English in a Minute: Domino Effect

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'To Err Is Human ...'

Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. On this program we explore the origins of common expressions in American English and, more importantly, how to use them. We really want to do an excellent job teaching and entertaining our audience. So, we try to do this program as best we can every time. But sometimes we make mistakes. We err. Making a mistake is not pleasant, but it is natural. One well-known saying begins, “To err is human…” In other words, making mistakes is part of being a person. But what about those who suffer because of someone else's mistake? The saying answers this question, too. It says, “…to forgive (is) divine.” That means that excusing others for their faults makes us a little better than just being human. The act is god-like. This popular saying is an old one. It comes from the 18th century English poet Alexander Pope. He wrote about forgiveness in an essay titled "An Essay on Criticism." However, Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary says the original idea is older than that. In 1678 Thomas Jones wrote, "To err, is human; to recover, is Angelical; to persevere is Diabolical.” But this saying wasn't as memorable and, therefore, it just didn't stick. "Err" comes from the Latin word "errare,” meaning “to stray or wander.” Related words, such as errant and erroneous, have the same Latin origin. But the noun form of “err,” error, appears in many American English expressions. For example, human error is often the reason police give for a preventable – but unplanned – accident. If a train crashes because the driver fell asleep, that crash was caused by human error. But some errors or mistakes are nobody's fault directly. Let's say a plane crashes. An investigation proves that the crash was caused by an undetectable engine problem. There was nothing the pilot could have done differently to prevent the crash. In this case, the cause of the crash was not pilot error. But that is enough talk about crashes. Let's say this pilot is on the runway preparing to take off. Suddenly, a bad storm begins. She could take off but decides to wait until the storm passes. We could say she wants to err on the side of caution. This simply means that of all the options available, you choose the safest one. If you feel sick one day but feel fine the next, you may err on the side of caution and stay home from work.   You can err on the side of other things. For example, let's say your child's school asks for a money donation to build a new playground. You don't know how much other parents are giving. So, you err on the side of generosity and give more than you think is expected. Here's another example. If a person has treated you badly in the past, you can err on the side of being polite to them. Acting politely is the right thing to do. And it's good for another reason, as well. When you are nice to people who have treated you badly in the past, they may re-think their bad behavior. They may see the error of their ways. We often use this phrase when we want to say that a person has realized the things they have done wrong. But be warned – we don’t use this phrase lightly. The "error" in this expression is usually a serious problem with a person's character or behavior that may cause trouble. This expression also means the person became aware and then fixed the problem. Let's go back to the pilot. Imagine she had a bad habit of working too hard. She would lie about her long flight assignments so that she could fly even more routes. However, one day she realized that she was putting the passengers in danger. She saw the error of her ways and stopped. If her supervisor had caught her and forced her to change her work habits, you would not use this expression. And you would not say the supervisor saw the error in her ways. It is always a self-discovery. Now, talking about self-discovery brings us to scientific discoveries. Scientists are very careful people, but scientific research is full of errors. Scientists know this. So, they sometimes say that their findings have a margin of error. That margin, or amount, shows how accurate they think their answer really is. You can also add prepositions to this expression. For example, if something is unlikely to happen based on information you have collected about it, it is outside the margin of error. If it is likely to happen, it is within the margin of error. Another scientific term that we use in any part of our lives is trial and error. Trial and error means you find the best way to do something by trying many ways and getting rid of the ways that failed. Sometimes here at VOA, creating new programs for our listeners involves some trial and error. Sure, it is helpful to know which programs in the past were popular. But times change and so do audiences. We need to be willing to try new things -- that's the trial part -- and fail, or make an error. If we do fail, I hope you will err on the side of forgiveness and give us another chance. And that's the end of Words and Their Stories. I’m Jonathan Evans … and I'm Anna Matteo.   Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   divine – adj. of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God stick – v. to remain in a place, situation, or environment error – n. something that is not correct : a wrong action or statement errant – adj. straying outside the proper path or bounds : behaving wrongly erroneous – adj. not correct undetectable – adj. impossible to discover or notice caution– n. care taken to avoid danger or risk : a careful attitude or way of behaving generosity – n. the quality of being kind, understanding, and not selfish : the quality of being generous polite – adj. having or showing good manners or respect for other people

