn’t] connected to getting a job. It isn’t connected to completing a course or getting a grade. And so we said there needs to be an alternative to that,” Rhodes said. So, in 2008, the Association of American Colleges and Universities began working with professors across the country to create the VALUE system. The system was meant to measure the skills students would need in the professional world. These skills include critical thinking, written communication and problem solving.   The creators of the VALUE system wanted to explore different parts of these skills. They did not want to not simply ask if a student knew the right answer to a given question. To measure critical thinking, for example, the VALUE system examines how well students can explain issues. It also looks at how well students use evidence to explain their thinking. The professors created a rubric -- or set of instructions -- for each part of each skill. The rubric measures from one to four. One represents the most basic ability level a college student should have in that skill; four represents the highest ability level. Schools use the rubric to examine projects and other assignments that students are working on. They do this to see how much certain skills are progressing. Since 2015, more than 42,000 representatives from more than 4,200 educational organizations have downloaded the VALUE rubrics from the internet. Rhodes says the AAC&U hopes schools share information from these assessments with professors and students. Students would then see how well their own skills are improving. And professors could make changes to their classes. Natasha Jankowski is director of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment. The organization examines tests and assessment in all levels of education. She says the VALUE system is a good way for schools to measure the success of their students.           In the past, many schools only gave standardized tests because it was expected of them. But the VALUE system clearly explains what a graduate of a given school has the ability to do, she says. “Now our students are in a position to talk about their education differently … with employers,” she said. “Instead of referring to classes that they took, they can talk about the knowledge and skills that they have in ways that they can demonstrate.” I’m Phil Dierking.   Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. How do colleges and universities in your country measure student learning? How can schools do better to explain to employers what their students can do? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   accrediting - v. saying that something is good enough to be gien credit alternative - adj. offering or expressing a choice approach - v.  to begin to deal with or think about ​ assessment - n. the act of assessing something​ certain - adj.  used to refer to a quality that is noticed but that is difficult to explain or describe​ degree - n. an official document and title that is given to someone who has successfully completed a series of classes at a college or university​ grade - n. a number or letter that indicates how a student performed in a class or on a test​ graduate - n. a person who has earned a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university​ rubric - n. an explanation or a set of instructions at the beginning of a book, a test, etc.​ standardized - v.  to change things so that they are similar and consistent and agree with rules about what is proper and acceptable​

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Swedish Company is Putting Microchips in Workers

An unusual, new program is becoming the norm at a technology company in Sweden. The company, called Epicenter, offers to place a microchip in its workers. It asks them for permission to inject the electronic device in the employee’s body. Each microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. It works like a ‘swipe card’ an employee might use to enter an office building. It can open doors, operate printers, and even buy food, all with just a wave of the hand. The injections have become very popular. Epicenter even has parties for its workers who want to get microchips implanted. "The biggest benefit, I think, is convenience," said Patrick Mesterton, Chief Executive Officer of Epicenter. "It basically replaces a lot of things you have, other communication devices, whether it be credit cards or keys," he adds. The technology itself is not new. Some pet owners use virtual collars with microchips on dogs or other animals. Companies use microchips to follow the movement of products to buyers. Yet this technology has never before been used to follow so many people. Epicenter and a handful of other businesses are the first to use chip implants in such a large way. Convenient, but is it safe? The chip implants do raise concerns about security and privacy. They cause no harm to the employees, but the information the chips provide says a lot about their activities. They can show when and how often an employee comes to work, or what they buy. Company swipe cards or smartphones provide the same information, but the employee can easily separate themselves from that technology. This is not the case for someone with an implanted chip. "Of course, putting things into your body is quite a big step to do and it was even for me at first," said Mesterton. In the beginning, he also had concerns. "But then on the other hand, I mean, people have been implanting things into their body, like pacemakers and stuff to control your heart," he said. "That's a way, way more serious thing than having a small chip that can actually communicate with devices." Epicenter began implanting microchips in its workers in January 2015. Now, about 150 workers have the chip. Another company, based in Belgium, also offers such implants to its employees. There are even several cases around the world where individuals have tried the technology on their own. The small implants use technology called Near Field Communication. It is the same technology that’s used in contact-less credit cards or payments from a mobile device. When activated by a reader, a small amount of data moves between the two devices through electromagnetic waves. The implants are considered "passive," which means they contain information that other devices can read, but cannot read information themselves. Microbiologist Ben Libberton warns that someone knowledgeable about computers could gain large amounts of information from implanted microchips. These concerns will grow as the microchips become more developed. "The data that you could possibly get from a chip that is embedded in your body is a lot different from the data that you can get from a smartphone," he says. “You could get data about your health, you could get data about your whereabouts, how often you're working, how long you're working, if you're taking toilet breaks and things like that." Libberton said that if such information is collected, the big question is what happens to it, who uses it, and for what purpose? For now, Epicenter's employees do not seem too concerned. "People ask me; 'Are you chipped?' and I say; 'Yes, why not,'" said Fredric Kaijser, the 47-year-old chief experience officer at Epicenter. "And they all get excited about privacy issues and what that means and so forth. And for me it's just a matter of I like to try new things and just see it as more of an enabler and what that would bring into the future." The implants have become so popular that Epicenter workers hold monthly events where workers can be implanted with the chips for free. The chips are injected by Jowan Osterlund, who works for Biohax Sweden. The process lasts only a few seconds, and more often than not there is no shouting. "The next step for electronics is to move into the body," he says. I’m Phil Dierking.   Matti Huuhtanen reported this story for the Associated Press. Phil Dierking adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Would you let your company implant a chip into your body?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   convenience – n. a quality or situation that makes something easy or useful for someone by reducing the amount of work or time required to do something​ electromagnetic – adj. a magnetic field that is produced by a current of electricity​ implant – n. to place something in a person's body by means of surgery​ norm – n. standards of proper or acceptable behavior​ swipe – v. to pass something like a credit card, ATM card, etc. through a machine that reads information from it​ benefit – n. a good or helpful result or effect​ key – n. a device that is used to open a lock or start an automobile​ mobile – n. able to move from one place to another​

