The Benefits of Baby Talk

  Baby talk. It is how many adults speak to babies: slowly, using shorter sentences, talking at a higher pitch, and putting more emphasis on certain vowels. Examples include, “Where are your shoooes?” And, “Oh, this tastes gooood.” New research from Princeton University in New Jersey found something else special about how adults -- in this case mothers -- speak to their very young children. “We found for the first time that mothers shift their vocal timbre,” said Elise Piazza, a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University’s Neuroscience Institute. Timbre is what makes a sound appear different than words or music with the same pitch and loudness. Piazza added: “Timbre is best defined as the unique quality of a sound. Barry White’s silky voice sounds different from Tom Waits’ gravelly one -- even if they’re singing the same note.” Using special equipment, Piazza and other Princeton researchers found that mothers shared similar changes in timbre when speaking to babies. Piazza offers this example from the research. First, a mother talking to her baby.   “A bunny and a mouse.” And here is the same mother talking to an adult.   “He had four teeth coming in at once.” Piazza explains how people change their timbre. “Timbre is influenced by your entire vocal tract—from your vocal cords all the way up to your lips,” she told VOA. “When you move your tongue and lips to make different vowels (‘ba’, ‘bi’, ‘bo’), you’re actually changing timbre,” she said. The researchers tried to capture the sounds mothers used with their babies at home. “We chose to record mothers playing with and reading to their own babies just like they would at home,” Piazza said. She wanted the discussions to be as natural as possible. The research offers new ways to show differences between how adults speak to babies, compared to fellow adults. The research was not limited just to English speakers. Researchers listened to discussions in nine other languages: Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Cantonese, German, Hebrew, French and Hungarian. Piazza said the research can be used to learn more about how people discuss different situations. For example, she said, it could include how people change their timbre when speaking to friends or managers at work; how candidates speak to voters; and how people speak to their boyfriends, girlfriends and spouses. The Princeton research follows earlier research on baby talk. In 2014, researchers from the University of Washington and University of Connecticut looked at thousands of verbal discussions between parents and babies. They compared regular speaking voices and baby talk. Patricia Kuhl is co-director of the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences and a co-author of the baby talk report. She said researchers found that use of baby talk led to better early language development. The more parents emphasized certain vowels (such as in the phrase “how are youuuu?”) and raised the pitch of their voices, the more the one-year-olds babbled, Kuhl said. Babbling, which is making sounds that do not make sense, is considered an early step to word production. I’m Jill Robbins. And I'm Bruce Alpert.                            Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Do you use baby talk to speak to babies. If so, why? If not, why not? _____________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding with this short quiz. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pitch - n. the highness or lowness of a sound emphasis - n. a forceful quality in the way something is said or written shift- v. to change or move unique - adj. very special or unusual silky - adj. very smooth gravelly - adj. having a rough sound vocal tract - n. is used by humans to create sound  

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Turkish, US Diplomats Work to Ease Troubled Ties

  Diplomats from the United States and Turkey are working to ease tensions after disputes led the countries to place visa restrictions on each other. This past weekend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made sharply critical remarks about the U.S. over a diplomatic dispute from the summer. Erdogan was angry that the U.S. had given arrest orders for Turkish security officials in August. He said, “If the United States issues arrest warrants for my 13 bodyguards in a country where I went upon invitation, I am sorry, but I will not say that country is civilized.” The warrants were given for officials who were accused of attacking peaceful protesters outside the Turkish embassy in Washington in May. The violence took place during Erdogan’s visit to the U.S. Arrests raise tensions further Tensions increased earlier this month after Turkey arrested two men who were working for the U.S. diplomatic mission in Turkey. As a result, the U.S. placed visa restrictions on Turkey. One of those facing charges in Turkey is Metin Topuz. He is accused of links to the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey blames Gulen for last year’s attempt by some members of the military to seize power. Turkey answered the U.S. travel restrictions by placing visa restrictions of its own on U.S. travelers. Talks about the restrictions took place Thursday. The U.S. State Department called the talks productive. Semih Idiz is with the Al Monitor website. He says Erdogan often gives strong criticisms of western countries at unexpected times. However, he said the Turkish leader wants to keep good ties with the West as well. “But, we must realize Erdogan was in New York very recently and had a very chummy meeting with Donald Trump who called him a special friend. So Turkey is aware, for all the problems it has with America, too, that it has to tread cautiously.” Observers note that Erdogan’s criticisms are linked to Turkey’s domestic politics. They say Erdogan is seeking to gain support for the 2019 presidential and general elections. However, U.S. relations with Turkey could be hurt further by another court case involving a Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab. Zarrab is accused of being involved in secret trade with Iran, which was barred by U.S. law at the time. U.S. government lawyers say the businessman developed a plan involving billions of dollars that permitted Iran to avoid U.S. sanctions. They say a top Turkish state bank employee and a former minister are linked to the case. The United States’ support for Syrian Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State militants is another issue that angers Turkish leaders. They say the Syrian Kurdish fighters are linked to Kurdish separatists fighting Turkey. I’m Mario Ritter. Dorian Jones reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   issue –v. to send out, to give out in an official way warrant –n. a court order that give police the power to do something chummy –adj. friendly tread –v. to walk, to act in a certain way sanctions –n. actions to cause a country to obey international law usually by restricting trade or financial exchanges We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Neither Side Backing Down in Catalonia Independence Drive

