2021-11-26 Using Punctuation Marks
Hello! Today on Ask a Teacher we answer a question about punctuation marks from Luay in Syria. Question: I hope you can tell me about the difference between punctuation marks…
2021-11-25 Thanksgiving and English Grammar
Every year around the Thanksgiving holiday, a strange ceremony happens in Washington, DC. The president stands outside the White House, gives a brief speech and then officially pardons a turkey.…
2021-11-26 ‘Benito Cereno,’ by Herman Melville, Part One
We present the first of three parts of the short story “Benito Cereno.” It was written by Herman Melville. Here is Shep O’Neal with the story. Captain Benito Cereno hurried…
2021-11-27 It’s OK to ‘Take a Page from Someone Else’s Book’
And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. On today’s program, we talk about expressions related to books. Books are simple. They are made up of two main…
2021-11-27 Rwanda’s English Learner Becoming MIT Professor
Purdue University chemistry professor Jianguo Mei is from China. He has been teaching students in the United States for over 10 years. Mei knows it is important to communicate effectively…
2021-11-26 Nations Concerned About New COVID-19 Version ‘Omicron’ from Africa
A new variant of COVID-19 found in Africa has international health organizations and national leaders again concerned about virus restrictions. A group of World Health Organization experts has called the…
2021-11-26 Messaging Service Promises to Make Data Privacy Rules Clearer
The messaging service WhatsApp is going to make details about its privacy rules clearer. The move comes after officials in Ireland gave the service a record fine for breaking European…
2021-11-26 Popular Seasonal Train Shows
In the United States, small train displays are one of the most popular attractions during the holiday season. They used to be common in toy store windows. Now they are…
2021-11-27 New Pronoun Causes Debate in French Society
Le Robert, one of France’s leading dictionaries, said recently that it added a new pronoun to its online list of words. The publication’s researchers noticed growing usage of the pronoun…
2021-11-27 Melting Glaciers Uncover Nutrient-Rich Soil
Greenland’s glaciers continue to melt away because of rising global temperatures. But the melting ice might provide a way to lessen the impact of climate change. As the ice melts,…
2021-11-27 Scientists Mystified, Concerned, as Africa Avoids COVID Disaster
When the coronavirus first appeared last year, health officials feared the pandemic would kill millions in Africa. Although it’s unclear how many COVID-19 will kill, the horrible, predicted events have…
2021-11-26 Unrest Eases in Solomon Islands after Australian Forces Arrive
Days of violent protests in the capital of the Solomon Islands eased Friday after Australian forces arrived to help re-establish order. A demonstration that started peacefully in Honiara Wednesday turned…
2021-11-25 Ireland Looks to Seaweed to Reduce Methane from Cows
Scientists in Ireland are collecting native seaweed to feed to cows and sheep to reduce the methane gas that the farm animals release. Research has shown that seaweed fed to…
2021-11-25 Bethlehem Businesses Expect Second Slow Christmas Season
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the old city of Bethlehem in the West Bank was busy with visitors in the weeks leading up to Christmas. But for the last two years,…
2021-11-25 Jazz Music Gathering In Haiti Postponed Because of Security Concerns
Organizers of the Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival recently announced that the music event has been postponed. The reason given was an increase in gang activity in the Haitian capital. The…