October 5, 2017

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

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Can A Computer Teach Children to Read and Write?

  The Global Learning XPrize competition is looking at ways in which children can teach themselves reading, writing and mathematics with only a tablet computer. The XPrize Foundation and its supporters are offering $15 million for computer programs that teach simple skills to people who have never attended school.  Matt Keller is senior director of the competition. He described the goal of the prize this way: “It’s a little bit out there. It’s a little bit of a crazy idea.” The first Global XPrize competition is awarding millions of dollars to the team or company that develops the best educational app. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, estimates that 263 million children around the world are not in school. Teaching these boys and girls is a problem that researchers are trying to solve. Keller spoke to VOA about the prize. “Can you develop something that’s so intuitive, so inferential, so dynamic that you  give it to a child who is illiterate in a very remote part of the world – she picks it up, she touches it and she begins to learn how to read? And that's the challenge that we put out to the world.” About 200 teams entered the competition. From that group, judges chose five finalists. Each was given $1 million. From the five, the judges will choose a winner to receive a $10 million grand prize. The finalists will begin testing their computer applications in November. The testing will involve nearly 4,000 children from the Tanga area of Tanzania. The apps will be loaded on tablet computers donated by the American technology company Google. The children will try to teach themselves basic educational skills with only the tablets. A smaller group of children will be tested on their understanding of reading and math. After 15 months, the same students will be re-tested. The top prize will go to the developer team whose programs provide the highest proficiency gains among the students. The XPrize group also is working with UNESCO, the World Food Program and the government of Tanzania. They will give out and provide support for the tablet computers. Keller told VOA that the plan suggested by the XPrize competition is different from other methods of education. “Most development organizations and most aid agencies and most governments are focused on building new schools and training new teachers,” he said. Keller said there are many children who do not go to school. Some researchers, he said, are asking the question: "Can you give technology to a child that’s so good that it doesn’t supplant, but supplements a learning process that she may or may not have?” The competition is partly a reaction to a growing education problem. The United Nations has set a goal of providing universal primary and secondary education by 2030. This is one of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. A UNESCO report estimates that the world will need almost 69 million more teachers to meet that goal. “That’s simply not possible,” said Jamie Stuart, who helped launch the non-profit group Onebillion, which is one of the XPrize finalists. He told VOA, “We have to look for radical alternatives in terms of children’s learning.” Developers at Onebillion have tested their app, called Onecourse, for the past 10 years in Malawi. The program is designed so that children can use it with little or no adult assistance. It teaches reading and number skills with an electronic teacher that “speaks” in the children's language. However, there are many problems to overcome in making a successful app. One, is making a program that works with people who have never before used a tablet computer. Stuart said what is most important is “keeping it simple, keeping it focused on the individual needs of the child.” Other finalists use different ways to teach children.  Curriculum Concepts International created an app that combines games, videos and books. Another finalist, Chimple, educates children through play and discovery-based learning. Another app, called Kitkit, was designed for children with learning disabilities. And a fifth, called RoboTutor, involves artificial intelligence and machine learning. I’m Caty Weaver. Tina Trihn reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow 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   app – n. a computer program intuitive – adj. to know something without proof or evidence inferential – adj. to reach a conclusion based on facts or evidence dynamic – adj. moving and changing, not fixed remote – adj. distant proficiency – n. the ability to do something well supplant – v. to take the place of supplements – n. things that are added universal – adj. including or covering all; present of taking place everywhere radical – adj. not normal, very unusual alternatives — n. other choices or possibilities

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Not All See China’s 'Great Power Diplomacy' as Great Success

