October 18, 2017

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

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Explainer: Rohingya

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Take a Break From Essay Writing with Dialogue Journals

  Writing may be one of the most hated exercises in a classroom. Rarely do students celebrate when the teacher asks them to do a writing activity. Joy Peyton says there is good reason for that: much of the writing is often formal. "There are requirements for moving through the class to the next class and out of the program and that requirement is often writing an essay." Peyton is with the Center for Applied Linguistics, a language and educational research organization in Washington, DC. She says dialogue journals are an ideal alternative to structured essays. She says journal writing also can improve learners' language skills. Dialogue journals are ongoing, written conversations between two people. They could be between a student and teacher or   other English language expert. Or, they could be between two English learners, if one learner has strong English skills. The writing takes place for a period of time, such as a school term or year. With dialogue journals, learners write about subjects that interest them. And, they can write as much or little as they wish. The teacher's job is not to judge the writing skills of the English learner or even correct mistakes. Instead, the teacher is an equal partner in a continuing one-on-one conversation. "So there's some sense in which we share the power to introduce topics, to respond, to ask questions, like we would in a conversation with a friend. That's not typically the way a teaching situation works." That was Jana Staton, a Counselor Education supervisor at the University of Montana. She has done a number of studies on dialogue journals, some in partnership with Joy Peyton. How do the journals improve English? One unusual thing about dialogue journals is that there is little or no correction of mistakes. But, without correction, how do learners improve their English skills? Peyton explains. "In this kind of writing, they're writing with another person who's a better writer than they are, whose language is more advanced than theirs and they're motivated to do it because they're writing about topics that are interesting to them." Learners improve a number of language skills by observing how the teacher writes and then self-correcting. ​ Peyton and Staton say English learners take more risks in expressing themselves with the language because they are not being judged by the teacher, their classmates or anyone else. Clarena Larrotta is Associate Professor in the Adult, Professional and Community Education Programs at Texas State University. She says dialogue journals can improve things like language fluency and confidence without error correction. "For me dialogue journals is for helping them develop vocabulary, develop fluency, feel less scared about writing, feel more confident about using English to communicate. So, my recommendation is that there have to be other activities in class where correction is the goal." Larrotta says the journals also give learners a chance to do something that is usually quite difficult in a second language: forming questions correctly. And, dialogue journals do not simply help learners, Staton says; instead, teachers gain a lot. They learn more about their students and this can help them feel like part of a community. How can we get started? Format: Dialogue journals are a low- to no-cost activity. The only required materials are paper notebooks or possibly a computer or other electronic device. If you choose an electronic device, Staton suggests avoiding email and using something like Google Docs instead. She says it keeps a clearer record of the conversation. Blackboard, or other online communication tools used by universities, may be another method. Timing: The writing can take place at the beginning or end of a class, or in between two activities. And, Peyton says, it usually only requires about 10 or 15 minutes of class time. The frequency may depend on the number of students and the workload of the teacher. Larrotta suggests that, if teachers have a large class, they can collect some journals on one day and the others on a different day. Subjects: For subjects, Staton says avoid the thinking of: "I want you all to write about x." Instead, you might start the very first journal by asking the English learners what questions they have or what they think about what they're doing in the classroom. Or, you can simply start with, "Tell me what your day was like." Once the learners feel at ease with what is expected, the writing can move to more personal subjects, those important to the learner. What does this person want? What are his or her goals and hopes? What is difficult for them and what would be more helpful? Larrotta suggests that both the teacher and the learner include a few questions in each journal submission. This helps keep the conversation going because it gives the reader something to react to. Ground rules: She also says ground rules are important before beginning dialogue journaling. One of her rules is to recognize the kind of questions you ask. And, if you see an unwanted question, you have the right not to answer that question and suggest a different subject. The important thing to remember with dialogue journals, she says, is not to be afraid of making mistakes because even native English speakers make mistakes. I'm John Russell. And I'm Alice Bryant.   Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Have you used a dialogue journal as a learner? As a teacher? How did it improve your English skills or help you communicate? Write to us in the comments section.   _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   joy – n. happiness alternative – n. something that can be chosen instead of something else conversation – n. a spoken exchange between two or more people format – n. structure fluency – n. the ability to speak easily frequency – n. the number of times that something happens during a particular period dialog – n. a conversation; a discussion involving two or more groups ground rule – n. a rule about what should be done in a particular situation

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Syrian Commander: Raqqa Captured from IS Forces

