Learning English with English Clubs

For many English learners, speaking is the most difficult part of the language to master. To improve your speaking skills, you need to be able to practice with other English learners or English speakers. One way to do this is by joining – or starting – an English club. In today’s Education Tips, we discuss how English clubs can be helpful to your language-learning process. This is part one of a two-part series on English clubs. In this episode, we offer advice for how to start and organize an English club. In next week’s episode, we will suggest some fun and educational activities for your club. English clubs for language learning There are many reasons why English clubs can help learners of all ages and levels improve their English. The most important reason is that they offer learners a chance to practice English by actually speaking it. There are other advantages, too.  English clubs are less formal than a classroom setting. Many learners find them more fun than usual English classes. They also let learners practice English in more real-life situations.  This can increase a learner’s desire to practice and learn on their own. Bonnie Norton and Ernst Von Glasersfeld are learning theory experts. They say that using a language in authentic situations is very important for learners. So is being motivated to practice and improve, they say. Now that you understand some of the benefits of an English club, let’s discus how you can create your own club. ​Starting an English club Step1: Finding club members: The first step in starting an English club is to find club members.  There are different ways to do this. If you are a teacher creating the club for your students, then the easiest way is to put up signs in classrooms advertising the club’s first meeting. You can also pass around a sign-up sheet in classes. If you are trying to start a club at your place of work, you can advertise your club by sending an email around to coworkers. You can also put up signs about the club around the workplace. If your club is open for anyone to join, you can use the internet to find members. Websites such as Meetup or Facebook are great places to announce club meetings and communicate with members. Step 2 – Find a meeting location: Next, you must find a place for your club to meet. This step is very important. The location of your club will affect how many people come to your meetings.  It is important to consider several things when choosing a location.  First, how easy is it for members to find and get to the location? It is a good idea to find a central location that is easy to get to. Otherwise, members may slowly stop coming. Second, it is important to find a location that is safe. You want your members to feel comfortable as they are arriving and leaving. If you are a teacher, the easiest location is probably in a classroom or another room in the school building. English clubs often meet after school or work hours. This can make it easier to find an available room. If you are creating an English club outside of a class or work setting, consider holding meetings at a cafe, restaurant or bar. These places often have enough space for large groups. Club members coming straight from school or work will also have a chance to eat or drink something. Wherever you meet, make sure to speak with the owners of the business or building and get their permission.  ​Step 3 – Holding your first meeting The third step is to hold your first meeting. The first meeting is important for every English club. It is a good idea to use the first meeting as a chance to talk with members about logistics. This includes how often and where the club will meet, whether or not there will be membership fees, and how the club leadership will work. Club leadership Club leadership is one of the most important parts of starting an English club.  If you have a good system of leadership, your club has a better chance at lasting. If your club is small enough, or more informal, sometimes all you need is one person to lead the club. The main responsibility of the one leader is to organize and lead the meetings. The leader also must communicate information to club members. However, if your club is large, it is a good idea to have a group of people that can help run the club. This kind of leadership is useful for many reasons. It divides the amount of work it takes to run a club among several people. It also helps club members practice speaking English with real-life tasks. And, if the members of your club are mostly students, it can help them develop teamwork and leadership skills. It is also important to have rules for the leadership system. For example, how long will club leaders hold their positions? How will they transfer power to someone else if they must quit the club? You should consider holding elections to choose new leaders. Whatever leadership system you choose, the goal of an English club remains the same: to keep your club members motivated to continue participating. So, club leaders should not try to do everything themselves. In fact, it is a good idea to give tasks to many different club members. This makes the members feel important. They are more likely to remain committed to the club. And it can increase their desire to learn. Final thoughts English clubs can take many forms and serve many purposes. Following these steps will help any club have a successful start. Join us next week as we talk about fun and creative activities to do with your newly formed English club. I'm Jill Robbins. And I’m Phil Dierking.   Phil Dierking wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Hello readers! For part two in this series on English clubs, we would love to hear about your experiences and ideas for club activities. We are looking for people who are either in an English club or have had experience with one, or have started an English club. If you fit this description and would like to answer a few questions about your experience for our article, please let us know in the “comments” section below, or on our Facebook page, and we will get in touch with you. Thanks! _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   advantage - n. something (such as a good position or condition) that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others​ authentic  -  adj. real or genuine benefit - n. a good or helpful result or effect​ club - adj. a group of people who meet to participate in an activity committed - adj. willing to give your time, energy, etc., to something​ ​ logistics - n.  the things that must be done to plan and organize a complicated activity or event that involves many people​ motivation - n. the act or process of giving someone a reason for doing something​ task - n. a piece of work that has been given to someone ​