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World’s 5th Tallest Building Opens in South Korea

  The fifth-tallest building in the world, the Lotte World Tower, has opened in Seoul, South Korea. The event was celebrated in a ceremony with a fireworks display that lit up the building and the sky. The 123-story glass and steel structure is South Korea’s tallest building. It rises 555 meters above the Seoul skyline. The tower features the world’s highest floor made of glass. From this observation area, visitors can look straight down to the busy traffic about one-half kilometer below.   The building also has the highest swimming pool in the world, as well as the world’s fastest elevator. The elevator can reportedly take passengers to the top of the building in just one minute. The Lotte World Tower houses offices, personal residences and a seven-star hotel. The top 10 floors are used for public events and entertainment, including the observation deck and a rooftop restaurant. Attached is a large complex with a shopping mall, aquarium, movie theater, music hall and amusement park. The launch came during a troubled time for the Lotte Group, which is known for its international chain of supermarkets. The group’s chairman and some of his family members recently went on trial for fraud and other charges. Lotte has also faced problems in China, where the government reportedly retaliated against it for providing land in South Korea for the U.S.-built THAAD anti-missile system. The building was designed by American architecture company Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF). It cost about $3.6 billion to build. The company said the design combines “a modern aesthetic with forms inspired by the historic Korean arts of ceramics, porcelain and calligraphy.” KPF also designed the building that used to be South Korea’s tallest building - Northeast Asia Trade Tower – which opened in the city of Incheon in 2014. Below is a list of the top 10 tallest buildings in the world. I’m Bryan Lynn.​ 1. Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 828 meters. 2. Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China, 632 meters. 3. Makkah Royal Clock Tower, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 601 meters. 4. Ping An Finance Center, Shenzhen, China, 599 meters. 5. Lotte World Tower, Seoul, South Korea, 555 meters. 6. One World Trade Center, New York City, 541 meters. 7. CTF Finance Center, Guangzhou, China, 530 meters. 8. Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan, 508 meters. 9. Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China, 492 meters. 10. International Commerce Center, Hong Kong, China, 484 meters.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do 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   elevator – n. machine that carries people up and down in buildings aquarium – n. building where people can see fish and other animals amusement park – n. place for entertainment that can include games and rides retaliate – v. do something bad to a person or thing that has hurt you aesthetic – adj. relating to beauty and the way something looks calligraphy – n. the art of making beautiful handwriting  

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Haitians Seek Shelter in Mountain Caves Six Months after Hurricane Matthew

