Lesson 14: How About This?

Summary Anna is going to the theater with her friends. She does not know what to wear. She looks in a magazine to get help and gets a surprise. Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words. Learn two ways to make a suggestion. You can also download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about clothes with a friend. Pronunciation ​In this video, you ​learn about describing clothing with color words. Conversation Anna: Hi, there! In Washington, D.C. people do many things in the evening. They go listen to music. They eat at a restaurant. They go to the theater. Anna: Tonight I am going to the theater with my friends. But I don’t know what clothes to wear. Maybe this magazine can help. Anna: Her clothes are beautiful! I really want a friend like her to help me. Anna: Who are you? Genie: I am Genie! You want help. I am here to help you find the right clothes! Anna: Awesome! How about jeans and a t-shirt? Genie: No! Jeans and a t-shirt are too casual. How about something more formal? Anna: Sure! Anna: Wow! Genie, this dress is beautiful. But it’s not the right size. It’s too small. Genie: Yes, it is too small. But green looks great on you. Anna: Thanks. Genie: Take off the green dress. Let’s try a green shirt and a skirt. Anna: Oh, Genie! This green shirt is too large and this orange skirt is too orange. Genie: Yes, the right size for you is medium. Let’s try again. Anna: Oh, I don’t like this outfit. Genie: No. That does not match. Anna: Nothing. Anna: These clothes are formal: a suit jacket, a dress shirt and a tie! They look great! Genie: Those clothes look great … for a man! Something is wrong. Anna: Let me see. Anna: There. Now try. Genie: Oh. Thanks! Now these clothes look great on you! Anna: They do! Um, Genie, can you put on a gold belt? Genie: Sure! Genie: That looks great. Anna: Can you put on a jacket? Genie: Why not? Anna: I love the jacket! How about a hat? Genie: Why not? Genie: Mm, take off the hat. That’s better. Anna: Genie, these clothes look and feel great! Let’s go to the theater! Genie: Sorry, Anna. I have to help other friends. Go to the magazine if you want me to help again. Anna: Thanks, Genie. Sure thing. Goodbye! Genie: Goodbye! Anna: There are many places in DC to go for a great evening out!  And it’s nice to have a friend to help me look my best. Until next time! Bye!      Writing What do you like to wear to go out in the evening?  What are you wearing today? Send us an email ​about your clothes and their colors and sizes or write in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice with a friend.     Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Personalize. Learning English is easier when you think about how what you learn relates to yourself. Here is an example. Meilin is learning about clothing words. She looks at her own clothes and says to herself, "My sweater is green. I am wearing blue jeans." Meilin looks at her English lesson. She sees a photo of a woman in black jeans. She says to her classmate, "I don't like black jeans. Do you?" Meilin is using the strategy "personalize" because she is speaking English to tell about herself and her own likes or dislikes. Tomorrow she will remember the words better, because she is thinking about herself when she says them.  How do you personalize in studying English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.   Listening Quiz Test your understanding by taking this listening quiz. Play the video, then choose the best answer. ​______________________________________________________________ New Words casual - adj. designed for or permitting ordinary dress, behavior, etc clothes - n. the things that people wear to cover their bodies and that are usually made from cloth formal - adj. requiring or using serious and proper clothes and manners large -  adj. great in size or amount magazine - n. a type of thin book with a paper cover that contains stories, essays, pictures, etc. man - n. an adult male human being match – v.to be suited to (someone or something); to go well with (someone or something) medium - n. something that is sold in a medium size; something that is the middle size when compared with things that are larger and smaller music - n. sounds that are sung by voices or played on musical instruments nothing -pron. not anything; not a thing outfit - n. a set of clothes that are worn together put on -  phrasal verb to dress yourself in (clothing) restaurant - n. a place where you can buy and eat a meal size - n. one of a series of standard measurements in which clothing, shoes, etc., are made take off - phrasal verb to remove (something) theater - n. a building where plays, shows, etc., are performed on a stage too - adv. usually used at the end of a sentence or clause; in addition; also wear – v. to use or have (something) as clothing; to have (a shirt, pants, etc.) over part of your body ______________________________________________________________ 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 talking about clothing and colors with a friend.   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: Position of adjectives before nouns; use of two phrasal verbs: put on and take off Topics: Describing clothing colors and sizes; making a suggestion and giving compliments Learning Strategy: Personalize Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Making a suggestion; using color adjectives with nouns ______________________________________________________________ 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.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2rEBV8p
via IFTTT