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Pro-Russia Separatists Proclaim New State to Replace Ukraine

  Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine have announced plans to replace Ukraine with a new state. Yet Russian officials played down the announcement. They said the rebel proposal was simply a part of public discussion. Alexander Zakharchenko, head of the self-described Donetsk People’s Republic, talked about the proposal in an appearance on Russian television. He said that rebel fighters in Donetsk, Luhansk and other areas would form a state called Malorossiya. In the Russian language, Malorossiya means “Little Russia.” It was a term used to describe parts of modern-day Ukraine when they were part of the Russian Empire. Zakharchenko said that the proposal is, in his words, “a peaceful way out of a difficult situation without war. “It’s our last proposal,” he added. More than 10,000 people have died in fighting since Russia-supported rebels took control of parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions in April 2014. The fighting started after Russia took control of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine.   Surprise announcement The Associated Press reports that Zakharchenko’s announcement was unexpected. It added to concerns about a 2015 ceasefire agreement that was meant to stop fighting in eastern Ukraine. Leaders from France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia negotiated the agreement in Minsk, Belarus. Under the deal, the rebels would return control of the territories they had captured to Ukraine’s central government. In exchange, the government would permit local elections and give the area the power to self-govern. While the deal helped reduce fighting, none of the political parts of the agreement have been put in place. On Tuesday, the Russian representative at the peace talks in Minsk dismissed the separatists’ announcement. The envoy, Boris Gryzlov, said the proposal does not “fit with the Minsk process.” He also said the announcement does not have “any legal consequences.” While the separatists are believed to be guided by the Russian government, they have made statements in the past that have clearly surprised Russian officials. Zakharchenko made the announcement one day before the peace talks were to re-start in Minsk. Ukraine’s envoy at the talks, Yevhen Marchuk, said the announcement “could block the negotiations entirely.” France and Germany also condemned the proposal. Rebel leaders in Luhansk denied that they were part of the proposal to create a new state. The Luhansk Information Center website reported that a rebel representative said they had not been informed of the plans and have “great doubts about the expediency of such a step.” Throughout the conflict, the rebel-controlled areas have been ruled by self-declared leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk. Separatist leaders in Luhansk, unlike those in Donetsk, have generally not directly expressed plans to join Russia. ‘Puppets’ Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accused Russia of forcing the rebels to make the announcement. He described Zakharchenko and other rebel leaders as “puppets,” whose only job is to voice “the messages they receive from Russia.” Poroshenko said Ukraine still supports the peace talks. Volodymyr Fesenko is a political observer in Kyiv. He said that the Russian government may have influenced Tuesday’s announcement. He said the government may be trying frighten the West with a possibility of Ukraine’s breakup. The Associated Press has reported on Russia’s efforts to support the separatists in Ukraine with money, weapons and new fighters. Russia, however, denies sending Russian troops to fight with the separatists. I’m Ashley Thompson. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   play down - phrasal verb.  to make (something) seem smaller or less important empire - n. a group of countries or regions that are controlled by one ruler or one government envoy ​- n.​ a person who is sent by one government to represent it in dealing with another government​ consequence ​- n.​ something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions​ doubt ​- n.​ a feeling of being uncertain or unsure about something​ expediency ​- n.​ the quality of being an easy and quick way to solve a problem or do something puppet ​- n.​ a person or an organization that is controlled by another person or organization ; a doll that is moved by putting your hand inside it or by pulling strings or wires that are attached to it

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Native American Artists Ask Lawmakers to Stop Fake Art