  The Chinese Communist Party is preparing for its National Congress. The event takes place every five years. The 19th National Congress opens in Beijing on October 18. China watchers say the country’s recent foreign policy successes are likely to be noted at the meeting. China is the world’s second largest economy. Since Xi Jinping became president in 2012, Chinese influence has been expanding in many areas. The Chinese government is active in international diplomacy. And the government is seeking to play a more important diplomatic role, while creating its own initiatives. These efforts include the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road trade program.   Xi Jinping has visited five continents, and nearly 30 countries. He has worked toward what some Chinese are calling “Great Power Diplomacy." Supporters of this idea say that, as a rising great power, China should do what it feels is right any time and whenever it wishes. Xi has also pushed for what he calls the “China Solution.” That means campaigning for Chinese proposals and answers to the world’s biggest problems. Some observers say that China’s desire to become more active in world affairs may even be added to the Communist Party’s constitution during the congress. Party delegates are not as likely to discuss some of the problems China has faced over the past five years. These difficulties include territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and troubles with North Korea, South Korea and other countries. Shen Dingli is a political science professor at Fudan University in Shanghai. He told VOA, “China has failed in all of the South China Sea, East China Sea, China-India border dispute(s), its relationship with South Korea, with North Korea…” Shen noted that China has been unable to get North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile development programs. It has also not been able to stop deployment of the United States-based Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, in South Korea China’s attempt to establish an Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea has been ignored by the United States, Japan and Russia, Shen adds. And last year, the International Tribunal at The Hague ruled against China’s claims to all of the South China Sea and its land reclamation projects there. “Xi Jinping must understand China has failed. So China has made compromises,” Shen said. Shen is not alone in his criticism of how some of China’s policy measures have failed to reach their goals. Shen Zhihua is a professor at East China Normal University. He has argued that Beijing’s North Korea policy is both contradictory and ineffective. Shen wrote earlier this year that China’s decision to punish South Korea for its deployment of THAAD has pushed Seoul closer to Japan and the United States. And while many Western leaders talk about China’s political influence over North Korea, Shen told VOA that no longer exists. “North Korea sees China as one of its key enemies,” he added. “If nuclear war breaks out or there are big changes, the first victim will be China.” Observers say the Chinese Communist Party is not likely to include any foreign policy criticisms in the official Congress report next month. But one important thing to look for will be whether it offers any defense of Xi’s foreign policy successes and setbacks. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story initiative - n. a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem​ role - n.a part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation​ contradictory  - adj. involving or having information that disagrees with other information​  

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Animal Lovers Celebrate World Animal Day

  This is What’s Trending Today… World Animal Day has been celebrated on October 4 for many years. The World Animal Day website says it was first celebrated in 1925 in Berlin, Germany on a different date. It moved to October 4 in 1929. October 4 is the day Roman Catholics honor Saint Francis of Assisi, who was the patron saint of animals.  What happens on World Animal Day? Aside from Twitter getting filled up with lots of cute photos of animals, the day is designed to promote the rights of animals. The group that organizes the day wants to make sure animals are treated well around the world. In honor of the day, many organizations held special events. For example, some shelters held adoption events. Other organizations held workshops to make sure owners learned the best way to take care of their animals.  One Twitter account called TheDodo has almost 500,000 followers. The account owners made a video showing people treating animals "with love." The video showed a man taking a beached dolphin back to the water, a police officer helping free a deer from a backyard volleyball net and a driver stopping to move a kitten off a busy roadway.    The television channel Nat Geo WILD posted a video of a baby elephant taking its first steps.  The actor Ricky Gervais presented a photo of himself with his dog, writing: “Happy #WorldAnimalDay. We’re nothing without them.”  Al Jazeera English made a video celebrating the work of a man in Kenya. He drives a truck over 70 kilometers more than once a week to transport water to thirsty animals. His truck holds 12,000 liters of water. He said some of the animals recognize him. While animal welfare is a serious issue, many people had fun with the day.  One sports organization, the UEFA Champions League, wrote a story highlighting the soccer players with animal-oriented nicknames.  Over the years, some players have been known as “The Eel,” “The Mosquito,” “Snake-man” and “The Trout.”  And that’s What’s Trending Today. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. What did you do to mark World Animal Day? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   patron saint – n. a saint who is believed to protect a particular place or type of person cute – adj. having a pleasing and usually youthful appearance promote – v.  to make people aware of something workshop– n. a class or series of classes in which a small group of people learn the methods and skills used in doing something beached– v.  when a large ocean animal has come out of the water onto land and is unable to return to the water.