  Militias operating in Syria have declared victory over Islamic State, or IS fighters in Raqqa. The militias raised flags over the city on Tuesday after a four-month battle against IS forces. Raqqa served as capital of the self-declared Islamic State militant group. The Reuters news agency said the fighting had ended, but noted that Kurdish and Arab militias were clearing a sports center of mines and any remaining militants. A spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, said his group plans to formally declare victory after the work is completed. The SDF has been fighting since June to take Raqqa. The militia has received help from the United States and its allies. The final SDF attack on Raqqa began on Sunday after a group of Syrian jihadists withdrew, leaving only 300 IS fighters to defend their positions. On Monday, the SDF captured “Paradise Square,” a place where the militants carried out executions in front of city residents. Some locals called it “Hell Square” as bodies and severed heads would be left there for days. The fighters captured Raqqa’s main hospital after fierce fighting Monday night and early on Tuesday, said SDF spokesman Mostafa Bali in a statement. The fighters then lowered the black flag of Islamic State at the hospital, the site of an IS command center. One witness told Reuters that militia fighters and commanders celebrated in the middle of wreckage and ruined buildings around the square. An SDF field commander said explosions from mines killed three militiamen on Monday. Another commander said SDF fighters had found burned weapons and documents in the sports center. The fall of Raqqa is a sign of the Islamic State’s collapse. It was the first big city captured by IS forces in early 2014. After a series of victories in Iraq and Syria, the group declared the establishment of a caliphate, with Raqqa as its capital. The Islamic State created its own laws, passports and money. It used the city as a base to plan attacks overseas and to imprison Western hostages before killing them in videos published online. The group has lost most of its territory in Syria and Iraq this year, including the city of Mosul. In Syria, IS forces have been forced back into small areas in the Euphrates valley and surrounding desert. I'm Pete Musto.   Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on information from the Associated Press and Reuters. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   formally - adj. made or done in an official and usually public way jihadist - n. a Muslim who advocates or participates in a jihad resident - n. someone who lives in a particular place sever - v. to cut off site - n. a place that is used for a particular activity caliphate - n. the land ruled by a caliph (a Muslim political and religious leader)

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President Trump May Visit Korean DMZ on Asia Trip

  United States President Donald Trump is traveling to five Asian countries early next month. Trump told reporters on Monday he is considering a visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) during the trip. The DMZ is the narrow piece of land that separates North and South Korea. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence visited the DMZ in April. Christopher Hill is a former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea and assistant secretary of state.  Hill told VOA that “every American president has visited the DMZ, and President Trump should, too.” Hill noted that the timing of a presidential visit to the DMZ is something to be considered. Ned Price worked for the U.S. National Security Council and served as an assistant to then-President Barack Obama. Price agrees with Hill’s reaction to the idea of a presidential visit. He said, “The North Koreans would interpret any visit as provocative.”  Price told VOA that what the president says or does while at the DMZ “would determine just how the North Koreans react. Any blustery language -- such as what we’ve seen in recent weeks -- would be hugely detrimental to the cause of a diplomatic de-escalation.” During his trip, Trump will try to increase pressure against North Korea's nuclear weapons development program. He will also work to strengthen American economic interests in East Asia. Trump has helped to build support at the United Nations for international economic sanctions against North Korea. Those measures are designed to limit the amount of money North Korea earns from exports. The North uses that money to finance its nuclear weapons program. But the country has been able to continue nuclear and ballistic missile tests. Trump is likely talk about the tests in his talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Jack Keane is a retired U.S. Army general and once served as the army’s vice chief of staff. He has close ties to the Trump administration. Keane warned North Korea against adding nuclear weapons to its intercontinental ballistic missiles at the United States and its territories. If North Korea does “nuclearize” its missiles, he noted, Trump will consider the decision “an act of war” by the North. He added, “We can say that war on the peninsula is not realistic,” but if (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un is going to bring it to that point, that is what is going to exactly happen.” The Trump administration said Monday that the president’s trip is set to begin on November 3 and end on November 14. It will include stops in Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. Trump is to meet with the heads of state of each country.   VOA White House Correspondent Steve Herman reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow 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   interpret – v. to understand (something) in a specified way provocative – adj. causing discussion, thought, argument, etc. blustery – adj. blowing loudly and violently (often used figuratively) detrimental – adj. causing damage or injury de-escalation – v. to stop from becoming worse or to stop from making (something) worse or more severe pre-emptive – adj. done to stop an unwanted act by another group, country, etc., from happening

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Expert: North Korea’s Cyber Abilities Growing

