Honduras President Declared Winner, OAS Calls for New Vote

  Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been declared the winner of the country's disputed election. David Matamoros, head of the election court, announced Sunday night that Hernandez had defeated candidate Salvador Nasralla. Matamoros said the final result was almost 43 percent to 41 percent. But the Organization of American States (OAS) is calling for a new election as protests continue in Honduras. An OAS statement said it was impossible to confirm the election results. The organization said there was evidence of “human intrusions into the computer system.” “The only possible path for the winner to be the Honduran people is a new call for general elections.” the OAS said. Supporters of Salvador Nasralla used rocks and burning tires to block streets and highways around the country Monday. The country’s National Police spokesman said some businesses had been looted in San Pedro Sula, Honduras’ second largest city. Universities, banks and some businesses remained closed in the capital city, Tegucigalpa. Some people walked to work as transportation is limited. At least 17 people have died in violent street clashes since the Nov. 26 election. “It’s better to be locked up in our houses,” said Maria Velasquez, a teacher living outside the capital city. Salvador Nasralla had questioned the vote count early in the process and said he would not recognize it.  The day after the election, Nasralla held a lead over Hernandez and appeared set to win with 60 percent of the votes counted. Then, the vote counting suddenly stopped. When it restarted more than a day later, the count began to favor Hernandez. There was no immediate public comment by Hernandez about the election result. Nasralla traveled to the United States capital, Washington, to present what he called numerous examples of evidence of election wrongdoing. He met Monday with OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro. He said he also planned to meet with officials from the U.S. State Department and human rights groups. I'm Caty Weaver.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Associated Press news reports. Caty Weaver was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   intrusion - n. the act of entering a place where you are not wanted or supposed to be present loot - v. steal things from a place during a war or after destruction lock up - v. to keep in place for security or restraint

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Introducing the Funniest Wildlife Photos of 2017

A huge number of people spend a lot of time enjoying animal photos and videos. Millions of images from a variety of furry friends get posted and shared on social media every day. It is much like a competition, with people trying to capture or find the cutest or funniest animal behavior shots they can. What many people do not know is that there is actually a competition that combines animal photography and comedy. It is called the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards and the winners have been announced. The competition is open to anyone who wants to enter. Organizers say it is intended to be a “light-hearted, upbeat and possibly unpretentious” way to show wildlife doing funny things. This year more than 3,500 entries were received from photographers in 86 countries. The overall winner for 2017 was a photo of three owls on a branch. Two of the owls are sitting on the branch looking into the distance. The third appears to be struggling to climb up, with the other two owls seemingly ignoring their friend’s troubles. We’ve put together some of the other winners and finalists for you to enjoy. Kung Fu training (Australian style)   All dressed and ready for church ​ Coming in for a landing   ​Hitching a ride The king ​ Duck speed   ​Monkey business What's up doc? Disco bear Merry mouse Surprise putt​ ​ Bath time ​ The slap ​If you cannot get enough of the funny wildlife photos, the organization has a book that includes many, many more. The competition helps support the Born Free Foundation, which seeks to protect threatened wildlife. The prize for the 2017 Comedy Wildlife Photographer of the Year is a trophy, as well as a free trip to take part in a one-week safari in Kenya. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Tell us which of the photos are your favorites! You can also write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   upbeat – adj. positive and cheerful unpretentious – adj. simple and/or sincere branch – n. the part of a tree that grows out from the trunk  

