2014-10-26 You Don’t Have to Be a Rocket Scientist to Read This
Hello. I’m Phil Murray with Words and Their Stories, a program in Special English. “You do not need to be a rocket scientist.” Americans hear these words often. People say…
2014-10-12 Words and Their Stories: Chickenfeed
I’m Susan Clark with WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, a program in Special English on the Voice of America. Almost every language in the world has a saying that a person…
2014-09-28 Words and Their Stories: Swan Song
Now, the Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC) The white swan – with its long, graceful neck – is among the most beautiful of birds. The swan is…
2014-10-05 Wildcats: Congressmen, Money, Oil Wells and Strikers
Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories. Today, we tell about the word “wildcat.” Humans have always depended on animals. From the beginning of human history, wild…
2014-09-21 Words and Their Stories: Like a Rolling Stone
Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Today we explain a very old saying that has had a big influence on rock-and-roll music. That saying is a…
2014-09-14 Words and Their Stories: Losing It
I’m Susan Clark with the Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Tom Smith is the best hitter on his company’s baseball team. For weeks during the playing season, Tom…
2014-09-07 A Cup of Joe With Average Joes and Plain Janes
Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories. A person’s name is very important. Some names also have special meanings in popular American expressions. To better understand what…
2014-08-31 Words and Their Stories: Green Expressions
Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories. Green is an important color in nature. It is the color of grass and the leaves on trees. It is…
2014-08-17 Words and Their Stories: Computer Terms
Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Computer technology has become a major part of people’s lives. This technology has its own special words. One example is…
2014-08-10 It’s Not Worth a Hill of Beans
Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories.In the early days of human history, people survived by hunting wild animals, or gathering wild grains and plants for food.…
2014-08-03 What Do You Do With Your Mouth?
Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories. People use their mouths for many things. They eat, talk, shout and sing. They smile and they kiss. In the…
2014-07-27 Buckeyes, Sooners, Quakers, Volunteers and Cowboys
Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories. Today, we finish telling about the interesting nicknames that have been given to the fifty American states. The state of…
2014-07-20 The Garden State, the Granite State, the Empire State and The Land of Enchantment
Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories. Nebraska is the only state to have a nickname that honors sports teams. The state university’s athletic teams are nicknamed…
2014-07-06 The Heart of Dixie, The Last Frontier, The Aloha State and More
Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stores. A nickname is a shortened form of a person’s name. A nickname can also be a descriptive name for a…
2014-07-13 Words and Their Stories: State Nicknames, Part 2
Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. As we told you last week, every American state has a nickname. Here are some more of them. Idaho is…