Barack Obama Begins 2nd Term as President

01/26/2013

From VOA Learning English, this is IN THE NEWS in Special English.

This week, Barack Obama began his second term as president of the United States. The public swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday at the Capitol building in Washington.

Lifelong Bilingualism Gives Seniors Mental Edge

01/26/2013

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report in Special English. A new study adds to evidence suggesting that being bilingual is good for the brain. In the study, older adults who have spoken two languages since childhood showed better mental skills than those who speak just one language.

A New Way to Shop: The Fashion Truck

01/25/2013

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.

I’m June Simms.

On our show this week, we play music by The Lumineers.

We tell about some happenings in the world of football…

But first, how about going for a shopping trip...on a parked truck?

Nam June Paik Turned Video into an Object of Art

01/22/2013

I'm Shirley Griffith. And I’m Mario Ritter with EXPLORATIONS in VOA Special English. Nam June Paik is widely considered one of the first video artists. Today, video art is a rich and popular field in modern art. But in the nineteen sixties, the use of television and television images to make art was very new and revolutionary. Nam June Paik helped turn the moving image into a common tool for artists to use as a form of expression. Today his works can be seen in the permanent collections of museums around the world.

Getting a Firm Grip on Weed Control

01/21/2013

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

When is a plant considered a weed? Experts at Penn State University have a simple answer: When the undesirable qualities outweigh the good qualities.