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Cameras in Istanbul Taxis Causing Concerns

  Cameras are being put in taxis in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul. Turkish officials say the cameras will provide security for taxi drivers and their passengers. But some people fear the devices are part of a government effort to expand surveillance and control over the population. They note that more than 60,000 Turkish citizens have been detained since the failure of an attempt to overthrow the government last year. In addition, nearly 200,000 people have been dismissed from their jobs over this period. Recently, people in Turkey have been hearing announcements advertising the arrival of Istanbul’s new taxis, called Itaxis. The ads say the taxis are equipped with global positioning system equipment to help drivers find the quickest way, at the lowest cost. The vehicles will also have equipment so that riders can pay with credit cards. However, the Itaxis have one object that is a subject of debate: a large digital camera. When you sit down inside a taxi, the camera is clearly visible. What is unclear is whether it records sound as well as images. It is also unclear where the images go. One driver who spoke to VOA is happy with the device, although he says he does not know who is watching. "The new system is what is needed. I had an incident on Sunday night. I was attacked by a customer. If this system had been active, I would have been saved right away or the attacker wouldn't have dared to attack. There is a camera system and a panic button now." Not everyone in Istanbul agrees that the camera is a good thing. Another person who spoke with VOA questioned the reasoning behind the cameras. "A witch hunt is happening in Turkey now. So if they use it [the camera] for things like that [surveillance], then of course it's not a good idea to have these kind of things in the cabs." Nearly every week, Turkey has trials for people suspected of being involved in the failed overthrow attempt. Last year, some 4,000 people were tried for insulting the president. Under emergency powers enacted after the overthrow attempt, Turkish officials have introduced new electronic surveillance. That information comes from Yaman Akdeniz of Bilgi University in Istanbul. He has been studying the rise of surveillance culture. He says there may be good reasons for the concerns over the new taxis. "Because increasingly people are under surveillance and people don't know what sort of technology or what sorts of things are deployed by the government authorities to monitor the citizens. And it will get worse." A growing sense of concern is creeping into Turkish society because of surveillance activities. With the campaign against government critics, any new development involving surveillance technology seems likely to be watched with suspicion. I'm John Russell. Dorian Jones reported on this story for VOANews.com. John Russell adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   visible – adj. of or relating to something that can be seen credit card – n. a small plastic card that is used to buy things surveillance – n. keeping close watch over someone panic – n. a state or feeling of extreme fear that makes someone unable to act or think normally witch hunt – n. the act of punishing people who are accused of having dangerous or evil ideas introduce – v. to offer or propose monitor – v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time creep – v.  to appear gradually and in a way that is difficult to notice

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Three Scientists Win Nobel Prize in Chemistry

  Three scientists have won the Nobel Prize for chemistry for their work to simplify and improve the imaging of biomolecules. Goran Hansson is Secretary General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. He announced the names of the winners Wednesday from the group’s headquarters in Stockholm. "The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly to Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson.” Hansson said the scientists were being recognized for what he described as “a cool method for imaging the molecules of life.” Jacques Dubochet works at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. Joachim Frank is with Columbia University in the United States. Richard Henderson is with Britain’s Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. The three scientists developed a way to create three-dimensional (3D) images of biological molecules – images with height, width and depth. Their method is called cryo-electron microscopy. The Royal Swedish Academy described cryo-electron microscopy as “decisive for both the basic understanding of life’s chemistry and for the development” of new medicines. Scientists long believed that electron microscopes could only be used to study non-living things. The reason? Their powerful electron beam destroys biological material. But cryo-technology freezes the biological material, keeping it at extremely low temperatures. This protects it from damage. The power of the technology could be seen in the Zika crisis last year. Zika virus was linked to an increase in brain-damaged babies in Brazil. The virus spreads when an infected mosquito bites a pregnant woman. As concerns about Zika spread, scientists turned to cryo-electronic microscopy to make 3-D images of the virus at the atomic level. This helped researchers as they worked to create drugs and vaccines. The Nobel committee noted Wednesday that, in 1990, Henderson used an electron microscope to produce a 3-D image of a protein at atomic-level resolution. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Frank developed mathematical models to sharpen images from such microscopes. Dubochet added water to electron microscopy. He cooled water so quickly that it solidified in its liquid form around biological material. The process formed a kind of glass instead of ice. As a result, the biomolecules were able to keep their natural shape. The three scientists will share the $1.1 million prize. The Nobel prizes are named after the Swedish engineer Alfred Nobel. He was the inventor of dynamite, an explosive. Nobel left $9,000,000 in his will to establish yearly prizes. He said they should go to living people who have worked most effectively to improve human life. The first awards were presented in 1901. The chemistry prize is the third Nobel announced this week. The literature winner will be named Thursday and the peace prize will be announced Friday.   I’m Anne Ball.   VOANews.com reported on this story. George Grow adapted the report for Learning English. His story includes information from the Associated Press and Reuters news agency. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ________________________________________________________________   Words in This Story   academy – n. a school, usually place of higher learning; a society or group of learned persons three-dimensional – adj. of or related to having height, width and depth beam – n. a line or energy or light mosquito – n. an insect resolution – n. the ability of a device to show an image clearly and with a lot of detail

