New Vaccination Method Protects Against Influenza

  Most people think of influenza as a common health problem -- not a serious condition. Yet an influenza infection can be deadly, especially in older adults, young children and people with weak or failing health. Every year, less than half of all adult Americans who should have a flu vaccine actually get one. The vaccine is injected into the muscle of the upper arm. The injection is painful. It can leave redness on the skin and cause swelling, temporarily enlarging the area. In the United States, flu season usually begins in late autumn and continues until spring. Now, scientists have developed a treatment that may soon take the pain out of flu vaccines. And, they hope it will increase the percentage of Americans getting flu shots. Nadine Rouphael is a professor of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. She was the lead investigator for clinical testing of the influenza skin patch. Rouphael explained that the patch has very small needles that contain the flu vaccine. She said the needles completely melt into the skin and do not leave any sharp waste afterward. Patients wear the patch for just a few minutes. Then, the material can be thrown away. The clinical tests took place in June 2015 and involved 100 patients. They were from 18 to 49 years old. None had received a flu vaccine during the most recent influenza season. The patients were divided into four groups. Health care providers or patients put on the influenza patches. Some of the patients also received the vaccine by injection. The fourth group was given a placebo, or harmless substance. Whether the patch was put on the skin by a health care provider or by a patient, Rouphael says it was as safe and effective as the common needle injection. There were few harmful effects, including a small amount of redness and swelling, which lasted a few days. The findings were reported in The Lancet. The investigators wrote in their report that, six months after the vaccination, both the common needle and patch methods offered similar protection. Nadine Rouphael says the patients who used the patch liked it. "We do have a lot of people that are typically scared of needles and they're more prone or were more excited about being part of this clinical trial so they could try the microneedle instead." Rouphael says 70 percent of those who used the patch liked it more than an injection. The patch does not need to be kept in cool place. So Rouphael says it could be sold in stores or mailed to patients. The fact that it is painless, she notes, means more people will probably get vaccinated against the seasonal flu virus. The Global Center for Medical Innovation manufactures the patch. The company is also investigating using the technology for other vaccines, including for measles, mumps and rubella.    I'm Alice Bryant.   Jessica Berman wrote this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   clinical – adj. of or relating to a medical treatment patch - n. a piece of material that is worn for medical reasons needle – n. a very thin, pointed tube that is pushed through the skin so that something, such as a drug, can be put into your body or so that blood or other fluids can be taken from it prone – adj. likely to do, have, or suffer from something

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Myanmar Journalists Face Legal Fears, Restrictions on Movement

Officials in Myanmar arrested three reporters late last month after they attended a drug burning ceremony.  The event marked the observance of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.  The Ta'ang National Liberation Army had held the ceremony in northern Shan State. The army, an ethnic militia, has been officially described as an illegal group. The three journalists were charged under the Unlawful Associations Act. The military has used this law to cut off support for rebels and to frighten media organizations that operated in exile before the move to democratic rule. At a press event Thursday, Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi spoke about the journalists. The Nobel Prize winner said their arrests should not be seen as a problem between the media and the military. Instead, she said, the situation should be seen as a question of whether existing laws are just and democratic. Aung San Suu Kyi said that if existing laws are not helpful to justice and democracy, then the judiciary should try to change them. But, she said, the administration cannot intervene in judicial issues. “Rule of law means they have to be, first of all, just laws,” she said. The journalists are set to go on trial July 10. Each could get three years in prison if found guilty. Rights activists say the Unlawful Associations Act is one of many laws used to stop political opposition, especially by ethnic minority groups. During years of military rule, the government used the act to detain people linked to rebel groups. The law continues to be used to jail those accused of contact with rebel forces in states facing ethnic separatist civil war. Officially, Myanmar ended press censorship in 2012. But the reality for the media has been quite different. In 2015, for example, the military warned the media not to broadcast statements made by the rebel Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army. Those doing so would "face action under the law," it said. In 2014, journalist Ko Par Gyi was reporting on clashes in Mon State when he was detained and killed while being held by the military. The recent arrests come as Myanmar reporters and rights groups urge the government to remove another law often used against journalists: Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act. Article 66(d) bans the use of telecommunications to insult people. Violators could be fined and receive a sentence of up to three years in prison. Journalists and rights groups accuse military officers and government officials of using this measure against people who write about them on social media. Aung San Suu Kyi told reporters on Thursday the national parliament has begun to work on changes to Article 66(d). I'm Alice Bryant.   This story contains information from reports by VOA News and Radio Free Asia. Alice Bryant adapted them for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   illicit - adj. unlawful of illegal trafficking - n (gerund).  the act or business of illegally buying something and selling it especially in another country censorship - n. the act of policy of limiting freedom of speech judiciary - n. judges; courts of law