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Native Americans Celebrate Patriotism, Unity At Pow Wows

It is pow wow season in the United States. That is a time when Native American groups gather to connect, celebrate tribal cultures, and express their patriotism. On any weekend this summer, a pow wow is taking place somewhere in the country. The term “pow wow” comes from the Algonquian language. It meant a gathering of spiritual healers celebrating successful hunts, battles or trade. A pow wow is an expression of unity within and among Native communities. In 1883, the government banned “old heathenish dances.” Officials said they were trying to prevent an inciting of what they called “warlike passions” of tribal youth. However, tribes continued to carry out the activity, and the ban was ended in the 1930s. The drums  The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of northwest Montana held pow wows as Fourth of July celebrations. Other tribes held pow wows as cultural displays for non-Natives. Becky Olvera Schultz is an artist and writer of Azteca and Kickapoo ancestry. She said all pow wows center around dance, and central to dance is the drum. “The drum is the heartbeat of the pow wow,” she said. “Drum refers to both a large instrument and the group of drummers and singers who provide the pulse for pow wow dances.” The drums make music of many kinds, from war songs to religious. Many are sung in “vocables,” non-word sounds that can be understood and shared among tribes. Drums may include members of different tribes. Some well-known groups are in high demand and travel from one event to another to perform. Honoring the warrior All pow wows open with the Grand Entry into the dance arena. “The veterans head the Grand Entry, carrying flags and eagle staffs,” Schultz said. Covered in animal skin and eagle feathers, the staff is a sacred symbol of its tribe or nation. Dignitaries, chiefs, princesses, elders and pow wow organizers follow the veterans during the Grand Entry. "Then come the male dancers, in different categories and age groups, and then the women dancers in theirs,” explained Schultz. When all are in place, a song is sung to honor the veterans and a prayer is said to open the dancing. A presenter leads the activities, announcing events and introducing dancers. “Competition pow wows, which are usually larger, have a purse, prize money, and some of them are quite large," Shultz said. "A lot of the dancers will go from pow wow to pow wow, and some of them win a good amount of money,” she added. Grass dance, fancy shawl dance and more Men, women and children dance in several categories, which have developed as a mix of traditions from different tribal nations. The men’s Fancy Dance, for example, is a colorful and energetic dance in which men wear feathered bustles. Men in the Grass Dance, on the other hand, wear long strips of material that represent the movement of windblown prairie grass. The Fancy Shawl Dance has women wearing shawls over their shoulders. The dancers’ shawls are large, colorful and have many strips of material, called fringe, hanging along the edge. “They swing around and hold their shawls out,” Schultz said about the dancers. “The purpose is to make the fringe sway back and forth. It’s very pretty and fluid,” she said. A dance for healing Californian Alorha Baga is a member of the Rosebud Lakota tribe and a competitive jingle dancer. She said jingle dancing began in the early 20th century as a healing dance among the Northern Ojibwe, or Chippewa tribe. She said, “An elder was trying to figure out a way to cure an ailing woman named Maggie White. He was gifted a vision, and in that vision, he was told exactly what to do." At first, Baga explained, Maggie was too sick to move. But as tribal women danced, Maggie began getting better.​ “And by the time they were finished, she was cured,” Baga said. The jingle dress includes beadwork and the rolled covers of metal tobacco containers. The metal rolls hang from strips of cloth attached to the dress, producing the jingle sound. Today, Baga not only performs at pow wows but teaches the dances to children. “Part of our teaching of pow wow dancing is making sure that our children and even adults know how these dances came to our tribes, their origins and their histories,” she said. Pow wows may take place over two or three days, attracting large crowds and generating substantial income. “I don't dance at pow wows, but I attended all my life and I am 60 years old now,” said a Rosebud Lakota tribe grandmother. “We have the Rosebud Fair every year here on the reservation,” she said, “and everybody attends either for pow wow, the rodeo, mud racing or bread-making contests.” And, she added, the food. I’m Dorothy Gundy. And I’m Caty Weaver. VOA reporter Cecily Hilleary wrote this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story heathenish – adj. non-Christian; or non-religious pulse – ​n.  a strong, regular beat or pattern of sounds in music — usually singular​ sacred – adj. worthy of religious worship: very holy​ elder – ​n. a person who has authority because of age and experience​ category – ​n. a group of people or things that are similar in some way​ bustle – ​n. a frame or pad worn in the past under a skirt or dress to hold it out from the body in the back​ swing – v.  to move backward and forward or from side to side while hanging from something​ ail – to suffer bad health​ rodeo – n. an event in which people compete at riding horses and bulls, catching animals with ropes, etc. contest – ​n. an event in which people try to win by doing something better than others​

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June 30, 2017

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

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When Should Race Influence Choice of Actors?

