Extreme Cold Affecting Many Areas Across US

  Extremely cold weather is a problem in many parts of the United States. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that record-setting temperatures have been blamed for at least 12 deaths in recent weeks. Some forecasters say the worst weather is yet to come. On Tuesday, the U.S. National Weather Service announced wind chill advisories and freeze warnings for 40 of the 50 states. The weather service predicted a “period of much-below-normal temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills to the central and eastern U.S. over the next week.” Air temperatures fell to -13 Celsius near Cullman, Alabama, which usually has a mild winter. In the port of Mobile, Alabama, temperatures reached as low as -7 Celsius. City officials opened warming shelters across the southern United States, as the cold weather brought light snow as far south as Austin, Texas. On Wednesday, a winter storm dropped snow, sleet and freezing rain from northern Florida up the Southeast coast. Some cities reported snowfall for the first time in over 20 years. Cars spun out of control on icy roads from Texas to Georgia. Hospitals across the country are reporting an increase in emergency room visits for hypothermia and other conditions linked to extreme cold. The record-setting cold weather began in the central U.S. early last week. Omaha, Nebraska, broke a 130-year record when temperatures fell to -29 Celsius. The city of Aberdeen, South Dakota broke a 99-year record with temperatures of -36 Celsius. In Florida, several water parks closed because of the cold weather. New York’s Hudson River froze in some parts, forcing officials to cancel passenger ferry service. At Niagara Falls, people took photographs of the Horseshoe Falls, where flowing water had turned to ice. Frozen sharks were washing up along the coast south of Boston, Massachusetts, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy reported. Forecasters warned that weather conditions could worsen, especially in the Northeast. A winter storm warning extended from the Florida panhandle all the way up the Atlantic coast. Coastal flooding, downed trees and power lines were possible along the East Coast. I'm Susan Shand. _____________________________________________________________ Words in this Story forecasters – n. a person who predicts (something, such as weather) after looking at the information that is available hypothermia – n. a condition in which the temperature of your body is very low park – n. an area that is designed for a specified use such as swimming, walking or nature ferry – n. a boat that moves people across a small body of water chill – n. a feeling of being extremely cold    

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California Becomes Largest State to Legalize Marijuana

  California has become the largest American state to legalize the sale of marijuana. The new law took effect on New Year’s Day. California voters approved a measure to legalize the drug in November 2016. The law permits adults, 21 years and older, to possess as much as 28 grams of marijuana. It also permits people to grow up to six marijuana plants at home. California is the sixth U.S. state – along with the nation’s capital Washington D.C. – to legalize recreational marijuana. California became the first American state to approve marijuana use for medical purposes in 1996. At least 29 U.S. states now permit the use of medical marijuana. Maine and Massachusetts are expected to legalize recreational marijuana in 2018.   The federal government still considers the sale and possession of marijuana a crime. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is an opponent of legalizing marijuana. He said in November that he is taking a close look at federal enforcement of anti-drug laws that include marijuana. Chris Lindsey is with the Marijuana Policy Project, which seeks marijuana policy reforms in U.S. states. He says the federal government remains limited in how it can intervene in state laws. “While Jeff Sessions may not like the fact that states have taken this path, they have. And there’s very little that the federal government’s going to be able to do to compel the state to basically re-implement prohibition.”    The production and sale of marijuana will be ruled by California’s Bureau of Cannabis Control. Businesses are required to have a license to sell the drug and sales will be taxed. The state only recently started releasing the licenses, with about 90 businesses so far receiving permits. None went to the state’s largest city, Los Angeles, or its third biggest, San Francisco. California law does not permit the smoking of marijuana in public places or while driving. Local governments can set their own restrictions on sales. Lindsey says the local licensing process will result in delays of marijuana sales in some communities.   “Some of them are embracing it, and rushing to implement rules and license businesses. Others are going so far as saying ‘We don’t want it here at all,’ and everything in between. And all of that has to be sorted out.” California is the largest state in the nation, with 39 million residents. It has the world’s sixth-largest economy. Experts have valued the state’s marijuana market at several billion dollars a year. Marijuana sales are expected to create at least $684 million in tax money in 2018. More than one in five Americans now live in states where marijuana is sold for general use as well as for medical purposes. I’m Bryan Lynn. Ken Bredemeier and Lori Lundin reported on this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for Learning English, with additional material from the Associated Press.  Caty Weaver 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   recreational – adj. done for enjoyment compel – v. force someone to do something implement – v. begin to carry out a law, plan or system prohibition – n. law or order that prevents something license – n. official document giving permission to do something embrace – v. to accept something readily or gladly sort out – v. find an answer or solution for something  