  Both sides in Spain’s dispute with Catalonia are standing firm as Spanish lawmakers prepare for a vote on suspending the area’s rights to self-rule. Spain’s national Senate is set to vote Friday on whether to enforce direct rule in Catalonia. The government has already put in effect constitutional powers to dismiss Catalan officials and call an election. One pro-independence party is calling for “mass civil disobedience” across the area to answer the latest Spanish moves. The CUP party has called the central government’s actions “an aggression” against all the people of Catalonia. Pro-independence students called for a strike at Catalan universities on Thursday to urge officials to move forward with a declaration of independence. Catalonia has long sought independence from Spain. The area held an independence referendum on October 1. Catalan leaders say the results gave them a clear mandate to declare independence. Spain’s government and Constitutional Court declared the referendum illegal. Independence movement leaders said more than 90 percent of those who voted supported independence. Yet only about 43 percent of registered voters took part in the election. Several hundred Catalan government officials oppose direct rule from the central government in Madrid. They have asked the area’s parliament to vote on a measure rejecting the move. Some teachers and firemen working in the area said they would not recognize Spain’s direct rule. A group of Spain’s political parties chose 27 senators on Monday to study how the government might intervene in Catalonia. The special commission includes 15 members of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s ruling Popular Party. Six senators were from the leading opposition Socialist party, with smaller parties sharing the rest. Among possible constitutional measures the group will study is one calling for dismissal of Catalonia’s government, led by the pro-independence governor Carles Puigdemont. The commission is expected to inform Puigdemont of its plans and invite him to defend his case before Friday’s vote in parliament. ​Prime Minister Rajoy’s party holds a parliamentary majority, making it likely the measure will be approved. Rajoy announced government plans last Saturday to remove Governor Puigdemont and begin steps toward direct rule in Catalonia. The Catalonia crisis has led to concerns across the European Union. EU officials fear that similar pro-independence movements could develop in other areas. On Sunday, two of Italy's wealthiest areas - Veneto and Lombardy - held their own autonomy referendums. The presidents of both areas said more than 90 percent of those who marked ballots wanted more autonomy from the Italian government. Results of the voting were non-binding. But the presidents say the voices of the people will give them more power when officials begin talks with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. Leaders of both regions want to keep more tax money and have a greater say over local education, immigration, security, and the environment. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His story was based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Do you think the people of Catalonia have the right to break away from Spain? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   referendum – n. election in which the people in an area vote for or against an issue of public concern mandate – n. the approval of a large part of the population commission – n. official group of people chosen to study something and decide what they think should be done about it autonomy – n. existing or acting separately from others non-binding – adj. not able to be enforced by law  

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Researchers Genetically Modify Corn to Increase Nutrition

