Trump Is 'Not Backing Down' on Tariffs Plan

U.S. President Donald Trump said he is “not backing down” on his plan to raise taxes, known as tariffs, on imported steel and aluminum. However, members of his Republican Party and leaders around the world are warning the taxes are not a good idea. The president has said products from Canada and Mexico, two of the largest steel exporters to the U.S., would face the tax just like all other countries. But he suggested that he might be willing to exempt the two countries if they agreed to different terms for the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. “No, we’re not backing down,” Trump said in the Oval Office during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We’ve had a very bad deal with Mexico, we’ve had a very bad deal with Canada — it’s called NAFTA,” Trump said. Trump made his comments after a spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan said the Republican leader was “extremely worried” about a trade war. She added that Ryan urged the president “to not advance with this plan.” The Trump administration says the tariffs are necessary to support American industries that are important to national security. But the president’s comments and messages on Twitter have suggested that he is seeking to influence talks on NAFTA. The latest round of a nearly yearlong renegotiation effort is coming to an end this week in Mexico City. Trump tweeted, “Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum will only come off if new & fair NAFTA agreement is signed. Also, Canada must treat our farmers much better. Highly restrictive. Mexico must do much more on stopping drugs from pouring into the U.S.” ​ ​Reactions to tariffs plan Trump’s announcement last week that he would place tariffs on steel and aluminum imports unsettled the stock markets and angered allies. The U.S. military has asked for targeted tariffs on metal imports from countries like China. It warned that tariffs on all countries would hurt national security partnerships with some countries. But other officials supported a tariff without exceptions. Speaking on a Fox news program, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said: “25 percent on steel, and the 10 percent on aluminum, no country exclusions — firm line in the sand.” Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said the sweeping action would let China “off the hook.” He also said it would divide the U.S. and its allies. Jean-Claude Juncker is president of the European Commission. He said the European Union could answer by taxing American goods including whiskey, blue jeans, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Trump replied by threatened to tax European cars if the EU raises tariffs on American products. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross called threats from American allies “pretty trivial” and not much more than a “rounding error.” Douglas Irwin is a Dartmouth College economist. He recently published the book “Clashing Over Commerce: A History of U.S. Trade Policy.” He told the Associated Press, “Usually, all sides lose in a trade war. Trade shrinks as countries pile on barriers in an effort to remedy some grievance, with consumers paying the price.” Trump administration officials said Monday that the tariffs will be made official in the next two weeks.     Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on AP news reports. Mario Ritter was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tariffs –n. taxes on good coming into or leaving a country exempt –v. to say that one person or group does not have to do something that all others have to do advance –v. to carry forward exceptions –n. cases where the rule does not apply exclusions –n. cases not included along with the others sweeping –adj. something broad or general, not applying to only a few trivial –adj. of little importance pile –v. to continue to add things making a pile grievance –n. statements of dissatisfaction with a situation or process consumers –n. people who buy goods and services    