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January 3, 2018

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

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American Blogger Apologizes for Video Showing Japanese Suicide Victim

  This is What's Trending Today. An American blogger has apologized after facing criticism for a YouTube video that appeared to show the body of a suicide victim. Logan Paul published the video on Sunday. It showed him walking with friends in the Aokigahara forest near Japan’s Mount Fuji. The area is known as a place where a number of people have committed suicide. In the video, Paul and his friends see a man’s hanging body and react with shock, but also tell jokes. Critics called the jokes “disrespectful” and “disgusting.” Paul published an apology letter Tuesday on Twitter. He wrote, "Where do I begin. Let us start with this. I am sorry." He said that in his daily production of video blogs, or vlogs, "it is easy to get caught up in the moment” without thinking fully about the possible effects.   The video has been taken down, but parts of it remain online. Suicide rates in Japan are the highest in the developed world. Official numbers on suicides, especially in the Aokigahara forest, are not available. Some Japanese say people choose to take their life in the forest because it could take days to find the body. Logan Paul has more than 15 million subscribers to his YouTube channel and nearly four million followers on Twitter.   I’m Caty Weaver. VOA News reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.  ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   blogger - n. someone writes or posts about personal opinions, activities, and experiences on the internet. commit - v. ​to do (something that is illegal or harmful) disgusting  - adj. ​so bad, unfair, inappropriate, etc., that you feel annoyed and angry awareness - n. ​knowledge of a situation or fact​ online  - n. ​connected to a computer, a computer network, or the Internet​ subscriber - n. ​a person who receives a publication regularly by paying in advance.  

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January 2, 2018

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

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Trump Praises Iranian Protesters

