Source : EnglishCafe.com

Advanced students should challenge themselves during the True/ False exercise. After each question, pause and provide not only the answer of “true” or “false”, but also an explanation.

You will hear me talk. Then you will be asked to identify sentences as true or false based on your understanding of what you heard.

Lady Gaga is the world’s biggest pop star. Her birth name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.

Classroom-gaga-article

The singer, songwriter, and performer is a native New Yorker.  At the age of four, Lady Gaga learned to play piano by ear.  She wrote her first song for the piano at age thirteen.  When she turned fourteen, she performed during an open mic night at a nightclub.

Her 2008 debut album ,”The Fame,” achieved international success with the singles “Just Dance” and “Poker Face.”

Lady Gaga also had six No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts: “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Love Game,” “Paparazzi,” “Bad Romance,” and “Telephone.”   She has received five Grammy awards.

Here’s “Just Dance” from the album ‘”The Fame” by Lady Gaga.

Other music artists like David Bowie, Grace Slick, Bob Dylan, Queen, Elton John, and Michael Jackson inspire her.

Lady Gaga is well-recognized for her eccentric sense of style in fashion, performance, and her music videos.

Lady Gaga calls her fans “Little Monsters.”  Her relationship with her fans is very sincere.  Her fans go crazy for her for her like the Beatles’ or Michael Jackson’s fans went crazy for them.

Lady Gaga says it’s not important to be number one or to sell the most records.  She says the most important thing is to give everything she can to inspire, influence, and make her fans feel good about themselves.

Her third studio album, “Born This Way,” is scheduled for  this month.

This is Lady Gaga’s new single, “Born This Way.”

Source : http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/theclassroom/articles/american_culture/English-Through-Music-Lady-GaGa-125160954.html#

You’re watching multisource world news analysis from Newsy.

The world’s top banker — in jail. Not for embezzlement or misappropriation of funds.

Instead — for alleged sexual assault on a chamber maid in a luxury New York city hotel room. The International Monetary Fund’s Dominique Strauss-Kahn is one of the world’s most influential men.

But critics say — his career is toast. Russia Today has details.

“The 32 year old employees claims Kahn attacked her while she was cleaning his room. His lawyer says he will plead not guilty. Meanwhile, the IMF has not given a reaction to the incident involving the potential French presidential candidate.”

After the alleged crime, Strauss-Kahn allegedly fled to the airport — and was ready to depart on an Air France jet when he was arrested. Here’s France 24.

“Police learned that Mr. Strauss-Kahn was at JFK international airport. They boarded a Paris bound Air France flight, and arrested Mr. Strauss-Kahn in first class ten minutes before the departure of the flight.”

And that’s right — not only is Kahn the head of the International Monetary Fund. CNN notes, he’s a leading candidate for the Presidency of France among a broad field of candidates.

“An opinion poll published Sunday — but taken before the scandal broke — showed him in first place among six hypothetical candidates across the political spectrum, with 26% support. President Nicolas Sarkozy came fourth, with 21.5%…”

Eurovision notes, there’s a reason Kahn’s star had been rising.

“He has won praise for his role with the IMF, steering it through difficult times throughout the difficult financial crisis. This incident comes at a crucial time for Strauss-Kahn, and could derail any ambitions he might have had to take over France’s top job.”

His political rivals were quick to discredit Strauss-Kahn, and to call his political aspirations for the French presidency — a thing of the past. The New York Times has a quote from far-right candidate Marine La Pen…

“He’s definitely discredited. The case and the charges mark the end of his campaign for the presidency, and will likely prompt the IMF to ask him to leave his post.”

But several media outlets point out, that tomfoolery and French politics are anything — but — strange bedfellows. Several candidates reportedly have mistresses. And ABC’s Mike Marusarz reports, Strauss- Kahn has been here before.

“This isn’t Kahn’s first brush with controversy. In 2008, he had an affair with a Hungarian economist, admitting he made a quote, error in judgment. His sexual escapades have been folklore for years.

“It doesn’t surprise us, no.”

“And he is a father of four, married to his third wife. One of the most esteemed television journalists in France. American born Anne Sinclair. But today he’s the one making headlines.”

Kahn’s political aspirations aside, EUX reports — on a larger scale — this is not the kind of news the European community needs, in the wake of its ongoing economic crisis.

“The IMF Chief was due to meet with European finance ministers on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the Greek debt crisis.”

‘Like’ Newsy on Facebook for updates in your newsfeed.

Get more multisource video news analysis from Newsy.

Transcript by Newsy

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

“The death toll from tropical storm Agatha continues to rise in Central America as residents begin to clean up. But renewed activity by Guatemala’s Volcano Pacaya could make a challenging job even more difficult.” (RTVCYL.es)

“And the storm opened up a massive sink hole in Guatemala City that swallowed a three story building.” (MSNBC)

First Agatha struck, killing well over 100.  Now, in the aftermath, a huge sinkhole has opened up in Guatemala City.