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English in a Minute: Buckle Down

A "buckle" is a device that connects one thing to another. But the conversational phrasal verb "buckle down" means something different. Learn how to use this phrase in this week's EIM!

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Lesson 30: Rolling on the River

Summary Anna plans to have a dinner party. She needs to buy seafood, so she goes to the waterfront. She gets a surprise at the fish market. Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words for this lesson. You can also learn about how to use count and noncount nouns. Pronunciation Use this video to learn about the abbreviations for dozen and pounds. Conversation Anna: Hello! Washington, D.C. sits on the Potomac River. This river is important to the history and culture of the city. Today, I am at an outdoor seafood market near the Potomac River. Some say it is the oldest outdoor seafood market in the United States! I am here to buy seafood. Let’s see what they have! Anna: Excuse me. Can you help me? Pete: Sure! What do you need? Anna: Pete!  Pete: Anna! Anna: What are you doing here? Pete: I work here. You know, it’s not easy to be a writer. Anna: Yeah, I heard that. Sorry. Pete: But this job is great. I work outside by the river. And I can eat all the free seafood I want! Anna: That is great, Pete. In fact, I am here to buy some seafood for my dinner party. Pete: You came to the right place. They have the freshest seafood in town. How much money can you spend? Anna: I can only spend $50. Pete: Okay. What do you want? Anna: First, I want to buy some shrimp. Pete: Sure thing. Follow me. How much shrimp do you want? Anna: How much do I need for five people? Pete: (yells to co-worker) Give her a pound of shrimp! Anna: Ok, now I want to buy some crabs. Pete: The crabs here are delicious! They are the best because they come from the nearby Chesapeake Bay! Walk this way. Pete: How many crabs do you want? Anna: I want a dozen crabs. Pete: You should get the larger crabs. They have the most meat. Anna: Then I want a dozen large crabs, please! Pete: Is that everything you need? Anna: Let’s see … I have shrimp and crabs. And a friend is bringing a salad and many ears of corn-on-the-cob. Pete: Is that all the seafood that you need? Anna: Yes. Pete: That’ll be $49.95. Cash or credit? Anna: Credit, please. Pete: Anna, you love to eat seafood. Did you grow up on the water? Anna: No, I didn’t. But I love the water. And I love being on the water. Pete: You know how to sail? Anna: Well … this afternoon I am going on a boat. Pete: You are full of surprises. What kind of boat? Is it a motorboat or a sailboat? Anna: It’s a special boat, Pete. Well, thanks for your help. See you later! Pete: See you, Anna! Wow, Anna’s a sailor! Who knew? Anna: Yes, rivers are important to the history and culture of Washington, D.C. And now I am part of this city’s interesting waterfront culture. Until next time! Writing Where do you buy fresh food? Is there a seafood or vegetable market near where you live? Tell us about it! Try to use some of the words from this lesson, like best, freshest, oldest, spend, money, and larger. Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice using comparative and superlative adjectives 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 Make Inferences . Making inferences means using some information to make a guess. When learning a new language, we often need to guess at the meanings of words or sentences. In this week's video, Pete guesses that Anna grew up on the water.  He says, "Anna, you love to eat seafood. Did you grow on near the water?"  Anna answers, "No, I didn’t. But I love the water. And I love being on the water."  Pete hears that and uses the information to make an inference about Anna. He asks her, "You know how to sail?" Can you find another place in the conversation when Pete makes an inference?  Do you ever make inferences when listening to or reading English? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan  for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ​______________________________________________________________ New Words best - adj. better than all others in quality or value Chesapeake Bay- n. an inlet of the Atlantic, in Maryland and Virginia. It is 200 miles (or 320 km) long; and from 4–40 miles (or 6–64 km) wide. corn-on-the-cob - n. corn when cooked and eaten straight from the cob - the part of corn that the kernels grow on; an ear of corn . crab - n. a sea animal that has a hard shell, eight legs, and two large claws credit - n. money that a bank or business will allow a person to use and then pay back in the future dozen - n. a group of 12 people or things ear - n.  the part of a corn plant on which the seeds grow freshest - adj. the most fresh many - adj. used to refer to a large number of things or people much - adj. large in amount or extent larger - adj. greater in size or amount market - n. a place where products are bought and sold money - n. something (such as coins or bills) used as a way to pay for goods and services and to pay people for their work most - adj. almost all or the majority of motorboat - n. a boat with a motor oldest - adj. having the highest age of a group Potomac River - proper noun. a river flowing from West Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay. It flows between Maryland and Virginia. pound - n. a unit of weight that is equal to 16 ounces or about a half of a kilogram river - n.  a large natural flow of water that crosses an area of land and goes into an ocean or a lake sail - v. to travel on water in a ship or boat sail - n. large piece of strong cloth that is connected to a ship or boat and that is used to catch the wind that moves the ship or boat through the water sailboat - n.  a boat that has a sail sailor - n. a person who works on a boat or ship as part of the crew salad - n.  a mixture of raw green vegetables, such as different types of lettuce, usually combined with other raw vegetables seafood - n. fish and shellfish that live in the ocean and are used for food some - adj.  refers to an unspecified amount or number spend - v. to use money to pay for something water - n. an area of water such as a lake, river, or ocean waterfront - n. the land or the part of a town next to the water of an ocean, river or lake. ______________________________________________________________ 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 comparative and superlative adjectives. 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:  Comparative and superlative adjectives; Quantitatives (much/many); Count/non-count nouns Topics:  Asking for and making food recommendations; Units of measure & their abbreviations; dollar amounts expressed in numerals; credit/debit payment Learning Strategy: Make Inferences Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Using count and noncount nouns;  Abbreviations for amounts ______________________________________________________________ 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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Dubai to Put Self-Driving Police Vehicles on Streets

