South Korea Prepares for Presidential Election

A presidential election will take place in South Korea next month. The results could produce a change in policy that may reduce tensions with North Korea and worsen them with the United States. The presidential election is set for May 9. It is to take place earlier than planned because former President Park Geun-hye was removed from office by South Korea’s National Assembly in December. That vote was confirmed by the country’s Supreme Court last month. Park is accused of involvement in a multi-million dollar bribery scandal. Government lawyers say large and powerful Korean companies were given favors in exchange for donations to organizations controlled by a friend of Park. Park was recently arrested. Prosecutors are trying to gather evidence that will permit them to charge her with bribery, extortion and abuse of power. If she is found guilty, she could be sent to prison for more than 10 years. Because of the scandal, support for Park’s conservative policies has weakened and her party has split. The major South Korean political parties have chosen their presidential candidates. The two candidates who have received the most support in public opinion surveys are from liberal parties that have been out of power since 2008. The Democratic Party Moon Jae-in is the Democratic Party candidate for president. A public opinion study by Realmeter says Moon has 41 percent support. Moon is a human rights lawyer who lost to Park in the 2012 election partly because voters believed he was not strong enough in his criticisms of North Korea. However, Park’s conservative policies have been criticized recently because of increased tensions with the North. Tensions have risen because of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s efforts to develop nuclear and missile programs. Moon said Park’s decision to limit ties with the North and use economic sanctions to pressure the North have failed. He said if he becomes president he would put in place a limited version of the so-called Sunshine Policy of Engagement. In the early 2000s, South Korea tried to build trust with North Korea through investment, exchanges and aid programs. At the same time, South Korea kept most sanctions in place. “We need to have two tracks of measures here. We need to be able to apply some pressure and coercion on North Korea, but on the other hand we should also start discussions and dialogue with North Korea,” Moon said. Moon’s support for talks with the North could cause tensions with the United States. He has said he strongly supports his country’s relations with the U.S. But he has also said South Korea should learn to say “no” to the U.S. He has not directly opposed the deployment of an American anti-missile program in South Korea. But Moon has said it should not be deployed until after the election, so the next president can decide whether it is worth the risk of worsening relations with China. China strongly opposes the program. The People’s Party Moderate candidate Ahn Cheol-soo recently won the nomination of the People’s Party. He has 34 percent support in the Realmeter poll. But his support has been growing in recent weeks. He left the 2012 presidential election to support Moon, but he says he will stay in the election this time and expects to win. Ahn has stronger national security policies than Moon. He supports the American anti-missile system. He also approves of international sanctions placed on North Korea for violating United Nations Security Council resolutions banning its nuclear program. But Ahn says, like Moon, he would support talks with North Korea. “What is the purpose of putting in sanctions against North Korea? Because we would like to persuade them to come to the negotiating table at the time we want and under the conditions that we want,” said Ahn. The issue of nuclear weapons Park’s conservative party has split. Those who remain loyal to her have named themselves Liberty Party Korea. Conservatives who supported her removal from office have formed the Bareun Party. The candidates of the two parties have stronger national security policies than Park. Neither one has more than 10 percent support in the recent Realmeter poll. Hong Joon-pyo is the Liberty Party Korea candidate. He is a former prosecutor. He has nine percent support in the Realmeter poll. In a speech accepting his party’s nomination, he promised to be a “resolute strongman” who can deal with pressure from the United States, China, Japan, North Korea and Russia. Hong strongly supports the anti-missile system. And he said if he is elected he will “immediately start discussions with the U.S. on the re-deployment of nuclear weapons” in South Korea. The U.S. removed nuclear weapons from South Korea in the early 1990s. Critics say returning them to South Korea would weaken international support for sanctions against the North’s nuclear program. The U.S. has promised to use its nuclear weapons to defend the South from an attack by the North. Bareun party presidential candidate Yoo Seong-min has three percent support in the public opinion survey. Yoo was once an aid to Park. Yoo successfully ran as an independent for the National Assembly. He supported Park’s impeachment and then created the Bareun party. Yoo also supports the deployment of nuclear weapons in South Korea. And he says the U.S. should deploy three anti-missile batteries, not one, paid for by South Korea. In addition to security, the South Korean economy will be a major election issue. The major candidates have different positions on limiting the influence of the country’s largest companies and increasing opportunity for young people who are having a difficult time finding good jobs. While Moon has the most support, some of the other candidates are reportedly thinking about leaving the race and giving their support to Ahn. This would give him more support than Moon.   VOA Correspondent Brian Padden reported this story from Seoul. Youmi Kim contributed reporting. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter 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   bribery – n. the act or crime of giving or accepting a bribe (which is a payment of something valuable -- such as money -- that is given in order to get someone to do something; usually a bribe is used to get someone to do something illegal or dishonest) scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong favor – n. a kind or helpful act that you do for someone extortion – n. the crime of getting money from someone by the use of force or threats sanction – n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc. (usually plural) track – n. the course along which someone or something moves or proceeds coercion – n. the crime of making (someone) do something by using force or threats dialogue – n. a discussion or series of discussions that two groups or countries have in order to end a disagreement resolute – adj. very determined; having or showing a lot of determination strongman – n. a politician or leader who uses violence or threats battery – n. a group of two or more big guns used by the military  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2p5mKk6
via IFTTT

