Explainer: Presidents and Press

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Harry Truman: Atomic

  VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about Harry S. Truman. He became president of the United States in 1945, a few weeks before the end of World War II in Europe. Truman took office after Franklin Roosevelt died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage. Roosevelt had been president for 12 years. But Truman was new to the position of vice president. Two other men had earlier served in the office under Roosevelt. On April 12, 1945 – less than three months after he became vice president – Truman was called to the White House. There, Roosevelt’s wife, Eleanor, told Truman about her husband’s death. Truman was quickly sworn-in as president. Shortly after the ceremony, the secretary of war privately told Truman about a secret project involving American scientists. They were building an extremely destructive atomic bomb.     Historians debate whether Truman already knew about the project, or whether the information was a complete surprise. In either case, the new president had to decide whether to use the weapon, which he called “the most terrible bomb in the history of the world.” Early life Harry Truman came from simple beginnings. He was born in the state of Missouri. He, his parents, a brother and a sister lived in the town of Independence. As a boy, Harry Truman helped his father on the family’s farm, but he did not enjoy the work. And he could not play sports because he could not see very well; from the time he was a child, Truman wore eyeglasses. So he developed his interests in reading and music. He was an especially good piano player. Truman was also a good student, but his parents did not have enough money to send him to a four-year college. Instead, Truman worked in a number of jobs, including as a bank clerk, mining company operator, and partner in an oil business. When the United States became involved in World War I, Truman decided to re-join the National Guard. His guard unit became part of the U.S. Army, and Truman earned a position as a captain. Truman experienced real success in the military. He was an able soldier and leader, and he and his troops fought in battle. When the war ended, Truman kept both the feeling of self-confidence and the friendships    with the other solders he had formed. One of Truman’s first acts after the war was to get married. He married a woman from his hometown. They had been romantically linked for a long time. Her name was Elizabeth Wallace, but she was called Bess. The Trumans remained happily married for more than 50 years and had a daughter named Mary Margaret. In the first years after the war, Harry Truman opened a men’s clothing shop with a friend from the military. But the shop – called a haberdashery -- eventually failed. Truman soon found a new line of work. An operative from the Democratic Party asked Truman to be a candidate for a position as a judge. Truman won the seat, as well as a public reputation for being an honest, effective public servant. In time, Truman successfully won election to a seat in the U.S. Senate. For the most part, he earned a good public image there, too. He supported the social programs of President Roosevelt, and he tried to prevent big businesses or large labor unions from misusing public money. Both voters and Democratic officials liked Truman enough to accept him as the party’s vice presidential candidate in 1944. Truman performed well as a candidate, but he did not have a close relationship with Roosevelt or play much of a part in his government. Yet in a few weeks, following Roosevelt’s death, Truman was leading the country. Presidency Truman faced a number of difficult decisions during his two terms as president. Many of them involved foreign policy. His actions helped shape the second half of the 20th century. In his first months after taking office, Truman watched the end of World War II in Europe. He then had to decide how to deal with the war in the Pacific. Japan did not want to accept the Allied forces’ demand for total surrender. And Truman did not want to extend the war. So he approved using the atomic bomb on Japan. Truman directed the secretary of war to drop the weapon on military targets and try to reduce civilian deaths. But the destruction was still terrible. An estimated 192,000 people died in the attack or the effects of the bomb in Hiroshima. Most of the city was destroyed. Three days later, the U.S. military dropped another atomic bomb, this time on the city of Nagasaki. More than 70,000 people died instantly. The emperor of Japan called the weapon “a new and most cruel bomb.” He agreed to his country’s surrender on August 14, 1945. World War II came to an end. Truman and his government quickly had to make other decisions about how to react to the new international situation. One of the most pressing concerns