  Dubai is the commercial capital of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf. But officials want to turn it into the world’s “smartest” city. Earlier this year, Dubai announced plans to be the world’s first city to use self-flying taxis. In June, it placed the first robot police officer at shopping centers and places popular with visitors. Dubai police officials now say they plan to deploy self-driving vehicles to patrol city streets by the end of the year. Dubai will be the first in the world to deploy the O-R3 vehicle, according to the Singapore company that builds it. The company, OTSAW Digital, recently signed an agreement with the Dubai Police force to supply the driverless robots. The vehicles look a lot like most other automobiles, but are much smaller. They are equipped with cameras, machine learning tools and 3D technology to help them operate independently. The robots automatically charge themselves when power gets low. The vehicle’s cameras can scan faces and record registration information to check for criminals and possible illegal activity. A police official said the robot can recognize people in any area. It will be used to “identify suspicious objects” and follow suspects. “We seek to augment operations with the help of technology such as robots,” said Dubai’s police chief. “We always search for the best technology to serve our police work for a safer and smarter city.” The O-R3 can communicate with computers at police centers in different locations. The patrolling robot is able to send data and video to the centers, where operators can control the vehicle remotely. The vehicles can also work together with drones that can be launched from the back of the robot. The drones can then follow the vehicle and provide support from the air.   The CEO of OTSAW Digital, Ting Ming Ling, says the use of such vehicles is designed to help humans with their jobs, not replace them. “Ultimately, robots exist to improve the quality of human lives - where men take on high value jobs while robots perform the low skilled ones,” he said. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on information from Dubai Police, Gulf News and other sources. Hai Do was the editor. Do you think driverless vehicles can help police do their jobs? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   patrol – v. drive or walk through an area scan – v. look around an area to find a person or thing suspicious – adj. not trusting someone augment – v. increase or add to remotely – n. from a distance or another location drone – n. kind of aircraft that does not carry a pilot or passengers ultimately – adv. at the end of a process  