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Bill Clinton: Survivor

VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about William Jefferson Clinton – better known as Bill Clinton. Clinton took office in 1993, and was re-elected in 1996. In many ways, historians consider his time in office a success. The economy expanded, and the country was largely at peace. But Clinton had some notable failures, too. He could not persuade Congress to accept a plan to reform the nation’s health care system.   And, in his second term, the House of Representatives took steps to remove him from office. But the Senate decided not to act. Clinton finished his second term with high approval ratings. Yet he is also remembered for being only the second U.S. president to be impeached.       Early life Bill Clinton came from a town with a memorable name: Hope. He grew up there, and in another nearby town in the Southern state of Arkansas. For most of his early life, Bill was raised by his grandmother and his mother, both nurses. His father had died in a car accident before he was born. People who knew Bill as a young man remember him as very intelligent, charming with people, and talented in music. His mother told him he would be president one day. Sure enough, Clinton pursued activities that would lead to a political career. He attended college at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where he studied international affairs; led student government groups; and took a position as a clerk in the U.S. Senate. He went on to study at Oxford University in England on a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. Then he graduated from law school at Yale University. There, he met another student who would be his wife, Hillary Rodham. The two went on to have one child together, a daughter named Chelsea. After finishing his studies, Clinton returned to his home state of Arkansas and pursued political office. At 32, he became one of the youngest governors ever in the country. Two years later, he was voted out of office, and -- as historian Russell Riley notes -- he became the youngest former governor. And that is how a good deal of Clinton’s political career continued: in a pattern of successes and failures. His successes often came as a result of his centrist policies, which appealed to people of different political beliefs. He also was an effective public speaker and, to many, a likable, charismatic person who seemed to care deeply about others. But, his critics pointed out, Clinton also appeared to make many decisions simply for political advantage. And he sometimes tried to please so many people that he pleased no one. Following a series of increasingly national roles – as well as a series of setbacks – Clinton campaigned for president in 1992. At first, he did not do well in the campaign. He was young and not well-known. He also suffered from reports that he had relationships with women who were not his wife. But in time, Clinton began winning primary contests. Reporters called him the “Comeback Kid.” He earned a public image as a politician who could survive problems. In the general election, Clinton competed against the sitting president, Republican George H.W. Bush. The two men also faced an unusually strong third-party candidate named Ross Perot. On Election Night, Clinton prevailed. Because Americans had split their votes among three major candidates, Clinton earned less than 50% of the popular vote. But he won enough electoral votes to become the next U.S. president. Presidency The people who worked on Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign adopted an informal motto. They said, “It’s the economy, stupid.” In other words, campaign officials believed that most Americans cared primarily about how a president’s policies would affect their financial concerns. So, President Clinton quickly set about making a series of economic changes. They included raising taxes on wealthier Americans and cutting spending to help poorer Americans. In a few years, the U.S. budget deficit was gone, the federal government had a surplus, and the country’s financial situation was strong and healthy – although not everyone approved of the steps Clinton took to get there, or believed he should get all the credit. Early in his first term, Clinton sought an additional reform he believed would help voters’ financial concerns: affordable health insurance for all Americans. Most people in the U.S. either bought private health insurance or did not have any insurance to help pay for medical costs. Clinton wanted to find a way for the U.S. government to support Americans’ health-related expenses. He appointed his wife, first lady Hillary Clinton, to lead a healthcare reform effort. Hillary Clinton, a lawyer, had led a similar effort to reform education in Arkansas when her husband was governor there. But some lawmakers in Congress – as well as some voters – rejected her efforts. The reform effort failed. Clinton also struggled in some early foreign policy moves. He withdrew American troops from Somalia after their humanitarian efforts there turned into a bloody military struggle. He was also criticized for failing to intervene quickly in the genocide in Rwanda, where hundreds of thousands of people were killed. Later, Clinton won praise for some of his foreign policy. His government helped restore the elected president in Haiti after a coup. It also helped negotiate peace agreements in Bosnia and Ireland. And it cooperated with NATO to intervene in the Kosovo area and stop attacks on Albanians there.  In general, Clinton believed the U.S. had an important role to play in maintaining peace and protecting human life around the world. At the same time, he did not want to use too many American resources to do so. He aimed to cooperate with other nations, and to set moderate goals. As usual, Clinton adopted an approach that was not too extreme on one side or another. Impeachment During most of his time as president, Clinton had been under investigation. Federal judges had appointed a special counsel, named Kenneth Starr, to find out if the president had committed any crimes related to financial investments before he took office. During the investigation, Starr learned that the president had been having a sexual relationship with a young woman who worked in the White House. Starr asked Clinton about the affair under oath. Later, Starr accused Clinton of lying about his relationship with the woman. Starr said that Clinton had also tried to prevent others from telling the truth about some of his activities.  In time, the president publicly admitted the relationship, and he apologized to voters and his family. But he said he had not lied or told anyone else to lie for him. Lawmakers in the House of Representatives did not accept Clinton’s defense. They advanced two articles of impeachment. Lawmakers in the U.S. Senate then considered the case. It is their job to examine the evidence and decide whether to remove a president from office. A majority did not believe the actions Clinton was accused of were serious violations against the country. They voted to acquit Clinton of the charges and permit him to continue as president. Legacy In the U.S., a president can serve only two full terms. After his second, Bill Clinton and his wife settled in a town outside New York City. In time, Hillary Clinton became the U.S. senator from New York, as well as a secretary of state and the Democratic Party’s candidate for president. Bill Clinton, like many other U.S. presidents, wrote about his experiences and helped develop his presidential library. He also worked on humanitarian, health, and economic issues with his family’s organization, the Clinton Foundation. For many, Clinton’s time in office is remembered as a mixed experience. The economy was at one of its strongest in U.S. history. Most people could find jobs, and many Americans bought homes for the first time. In the mid-1990s especially, the Internet and other new developments created a technology boom. In addition, Clinton was an effective public speaker, and he inspired new groups of people to support his Democratic Party. Many voters approved of his appointments of women and minorities to positions of power in his government. They also liked the steps he took to reduce the use of handguns, protect the environment, and provide paid time off work for some people to care for themselves or their families.   But both Democrats and Republicans found fault with some of Clinton’s efforts. And even his supporters note that the president had to spend much of his time in office answering charges of wrongdoing. 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 this listening quiz. Play the video, then choose the best answer.​ ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   impeach - v. to charge (a public official) with a crime done while in office clerk - n. a person whose job is to keep track of records and documents for a business or office centrist - adj. having political opinions that are not extreme; having beliefs fall between those of liberals and conservatives