  U.S. President Donald Trump praised Iranian protesters Tuesday. He said Iranians were “finally acting against the brutal and corrupt” government in Tehran. The demonstrations are the largest seen in Iran since the country’s disputed presidential election in 2009. The Associated Press says at least 21 people have died in the unrest. The protests began Thursday in Mashhad over Iran’s weak economy and an increase in food prices. They have since expanded to other cities, with some protesters denouncing the government and Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hundreds of people have been arrested. A well-known judge on Tuesday warned that some could face the death penalty. On Twitter, Trump wrote that "all of the money" that former President Barack Obama, in his words, "so foolishly gave" to Iran as part of a 2015 nuclear agreement "went into terrorism and into their 'pockets.' The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights.” He added, “The U.S. is watching!" After Trump's attack, Iran’s foreign ministry said Trump was “wasting his time sending useless and insulting tweets regarding other countries.” It urged Trump to attend to domestic issues affecting the United States, “such as daily killings of dozens of people...and the existence of millions of homeless and hungry people." Earlier Tuesday, Khamenei made his first public comments since the demonstrations began. "In recent days,” he said, “enemies of Iran used different tools... to create troubles for the Islamic Republic." Iranian state television broadcast his statement. Khamenei said he would talk more about the protests in the coming days. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ​said on Monday that security forces would "respond to rioters and lawbreakers."   Deputy Interior Minister Hossein Zolfaghari said 90 percent of those who have been detained are under 25 years old. Many young people are unhappy about a lack of social freedoms and worsening economic conditions in the country. Turkey's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it hopes foreign involvement will be avoided in Iran, and that it is concerned about the reported deaths. The ministry said violence should be avoided. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the protesters "brave" and "heroic.” British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called on all those involved to avoid violence. Johnson also said, "We believe that there should be meaningful debate about the legitimate and important issues the protesters are raising and we look to the Iranian authorities to permit this.” Rouhani described the demonstrators as the “minority who chant slogans against the law and the people’s wishes.” The Iranian president added, “The people are absolutely free in expressing their criticisms and even protests. But criticism is different to violence and destroying public property." Hussein Banai teaches at Indiana University in the United States. He told VOA that many earlier protests in Iran have been led by academics and activists. This time, he says, working classes are leading the demonstrations. And they are doing so in a less organized way. The Trump administration says it is “very concerned” about Iran blocking its people from communicating through social media in an effort to weaken the protests. A State Department official said Tuesday that the U.S. is urging Iranians to use VPNs, or virtual private networks, to get around the government’s restrictions. Iran restricted use of Telegram and Instagram on Sunday. State media said the moves were meant to keep peace. Iranians had been using the apps to communicate about the street demonstrations.  I'm Ashley Thompson.    VOA News reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English, with additional materials from the Associated Press. George Grow was the editor.  ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   brutal  - adj. extremely cruel or harsh death penalty - n. death as a punishment given by a court of law for very serious crimes domestic - adj. of, relating to, or made in your own country pocket - n. a usually small cloth bag that is sewn into a piece of clothing, a larger bag, etc., and that is open at the top or side so that you can put things into it respond - v. to say or write something as an answer to a question or request chant - v. to say (a word or phrase) many times in a rhythmic way usually loudly and with other people slogan - n. a word or phrase that is easy to remember and is used by a group or business to attract attention academic - n. a person who is a teacher in a college or university app - n. a computer program that performs a special function​

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The History of Words Borrowed from Japanese