Avoid Ineffective Study Methods

Imagine you have a test in school. It could be for a class in history or mathematics. Even worse, you could have an English test. How should you prepare for this terrible event? What can you do before the big day to help you do better? Should you reread your history or math books? What about underlining important words or sentences? If you are like many students, you probably use both rereading and underlining. But are these truly the best methods? Today, on our Education Report, we will explore effective and ineffective ways to study for tests. You might learn that some study habits you used in the past might not be the best methods. Are rereading and highlighting effective? Rereading and highlighting are common strategies that you will see in schools around the world. Students look at information they have already read in an effort to remember what is important. Students often combine rereading with highlighting. They underline important information in what they read with a writing instrument such as a marker. American Mary Pyc is a cognitive scientist. She studies the human mind and its processes. Pyc says that both rereading and highlighting are ineffective study tools. While better than not studying at all, she believes they are not as useful as other habits. "For example, with rereading, it's maybe not as effective because you are not trying to actively retrieve the information. You are not seeing "what do I actually know about what I read?" With rereading what is going to happen is that it is going to feel like you already know the information because you've already read it. So, you have this sense of fluency that is leading you to think "Ok, yes, I know the information." The problem with highlighting, Pyc says, is that students have a false sense of understanding - similar to when they reread information. Also, there is a second problem that comes with highlighting. "Students aren't always aware of what the most important information is. So it's possible that they are maybe highlighting details that aren't as important as the higher level concepts." What can you do? So what should you do if rereading and highlighting are not the best ways to study for a test? One idea is to test yourself. We have discussed self-testing strategies in other education stories. Simple flashcards and practice exams can help when you want to make sure that you have learned something. Another strategy is what education experts have called “spaced practice.” This means to practice remembering the new information over time, instead of doing everything all at once. We will discuss spaced practice in a future Education Tips story. Regardless of which strategy you chose, you should know that effective learning takes time and it takes effort. The next time you have a test coming, try to plan for the big day so that you can give yourself time to engage in different study habits. And remember, rereading and highlighting are better than not studying at all, but there are better methods out there! 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   ineffective – adj. not producing or having the effect you want; not effective engage – v. to get and keep; to ask someone to perform a service regardless – adv. without being stopped by trouble, difficulty flashcard – n. one of a seat of cards carrying information, such as words, numbers or other information practice – v. to perform or work at repeatedly so you become better at something highlight – v. to mark something in color for detail strategy – n. a careful plan or method habit – n. a way of doing something; a custom

