Benefits of Slowness
One of the first things you’ll notice when learning a language is the speed at which natives speak. Even if you understand words written on the page, when you hear them spoken at full speed by a native speaker you can feel like you’re listening to a confusing collection of random sounds.
World AIDS Day
HIV/AIDS is a deadly disease. It affects almost 37 million people around the world. HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system in the human body. This is the system that defends a body from infections. HIV will destroy a person’s whole immune system if they do not treat it. Then the person can easily get other infections and diseases.
Talking to Children About Disasters
It is normal for children to fear terrible events like natural disasters. For Ing, she feared tsunamis because she experienced one. But a child does not have to experience a terrible event to be afraid of it. In fact, children often hear about disasters at school or through radio and television. This is why adults must be prepared to talk to children when natural disasters happen. Today’s Spotlight is on how to talk to children about natural disasters.
Giving Thanks for the Harvest
Somewhere in the world a farmer plants many seeds into a field. The farmer waters the fields. Soon, after sun, water, and time, the seeds grow into large plants. They are fruits, or vegetables or grain. The plants are full and ready to be used. It is time to take the fruit or vegetable or grain from the plant. It is time for the harvest.
Teenage Behavior
These sayings about teenagers are supposed to be funny. But they are often true! Being a teenager can be exciting. But the teenage years can also be difficult. David Dobbs wrote about teenage behavior in National Geographic Magazine. He told this story about his own son:
Building Better Food?
A GMO is a genetically modified organism. GMO’s are plants that have been changed, using science. Scientists change the genetics of the plant to try to fix problems or make it a better crop. GMOs often are resistant to diseases and insects. Scientists change the plants so that common insects will not eat the plants. And the plants can also resist common diseases. Sometimes more of the desired crop will come from one seed.
Save The Butterflies
“I was watching a butterfly the other day, and I could not stop watching this beautiful flying insect with its colorful wings. I enjoy watching the activities of many insects and animals. But I wondered why I found this butterfly so interesting. Then I understood. It was because I had not seen a butterfly for months.”
History of the Bicycle
A busy city street. Cars and trucks pass quickly. A few people wait to cross. But then, all traffic stops. Suddenly, hundreds of people riding 2-wheeled bicycles fill the street. They are all riding together. After many minutes, the bicycles have all passed by. The traffic starts again. What just happened?
Buying Things that Cost a Lot
To some people, luxury means excess, or having more than what is necessary. To others, luxury means goods and services that cost a lot of money. In this case, luxury can represent high quality. Or it can also just represent the image of a particular brand name. The Oxford Dictionary defines luxury as both a state of being and as a thing. It says that Luxury is a state of living with ease and excess. And it says Luxury is a thing that is not needed, but desired, expensive, and difficult to get.
The Rights of Domestic Workers
Many domestic workers leave their home countries to find work in other places. They are often helped by recruiting agencies. These companies look for possible workers. Then they connect them with a job. Most of the time, domestic workers come from poor countries. They work for wealthier families in other countries. Domestic labour is a huge international industry.
Ring Those Bells
The sound of bells. People use bells for many different things. Bells in city clocks tell time. Bells on farm animals, like cows or goats, help a farmer find the animal. Bells in schools tell children when to go in. And people of different faiths use bells in worship in their churches and temples.
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In these exciting videos, co-produced by the BBC and the British Council, learn how English works as the hosts explore British culture around the UK. Suitable for intermediate learners.
Do you want to sound more natural when you speak English? Do you sometimes struggle to understand native speakers' pronunciation? This series is for you! Join him now in his pronunciation workshop.
Why is it that adults can't learn English naturally, easily and effectively like children when it comes to English as a second language?