  Researchers in the United States say they have discovered how to genetically engineer corn to produce a kind of amino acid usually found in meat. The result is a food with increased nutrition that could feed animals and people around the world.  The new corn, also called maize, could reduce the cost of animal food. The discovery was published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a scientific journal in early October. The researchers say the process involves putting genetic material from a bacterium into corn. Methionine is very important for humans and animals. It is one of nine necessary amino acids that humans get from food, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.  It supports growth, helps repair skin injuries, improves hair quality and strengthens fingers and toe nails.  It also helps protect cells from pollution and slows the aging process. Thomas Leustek is a professor of Plant Biology at Rutgers University in New Jersey and one of the writers of the study. He told VOA, "We improved the nutritional value of corn, the largest commodity crop grown on Earth." He added, "Most corn is used for animal feed, but it lacks methionine -- a key amino acid -- and we found an effective way to add it." The new method The scientists genetically modified corn by adding the bacterium called E. coli into the genome of the corn plant.  The scientists said they directed their efforts to increase the plant’s production of the amino acid in its leaves.  In an earlier version of their experiment, they found that causing the whole plant to produce methionine had bad effects on the plant’s growth. According to the study, the amount of methionine in the corn kernels increased by about 57 percent. Joachim Messing is a Rutgers professor and Director of the Waksman Institute of Microbiology. Messing said scientists fed the genetically modified corn to chickens at Rutgers University to test whether the corn was healthy to eat. The authors said that normally chicken food is a mixture of corn and soybean.  Soybean contains some methionine. However, additional amounts of the amino acid are often added to animal food. "Methionine is added because animals won't grow without it. In many developing countries where corn is a staple, methionine is also important for people, especially children. It's vital nutrition, like a vitamin,” Messing said. If the genetically modified corn can be successfully marketed and sold, people who live in developing countries “wouldn't have to purchase methionine supplements or expensive foods that have higher methionine," Leustek said. Currently, synthetic methionine is added to corn seeds every year, an expensive process costing several billion dollars, said co-writer Messing.  Leustek told VOA that he felt that farmers could save a lot of money every year because of this discovery. He added that, in the future, it may be possible to grow corn to have higher levels of methionine without having to genetically modify it.   But until then, he said, the genetically modified version “is available currently and ready to go!” I’m Phil Dierking.   This story was written by Victor Beattie and Joshua Fatzick  for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted the story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Does your country grow any vegetables?  Do they genetically modified their vegetables? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   amino acid - n.  any one of many acids that occur naturally in living things and that include some which form proteins​ commodity - n.  something that is bought and sold​ genome - n. the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.​ kernel - n. one of the yellow seeds that cover an ear of corn​ nutrition - n.  the process of eating the right kind of food so you can grow properly and be healthy​ methionine - n. a sulfur-containing amino acid that is a constituent of most proteins. It is an essential nutrient in the diet of vertebrates.​ staple - n.  an important food that is eaten very often​ synthetic - adj.  something made by combining different artificial substances​

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Fake News Still Here, Even As Facebook, Google Fight It