  Many Native American artists are quitting their trade because they cannot compete with the low prices of fake artwork. William Woody is the top law enforcement official at the Fish and Wildlife Service. He said that possibly as much as 80 percent of Native American art is actually not made by Native Americans. Instead it is made in countries like the Philippines. Woody said it is difficult to confirm how much art is fake, but Native Americans artists are concerned. They have called on the United States government to take action against people who produce fake artwork. U.S. Senators from New Mexico, Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, heard evidence from Native American artists earlier on July 7. Udall is the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.   Harvey Pratt is a Southern Cheyenne artist. He said, “When Indian artists are undercut by the sale of fake Indian art, the integrity of authentic Indian art and artists suffers. We are being robbed economically, culturally, and spiritually.” Native American art is popular worldwide. It drives many tribal economies. The annual Santa Fe Indian Market hosts over 1,000 Native American artists from tribes across the United States. The market and festival lasts about a week. Dallin Maybee is the chief operating officer of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA). He is both Northern Arapaho and Seneca. He said the market brings about $80 million to New Mexico. He said, “The Native American art industry generates millions of dollars a year throughout North America.” The First Peoples Fund helps support Native American artists. They estimate that about one third of all Native Americans are involved in traditional arts. Many live in poorer areas where there are not many people. They often depend on art sales. “But with all these knock-offs that have flooded the market, Indians can’t sell their product,” artist Harvey Pratt told VOA. “So what ends up happening is that artists just quit making art, because they can no longer make a living doing it. And what this means is that they lose touch with their traditions.” Udall said fake Native American art is a “serious problem” that has gone on for many years. He said Congress needs to see if the Indian Arts and Crafts Act can be strengthened. The act was passed in 1935 and amended twice. It bans the display or sale of art that falsely claims to be Native American. In early July, a case about fake Native American art was heard in New Mexico. Four people were accused of selling fake Native American jewelry. The jewelry was actually made in the Philippines. If they are convicted, the suspects could face a fine of $250,000, up to five years in prison or both. Cases involving fake Native American art are often not brought to trial. Udall said that there are only two enforcement officers that investigate fake Native American art. Udall said, “We must take action to stop this assault on artists' ability to carry on deeply significant traditions that have helped hold families and communities together for generations.” U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement officials are trained to keep stolen cultural artifacts and fake electronics from entering the country. However, Pratt said, there are no programs to stop fake Native American art at the border. He added that there are few people who know enough about Native American art to identify fake artwork. Pratt said, “You’ve got to have an investigative body, somebody that has expertise to run this stuff down at the border.” I’m Olivia Liu. And I’m Mario Ritter.   Cecily Hilleary reported this story for VOA News. Olivia Liu adapted the story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fake –adj. false, not real undercut –v. to sell something at a lower cost than another person or business integrity –n. the quality of being real, true or honest authentic –adj. real generate –v. to make knock-offs –n. fake products assault –n. an attack or the threat of an attack artifacts –n. things made by people in the past expertise –n. special knowledge of a certain field of study or a special skill We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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US Will Add 15,000 Temporary Work Visas

  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will make an additional 15,000 H-2B visas available for American companies to hire low-wage foreign workers. In a written statement on Monday, DHS Secretary John Kelly called the move a "one-time increase.” President Donald Trump has supported a policy called "Hire American.” He wants U.S. companies to hire American workers instead of foreign ones. He has also repeatedly called to limit immigration. But a DHS spokesperson said without the extra foreign workers, some U.S. businesses could suffer "irreparable harm." In order to hire foreign workers through the visa program, businesses must show there are not enough U.S. workers "able, willing, qualified, and available" for the jobs. The H-2B visa The H-2B visa is a temporary work visa for foreign workers to work in the United States at non-agriculture jobs. The U.S. limits these visas to 66,000 per year. That limit has already been reached for 2017. According to the State Department, there were 85,000 H-2B visas issued in 2015. This was due to some returning workers being able to receive exemptions from the limit. Congress, however, did not renew the returnees’ exemptions when they expired last fall. Some U.S. industries, like the tourism industry, depend heavily on seasonal workers. They say they have struggled to hire enough people since the H-2B visa exemptions expired. To address this problem, Congress recently permitted the Department of Homeland Security to go over the 66,000-visa limit. The new rules will be published in the General Register later this week. Businesses will then be able to petition for additional visas. President Donald Trump’s business has used the H-2B visa program to staff his private club Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Trump has also used the club to host visiting heads of state several times. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Victoria Macchi reported this story for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted her report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Do businesses depend on foreign workers in your country? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   exemption - n. freedom from being required to do something that others are required to do​ fiscal - adj. of or relating to money and especially to the money a government, business, or organization earns, spends, and owes​ irreparable - adj. too bad to be corrected or repaired​ petition - n. a written document that people sign to show that they want a person or organization to do or change something​ qualify - v. to give (someone) the necessary skill or knowledge to do a particular job or activity​  