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South Korea Worried About High Cost of Olympics

  Officials in South Korea are concerned about what will happen to Pyeongchang Winter Olympic structures and stadiums after the games next year. The Winter Olympics begin on February 9, 2018. Officials are busy preparing for events in and around the small mountain town of Pyeongchang. But concerns remain about the huge cost of hosting the Games in one of South Korea’s poorest areas. Local officials hope the Olympics will help the economic by making the area as an international destination for travelers. But, past Olympics have shown that hosts who hoped for economic gains after the games are often disappointed. Pyeongchang is in Gangwon province. So is nearby Gangneung, a seaside city that will host Olympic skating and hockey events. Officials there are urging the national government to provide money to maintain the new arenas that may have little use after the Olympics. So far, the South Korean government has not agreed to such a plan. The Olympics are expected to cost South Korea about $12.9 billion. That amount is more than the $7 to 8 billion that was estimated when Pyeongchang was announced as host in 2011. People who live in Gangwon province say the government has long ignored the area’s needs. They also worry about the event’s high cost. “What good will a nicely managed global event really do for residents when we are struggling so much to make ends meet?” said Lee Do-sung, a Gangneung restaurant owner. “What will the games even leave? Maybe only debt.” Some structures may be torn down The mood was very different 30 years ago when the country was preparing to host the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympic Games. That event helped shape the capital city into what it is today. A sports complex and huge public parks were built along the Han River. Next came new highways, bridges and public transportation. High-rise buildings were built where old, poor neighborhoods once stood. The effects of the country’s second Olympic Games will be less clear. For example, Pyeongchang’s Olympic Stadium seats 35,000 people although just 40,000 people live in the town. The stadium will only be used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics and Paralympics. Then, workers are expected to tear it down. A downhill ski course in nearby Jeongseon will also be restored to its natural state and no longer used for skiing. The course was built in a huge forest considered sacred by local people. Gangwon officials want the national government to help pay for restoring the forest. Such efforts could cost as much as $95 million. “A National event, not a Gangwon event” Both the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 2002 FIFA World Cup were events paid for by the national government. The provincial government, however, led the effort to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. Under current plans, Gangwon will manage at least six Olympic sites after the games. The costs to do so will be high. These sites will create an $8.5 million budget deficit for the area every year. Hong Jin-won is a Gangneung resident and activist. He has been following Olympic preparations for several years. He said the real cost could be even bigger. And he said aid to help the area’s poor could get cut to help make up for the lack of money. South Korea is a rapidly aging country with a widening rich-poor gap. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says South Korea has the highest poverty rate among the aged of all OECD countries. The sites may need to be torn down if the national government does not pay to maintain them, or if Gangwon does not make them cultural or popular attractions. Park Cheol-sin is an official in Gangwon. He said the national government must step up because, in his words, the “Olympics are a national event, not a Gangwon event.” I’m Dorothy Gundy.   Ashley Thompson adapted this story for VOA Learning English from an AP report. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story host –v. to hold an event arena –n. a building for sports and other forms of entertainment destination –n. a place that people go to or are sent to residents –n. people who live in a place mood –n. the way someone feels, an emotional state sacred –adj. holy, the quality of being worshiped sites –n. specific places or structures