  Roland Despeines looks for shelter inside a mountain cave when heavy rains fall in southwestern Haiti. Despeines and many other Haitians have been taking shelter from storms in the cave since October 4. On that day, Hurricane Matthew destroyed their homes and changed their lives. Food for the Poor is an aid group in the American state of Florida. Last month, its workers found that 240 people were spending nights in two caves. The workers were searching for land to plant food crops, the aid group said. It called the situation a humanitarian crisis. The group said the cave dwellers included 84 women and 62 children. "Whenever the rain is about to fall, all of us come to stay here," Roland Despeines said. A VOA reporter visited the cave in late March and saw kerosene lamps and sheets made from tree leaves.     Jovenel Moïse is Haiti’s new president. He and Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant also visited the caves at the end of March. They have promised to provide food and shelter. The United Nations has reported that at least 70 percent of crops were destroyed in one area – the department of Grand’Anse. "The children are crying all the time because they are hungry," Despeines said. " … When a vehicle comes to the area, the people run after it," hoping for food, he added. "If a car brings a bag of rice, we cook it right away, and it isn't enough to feed all of us." A young woman named Bernie Josee also spoke about the problem of hunger. "Sometimes, visitors come to this area and they bring us food,” she said. “But this week, we have nothing to eat."   Some people were so hungry that they were eating poisonous plants, The Miami Herald recently reported. Government workers and aid groups have provided food such as rice and beans to the Haitians. A low-cost government-operated restaurant is planned. And, Moïse has ordered plans to build new homes. The United States Agency for International Development provided emergency supplies such as plastic coverings after Hurricane Matthew hit. Also, it partnered with a local organization to pay workers for home repairs. After the hurricane, the U.N. Development Program asked for $138 million in aid for Haiti. The agency has made two-thirds of its financial goal.  I’m Alice Bryant.   VOA's Creole Service reported on this story. Alice Bryant adapted the 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   cave - n. a large hole that was formed by natural processes in the side of a cliff or hill or under the ground kerosene - n. a type of oil that is burned as a fuel — often used before another noun sheet - n. a large piece of cloth that is used to cover something dweller - n. someone who lives or stays in a special or particular place hurricane - n. an extremely powerful and destructive rainstorm with very strong winds

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Show Your Team Spirit!