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'The Last Leaf,' by O. Henry

  Our story today is called "The Last Leaf." It was written by O. Henry. Here is Barbara Klein with the story. Many artists lived in the Greenwich Village area of New York. Two young women named Sue and Johnsy shared a studio apartment at the top of a three-story building. Johnsy's real name was Joanna. In November, a cold, unseen stranger came to visit the city. This disease, pneumonia, killed many people. Johnsy lay on her bed, hardly moving. She looked through the small window. She could see the side of the brick house next to her building. One morning, a doctor examined Johnsy and took her temperature. Then he spoke with Sue in another room. "She has one chance in -- let us say ten," he said. "And that chance is for her to want to live. Your friend has made up her mind that she is not going to get well. Has she anything on her mind?" "She -- she wanted to paint the Bay of Naples in Italy some day," said Sue. "Paint?" said the doctor. "Bosh! Has she anything on her mind worth thinking twice -- a man for example?" "A man?" said Sue. "Is a man worth -- but, no, doctor; there is nothing of the kind." "I will do all that science can do," said the doctor. "But whenever my patient begins to count the carriages at her funeral, I take away fifty percent from the curative power of medicines." After the doctor had gone, Sue went into the workroom and cried. Then she went to Johnsy's room with her drawing board, whistling ragtime. Johnsy lay with her face toward the window. Sue stopped whistling, thinking she was asleep. She began making a pen and ink drawing for a story in a magazine. Young artists must work their way to "Art" by making pictures for magazine stories. Sue heard a low sound, several times repeated. She went quickly to the bedside. Johnsy's eyes were open wide. She was looking out the window and counting -- counting backward. "Twelve," she said, and a little later "eleven"; and then "ten" and "nine;" and then "eight" and "seven," almost together. Sue looked out the window. What was there to count? There was only an empty yard and the blank side of the house seven meters away. An old ivy vine, going bad at the roots, climbed half way up the wall. The cold breath of autumn had stricken leaves from the plant until its branches, almost bare, hung on the bricks. "What is it, dear?" asked Sue. "Six," said Johnsy, quietly. "They're falling faster now. Three days ago there were almost a hundred. It made my head hurt to count them. But now it's easy. There goes another one. There are only five left now." "Five what, dear?" asked Sue. "Leaves. On the plant. When the last one falls I must go, too. I've known that for three days. Didn't the doctor tell you?" "Oh, I never heard of such a thing," said Sue. "What have old ivy leaves to do with your getting well? And you used to love that vine. Don't be silly. Why, the doctor told me this morning that your chances for getting well real soon were -- let's see exactly what he said – he said the chances were ten to one! Try to eat some soup now. And, let me go back to my drawing, so I can sell it to the magazine and buy food and wine for us." "You needn't get any more wine," said Johnsy, keeping her eyes fixed out the window. "There goes another one. No, I don't want any soup. That leaves just four. I want to see the last one fall before it gets dark. Then I'll go, too." "Johnsy, dear," said Sue, "will you promise me to keep your eyes closed, and not look out the window until I am done working? I must hand those drawings in by tomorrow." "Tell me as soon as you have finished," said Johnsy, closing her eyes and lying white and still as a fallen statue. "I want to see the last one fall. I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of thinking. I want to turn loose my hold on everything, and go sailing down, down, just like one of those poor, tired leaves." "Try to sleep," said Sue. "I must call Mister Behrman up to be my model for my drawing of an old miner. Don't try to move until I come back." Old Behrman was a painter who lived on the ground floor of the apartment building. Behrman was a failure in art. For years, he had always been planning to paint a work of art, but had never yet begun it. He earned a little money by serving as a model to artists who could not pay for a professional model. He was a fierce, little, old man who protected the two young women in the studio apartment above him. Sue found