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2Fg2R1m
via IFTTT

South Korean Officials Meet with North Korean Leader Kim

  Special envoys for South Korean President Moon Jae-in reportedly met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Monday. Moon’s office said the envoys were to meet with North Korean officials and to attend a dinner hosted by Kim. Observers note that this would be unusual for a North Korean leader. Kim has not met with any foreign leaders since he took power in 2011 after the death of his father Kim Jong il. Moon’s national security advisor, Chung Eui-Yong, led the 10-member delegation. The head of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service is also in the delegation. The group traveled on a rare direct flight from Seoul to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. The envoys brought a message from Moon about removing all nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula and peace between the two Koreas. Chung spoke to reporters before leaving for the trip. He said he would “deliver President Moon’s firm resolve to achieve a denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and genuine and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.” Chung said he would seek “in-depth” discussions to find a way to restart talks between North Korea and the U.S. “For this, we plan to have in-depth discussion not only on South-North talks, but also ways to continue talks between North Korea and the international community, including the United States,” he said. However, the diplomatic effort faces North Korean opposition to planned military drills to be held between the South and the U.S. in April. North Korea’s KCNA news agency warned that the North would, in its words, “counter the U.S.” if it holds the joint exercises as currently planned. The military joint exercises were postponed because of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea last month. Kim Jong Un sent his sister and chief of state Kim Yong Nam to the opening ceremonies of the Games. He also sent high-level party official Kim Yong Chol to the closing ceremonies. Moon spoke by telephone with U.S. President Donald Trump about the visit last week. After the two-day visit is complete, the South Korean special envoys are to travel to the U.S. to discuss their contact with the North. North Korean officials have told Moon that they are willing to restart talks with the U.S. And the U.S. president has said he also is willing to hold talks, but only “under the right conditions.” The U.S. placed another set of sanctions on the North last month that target individuals, companies and ships. Those restrictions are in addition to United Nations Security Council sanctions put in place since early 2016. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter adapted this for VOA Learning English based on AP and VOA news reports. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   envoy –n. a person sent by a government to represent it in talks with another government determination –n. the quality of continuing to work or try at something that is difficult genuine –adj. real, true or honest drills –n. practice or exercises done to increase preparation and skills sanctions –n. punishments usually in the form of trade restrictions meant to force a country to obey international law We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2Fu3GXu
via IFTTT

US Aircraft Carrier Makes First Visit to Vietnam Since War

  An American aircraft carrier has arrived at a Vietnamese port for the first time since the Vietnam War. The USS Carl Vinson arrived Monday in the central city of Danang and will remain for several days. Two other U.S. Navy ships are also visiting. The carrier has more than 5,000 crew members. The U.S. carrier’s vis it was first announced in January during a visit to Vietnam by U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. The two countries normalized relations in 1995 and have greatly expanded ties in many areas. A U.S. arms embargo was lifted in 2016. The arrival of the USS Carl Vinson marks the biggest U.S. military presence in Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. The U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, Daniel Kritenbrink, said in a statement the historic visit shows the “dramatic progress” in U.S.-Vietnamese relations in recent years. “Through hard work, mutual respect, and by continuing to address the past while we work toward a better future, we have gone from former enemies to close partners,” the ambassador added. The first U.S. Marines arrived in Danang in 1965, marking the start of major American involvement in the Vietnam War. About 58,000 American soldiers and an estimated 3 million Vietnamese were killed in the war. Danang was a major U.S. military base during that time. It is now Vietnam’s third-largest city and a place many people visit for vacation. Some city residents said they welcomed the Navy visit. “During the war, I was scared when I saw American soldiers,” 55-year-old Tran Thi Luyen told the Associated Press. He operates a small shop in the city. “Now the aircraft carrier comes with a completely different mission, a mission of peace and promoting economic and military cooperation between the two countries,” he said. Huynh Quang Nguyen, a taxi driver, said he was “happy and excited” about the visit. “Increased cooperation between the two countries in economic, diplomatic and military areas would serve as a counterbalance to Beijing’s,” he said. He was speaking about the growing influence of China across the region. China has been building up man-made islands in the South China Sea in recent years that can support military structures. The expansion has angered Vietnam and other nations in the area which also have territorial claims in the South China Sea. Le Hong Hiep is with the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. He told the Associated Press the Carl Vinson’s visit can be a clear sign to China that the U.S. is committed to keeping strong ties in the area. “Although the visit is mainly symbolic and would not be able to change China’s behavior - especially in the South China Sea - it is still necessary in conveying the message that the U.S. will be there to stay,” he said. Le, however, added that China knows Vietnam is not likely to side with the U.S. militarily to challenge Chinese expansion. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. 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   dramatic – adj. attracting attention: causing people to carefully look or listen, while often showing a lot of emotion mutual – adj. shared between two or more people or groups counterbalance – n. adding balance to something by being opposite symbolic – adj. expressing or representing something without using words convey – v. make something known to someone challenge – v. to say or show that something may not be true or correct  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2H6f0pY
via IFTTT