  From VOA Learning English, this is Words and Their Stories! On this program, we talk about origins and usage of common expressions in American English. Today we explore the word “spirit.” Spirit is one of those words that has many different definitions. We will first talk about a simple definition with an interesting word origin. Spirits are strong alcoholic drinks, such as vodka, gin, tequila and rum. Language experts say this expression first appeared in Europe hundreds of years ago. Back then, people explained the effects of strong alcohol as the work of an evil spirit -- the devil. Speaking of evil spirits, there are more complicated definitions of the word “spirit” that involve religion and the after-life.   Spirit is part of a human that is not part of the physical body. Our spirit is connected to our thoughts and emotions. Meriam Webster’s online dictionary defines it as “the force within a person that is believed to give the body life, energy, and power.” So, religious or spiritual people may believe that the spirit remains alive after death. In this way, “spirit” is similar to the word “ghost.” However, in a non-religious way, the human “spirit” is simply a non-physical energy in each person that makes us who we are. Again, Meriam Webster’s online dictionary calls it the “inner quality or nature of a person.” So, even people who don’t believe in life-after-death, can believe in this type of spirit. Besides in religious ceremonies, how do we use this type of spirit in conversation? Well, if you can’t physically be somewhere, you can still be there in spirit. Let’s say you have been invited to a friend’s birthday party, but are unable to go. You tell your friend, “I’m so sorry I’ll miss the party. But I’ll be there in spirit.” This means that while you cannot go, you will still be thinking of that person as they celebrate. Spirit can also mean your outlook on life. So, if you are happy about life, you can say you are in high spirits. And if you’re not, you can say you are in low spirits. If you are in low spirits, it’s important to do things to lift your spirit. For many people, listening to music, taking a long walk or hanging out with friends are great spirit-lifters! Sometimes, though, we simply don’t feel like doing something. So, we may use tricks to get into the spirit. If I must go to a social event but don’t want to, I may play music while I'm getting ready to get into the spirit. And if I finally agree to join an activity or do something that I don’t want to do, someone may say to me, “That’s the spirit!” Now, the expression if the spirit moves you is a bit tricky. We use it in a situation where I say I will do something when I want to do it -- not when others think I should. Basically, it’s up to me. For example, let’s say another person invites you to a birthday party (because you’re a very popular person). The host asks you to bring a story about her and share it with everyone if the spirit moves you. She means that you can share a story if you really want to but you don’t have to. Maybe the spirit will never move you and you share nothing. Spirit can also mean a feeling of belonging to a group, like a sports team or a school. If a student is active at school and sets a good example for others, we say they show great school spirit. Another way to say this is with a French expression: esprit de corps. This means belonging to a group and having feelings of intense energy and loyalty for members of that group. ”Esprit de corps” is a fancy way of saying team spirit. “Team spirit” is much more common and you can use it in any situation, whether formal or informal, fancy or not fancy. “Spirit” can also mean to do something with high energy levels. Here are two examples: "He performed the piano piece with spirit." "She gave a spirited legal defense in the courtroom." There are two very common “spirit” expressions that describe people. Free spirits think and act freely. They do not follow the usual rules of society. Free spirits do their own thing. Free spirit or not, most people like being with kindred spirits. A kindred spirit is someone who understands and agrees with you on a very deep level. Kindred spirits share the same beliefs, dreams, goals and thoughts. Now let’s hear some of these examples in a short story. Veronica is a talented musician. She is also a free spirit. She has never owned a credit card, a car or a house. And she doesn’t have a steady job. She often travels around the world singing at festivals and teaching English on the side. To save money, Veronica lives in a group house with other artists. She really likes living with such kindred spirits. They all understand that each artist needs time alone and time to practice their art. However, artistic types can also be emotional – happy one minute, angry or sad the next. Veronica isn’t like that. She is usually in high spirits. And when her housemates are in low spirits, she does something to lift their spirits. A guaranteed spirit-lifter is a party with good food, lively music and interesting conversation. If the spirit moves them, her housemates can join in the fun. And they always do! Even the grumpiest housemate, Felton, gets into the spirit and has fun by the end of the night! Sometimes he even plays the piano for people. That’s the spirit, Felton! And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. On VOA’s Learning English website, you can find many kindred spirits: other people who want to learn English. I’m Anna Matteo. "When I die and they lay me to rest Gonna go to the place that's the best When I lay me down to die Goin' up to the spirit in the sky ..." How do you use the word “spirit” in your language? Let us know in the Comments Section. Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver and George Grow edited the story. The song at the end is "Spirit in the Sky," sung by Norman Greenbaum. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story spiritual – adj. of or relating to a person's spirit ghost – n. the soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as appearing to living people fancy – adj. not plain or ordinary on the side – phrase in addition to one's regular job or as a subsidiary source of income grumpy – adj. easily annoyed or angered : having a bad temper or complaining often

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English in a Minute: Breathing Room

We all need to breathe to live. And a room is a space in a house or building. But, what do you think this expression means? Watch this week's EIM to learn how to use "breathing room" in a conversation!

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US Allies Support Airstrikes on Syrian Military Targets