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France Hopes to Get More Wind Energy from Its Coasts

  France recently launched its first floating wind turbine. The new turbine is called Floatgen. It is near the country’s western coast. Makers of the turbine say it is able to provide electricity for as many as 5,000 homes. It also is France’s first attempt at offshore wind energy: electricity produced by turbines located in the ocean. The project cost $29.5 million.   A number of European businesses and research groups are supporting the Floatgen Project. Bruno Geschier is head of sales and a marketing manager for Ideol, the company that coordinated the project. He said the next step is to produce offshore wind farms. The goal, he said, is 50 much larger offshore turbines that are able to provide electricity to hundreds and thousands of people.  Geischier predicts that this might happen in less than 10 years because France is trying to decrease the country’s dependence on nuclear power. Based in Brussels, Belgium, the industry group WindEurope predicts France will become Europe’s second biggest wind energy producer by 2030. Germany would remain the largest producer. Currently, wind power produces about 4 percent of France’s electricity. Pierre Tardieu is WindEurope’s Chief Policy Officer. He said that renewable energy, such as wind, is not only good for the planet. Today, it is much less costly than it used to be. “This is true for France of course, but it is also true for Europe as a whole,” he said. Leadership hopes Increasing wind energy also fits with President Emmanuel Macron’s aim of helping lead efforts to limit the rise of world temperatures. Last Tuesday, Macron’s government held an international meeting on climate financing. The meeting took place two years after the Paris Agreement on climate change was signed in the French capital. Many European Union (EU) countries say they will likely meet the EU goal of getting 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. They may also increase their renewable energy goals for 2030. But such goals remain hard to reach. France, for example, is one of several EU members not expected to reach the 2020 goals. In addition, French environment minister Nicolas Hulot in November delayed a 2023 deadline for reducing the nation’s dependence on nuclear power. Currently, nuclear energy provides 75 percent of France’s electricity. The 2023 goal was to decrease that number to 50 percent. Hulot said the deadline could not be met. Germany is a strong producer of renewable energy, but it also depends on fossil fuel. The country gets 40 percent of its energy from coal while wind and solar provide 30 percent. The greater dependence on coal is partly the result of Germany’s reduction of nuclear power which still provides 30 percent of the country’s electricity. With Floatgen, France hopes to go from being one of the EU’s slow movers to a wind power leader. “I think that the French government understands that it’s not possible in the world today to continue just with nuclear power,” said Green Party Senator Ronan Dantec. He said nuclear power is very expensive. Having a plan for renewable energy, he added, is important for industry in France and for the country’s future electricity needs. Powering the oceans Today, France is one of a few countries testing the use of floating wind turbines. The technology uses wires attached to the ocean floor and can be deployed in deeper waters than non-floating offshore turbines. This helps to make use of deep ocean winds -- which are often stronger and more continuous than winds on the coast. Other countries are also moving forward with floating, offshore turbines. In October, Britain launched the world’s first floating wind farm off of the coast of Scotland. The farm can provide electricity for up to 20,000 homes. “We’re late -- let’s be honest,” said France’s Junior Environment Minister Sebastien Lecornu during Floatgen’s launch in Saint-Nazaire. Yet France is seeking to catch up. “We have everything it takes to make this region big in terms of building wind turbines, both on land and offshore,” said Regional Council Vice-President Paul Jenneteau. He notes that the Floatgen turbine alone created 70 jobs. “Imagine offshore wind farms here,” he added. WindEurope’s Tardieu agrees, predicting Europe’s wind industry will generate more than 500,000 jobs by 2030, more than double today’s numbers. Blades can be produced in Portugal and turbine structures in Poland, he said. Belgium can make the equipment boxes. Not everyone supports floating wind farms But the Floatgen Project is not welcomed by everyone. A few meters from the launch celebrations, riot police faced protesting workers. “We face an uncertain future,” said Mathieu Pinault, a member of a trade union, as he spoke with other protesters. A fuel and coal heating plant has employed him for many years. Now, the company is slowly closing down. He said renewable energy does not offer long-term jobs, but rather unstable, part-time work. But, renewable energy supporters disagree. “Wind energy today already represents thousands of jobs,” said Ideol marketing manager Geischier. “It could represent much more than that, local jobs, but also brainpower.” I’m Phil Dierking. And I’m Alice Bryant.   Lisa Bryant wrote this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz. ​ _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   wind turbine – n. a large structure with blades that spin by pressure from wind and generate electricity offshore – adj. located on the ocean away from the shore deadline – n. a date or time when something must be finished fossil fuel – n. a fuel (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) that is formed in the earth from dead plants or animals solar – adj. of or relating to the sun region – n. a part of a country (or the world) that is different or separate from other parts in some way trade union – n. an organization of workers formed to protect the rights and interests of its members brainpower – n. the ability to think intelligently  