  Think of a language as a living thing. Like most things living, languages are always growing and changing. And today, in our highly connected world, these changes happen more and more quickly. Every year, for example, the Merriam Webster English Dictionary adds many new words – or new meanings for common words -- to the English language. English has always been made of up of words from many languages. Most English words come from Latin, Germanic languages and French. But, in the last several hundred years, English has borrowed words and terms from other languages. These so-called “borrowed” words are not returned, of course. Rather, they remain part of a language for a very long time. You can learn a lot about history and culture by looking at what led to the borrowing of certain words. Today, we will tell you the story of words that English has borrowed from Japanese. It may surprise you that English has taken more than a dozen words from Japanese. They include skosh, honcho, tycoon, hunky-dory and, most recently, emoji. Emoji Let’s start with emoji. About 10 years ago, English speakers used the word emoticons for computer keyboard symbols that express emotion in electronic messages and on the Internet. That was before the invention of smiley face icons.   Then, in the late 1990s, a Japanese computer programmer named Shigetaku Kurita changed everything when he invented emoji* -- images, icons and symbols that express meaning without words. In Japanese, the word emoji means “pictograph” and comes from the word e meaning “picture” and moji, meaning “letter” or “character.” The similarity to the English word “emotion” is only by chance. Skosh Another word English borrowed from Japanese is skosh. The English meaning of skosh is “a small amount.” The word is used informally in English. It comes from the Japanese word sukoshi, which means the same thing. In Japanese, sukoshi can also mean “a few” “a little" or "some." Notice the similarity between the English and Japanese pronunciations: skosh and sukoshi. American soldiers picked up sukoshi while they were stationed in Japan after World War II. They brought it back with them to the United States in the 1950s. While the English word is a noun, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary notes that, sometimes we also use the word as an adverb, such as in the example “I’m a skosh hungry” In other words: "I'm a little bit hungry." Honcho Honcho, another word borrowed from Japanese, also came into use around World War II. In English, honcho means "person in charge.” In Japanese, the word is hancho. It means "squad leader" and comes from two words: han meaning “squad" and cho meaning "head" or "chief." Imprisoned American servicemen in Japan learned about the word. Later, they brought it back with them to the United States. When native English speakers use the word honcho, they often say "head honcho." It has the same meaning as honcho. However, it is a native English speaker mistake, since "head honcho" is redundant. Tycoon Another borrowed Japanese word that describes someone who holds a lot of power is tycoon. In English, the word refers to a very wealthy and powerful businessperson. Tycoon comes from the Japanese taikun meaning “great lord or prince.” The word comes from the Middle Chinese word tai kiun. In the mid-1800s, the United States was ready to use military power to force Japan to re-open trade relations with the West. Navy officer Commodore Matthew Perry led the negotiations. When he arrived in Japan, he refused to meet with anyone other than the highest official in the empire. The Japanese presented Perry with their shogun, or general of the Japanese army. But they were concerned that the English translation of his title would not seem powerful enough to Perry. So, they introduced their shogun using the title taikun. What Perry – or the West – did not realize was that shoguns had more power than emperors in Japan at the time. Perry’s negotiations with Japan were successful. And the word tycoon soon became popular in America. It came to mean “top leader.” Tycoon first appeared in print in the U.S. in 1857. Even Abraham Lincoln began to like the word. When he was president, members of his cabinet called him tycoon as a nickname. Hunky-dory Our final example today is hunky-dory. Today, this adjective means “fine” or “free of trouble or problems.” The word hunky-dory is actually a combination of words from two languages. The first part of the word – hunky – means “in a safe position.” Word experts say it is from the Dutch word honk, which means "post” or “station.”   In the mid-1800s, “hunk” was a slang term that children in New York City used in street games, such as tag. In this game, one or more players chase after other players in an attempt to touch them with their hands. If the players reach the secure location before being tagged, they are considered “safe.” The story of the second part of the word – dory – is less clear. One theory from 1876 links the word hunky-dory to the Japanese word honcho-dori. This was believed to be a street in Japan where American sailors went to have fun while they were stationed there. However, clear evidence does not exist to prove this is true. What is clear, though, is that the pronunciation of the word for “street” in Japanese sounds a lot like “dory.” It’s pronounced tori. Join us again soon to learn the history of English words borrowed from other languages. I'm Jill Robbins. I’m Alice Bryant.   Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   dozen - n. a group of twelve things or people keyboard - n.  the set of keys that are used for a computer or typewriter icon – n. a small picture on a computer screen that represents a program or function pictograph – n. a pictorial symbol for a word or phrase pronunciation – n. the way in which a word is said squad – n. a group of people who are involved in a particular activity empire – n. a group of countries or regions that are controlled by one ruler or one government redundant – adj. a group of countries or regions that are controlled by one ruler or one government nickname – n. a name that is different from your real name but that family, friends or others call you slang – adj. words that are not part of standard language but are used informally   *In English, the plural form of the word is emojis.

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Pakistan Meets with US Ambassador over Trump’s Comments

  Pakistan called a meeting with the United States ambassador in Islamabad Tuesday. The talks came one day after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Pakistan for continuing to provide shelter for terrorists. He was speaking about militants who are fighting U.S. forces in nearby Afghanistan. The president’s comments about Pakistan appeared on the Twitter online messaging service. In his first tweet of 2018, Trump said the U.S. government has "foolishly" given Pakistan over 33 billion dollars in aid over the past 15 years. In return, he continued, the U.S. had gotten "nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools.” Trump added, "They (Pakistan’s government) give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" U.S. officials have long accused Pakistan of failing to deal with or of secretly helping the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network. The two groups have carried out cross-border attacks against Afghan and U.S.-led forces. Pakistan’s government denies claims it is sheltering Afghan militants. The government says anti-state militants are using Afghanistan for terrorist attacks against Pakistan.  On Monday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif reacted to Trump’s comments. The official wrote on Twitter that his country "will let the world know the truth...difference between facts and fiction." Rafiq Dossani is with the Rand Corporation research group. “There is no doubt that Pakistan remains a safe haven in many areas for terrorist activity. I mean, compared to the last two years, things have changed dramatically for the better, but not at the level where it should be.” Dossani told VOA that Asif wants the world to know that his country "is in the front lines of the battle against terrorism.” He said Pakistanis believe they have paid dearly for problems that were created a long time ago “without their consent.” He was speaking about the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by the former Soviet Union. Dossani said Pakistanis "feel aggrieved" that what they have lost "is so much more than any other country." He said that their failures have been recognized more than their sacrifices. President Trump announced his administration’s policy on South Asia last August. At the time, he accused Pakistan of providing “safe haven” to terrorists.  The administration also announced at the time that it was suspending $255 million in military assistance until Pakistan takes steps to fight extremists. Richard Green and Ayuz Gul reported on this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted their report for Learning English. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   deceit – n. dishonest behavior haven – n. a place of shelter or safety fiction – n. a made-up story; something that is not true dearly – adv. very much consent – n. approval; a sign of agreement on an action aggrieve – v. to give pain or trouble to; to cause an injury  