  American allies have praised the United States for launching airstrikes on Syrian military targets to answer a chemical weapons attack in Syria. U.S. Navy destroyers fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles early Friday at an air base in western Syria. The airstrikes came days after a chemical weapons attack in a rebel-held town in the Syrian province of Idlib. The attack killed about 100 civilians, including many children. Western officials have accused forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of using the chemical weapons. The Syrian government blames rebel fighters.   The raid [on Friday] was the first time U.S. forces have directly attacked Syrian government positions. U.S. officials said the air base targeted was most likely the one used to launch the chemical attack. U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the “horrible” chemical attack earlier this week. He said it had crossed “many, many lines” and changed his mind about Assad and Syria. On Thursday, Trump talked about the U.S. airstrikes from Florida, where he has been meeting with China’s president. Trump said he ordered the strikes to answer attacks against innocent civilians with “a deadly nerve agent.”   "It is in the vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons." Trump added that all “civilized nations” should join the United States "in seeking an end to the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria." Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the goal of the U.S. military action was to “make clear that these chemical weapons continue to be a violation of international norms.” Many American allies voiced support for the airstrikes. They included Germany, France, Britain, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and others. European Union Council President Donald Tusk said on Twitter, the “U.S. strikes show needed resolve against barbaric chemical attacks.”  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the airstrikes, a “concrete step against the Assad regime's war crimes using chemical and conventional weapons.” The airstrikes received support from a number of U.S. congressional leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. However, some lawmakers expressed concern that Trump did not first seek Congressional approval before ordering the military action. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Trump must officially seek congressional approval if he “intends to escalate the U.S. military’s involvement in Syria.” She also warned against the U.S. getting involved in “another open-ended war in the Middle East.” The Syrian government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons against civilians during the country’s six-year civil war. On Friday, Assad’s office described the U.S. action as, ”reckless,” “irresponsible,” and not based on true facts. Syria’s Foreign Ministry said the airstrikes were designed to “weaken the strength of the Syrian army in confronting terrorist groups.” Both Russia and Iran have been strong supporters of Assad’s government and aided his forces in the conflict against rebel fighters.   In Russia, the government condemned the U.S. military action as “aggression against a sovereign state.” A spokesman for President Vladimir Putin said the attack would result in "major damage on U.S.-Russia ties." The U.S. military said the Russian government was warned of the airstrikes before the raid. Russia has denied any part in the chemical weapons attack. A Russian spokesman blamed the incident on Syrian warplanes striking a supply of chemical weapons belonging to rebel forces. U.S. military officials said they are investigating possible Russian involvement. The officials said drone aircraft belonging to either to Russia or Syria was seen flying over the area where the chemical attack took place soon after it happened. Iran also condemned the U.S. action. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said such “unilateral action is dangerous, destructive and violates the principles of international law.” Iran's official news agency for parliament said “Russia and Iran won't be quiet against such acts which violate interests of the region.” The American ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said the U.S. government holds Syria responsible for the chemical attack. However, she told the Security Council on Friday that Russia and Iran both bear a "heavy responsibility" for supporting and protecting Assad. Haley noted that Russia is supposed to be a guarantor that all chemical weapons were removed from Syria under a 2013 agreement. She added that further action against Syria is possible. “The United States took a very measured step last night. We are prepared to do more, but we hope that will not be necessary.” The airstrikes came after conflicting statements from the Trump administration on Syria. Just last week, U.S. officials said removing Assad from power was not a “priority.” During a recent visit to Turkey, Secretary Tillerson said he thought the future of Assad would "be decided by the Syrian people.” But speaking to reporters Thursday, Tillerson left the door open for U.S. support for new leadership in Syria. He said he thinks this policy should focus on a political solution involving international partners to get Assad to leave power.   “Assad’s role in the future is uncertain, clearly, and with the acts that he has taken, it would seem that there would be no role for him to govern the Syrian people.” Several members of Congress have said the focus should now move to additional policy steps in Syria. One proposal is for the United States to act quickly to set up “safe zones” and take steps to deal with the humanitarian crisis. Another, proposed by Senator Marco Rubio, is for the U.S. to cooperate with Sunni Arab governments to discuss an "alternative" government in Syria. Rubio told the "Today Show" that Trump should seek the help of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey – all of which supported the U.S. airstrikes. He said these countries can be important in getting Assad to step down and helping create a new government. I'm Alice Bryant.  And I'm Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press and other sources. 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   deter – v. prevent from happening slaughter – v. to kill a lot of people in a violent way conventional - adj. of a kind that has been around for a long time and is considered to be usual or typical​ escalate - v. to become worse or to make (something) worse or more severe​ concrete – adj. relating to something real, rather than general ideas or qualities reckless – adj. doing something dangerous or carelessly unilateral – adj. involving only one group or country alternative – adj. a different choice or available option  

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'Working Out' on Words to the Wise