Some experts believe North Korea’s ability to carry out computer attacks is increasing. They point to a reported attack that took place in September of last year as evidence. Attackers, believed to be North Koreans, took thousands of military documents including war plans aimed at destroying North Korea’s leadership if war takes place. The war plans, known as Operation Plan 5015, were jointly created by the U.S. and South Korean militaries. Expert: ‘entirely possible’ North Korea responsible Kenneth Geers is a security expert and a researcher with the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence based in Estonia. Recently, he spoke to VOA. Geers said it is “entirely possible” that U.S.-South Korean war plans were taken. He added that it is possible that North Korea received help from Russia or China to do so. All digitized information, Geers said, is very difficult to protect. He said large computer systems often have many points that can be attacked and North Korea knows who to target. He said one possibility is that North Korea may be trying to steal money. The country has been under increasingly tight sanctions after two United Nations Security Council resolutions this year targeted its export income. Another possibility, Geers said, is that North Korea wants to know if it is about to be attacked. In order to do that, they would need plans form the U.S., Korea and Japan. Other cyberattacks linked to North Korea North Korea has been linked to computer attacks that have caused notable damage in the past. In 2014, North Korea was blamed for entering the computer systems of Sony Pictures Entertainment. The attack caused many computers belonging to the movie production company to become useless. It was seen as a reaction to that studio’s attempt to release the film, The Interview. The movie showed an attempt to kill North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un. More recently, reports from 2016 linked the theft of $81 million from the central bank of Bangladesh to North Korea. South Korea suspects North Korea has attempted attacks in recent years on computer systems of its energy system and some of its banks as well as its military. Cyberattacks can seek information, target equipment But Geers does not believe that North Korea could win a cyberwar with the U.S., South Korea or other Western countries. He said North Korea’s internet system is small and an easy target for cyberattacks that can limit or shut down its networks. Geers said cyberwarfare can take many forms. It can involve secretly getting information and spying on computer systems. Cyberwarfare methods also can seek to make changes to computer systems that limit or block advanced weapons from operating correctly. In the case of missiles, a cyber attack might block important information that is needed in order to fly a missile in the right direction. It is even possible to cause a missile to travel in the wrong direction. “A computers might have no way of knowing that it’s the right or wrong target. Computers don’t think that way. They just respond to commands. In that way, they can be very smart and very stupid at the same time.” One example of a cyberattack targeted Iran’s nuclear program and was identified in 2010. The Stuxnet virus is said to have caused damage to computer systems linked to Iran’s nuclear weapons program. I’m Mario Ritter. Kim Youngnam reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. 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   cyberattacks –n. attacks that take place not physically, but electronically through computer networks sanctions –n. measures taken by countries to force one or more countries to obey international law, usually by limiting trade or finance cyberspace –n. the world that exists on computer networks online scramble –v. to mix up, to take out of the usual order advanced –adj. at a high level of development, modern

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European Officials Expecting Terror Attacks, Even As IS Weakens