When the musical “Miss Saigon” first opened in New York City in 1991, critics questioned the choice of Jonathan Pryce to play a French-Vietnamese engineer. “Miss Saigon” is a love story between a Vietnamese woman and an American soldier. Pryce, a white actor, was from Britain, not Asia. A labor union representing actors criticized the decision. "Equity (the actors’ union) believes the casting of Mr. Pryce as a Eurasian to be especially insensitive and an affront to the Asian community,” the union said in a protest letter. Twenty-six years later, “Miss Saigon” is back on New York’s Broadway. This time an Asian actor is playing the engineer. Linda Winer reported on the show for the New York newspaper Newsday. She noted that while the music is much like it was in 1991 and the show still has a helicopter seeming to lift people away at the end of the Vietnam War, there are differences. “Most obviously, many of the main roles and, especially the engineer…” are now cast “with powerhouse Asian-Americans,” she wrote. Parts played by white actors wearing makeup For years, Asian and black characters were often played by white actors. Those actors wore makeup to make them look less white. One example is the decision to cast Katharine Hepburn as a Chinese women in the 1944 war movie, “Dragon Seed.” More recently, theater critics questioned the casting of a white actor as Michael Jackson, and a Hispanic actress as singer Nina Simone, an African American. Today, more shows like “Miss Saigon” are casting actors who have the ethnic and racial backgrounds of the characters they represent. But some directors are choosing diverse actors for parts that, in the past, went to white actors. As New York director Jackson Gay says, there are parts that really are not clearly connected to a racial or ethnic group. Gay recently cast African-Americans as Russian soldiers in a production of the 1900 play “Three Sisters.” The play was written by Anton Chekov more than a century ago. It was performed recently at the Studio Theater in Washington, D.C. Russian soldiers in the late 1800s and early 1900s were generally not black. But Gay said the emotions and pressures felt by soldiers are universal -- meaning that gifted actors of any race could play the roles.  An all black production of ‘Proof’ Dawn Ursula starred in a recent production of “Proof” at the Olney Theater in Maryland. The play had all white stars when it opened on Broadway in 2000. Later, it was made into a movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins. But at the Olney Theater, Ursula and the other three actors are all African-American. Ursula played the part of Catherine, a woman who is good at mathematics like her father. But she is afraid she also might have some of his mental problems. Did the African-American cast make a difference? Ursula said it did to some theater goers. There are lots of African American mathematicians. But that did not stop theater goers from reacting approvingly to the casting of blacks as math geniuses. Ursula recalls her satisfaction watching some older African-American men stand and cheer after her performance – happy that “Proof” showed four successful people – all of them African-Americans. That kind of reaction made Ursula feel “like I had crossed the finish line in some Olympic sport that ‘black’ people may not normally be associated with and had won the Gold.” Some white audience members told her that an all African-American cast did not make a difference to them. They just enjoyed watching excellent acting. Ursula is thankful for their praise, but hopes the day will come “when those pronouncements are not necessary.” Taunya Lovell Banks is a professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Law. She often writes about ethnic and racial diversity in theater. She said casting decisions can be a difficult balance. Normally, Banks supports open casting. Casting an African American, for example, in a part usually performed by a white actor can bring new meaning – even to an established show. That happened in “Proof,” when Ursula’s character discusses a conflict she had with police officers. Washington Post theater critic Celia Wren said the discussion produces more tension with an African American cast “in the aftermath of the police-related incidents that have fueled the Black Lives Matter movement.” But Banks said that casting at times can still be a divisive issue. Recently, the estate of playwright Edward Albee refused to approve a Portland, Oregon production of his famous play, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf.” The reason: the director wanted to cast an African-American actor in the part of Nick, a young professor. Director Michael Streeter went on Facebook to express his anger with the decision. Sam Rudy, spokesman for the Albee estate, said the playwright had created Nick as a character with “blond hair and blue eyes.” Rudy said the casting proposed by the Portland director would have led to a mixed marriage between a black man and white woman. He said “that would have not gone” unnoticed at the time the show is set -- in the early 1960s. Other parts in Albee plays carry no limitations on the race of the actors, Rudy said. I’m John Russell. And I'm Ashley Thompson.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. 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   cast – v. give someone a part in a show or movie affront – n. an insult role – n. the part that an actor has in a movie or play character – n. a person in a story or play diverse – adj. including people of different races and ethnic groups audience – n. people attending the performance of a show genius - n. a very intelligent person associate – v. connected to something or someone pronouncement – n. a message estate – n. the things left by someone who has died  