  Editor's Note: April 7 is World Health Day! To celebrate, we are talking about exercise on this week's Words to the Wise. Today’s ‘Words to the Wise’ may leave us a little tired, because our topic is exercise. I’m Ashley Thompson. And here with me in studio Learning English reporter John Russell. Hi Ashley. You're right. We're going to get a workout today thanks to Learning English fan Raphael Duarte. He posted a suggestion for us our website. He wrote: I would like you guys to talk about working out at the gym, terms, routines or stuff related to it.” John, I have heard that you work out a lot. Do you belong to a gym? First, let’s explain that word -- gym. Gym is the short form of the word gymnasium, a room or building with space and equipment for indoor sports activities. Most American schools have gymnasiums where students can exercise. Right, and there are also private gyms. People pay money to belong to them. Private gyms might include trainers who can help you learn how to best use the gym’s equipment – like weights, treadmills and rowing machines. So, do you belong to one of those gyms? I belong to a rock climbing gym. It has wide, tall walls. You literally climb the walls – in a safe way, of course. It is a fun way to get some exercise. And it is a good way to get in shape.     So, when Americans use “shape” this way, it is related to fitness, or just overall health. If someone has not exercised much in a long time, they might describe themselves as “out of shape.” Then when they start working out again, they might say they are “getting back in shape.” Right. So, before I start rock climbing, I make sure to “warm up.” That means to prepare yourself for a difficult or intense activity by stretching. "Work out” and “warm up” are phrasal verbs, everyone’s favorite! That’s true. A phrasal verb is a group of words that act as a verb. It is made up of a verb as well as a preposition, adverb or both. Hmm, there are a lot of phrasal verbs in the world of exercise, actually. Here is another one: some people exercise because they want to “bulk up.” This is another way of saying you want to grow your muscles, or become more muscular and strong.      People who are trying to bulk up might do a lot of reps on the weights machines.  Reps…that sounds like it might be short for something! Right! “Reps” is short for “repetition.” As you might be able to guess, this means the act of repeating the same exercise a number of times. Not everyone works out just to bulk up, of course. Some people might have a goal of “slimming down,” yet another phrasal verb.  “Slim” means to make smaller, or thinner. So to “slim down” means to lose weight. People who hope to “slim down” might run or swim as part of their workout routine.     “Routine” is actually one of the words that our friend Raphael asked us about. “Routine” in this case just means a usual way of doing things, in a set order. You might have a morning routine, a study routine, or, of course, a workout routine. So, if you work out regularly, describe your workout routine to us in the comments section! I can think of another phrasal verb that relates to what you should do after you work out. I think I know it – “cool down!” Exactly. To "cool down" means to do easy exercises after doing an intense exercise. This lets your heart rate drop slowly. It is always smart to cool down. Well, I think this episode of Words to the Wise is cooling down, too. Thanks everyone for listening, and as always, let us know if you have ideas for us for our next episode of Words to the Wise. Leave us a comment, and let us know where you are from.  I’m Ashley Thompson. And I’m John Russell.  ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   workout - n. a period of physical exercise that you do in order to improve your fitness, ability, or performance fitness - n. the condition of being physically fit and healthy. (fit - adj. physically healthy and strong​) bulk - v. to make (something) bigger or thicker​ weights - n. heavy objects that are lifted during exercising treadmill - n. an exercise machine which has a large belt that moves around while a person walks or runs on it rowing machine - n. an exercise machine that you use by moving your body as if you are rowing a boat 

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'Paul Bunyan,' An American Folk Tale