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2oVvBYv
via IFTTT

US Will Send 4,000 Somalis Back to Their Home Country

Somalia’s ambassador to the United States says his embassy has learned that U.S. immigration officers plan to deport about 4,000 Somali nationals. Ahmed Isse Awad is the Somali ambassador to the U.S. He spoke to the Voice of America’s Somali service on Saturday. He said that most of those set to be removed are not in detention centers. The Somali embassy in Washington reopened in November 2015. Since then, Awad said, about 170 Somali immigrants have been deported to Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. Some of them broke U.S. law. Others applied for asylum but were denied. Another group of Somalis whose asylum requests were denied are now in detention centers or prisons. They will soon be deported. Fewer than 300 Somalis are currently set to be moved out in the next couple of months, Awad told VOA. He said that his embassy was waiting for information from U.S. authorities about who will be deported and when. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently arrested 82 people from 26 nations. This happened late last month during a five-day operation in and around Washington, D.C. In a statement, ICE said 68 of those detained had previously been convicted of crimes. Awad said a 50-year-old Somali man was among those detained last month. He identified himself as a top official in Somalia’s National Security Service. He had previously been deported to Somalia in 1996. "According to ICE, he came back to the U.S. in 1997 under a different name," Awad said. "In 2014, he was jailed for 11 months for forgery and drug-related crimes.” Since then, Awad said, the man has committed other crimes. U.S. immigration officials said eight of those arrested during ICE's recent operation had no known criminal records. They either had stayed longer than their visas permitted or ignored final orders to leave the country. Somalis who have already been sent back to Somalia have told VOA they returned to a changed – and dangerous -- country. Somalia has not had a strong central government for more than 25 years. Because of this, many nations have not forcibly returned Somali immigrants to Somalia because of safety concerns. Immigration policies in the United States, however, have become increasingly strict under the administration of President Donald Trump. I’m Alice Bryant.   Mohamed Olad Hassan reported this story for VOA’s Somali service. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   detention center - n. a place where people who have entered a country illegally are kept for a period of time deport - n. to force a person who is not a citizen to leave the country customs - n. an agency that enforces duties or taxes on imported goods forgery - n. the crime of falsely making or copying a document in order to deceive people strict - adj. used to describe a command or rule that must be obeyed

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2oq37Vu
via IFTTT

US Seeks to Persuade Russia to End Support for Syria’s Assad

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has traveled to Moscow in an effort to persuade Russia to end support for Syrian leader Bashar al Assad. Tillerson’s trip follows the deadly chemical attack on civilians in Syria last week. Dozens of people were killed - including many women and children – and hundreds more were sickened. U.S. officials have blamed forces loyal to Assad for the attack. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered missile strikes on the Syrian airfield suspected of launching the attack. A total of 59 missiles were fired. U.S. officials said the missile strikes had damaged about 20 percent of Syria’s air force capabilities. "We want to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people," Tillerson said before leaving for Moscow. "Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role. Or Russia can maintain its alliance" with Syria and Iran. Tillerson left for Russia after meeting with foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations in Italy. Speaking to reporters there, he said “it is clear” that Assad’s leadership “is coming to an end.” He added that Moscow had failed in its role as sponsor of a 2013 deal under which Assad had promised to give up his chemical weapons. "These agreements stipulated Russia as the guarantor of a Syria free of chemical weapons. It is unclear whether Russia failed to take this obligation seriously, or Russia has been incompetent. But this distinction doesn't much matter to the dead. We can't let this happen again." There were no scheduled plans for Tillerson to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Russian media outlets cited unnamed sources as saying the two might meet. Tillerson previously met with Putin while presiding over the Exxon Mobil oil company. He was awarded Russia's "Order of Friendship" by Putin in 2013. The Syrian government has denied its forces carried out the chemical attack. It instead blamed rebel forces. Russia and Iran have been strong supporters of Assad’s government. Both have aided his forces in the conflict against rebel fighters. Russia condemned the U.S. missile strikes in Syria. Before Tillerson’s arrival in Moscow, Putin said Russia had information about new "provocations" being planned. He suggested that opposition rebels could carry out chemical weapons attacks and attempt to blame Syria and Russia. Putin did not provide further details. But he added, "It reminds me of the events in 2003 when U.S. envoys to the [U.N.] Security Council were demonstrating what they said were chemical weapons found in Iraq. We have seen it already." Russia has called for a United Nations investigation into the chemical attack in Syria. Meanwhile, Turkey says tests have confirmed that the chemical used in the Syrian attack was the deadly nerve gas sarin. Turkey's health minister said the conclusion was reached after blood and urine samples were examined. The samples were used in autopsies on three victims of the gas attacks that were brought from Syria. Officials said the World Health Organization and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons participated in the tests. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. 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   sponsor – n. organization that supports and/or gives money to a person or another group obligation – n. something a person does as a duty or because they think they have to do it incompetent – adj. lacking in ability or skills distinction – adj. quality or fact that makes something special or different provocation – n. action or occurrence that causes someone to become angry or start doing something​ autopsy - n. medical examination of a dead body to determine cause of death  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2o1YkpC
via IFTTT