We’re examining coverage on this tragedy from MSNBC, the New York Daily News, and the Weather Channel.

First, to the sinkhole, which some are attributing to a combination of heavy rain and Guatamala City’s weak infrastructure. The New York Daily News describes it.

“The hole … looks like a near-perfect circle and according to reports, it spread beneath a three-story structure, which fell into it.  The storm’s rain is being blamed for creating the sinkhole, which form suddenly without warning and can range in size.”

To add to those problems, The Weather Channel reports the eruption of the volcano Pacaya is contributing to Guatemala’s problems.

“The storm arrived just two days after the Pacaya volcano erupted. Blanketing Guatemala’s capital in ash and destroying about 800 homes. … Closing Guatemala City’s international airport.”

That has created a major blockade to international aid. The Guatemalan weather website, Climaya, reports that Guatemala’s geological service warns of a new phase of eruptions.

ITN shares the perspective of one relief worker who discusses the difficulties the country is already facing.

“The river took away two bridges. We’re almost completely cut off. There are 20 houses almost completely destroyed. We’re sent here sent by the municipality, trying to give these people the basics.”

The European Union is sending 3 million euros in aid to the victims of the disaster.

WRITER: Tim Wall/Newsy Staff

PRODUCER: Matt Schmertz

Legos are not just for children. They can become works of art in the hands of adults like Nathan Sawaya.

NATHAN SAWAYA: I dont notice the time passing. I just, this is what I do and I enjoy it. So I can just work for hours without being interrupted.

Legos are made of plastic. Each piece is called a brick. Bricks come in different colors and sizes.

NATHAN SAWAYA:I think the most important thing is having a vision in my head before I start putting down that first brick. And then it is just a matter of putting the bricks together to make it look like the vision I have.

Sawaya is one of a very few full-time Lego artists in the United States. He creates works of art from these simple building blocks.

NATHAN SAWAYA: “Although I work probably every weekend and I work most nights, you know, Im doing what I love so it doesnt feel like work.”

For several years, Sawaya worked as a lawyer. That left him little time for building Legos. But he found enough time to set up a personal website.

NATHAN SAWAYA: “There was a day when my website, brickartist.com, it crashed because it had too many hits. So I realized, all right, it is time to make a change because there was a viable market out there to be an artist.”

Sawaya says he has no regrets about his new career.

NATHAN SAWAYA: “The worst day as an artist is still better than the best day as a lawyer. So I dont regret my decision.”

His art works have found their way into American museums. This show was held at the Flinn Gallery in Greenwich, Connecticut.

NATHAN SAWAYA:When I do the two-dimensional portraits, it is a lot like painting because Im using the Lego bricks as the paint essentially.

Sawaya uses Legos like a traditional artist uses bronze, clay or paint.

BOY: “The pencil one.”

GRANDMOTHER: “Oh, the pencil one! It looks like a man carrying a very big pencil. See that? Would you like to make something like this?”

BOY: “Yes, but look at that!”

GRANDMOTHER: “I know, thats really neat.”

Adults see Lego art differently than children.

WILMA NACINOVICH: “The artist has said that he only used rectangle pieces. And yet he manages to get this roundness.”

The head of the Flinn Gallery, Vivian Chen, has high praise for Sawayas creations.

VIVIAN CHEN:”It is a person swimming in deep water. The legs are kicking and the arms are doing the freestyle motion. But what drew people to this is that you could feel the flow of the water. You could feel the action of the arms.”

Some of his larger pieces sell for tens of thousands of dollars. But he will not sell this one — an artist struggling to escape from the body of a lawyer.

NATHAN SAWAYA: “It is still very personal. I put it out there as part of the museum exhibit so it is touring and people can go and enjoy it. But Im not ready to have it going to someones house, you know, someones office and never see it again.”

Im Karen Leggett.

Today we have the last of three reports on bullying. Last week we shared some of your comments on this issue. Now, we talk to a researcher who presented a study this week at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in Vancouver, Canada.

Rashmi Shetgiri is a pediatrician at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center Dallas.

RASHMI SHETGIRI: “There’s about thirty percent of U.S. children are involved in bullying, and the latest numbers we have is about thirteen percent of them are bullies, eleven percent as victims and then six percent as both bullies and victims.”

The new study led by Doctor Shetgiri shows that parents could help prevent bullying by improving communication and involvement with their children. The study identified factors that seem to increase or decrease the risk that a child will be a bully.

RASHMI SHETGIRI: “Children who have emotional or developmental problems or who have mothers who have poor mental health are more likely to be bullies. And older children and children who live in homes where their primary language is not English, and also children who complete all their homework, are less likely to be bullies.”