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When Violence Takes Away Men, Families Suffer

Life for Shakar Nisa was good. Her children went to school. There was a lot of food, and they could buy fruit. One day her husband went to work at his store in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s Baluchistan province. He did not return home. A Sunni extremist had shot and killed him. Nisa had to find money for herself and her five children. Up until her husband’s death, she had never had a job or worried about money for housing. Her brother-in-law, a poor taxi driver, made her leave the family’s house. Nisa began working as a housekeeper for $50 dollars a month. The money was just enough to pay for a rental home, electricity and water. There was no money left for food. Her son left school and started working at a wedding hall, which held parties for the newly married. The son earned $2 a day. Sometimes he brought home leftover food. When he could not, the family ate only bread with tea. Nisa and her children are members of the small Hazara community in Quetta. She is one of many women who has lost her husband or other male family members to religious violence. The Hazaras, a Shi’ite Muslim minority group in Pakistan, are a conservative people who follow a traditional way of life. The women stay in the home, while the men work outside the house. Over the years, the men have been a target for Sunni extremist groups, leaving many families struggling to get enough money and food. Some families without men cannot attend their most basic needs. “My daughter has a blood infection, but she is not getting proper treatment,” said Zahra, who makes $25 a month embroidering cushions for a local dealer. My children are not going to school because we don’t have money for their admission, she added. Her brother-in-law sells fruit. He took care of her family when her husband was too sick to work. When he died in an explosion, the lives of the family changed. Zahra’s 15-year-old daughter stopped going to school to help her mother make cushions. She also makes $25 a month. They need help from relatives and friends to survive. The violence in the community has forced many Hazara children to leave school and begin working as manual laborers, leading to a life of poverty. One of Nisa’s sons had to leave middle school to work in a welding business so he could make money. The possibility of getting an education and finding a well-paid job is no more. I'm Susan Shand.   Ayesha Tanzeem reported this story for VOANews.com. Susan Shand adapted this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   embroider – v. to sew a design on a piece of cloth cushion – n. a soft object or part that is used to make something (such as a seat) more comfortable manual – adj. doing or involving hard physical work weld – v. to join pieces of metal together by heating the edges until they begin to melt and then pressing them together brother-in-law – n. the man married to one’s husband or wife; the man married to the husband or wife of a family member basic – adj. relating to the most important part of something; simple    

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Everyday Grammar: Both...and, Not only...but also

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Lesson 14: Made for Each Other