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More International Players Joining American Basketball Teams

  Before last season, the National Basketball Association (or NBA) announced it had more international players than ever before. And that number only continues to grow. When the 2016-2017 season started, the NBA said it had 113 international players. They represented 41 countries and territories. Many of the international players are European, African or Canadian. Some players are from South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina.   The Utah Jazz had the most international players, with seven. It is possible that the NBA will build on those numbers in the 2017-2018 season. For example, Lauri Markkanen of Finland and Frank Ntilikina of France were among the first 10 players chosen in the NBA draft. Players from Latvia, Germany and Slovenia were chosen later on. The Washington Wizards are the NBA team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards are no different than the other teams. They have players from France, Czech Republic and Poland. Another player was born to Nigerian parents in the American state of Maryland. Ian Mahinmi of France plays center for the Wizards. His parents are from Jamaica and the West African nation of Benin. As a boy, Mahinmi wanted to play soccer like Patrick Vieira, a member of the French national team. Vieira was born in Senegal and helped France win the World Cup championship in 1998. But Ian Mahinmi grew too tall for soccer, so he gave basketball a try. Now, he is in his 10th season in the NBA. “The next thing you know, I am here,” he said. Mahinmi is 2.1-meters tall. He says, now, many young people in Europe and Africa dream of basketball. In the past, it was only soccer. “It’s not only soccer now. Basketball definitely took a big part in people’s heart. I feel like there is more and more young folks that grow up to be basketball player(s). There is more and more African players in the NBA, so it’s been a big growth since I got in the league.” The NBA is doing its part to interest young people with exhibition games in Africa and China. Starting October 5, the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors will play two preseason games against the Minnesota Timberwolves in China. Mahinmi is working to spread the word about basketball, too. Last summer, he went to Benin and demonstrated basketball skills to 55 young players during a three-day event. Mahinmi enjoyed the visit. “The love that they showed me and the welcoming from the minute we got out [of] the plane until the last minute was tremendous. You know, this was probably the trip of the summer for me, my dad, probably the trip [of] our lives. So, you know, it’s something we want to do every summer.” The visit to Africa was important for Mahinmi. But now that the Wizards are back together, preparing for the new season, he wants to help his team improve. Last year, the Wizards won 49 games, their best total since the late 1970s. “I really feel like we are ready for the challenge,” Mahinmi said. “It’s going to be an exciting time.” I’m Dan Friedell. Salem Solomon wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted her report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think of the international players in the NBA? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   draft – n. a system by which professional sports teams choose players from college or high school teams — usually singular center – n. someone who plays a middle position on a team in sports like basketball, hockey, football, and soccer tremendous – adj. very good or excellent exhibition – n. a demonstration; a public showing

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October 4, 2017

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

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Jimmy Kimmel Asks Politicians To Change Gun Laws