College Admissions: Getting the Timing Right

  Timing is everything. That is an expression people around the world use in many situations. Generally, this expression means that taking action at the right time can be just as important as how well you do something. This is especially true when a student is seeking admission to a college or university, says Becky Konowicz. She is Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Admission at Santa Clara University, a private Jesuit school in Santa Clara, California. Konowicz notes that applying to colleges and universities in the United States can often be a long and complex process. This is partly because of recent changes to the admissions policies at many schools and increasing competition among applicants. “Part of the complexity of today is students are applying to more universities that have more variations in deadlines and requirements,” Konowicz told VOA. “And so it requires even more organization. Back when I applied years ago, I applied to three schools. Now, the average student applies to six to eight schools.” What many students and their families fail to understand, Konowicz adds, is just how long the application process takes. Many people think the process begins in the final year of high school. However, Konowicz says students should start taking action well before that. In the U.S., young people generally attend high school for four years. And Konowicz suggests students take their first step towards applying to college in the months before their third year. At this point, young people are still likely to have several unanswered questions on their mind. Those questions could be as complex as ‘What do you want out of your college experience?’ or as simple as ‘Where do you want to study?’ Konowicz says students can get closer to finding the answers by visiting any college or university. It is not important if the student does not plan on attending the school. The visit can still give them a better idea of what to expect in that kind of environment. “Visit a university, see what it’s like,” she said. “Check into an admissions office. It doesn’t matter the size or where it is, stop in on one. You may be on a family holiday, and that gives you a sense. And then it might also spark some questions to help you start going to online resources.” The next step, Konowicz says, involves testing. Most U.S. students take exams to prove their level of academic performance in the second half of their third year in high school. These tests include the SAT, once known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, and the ACT. Some schools like one test more than the other. Konowicz adds that this is also the time when international students should be taking tests like the TOEFL and IELTS to prove their abilities in English. After taking these tests, the period between the third and fourth years of high school is a busy one for high school students, she says. This is the time when they should be narrowing the list of colleges and universities under consideration. Then, once they have made a shorter list, they should contact these schools and try to build a relationship with them. Konowicz notes many schools have email lists that students and family members can join. The schools’ emails can provide helpful information, she says. Also, college admissions officers often set up informational events, both at their schools and elsewhere, which students should attend. This will give students a chance to meet the people who may be considering their applications, she says. The next step is for students to begin working on a writing sample. Most U.S. colleges and universities require applicants to provide a writing sample that does more than show off their writing ability level. It also tells admissions officers more about who the applicants are. Konowicz argues that creating a good writing sample takes time, and students often need several attempts to get it right. So students should begin working on it even before their final year of high school. Also at this time, students should create a document clearly detailing the different requirements and closing dates for the schools to which they are applying. Once the final year of high school begins, students should get all the required materials together and ready for submission, Konowicz says. This includes putting the finishing touches on the essay and any documents needed for financial aid. Also students need to ask teachers and others with whom they have strong connections to write letters in support of their application. Konowicz says most U.S. colleges and universities require letters of recommendation. And it can take a while for someone to write one. So students should make their requests for these at least 30 days before the closing date. Finally, in the United States, most deadlines for college application materials are in early winter. But Konowicz suggests that students should submit all their application materials a week before the actual date. That way if any emergencies come up or mistakes were made, students have plenty of time to contact the schools, if necessary. Konowicz notes that spring is when most schools make their decisions and inform candidates if they will accept them. However, she says students should contact the schools a week after submitting their materials to ensure that there are no problems. If problems, such as missed deadlines, do exist, admissions officers will try their best to help. “I would encourage parents to remember that an admissions office can be their ally,” Konowicz said. “So if a student has missed a deadline … encourage your student to call us … and then we’ll help them through the process. The hardest part is when the parent takes over … Then we start to wonder ‘Can this student develop these independent skills?’ and ‘Would they be a good fit for our university?’” Admissions officers want to be as helpful as possible, she argues. Some will even send messages to applicants’ smartphones to restate upcoming deadlines and provide useful information. After all, Konowicz notes that helping students apply to college is why most admissions officers started working in this field to begin with. I’m ­Pete Musto. And I’m Susan Shand.   Pete Musto reported this for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. When are the deadlines for applying to colleges and universities in your country? How early do applicants begin the process? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Jesuit – adj. belonging to the religious group called the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus apply(ing) – v. to ask formally for something, such as a job, admission to a school, or a loan, usually in writing variation(s) – n. a change in the form, position, condition, or amount of something deadline(s) – n. the last day, hour, or minute that something will be accepted spark – v. to cause something to start or happen academic – adj. of or relating to schools and education sample – n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from submission – n. an act of giving a document, proposal, or piece of writing to someone so that it can be considered or approved essay – n. a short piece of writing that tells a person's thoughts or opinions about a subject financial – adj. relating to money recommendation – n. a formal letter that explains why a person is appropriate or qualified for a particular job or school encourage – v. to make someone more likely to do something