April 11, 2017

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

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2p2OMPP
via IFTTT

Global Outrage over Video of Man Pulled from Plane

  This is What’s Trending Today. Airline passengers around the world were upset when videos of a man being dragged off a United Airlines flight came out on Sunday night. The videos showed blood on the man’s face after his confrontation with the police. The airplane was completely full, but four airline employees still needed to get on the flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky. So, the airline asked passengers to give up their seats in return for money and the chance to take another flight the next day. It is a common practice for airlines when they do not have enough available seats on a flight. No one volunteered. So the airline said it would make a selection itself. Three people decided to leave the plane without a problem after being told they had been chosen. But one man resisted. The newspaper in Louisville reported Tuesday his name is David Dao. Passengers say Dao told the airline crew he was a doctor and had patients to see on Monday. Dao is 69. He has been practicing medicine in the U.S. since the 1970s. Some passengers said Dao said he thought he was chosen to leave the plane because he was Chinese. A different news report and another passenger said the man was originally from Vietnam. Airline employees asked police to help remove the man from his seat. Videos of the incident quickly showed up on Twitter and Facebook. They showed Dao being dragged off the plane. Other videos recorded later showed him back on the plane with blood on his face, saying, “I want to go home.” Eventually, Dao was removed from the plane and treated for his injuries. The flight was delayed for two hours as all the passengers had to leave the plane and get back on. But as the news of the uncomfortable situation spread around the world, many people in China said they thought Dao had been chosen because he was Asian. The Chinese social media site Sina Weibo was filled with comments about the incident. The New York Times reports one story had almost 300 million views and over 150,000 comments. Readers said they thought the man was chosen because the airline thought, “Asian-Americans are always obedient.” Other readers said the United States always challenges civil rights abuses in other countries. They wondered why United Airlines thought it could treat a passenger that way. Many others said Asian people should boycott United Airlines. United is one of the busiest U.S.-based airlines in Asia. There are almost 100 flights per week to China and Hong Kong. A boycott could cause financial problems for the airline. Joe Wong is a Chinese-American comedian who called for a boycott. He used Sina Weibo to write that many Chinese people are afraid to speak about discrimination. He said that keeps media and authorities from taking complaints of discrimination against Asians seriously.  The Chinese website Global Times reported a popular social media post in China showed a photo of a United Airlines airplane. The caption read: “If we cannot beat our competitors, we will beat our customers.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting from the Associated Press, Louisville Courier-Journal, New York Times and Global Times. Hai Do was the editor. What do you think of the way Dao was treated? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   confront – v. to oppose or challenge (someone) especially in a direct and forceful way practice – n. something that is done often or regularly uncomfortable – adj. causing a feeling of being embarrassed or uneasy obedient – adj. willing to do what someone tells you to do or to follow a law, rule, etc. : willing to obey motto – n. a short sentence or phrase that expresses a rule guiding the behavior of a particular person or group