Anti-EU Parties Win in Italy, Not Enough to Govern

  Two anti-European Union parties appear to be the biggest winners in Italy’s parliamentary elections on Sunday. However, neither parties, Movimento 5 Stelle, or M5S,  and Lega, have received enough seats in Parliament to govern the country alone. Early projections say that M5S will be the largest single party with about 32 percent of the vote. The M5S did not even exist 10 years ago. The right-wing coalition of Lega and Forza Italia appear to have earned 36 percent of the vote. Forza Italia is an established party of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. It was also clear that Italian voters rejected the ruling Democratic Party’s message that the economy had improved under its government. The pro-European Union party suffered the biggest losses this election. As the results arrived, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen celebrated the strong showing of the Lega party. She tweeted: "The spectacular advance and top showing of the League [Lega] coalition led by our ally and friend Matteo Salvini is a new stage in the awakening of the people!" The results of Sunday’s elections will not be seen as good news for migrants in Italy. The two winning parties have supported efforts to stop migration and increase deportations.   An unclear political future The outcome of the vote, leaving no party with a clear majority, creates political uncertainty for Italy.  Some political experts say Italy would face a political revolution if M5S and the Lega formed a coalition government. But others think it is not likely to happen. An advisor to Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella said, “many in M5S just won't sit at the same table as the Lega.” It is also possible that Italy may be left with the same Prime Minister as before the election, Paolo Gentiloni. The 63-year-old Gentiloni is widely seen as one of the few politicians with the diplomatic ability to manage current Italian politics. Some experts say Mattarella will likely pick Gentiloni to lead a coalition government if the winning parties cannot form a government among themselves. The new Italian parliament will meet for the first time on March 23. And President Mattarella is not expected to open formal talks on forming a government until early April. I’m Phil Dierking.   Jaime Dettmer wrote this story for VOA News. Phil Dierking adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Do you think two populist parties can agree on enough issues to run the government?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   deportation - n. to force (a person who is not a citizen) to leave a country​ spectacular - adj. causing wonder and admiration​ uncertain - adj. not exactly known or decided​

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2FoU8gD
via IFTTT

Study: Ebola Crisis Damaged Liberian Health Care System

  A new study says more than 100,000 malaria cases went untreated in Liberia during the height of the Ebola crisis. The deadly virus spread in West Africa for two years beginning in 2014. The disease killed about 11,000 people. But it also severely affected basic health care services. Ebola kills about half of those it infects. It causes flu-like effects first, then vomiting and diarrhea. It can lead to severe bleeding both inside and outside the body. The disease spreads through contact with an infected person’s body fluids. Three countries were mainly affected in the West African spread: Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. None were well-prepared to deal with the event. Many clinics did not even have the protective tools needed to safely deal with Ebola patients, like gloves and face masks. Bradley Wagenaar was the lead researcher of the University of Washington study. “Rightfully so, people were afraid to go to the clinic because they might get Ebola when they’re at the clinic.”  The team looked at records from 379 clinics outside the Liberian capital, Monrovia. The records covered a period from 2010 through 2016. Wagenaar says the researchers saw what he called a “huge, dramatic decrease” in basic health care services early in the outbreak. They found measles vaccinations dropped by 67 percent, malaria prevention fell by 61 percent and 35 percent fewer women got early pregnancy care. The researchers say it took a full year and a half for health services to return to the levels they were before the Ebola outbreak.   Lost possibilities The researcher estimate that a loss of a possible 750,000 clinic visits took place during the crisis. That includes more than 5,000 births at health care centers. Liberia already suffers one the world’s highest maternal death rates. The research suggests that about 100,000 malarial treatments were lost, as well. Wagenaar says the number suggest the losses also of other usual services, like mosquito control and protection devices. “Some of those other things didn’t happen during the Ebola outbreak because the health system and other partners were busy with other issues. And now, the cases have been increasing.” In December 2017, malaria cases were 50 percent higher than they were before the Ebola crisis. Wagenaar says the research shows how much more attention is needed to continue basic services during a health emergency. The research on Liberia’s health care services could be used during future outbreaks. Wagenaar’s team hopes it might help health care officials decide what services are most important to continue in an emergency. I'm Rachel Dennis. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   vomit – v. a sickness that causes food, liquid, etc., in your stomach to come out through your mouth​ diarrhea – n. a sickness that causes the body to expel waste often and in liquid rather than solid form​ clinic – n. a place where people get medical help​ outbreak – n. the sudden start or increase of a disease or fighting maternal – adj. of or relating to a woman who is having a baby​ We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2Ha6tTc
via IFTTT