was the Soviet Union. Soviet officials sought to expand their influence around the country’s borders, especially in Eastern Europe, Turkey and Iran. Truman and other U.S. officials believed those moves threatened American interests. The United States supported democracy and capitalism. It did not want the Soviet Union’s form of communism to spread. So Truman’s government put in place two measures to answer the Soviet Union’s influence. One was a policy known as the Truman Doctrine. It promised American support to Greece, Turkey and other democratic nations against authoritarian forces. The measure was a new step for the United States. In the past, the country had tried to avoid conflicts that did not directly involve it. Under Truman, the U.S. government was committed to helping “free peoples” anywhere by improving their living conditions. A second measure came to be called the Marshall Plan, after Truman’s secretary of state, George Marshall. Marshall wanted the United States to invest a large amount of money in rebuilding Europe after World War II. Because the Soviet Union controlled much of Eastern Europe, the money eventually went to improving the market economy of Western Europe. The office of the historian at the State Department notes that one effect of the Marshall Plan was to introduce foreign aid programs as an official part of U.S. foreign policy. Truman also sought to guarantee peace and contain communism in other ways. He supported the United Nations, which was officially launched during his presidency. And he negotiated a military alliance among Western, democratic nations. The group became known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO. Military alliances became especially important in 1950 when communist forces in North Korea invaded South Korea. The U.N. agreed to send troops to help South Korea -- although many of the troops were American, and they were led by an American general. Fighting in the Korean War lasted until 1953. As many as 5 million people died in the conflict. Neither side gained much territory. But the Korean War had other effects. It fueled the Cold War between communist and democratic forces. It showed the U.S. would really defend other countries against authoritarian forces. It sharply increased Americans’ spending on the defense industry. And it helped make President Truman very unpopular. Many Americans believed Truman was losing the battle against communism. During his presidency, the Soviet Union successfully tested a nuclear weapon, and China officially became a communist country under Mao Zedong. Some U.S. lawmakers even accused Truman’s government of protecting communist spies. Senator Joseph McCarthy was the most famous of these critics. He launched investigations against thousands of U.S. government employees, as well as movie actors and directors in Hollywood.  McCarthy did not have evidence that these people were secretly working for the Soviet Union. But his campaign helped fuel the public’s concerns over communism, a fear that came to be called the Red Scare. Truman grew tired of the accusations, as well as other political battles. He decided not to seek re-election in 1952. Instead, he retired with his wife to their home in Missouri. Legacy At first, many Americans had mixed emotions about Truman’s presidency. For the most part, they did not support the Korean War. And they remained suspicious that his government had included communist supporters. But Truman’s public reputation rose over time. He became known as a down-to-earth person who would and could fight if needed. His supporters liked to say, “Give ‘em Hell, Harry.” Truman is also remembered for taking some steps toward ensuring equal rights for all Americans. Truman supported the racial desegregation of the military and banned racial discrimination in the civil service. But Truman is probably best remembered for the difficult decisions he made during his presidency, especially the one to drop atomic bombs on Japan. To the end of his life, he accepted responsibility for the decision and did not apologize for it. Truman died of natural causes at the age of 88. His remains are buried at his presidential library in Independence, Missouri.  I’m Kelly Jean Kelly. ______________________________________________________________ Listening Quiz   See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   self-confidence - n. confidence in oneself and in one's powers and abilities romance - n. love affair haberdashery - n. a shop selling notions or men's clothing and accessories reputation - n. overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general   authoritarian - n. of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people introduce - v. to lead or bring in especially for the first time desegregate - v. to free of any law, provision, or practice requiring isolation of the members of a particular race in separate units    