  The social media website Facebook and the search engine Google are struggling to ensure that what they present as news is correct. The huge internet companies have been fighting “fake news” for nearly one year. But their efforts have not been as successful as many people would like. The internet services are designed to provide news and information that interests users. Now, people at the companies are finding it is not easy to make sure that this information is truthful. This is especially the case when so-called internet “trolls” use these websites. Trolls are people who try to make others angry with their posts. And people with harmful plans continuously work to avoid the new controls that the companies put in place to stop them. Immediately after the mass shooting in Las Vegas in early October, Facebook launched its “Crisis Response” page for the event. The page was meant to share helpful information about the attack. But it also shared a false news story that wrongly identified the gunman and claimed he was a politically “far left,” mentally sick person. Google’s “Top Stories” search results shared a similar story from the website 4chan. It also wrongly identified the gunman. The site 4chan is an imageboard website, which mainly posts images with the most recent postings showing first. It lets its users post things without revealing their identity. One day after the attack, searches for “Las Vegas shooting” on the video-sharing website YouTube, which is owned by Google, showed one video as the fifth result. This video explained a conspiracy theory video claiming that several people were involved in the attack. The stories were not true. Police identified the gunman as Stephen Paddock from the American state of Nevada. The reason why he shot at people at the music festival on October 1 is still not known. His attack left 58 people dead and hundreds wounded. Facebook and Google quickly removed the stories and changed the way stories appeared on their websites. These changes tried to give greater importance to sources of information with stronger knowledge of the events. But the companies still have a lot of work to do. Why do these mostly computer-operated services keep failing to separate truth from lies? One reason is that most Internet-based service systems often bring greater attention to posts that get and keep their users interested. This is exactly what a lot of fake news is designed to do. David Caroll is a professor of media design at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. He told the Associated Press that Facebook and Google get caught without warning because their computer programs “look for signs of popularity.” That problem is much bigger soon after a disaster when facts are still unclear and the demand for information is very high. Mandy Jenkins told the Associated Press that people with harmful plans make use of this problem. Jenkins is the head of news at the news and social media research agency Storyful. “They know how the sites work,” she said. “They know how the media works.” Users of 4chan’s “Politically Incorrect” page often discuss “how to deploy fake news strategies,” Dan Leibson told the Associated Press. Leibson is the vice president of search at the internet advertising company Local SEO Guide. Hours after the deadly attack in Las Vegas, people were talking about it online supporting their theories. Leibson said there were people discussing how to get and keep reader interest all night. More and more people all over the world have been separating themselves from others because of their political beliefs. And this has made the idea of what makes sources of news credible a point of disagreement.  Many reporters with the largest and most popular media companies often express opinions about the credibility of different publications. They base their opinions on the history of the publications and how strongly they present facts. But that is a much more complex issue for services seeking to appeal to millions of people like Facebook and Google. This is especially true given how popular many false news sources are among  different political groups. Gateway Pundit, for example, is a website that supports President Donald Trump. It published the false Las Vegas story that Facebook shared. Its reporters also have received an invitation to White House press briefings. And it has more than 620,000 fans on its Facebook page. Earlier this month, Facebook said it is “working to fix the issue” that led it to share false reports about the Las Vegas shooting. However, it did not say exactly what it planned to do. The company has already taken steps to fight fake news since last December. It now includes fact reviews from outside organizations. It also puts warnings on disputed stories and has taken attention away from false stories on people’s social media pages. Making sure facts are correct is harder with developing news News that is developing is especially difficult for computer-operated systems to judge. Google said the 4chan post that wrongly identifying the Las Vegas gunman should not have appeared among its “Top Stories.” However, it took the computer program that controls Google search results a few hours to replace it. Outside experts said two different issues created problems for Google. First, its “Top Stories” program provides results from all of the internet, not only from news agencies. Second, the signals that help Google examine the credibility of a website are not available in breaking news situations. Matthew Brown is an expert who helps internet search engine companies improve their operations. Brown told the Associated Press: “If you have enough … references to something … that’s going to look good to Google.” United States federal law does not currently hold Facebook, Google and other similar companies responsible for material their users publish. But recent events are forcing the technology companies to accept more responsibility for the information they spread. Also earlier this month, Facebook said it would employ an extra 1,000 people to look at advertisements. This comes after the company found that a Russian agency had bought ads meant to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Sally Lehrman is the project director of the Trust Project at Santa Clara University in California. The project is supported by Google. She says Google is working to include markers, such as where reporters are from, awards they have received and other information. Future computer programs that operate Google could then use this information to decide what news stories people will see. I’m Pete Musto. And I’m Anna Matteo.   Barbara Ortutay and Ryan Nakashima reported this for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. How responsible are companies like Facebook and Google for the materials their users publish? How can they best fight fake news? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   social media – n. forms of electronic communication, such as websites, through which people create online communities to share information, ideas, and personal messages fake - adj. meant to look real or genuine but not real or genuine source(s) – n. a person, book, or website that gives information conspiracy theory – n. a theory that explains an event or situation as the result of a secret plan by usually powerful people or groups post(s) – n. a message on an online message board page – n. one section of a Web site that is found at a single address strategies – n. careful plans or methods for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time credible – adj. reasonable to trust or believe reference(s) – n. something, such as a book, dictionary, or encyclopedia, that people can look at or in to find information about something

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Harry Potter Exhibit Opens at British Library