Another difference: The study found that African-American and Latino children were more likely to be bullies compared to white children.

For the study, the researchers used the two thousand seven National Survey of Children’s Health. Parents of children age ten to seventeen were asked whether their child bullies or is cruel or mean to others.

Not surprisingly, how a parent acts may also influence whether or not a child becomes a bully.

RASHMI SHETGIRI:”We found that parents who frequently get angry with their children and feel that the children often do things that bother them a lot are much more likely to have a child who becomes a bully. And that parents who share ideas with their children and talk with them and who’ve met most of their child’s friends are much less likely to have children who become bullies.”

University of Nebraska psychologist Susan Swearer says communication between students and teachers can also reduce bullying. She says studies have shown improvement when students are taught about bullying and respectful behavior. Some programs also try to get people to intervene to stop bullying.

SUSAN SWEARER: “And a lot of these bullying prevention and intervention programs that focus on bystanders have been shown to be the effective programs because they focus on changing that bystander behavior. So instead of watching bullying take place or joining in with the bullying, these programs teach bystanders how to stand up and be supportive of the kids who are being victimized and to say ‘You know we don’t do that here, we don’t engage in those behaviors.’”

Professor Swearer advises parents and teachers to try to get children to talk to them about being bullied. Otherwise a child could feel hopeless and helpless to do anything about it.

And that’s the VOA Special English Education Report, written by Nancy Steinbach. You can find our reports and add your own comments at voaspecialenglish.com or on Facebook at VOA Learning English. I’m Steve Ember.

Sources : http://www1.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/usa/How-an-Involved-Parent-Can-Help-Prevent-Bullying-92885899.html

You can see this video with/without closed captions.

Do you speak a second language?
A : I do not.
B : I can speak a little bit of Spanish. My mother was Puerto Rican, but I really rusty on it.

Many people around the world are learning to speak English, but not very many Americans are learning a second language.
A : I think that’s bad thing, to be honest. I think, I think it’s actually very arrogant for the average American to not think that they should learn a second language. I think there is a real problem in, in this culture that we feel, that I think a lot of Americans feel “oh, we’re the best”… “We are the best country, we’re the best culture, we don’t have to study other, other peoples, other races”,.. “Try to expand our horizons”, I actually think that’s a bad thing.
B : I disagree with that. When our ancestors came to the United States, they had to learn the language.
A : Oh, absolutely, you should definitely have to speak Enlgish if you come to America. Don’t get me wrong.
B : But that’s not true any longer.
A : No, no, and that I agree….
B : I think you really should. If you come into a country, and you plan to live there, you should at least learn their language.
A : Oh, yeah, no…
B : I think it should be the option of us whether we want to learn another language.
A : Oh, yes, absolutely, I definitely believe that if, that’s another pet peeve. I really don’t think that it’s fair that I should have to placate to someone else who can’t be bothered to learn English. But at the same time, I think in order to gain a greater understanding of the world, you should learn a second language. But yes, definitely, you should. If you live in this country, you should speak English.  I’m sorry, that’s just the way I feel about it.

Let’s say you move to another country, and you needed to learn their language,
(A : I think I should. )
(B : Oh Absolutely.)
how would you start? Would you start by learning the alphabet, the numbers or would you…A : I think I’d get one of the books that they have in the library, or the diskettes that teach the language of the countries, whichever country you were going to, I would learn that language, absolutely.
(Please.)
( thank  you.)
And, when you went to another country, would you approach them in their language or in English?
A : In their language. I would try to be as good as it as I could be.
B : “Please” and “Thank you”. Those should be the first 2 words you should learn ;
That’s nice, Right.
B : Please” and “Thank you” and “Have a nice day”.

KARL: I don’t know what to say, Susan. The heart wants what it wants.

SUSAN: What does that mean?

KARL: I fell in love.

SUSAN: While you were married to someone else! (gesturing to herself)

KARL: The heart wants what it wants.

SUSAN: Yeah, well, my heart wants to hurt you, but I can control myself.

KARL: I don’t wanna go back to that ugly place, really, and if you do, I suggest you get some help. (walks outside)

SUSAN: (follows him outside, still wearing just the towel) You know what? I don’t need an apology. I don’t need anything from you.

KARL: You’re humiliating yourself. (gets in the car)

SUSAN: (opens the passenger side door, and bends down to talk to him) No, you’re the one who’s been humiliating yourself, Karl, why don’t you see that? You walked out on your family. People think you’re scum, not me.  So worry about yourself, I’m okay with me. I can walk down the street and walk my head high. (shuts the passenger side door of KARL’s CAR as he drives off, pulling the towel off SUSAN)

(SUSAN is appalled, and quickly runs towards the front door, covering herself with her hands. She tries to open the door, but it’s locked. She gasps, and tiptoes towards a wooden post on her porch, hiding behind it. She eyes a tall plant, and pulls it towards her, covering herself more.)