How to Pronounce the Sound /r/

Follow John Russell to learn how to pronounce the /r/ sound.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2FfJE3W
via IFTTT

LIVE: The 90th Academy Awards

23:45 UTC: The 2018 Academy Awards ceremony is about to begin. The event in Hollywood, California, is the biggest night in the American film industry. The National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards Oscars to the year's best movies and movie makers.  Refresh the page for the latest #Oscars90 news.  While we wait for the action to begin, you can about this year's nominated films here.   Do you have a favorite film from the past year? Do you have predictions for this year's Oscars? Let us know in the comments section!

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2ti4TMQ
via IFTTT

Can Wood Be Stronger Than Steel?

Researchers say they have created a new super-material in the laboratory. They say it is stronger, lighter and costs less than steel.   But the new material is not a product of high technology or a metallic substance. It is wood. Researchers Liangbing Hu and Teng Li are with the University of Maryland in the United States. By using a few chemicals, heat and pressure, they have made wood three times denser and 10 times stronger. Hu says that means it can compete with some of the world’s strongest materials. "We're interested in replacing steel and carbon fibers with strong wood structures," he said. Strong, but not costly The process does not require any special raw, unprocessed material. Hu said that means the cost of the product will be relatively low. He added, "We can start with very cheap wood, and we can also start with very fancy, expensive wood. But in the end, ultimately we get very similar performance." The researchers are calling their product "super wood." It is made by partially removing a natural polymer called lignin. Hu explained that “lignin is like a binder to hold all the components together in natural wood. In our process, we found out to be able to densify the wood completely, we have to remove some of these binders." Strong chemicals are put on the wood. The chemicals remove about half of its lignin. Then, after being left in extreme heat and pressurized for a day, the treated wood is ready. The researchers say the wood is strong enough to build automobiles, airplanes, wind turbines and more. A report on their findings was published in the journal Nature. The researchers say super-strength wood would have less of an effect on the environment than the steel or other metals it could replace. However, their process is not pollution-free. It uses some of the same chemicals involved in making paper. Researcher Teng Li says he and Hu are finding many new ways to use wood, including creating batteries and see-through wood and paper. “Wood has been existing on Earth more than a million years. And human beings have been using wood for furniture, construction for more than 10 thousand years. And the more we worked on this material, we realized, we have never fully exhausted the potential of this amazing material." Other scientists are finding new uses for wood as well. Researchers in Sweden have reported making wood-based super-strong fibers for clothing and other materials. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Steve Baragona reported this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ QUIZ _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   component – n. a piece or part of something polymer – n. a chemical substance that is made of small molecules that are ordered in a simple repeating structure wind turbine – n. a large machine that is used to produce electricity dense – adj. having parts that are close together; thick fiber – n. a thin piece of natural or man-made material raw – adj. not cooked or prepared; unprocessed cheap – adj. low-cost; not pricey expensive – adj. costly binder – n. a cover for holding pieces of paper together