This is What’s Trending Today. Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel has the most-watched video on YouTube right now -- over 3 million views in less than a day. Kimmel is known for making jokes, but instead, he’s talking about something serious. The video is about 10 minutes long. He was talking to his audience about the mass shooting Sunday night at a concert in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fifty-nine people were killed and more than 500 others were hurt. Kimmel grew up in Las Vegas. He was close to crying as he spoke during the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show on Monday. “We have children without parents and fathers without sons, mothers without daughters,” Kimmel said. Kimmel told the audience that the United States is not doing enough to control access to guns. He criticized politicians for working to help the National Rifle Association – known as the NRA -- instead of their voters. He put the photos of about 50 members of the U.S. Senate on the screen. The National Rifle Association is a group that promotes the “right of the people to keep and bear arms.” Those words are part of the second amendment to the U.S. Constitution. On its website, the NRA says it is “a major political force and America’s foremost defender of second amendment rights.” The NRA does not want the U.S. government to make laws that restrict people’s ability to buy guns. Those laws are commonly known as “gun control.” After people die in fires, floods, airplane crashes and more, Kimmel said, other people try to prevent those things from happening again. For example, Kimmel remembered that after a hotel in Las Vegas burned down when he was a boy, the city made sure buildings were made of safer materials. But, after people are killed by guns, he said, all that people do is “send prayers” instead of doing something to prevent easy availability of guns. Kimmel said “there is more that we can do, and we need to do it.” He said politicians in the United States can make a difference, but they only offer “thoughts and prayers,” instead. Kimmel said, “I hate talking about stuff like this … I just want to laugh every night.” But this year, he has become a voice for those who think the U.S. government is not doing enough for its people. Before speaking about gun control, he also got involved in the biggest political debate of 2017: the attempt by the Republican Party to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The act provided many Americans with health insurance that they did not have before. Barack Obama signed the bill into law during his presidency. Kimmel started talking about healthcare after his son was born with a serious heart problem that required surgery.  Kimmel’s name was used during the debate, more than once. Some politicians said they would not vote for a new healthcare law unless it passed “the Jimmy Kimmel test.” Kimmel asked “if your baby is going to die, and it doesn’t have to, it shouldn’t matter how much money you make. I think that’s something, whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, we all agree on that, right?” He told politicians to “stop with the nonsense,” and “take care of each other.” He said it again on Monday. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. What do you think of Kimmel’s speech about the shooting in Las Vegas? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story concert – n. a musical performance host – n. a person who talks to guests on a television show audience – n. a group of people who gather to watch something promote – v. to make people aware of foremost – adj. most important nonsense – n. behavior that is silly, annoying, or unkind access – n. a way of being able to use or get something  

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Psychologist Researches Mass Killers

  Once again someone has carried out a deadly mass shooting. On Sunday night in Las Vegas, Nevada, a man opened fire from high above a huge crowd at an outdoor music show. At least 58 people were killed and more than 500 injured. It is the worst mass shooting in American history. Police say the shooter was Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old man from Mesquite, a small town in Nevada, about 180 kilometers from Las Vegas. They say he killed himself in the hotel room from which he attacked the crowd. More than 20 firearms were found in the hotelroom, on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort. Others were found at his home in Mesquite, Nevada. Police say he checked in to the hotel Thursday. ​ Investigators have not discovered why the shooter attacked. Police said Paddock did not have a criminal history; the FBI said he had no connection to any international terrorist group.  Paddock’s neighbors in Mesquite said he was retired. They said he​ gambled often. He lived with his girlfriend, Marilou Danley. His brother Eric Paddock of Florida expressed shock. He said his brother was a former accountant and a wealthy man. He said he did not believe his brothr was a member of any political or religious groups, had any ties to white supremacists or a history of mental problems. Eric Paddock said, “Where the hell did he get automatic weapons? He’s a guy who lived in a house in Mesquite and drove down and gambled in Las Vegas.” Experts say the number of mass killings has tripled in the past few years. In the United States, most of the deaths in such incidents are from gunfire. Psychologists have studied the killings and have created a profile of the kinds of people who do them. Psychologist J. Reid Meloy is such a researcher. VOA spoke to him after a mass killing. "We find that these individuals typically have more in common than they do in terms of differences." He said the killers are mostly men. They usually have a history of mental problems. Their relationships are often unstable. Meloy said the killers are often searching for fame. He said normally they have not acted in support of a cause even when they claim that to be the reason for their attack. “Oftentimes the pathway to violence begins with a personal grievance,” Meloy said. “And that grievance, is typically has three components to it: One is there’s some kind of loss; secondly there’s the feeling of humiliation; then thirdly, there’s anger toward and blaming of a person or a group of people that have caused them to have this problem.” There is another reason mass killings happen: unstable people are able to get weapons. Experts say social media may also add to the urge to kill. Reports of mass attacks quickly spread on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media platforms. Today that is often how many people learn about major events, including information about friends who die in mass killings. Meloy said social media makes killers famous. When others who are unstable and in search of fame see this they may decide to imitate the acts of the killer so that they, too, can be famous. Meloy also said he believed there would be more mass killings. I’m Caty Weaver. This story was reported by Correspondents Carol Pearson and Victoria Macchi in Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their reporting for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   gamble – v. to play a game in which you can win or lose money or possessions; to bet money or other valuable things triple – adj. three times bigger in size or amount profile – n. a brief written description that provides information about someone or something grievance – n. a feeling of having been treated unfairly component – n. one of the parts of something (such as a system or mixture); an important piece of something humiliate – v. to make (someone) feel very ashamed or foolish imitate – v. to make or do something the same way as (something else)