This is What's Trending Today. Harry Potter lovers around the world may want to thank Alice Newton. She was eight years old when her father brought home a manuscript for her to read. At the time, he was working for Bloomsbury Publishing. After reading the manuscript, Alice wrote a note to her father: “The excitement in this book made me feel warm inside,” she wrote. “I think it is probably one of the best books an 8 or 9 year old could read.” Based in part on Alice’s comments, Bloomsbury went on to publish “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” Alice’s note to her father is part of the British Library’s new exhibition, “Harry Potter: A History of Magic.” It celebrates the 20th anniversary of the publication of J.K. Rowling’s first book about Harry and his friends at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was released in 1997, Bloomsbury sent just 500 copies to stores in Britain and another 500 copies to British libraries. Now, Harry and his friends are known worldwide.   The exhibit at the British Library includes Rowling's outline for her books, her artwork of its characters and a map of the Hogwarts School. It also includes early versions of Rowling’s books that were rejected by other publishers. The show has two rooms. They are divided up based on the subjects offered at Hogwarts.  Areas include Potions, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures and Defense Against the Dark Arts.   Each area describes the stories and beliefs that Rowling included in her books. Included in the exhibition are discussions of alchemy, the European traditions that led to modern chemistry, and the Ripley Scroll -- a six-meter-long document from the 1500s. It describes how to make a Philosopher's Stone. The British Library has already sold about 30,000 tickets to the exhibit — the most advance tickets ever sold for a British Library exhibition. The show closes on February 28, 2018. It will then travel to New York for the 20th anniversary of the release of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the book's title in the United States. And that’s What’s Trending Today. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.  _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   exhibition - n. ​an event at which objects (such as works of art) are put out in a public space for people to look at : a public show of something manuscript - n. ​the original copy of a play, book, piece of music, etc., before it has been printed​ library - n. ​a place where books, magazines, and other materials (such as videos and musical recordings) are available for people to use or borrow​ outline - n. ​a written list or description of only the most important parts of an essay, speech, plan, etc.​ ticket - n.  a piece of paper that allows you to see a show, participate in an event, travel on a vehicle, etc.

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Unit 7: Critical Thinking Skills

​Welcome to Let's Teach English. This series offers free online training for English language educators worldwide. Voice of America and the University of Oregon are partners on this project.   Summary The focus of this lesson is teaching analytical thinking skills. The teacher leads the class through an exercise developed by Stella Ting-Toomey called “Describe, Interpret, Evaluate” (See-Think-Feel). The students move through the process of carefully examining an event before they form an opinion about it. The teacher compares this process to intercultural contact, and encourages thoughtful reflection on cultural differences.   Teacher Preparation Video Transcript This episode shows a model of teaching through role plays and group projects. Click on the image below to download a pdf of the transcript. Women Teaching Women English Text Click on the image below to download a pdf of the student text and teacher manual. At the end of the ten-unit course, the whole book will be available for download. Women Teaching Women English Listening ​These audio files go with Unit 5 of Women Teaching Women English. Click on the "Direct Link" button to the right of the player to download them. Conversation: Reading a Coffee Cup   Reading: Mystery 1   Reading: Mystery 2   What Do You Think? Let us know what you think about this course. Email us or write your comment in the comments section below.   Poll

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October 23, 2017

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

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Scientists Strike Gold With Cosmic Crash