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South Korea Calls for Talks with North Korea on Winter Olympics

  South Korea has offered to hold high-level talks with North Korea over the North possibly taking part in the Winter Olympic Games next month. Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said Tuesday that South Korean officials want to meet North Korean diplomats in one week. He said the two sides could meet at Panmunjom, a village in the demilitarized zone separating the Koreas. The meeting would be the first high-level talks between the sides since December 2015. The South Korean offer came one day after North Korea leader Kim Jong Un gave his New Year’s Day message. In it, Kim announced that he is considering sending a team to take part at the winter games, in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Late Monday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in welcomed the North Korean offer. However, he added that any improvements in relations between North and South Korea could take place only with the North ending its nuclear weapons program. Grant Newsham is a researcher at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo. He told VOA that the Moon administration considers restarting talks a possibility. He said the effort represents the desire by some South Koreans to “somehow reach a deal” with North Korea. Newsham expressed concerns, however, that South Koreans blame the United States for the situation on the Korean Peninsula. He said, there is a belief “that somehow it’s the Americans’ fault that the Koreas are divided.” He added that conflict on the Korean Peninsula would not serve any group involved. China’s government is an ally of North Korea. It said it supported talks between the two sides. A foreign ministry spokesman said it was a good development that could ease tensions and support the removal of nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula. In his speech, Kim Jong Un warned the United States that North Korea’s nuclear program is a reality. He said that he has the ability to use nuclear weapons if attacked. U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the situation on the social media network Twitter. He said strong restrictions on North Korea and other forms of pressure are working. Of the offer of talks, Trump said, “Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not – we will see!” I’m Mario Ritter. Richard Green reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted his report for VOA Learning English. The story also includes material from VOA’s Victor Beattie 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 our Facebook page.​ _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   demilitarized zone – n. an area where soldiers and weapons are banned fault – n. responsibility for a bad situation or mistake  

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Lesson 15: I Love People-Watching!

