New Year's Resolutions

This section discusses the New Year's resolutions of some people, including their goals to improve their English language skills.

Goals to Improve English Language Skills

• Daniel Kwan plans to study English for at least an hour a day.

• Jose Antonio Valarde wants to speak English as fluently as his Spanish.

• Tutti Riel aims to speak both English and Mandarin fluently.

Outdoor Exhibit at Natural History Museum

This section describes an outdoor exhibit at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles that provides science lessons and contact with nature.

Features of the Exhibit

• Scientists describe plants and insects in their natural setting.

• The exhibit teaches how development has changed the natural habitat.

• Streams that were once seasonal are now permanent water sources.

• The exhibit provides contact with nature for city children who may not have experienced it before.

Completion of Outdoor Exhibit

This section mentions when the outdoor exhibit is expected to be completed.

Completion Date

• The work on the outdoor exhibit is expected to be completed by June 2013.

Native American Student Newspapers

This section discusses student newspapers in Native American communities.

Incorporation into Local Papers

• Some student newspapers have been incorporated into Native American papers, but not many.

• Nikki O'Lett is the first journalism teacher in years at a school where copies of a student newspaper are included every other week in a local paper.

New Year's Resolutions

• Kim Valarde wants to lose weight and improve his English speaking skills.

• Uma Sharif plans on getting her master's degree.

• Derly Johanna Barreto has two resolutions: to speak English fluently and to get a job.

Separating Boys and Girls in School

The aim of separating boys and girls in school is to help teenagers keep their mind on their work.

Benefits of Separating Boys and Girls

• Separating boys and girls helps teenagers keep their mind on their work.

• Placement in the Academy is voluntary, and students are invited after middle school.

• Morgan van Fleet, a senior at Boonsboro High, likes being in the Academy because it allows for top-performing students to achieve at the highest level possible.

Inviting Students to Join the Academy

Placement in the Academy is voluntary, and students are invited after middle school.

Inviting Students to Join the Academy

• Placement in the Academy is voluntary, and students are invited after middle school.

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

The classic story tells of a dog stolen from his home and sold to work as a sled dog during Canada's Klondike Gold Rush.

Description of The Call of the Wild by Jack London

• The Call of the Wild by Jack London is a classic story that tells of a dog stolen from his home and sold to work as a sled dog during Canada's Klondike Gold Rush.

Drawing Pictures Related to Story

Two students explain why they are drawing pictures that relate to the story.

Drawing Pictures Related to Story

• Two students explain why they are drawing pictures that relate to the story.

• Drawing helps them visualize the setting of the story and gets them to think more about the important events of the story.

Benefits of Separating Boys and Girls in School

Morgan van Fleet, a senior at Boonsboro High, likes being in the Academy because it allows for top-performing students to achieve at the highest level possible.

Benefits of Separating Boys and Girls

• Morgan van Fleet, a senior at Boonsboro High, likes being in the Academy because it allows for top-performing students to achieve at the highest level possible.

• She says boys and girls act differently when they are together in a classroom.

Two Week Trail Ride from Standing Rock Reservation to Wounded Knee

This is a two-week trail ride from Standing Rock Reservation to Wounded Knee.

Description of Trail Ride

• This is a two-week trail ride from Standing Rock Reservation to Wounded Knee.

• One of those books that students are reading is The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

Using iPads for Literacy Intervention

iPads can help students improve in reading and math.

Using iPads for Literacy Intervention

• Almost 300 kindergarteners in Auburn are using iPads this year. Project coordinator Mike Weir believes computers can help students improve in reading and math.

• But sometimes, with certain apps on iPads, kids get immediate feedback which helps them learn better.

Literacy Intervention and Benchmark Levels

Less than two-thirds of the third graders in the school system are at what are known as benchmark levels.

Literacy Intervention and Benchmark Levels

• Less than two-thirds of the third graders in the school system are at what are known as benchmark levels.