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2owEOFC
via IFTTT

Explainer: U.S. China Trade

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2onAus7
via IFTTT

April 10, 2017

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

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2p0DrNy
via IFTTT

US Sends Navy Strike Group to Korean Peninsula

  The United States Navy has sent a group of warships to waters near the Korean Peninsula as a show of force to North Korea. The strike group is led by the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier. It includes two guided-missile destroyers, a guided-missile cruiser and an attack submarine. After stopping in Singapore, the strike group had planned to move on to Australia, but was ordered to head north instead. A spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Command, Dave Benham, said the move was a "prudent measure to maintain readiness and presence in the Western Pacific." Benham said currently the number one threat in the region is North Korea. Pyongyang continues a “reckless, irresponsible, and destabilizing program” of missile tests and nuclear weapons development, he said. U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said President Donald Trump had asked him and other officials to provide suggestions for removing the threat of a nuclear-armed North Korea. McMaster told Fox News that options will be considered “to remove that threat to the American people and our allies and partners” in the area. He added that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during their meeting last week that North Korea’s "provocative behavior" was unacceptable. The strike group deployment to the Korean Peninsula comes after American missiles struck Syrian military targets last week. The airstrikes followed a deadly chemical weapons attack blamed on Syrian forces. The Tomahawk missiles fired into a Syrian airfield were launched from the USS Porter – a guided-missile destroyer deployed in the Mediterranean Sea.    U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the military strike against Syria was a warning to other countries, including North Korea, that “a response is likely” if they present a threat. Tillerson told ABC News this would include nations that “violate international agreements, fail to live up to commitments” and become a “threat to others.” A South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman said he considers the strike group a response to the "serious situation on the Korean Peninsula." North Korea has fired off several test missiles in recent months and is reportedly planning another nuclear test. Many nations, including ally China, have condemned the tests. The United Nations has also demanded that North Korea give up its nuclear arms program. On Monday, South Korea and China said they had agreed to place stronger sanctions on North Korea if it continues nuclear and missile tests. The agreement was reached during talks between the top nuclear negotiators from both countries. North Korea is already subject to sanctions ordered by the United Nations Security Council. South Korea’s negotiator told reporters the latest discussions did not include the possibility of a military response to North Korea’s continued testing programs. North Korea has promised to strengthen defenses against airstrikes like those carried out in Syria. A North Korean official said those attacks proved that the North needs nuclear weapons to protect itself against America’s "ever more reckless moves towards war." I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prudent – adj. wise, thoughtful, careful reckless – adj. something dangerous or careless destabilize – v. cause something to change of move provocative – adj. causing a strong or angry reaction commitment – n. promise to do or give something sanction - n. an action to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2png1RH
via IFTTT

World Condemns Egypt Church Bombings

Egyptian Christians were burying their dead on Monday after suicide attacks that killed at least 45 people at two Coptic Christian churches in two cities. Dozens more were wounded in the Palm Sunday bombings at St. George’s church, north of Cairo, and St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria. Palm Sunday is a holy day for Christians to celebrate Christ’s arrival at the city of Jerusalem, a week before Easter. The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the bombings. Egypt’s government declared a state of emergency with fears of more violence. The attacks came less than a week after Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi met at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss fighting extremism. The White House said President Trump spoke with President el-Sissi on Sunday "to convey his deepest condolences to Egypt and to the families who lost loved ones in the heinous terrorist attacks against Christian churches on Palm Sunday." The statement adds: "The president also expressed his confidence in President el-Sissi's commitment to protect Christians and all Egyptians." Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s 92 million people. It is the largest Christian minority in the Middle East. Bishop Ahba Suriel is a Coptic Christian leader in Melbourne, Australia. He told VOA more needs to be done to protect Christians in the Middle East because, he says, they are targets of Islamic State. “..it’s very clear that there is a type of ethnic cleansing by ISIS targeted towards Christians of the Middle East with a particular emphasis on the Copts of Egypt.” The bombings happened weeks before Pope Francis plans a visit to Egypt. The pope said: "I pray for the dead and the injured, and I am close in spirit to their families and the entire community. May the Lord convert the hearts of people who sow terror, violence and death, and even the hearts of those who produce and traffic in weapons." Egypt’s Christians have been a frequent target of terrorist attacks, including arsons, assaults and bombings. The AP reports that a church bombing last December killed 30 people in Cairo, and a series of killings in the Sinai Peninsula have caused hundreds to leave for safer areas. I’m Anne Ball.   Victor Beattie and Zlatica Hoke reported on this story for VOA. Anne Ball adapted the story for Learning English with additional information from the Associated Press (AP). Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   condolence – n. a feeling or expression of sympathy and sadness especially when someone is suffering because of a death heinous – adj. very bad or evil ethnic cleansing - n. the practice of removing or killing people who belong to an ethnic group that is different from the ruling group in a country or region convert – v. to change something into a different form so it can be used a different way  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2oYZsz5
via IFTTT