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Vacuum Company Dyson to Launch Electric Car by 2020

  British company Dyson is known for inventing new vacuum cleaner technology and producing other devices for the home. Now the company has entered new territory by announcing plans to launch an electric vehicle by 2020. In a recent announcement to employees, company founder James Dyson said about 400 engineers are working with other teams on the project. The company – based in Malmesbury, England - is known for creating innovative product designs started by Dyson himself. Dyson is seen by many as having revolutionized the industry by engineering products that are powerful and easy to use. For example, the company makes fans and heating devices that do not use blades like most other products on the market. Dyson has been working on vehicle technology since 1990, when its engineers invented a way to trap diesel engine pollutants. In recent years, the company has increased its research and development efforts for electric vehicles.   According to Dyson, the company will invest at least $2.6 billion in the project. He said he looks forward to offering the world “a solution to the world’s largest single environmental risk.” In his message, Dyson said the company is now ready to use all of its technologies to produce an electric car. He said he has always believed that electrically-powered vehicles would help solve the world’s pollution problems. He added that this is why the company has developed battery technologies for many years. The vehicles will not run on the same kind of lithium ion batteries currently used in electric cars. Instead, Dyson said the company chose solid-state technology in an effort to make the batteries smaller and easier to charge.      The company has not yet released specific details about the design of the vehicle. “Competition for new technology in the automotive industry is fierce and we must do everything we can to keep the specifics of our vehicle confidential,” Dyson wrote in his company message. However, he did tell Britain’s The Guardian newspaper the vehicle “would not be a sports car.” He said the design was “all about the technology” and warned it would be an expensive vehicle to own. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story based on AP and Reuters news reports from. 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   vacuum – n. electrical device used to clean floors by sucking up dust, dirt, etc. innovative – adj. using new methods or ideas blade – n. a flat spinning part used on some machines to push air or water fierce – adj. strong, powerful confidential – adj. secret or private expensive – adj. costing a lot of money  

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Bees are Carrying Pesticides into the World’s Honey

  Bees are responsible for about 30 percent of the world's food supply. Our fruits and vegetables would not grow without bees. Many farmers use chemical products known as pesticides to protect food plants from insects. Studies have shown that these chemicals are also hurting the bees. Now it turns out that the pesticides are also showing up in the world’s honey supply. And researchers are wondering how that could affect us. Richard Glassborow is with the London Beekeepers' Association. "Well, bees are insects, and pesticides are designed to take out pest insects, but they're pretty indiscriminate." The problem is an unusual kind of pesticides called neonicotinoids. A recent study found evidence of these pesticides in most of the world's bees. The findings were published in the journal Science. David Goulson is a professor of biology at Britain’s University of Sussex. He says the chemicals harm the ability of bees to find their way. “We know for example these chemicals, they attack the brain of the insects and they interfere with their ability to learn and to navigate, which is really important for a bee. A honey bee and other kinds of bee, they have to be able to find their way to and from patches of flowers and back to their hive, and, if they get lost, then they're as good as dead." Goulson says the problem seems to come from new genetically engineered seeds. He says some of the seeds are covered with pesticides. "So the idea is the farmer buys the seed, pre-coated with insecticide, he sows it in the ground, and the chemical is water soluble, it dissolves into the soil and the water in the soil, and then it's supposed to be sucked up by the plant, and it goes to all parts of the plant including, unfortunately, the nectar and the pollen." And that pollen ends up on the bees. Swedish researchers found the chemicals in 75% of all the world's honey. They even found it on the French island of Tahiti, a place not known for industrial farming. "These chemicals at really low concentrations mess up the immune system of the honey bee, so then they get infected with diseases. So the long and the short of it is that we should be worried about this, that it seems that a large proportion of the world's honey bees, and probably other bees too, are being continually exposed to toxins at a level that will be doing them harm." Goulson says it is not just bees that are dying off. He says researchers are also seeing “big declines of farmland birds, butterflies and so on.” The European Food Standards Agency and the European Union are considering limiting the use of neonicotinoids. I’m Anne Ball. Kevin Enochs wrote this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball adapted his story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding with this short quiz. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story indiscriminate – adj. affecting or harming many people or things in a careless or unfair way navigate – v. to find the way to get to a place when you are traveling sow – v. to plant seeds in an area of ground soluble – adj. capable of being dissolved in a liquid nectar – n. a sweet liquid produced by plants and used by bees in making honey pollen – n. the very fine usually yellow dust that is produced by a plant and that is carried to other plants of the same kind usually by wind or insects so that the plants can produce seeds mess up – v. to damage immune system – n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections expose – v. to leave (something) without covering or protection toxin – n. a poisonous substance and especially one that is produced by a living thing