​Today we tell a traditional American story called a “tall tale.” A tall tale is a story about a person who is larger than life. The descriptions in the story are exaggerated – much greater than in real life. This makes the story funny. Long ago, the people who settled in undeveloped areas in America first told tall tales.  After a hard day’s work, people gathered to tell each other funny stories. Each group of workers had its own tall tale hero. Paul Bunyan was a hero of North America’s lumberjacks, the workers who cut down trees.  He was known for his strength, speed and skill.  Tradition says he cleared forests from the northeastern United States to the Pacific Ocean. Some people say Paul Bunyan was the creation of storytellers from the middle western Great Lakes area of the United States.  Other people say the stories about him came from French Canada. Early in the twentieth century, a writer prepared a collection of Paul Bunyan stories.  They were included in a publication from the Red River Lumber Company in Minnesota.  It is not known if the stories helped the company’s sales, but they became extremely popular. Here is Shep O’Neal with our story about Paul Bunyan. Many years ago, Paul Bunyan was born in the northeastern American state of Maine. His mother and father were shocked when they first saw the boy. Paul was so large at birth that five large birds had to carry him to his parents. When the boy was only a few weeks old, he weighed more than 45 kilograms. As a child, Paul was always hungry. His parents needed 10 cows to supply milk for his meals. Before long, he ate 50 eggs and 10 containers of potatoes every day. ​ Young Paul grew so big that his parents did not know what to do with him.  Once, Paul rolled over so much in his sleep that he caused an earthquake. This angered people in the town where his parents lived. So, the government told his mother and father they would have to move him somewhere else. Paul’s father built a wooden cradle -- a traditional bed for a baby. His parents put the cradle in waters along the coast of Maine. However, every time Paul rolled over, huge waves covered all the coastal towns. So his parents brought their son back on land. They took him into the woods. This is where he grew up. As a boy, Paul helped his father cut down trees. Paul had the strength of many men. He also was extremely fast. He could turn off a light and then jump into his bed before the room got dark. Maine is very cold for much of the year. One day, it started to snow. The snow covered Paul’s home and a nearby forest. However, this snow was very unusual. It was blue. The blue snow kept falling until the forest was covered. Paul put on his snowshoes and went out to see the unusual sight.  As he walked, Paul discovered an animal stuck in the snow. It was a baby ox. Paul decided to take the ox home with him. He put the animal near the fireplace.  After the ox got warmer, his hair remained blue. Paul decided to keep the blue ox and named him Babe. Babe grew very quickly. One night, Paul left him in a small building with the other animals. The next morning, the barn was gone and so was Babe. Paul searched everywhere for the animal. He found Babe calmly eating grass in a valley, with the barn still on top of his back. Babe followed Paul and grew larger every day.  Every time Paul looked, Babe seemed to grow taller. In those days, much of North America was filled with thick, green forests. Paul Bunyan could clear large wooded areas with a single stroke of his large, sharp axe. Paul taught Babe to help with his work. Babe was very useful. For example, Paul had trouble removing trees along a road that was not straight. He decided to tie one end of the road to what remained of a tree in the ground. Paul tied the other end to Babe. Babe dug his feet in the ground and pulled with all his strength until the road became straight. In time, Paul and Babe the Blue Ox left Maine, and moved west to look for work in other forests. Along the way, Paul dug out the Great Lakes to provide drinking water for Babe. They settled in a camp near the Onion River in the state of Minnesota. Paul decided to get other lumberjacks to help with the work. His work crew became known as the Seven Axemen. Each man was more than 2 meters tall and weighed more than 160 kilograms.  All of the Axemen were named Elmer.  That way, they all came running whenever Paul called them. The man who cooked for the group was named Sourdough Sam. He made everything -- except coffee -- from sourdough, a substance used in making sourdough bread. Every Sunday, Paul and his crew ate hot cakes.  Each hot cake was so large that it took five men to eat one. Paul usually had 10 or more hot cakes, depending on how hungry he was. The table where the men ate was so long that a server usually drove to one end of the table and stayed the night. The server drove back in the morning, with a fresh load of food. Paul needed someone to help with the camp’s finances. He gave the job to a man named Johnny Inkslinger. Johnny kept records of everything, including wages and the cost of feeding Babe. He sometimes used nine containers of writing fluid a day to keep such detailed records. The camp also was home to Sport, the Reversible Dog. One of the workers accidentally cut Sport in two. The man hurried to put the dog back together, but made a mistake. He bent the animal’s back the wrong way. However, that was not a problem for Sport. He learned to run on his front legs until he was tired.  Then, he turned the other way and ran on his back legs. Big mosquitoes were a problem at the camp. The men attacked the insects with their axes and long sticks. Before long, the men put barriers around their living space. Then, Paul ordered them to get big bees to destroy the mosquitoes. But the bees married the mosquitoes, and the problem got worse.  They began to produce young insects. One day, the insects’ love of sweets caused them to attack a ship that was bringing sugar to the camp. At last, the mosquitoes and bees were defeated. They ate so much sugar they could not move. Paul always gave Babe the Blue Ox a 35-kilogram piece of sugar when he was good. But sometimes Babe liked to play tricks. At night, Babe would make noises and hit the ground with his feet. The men at the camp would run out of the buildings where they slept, thinking it was an earthquake. When winter came, Babe had trouble finding enough food to eat. Snow covered everything.  Ole the Blacksmith solved the problem. He made huge green sunglasses for Babe. When Babe wore the sunglasses, he thought the snow was grass. Before long, Babe was strong and healthy again. One year, Paul’s camp was especially cold.  It was so cold that the men let their facial hair grow very long. When the men spoke, their words froze in the air. Everything they said remained frozen all winter long, and did not melt until spring.  Paul Bunyan and Babe left their mark on many areas. Some people say they were responsible for creating Puget Sound in the western state of Washington.  Others say Paul Bunyan and Babe cleared the trees from the states of North Dakota and South Dakota. They prepared this area for farming. Babe the Blue Ox died in South Dakota. One story says he ate too many hot cakes. Paul buried his old friend there. Today, the burial place is known as the Black Hills. Whatever happened to Paul Bunyan?  There are lots of stories. Some people say he was last seen in Alaska, or even the Arctic Circle. Another tradition says he still returns to Minnesota every summer. It says Paul moves in and out of the woods, so few people ever know that he is there.   You have just heard the story of Paul Bunyan. It was adapted by George Grow. Your narrator was Shep O’Neal.  Now it’s your turn. Tell us in the comments section about a tall tale from your culture. Does the hero of the story have unusual size or strength? Visit our Facebook page, too, for more stories.  ​________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   reversible - adj. having two sides that can be used blacksmith - n. a person who makes or repairs things made of iron (such as horseshoes)