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'The Law of Life,' by Jack London, Part Two

We present the last of two parts of the short story "The Law of Life," by Jack London. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. Koskoosh placed another stick on the fire and let his thoughts travel deeper into the past. There was the time of the great famine. He had lost his mother in that famine. In the summer the usual plentiful catch of fish had failed, and the tribe looked forward to the winter and the coming of the caribou. Then the winter came, but with it there were no caribou. Never had the like been known, not even in the lives of the old men. The rabbits had not produced any young and the dogs were skin and bone. And through the long darkness the children wept and died. So did the women and the old men. Not one in ten lived to meet the sun when it returned in the spring. That was a famine! But he had seen times of plenty, too, when the meat spoiled before it could be eaten. Even the dogs grew fat and were worth nothing from eating too much. In these times they let the animals and birds go unkilled and the tents were filled with newly born children. Then it was that the men remembered old quarrels and crossed to the south and to the west to kill ancient enemies. He remembered, when a boy, during a time of plenty, when he saw a moose pulled down by the wolves. Zing-ha lay with him in the snow and watched. Zing-ha was his friend who later became the best of hunters. One day he fell through an air hole on the frozen Yukon River. They found him a month later, frozen to the ice where he had attempted to climb out. Zing-ha and he had gone out that day to play at hunting, in the manner of their fathers. Near a creek they discovered the fresh track of a moose and with it the tracks of many wolves. “An old one,” Zing-ha said. “It is an old one who cannot travel as fast as the others. The wolves have separated him from his brothers, and they will never leave him.” And it was so. It was their way. By day and by night, never resting, biting at his heels, they would stay with him to the end. How Zing-ha and he had felt the desire to see blood! The finish would be a sight to remember! Eagerly, they started up the trail. Even he, Koskoosh, who was not a good tracker, could have followed it blind, it was so wide. They were not far behind the hunt, reading its awful story at every step. Now they saw where the moose had stopped to face his attackers. On every side the snow had been stamped heavily. In the middle there were the deep footprints of the moose. All about, everywhere, were the lighter footmarks of the wolves. Some had moved to one side and rested while their brothers tried to seize the moose. The full-stretched impressions of their bodies in the snow were as perfect as though they’d been made the moment before. One wolf had been caught in a wild dash at the moose and had died under its heavy stamping. A few bones remained as witness. The two boys stopped again at a second stand. Here the great animal had fought with despair. As the snow indicated, he had been dragged down twice. And twice he shook off his enemies and gained his footing once more. He had finished his task long before, but nevertheless, life was dear to him. Zing-ha said it was a strange thing for a moose once down to struggle free again. But this one certainly had done so. The medicine man would see signs and wonders in this when they told him. Then they came to the place where the moose had tried to climb the riverbank and go into the woods. But his enemies had attacked from behind, until he leaped high and then fell back upon them, crushing two deep into the snow. It was clear that the kill was near, because the two dead wolves had been left untouched by their brothers. The trail was red with blood now, and the distance between tracks of the great beast had become shorter and shorter. Then they heard the first sounds of the battle—the quick bark of the wolves which spoke of teeth tearing flesh. On hands and knees Zing-ha and Koskoosh made their way through the snow. Together they pushed aside the low branches of a young pine tree and looked forth. It was the end that they saw. The picture, like all of youth’s memories, was still strong with him. His eyes now watched the end acted again as clearly as in that earlier time. Koskoosh was surprised at this, because in the days which followed, he had done many great deeds. He had been a leader of men and his name had become a curse in the mouths of his enemies. For a long time he recalled the days of his youth, until the fire grew cold and the frost bit deeper. He placed two sticks on