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Urban Farms Gain Support

  New York City is known for its tall buildings, financial markets and centers for the arts. But America’s most populated city is becoming known for something you might not expect -- farms. New York City’s government announced last month that it is providing $500,000 to create two urban farms. Both will use space in New York public housing developments. The new farms will join four other farms already operating with city government help. The idea is to get more fresh fruits and vegetables to communities in the city. City officials see it as a public health issue. “These new urban farms will not only provide access to healthy produce, but also provide jobs to young residents,” said New York City Councilman Ritchie Torres. The new farms will be in the New York City boroughs of Staten Island and the Bronx. Farming businesses in the city? These farms are supported by the local government. But, there are also privately run farms in the city. In the New City neighborhood of Tribeca, Robert Laing has opened up a privately-run indoor farm called Farm.One. He grows many kinds of herbs. His customers include well-known restaurants in New York City. The restaurants can pick up fresh herbs hours before they are needed for that night’s dinner because his “farm” can be reached by bicycle from much of the city. Laing's website tells customers that they can buy fresh herbs, even in a snowstorm. Farm.One is very different than farms in less populated communities. The major difference is size. It is only 112-meters. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the average farm in America is 176 Hectares. Farm.One’s crops are grown on vertical shelves so more can be grown in less space. “The nice thing about farming vertically indoors is that you don’t need a lot of space,” Laing said. “I can see some bodega (a small grocery story) setting one up on the roof.” Urban farms are growing in other cities besides New York City. The website Inhabitat.com recently released a list of the top four U.S. cities for urban farms. They are Austin, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; Cleveland, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan. Urban farms still need to develop more The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future released a report on urban farms in 2016. It said there are important benefits to turning unused land into sources of healthy food. But it said that urban farming still has a long way to go to produce the environmental and health benefits claimed by supporters. “In some cases, the enthusiasm is ahead of the evidence,” the Johns Hopkins research said. For example, the report said that supporters of growing food close to the people who eat it claim that it reduces pollution compared to transporting food long distances. But the researchers found that smaller farms do not do as a good a job as larger farms in reducing use of water and other natural resources. Indoor farms: a controlled environment The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research based in Washington D.C. wants more urban farms. It said the benefits are almost unlimited. The group announced last month that it will give $2 million to help pay for a new farm in Newark, New Jersey, just outside of New York City. Aero Farms will work with scientists from Cornell University in New York State and Rutgers University in New Jersey. The goal is to grow salad greens with improved taste and color. The funding announcement said that because the farm is indoors the farmers can control the environment, including temperature, to improve their crops. Sally Rockey is executive director of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture. She said that more than half the world’s population lives in cities and that it is important to provide healthy food to this population. Whenever possible, Rockey said, food should be “grown locally.” Brian Massey writes and farms. He recently wrote about managing an urban farm in a Washington D.C. neighborhood near Howard University. His report appeared on the website, civileats.com. He said that a lot of people liked the fresh fruit and vegetables his farm produced. But he said others worried the farm was there to help the newly arrived, wealthier residents, not the poor. There was a concern that the farm would add to Washington’s continuing shortage of low-income housing, Massey wrote. I’m Jill Robbins. And 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. Are there farms near where you live? Do you think your community could support a farm? ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   access - n. a way of being able to use or get something borough - n. a village, town, or part of a large city that has its own government herbs - n. a plant or a part of a plant that is used as medicine or to give flavor to food customer - n. someone who buys goods or services from a business bicycle - n. a 2-wheeled vehicle that a person rides by pushing on foot pedals vertical shelf -  n. a flat board which is attached to a wall and positioned up and down rather than from side to side enthusiasm - n. a strong feeling of active interest in something benefits - n. a good or helpful result or effect

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Tensions Follow Rohingya Refugees to United States