NARRATOR: On Wisteria Lane, an unsettled Susan racked her brain to find a way into her own house.

(SUSAN holds the plant in front of her, and sidesteps her way down the steps and towards the garden shed on the left of her house. She tries to open the door to the shed, but it’s also locked. She tiptoes towards a window, and tries to open it. It’s stuck. She puts down the plant and uses two hands to try and open it. She slips, and falls into her shrubs on her back!)

NARRATOR: Lying naked in her shrubs, it occurred to Susan that this could be the most humiliating moment of her life.

(MIKE walks by and notices her lying there.)

MIKE: Susan?

NARRATOR: She was wrong.

MIKE: (averts his eyes, grinning) Uh.. whatcha doing?

SUSAN: Locked myself out. Naked.

MIKE: Oh.

SUSAN: And then I fell. (crosses her legs) So how are you?

MIKE: Good. I just got back. I was gone all day, and I got your messages about dinner, and, um, I would love to come if the invite still stands.

SUSAN: It’s a date.

MIKE: Alright, I um, assume the dress is, uh, casual.

SUSAN: Yeah, it’s it’s casual.

(MIKE nods, grinning as he walks off. SUSAN squeals and covers herself with the plants.)

[CUT TO: EXT. VAN DE KAMP HOUSE]

(SUSAN and MIKE walk up the porch. SUSAN is holding a bottle of wine.)a

SUSAN: Thanks for helping me break in. Do you think it’s gonna be hard to replace that screen?

MIKE: Well that depends. Nail it in yourself, you might wanna wear gloves. Or pants. Pants wouldn’t hurt.

SUSAN: Okay. I know what just happened is funny, in theory, but I am nowhere near ready to laugh about it. So please, no jokes.

BREE: (opens the front door) Hey, where’re you been?
MIKE: Um, Susan had a problem finding something to wear (stifles his laughter). Oh, was that the kinda thing you meant?
SUSAN: Pretty much.

LYNETTE: The kids are bouncing off the walls? Huh. Well I’m sure you can find a way to put them to bed, Tom. I mean, for god’s sakes, Tom, they’re just kids.

SUSAN: (notices GABRIELLE is limping) Hey, are you okay?

GABRIELLE: Yes, I, I went jogging today, and I think I just pushed myself too hard.

SUSAN: Well, you’re probably not wearing the right shoes.

GABRIELLE: Yeah, that thought did cross my mind.

CARLOS: So Gabrielle says you and Bree are taking lessons three times a week.

REX: Uh-huh.

CARLOS: I’m actually thinking about playing again. I mean, it’s such great exercise.

REX: That it is.

CARLOS: And my drop-shot could use a serious tune-up. Think you could give me the number of your pro?

REX: Yeah, I’ll, uh, give it to you later.

CARLOS: Well, what club does he work out of?

REX: Um. We’re not really taking tennis lessons, Carlos.

CARLOS: You’re not.

REX: That’s a story Bree concocted to cover the fact that we’re seeing a marriage counsellor.

(BREE, standing right behind him, drops her plate of hors deuvres on the ground. REX turns around, startled.
Everyone else turns to watch.) Bree, Bree.

(BREE takes his glass of wine from him.)

REX: He wouldn’t stop asking about the tennis pro. (turns to everyone else) Bree and I are in marriage counselling.  Everyone knows our secret now. Did the sky fall? Has your life come crashing down?

(GABRIELLE, LYNETTE and SUSAN look at each other, dumbfounded.)

BREE: If everybody would please take your seats. Dinner is served.

I stop by today to see if I make an appointment to meet with you.
Didn’t you leave some phone messages?

Yes, I have called a couple of times ___ speak with you.

I apologize for not getting back to you. It’s been a hectic week.

That’s why I don’t want to take much your time today. I’d like to make an appointment to meet you for an hour or so.

You haven’t told me why you want to meet.

I represent AD Lab, I’d like to talk to you about creating an advertising campaign for your business.

I’m sorry, Mr. Danton, I’m not interested in making any changes to our advertising right now. We’re doing just fine.

That’s why I wanna talk to you. Now is the best time to start more advertising aggressively.

Listening comprehension.

Photo 1 : The people are withdrawing money from the machines.
Photo 2 : The people at the train stop.
Photo 3 : Girls are in front of the school.
Photo 4 : The woman is carrying a keyborad.
Photo 5 : There is a bike by the gate.
Photo 6 : The girl on the bench has two packs.
Photo 7 : The person is posting a letter.
Photo 8 : The people are crossing the street.
Photo 9 : The man is talking on the phone.
Photo 10 : The man is sitting on a disability scooter.

Source : www.english.school.nz