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Preparing Students for Changing Job Markets

  Chances are that today’s college graduates will get jobs not directly connected to their majors. A 2014 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that only 27 percent of graduates from four-year colleges were working in jobs connected to their college majors. North Carolina State University is trying to help students face the likelihood that their future jobs will not connect directly to their majors. This fall, the university is offering two days of workshops to help 30 juniors and seniors “design their lives.” School officials were inspired by a popular class at the Design School at Stanford University in California. The Stanford class helps students prepare for the future. Among other things, the Stanford professors say they provide “ideas for what the world needs more of.” At North Carolina State, three college deans will teach the workshops. All offer expertise in different fields – Jeff Braden in humanities, Annette Ranft in business management, and Mark Hoverstein in design. Braden said he hopes students who take the workshops will feel better about themselves. “I would say first don’t worry that you don’t have everything that other people seem to have. I think that there is a real tendency among people of our undergraduates’ generation to think everyone else has it all figured out and they don’t.” One reason that young people think others are doing better than they are is social media, Braden said. “On Facebook, you only see what I put up there. You don’t see all the private things.” As to advice to students about where the jobs will be, Braden suggests looking toward work that cannot be done by machines or computers. He also suggests jobs that deal with questions that are a “little fuzzy” to figure out. By fuzzy, he means that finding solutions to problems is not always clear, or when there is more than one possible answer. Ranft, the North Carolina State management dean, said students should also think beyond their first jobs after college. She hopes students will look toward “lifelong professional goals.” Unlike their grandparents, today’s college graduates are not likely to stay in a job for their entire lives, or even more than five years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median number of years that workers stay on a job was 4.2 years in January 2016. That was down from 4.6 years in 2014. “The days of someone working at the same job for his or her entire life are over,” Braden said. What about Liberal Arts majors? Liberal arts is an area of study that includes literature, psychology, political science, philosophy, sociology and other subjects, including performing arts. Some believe that liberal arts majors will have a hard time finding a job after college -- given the importance of technology. Not so, says a report by the jobs website Monster.com It says that liberal arts majors bring skills to jobs in technology, marketing and business operations among others. “That's because your studies have taught you how to think critically, research thoroughly, and write well—all of which are skills any employer will value,” the Monster.com report said. Braden said that he hears from parents who are worried about their students majoring in liberal arts or humanities. But he recalls asking one of the worried parents what they majored in in college. ”I majored in English, but now I’m in sales,” the parent said. Braden responded: “Okay, thank you, you just proved my point.” By the numbers, the U.S. Census Bureau found that engineering was the major that the produced the highest average salary after graduation, $92,000. The major with the lowest annual salary was visual and performing arts, $50,700.   Bruce Alpert reported this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page.  If you are in college, what is your major? Do you think you’ll get a job related to that major? Do you think you are prepared to take a job “outside your chosen field” if necessary?  ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tendency - n. way of behaving or going about something median - n. the middle value in a series of values arranged from smallest to largest thoroughly - adv. careful about doing something in an accurate and exact way

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