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Will Brazilian Soccer Star Neymar Leave Barcelona?

  This is What’s Trending Today. Brazilian soccer player Neymar is one of the world’s best. But he is not the best player on his team, Barcelona. That title belongs to Argentina’s Lionel Messi. Neymar, 25, started playing with Barcelona in 2013. His full name is Neymar da Silva Santos Junior. Before Barcelona, he played with Santos in the Brazilian league. He helped Brazil win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics and was one of the top goal-scorers at the 2014 World Cup. With Barcelona, he has scored 105 goals in four full seasons. Working with Messi and other teammates, Neymar helped Barcelona win Spanish league championships, the Champions League title and the FIFA Club World Cup. But if he stays with Barcelona, Neymar will never be the team’s number one player. That is why Neymar is in the news today. His name was the top worldwide trending topic on Twitter and the top Google search in Brazil. Sports newspapers in Spain are reporting that Neymar is considering a transfer offer from Paris Saint-Germain, known as PSG, of the French league. Neymar declined their offers in the past, but this one seems more serious. The Spanish sports newspaper As wrote that Neymar’s father will meet with the president of PSG this week to discuss a move. Barcelona will receive over 220 million euros if Neymar leaves. In its story about Neymar, As wrote that he wants to be the primary focus on his new team and not have to be “in the shadow of his teammates.” Barcelona is coming to the United States this month for a series of games against opponents including Juventus, Manchester United and Real Madrid as it prepares for the upcoming Spanish season. A Brazilian sports writer posted on Twitter Tuesday morning. He said Neymar accepted the offer from the Parisian team. But representatives from Barcelona said they do not think any team will pay the large price for Neymar. Spanish league teams have until September 1 to complete any summer transfers. If Neymar wants to leave, however, it would be better if it happens soon. The Spanish season starts in mid-August. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Do you think Neymar will leave Barcelona? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   title – n. the status or position of being the champion in a sport or other competition; a word or name that describes a person's job in a company or organization league – n. a group of sports teams that play against each other medal – n. a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement shadow – n. a dark shape that appears on a surface when someone or something moves between the surface and a source of light

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Explainer: Gerrymandering

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July 17, 2017

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

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Meditation May Reduce Stress, Increase Focus