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2Fe1OPv
via IFTTT

A Crisis in Pain Drugs Leads to Greater Use of Acupuncture

  American veteran Jeff Harris was one of the first people to ask for acupuncture when veteran’s hospital in Providence, Rhode Island began to offer it. "I don't like taking pain medication. I don't like the way it makes me feel," he said. Harris also did not want to risk getting addicted to painkilling drugs. The use of acupuncture has increased among patients and doctors in America over the years. The effectiveness of the treatment remains disputed in western medicine.  However, some consider it better than powerful painkillers that are blamed for the crisis of opioid drug use in America. The  Veterans Affairs medical system has been offering acupuncture to treat pain for several years. Some insurance companies cover it. Now, some states have started to offer acupuncture to patients who have Medicaid, an insurance program for the poor. The states are mainly ones where many people have become sick or died from overdosing on opioid drugs. Ohio's Medicaid program added acupuncture after opioid experts asked state officials to find other ways to treat pain. "We have a really serious problem here," said Dr. Mary Applegate who is medical director for Ohio's Medicaid department. Applegate says that, if acupuncture is effective in easing pain and stopping opioid addiction, it must be made available. The opioid crisis is believed to have started with the misuse of painkilling drugs prescribed by doctors. Many people became addicted to opioid drugs after seeking help to relieve pain. Acupuncture could be a way to help keep some patients from using opioids in the first place. For a long time in the U.S., acupuncture was considered unstudied and unproven.  There has now been a lot of research on acupuncture use for different kinds of pain. However, results of the studies have been unclear. Federal researchers say there is evidence that acupuncture can help some patients deal with some forms of pain. But they have described the benefits of acupuncture as small and say more research is needed. Among doctors, there are questions about how much of any benefit is caused by a patient’s belief that a treatment will work. This is the so-called "placebo effect." "There may be a certain amount of placebo effect. Having said that, it is still quite effective as compared to no treatment," said Dr. Ankit Maheshwari. He is a pain medicine specialist at Case Western Reserve University. He believes acupuncture is effective for neck pain, migraines and a few other kinds of pain problems. Many doctors are undecided about acupuncture but are willing to let patients give it a try. Dr. Steven Novella is a neurologist at Yale University and editor of a website that is against non-traditional medicine. He does not think acupuncture works. Those who believe in acupuncture are using America’s opioid problems “to try to promote acupuncture as an alternative treatment," he said. "But promoting a treatment that doesn't work is not going to help.” Acupuncture has been practiced in China for thousands of years. Acupuncturists put thin metal needles into specific spots in the ears or other parts of the body. They say needles put in these spots restore the flow of energy — called "qi" — through the body. This heals the body and eases pain. In government studies, 1 in 67 U.S. adults say they get acupuncture every year, up from 1 in 91 in 2008. Most patients pay for acupuncture themselves. Only 25 percent of adults getting acupuncture had insurance that covered the cost. The largest American government insurance program, Medicare, does not pay for acupuncture. Tricare, the insurance program for active duty and retired military personnel and their families, does not pay for it either. But VA hospitals offer it for a small fee. Jeff Harris began acupuncture two years ago. The 50-year-old Marine Corp veteran said he hurt his back while training in the military in the 1980s. Today, he has pain down his legs and deadness of feeling in his feet. Acupuncture "helped settle” his pain," said Harris. Another veteran, Harry Garcia of Connecticut tried acupuncture for his back pain after years of using pain medications. Acupuncture “keeps pain down for up to 10 days,” said Garcia. About ten years ago, the military and Veterans Affairs began using several different ways to treat pain, including acupuncture and yoga. A recent study says now two-thirds of military hospitals and other treatment centers offer acupuncture. Emmeline Edwards of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a federal research agency, says the military is more open to try new methods “because the need is so great there.” Her agency is working with the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs to spend $81 million on research projects. The agency wants to study the effectiveness of many treatments for pain that do not use drugs. While research continues, the willingness of medical insurance companies to pay for acupuncture is growing. California, Massachusetts, Oregon and Rhode Island pay for acupuncture for pain through their Medicaid insurance programs. Massachusetts and Oregon also pay for acupuncture as a treatment for drug abuse although scientists question its effectiveness. I’m Dorothy Gundy. And I’m Susan Shand.   Susan Shand adapted this story for Learning English based on an AP story. Mario Ritter was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   benefits –n. good results that come from some action or treatment prescribe –v. to officially permit someone to use a medicine or treatment as directed by a doctor, etc. acupuncture – n. a method of relieving pain or curing illness by placing needles into a person's skin at particular points on the body addicted – adj. unable to stop using a harmful substance opioid – n. a drug that has the same effect as opium insurance – n. an agreement in which a person makes regular payments to a company and the company promises to pay money if the person is injured or dies, placebo – n. a pill or substance that is given to a patient like a drug but that has no physical effect on the patient migraine – n. a very bad headache neurologist – n. one who studies the nervous system and the diseases that affect it specific - adj. special or particular yoga –n. a system of exercises for mental and physical health  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2CZ3om4
via IFTTT