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2CnG2qu
via IFTTT

Are You in the 'Driver's Seat' or 'Asleep at the Wheel'?

  Now, it's time for Words and Their Stories. On this program we explore common expressions in American English. Today, we talk about expressions that began behind the wheels of automobiles. Now they are common expressions that we use in everyday conversations.  Well, let's not delay any longer. Let's get this show on the road!   "To get the show on the road" means to begin something as soon as possible. It's a casual expression that we use when we want to start something, anything -- an activity or project or an actual road trip. Well, not any activity. You would not likely use this expression to begin something sad, such as a funeral. It is a lighthearted expression. Word experts say that the phrase comes from traveling circuses and other shows of the early 1900s in the United States. These entertainers would travel from town to town bringing their performances to people not able to travel to big cities for entertainment.    So, the person who says "hey, let's get this show on the road!" is taking charge. They want to start things. They want to get things going. You could say they are in the driver’s seat. Just as the driver is in control of their vehicle, the person in the driver's seat of an activity, event or project is also in control. They are the leader. Feel free to use this phrase in any situation, formal or informal. Speaking of free, most rides are not. They cost money. When you take a taxi you must pay for it. If you drive a car, you must pay for gas, repairs and insurance. It is great when you get a free ride to where you are going.    However, in life, to get a free ride means to gain from something without having to do anything in exchange. It can be annoying to have a friend or co-worker who is always trying to get a free ride. They do not give. They just take, take, take! Now, when we are actually driving, the phrase go down that road simply means to drive down a road. We would say this when we give directions. "Go down that road for about a mile and you'll see your destination on the right." But in conversation it has an interesting meaning.  To go down that road means to make a decision. But it's more than that. It also means that this decision may bring trouble or leave you in a difficult place. We often use this phrase as a warning or when we give advice to someone. Let's say a good friend, Veronica, has a neighbor who likes causing trouble. He has loud parties every weekend until the wee hours of the night. The trash from his parties often spills out into her lawn. Veronica tells you she is going to get even with this neighbor. She plans to play opera music very loudly very early every morning until his late, loud parties stop! You might tell her, "Are you sure you want to go down that road? It could lead to trouble." Maybe you have made the same mistake. You could advise your friend, "I've been down that road before and it did not go as I had planned!" Where the rubber meets the road is another interesting phrase. Here rubber refers to the tires of a vehicle. Where the rubber meets the road is the point of contact between automobile tires and the road. It’s when and where the car actually moves. It’s also when you find out how the car performs. So the expression rubber meets the road means the point at which a product, idea or method is tested. Imagine you have been studying different methods of teaching people English. So far, it has all been theories. Where the rubber meets the road will be in a class full of students. That will be the real test! Will those theories actually help your students learn English? We shall see! Some driving behaviors are really dangerous and can lead to accidents. For example, when you cut someone off in traffic you turn your car into their lane in a dangerous way, nearly hitting them! You can also cut people off in conversation. Used in this way, to cut someone off (or cut off someone) means to interrupt what they are saying. It is not dangerous but it is extremely annoying. Driving in the middle of the road is really dangerous. You could crash into oncoming traffic! But in conversation, being in the middle of the road is actually a really safe place. It means you are taking a moderate position on some issue. You are not at or near one extreme or the other. The most dangerous driving behavior is not paying attention to the road. Many wrecks happen when people do not pay attention. The worst thing, by far, is to fall asleep at the wheel.  We also use this expression in our conversations. To be asleep at the wheel means you are not paying attention to something that should have your attention. If the leader of a project is asleep at the wheel it means she's not paying attention to the project. Something bad will probably happen. We here at Learning English are definitely not asleep at the wheel. That’s right. We pay very close attention to our audience! And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories! I'm Bryan Lynn. And I'm Anna Matteo.   When have you been in the driver's seat or when have you been asleep at the wheel? Let us know in the Comments Section -- or simply practice with one of the expressions you heard here today. Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. The song at the end is The Edgar Winters Group singing “Free Ride.” _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   casual – adj. designed for or permitting ordinary dress, behavior, etc. : not formal actual – adj. real and not merely possible or imagined : existing in fact formal – adj. suitable for serious or official speech and writing informal – adj. having a friendly and relaxed quality annoying – adj. to disturb or irritate especially by repeated acts wee hours – n. the very early hours after midnight get even – v. to  get revenge