• One of our literacy interventionists was working with several of her students, and having a hard time with helping them be successful, she finally pulled out her own personal iPad.

Involvement in Activities for Success

Students need good grades, high test scores, strong teacher recommendations, and involvement in activities to be successful.

Involvement in Activities for Success

• They also need to be involved in activities. Almost 350 students have taken part in the Academy.

Experimenting with iPads for Letter Recognition and Formation

The use of iPads began as an experiment in 2004.

Experimenting with iPads for Letter Recognition and Formation

• It began as an experiment in 2004.

• And they met the benchmark very quickly. Michael Bear has been at Boonsboro High for 20 years and directs the Academy.

Use of iPads Across School Districts

School districts across different states including South Carolina, Tennessee, and Illinois are using iPads.

Use of iPads Across School Districts

• School districts across different states including South Carolina, Tennessee, and Illinois are using iPads.

• His 9th grade English class for boys centers on books that he believes boys find interesting. One of those books is The Call of the Wild by Jack London.

Single-Sex Classes

Some educators believe single-sex classes can help students focus better.

Benefits of Single-Sex Classes

• She says it is easier to focus on the lesson and the homework in a single-sex class.

• There is one activity that girls and boys in the Academy do together. At the end of the day, many of them stay and help tutor students who are having trouble in school.

Cost of iPad Projects

Educators in Maine plan to give a report at the end of the school year.

Cost of iPad Projects

• The project in Maine costs $200,000.

• Elliott Soloway, a computer science professor at the University of Michigan, thinks it's ridiculous because of how much money is being spent on iPads.

Opposing Views on Single-Sex Classes

Not everyone supports single-sex classes.

Opposing Views on Single-Sex Classes

• Not everyone supports single-sex classes.

• You can comment on our website voaspecialenglish.com.

Usefulness of Drawing Pictures Related to Story

Drawing pictures related to stories helps students visualize settings and important events.

Usefulness of Drawing Pictures Related to Story

• Drawing helps students visualize the setting of the story and gets them to think more about the important events of the story.

• You can also find transcripts and MP3s of our programs.

VOA Learning English on Social Media

VOA Learning English is available on social media.

VOA Learning English on Social Media

• And you can find us on Facebook and Twitter at VOA Learning English.

Effectiveness of iPads as a Learning Tool

Educators are still debating whether iPads are an effective learning tool.

Effectiveness of iPads as a Learning Tool

• Is the iPad an effective learning tool?

• She likes being in the Academy.

Report from Maine Educators

Educators in Maine plan to give a report at the end of the school year.

Report from Maine Educators

• Educators in Maine plan to give a report at the end of the school year.

(t=118

The Farm to Desk Program

This section discusses the Farm to Desk program at EW Stokes Public Charter School in Washington, which teaches students about healthy eating and entrepreneurship.

Partnership with Seedling Projects

• The school formed a partnership with Seedling Projects, an environmental group in San Francisco, California.

Learning Healthy Eating Habits

• Students learn how to make combinations.

• Third graders have learned to read the sugar and fat content listed on food packages.

• Students learn the importance of protecting the environment.

Entrepreneurship Skills

• Students learn how to prepare a business plan that they can use to help pay for college.

• The school plans to expand the Farm to Desk program to other grades next year.

Local Food Sourcing and Gardening

This section discusses local food sourcing and gardening initiatives at EW Stokes Public Charter School in Washington.

Local Food Sourcing

• School Chef Makisha Day says the school buys most of its food from local farms.

• One of those users is Caroline Moore Cochless at Boston University.

Gardening Initiatives

• The school has a garden for the students to grow some of the vegetables themselves.

• Her profile page shows her picture and her specialty, neuroscience.

Understanding University Catalogues

This section discusses university catalogues and their importance for new students.

Importance of University Catalogues

• An international student advisor wrote to say that new students generally have no idea what a university catalog is.