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. A mind filled with fear and bad thoughts is an unquiet mind. When you are worried, it can be hard to direct your attention on even a minor problem. For some people, this can interfere with work, sleep and other activities. In others, it could lead to a serious mental disorder. People who suffer from anxiety, a nervous disorder, have unreasonable thoughts and fears about the future. Often they are unable to control these thoughts. They are also less able to deal with stress. Two recent studies found that doing mindful meditation exercises can reduce signs of stress in people suffering from anxiety and make them more productive. The studies also showed that mindful meditation can lower a person’s stress levels. What is mindful meditation? Meditation is a simple, low-cost way to help calm an unquiet brain. We can define mindful meditation as thinking quietly about what is going on in the present. You don't think about the past or the future. You think only about your own breathing and what you sense around you. Should you start thinking about a future task or a past mistake, you simply tell your mind to stop and return to the here and now. Another part of mindful meditation is to let yourself experience any thoughts and feelings without judgment. Around the world, the number of people reporting stress and anxiety is increasing. The World Health Organization says that between 1990 and 2013, the number of people suffering from depression and/or anxiety rose by nearly 50%. The WHO’s website says this increased the number from 416 million to 615 million people. This is not just a health issue, but also an economic one. WHO experts estimate that depression and anxiety disorders cost the world economy US$1 trillion each year. Stressed and anxious workers who can't stay focused are not productive. University of Waterloo study In one recent study, Canadian researchers wanted to see how well anxious, stressed people completed an activity. The researchers found that meditating for 10 minutes a day may help keep people's minds from becoming unfocused. So, mindful meditation may help people stay on task. Mengran Xu is a clinical psychologist at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. He and his colleagues studied with people who showed signs of anxiety. “We know that anxious people in general, if you ask them to stay on task, it is hard for them. They tend to wander. They tend to worry. But those people who practiced mindfulness didn’t. They were able to stay on task." In this study, 82 people suffering from anxiety were asked to perform a computer task that required high levels of focus. Then researchers interrupted them as they performed the work. The researchers studied their ability to stay focused. Then the 82 individuals were divided into two groups. One group listened to an audio book. The other group did mindful meditation for about 10 minutes. Finally, researchers asked all the subjects to go back to their computers. Xu says that those who meditated performed much better on the task. "The anxious people who listened to the audio books, they performed much worse over time, while the anxious people who practiced mindfulness meditation, they were able to in a way improve and maintain their performance on the task." The researchers published their findings in the journal Consciousness and Cognition. Georgetown University study The other study is from the Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC. For this study, researchers looked at 89 patients who have an anxiety disorder. The researchers divided the patients into two groups. One group took a mindfulness meditation training program for eight weeks. The other group -- the control group – took a class on Stress Management Education for eight weeks. People from both groups were asked to do something stressful. They had to give a short speech in front of a crowd -- not once but twice, both before and after their training. During each speech, researchers measured levels of hormones and proteins that the body releases when a person is feeling stressed. The control group, researchers said, showed small increases in stress on the second speech compared to the first. This suggests their stress and anxiety levels increased when they had to give the speech again. However, when making the second speech, those who used mindful meditation produced fewer stress hormones and proteins. This suggests that meditation worked to reduce stress. Elizabeth A. Hoge is a doctor and works in the medical center's Department of Psychiatry. She says people who used mindfulness meditation had "sharply reduced stress-hormone" levels and other biological responses to a stressful situation. And those who took the stress management training had poor responses. Hoge and her colleagues reported their findings in the journal Psychiatry Research. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.   Jessica Berman reported on the Canadian study for VOANews.com. Matt Hillburn reported on the Georgetown University study for VOA. Anna Matteo adapted the stories for Learning English with additional reporting from several sources. _____________________________________________________________ Now, test your understanding with this short quiz. ​ ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story focus – n. a subject that is being discussed or studied : the subject on which people's attention is focused anxiety – n. fear or nervousness about what might happen stress – n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc. on task – adj. concentrating or focusing on what is to be done tend – v. to exhibit an inclination wander – v. to go away from a path, course, etc. often used figuratively interrupt – v. to stop or hinder by breaking in consciousness – n. the condition of being conscious : the normal state of being awake and able to understand what is happening around you : a person's mind and thoughts cognition – n. conscious mental activities : the activities of thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering management – n. the act or process of controlling and dealing with something hormone – n. a natural substance that is produced in the body and that influences the way the body grows or develops

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What Does Kim Jong Un Want?