Behrman in his room. In one area was a blank canvas that had been waiting twenty-five years for the first line of paint. Sue told him about Johnsy and how she feared that her friend would float away like a leaf. Old Behrman was angered at such an idea. "Are there people in the world with the foolishness to die because leaves drop off a vine? Why do you let that silly business come in her brain?" "She is very sick and weak," said Sue, "and the disease has left her mind full of strange ideas." "This is not any place in which one so good as Miss Johnsy shall lie sick," yelled Behrman. "Some day I will paint a masterpiece, and we shall all go away." Johnsy was sleeping when they went upstairs. Sue pulled the shade down to cover the window. She and Behrman went into the other room. They looked out a window fearfully at the ivy vine. Then they looked at each other without speaking. A cold rain was falling, mixed with snow. Behrman sat and posed as the miner. The next morning, Sue awoke after an hour's sleep. She found Johnsy with wide-open eyes staring at the covered window. "Pull up the shade; I want to see," she ordered, quietly. Sue obeyed. After the beating rain and fierce wind that blew through the night, there yet stood against the wall one ivy leaf. It was the last one on the vine. It was still dark green at the center. But its edges were colored with the yellow. It hung bravely from the branch about seven meters above the ground. "It is the last one," said Johnsy. "I thought it would surely fall during the night. I heard the wind. It will fall today and I shall die at the same time." "Dear, dear!" said Sue, leaning her worn face down toward the bed. "Think of me, if you won't think of yourself. What would I do?" But Johnsy did not answer. The next morning, when it was light, Johnsy demanded that the window shade be raised. The ivy leaf was still there. Johnsy lay for a long time, looking at it. And then she called to Sue, who was preparing chicken soup. "I've been a bad girl," said Johnsy. "Something has made that last leaf stay there to show me how bad I was. It is wrong to want to die. You may bring me a little soup now." An hour later she said: "Someday I hope to paint the Bay of Naples." Later in the day, the doctor came, and Sue talked to him in the hallway. "Even chances," said the doctor. "With good care, you'll win. And now I must see another case I have in your building. Behrman, his name is -- some kind of an artist, I believe. Pneumonia, too. He is an old, weak man and his case is severe. There is no hope for him; but he goes to the hospital today to ease his pain." The next day, the doctor said to Sue: "She's out of danger. You won. Nutrition and care now -- that's all." Later that day, Sue came to the bed where Johnsy lay, and put one arm around her. "I have something to tell you, white mouse," she said. "Mister Behrman died of pneumonia today in the hospital. He was sick only two days.  They found him the morning of the first day in his room downstairs helpless with pain. His shoes and clothing were completely wet and icy cold. They could not imagine where he had been on such a terrible night. And then they found a lantern, still lighted. And they found a ladder that had been moved from its place. And art supplies and a painting board with green and yellow colors mixed on it. And look out the window, dear, at the last ivy leaf on the wall. Didn't you wonder why it never moved when the wind blew? Ah, darling, it is Behrman's masterpiece – he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell."   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. How much would you risk to help another person? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   apartment – n. a usually rented room or set of rooms that is part of a building and is used as a place to live pneumonia – n. a serious disease that affects the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe carriage – n. a large vehicle with four wheels that is pulled by a horse and that carries people drawing – n. a picture, image, etc., that is made by making lines on a surface with a pencil, pen, marker, chalk, but usually not with paint leaf – n. one of the flat and typically green parts of a plant that grow from a stem or twig ladder – n. a device used for climbing that has two long pieces of wood, metal, or rope with a series of steps or rungs between them

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Bill Seeks More Training for High-Demand Jobs