the fire this time. Then he figured how much life was left by the amount of wood that remained in the pile. If Sit-cum-ha had remembered her grandfather, and gathered a larger armful, his hours would have been longer. It would have been easy. But she was always a selfish child. She had not honored her ancestors from the time the Beaver, son of the son of Zing-ha, first looked at her. Well, what did it matter? Had he not done the same in his own quick youth? For a while he listened to the silent forest. Perhaps the heart of his son might soften. Then he would return with the dogs to take his old father with the tribe to where the caribou ran thick and the fat hung heavy upon them. He strained his ears. There was not a sound to be heard. Nothing. He alone took breath in the middle of the great stillness. It was very lonely. Wait! What was that? His body suddenly felt cold. A familiar cry broke the silent air, and it was close to him. Then his darkened eyes again saw the old moose—the bloody sides, the torn legs, the great branching horns, fighting to the last. He saw the flashing forms of gray, the bright eyes, the dripping tongues and the sharp teeth. And he saw the circle move closer until it became a dark point in the middle of the stamped snow. A cold nose pushed against his face and at its touch his soul leaped back to the present. His hand shot into the fire and dragged out a burning stick. Overcome for the moment by his fear of man, the beast drew back, raising a call to his brothers. Greedily they answered, until a ring of gray was stretched around him. The old man listened to the steady breathing of this circle. He waved his flaming stick wildly, but the beasts refused to scatter. Now one moved slowly forward, dragging his legs behind. Now a second, now a third. But now, not one moved back from his flaming stick. Why should he so desire life? He asked, and dropped the burning stick into the snow. It made a slight noise and then there was no more fire. The circle murmured uncertainly but held its place. Again he saw the last stand of the old moose, and Koskoosh dropped his head hopelessly on his knees. What did it matter? Was it not the law of life?   To download a lesson plan to accompany this part of the story, click here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. What is the oldest age you would like to live to? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   famine – n. a situation in which many people do not have enough food to eat caribou – n. a large type of deer that lives in northern parts of the world rabbit(s) – n. a small animal that usually lives in holes in the ground and has long ears, soft fur, and back legs that are longer than its front legs wept – v. (past tense of: weep)to cry because you are very sad or are feeling some other strong emotion spoil(ed) – v. to decay or lose freshness especially because of being kept too long quarrel - n. an angry argument or disagreement moose – n. a large animal with very large, flat antlers that lives in forests in the northern part of America, Europe and Asia wolves - n. (plural form of: wolves) a large wild animal that is similar to a dog and that often hunts in groups manner – n. the way that something is done or happens creek – n. a small stream track – n. a mark left on the ground by a moving animal, person, or vehicle stamp(ed) – v. the act of bringing your foot down heavily and noisily impression(s) – n. something (such as a design or a footprint) made by pressing or stamping a surface despair – n. the feeling of no longer having any hope indicate(d) – v. to show something task – n. a piece of work that has been given to someone dear – adj. loved or valued very much leap(ed) – v. to jump from a surface knee(s) – n. the joint that bends at the middle of your leg branch(es) – n. a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk youth – n. the time when a young person has not yet become an adult frost – n. a thin layer of ice that forms on the ground or on grass when the air becomes cold strain(ed) – v. to try very hard to do or get something horn(s) – n. one of the hard pointed parts that grows on the head of some animals flashing – n. (gerund) – appearing quickly or suddenly dripping – n. (gerund) – (liquid) falling in drops tongue(s) – n. the soft, movable part in the mouth that is used for tasting and eating food and in human beings for speaking soul – n. the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many religions is believed to live forever flaming – n. (gerund) - having a bright or glowing red or orange color

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Stephen Hawking Calls for Return to Moon