  As she tightens her traditional head covering, Bibiasha Mohamad Tahir’s thoughts move between the present and the past. She watches her daughter playing on the living room floor of their apartment home in the American state of Indiana. Tahir is a Muslim and a Rohingya refugee. She came to the United States in 2014 after fleeing Myanmar, a country also known as Burma. She has memories of death and destruction in her home village in Rakhine state. “They shot and killed people,” Tahir told VOA. “They burnt down everything… we had (no) place to stay. They laid down broken glass, wire on the roads. They held people at gunpoint.” Tahir and her family decided they could not stay in Myanmar because of the violence. Rohingya are not considered citizens in the country. She says they are not permitted to travel freely, unable to attend school or to work. “We lived there for years, for generations,” Tahir told VOA. “Our grandparents lived there. Now they cannot live there in peace. They’re setting villages on fire, everything on fire. They are killing people. They are burning down everything. There is no peace,” she said. More than 500,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar since the military launched an anti-terrorist operation in the country’s northwest.   A top United Nations human rights official called the campaign “ethnic cleansing” and has accused the military of serious human rights abuses. Now hundreds of thousands of Rohingya live in refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh as they wait to move to another country. The crisis has increased the number of Rohingya refugees arriving in the United States. Since 2015, the U.S. government has resettled more Rohingya than refugees from Syria’s civil war.  But instead of going to a city with a large Rohingya population – Tahir and her family went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and became the first Rohingya family in the area. Burmese community members believe that there are now more than 150 Rohingya families in the Fort Wayne area. The Rohingya community is a small part of the 6,000 Burmese now living in the city. Most of the foreign born Burmese population of Fort Wayne speak a different language and have a different religion than the Rohingya. The ethnic and religious tensions that fueled their flight from Myanmar are still an issue in the U.S. “Why I don’t like Rohingya to come to Fort Wayne is …most of them…almost 100 percent…are Muslims,” said Abraham Thang, a Burmese Chin community leader. Thang moved to Fort Wayne in the 1990s. “They’re blood is Muslims, not Buddhist, not Christians,” he said. “They did a very terrible job, like attacking the military and police post and killing and murdering the Hindus. That is not good for Rohingyas. That is a big mistake by Rohingyas." Thang is a leader at the Myanmar Indigenous Christian Church. He was one of the few Burmese who was willing to talk to VOA about the Rohingya settlement in Fort Wayne. While he says these are his own opinions, they represent the same issues the Rohingya experience in Myanmar. “I don’t mind they practice what they believe,” Thang explained to VOA. “What I mind is extremism,” he added. “Most of the terrorists come from the Muslim community. This is what I am thinking in my mind personally. So my opinion is rather than sending Rohingya to Fort Wayne – and not sending them is better – don’t send the Rohingya to Fort Wayne.” “That’s unfortunate,” said Tom Henry, the mayor of Fort Wayne. He added “I want anybody from Myanmar to know they are welcome in our community.” Henry, a member of the Democratic Party, has made Burmese integration a goal for his administration in this city of more than 250,000. Thang, like some other community members, worries that increasing the number of new arrivals will increase problems. “I foresee the Burmese people and the Rohingya people in the future, sooner or later, we will have conflict and that is not good for the Fort Wayne community."  Mayor Henry disagrees. “I don’t see that happening. We have a very safe community.” The Rohingya refugees in Fort Wayne who spoke to VOA said they do not believe they have been badly treated by other Burmese in the area. None report having experienced any hostility. And they say they have been welcomed and assisted in their resettlement. While she feels safe, Bibiasha Mohamad Tahir wonders when she will finally feel at home. “We couldn’t find peace in our country...how could we find peace here?” she asks. I’m Susan Shand.   Kana Farabaugh reported this story for VOANews.com. Susan Shand adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   grandparent – n. a parent of one’s father or mother indigenous - adj. living, or existing naturally in an area or environment practice – v. to carry out or perform; to train by repeated exercises unfortunate – adj. regrettable; resulting in bad luck integration – n. the act or process of uniting different things  

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‘Bicycle Mayor’ Program Shows Promise in Mexico City