Myanmar, Conservationists Working Together to Save Elephants

  Elephants have had a rich history in Myanmar, the country also known as Burma. Throughout the country’s past, the animals have been used for everything, including transportation, agriculture and warfare. The white elephant was a symbol of power for the military that ruled the country for more than 50 years until it gave power to a civilian government in 2016. But the survival of elephants is under threat. There are about 2,000 wild elephants left in Myanmar today, plus about 5,000 that are captive. But conservationists warn that elephants are losing their natural places to live in. They say increased conflict with humans and the illegal sale of elephants and their parts could result in the extinction of the Asian Elephant in Myanmar. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation published the Myanmar Elephant Conservation Plan (MECAP). The plan was produced with several wildlife groups. It aims to guide policies on the survival of elephants in Myanmar for the next 100 years or more. Anthony Lynam is a senior advisor for the Wildlife Conservation Society. He told VOA by email that the Government of Myanmar decided to ask for a study of the threats to elephants. He added that the MECAP plan will need “bold action on the part of the government and supporting agencies for it to succeed.” MECAP includes a series of 10-year plans and an overall strategy for elephant conservation in Myanmar. One of the biggest threats to the survival of elephants in Myanmar is the illegal killing of the animals, especially for their skin. “It has been argued that poaching is a…minor threat to Asian Elephants because some males and all females lack tusks,” the report said. But, the report also said that elephants are poached for meat and leather as well as for their tusks. Christy Williams is the country director for the World Wildlife Fund, or WWF, in Myanmar. She told VOA there had been an increase in the number of elephants being killed for their skin in Myanmar in recent years. Elephants being targeted for their skin was unusual, he said, “but then in 2016 or 2017 we started seeing that about one elephant was being killed every week.” Williams said when WWF researchers traveled to border towns in 2016, only a few markets were selling elephant skins. But when they returned about a year later, “about 80 percent [of shops] were selling elephant skin,” he said. One of the major difficulties in combating the illegal sale of elephant parts, said Williams, was the small staff and a lack of money. Also, many of the border towns where elephant skins are being sold are not under government control. The plan asks for an increase in staff and for education efforts to show people that selling elephant parts is illegal. Another problem was the increase in conflict between humans and elephants. Mark Grinley is a project manager for the non-governmental group Fauna & Flora International Myanmar. He says the elephants’ natural habitat is shrinking. “The natural habitat is being lost,” Grinley told VOA, to large, industrial farms and to the demand for palm oil. The effects of the increased interaction between humans and elephants has led to injuries and death for both.   Suggestions for dealing with the issue include establishing a national management plan and supporting existing elephants. Other ideas include building a warning system so that people know when elephants are nearby. As the country of Myanmar continues to develop, the issue of elephant protection will not go away, said Grinley. "As the forest habitat is shrinking, I’m afraid these problems are going to be more common,” he said. I’m Dorothy Gundy. And I’m Susan Shand.   Oliver Slow reported this story for VOA News. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Symbol – n. an action, object, event, etc., that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality Conservationist – n. one who  protects animals, plants, and natural resources Extinction – n. the state or situation that results when something (such as a plant or animal species) has died out completely Strategy – n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2Fn3Rnm
via IFTTT