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2j7AUzl
via IFTTT

Scientists Found Ancient Penguin as Big as Human

  Newly discovered fossils in New Zealand have revealed a giant penguin that was as big as an adult man. The creature was almost the same size and weight as professional Canadian hockey player Sidney Crosby, who plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Scientists estimate it was a little shorter than Crosby, at 178 centimeters (Crosby is 180 centimeters), and nine kilograms heavier. If the hockey player and the real penguin had met on the ice, however, things would have looked a bit different. When standing up, the ancient bird only stood about 160 centimeters. The largest discovered ancient penguin The new discovery is larger than any other ancient penguin that scientists have found, says Gerald Mayr. He is with the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum in Frankfurt, Germany. A possibly larger penguin is only known to scientists from a small piece of leg bone. That makes estimating its size difficult. The largest living penguin species is the emperor penguin in Antarctica. It stands about 120 centimeters tall. Mayr and others described the giant bird in a paper released this week. It was published in the journal Nature Communications. The researchers named the penguin Kumimanu biceae. The name is a combination of Maori-language words for a mythological monster and a bird, and the name of one of the author’s mother. The fossils are between 56 million to 60 million years old. That is almost as old as the earliest-known penguin fossils, says Daniel Ksepka. He works at the Bruce Museum of Greenwich, Connecticut. Ksepka has studied New Zealand fossil penguins but was not a part of the new study. Ksepka told the Associated Press that the new discovery shows that penguins grew very large, very quickly. They grew just after a mass extinction 66 million years ago – the extinction that is best known for killing off dinosaurs, he said. The event played a role in penguin history, as well. Before that, a non-flying seabird like the penguin would have been threatened by larger animals living in or near the water, as they competed for the same food. But after the extinction killed most of the larger animals, the ability to fly became less important. This helped penguins survive and grow. The question that remains, however, is what happened to the giant birds? Mayr said researchers believe they died out when large marine mammals, such as toothed whales and seals, showed up and started competing with the penguins for food and safe breeding places. These newer animals may also have hunted the giant penguins. I’m Phil Dierking.   Malcolm Ritter originally wrote this story for the Associated Press. Phil Dierking adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What is the largest bird in your country?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   dinosaur - n. one of many reptiles that lived on Earth millions of years ago​ evolve - v. to change or develop slowly often into a better, more complex, or more advanced state​ extinction - n. the state or situation that results when something (such as a plant or animal species) has died out completely​ fossil - n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks​ marine mammal - n. Marine mammals are aquatic mammals that rely on the ocean and other marine ecosystems for their existence. ​ mythological - adj. the myths of a particular group or culture​