  Her position is not official, but Areli Carreon of Mexico City is a “mayor.” She may be the “bicycle mayor,” but to her it is an important position. She works to make people in one of the world’s most congested cities more interested in riding bicycles. Carreon works with a group based in Amsterdam called CycleSpace. The group says it wants 50 percent of all trips made in cities to be made by bike by the year 2030. There are “mayors” like Carreon in seven cities around the world, including Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sydney, Australia; and Baroda, India. More cities are expected to “inaugurate” mayors soon. Amsterdam’s “mayor” is Anna Luten. She said the organization’s goal will “make cities livable again by integrating bikes.” And, more bikes will make it easier for the remaining cars to get around. However, Carreon says the cycling program will do more than just make daily trips to work or the market easier. When a disaster strikes, like the recent earthquake that shook Mexico City, cyclists may be among the first to get out and look for survivors. Carreon and 1,000 other cyclists helped identify buildings where people might be trapped. They were able to travel on streets littered with rubble more easily than larger vehicles. The cyclists also may be able to bring tools and supplies to rescue teams. Carreon said bicycles “served as an emergency breathing system for the city.” And she noted that, no matter how bad the roads were, bicycles were the fastest way to move around. There are already a lot of cyclists in downtown Mexico City. Two hundred fifty thousand are members of a bike-sharing program that offers 6,000 bicycles at 450 parking stands. But riding in the city can be dangerous. Around the city, the white-painted outlines of bicycles can be found on the streets. These markers show where cyclists have been killed in traffic accidents. As the bicycle “mayor,” Carreon wants Mexico City to reduce the number of cycling deaths each year, and increase the availability of bike lanes to 340 kilometers.   She would also like to see people who live in the outer parts of the city use bicycles more often. Carreon says rich people can move around Mexico City without much trouble, but poor people might spend four hours walking to and from work. As the “mayor,” Carreon has a lot of work to due to publicize the projects she is working on. She delayed an event that was planned before the earthquake. But she thinks the way  cyclists of Mexico City were able to help after the earthquake may have been the best publicity of all. “At the city’s worst moment, we were there,” she said. I’m Ashley Thompson.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by Reuters. Mario Ritter was the editor. What do you think of the plans in Mexico City? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   inaugurate– v. to introduce (someone, such as a newly elected official) into a job or position with a formal ceremony integrate– v. to make (something) a part of another larger thing litter– v. to cover (a surface) with many things in an untidy way rubble– n. broken pieces of stone, brick, etc., from walls or buildings that have fallen publicize– v. to give information about (something) to the public  

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Everyday Grammar: Be Like, Be All

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Lesson 6: Will It Float?