  Kim Jong Un became North Korea’s leader in late 2011 after the death of his father Kim Jong Il. Many wondered what the young, Swiss-educated leader would do for the poor, isolated country with nuclear weapons. Almost six years later, there are still unanswered questions. But the world has learned some things about Kim. Kim Jong Un has actually improved North Korea’s economy under his rule. Unlike the father, he seems uninterested in negotiations on its nuclear program. And the world has cause for concern with the latest test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). What is Kim doing? His father, who ruled North Korea from 1994 to 2011, also ordered a series of weapons tests. But the elder Kim was willing to discuss weapons for food exchanges. No such talks have happened under Kim Jong Un. He has overseen three of the North’s five atomic test explosions and both of its successful satellite launches. Experts view the launches as a test of long-range missile technology. On July 4, North Korea launched an ICBM that could reach the American state of Alaska. Kim celebrated the successful missile test as a “gift” to the United States on its Independence Day holiday. Kim said that North Korea will not give up its weapons until the U.S. stops its hostile policy against the North. Why is Kim willing to take risks? Kim is believed to be 33 years old. As ruler of North Korea, he has not met any foreign leaders or traveled abroad. The best-known foreigner he has met: former NBA player Dennis Rodman. The North Korean leader may have believed that the U.S. and its allies will not attack his country directly. Experts fear many people in South Korea will be killed if the North chose to retaliate. The capital city of Seoul with its 10 million residents is within the range of North Korea’s artillery along the border. Kim may also have believed that China, North Korea’s neighbor and ally, does not want a weakened North Korea along its border. Last February, North Korean agents removed a possible rival for power in North Korea. The agents killed Kim Jong Nam, the leader’s half brother, when he was in Malaysia. North Korea’s economic growth in recent years has also allowed Kim to focus on his nuclear program. His father, by comparison, had to negotiate with other countries for food after a famine in the mid-1990s that killed tens of thousands. What does Kim want? Kim has seen what happened to Libya’s Moammar Qaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein after they gave their up nuclear weapons programs. Cheong Seong-Chang is an analyst at South Korea’s Sejong Institute. He said, “Kim doesn’t want to resolve issues through diplomacy. He’s just trying to protect himself by reinforcing his country’s military power.” Kim likely thinks his nuclear bombs will prevent the U.S. from entering a conflict on the Korean Peninsula. “If North Korea demonstrates its ability to strike Washington and New York ... and threatens to turn them into a sea of fire, the U.S. couldn’t easily enter a war,” Cheong said. It will take more time for North Korea to master the technology for a working ICBM. Once that is accomplished, Kim could push for talks to end U.N. sanctions against North Korea. In the events of such talks, Kim is not likely to give up his country nuclear weapons. “He cannot give up nukes [nuclear weapons] because they are the core of his power,” said Cho Han Bum, an analyst at South Korea’s Korea Institute for National Unification. What could stand in Kim’s way? The North Korean ICBM could be capable of reaching Alaska. But experts say the North still needs to master several more technologies before the missile will work perfectly. When that happens, the U.S. might reconsider military strikes, Cho said. Aside from a U.S. attack, China could suspend or reduce its oil shipments to the North. China sends about 500,000 tons of crude oil to North Korea every year. That is nearly 90 percent of the North’s oil supply, according to Cho Bong-hyun of Seoul’s IBK Economic Research Institute. If China ends its oil shipments, the North’s military cannot fly its warplanes or operate its tanks. That will not help Kim to stay in power, Cheong predicts. “We can see he’s so far run North Korea in a smarter way than his father,” Cheong said. “But there is a high possibility that his adventurous, uncompromising attitude will eventually make things turn out badly.” I’m Anne Ball. Hai Do adapted this story based on AP, Reuters and VOA News reports. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Isolated – adj. separate from others Retaliate – v. make an attack in return for a similar attack Resident – n. someone who live in a particular place Rival – n. someone that is almost as good Famine – n. a situation in which many people do not have enough food to eat Reinforce – v. to strengthen by adding supplies, support or people Sanction – n. action taken to force a country to obey international laws by limiting trade or economic aid Core – n. the central part of something Adventurous – adj. full of danger and excitement

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Venezuela’s Opposition to Step Up Street Protests after Referendum