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2Bmrc48
via IFTTT

What Effect Will Cuts to UN Peacekeeping Have?

One of the foreign policy goals of United States President Donald Trump's administration has been to reform United Nations peacekeeping. The administration says that the U.N. peacekeeping missions should cut costs and that the U.S. should pay less for them. Earlier this year, the U.N. announced it would cut its budget by $600 million. Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., supported the announcement. She said, "We're just getting started." Vice President Mike Pence has been critical of the U.N.'s peacekeeping missions. In September, he told the U.N. Security Council that peacekeeping missions should be more efficient and need to do a better job. Paul Williams is a professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. He said that it is a good idea to find ways to cut costs. However, he noted, blanket cuts can make it more difficult to keep soldiers safe. Fifteen U.N. peacekeeping missions are ongoing around the world, including eight in Africa. The United States provides 28 percent of the U.N. peacekeeping budget. That is the most of any country. China is second, providing 10 percent of the budget. Williams says the United States has a legal obligation to pay 28 percent of the peacekeeping budget. The U.S. has pushed to reduce the total budget in order to decrease the amount it has to pay. The peacekeeping budget is now $7.3 billion. To reduce costs, the U.N. must either close missions or reduce operations. Carrying out missions with a smaller budget could mean cutting personnel or logistical support. Both choices concern Williams. He said U.N. peacekeepers already operate with few resources. In early December, an attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo killed 14 Tanzanian peacekeepers and five Congolese soldiers. The attack showed the risks faced by U.N. peacekeeping missions. The mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo will likely face more difficulties. That is because the country's president, Joseph Kabila, has refused to step down, even though he has reached his two-term limit. Aditi Gorur is director of the Protecting Civilians in Conflict Program at The Stimson Center, a research group in Washington DC. Gorur notes that some U.N. missions have already had large reductions. "A big part of the motivation for those cuts was pressure from the U.S. government," she said. Gorur worries that reductions are not well planned and "the cuts come first and then the strategy comes later." She notes that rising levels of "local intercommunal violence" will likely continue in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo.   Williams said that, while some things can be done better with the same budget, cuts can place added pressure on peacekeepers. I'm John Russell.   Salem Solomon reported on this story for VOA News. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   efficient – adj. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy blanket – adj. affecting or applying to everyone or everything obligation – n. something that you must do because of a law, rule, promise, etc. logistical – adj. the things that must be done to plan and organize a complicated activity or event that involves many people motivation – n. a force or influence that causes someone to do something strategy – n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time intercommunal – adj. existing or occurring between communities  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2CH9uc7
via IFTTT