Summary Pete and Ashley have found perfect partners. Anna says she has a new boyfriend but Pete and Ashley don't believe her. Is he real or not?   Conversation Anna: Hello! What are you guys looking at? Pete: I’m showing Ashley pictures of my girlfriend. We have so much in common -- even small things. She can’t whistle and I can’t either. Ashley: (to Pete) And here’s a picture of my boyfriend. (sighs) Ashley: My family is big and so is his. I don’t like ball sports and he doesn’t either! (sighs) We are made for each other ... Pete: … and so are we. (sighs) Anna: Uh… you have found perfect partners … and so have I! Professor Bot: Pete and Ashley are talking about people they love. They are putting two ideas together with connectors. Let’s start with these two sentences: She can’t whistle. Pete can’t whistle. How do you put them together? Pete says,  "She can’t whistle and I can’t either." You can see we just add the conjunction “either” and take away the verb “whistle.” And Ashley says: "I don’t like ball sports and he doesn’t either!" Keep looking for connectors! Ashley: You met someone, Anna? That’s great! What’s his name? Anna: His name? His name is uh… (stalling, looks around, sees a bus)  Bus … ter.  (stalling, looks around, sees a car)  Car … ter. Ashley: (says it like Anna did) Bus...ter Car...ter?  Anna: It’s just Buster Carter, Ashley. I like him and he likes me. We’re a great couple. Ashley: Hey, let’s all get dinner tonight, together. You can bring Buster. Pete: (laughing) Yeah, I can’t wait to meet him.  Anna: Thanks, Ashley, but he’s really busy tonight with his uh, (looks around, sees squirrel) squirrel collection. Bye, guys! Gotta go! Ashley: Squirrel collection? Pete: You know, she made all that up. Ashley: That’s so sad. She needs to meet someone. Hey, do you know anyone who she might... Pete: No. Anna: (to herself) Anna, Anna, you lied! You lied! Now, they think you have a boyfriend - with a squirrel collection. Here, squirrel. (throws food) Well, you need to tell them the truth. You don’t have a boyfriend. Man: Excuse me, is this seat taken? (Anna shyly shakes head “no”) Anna: Ashley, Pete, I need to talk to you. This morning, I lied.  Pete: Let me guess. There’s no Buster Carter. What a surprise! Anna: I’m sorry. But later I really did meet someone and we have a lot in common! He’s good at flying kites and so am I. He likes to read comics and so do I. I can play the ukulele and so can he. Ashley: He sounds perfect for you, Anna. Can he come tonight? Anna: That’s the sad part. You see, he just got a job as a spy, and tonight he leaves on assignment. Pete: Of course he does. Anna: But that's okay, because now I know that there is someone out there made for me. (looks at the time) Oh, it’s late! I have to see him off at the train station. Bye, you guys! Ashley: Bye Anna! Oh dear, she’s worse than we thought. Pete: She’s lost her mind. Ashley: What should we do? Pete: (happy, excited) Let’s tell her! (Pete goes to leave but Ashley pulls him back.)   Ashley: No, Pete. Mr. Right may not be real but he makes her really happy.  Professor Bot: Did you find any other connectors? Notice how the words are in a different order in the part after “so.”  "I am" becomes "am I"  and "he can" becomes "can he."  "He’s good at flying kites and so am I. I can play the ukulele and so can he."   New Words boyfriend - n. a man that someone is having a romantic or sexual relationship with collection - n. a group of interesting or beautiful objects brought together in order to show or study them or as a hobby couple- n.  two people who are married or who have a romantic or sexual relationship girlfriend - n.  a woman that someone is having a romantic or sexual relationship with in common - expression. people who have something in common share interests, beliefs, attitudes, or opinions kite  - n.  a toy that is made of a light frame covered with cloth, paper, or plastic and that is flown in the air at the end of a long string lie - v.  to say or write something that is not true in order to deceive someone make (something) up - phrasal verb. created from the imagination or not true or real Mr. Right - expression. the ideal future husband partner - n. someone's husband or wife or the person someone has sexual relations with squirrel - n.  a small animal with a long tail and soft fur that lives in trees see (someone) off - phrasal verb. to go to an airport, train station with (someone who is leaving) in order to say goodbye truth - n.   the real facts about something whistle - v.  to make a high sound by blowing air through your lips or teeth   Learning Strategy The learning strategy for this lesson is self-evaluate. That means to think about how well you are learning. And to think about how your strategies for learning are working. Do your strategies help you learn more easily? In this lesson, Anna self-evaluates when she thinks about lying to her friends Ashley and Pete. She knows it was wrong to lie. After she self-evaluates, she goes back to tell Ashley and Pete the truth.  How about you? How do you evaluate yourself when you are learning or using English? Do you check your progress by quizzing yourself or taking a test? Or do you think about a recent conversation in English and ask yourself how well you did?  Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email.   Listening Quiz See how well you understand this lesson by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer. ​ Free Materials Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. For Teachers Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Connectors: And ... Either So, But, Either (note that there are two different pronunciations of "either" in this conversation: /ˈiːðɚ/ and /ˈaɪðə/ . Both can be used in American English.​ Topics: ​Discussing Feelings; Relationships Learning Strategy: Self-evaluate​   Comments Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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Let's Learn English Lesson 14: Made for Each Other

Pete and Ashley have found perfect partners. Anna says she has a new boyfriend but Pete and Ashley don't believe her. Is he real or not? See the whole lesson at: http://ift.tt/2yMbpci

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America's Presidents - Bill Clinton

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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.

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