Summary Anna takes Penelope around the city on a tour vehicle. Is it a bus? Is it a boat? Yes! The Duck Bus/Boat. It goes on land. It goes on water.   Conversation Penelope: Anna, thanks for taking me on a tour of D.C. today. Anna: Sure thing, Penelope. You are new to town. And a tour is the best way to see more of the city! Penelope: So, which tour are we taking – the one that goes through the city on a bus? Or the one that goes along the river in a boat? Anna: Both! Penelope: What? Anna, this isn’t going to be one of those trips, is it? Anna: No. Follow me. Professor Bot: In this lesson, you are going to hear lots of prepositions! What’s a preposition, you ask? It’s a word that shows relationships between things. Anna says they are going on a tour through the city and along the river. Through and along are both prepositions. Watch for more! Anna: Well, Penelope, there’s our ride! Penelope: What is it? Anna: It’s the famous DC Ducks -- the boat with wheels! We will ride on the road and then sail on the water! Penelope: Who thinks of these things? Anna: I don't know. But I’m glad they do! Let’s get aboard, Sailor! Penelope: (looking at a brochure about the boat) Hey, did you know that this bus … um, boat was created during World War II to carry people and supplies? Anna: Wow. You know, a tour is so much more interesting with Fun Facts, like that one. Penelope: I agree. I love Fun Facts! Boy: Did I hear you say you love Fun Facts? Anna & Penelope:  Yeah. Boy: Well, I have tons of Fun Facts for this tour! Anna & Penelope: Great! Anna: Penelope, where are his parents? Penelope: Maybe - maybe he’s the Captain’s son and he helps his dad on tours! Anna: Oh yeah! It would be so awesome to ride around the city in a boat all day with your dad! Penelope: This is amazing, Anna. There are so many beautiful buildings along this road! Anna: Hey, the Washington Monument is on the left! Professor Bot: I have a Fun Fact too! Did you know that the Washington Monument was damaged in an earthquake? Whoa. Did you feel that?! I heard: "around the city in a boat," "along this road and "on the left."  All of these are prepositions showing place.   Let's watch for more places and prepositions! Penelope: Look, Anna, we’re across from the White House! Anna: Penelope, the only thing between us and the President is the street … and a park … and a security gate .... and police officers … with guns. Boy: Excuse me, do you want to know a Fun Fact about the White House? Anna & Penelope: Yes! Boy: Inside the White House there is a swimming pool, a movie theater and 32 bathrooms! Penelope: Thirty-two bathrooms! That’s a lot of bathrooms! Boy: I’d be happy with two. I live in a house with my mom, four sisters, two aunts and only one bathroom! Penelope: Oh my! You know, Anna, we should give him a tip! Anna: Of course! It is polite to tip your tour guide! Luckily, I have lots of dollar bills! Penelope: That was a great Fun Fact! Here you go! Boy: Thank you! I can tell you Fun Facts all day! Professor Bot: Did you hear any more prepositions of place? I heard "between us and the president" “inside the White House" and "in a house."  And did you hear that the Duck Boat can go on the river? I don't believe it. Join us next time to find out which preposition we will use: The boat went ON the river or The boat went INTO the river?   New Words aboard - prep.  on or into (a train, ship, etc.) across - prep. on the other side of (something) along - prep. in a line matching the length or direction of (something) around - prep.over or in different parts of (a place) between - prep. in the space that separates (two things or people) captain - n. a person who is in charge of a ship or an airplane carry - v. to move (something) while holding and supporting it inside - prep. an inner part of something (such as a building or machine) pool - n. (swimming pool) a large structure that is filled with water and that is used for swimming relationship - n. the way in which two or more people or things are connected security gate - n. a place where people are checked to make sure they are not carrying weapons or other illegal materials through - prep. used to describe movement within a place or an area of land, air, etc. tip - n.  an extra amount of money that you give to someone (such as a waitress or waiter) who performs a service for you - v. to give an extra amount of money to someone who performs a service for you tour - n. an activity in which you go through a place (such as a building or city) in order to see and learn about the different parts of it wheel - n. one of the round parts underneath a car, wagon, etc., that rolls and allows something to move   Learning Strategy The learning strategy for this lesson is Access Information Sources. When we are learning about something, we often have several choices for finding out the information we need. Sometimes we can read a book, or look on the internet. At other times, we can ask a teacher, friend or classmate for information. No matter what the source is, you can then add the information to your own knowledge. In this lesson, Penelope looks at a brochure to learn more about the tour boat. Then a young man tells her some "Fun Facts" so she can learn more about Washington, D.C.  How about you? How do you access information sources? When you are learning English, do you look for information in books, dictionaries, or online? Are you able to ask teachers, friends or classmates to help you by sharing their knowledge of English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email.    Listening Quiz See how well you understand this lesson by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer. ​ Free Materials Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. For Teachers Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus:  Prepositions of place Topics: Sharing Information​ Learning Strategy: Access Information Sources   Comments 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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Let's Learn English - Level 2 - Lesson 6: Will It Float?

Anna takes Penelope around the city on a tour vehicle. Is it a bus? Is it a boat? Yes! The Duck Bus/Boat. It goes on land. It goes on water. See the whole lesson at: http://ift.tt/2zqvrL1

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Current, Former Students Say Formal College Advice Not That Helpful