  America is expected to face a shortage of workers in some jobs. Some lawmakers, however, are worried that not enough people are being trained to be able to do the work. For example, in 2024, America will need 9.2 million wind turbine workers -- twice as many as in 2014. The United States also will need millions of additional health workers. People are needed to do the work of physical therapists, home health aides and nurse practitioners. The information about America’s future job needs comes from a recent report by the United States Labor Department. It was a desire to prepare people to fill these high-demand jobs that led the House of Representatives to pass a bill to update a 1984 law. The 33-year-old law sets federal policy for education that prepares people for jobs, many of which require technical skills. The new bill gives America’s 50 state governments more freedom on how they can use federal money to prepare people for jobs. Supporters of the legislation say it encourages states to work more closely with local business leaders. The goal is to set up classes and programs that better prepare people for jobs in which demand for workers is expected to be highest. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx is a Republican from the southern U.S. state of North Carolina. She also is chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Foxx said about 6 million jobs are now going unfilled because they require technical skills and knowledge most people looking for work do not have. “If we want to help participants move from government assistance and hold a job, then we must set them on a path toward jobs and industries that are currently and will remain competitive,” Foxx said. Bill passes House, but needs Senate approval The House of Representatives passed the bill, called the “Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce Act,” by a vote of 377 to 34. The bill now must pass the Senate before it can go to the White House for President Donald Trump’s approval or veto. Some Democrats said the bill is helpful. But they say it does not do enough to prepare people for technical and health jobs. Congressman Lloyd Doggett is a Democrat from the American southwestern state of Texas. He said, “This one very modest bill that does not add one new dollar to address the challenges that those who want to rise from welfare to work need.” The bill sets aside $100 million from a current job training program for one year, Doggett said. At a House hearing in February, some people suggested that students are not being encouraged to sign up for job training programs offered by two-year colleges. Instead, most students are encouraged to enter four-year colleges that often do not provide technical job training. Mike Rowe heads mikeroweWORKS Foundation, an organization that helps people seeking job skills. He also is a host of the television shows “Dirty Jobs” and “Somebody’s Gotta Do It.” He spoke about his own career training during a February hearing of the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. “A four-year school would have been a huge mistake at that point in my life. I was 17-years-old. I had no money and I had no idea what I wanted to do. The local community college offered hundreds of courses in my price range, so that’s where I went. And that experience opened doors, I didn’t even know existed...” The Labor Department reported that employers are expected to increase hiring in health care, including eye and ear care. Other high-demand jobs include truck drivers, personal finance advisors and internet developers. I'm Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English.  Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Do you think your education is helping prepare you for a job once you graduate? ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   wind turbine - n. a tall structure that has large blades attached to an engine and that is used to produce electricity physical therapist - n. a worker whose job it is to help people with physical pain or health needs nurse practitioner - n. a nurse who is trained to do some of the things a doctor does -- such as give physical exams or order certain medical tests encourage - v. to make someone more determined, hopeful, or confident participant - n. a person who is involved in an activity or event accelerate - v. to move faster modest - adj. not very large in effect or impact challenges - n. to test the ability, skill, or strength of someone welfare - n. a program that provides financial assistance to very poor people

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Brazilian Teenager Signs Contract With Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays

Major League Baseball’s website says the Toronto Blue Jays signed Eric Pardinho, a teenager from Brazil, on July 2. Pardinho is a pitcher. He can throw a baseball over 145 kilometers per hour. That is just about the average speed of a fast pitch in Major League Baseball. But Pardinho should get even better. After all, he is only 16. If Pardinho makes it to the major leagues, he will be only the fourth Brazilian-born player to play at that level. Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes was the first. Pardinho was rated as the fifth-best international prospect by MLBPipeline.com. He throws right-handed and is only 1.72 meters tall, which is short for a pitcher. He received over $1 million for agreeing to play in the Blue Jays’ organization. Pardinho said he was six years old when he started playing. His uncle saw him playing paddleball on the beach and thought he might make a good baseball player. So when they returned to their hometown of Bastos, they started practicing. While baseball is not well-known in Brazil, Bastos has a large Japanese influence, and baseball is a popular sport in Japan. Pardinho’s grandparents on his mother’s side of the family are Japanese. Pardinho started getting attention in 2016 when he pitched against the Dominican Republic in the under-16 Pan Am Games. He struck out 12 batters in the game, which means he threw three strikes to each batter. The Dominican Republic has a strong baseball tradition. Many Brazilian coaches see Pardinho as a player who could help the national baseball team make the Olympics when the sport returns at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Baseball players who have batted against Pardinho say he is very good, even though he is short. Victor Coutinho said: “his height doesn’t matter, because his arm can do wonders.” Pardinho’s coach is Mitsuyoshi Sato. He helps Pardinho improve and get stronger, but he also makes sure the prospect does not throw too often. “I don’t want him to do too many fastballs now because I worry about a possible injury,” he said. Pardinho thinks he could make baseball more popular in Brazil if he goes on to have a good career. “Maybe more and more Brazilians, not only those of Japanese heritage, will think of playing on a diamond, too,” he said. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports by the Associated Press and MLB.com. Hai Do was the editor. Do you think Eric Pardinho will make it to Major League Baseball one day? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prospect – n. someone or something that is likely to succeed or to be chosen practice – v. to do something again and again in order to become better at it bat – v. to try to hit a ball with a bat in baseball, cricket, or a similar game

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Trump Presses Putin on Russia's Election Interference

  President Donald Trump raised concerns about possible Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election during his first face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday’s meeting began with Trump pressing Putin on the issue. Tillerson spoke to reporters after the meeting in Hamburg, Germany, where Trump and Putin are attending the G-20 summit. He said Putin denied any involvement in efforts to influence the presidential election. The Russian side also asked the U.S. to provide evidence of any alleged interference, according to Tillerson. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave his own description of the talks on election interference. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said Trump had accepted Putin's denial that Moscow was not involved. Putin has repeatedly denied the Russian government took steps to interfere in the election. During an interview last month, he did say it was possible that Russian "patriots" with no ties to the government might have been involved. A U.S. intelligence community report concluded in January that Putin had ordered an influence campaign to target the U.S. election. The report said Russia - through hacks and other measures - sought to harm candidate Hillary Clinton's chances of winning against Trump. The FBI and several congressional committees are currently investigating the issue. The investigations are exploring whether Trump, or any of his team, may have worked with Russian intelligence officials during the presidential campaign. Trump has denied any contacts between his campaign and Russian officials and dismissed the claims as "fake news." Tillerson said Trump was now “rightly focused on how do we move forward from what may be simply an intractable disagreement at this point.” The United States and Russia also announced Friday a cease-fire agreement to take effect July 9 in southwest Syria. Lavrov said the two leaders held “very constructive” talks on other issues, including cybersecurity, Ukraine and North Korea. The talks were expected to go 30 minutes, but ended up lasting more than two hours. Tillerson also described the meeting as “very constructive” and said the two leaders “connected very quickly.” In the past, the United States and Russia have held conflicting views on Syria. But Tillerson said Russia now has an interest in seeing a stable peace in the war-torn nation. The Jordanian government was also involved in the cease-fire agreement.  Trump also met with Mexican president Trump also met face-to-face for the first time in Hamburg with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. “It's great to be with my friend the president of Mexico,” he told reporters before the meeting.   A planned meeting between the two presidents was canceled in January after a Twitter dispute over Trump’s proposal to build a wall on the southern U.S. border to keep out illegal immigrants. Trump repeated Friday a demand made many times before that Mexico should pay for the wall. When asked to comment on the issue, Trump said he “absolutely” still wants Mexico to pay for the wall. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from 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 alleged – adj. said to have happened, but not yet proven patriot – n. person who loves and strongly supports his or her country intractable – adj. not easily managed or solved absolutely – adj. completely, totally  

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English @ the Movies: 'It's Shady'

Our saying at English @ the Movies today is "it's shady." It is from the film "Imperfections." An unemployed actress is working in a jewelry store and someone offers her a deal to make some serious money. Watch the video, take the quiz and see if you know what "it's shady" means!

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America's Presidents - Rutherford B. Hayes

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