  Physicist Stephen Hawking said people should return to the Moon and go to Mars because leaving Earth may be the only way to save humanity. Hawking said that as Earth faces climate change and pressure on natural resources, human beings need to reach beyond our planet. "We are running out of space and the only places to go to are other worlds,” he said. “It is time to explore other solar systems. Spreading out may be the only thing that saves us from ourselves. I am convinced that humans need to leave Earth," he added. "If humanity is to continue for another million years, our future lies in boldly going where no one else has gone before.” The University of Cambridge professor spoke during a visit (in June) to the Starmus Festival in Trondheim, Norway. Hawking said human beings should return to the moon by the year 2020 and Mars by 2025. This, he said, will unite humans in the shared purpose of exploring the universe. "Spreading out into space will completely change the future of humanity," he said. "I hope it would unite competitive nations in a single goal, to face the common challenge for us all.” Hawking added that reaching the Moon, Mars and other plants would get young people interested in space-related sciences.   He said making the first moves into space would “elevate humanity” because it would have to involve many countries. "Whenever we make a great new leap, such as the Moon landings, we bring people and nations together, usher in new discoveries, and new technologies," Hawking said. "To leave Earth demands a concerted global approach, everyone should join in. We need to rekindle the excitement of the early days of space travel in the (19)60s." The European Space Agency has announced a plan to create a “Moon Village” after the International Space Station is taken out of service in 2024. China is also reportedly interested in sending an astronaut to the Moon. The United States is working on sending astronauts to Mars. The U.S. space agency, NASA, hopes to do this by the 2030s. I’m Anne Ball.   VOANews.com reported this story. Anne Ball adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   resource - n. something that a country has and can use to increase its wealth​ beyond - adv. on or to the farther part or side​ convince - v. to cause (someone) to believe that something is true​ boldly - adv. not afraid of danger challenge - v. to question the action or authority of someone or something elevate - v. to lift up leap  - v. to move forward quickly or by a lot​- rekindle - v. to cause something, like a feeling, to be strong or active again  

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Study: Serious Head Injuries Ignored in World Cup

  Cristoph Kramer is a football player from Germany. Just weeks after playing his first match for the national team, he was added to the list of players for international football’s 2014 World Cup. In the United States, the sport is called soccer. Christoph Kramer left for Brazil, not expecting to play much in the World Cup. But when a German teammate was injured before the final against Argentina, Kramer found himself in the starting lineup. He was given a chance to compete in the championship match. In the first half, Kramer was hit hard in the head by the shoulder of an Argentinean player while they both went for the ball. Kramer fell to the ground, hard. He was clearly injured. But he stayed in the game because he could still walk, and was not bleeding.   Finally, after playing 13 minutes without understanding what game this was or where he was playing, Kramer was replaced. He went to the sidelines while another German player took the field. Germany went on to win the game and the World Cup title. Later that year, in an appearance on a German television show, Kramer and his teammates joked about what happened. But he had suffered a serious head injury. It was not a joke. A new report accuses FIFA, football’s governing body, of not taking head injuries seriously. The article was published in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The article said 61 players had at least one head collision in the 64 matches of the 2014 World Cup. There were 81 total collisions. Only 12 times did players who might have suffered a head injury get a proper examination. The head injury Kramer suffered is called a concussion. It happens when the brain hits the skull, the bone inside the head. A concussion is hard for trained medical specialists to confirm. It is an internal injury and, most of the time, a football player can stay on his feet. But the article argues that when a player looks like he may have suffered a concussion, doctors should take a close look at him right away, for at least seven minutes. People who have concussions are slow to get up. They often do not know where they are, hold their head in their hands and have trouble keeping their balance. Michael Cusimano works as a neurosurgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada. Cusimano is an expert on the central nervous system, including the brain. He helped to prepare the journal article. In the 2014 World Cup, Cusimano said, there were only two collisions where he could be “happy and confident” that the players were getting good care. That finding goes against the Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport, which FIFA signed. The statement says any player showing signs of a concussion should leave the game and be examined right away. That did not happen. Cusimano wondered why team coaches and trainers will remove a player who hurts his knee but not his head. FIFA officials did not speak with VOA about the report. But the organization noted a recent rule change that permits stoppage of play for up to three minutes so an injured player can be examined. But Cusimano says three minutes is not enough. Sometimes it takes longer to be sure a player is in good health. He also wants to be sure an independent doctor looks at the players. Team doctors can feel pressure to send an injured player back into the game. Some people say football organizations must make another rule change: teams should be able to use a replacement player while doctors attend to the injured. A FIFA spokesman said protecting the health of players “is a top priority in developing the game.” Cusimano said he and the other researchers chose the World Cup for their study because so many people watch the games. They felt that if FIFA makes a change for football’s championship, other sports organizations will follow. “The whole world is watching,” Cusimano said. “FIFA has all the ability to do this properly.” I’m Dan Friedell.   Ben Thompson wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you think FIFA does enough for players who might have head injuries? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   match – n. a contest between two or more players or teams collision – n. a crash involving two or more things (or people) internal – adj. existing or occurring within your body confident – adj. certain that something will happen or that something is true consensus – n. a general agreement about something : an idea or opinion that is shared by all the people in a group priority – n. something that is more important than other things and that needs to be done or dealt with first properly – adv. in a way that is acceptable or suitable