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Freedom House: Democracy Ratings Drop in Many Countries

The United States-based group Freedom House says democracy dropped in more than half of the countries it studied last year. Freedom House rated the health of democracy in 29 countries in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Central Asia. All 29 were once under Communist Party rule. The findings are part of a new report called “Nations in Transit 2017.” This is the second-largest drop in democracy ratings in the 22-years Freedom House has produced the report. The group blames the drop on the rise of populism. It noted that leaders in some countries are openly attacking democracy. Concerns about Hungary and Poland The report says Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, now has the lowest rating of any country in Central Europe. Nate Schenkkan works for Freedom House in New York. He spoke to VOA on Skype. “When we talk about populism in Central Europe, Orbán is the first name. He has created a kind of model for member states, even of the European Union, to reject democracy.” There were pro-democracy protests in Hungary last Sunday. Two days later, Hungary’s government press office reacted to the Freedom House report. It said “freedom of the press fully prevails in Hungary. Every political opinion can find room and be published in the Hungarian press.” And it said, “Hungarian citizens can exercise their democratic rights in free elections.” The report also criticized the leader of Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski. It said that populist leaders in both Poland and Hungary had attacked constitutional courts and sought to weaken the system of checks and balances. The Freedom House said the “spectacular breakdown of democracy in these countries should serve as a warning about the fragility of the institutions that are necessary for liberal democracy." Health of democracy in Russia Russia had one of the report’s lowest ratings. Yet Freedom House says a highly developed civil society continues to exist there, along with some independent media. But a former Russian central bank official disagrees. Sergey Aleksashenko now works at the Brookings Institution, in Washington, D.C. He spoke to VOA on Skype. “We say that there was some freedom of Internet. But if you move that 80 percent of (the) Russian population that receives news from television, and there is no, any television news station that is not controlled by the government, then OK, you may argue there is some freedom. Of course, there is. But it’s not the freedom, it’s not the freedom of information and in my personal view, it’s a serious misjudgment of what’s going on in Russia.”  Democracy in other areas In the Balkans, the democracy scores for four countries dropped over the past year. Two improved: Montenegro and Croatia. Sergey Aleksashenko said Balkan countries should not be compared to Western Europe. He noted they have had to create systems, governmental and state cultures since the end of Communist rule. He said that is not an easy process.          Freedom House once again described Kyrgyzstan as a “Consolidated Authoritarian Regime.” The country had been removed from the classification after competitive parliamentary elections in 2011. The report said corruption in Eurasia dropped in five of the 12 countries, but reached new lows in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Freedom House pointed to progress in Ukraine, Romania and Kosovo. It said the Romanian government dealt with problems in the voting process during its 2015 elections. And it said both Ukraine and Kosovo enacted minor structural reforms. But the group said the two countries face obstacles that could stop the progress. I’m Anne Ball.   VOA’s Mariama Diallo reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report 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   prevail – v. to be or become effective checks and balances – n. a system that prevents one part of the government from controlling too much power spectacular – adj. causing wonder or excitement fragility – adj. something easily broken or destroyed norms – n. average; normal value shallow – adj. having little depth tap into – v. to use something in a way that leads to good results obstacle – n. barrier

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