  Witnessing a neutron star violently crash into another has helped astronomers uncover secrets of the universe — including how gold was created. Neutron stars are the collapsed centers of stars. These two neutron stars circled each other at a very fast rate, getting closer and closer. Then they crashed into each other in an event called a kilonova.   This collision created a burst of gamma rays, or electromagnetic energy, and gravitational waves, which make a weak signal when they reach Earth. Vicky Kalogera is an astrophysicist with Northwestern University near Chicago. She explains what the astronomers heard and saw two months ago. "So this is the first time that we hear the death spiral of two neutron stars. And we also see the fireworks that came from the final merger." What they saw was a bright, blue light. The colliding stars released very hot wreckage. All that material, the light and heavy elements, is now speeding through the universe in different directions. This is an artist's animation of what it looked like when the two neutron stars crashed, with gravitational waves and gamma ray bursts (pink or magenta) shot out. Debris was sent out too. Credit: NASA Goddard.   Some of the material joined together to form metals, like gold, platinum and uranium. Scientists had thought neutron star collisions had enough power to create heavy elements, but they had not been sure until they observed it. David Reitze is with the California Institute of Technology and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory, or LIGO. At a press conference last week in Washington D.C., he held up his great grandfather’s gold watch. "It's about 100 years old. The gold in this watch was very likely produced in the collision of two neutron stars approximately billions of years ago. We don't know exactly when. So this is really an amazing discovery." ​ Gravitational waves are very small ripples, or movements, through space time in the universe. Albert Einstein was the first person to suggest the existence of such waves. Researchers were first able to observe them with the LIGO detectors in 2015. Earlier this month, three scientists won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work measuring gravitational waves. The first gravitational waves ever measured were produced by black holes, which do not let out any light. So, they were not seen. But they had been heard. This is what they sounded like. Listen for the “chirp” sound.   The signal arriving on August 17th was a different story. Around the world, astronomers reacted to the sign al quickly when they recognized it. They aimed telescopes on every continent, and even those orbiting Earth, on a distant spot in the sky. This time, there was plenty to see. What they saw was the long ago, and far away, crash of two neutron stars. They were so dense that a teaspoon of their matter would weigh 1 billion tons. It took the signal 130 million light years to reach Earth — a distance of 9.5 trillion kilometers. The sound and light from the crash told the story of one of the most violent acts in the universe. The ability to see the light from gravitational waves was just one of the mysteries solved, noted Daniel Holz. He is an astrophysicist working at the University of Chicago, and one of the more than 4,000 scientists who witnessed the event. "Not only did we detect that but we detected this burst of gamma rays. That's also never been done before, so now we get to say when two neutron stars crash into each other, they create a gamma ray burst. We get to connect two very mysterious happenings in the universe together and that's a big deal." This is helpful information because gamma ray bursts release deadly radiation --  strong enough to destroy planets. Holz added that all the information collected from this event provided scientists with another important discovery. They now get a new measurement for the size of the universe and how quickly it is expanding. Astrophysicist Vicky Kalogera said the scientific community gained a lot from this one event. "So it's amazing to think that in one day, in a few hours and the weeks that followed, all these predictions were confirmed. So we solved a lot of mysteries. But at the same time, we also opened up a few questions, as Julie said. Not everything fits perfectly in the puzzle." Scientists say that this single kilonova event increased their understanding of the universe. They also say it marks the beginning of a new area of scientific study: gravitational wave astronomy. Julie McEnery, is an astrophysicist working at the American space agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. She told VOA “We’re able to combine dramatically different ways of viewing the universe, and I think our level of understanding is going to leap forward as a result.” I’m Anne Ball. Anne Ball wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Her story was based on reports from the Associated Press and the Reuters news agency. 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   neutron star – n. a very dense object in space that consists of closely packed neutrons and is produced by the collapse of a much larger star gamma ray – n. a ray that is like an X-ray but of higher energy and that is given off especially by a radioactive substance gravitational wave – n. a very small ripple or movements through space time in the universe. spiral – n. a circular curving line that goes around a central point while getting closer to or farther away from it watch – n. a device that shows what time it is and that you wear on your wrist or carry in a pocket leap – v. to jump from a surface  

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Lesson 7: What Are You Doing?