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English @ the Movies: 'Time Flies When You're Having fun'

Here on English @ the Movies we have the saying "time flies when you're having fun," from the movie "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets." It is about two agents trying to save life from a thousand planets. Take our quiz and see if you know what "time flies when you're having fun" means!

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Trump, Moon Show Unity Against North Korea

President Donald Trump says the United States can no longer be patient with North Korea. Trump spoke after meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the White House Friday. Their talks lasted 30 minute longer than officials planned. "The era of strategic patience with the North Korean regime has failed," the U.S. leader said. "Many years and it's failed, and frankly, that patience is over." Trump was speaking about the U.S. government’s policy for dealing with North Korea during the presidency of Barack Obama. The Obama administration chose to isolate North Korea while increasing sanctions as a way of forcing it to return to disarmament talks. Yet the North Korean government has continued to carry out nuclear and missile tests. The country’s leadership sees the programs as important to their survival. On Friday, President Trump promised what he called a "determined response" against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. Trump and Moon differ over exactly how much to pressure the North into giving up its weapons programs. Both leaders also have criticized parts of defense cooperation between their countries. But on Friday the two men presented a united front. Moon said they were able to agree on a series of issues from defense ties to the North Korean nuclear program. "The North Korean nuclear issue must be resolved without fail," he added. The meeting was the first between Trump and Moon, a liberal human rights lawyer who took office last month. The talks were closely watched, not only because of the personality differences between the two men, but also for possible areas of disagreement. During the 2016 election campaign, presidential candidate Trump criticized South Korean trade policies. He also said that South Korea and other U.S. allies are not paying enough for defense protection from U.S. forces. On Friday, Trump told Moon that the U.S. "will always defend our allies." But he added that there needs to be "fair burden-sharing in South Korea." On trade, Trump said the existing trade agreement between the countries has been difficult for the U.S. He added that he is working to create a fair economic relationship with South Korea. Since the current trade deal went into effect in 2012, the U.S. trade deficit with Seoul has doubled. "Not exactly a great deal," Trump said on Friday.   I’m Jonathan Evans.   William Gallo wrote this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted his report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   strategic – adj. useful or important in executing a plan regime – n. a government in power isolate – v. to set apart or separate from others sanction – n. an action taken by one or more nations to make another country obey a rule determined – adj. firm; having reached a decision response – n. an answer or reaction   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Lesson 27: I Can't Come In