  Terri Tchorzynski works hard to help young people in the American state of Michigan succeed after they complete high school. Tchorzynski is a school counselor at a special public school called the Calhoun Area Career Center in Battle Creek, Michigan. There, students in their final two years of high school take classes that relate directly to industries in which they might work someday. Tchorzynski makes students’ plans after high school a priority, whether they expect to attend college or enter the workforce. Tchorzynski uses many tools to help her students. She makes regular presentations on issues such as financial aid. She offers special tests to help identify qualities in the students’ personalities and how those qualities might relate to a job or field of study. And she also directs students to websites that provide information on colleges and universities. All of Tchorzynksi’s hard work has gained her some national attention. The American School Counselor Association named her its School Counselor of the Year in 2017. But, a new study finds that many Americans who either completed a degree program or attended at least some college are unhappy with their high school counselors. They do not feel the advice that their counselors provided about higher education was all that helpful. Tchorzynksi says a lack of personal attention may be one reason why students are unsatisfied. But she notes that most school counselors are in a difficult position. They have more to do than just provide college advice to students. Also, she says, many counselors across the United States are overworked. "In Michigan, we’re about 750 students to one school counselor...The American School Counselor Association says it should be 250 to one. But that’s not the case...So I would say that some school counselors are probably in a spot where maybe they cannot provide the individual services...getting the students exactly what they need." Not all advice is created equal The Strada Education network is a nonprofit organization that supports the growth of higher education in the United States. Last year it partnered with the research company Gallup to ask over 22,000 Americans about their experiences with college. Researchers focused on where people received advice about what field to study in college, and how helpful the advice was. The study found four main sources of advice. There are the formal sources, such as school counselors, websites and print media. There are informal school-based sources, such as teachers and other staff. There are informal social networks, such as friends and family. And there are informal work-based networks, such as bosses and co-workers. The study showed that formal sources of advice about what to study in college were the second most commonly used, after informal social networks. But only 64 percent of people who used formal sources found them helpful at all. In other words, formal sources were the least helpful source. By comparison, informal work-based sources were the least used, with only 20 percent of people using them. Yet 83 percent of people who did found informal work-based sources to be helpful. In other words, bosses and co-workers were the most valuable sources of all. Brandon Busteed is executive director of education and workforce development at Gallup. He says it is surprising that current and former students find what some might say are the most traditional sources of advice to be so lacking. “It’s a call to action on a number of fronts, certainly to think about how we improve the formal advising that happens in and outside of schools,” he told VOA. “But also to think about how we can ramp up the number of touch points between employers…and students.” How formal sources can improve Johnny C. Taylor Jr. is the president of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. His organization supports historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, across the United States. Taylor helped connect the Strada and Gallup researchers with minority communities. Taylor suggests that in addition to being overworked, counselors may also simply have limited knowledge. He argues that many school counselors mostly have professional experience in education. Therefore they may not always know the best way to go about becoming a chemical engineer or graphic designer, for example. The limits of counselors’ knowledge is why schools need to strengthen relationships with both local employers and national professional organizations, Taylor says. These connections can provide counselors with the most up-to-date information about what a job in a given field requires. Counselors can then pass that information to students. In addition, relationships with professional groups might give students a chance to meet with employers and ask important questions themselves. Taylor says those connections are especially important for poor and minority students, whose exposure to people with high skilled jobs may be limited. "Many of them are first generation. And as first generation students, they simply don’t have engineers, doctors, lawyers in their families to give them this advice. The result is that they make really, often times, poor…college going decisions and ultimately have a certain level of regret about what schools they chose, which majors they chose when they did go to school, and, ultimately, what careers they found themselves in." Also, Taylor notes, school counselors need to pay better attention to some other considerations when giving advice. He admits that school counselors do the best they can to get students into college. But they do not often talk about the difficulties of finding a job in some fields, or the consequences of heavy student debt, he says. Tchorzynski, Busteed and Taylor all agree that, in the end, the amount of time and effort that students put in will decide how happy they are with their decisions. But students still need to be pointed in the right direction. I’m Dorothy Gundy. And I'm Pete Musto.   Pete Musto reported this for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. What do you think are the most helpful sources of advice about college? If you are a current or former college student, what are some regrets you have about the first decision you made in the process? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   counselor – n. a person who gives help and advice to students about educational and personal decisions priority – n. something that is more important than other things and that needs to be done or dealt with first financial – adj. relating to money advice – n. an opinion or suggestion about what someone should do formal – adj. made or done in an official and usually public way social network(s) – n. the collection of personal relationships a person has with other people ramp up – p.v. to increase or to cause something to increase in speed, size or number exposure – n. the fact or condition of being affected by something or experiencing something major(s) – n. the main subject studied by a college or university student consequence(s) – n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions

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