Summary Anna is starting her work at The News. She goes around the office meeting her co-workers. She learns they are all busy. Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words. Also, learn how to use the Present Continuous tense and ask questions to clarify. You can also download the worksheet and practice with a friend. Pronunciation In this video, you  learn about how Americans shorten verbs in the Present Continuous tense. You will also learn a shorter for of the question phrase, "What are you doing?" Conversation Caty: Come in.  Caty: Well, Anna, welcome. Anna: Thank you. Caty: I am your boss, Caty Weaver. But, please call me Caty. Anna: Thank you, Ms. Weaver.  Caty: Just Caty. Anna: Sure thing, Ms. Weaver. Caty: Okay then. Are you excited? Anna: Yes, I am excited! Caty: So sorry, but I am busy. Please meet your co-workers. But remember, they are busy working. Anna: Sure. Thanks, Ms. Weaver. Anna: Hi there! I’m Anna. Anne: Hi, Anna. I’m Anne. Anna: Nice to meet you. What are you doing? Anne: Um, I’m writing. Anna: You are writing! You are writing a lot! Anna: (Spills papers) Oh! Oh dear. Anne: No! No! That's okay.  Anna: I am sorry! Anne: That’s okay. Really. Anna: I am sorry! Anne: Please. Please. Please stop. Please. Anna: Sorry. Sorry. Jonathan: (in the studio) “and people all around the world are waiting to hear news about the next president…” Anna: Jonathan, hi! Remember me? I live in your building. Jonathan: Oh. Uh. Hi, Anna. Anna: What are you doing? Jonathan: I am doing my show! Anna: Oh, sorry. Are you recording? Jonathan: Yes! And, now I have to record again! Anna: Sorry. Have a good show. Jonathan: Thank you. Anna: Sorry. Amelia: The word of the day is social. Social - Anna: Oh! Hi! Amelia: - is an adjective. Anna: Hi! I’m Anna! Amelia: Hi. I’m Amelia. Anna: Nice to meet you! Anna: What are you doing? Amelia: I’m reading. Anna: Are you reading the news? Hi! Amelia: No, I’m reading for my show. Amelia: (to camera person) Can I read again? Anna: Sorry. Anna: This day is not going well. Caty: Anna! Hi! What’re you doing? Anna: I am bothering people, Ms. Weaver. Caty: Let’s go to my office and talk. Anna: I like to talk with you, Ms. Weaver. Caty: It’s Caty. Anna: Right. Thanks ... Ms. Weaver   Writing What are you doing now? What are your friends doing? Here is an example: "I am reading and my friends are listening to music." Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section. You can also download the worksheet. Practice writing the activity words. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Ask to Clarify. In the video you see Anna ask Amelia: "What are you doing?" Amelia answers, "I’m reading." Then Anna asks a question to clarify: "Are you reading the news?  Asking a question to clarify is a very useful learning strategy, because it helps you get more information. You can also learn new words when someone explains more about what they said. Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email about how you ask questions to clarify what you want to know. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy. Listening Quiz See how well you understand the lesson by taking this quiz. Each question has a video. Play the video and choose the correct answer. (If the quiz does not work for you here please see the side column or use this link.) New Words boss – n. the person whose job is to tell other workers what to do  bother – v.  to annoy someone or to cause someone to feel annoyed busy – adj. actively doing something  excited – adj. very enthusiastic and eager about something  nervous – adj. having or showing feelings of being worried and afraid about what might happen  news – n. information that is reported in a newspaper, magazine, or a television news program  office – n. a building or room in which people work at desks doing business or professional activities  read – v. to look at and understand the meaning of letters, words, symbols, etc.  record – v. to store (something, such as sounds, music, images, etc.) on tape or on a disk so that it can be heard or seen later  show – n. a television or radio program  work – v. to do things as part of your job  write – v. to create (a book, poem, story, etc.) by writing words on paper or on a computer  ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice writing and using action verbs in the Present Continuous tense.   For Teachers See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Present continuous tense; Questions for clarification Topics: Everyday activities; Checking understanding Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Asking questions to clarify; Shortened form of Present Continuous verbs. _______________________________________________________________ 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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Dwight Eisenhower: Cold Warrior

  VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about Dwight Eisenhower. He took office in 1953 and was re-elected in 1956. ​Eisenhower was famous before he became president of the United States. He was a general in World War II, and led the Allied invasion of Europe. The attack began with the air and sea operation called D-Day. As president, Eisenhower became known for his efforts to keep peace. He tried to have good relations with the Soviet Union especially. He believed one of the best ways to do that was to build America’s military strength. When Americans think of Eisenhower, they often note the growth of the U.S. defense industry, and tensions with the Soviet Union. Those tensions became known as the Cold War, and lasted long after Eisenhower left office. Early life Dwight David Eisenhower was born in Texas, but raised in the state of Kansas. His parents had seven sons. The future president was the third. Eisenhower’s parents did not have much money. His father worked as a mechanic. His mother was a member of the Mennonite Church, which opposed war and violence for any reason. But young Dwight – who used the nickname “Ike” – enjoyed reading about military history and doing physical activities. He played football, and liked hunting and fishing. When he finished high school, Eisenhower earned a position at the U.S. Military Academy, better known as West Point. At first, he did not excel as a soldier. Eisenhower tested some of the Army’s traditional ideas. But in time, military leaders came to value Eisenhower’s ability to think independently and strategically. He accepted increasingly important positions. In only a few years, Eisenhower took command of Allied troops during World War II. He directed invasions in North Africa, Italy, and finally in Western Europe. His words “Okay, let’s go” launched the invasion of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. Eisenhower’s personal life changed during his military years. He married a young woman named Mamie Doud in 1916. The following year they had a son named Doud Dwight; however, the boy became sick and died at the age of three. In 1922, the Eisenhowers had a second son, named John. Mamie and the boy spent many months separated from Dwight. And, even when the family was together, they were often moving from place to place. They moved nearly 30 times during Eisenhower’s military career. After he retired from active duty in the Army, Eisenhower accepted a position as president of Columbia University in New York. Then he returned to the military to lead NATO forces in Europe. In the early 1950s, Republican Party officials urged Eisenhower to be their candidate for president. Many Americans approved of Eisenhower’s war record, his efforts to contain communism, and his wide smile. They seemed to agree with his campaign slogan, “I like Ike,” and decisively elected him into office. His 1952 election brought an end to the Democratic Party’s 20-year control of the White House. Presidency Although he declared himself a Republican, Eisenhower was a political moderate in many of his ideas. He continued some of the domestic policies of former presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. Eisenhower also wanted the government to invest in public works projects. Notably, he approved a bill to build more than 65,000 kilometers of roads. Today the U.S. highway system connects all parts of the country and supports the nation’s economy. Eisenhower also worked hard to have peaceful relations with other countries. In his first months as president, he signed the agreement that ended fighting in the Korean War. He also tried to ease tensions between the United States and Soviet Union. In 1952, the U.S. government tested the first hydrogen bomb. It was even more powerful than the atomic bomb. Soon, the Soviet Union carried out a hydrogen bomb test of its own. The two countries became actively involved in an arms race that made many people around the world very, very nervous. Eisenhower did not fully trust the Soviet leadership, but made some efforts to achieve an agreement on arms control. At the same time, he approved a plan for U.S. airplanes to fly secretly over the Soviet Union to gather information. In 1959, Eisenhower and the Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, met in the American state of Maryland. Modern presidents use a mountain retreat there, which Eisenhower called Camp David, after his grandson. The U.S. and Soviet officials did not develop a treaty, but they did agree to meet again the following year. However, the agreement collapsed. In 1960, Soviet missiles brought down one of the American spy planes, called a U-2. The pilot was captured. At first, Eisenhower’s government denied that the plane was secretly gathering information. Officials said it was only a weather aircraft. But then the Soviets produced evidence that the U-2 was, in fact, a spy plane. Khrushchev said he could not trust Eisenhower and his government, and he ended talks on limiting or disarming nuclear weapons. During his two terms in office, Eisenhower tried many ways to avoid all-out war. He approved other secret actions, especially by the Central Intelligence Agency, or CIA  . Eisenhower sent U.S. Marines into Lebanon to try to end unrest there. And he decided against ordering air strikes on Vietminh forces when they surrounded French troops at Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam. In all these efforts, Eisenhower used the threat of U.S. military power to help achieve his foreign policy goals. But he warned Americans against letting businesses aiding the defense industry become too powerful. In his final speech as president, Eisenhower spoke of the dangers of what he called the military-industrial complex. He did not want the country to depend only on war to resolve conflicts. And, he did not want the U.S. government to spend so much on weapons that it could not provide other services to Americans. Shortly after that speech, Eisenhower retired to a home he and his wife had bought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Many Americans were sad to see him go. Legacy Eisenhower’s presidency lasted most of the 1950s. During that time, the American economy was, for the most part, strong. Many Americans had enough money to buy homes and televisions. At the same time, Eisenhower’s presidency was a time of unease. Racial discrimination was intense. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that states could no longer have separate public schools for white and black students. Some whites strongly objected to the decision. They tried to block black students from entering schools, sometimes using violence. Eisenhower sent troops to enforce the federal law to desegregate public schools. Later, Eisenhower used the power of his office to enforce other desegregation and voting rights laws. But he did not speak up strongly in support of civil rights. He thought both those who blocked civil rights legislation and those who demanded it were extreme. Eisenhower also did not publicly criticize Senator Joseph McCarthy, who accused the U.S. government of protecting Soviet spies. Eisenhower strongly disliked McCarthy, but he permitted the “Red Scare” to continue until the lawmaker could discredit himself.   Finally, despite Eisenhower’s efforts, the Cold War did not end; in fact, tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union increased. Although Eisenhower succeeded in keeping the country out of war, many events during his presidency created the conditions for later conflicts. Nevertheless, Eisenhower was a popular president, both before, during, and after his time in office. During his final years, he wrote several books about his life, traveled, and advised later presidents. He had suffered a heart attack during his first term in office, and eventually suffered another one. He died at the age of 78 with his family by his side. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.  Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Listening Quiz See how well you understand the story by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then chose the best answer. ​_________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   strategically - adv. creating and using plans to reach a goal active duty - n. employment as a full-time member of the military slogan - n. a word or phrase that is easy to remember and is used to attract attention domestic - n. of, relating to, or made in your own country achieve - v. to get or reach (something) retreat - n. a place that is quiet and private desegregate - v. to end a policy that keeps people of different races apart  

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