  Venezuela’s opposition leaders called for more street protests Monday. The call for action came after more than seven million Venezuelans voted in an unofficial referendum at more than 2,000 locations on Sunday. During the opposition-organized referendum, 98 percent of voters rejected President Nicolas Maduro’s proposal to rewrite the nation’s constitution. The referendum included three questions. One dealt with Maduro’s proposal to create a new legislative body to rewrite the 1999 constitution. Voters overwhelmingly rejected the proposal, according to academics who monitored the vote.   In response to another question, voters urged the military to defend the current constitution. They also pledged to support new elections before Maduro’s term ends in early 2019. The referendum was seen as symbolic because it was not part of an official government election. Maduro dismissed the voting as unconstitutional. He said it would have no effect on the government or his political proposals. Maduro has set a July 30 vote to create the Constituent Assembly. The legislative body would have the power to rewrite the constitution and dissolve state institutions. The opposition has accused Maduro of seeking to build up the proposed new assembly with his supporters. They say this would allow him to remove the few remaining checks on his power and create a Cuba-style system controlled by his socialist party. Julio Borges is president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly. He said the large voter turnout should be seen as a message to the government that “democracy is not negotiated.” “We don't want a fraudulent Constituent Assembly imposed on us,” Borges said. “We don't want to be Cuba. We don't want to be a country without freedom.” On Monday, Venezuelan opposition leaders called on supporters to increase street protests as another way to show opposition to Maduro’s planned July 30 election. Political observers said Sunday’s large turnout was an important show of support for the country’s opposition. But they also noted that the number of voters fell short of the opposition’s 7.7 million showing in the 2015 legislative elections. It was also less than the 7.5 million votes Maduro got when he was elected in 2013. Opposition leaders said the lower number was the result of having to organize the balloting quickly and at limited locations. Some experts said the referendum result would likely cause the international community to take a stronger position against Maduro’s planned vote. One woman was killed at an opposition-voting site at a church in western Caracas that was surrounded by government supporters. Witnesses said hundreds of people became trapped in the church. Four people were wounded.  Violence during opposition protests over the past few months has left at least 93 people dead and 1,500 injured. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn adapted 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   referendum – n. vote in which all voters cast ballots to decide an issue rather than representatives in government dissolve – v. officially end something fraudulent – adj. something dishonest or illegal  

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Game of Thrones Opens Seventh Season

This is What’s Trending Today. Many people watched the first program in the seventh season of Game of Thrones Sunday night. This was the beginning of the second-to-last season for the award-winning television series. The series is the creation of American cable and satellite television network HBO, or Home Box Office. Game of Thrones is available mainly in the United States and other English-speaking countries, such as Australia and Britain. About 8 million people watched the last episode of season six, which came out last June. Add in people who watched the show on a computer or electronic device, and the total was over 20 million. With that many people watching, it is no surprise that “Game of Thrones” was a hot subject Monday morning. In the U.S. alone, over 5 million people searched Google for keywords related to the show. Game of Thrones was also the top entertainment subject on Facebook. Game of Thrones is based on a series of books by George R.R. Martin. The book series is known as A Song of Ice and Fire. The first book, called “A Game of Thrones,” came out in 1996.  The first episode of the television show came out in 2011. To date, 61 episodes have been released. The show’s actors have become famous and appeared in movies. Some of the best-known actors are Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke. So what did people think of Sunday night’s episode? Entertainment Weekly called it “terrific.” The magazine wrote that almost every important character made an appearance and “set the stage for … an epic end game in Westeros.” Westeros is the make-believe continent within which much of the action takes place. Many people reacted to the appearance of a fairly new character, Euron Greyjoy. He is the new king of the Iron Islands. He wants to make an alliance with Cersei Lannister, played by Headey. Greyjoy is played by Danish actor Pilou Asbaek. Lots of people reacted on social media to his leather clothing. They said he looked like a rock music star or someone about to go out dancing. ​ Fans of the TV series enjoyed connecting with their favorite characters after more than a year. In addition, many fans reacted to the appearance by British singer Ed Sheeran. He was singing at a campfire. Most people thought it was funny to see the singer on the show. The online magazine Slate publishes a report on each week’s “Game of Thrones” episode. It is called “This Week’s Worst Person in Westeros.” This week, the magazine nominated Sheeran for the honor. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Are you excited about the new season of Game of Thrones? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   throne – n. the special chair for a king, queen, or other powerful person episode – n. a television show, radio show, etc., that is one part of a series set the stage – v. to put (something) in a place or position epic – adj. very great or large and usually difficult or impressive character – n. a person in a story or play fan – n. a follower of something

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