Robot Helps Autistic Children Learn Social Skills

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. April is Autism Awareness Month in the United States. Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a complex developmental disability. It affects a person’s ability to communicate and do things with other people. Children with autism face many challenges. For examples, schools can be a difficult place for autistic children. Many schools are filled with loud noises, active classrooms and nearly non-stop social interactions. So, researchers in Britain have made a child-sized robot to help autistic children learn social skills. The robot, called Kaspar, can improve their ability to communicate with adults and other children. Dealing with Kaspar is easier for most children with autism than interacting with someone else. The robot uses games and songs to help the children learn social interaction and communication skills. Ben Robins is with the University of Hertfordshire. He says the robot’s movements are directed by an adult, who uses remote control equipment. So a teacher or therapist is always involved. Robins explains that the robot gives therapists more ways to interact with autistic children. He adds that the children seem more at ease when they look at Kaspar’s face. "Sometimes they're looking into the face and they're eye-gazing with the robot much more than what they do with a person." He adds Kaspar is flexible. It can change to meet the needs of the 170 children who have played with him over the past 10 years. This flexibility is important. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have problems with spoken language and eye contact. But the signs of the condition can differ greatly from one child to the next. The word “spectrum” is an important part of the definition. You might hear of a child described as being “on the spectrum.” This means that tests showed the child has some level of autism. It could be minor or quite severe. Alice Lynch works with an organization called Tracks Autism. She has been studying Kaspar’s effect on students in the classroom. Lynch says the robot has had a major effect on the behavior of the students. She notes there was one boy who could not eat with his classmates. But now after “feeding” Kaspar, he has begun to take part, or integrate himself, in classroom activities. For example, he now eats meals with other students. "And then we started doing it with Kaspar and he really, really enjoyed feeding Kaspar, making him eat when he was hungry, things like that. And now he's started to integrate into the classroom and eat alongside his peers." Ben Robins says research like this is important. It shows that what the child learns with Kaspar transfers to other situations or contexts in his or her life. "This long-term study is very important, because it's important to see is there's any transference of these skills when they play with the robot into other context like in the classroom or at home; what's happened outside the context of the robot." The Kaspar robot is still in development. However, its designers say their goal is to see every child who could benefit from the robot get their very own Kaspar. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo. Faith Lapidus reported this story for VOA News. Anna Matteo adapted her report for Learning English. She included information from several autism websites. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   therapist – n. a person who helps people deal with mental or emotional problems by talking about those problems : a person trained in psychotherapy flexible – adj. able to change or to do different things integrate – v. to make (a person or group) part of a larger group or organization — usually + into peer – n. a person who belongs to the same age group or social group as someone else transfer – v. to move (someone or something) from one place to another transference – n. the act of moving something from one place to another context – n. the situation in which something happens : the group of conditions that exist where and when something happens ____________________________________________________________ Now, test your understanding of the story with this short quiz.  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2osjml8
via IFTTT