English in a Minute: Have a Blast

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2yIyI6x
via IFTTT

December 15, 2017

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

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2j40rcG
via IFTTT

‘I, Tonya’ Reexamines One of America's Biggest Sports Scandals

  Not long ago, Steven Rogers was watching a film documentary about Tonya Harding, an American figure skater in the 1990s. As he watched the film, Rogers thought about social class, abuse, mass media and the meaning of truth -- all parts of Harding’s complex story. In early 1994, shortly before the Winter Olympics, Harding and other top figure skaters had gathered in Detroit, Michigan, for the United States championships. The placements there would decide who would join the U.S. Olympic team. One of those skaters was Nancy Kerrigan. Many people thought she had a good chance at winning the Olympic gold medal. But while Kerrigan was preparing for championships, a man attacked her. He hit her knee with a heavy club. Harding’s former husband and two men he knew were charged with planning and carrying out the attack. Harding has always denied being involved in the assault. The American media began reporting on the incident. The Kerrigan versus Harding battle following the attack became one of the biggest sports scandals in U.S. history. And the media quickly painted Kerrigan as an American princess, and Harding as “trash.” Finding Tonya Steven Rogers decided he wanted to know more about Harding. He looked to see if the rights to her life story were available to writers and filmmakers. They were. He then called the telephone number for her agent listed on her website. The listed phone number connected him to a motel. “I thought: I am so in,” Rogers said. And with little more than the start of an idea, Rogers contacted both Harding and her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly. He used their wildly different descriptions of what happened in 1994, and their lives leading up to it, to develop a screenplay. The play would turn into the new movie, “I, Tonya.” The film was released on December 8 in a limited number of theaters in Los Angeles and New York. It will be released more widely in January. The film reexamines the famous incident. There is domestic violence, from both Harding’s mother and ex-husband, conflicting stories and no real resolution or answers. In the movie, Australian actress Margot Robbie plays Harding from ages 15 to 44. She also is the film’s producer. Robbie asked many potential directors how they would deal with the violence that would be included in the film. Craig Gillespie, the man who got the job, said it had to be shown in a very direct way. “It didn’t sit right with me, the idea of covering it up and making it seem not that bad,” Robbie said. “Also to leave it out completely felt wrong. But Craig always finds the truth in the situation.” Robbie and Gillespie decided to try something unusual by having Harding speak directly to the camera, even as she is being beaten. Becoming Tonya Robbie trained and studied the real Harding for six months. She examined her figure skating movements, as well as her physicality and the way she talks. Robbie did not meet Harding herself until after filming for the movie had ended. “I had already decided how I was going to play this character,” Robbie said. “I knew every single beat and how I would play it.” One person who is largely missing from the film is Nancy Kerrigan. That was done on purpose. Robbie says she did not want the film to become another “Tonya vs. Nancy” story. “Since this was about Tonya Harding, the most important people and relationships in her life were with her mother and with Jeff. Those are the relationships that really shape her as a person.” Allison Janney plays Harding’s mother, LaVona. She is the person who put Harding on the ice, paid for her training, and made her skating costumes with the little money she had. She also abused her daughter as a child, both with words and physical violence. Tonya Harding has reportedly not spoken to her mother in 15 years. Janney watched video recordings of LaVona to study her movements. She described playing the part as freeing, and the relationship between the two women as “harsh and hard and complicated.” Actor Sebastian Stan plays Gillooly, Harding’s former husband. “I was so intrigued by the story. I was slightly obsessed,” Stan said. “When you’re going to play someone you have to put all judgments aside.” “I, Tonya” is a timely look at a woman who had everything against her. Yet she was able to become one of the world’s best in one of the most costly sports -- although she did not look, act or sound like her competitors. On Monday, the movie earned three Golden Globe nominations. Many observers expect Robbie and others involved in “I, Tonya” to earn Oscar nominations next year. But beyond the critics, Tonya Harding mostly likes the film, too, Rogers says. “It is going to be interesting to see if this movie changes anything for her. Film is a powerful medium,” Rogers said. I'm Caty Weaver.  And I'm Bryan Lynn.     The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   versus - preposition. used to indicate the two people, teams, etc., that are fighting or competing against each other or that are opposed to each other ​ scandal - n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong princess - n.  a usually attractive girl or woman who is treated with special attention and kindness trash- n.  ​someone who has very low social status or who is not respected​ motel- n.  ​a place that is next to a road and that has rooms for people to stay in especially when they are traveling by car​ domestic violence- n.  ​violent or aggressive behavior within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner.​ potential - ​adj. capable of becoming real​ intrigue - ​v. ​ to make (someone) want to know more about something : to cause (someone) to become interested obsess - v.  ​to think and talk about someone or something too much​