Summary Anna does not feel well. She calls her boss and her doctor. What do they tell her to do? And will she follow their advice? Speaking Learn to pronounce the new words for this lesson. You also learn about irregular past tense verbs. ​ Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how to ask two kinds of questions: WH-questions and Yes/No questions. Conversation   Anna: Hello! I am sure that today, in Washington, D.C,. there are a lot of great things to do.  But I am not doing any of them. I am sick. Right now, I'm going to call my boss and tell her I cannot come in to work. Caty: Hello? Anna: Ms. Weaver, Hi. I can’t come to work today. Caty: Why not? What is wrong? Anna: Well, yesterday I felt fine. Anna: In the morning, I painted for hours. In the afternoon, I cut wood. Then, I built a fire. Caty: Anna, what do you mean? Why can’t you come to work today? Anna: I do not feel well. I think I’m sick. Caty: I’m sorry to hear that. I was sick last week, too. I had the flu. Anna: (sneezes) What did you do? Caty: I slept a lot and I drank a lot of water. Do you have a doctor? Anna: Yes, I do. Caty: You should call your doctor. And get lots of rest! Anna: Thanks, Ms. Weaver. I’ll call right now. I'm calling my doctor. Dr. Bennett: (to herself) Now, where does this thing go? Dr. Bennett: Hello. This is Dr. Bennett. How can I help you? Anna: Hello, Dr. Bennett. This is Anna. Dr. Bennett: Oh, Hi, Anna. How can I help you? Anna: I think I’m sick. Dr. Bennett: Let me ask you a couple of questions. Do you have a sore throat? Anna: Yes. I have a sore throat. Dr. Bennett: Do you have a cough? Anna: Yes. I have a cough. Dr. Bennett: When did you start feeling sick? Anna: This morning. Yesterday I felt great. In the morning I painted, for hours - in the afternoon I cut wood - Dr. Bennett: Excuse me, Anna. But I don’t need to know all that. Do you have a fever? Anna: Oh. My thermometer says 125 degrees?! What?? Dr. Bennett: Yeah, that’s not right. Anna: Oh. Wait. The thermometer was in my hot cup of coffee. Dr. Bennett: Please take it again, Anna. Anna: Okay, the thermometer says 100.5 degrees. Dr. Bennett: 100.5 degrees is not too high. I want you to drink lots of water. Rest in bed and get lots of sleep. Anna: That is what my boss said to do. Um, Dr. Bennett, when can I go to work? Dr. Bennett: Don’t go to work for a couple of days. Anna: Yes! I mean, I don’t want to make my co-workers sick. Dr. Bennett: That’s right. Call me back in a couple of days. Anna: I will, Dr. Bennett. And thanks. Anna: Well, you heard the doctor – no work for a couple of days. I need water, sleep and um … lots of movies! Well, the doctor didn’t say anything about movies. But it can’t hurt! Until next time! Writing What happens when you get the flu? Does your family have a special way to get well again?  Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about health problems with a friend. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Analyze Information. When we are learning a second language, we can think carefully about the new information we learn, and make a decision. That is what analyzing information means. In the video, Dr. Bennett asks Anna many questions. Then she analyzes the information she learned. She tells Anna to stay home, drink water and sleep.  Can you find another time in the video when someone analyzes information? Write to tell us about it in an email or in the Comments section. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more on how to teach this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz.  ______________________________________________________________ New Words cough - n. the act of forcing air through your throat with a short, loud noise often because you are sick doctor - n. a person who is skilled in the science of medicine fever - n. a body temperature that is higher than normal fire - n. the light and heat and especially the flame produced by burning flu - n. a common disease that is caused by a virus and that causes fever, weakness, body aches, and breathing problems; also called influenza rest -v. to stop doing work or an activity sick - adj. affected with a disease or illness; ill sneeze - v. to suddenly force air out through your nose and mouth with a usually loud noise because your body is reacting to dust or a sickness sore - adj. feeling or affected by pain thermometer - n. an instrument used for measuring temperature throat - n. the tube inside the neck that leads to the stomach and lungs wood - n. the hard substance that makes up the stems and branches of trees and shrubs Past Tense Verbs cut / cut - v. to use a sharp tool (such as a knife) to open or divide (something, such as paper or wood) do / did - v. to perform an action or activity drink / drank - v. to take a liquid into your mouth and swallow it feel / felt - v. used to describe someone's physical or mental state hear / heard - v. to be aware of (sound) through the ear hurt / hurt - v. to be a source or cause of pain paint / painted - v. to cover (something) with paint or to put paint on (something) say / said - v. to use your voice to express (something) with words sleep / slept- v. to rest your mind and body by closing your eyes and becoming unconscious ______________________________________________________________ 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 talking about health problems.   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 focus: Irregular past tense verbs Topics: Asking about health problems; giving advice for health problems Learning Strategy: Analyze Information Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Wh-questions and Yes/No question intonation; Groups of verbs with irregular past tense forms ______________________________________________________________ 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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