  Terrorism experts say the collapse of the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria and Iraq may not reduce its efforts to spread in Europe. European officials remain concerned that the group will continue to gain and radicalize European followers. They also say it may not reduce so-called "lone wolf" attacks in Europe.  Kurdish-led forces supported by the United States are close to removing Islamic State forces from the Syrian city of Raqqa. The terror group has used the city as its headquarters in Syria. But French and Belgian officials do not believe killings will stop in Europe for the next few years. Experts say territory held by the Islamic State helped the group gain fighters from other countries. They say it also helped the group show it was different from the terror group al-Qaida which opposed the creation of the Islamic State, or IS. Al-Qaida’s leaders criticized Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi for naming himself caliph, or leader. Experts say one way for IS to show it still has power is to carry out attacks on targets in the West like al-Qaida did. Last month, al-Baghdadi released a recording in which he criticized the United States. It was the first time he had spoken publicly in 11 months. In the recording, he called on jihadists to attack the Syrian government. And he said IS still exists although it has lost much of the territory it had captured. He repeated the words of IS propaganda chief Abu Mohammad al-Adnani. He said holding territory was less important than the desire to fight. Al-Adnani is now dead. Al-Baghdadi also praised attacks on the West. He said “America, Europe and Russia are living in a state of terror." French president says terrorism a top priority French President Emmanuel Macron spoke about terrorism in August. At the time, IS had been ousted from the Iraqi city of Mosul and Kurdish-led forces began their attack on Raqqa. Macron said the fight against Islamic terrorism is France’s “top priority.” He said it would remain so for some time. Since 2015, a series of terror attacks has killed more than 240 people in France. The country has 350 Islamic extremists in prison and nearly 6,000 militants under surveillance. Belgium also has supplied an unusually large number of fighters to IS and other jihadist groups. French and Belgian officials say IS is very innovative. They say efforts to reduce the group’s activities on the internet have not been very successful. The group makes changes to its messages often to target possible recruits. It tests new ideas, much like companies that sell products do.              Charlie Winter recently published a study on IS for the International Center for the Study of Radicalization and Political Violence. The research center is based in King’s College, London. Winter says the media war has always been as important for IS as victories in Syria and Iraq. He wrote that, for IS, “propaganda production and dissemination is at times considered to be even more important than military jihad.” Winter says that although IS has lost much of its territory, it can still take part in information warfare and recruit and incite. And he says “the international community must be equally as creative and strategic-minded in its approach towards counter-communications.” Officials and experts warn that radicalization remains a serious problem. Former French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has called radicalization “a deadly social model.” France is not alone in struggling to understand radicalization and to develop effective ways to fight it. Western governments still do not know how people are radicalized and why they take part in deadly attacks. Farhad Khosrokhavar is a sociologist and professor in Paris, France. He is concerned that governments still consider radicalization only a national security problem. He says governments should understand radicalization as part of other long-term problems. These include problems of stigmatization, social exclusion and delinquency. He says experts are only beginning to understand how the internet and closed social media groups can help form jihadist groups. He said they can be used to create the cult of what he calls the “negative hero.” At a conference in London last year, Khosrokhavar said a number of jihadist attackers in the West had been diagnosed with depression or other mental illnesses. But political leaders facing public demands to stop violence often resist efforts to increase understanding of radicalization. Former French Prime Minster Valls once said he was tired of social and cultural excuses used to explain jihad. “To explain is to excuse,” he said. Both France and Belgium have struggled to create programs that reduce radicalization. Earlier this year, an effort to create de-radicalization centers in France ended because of differences over how to run the programs. I’m Bryan Lynn. And I'm Anne Ball.   Correspondent Jamie Dettmer reported this story from Brussels, Belgium. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter 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   radicalize – v. to cause someone to become more extreme, especially in politics jihadist – n. someone who joins or supports a holy war against non-Muslims priority – n. something that is considered more important than other things innovative – adj. having new ideas about something; creative dissemination – n. the spreading or sharing of something strategic-minded – n. a person’s ability to think imaginatively or systematically stigmatization – n. the act of describing something in a way that shows strong disapproval social exclusion – n. the act of making groups of people feel unimportant delinquency – n. actions that are in competition with or opposition to accepted behavior cult – n. a system of religious beliefs

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Google Honors Mexican-American Singer Selena with Doodle

  This is What’s Trending Today… Selena Quintanilla was known to millions of fans in North and Central America by her first name, Selena. She was a successful Mexican-American singer, born in Texas in 1971. Her first recording, also called “Selena,” came out on October 17 in 1989. Selena released a number of future records before she was murdered in 1995. One of the albums had a song called “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” and that is the song that provides the soundtrack for the Google Doodle that came out on Tuesday. The doodle can be seen by Google users in the United States, most of Central and South America and India. If you do not live in one of those areas, you can access the doodle by visiting the Google Doodle archive or on YouTube. The doodle is an animated video showing the grown-up Selena performing the song and a young Mexican-American girl singing along in her bedroom. The girl sings into a hairbrush instead of a microphone while dancing on her bed. The video lasts for about 90 seconds, and it shows the girl and her family going through different experiences with Selena’s music in the background. At the end, the viewer realizes that the young girl grew up to become the successful musician. The idea for the doodle came from Perla Campos, a marketing executive for the Google Doodle team. Campos wrote an essay to go along with a doodle. She said “watching Selena taught me that being Latina was a powerful thing, and that with hard work and focus, I could do whatever I set my mind to.” Campos called Selena “a role model and a hero.” According to Billboard.com, Campos worked with Selena’s family to get the details of the animation just right. Thanks to the doodle, Selena was a trending topic on both Twitter and YouTube on Tuesday. Alex Medina is a designer and music producer. He called Selena “la reina,” which means “queen” in Spanish. He called the animation “amazing.” Comedian Dani Fernandez used Twitter to write that she thought she “was not going to cry today.” Then she saw the Google Doodle. She posted four “crying face” emojis. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I'm Lucija Millonig.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Did you know about Selena before this Google Doodle? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   soundtrack – n. the sounds and especially the music recorded for a movie doodle – v. to draw something without thinking about what you are doing viewer – n.  a person who sees or looks at something Latina– n. a woman or girl who was born in or lives in South America, Central America, or Mexico or a woman or girl in the U.S. whose family is originally from South America, Central America, or Mexico animation– n.  a way of making a movie by using a series of drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of objects (such as puppets or models) that are slightly different from one another and that when viewed quickly one after another create the appearance of movement emoji– n. playful designs of faces used in electronic messages and web pages