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2BgnUzy
via IFTTT

'Benito Cereno,' by Herman Melville, Part Three

Herman Melville

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2AAlbzG
via IFTTT

Migrants from Venezuela May Cause Problem in Brazil

  An increasing number of Venezuelans have moved out of the country recently. They are seeking to escape economic hardship and high crime rates in their homeland.   Many of those Venezuelans are migrating to Brazil. One of them is Victor Rivera, a 36-year-old unemployed bakery worker. In August, Rivera left his home in northern Venezuela. He made the two-day trip across the countryside to Boa Vista, a city in the Brazilian state of Roraima. Few jobs can be found in Boa Vista, but Rivera finds his job prospects there more appealing than in his hometown. He says his six children often go hungry, as food in stores is in increasingly short supply. “I see no future in Venezuela,” said Rivera. The once-wealthy nation is now struggling with a recession, widespread unemployment, shortages of supplies and high inflation. And at least 125 people died this year in clashes among government opponents, supporters and police. As conditions there worsen, nearby countries are struggling with one of the biggest migrations in Latin American history. With limited public services and jobs to offer migrants, Brazilian officials fear a full humanitarian crisis. George Okoth-Obbo is operations chief for the United Nations High Commission on Refugees. He spoke to the Reuters news agency after a recent visit to Boa Vista. He noted, “Shelters are already crowded to their limit. It is a very tough situation.” Venezuelan government officials do not know exactly how many of its 30 million people have migrated overseas in recent years. Some experts have estimated the number to be as high as 2 million. Brazil “not ready” Many of the Venezuelans leaving have few skills or financial resources. By migrating, then, they export some of the social problems that Venezuela has struggled to resolve. Mauricio Santoro is a political scientist at Rio de Janeiro State University. He says, “They’re leaving because of economic, health and public safety problems, but putting a lot of pressure on countries that have their own difficulties.” International officials are likening the situation in Venezuela to other mass migrations in Latin America’s past, like that of people who fled Haiti after a 2010 earthquake. Thirty years earlier, about 125,000 Cubans attempted to travel by boat to the United States.  Okoth-Obbo told Reuters that as many as 40,000 Venezuelans have arrived in Brazil. Just over half of them have asked the government for asylum. But that process that can take up to two years. The request for asylum gives them the right to stay in Brazil while their appeal is considered. It also gives the migrants the right to health care, education and other social services. Some migrants in Boa Vista are discovering ways to get by. They have found low-cost housing or are staying in the few shelters that officials have provided. Others have no permanent place to stay, and instead live in the streets or turn to crime. Teresa Surita, the mayor of Boa Vista, said, “We have a very serious problem that will only get worse.” She added that the city’s once quiet streets are increasingly filled with poor Venezuelans. Most migrants to Boa Vista arrive by land. They enter Brazil on foot from the Venezuelan border town of Santa Elena. They then take buses or ask for rides from strangers to travel further south. Brazilian officials say border guards permit as many as 400 migrants to enter Roraima state daily. Roraima has the lowest population and smallest economy of any state in Brazil. Latin America’s biggest country has struggled recently to deal with asylum seekers from countries such as Haiti and Syria. Brazil has approved more than 2,700 asylum requests from Syrian refugees. But the refugees have received little support from the government. One top official in Brazil’s foreign ministry said the country will not close its borders. Okoth-Obbo said the UNHCR and Brazil’s government are discussing ways to move refugees to larger cities. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Anthony Boadle reported this story for the Reuters news agency. Jonathan Evans adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   migrate – v. to move from one country or place to live or work in another prospect – n. an opportunity for something to happen resources – n. a supply of something such as money that someone has and can use when it is needed  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2jYFCjG
via IFTTT