A Window to the World Through an American Classroom

  Writer Helen Thorpe spent one school year in a classroom in Denver, Colorado. There, she observed immigrant and refugee students who had come from different cultures. All the students were just learning to speak English. Thorpe saw the young people deal with problems and work hard to succeed at Denver’s South High School. She shares their stories in a new book called The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom.   Tearing down barriers Sitting in room 142 at the high school, Thorpe had a chance to meet students from all over the world. She said the class included 22 foreign students. They came from countries such as Mozambique, Burma, El Salvador and Iraq. "They had the ordinary struggles of teenagers everywhere, plus this extra added burden of being in a new country and trying to figure out a new culture and trying to figure out a new language, all at the same time." The 22 students spoke 14 different languages. "Many of the students were the only one in the room who spoke a certain language," Thorpe noted. "The majority of the students were very isolated in the classroom and just in general, in their new life in America. They weren't able yet to make friends because they were just starting out learning English. And so that loneliness was something that they all were struggling to overcome." But as time went by, the students were able to overcome it. “I watched that loneliness … go away as they figured out they could use Google Translate to send text messages back and forth from their home languages to another person's home language," Thorpe said. What these students were hungry for, she said, was to learn how to speak, to feel they were accepted at their new high school, and to feel that they belonged to a community. Comfortable in their own identity In her book, Thorpe writes about some of the issues many of these students faced. Iraqi sisters Jakleen and Mariam struggled with difficult memories. Thorpe learned they had witnessed a car bombing. "When their family fled Iraq, they went to Syria and they survived the Syrian civil war as well as the Iraq war. Their father vanished during that time. Their mother became a single parent, and then she struggled to keep the girls safe. They fled to Turkey. And then she got the chance to resettle here in the United States.” Coming to the U.S. was the first chance the sisters had in 10 years to live in a safe home. However, they had a problem: how to define their identity. One of the two girls covered up her hair with a headscarf, and because of that she faced prejudice, Thorpe said. However, as her classmates got to know her, they started to understand, accept and respect her, which helped her to express her identity. Second chance at education Many students in The Newcomers class had missed a lot of school before moving to Denver. So, they had to work hard to succeed now that they were back in a classroom. Solomon and his brother Methusella grew up in the eastern side of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Armed conflicts forced their family to flee to a refugee settlement in Uganda. "They stayed there for seven years," Thorpe remembered. Then the whole extended family joined them in Uganda, she said. Solomon,  Methusella, their siblings and their parents were the only members of the family to get an invitation to go to the United States. They were excited and happy for a chance to stay in school, Thorpe said. “But they felt guilty that the rest of their family didn't get the same chance they were given." Methusella is expected to complete his high school studies next year. He gives thanks to classmates and his own willpower for his success. His brother Solomon says that wasn't easy. "I wasn't speaking any English. I couldn't even say, 'Hi,' Solomon recalled. A gifted teacher Solomon says one of their teachers, Eddie Williams, was friendly, patient, and kept them interested in school. Williams is an English Language Acquisition teacher and a very special teacher, Thorpe said. "His greatest skill was working one-on-one with individual students."  In her book, she explains how Williams kept each student interested in learning. "He really wanted to make sure that all the kids in his care understood that if they didn't know English when they walked into his room, that was perfectly OK with him." She added, "And he understood that they, nonetheless, were highly intelligent and possibly speaking other languages and he would appreciate them and show them respect and dignity." Thorpe notes that South High School gave the newcomers the chance to gain knowledge. In return, the newcomers gave their classmates the chance to learn about the world. I'm Alice Bryant. And I'm Lucija Millonig.   Faiza Elmasry reported this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   ordinary – adj. usual or normal burden – n. something oppressive or hard to take figure out – v. to discover or solve isolate – v. to set apart from others; to keep separate from others overcome – v. to defeat or successfully deal with vanish – v. to disappear headscarf – n. a piece of cloth worn over a woman's or girl's head sibling – n. a brother or sister appreciate – v. to recognize the worth or importance of something dignity – n. the state of being worthy or honored   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2H3Xseg
via IFTTT