Summary Anna and her friends are eating lunch outside on a beautiful day in Washington, DC. They are people-watching. They like seeing the many different people walking by. Speaking In this video, you can learn to say the new words. Learn about the sounds English speakers make to show they are happy. You can also download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about how people look with a friend.​ Pronunciation ​In this video, you ​learn about how to make tag questions. These are the short questions at the end of a sentences, as you hear in the video, "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Conversation   Anna: Hello! People from all over the world come to Washington, D.C. When I’m at work, I love eating lunch outside. I like to watch people walking by. They all look very different. Today, my friend Ashley is eating lunch with me. Anna: Ashley, today the weather is beautiful, isn’t it? Ashley: Yes, it is. Ahh. Ooh, we have to return to work! Anna: No, we have time! Let’s people-watch a little more. Ashley: Okay. Anna: Oh, I know her. She works in my office! Keyana, hi! Come and join us! Keyana: Hi Anna, how are you? Anna: I’m doing great! Keyana, this is my friend Ashley. Keyana: Hi, Ashley! Anna: We need to return to work. But the weather is beautiful and people-watching is fun! Keyana: I love people-watching too! Anna: Well, have a seat! It is fun to see how people are different or the same. Keyana: It is. For example, Anna, you are tall. But Ashley and I are short. Anna: And Keyana, you and Ashley have brown eyes; I have blue eyes. Keyana: You two have light skin and I have dark skin. Anna: Ashley, you have straight hair. Keyana and I have curly hair. Ashley: You have very curly hair, Anna. Keyana: I need to return to work. See you, Anna! Nice to meet you Ashley! Ashley: Bye, Keyana! Ashley: Anna, I have to go, too. Are you returning to work? Anna: I still have time. And this sun feels so good! Ashley: Um, Anna, what does your boss look like? Anna: She is short. She has straight, light hair. Ashley: Does she wear glasses? Anna: Yes. Yes, she does. Ashley: Is she wearing a blue sweater today? Anna: How do you know that? Ashley: She’s coming this way. Anna: Oh no! Hide me! Ashley: Um, bye, Anna. Call me later. Anna: Bye, Ashley! Talk to you later! Caty: Anna? Is that you? Anna: Ms. Weaver! Hi! Caty: What are you doing behind that bench? Anna: I am looking for my, my … stick. Here it is. Anna: I am people-watching. Oh! But it’s time to return to work! Caty: No need to hurry. I love people-watching too! Let’s sit! Anna: Sure! Ahh. Caty: It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it? Anna: Yes. Yes, it is, Ms. Weaver. Anna: People-watching in D.C. is fun. It makes me forget the time! Anna: Until next time! Ahh.   Writing What do you look like? What  does your friend look like? Write to us by email or 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 Access Information Sources. In our digital world there are many free sources of information to help you learn English. And remember that other people can also help.  Here is an example. João is visiting Miami. He wants to take a tour of the National Park in the Everglades (or marismas in Portuguese). He finds the word "Everglades" in his pocket paperback Portuguese - English dictionary, but doesn't know how to pronounce it. He opens a translation web page on his phone, writes "Everglades" and pushes the button to translate. Soon a symbol appears under the word. João clicks on the symbol to hear the sound of the word, "Everglades." He goes to the hotel tour desk and asks, "Do you have a tour of the Everglades?" The clerk understands him and begins to show him the tour information. João asks the clerk, "Will you please say the word slowly for me? I want to check my pronunciation." The clerk smiles and pronounces the word and João says it again. Now João is sure he can say it correctly. How do you access information sources when learning 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.   Quiz Test your understanding by taking this listening quiz. Play the video, then choose the best answer. ​______________________________________________________________ New Words   bench - n. a long and usually hard seat for two or more people blue - adj. having the color of the clear sky brown - adj. having a color like coffee or chocolate curly - adj. formed into a round shape dark - adj. of a person's hair, eyes, skin, etc.: black or brown in color eyes - n. the part of the body that you see with forget - n. to be unable to think of or remember (something) glasses - n. a pair of glass or plastic lenses set into a frame and worn over the eyes to help a person see hair - n. a thin threadlike growth from the skin of a person or animal hide - v. to put (something) in a place where it cannot be seen or found join - v. to come together with (something or someone) light - adj. not dark or deep in color; pale like - prep. similar to look like - to have an appearance that is very similar to (someone or something) people-watch - v. to spend time idly observing people in a public place. seat - n. something (such as a chair) that you sit on : a place for sitting have a seat - a polite invitation to sit down. short - adj. having little height; not tall skin - n. the natural outer layer of tissue that covers the body of a person or animal stick - n. a cut or broken branch or twig straight - adj. not having curves, bends, or angles tall - adj. greater in height than the average person ______________________________________________________________ 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 describing people.   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: Descriptive adjectives; Tag questions Topics: Describing Differences and Similarities; Watching People Learning Strategy: Access Information Sources Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Non-Verbal Expressions of Happiness; Rising and Falling Intonation in Tag Questions ______________________________________________________________ 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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Worldwide Support for Iranian Protesters

Protesters in various cities around the world demonstrated support for the anti-government protesters in Iran.

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