As China's Wine Industry Grows, France Trains a New Generation

  Yixuan Hao is sitting in a classroom in the Burgundy area of France, with a glass of red wine in her hand. She examines the wine as she slowly moves the glass around. Next, she takes a small taste. Then, she smells it. Yixuan has been tasting and smelling wines all afternoon. They were produced in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and California. One day, students who come to France to study wine may be tasting vintages from another producer: China. Yixuan, who is 23 years old, comes from Xinjiang, a large, dry area in northwest China. Xinjiang is the country’s biggest producer of wine grapes. Yixuan says she has come to France to, in her words, “learn from others who know better. “We’re trying to develop our own style, rather than copy the Bordeaux and the Burgundies." Yixuan is a student at the School of Wine and Spirits Business in Dijon. It is a program within the Burgundy School of Business. Nearly one-third of the students here come from China. The country that dominates manufacturing products from wind turbine technology to smart phones is now turning its attention to oenology, the study of wine. And it is training a new generation of Chinese students in the field. Many Chinese come to Burgundy’s winemaking country. Here, small farms, ancient villages and rolling green hills have come together to form a love of terroir. This term, which describes a particular land, climate and soil, helps define the identity of every wine. Jerome Gallo is the wine school’s director. He says the Chinese students hope to return home with the tools to produce the best wines they can. “Most of them go back to China after the program,” Gallo says. “Because it’s their home country and because there are a lot of things to develop there.” The school’s one-year master’s program teaches the workings of the wine trade, from finance and business management, to marketing and sales. The school urges its students to serve as volunteer interns in France or other countries. And even with students sometimes paying more than $15,000 to attend the school, there is no shortage of Chinese applicants. Learning the trade During a class on New World wines, students study the taste and intensity of a large number of vintages. “You can smell blackberry, apple, orange,” says 21-year-old Lei Shi from northern China. “It’s magic.” Shi hopes to fine a job as an international wine buyer for a Chinese company one day. But he says that many Chinese need to develop a deeper wine knowledge. “The wine culture in China now is not very good because most people, they don’t know how to taste the wines. So we still have a long way to do to teach the Chinese people how to taste the wines, how to enjoy our wines.” But China has most of what it needs. It grows more grapes than any country other than Spain. While most of the farming is for the fruit itself, China’s wine industry is growing quickly.   By 2020, China is expected to become the world’s second-biggest wine market, after the United States. The majority of wine consumed in China is also produced there. Yet China is turning into a major importer of wine. Yixuan says, "The new generation is more open to French culture and French wines than the old generation. Middle and upper classes want to consume wines from different regions, like Italy.” For them, she notes, it’s a sign of wealth. Huge French-and Italian-style properties are being built in many parts of China. A wine theme park opened in southeast China earlier this year. At a store called La Route des Vins in central Dijon, Adrien Tirelli describes Chinese visitors as coming with guide books in hand. "Chinese people, like all the new consumer, just learn in the guide and then they come with the books, and they tell me, 'I want this one, this one, this one...'" Liu Yan is a Burgundy wine expert and Chinese tour guide. She arrived in Burgundy to study wine more than 10 years ago. Unlike most other Chinese students, she stayed. "I love Burgundy, the simplicity of the people who are intense about their work," she says. "And especially this love of the land, people don’t want to lose it.” Yan believes that China will someday be among the world’s major wine producers. But it cannot compete with Burgundy, she says. “Every wine represents a terroir,” she says. “The land isn’t the same. The environment, the earth, all that doesn’t produce the same kind of wine.” I’m John Russell. And I’m Ashley Thompson.   VOA's Lisa Bryant reported this story from Dijon, France. Ashley Thompson adapted her report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Does your country produce wine? We want to hear from you. Describe the wine industry where you live in the comments section.  _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   afternoon  - n. ​ the middle part of the day : the part of the day between noon and evening​ vintage  - n. ​the grapes or wine produced during one season​ style  - n. ​a particular way in which something is done, created, or performed​ dominate  - v. ​to be much more powerful or successful than others in a game, competition, etc.​ applicant  - n. ​someone who formally asks for something (such as a job or admission to a college) : someone who applies for something​ consume  - v. ​to eat or drink (something) theme park - n. an amusement park where the rides and attractions are based on a particular theme

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2kvmlps
via IFTTT