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October 17, 2017

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

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Syrian Commander: Raqqa Captured from IS Forces

Militias operating in Syria have declared victory over Islamic State (IS) fighters in Raqqa. The militias raised flags over the city on Tuesday after a four-month battle against IS forces. Raqqa served as capital of the self-declared Islamic State militant group. The Reuters news agency said the fighting had ended, but noted that Kurdish and Arab militias were clearing a sports center of mines and any remaining militants. A spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said his group plans to formally declare victory after the work is completed. The SDF has been fighting since June to take Raqqa. The militia has received help from the United States and its allies. The final SDF attack on Raqqa began on Sunday after a group of Syrian jihadists withdrew, leaving only 300 IS fighters to defend their positions. On Monday, the SDF captured “Paradise Square,” a place where the militants carried out executions in front of city residents. Some locals called it “Hell Square” as bodies and severed heads would be left there for days. The fighters captured Raqqa’s main hospital after fierce fighting Monday night and early on Tuesday, said SDF spokesman Mostafa Bali in a statement. The fighters then lowered the black flag of Islamic State at the hospital, the site of an IS command center. One witness told Reuters that militia fighters and commanders celebrated in the middle of wreckage and ruined buildings around the square. An SDF field commander said explosions from mines killed three militiamen on Monday. Another commander said SDF fighters had found burned weapons and documents in the sports center. The fall of Raqqa is a sign of the Islamic State’s collapse. It was the first big city captured by IS forces in early 2014. After a series of victories in Iraq and Syria, the group declared the establishment of a caliphate, with Raqqa as its capital. The Islamic State created its own laws, passports and money. It used the city as a base to plan attacks overseas and to imprison Western hostages before killing them in videos published online. The group has lost most of its territory in Syria and Iraq this year, including the city of Mosul. In Syria, IS forces have been forced back into small area in the Euphrates valley and surrounding desert. I'm Pete Musto.   Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on information from the Associated Press and Reuters. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________     Words in This Story    

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Three Out of Four Children Experience Violence

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Each year nearly three out of four children around the world experience some kind of violence. A new report confirms that finding and another troubling development: Childhood violence is linked with violence against women. Children who see their mother being abused are more likely to be abused as an adult or become abusers themselves.  The report is called "Ending Violence in Childhood: Global Report 2017." The study was prepared for a children's rights group called Know Violence in Childhood. The organization was launched in India three years ago. The study found that childhood violence happens nearly everywhere -- in rich and poor countries alike. It affects an estimated 1.7 billion children every year. This violence includes fighting or bullying -- the mistreatment or abuse of someone by a stronger or more powerful individual. It can also include sexual abuse, sexual violence and physical punishment, both at home and in school. The researchers did not include violence from war and other events. Ramya Subrahmanian is executive director of Know Violence in Childhood. She said that children experience emotional and physical punishment at young ages -- some from as early as two years of age. She adds that violence is a learned behavior that comes from deep, long-held cultural values. For example, in some societies, beating is a form of discipline. Economic cost of childhood violence The researchers say there is also an economic cost to society when children experience violence. They found that children who experience violence at home are more likely to miss school or even leave school and never return. They are less likely to get an education and succeed in life.  Know Violence in Childhood reports that up to 8% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is spent on repairing the damage caused by childhood violence. GDP is usually defined as the total value of all goods and services. The report notes that even with such a high cost, governments fail to invest in policies that could stop the causes of childhood violence. The group’s website explores ways to end the violence. It reports that experts say the first step is to speak out about violence against children. Keeping silent only increases the chance that violence will continue. The experts also say that is important to educate caregivers and empower children to be strong and resilient.  The report says that anti-violence education needs to be included in school systems, community programs and in health services.  And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.   Carol Pearson wrote this story for VOANews.com. Anna Matteo adapted her story for Learning English. Her report includes information from the "Ending Violence in Childhood: Global Report 2017." George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding with this short quiz. ​______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   trend – n. a general direction of change : a way of behaving, proceeding, etc., that is developing and becoming more common discipline – n. punishment for bad behavior resilient – adj. able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens

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