• A university catalog or college catalog is an official publication that contains all the information a current or prospective student might need about academics and student services at a university.

• The glossary now includes this definition.

Salad Bar and Healthy Eating Habits

• The school has a salad bar, and now the kids love the salad bar.

• They love the fruits and vegetables.

International Student Experiences

This section discusses international student experiences in American schools.

Cultural Stereotypes

• For example, how they feel when they face cultural stereotypes.

• Simba from Zimbabwe recently wrote about going to lunch with a group of American students. Simba said he felt hurt when one of them was surprised to learn that Facebook is available in Zimbabwe.

Resources for International Students

• She says the only must-know site for all international students is Education USA from the State Department.

• The address is educationusa.info.

Research Gate

This section discusses Research Gate, a social network developed at Harvard for researchers.

Connecting Researchers

• Even they were unsure what a catalog is.

• Research Gate is similar to another social network developed at Harvard, Facebook.

• Mr. Maudish received the support of investors, including a former Facebook executive and the same investment group that put money into Twitter.

Productivity and Nobel Prize

• His solution was to start a scientific network for researchers.

• So I definitely do believe that Research Gate could win the Nobel Prize for that one day.

• If we think that Research Gate will accelerate research in all the different fields, it will change the speed of science significantly in the future.

Student Union

This section discusses student unions and their role in connecting students.

Connecting Students

• Jess has a group of foreign student bloggers at American schools.

• Students learn from teachers and outside experts.

• The Student Union and its Facebook page get a lot of comments.

Specialized Areas of Study

• Many charter schools have specialized areas of study, like environmental charter high school near Los Angeles.

• His goal is to win a Nobel Prize.

Research Gate

In this section, the speaker talks about how Research Gate can be used to ask questions and learn about what other researchers are working on before they publish their results.

Key Points:

• On Research Gate, users can ask questions and learn about what other researchers are working on before they publish their results.

Suggestions for Improvement

In this section, the speaker asks for suggestions for improvement.

Key Points:

• The speaker asks for suggestions for improvement.

Job Interview Preparation

In this section, the speaker talks about how a program helps with job interview preparation.

Key Points:

• A program helps with resume writing, cover letter writing, and job interview preparation.

• The program also helps individuals find jobs.

State Projects

In this section, the speaker discusses state projects that will involve 10 to 20 high schools in each of eight states.

Key Points:

• State projects will start as early as September of 2011.

• Eight states will be involved in these projects including Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, and New Hampshire.

• The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has provided more than $1 million to start the program.

American Education System Reform

In this section, the speaker talks about reforming the American education system.

Key Points:

• The aim is to change the American education system from one that is based on time spent in a seat to one that is based on actual accomplishments.

• The National Center on Education and the Economy has some ideas for how to accomplish this goal.

• Mark Tucker, president of the nonprofit organization, expects interest in this idea to grow.

Teaching English to Refugees

In this section, the speaker discusses teaching English to refugees.

Key Points:

• A local school began teaching English to children of refugees.

• Almost 50 Burmese youngsters attend Bowman Bridge Elementary School.

• Laurel Conran teaches English to speakers of other languages.

International Students

In this section, the speaker talks about international students studying in America.

Key Points:

• International students have many questions about studying in America.

• Jessica Stahl blogs for international students interested in American higher education.

• Financial aid and scholarships are among the most common questions asked by international students.

Teenage Pregnancy

In this section, teenage pregnancy rates are discussed.

Key Points:

• The United States has 41 births for every 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19 per year.

• This is higher than other developed countries and some developing ones.

• By comparison, Canada has 14 births for every 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19, and Mexico has 82.

Early College

In this section, the speaker discusses early college programs.

Key Points:

• Some educators and parents do not like the idea of sending students as young as 16 off to college.

• The National Center on Education and the Economy has some ideas for how to accomplish this goal.

• Students who volunteer will take board examination classes similar to those found in other parts of the world.

Refugees from Burma

In this section, refugees from Burma settling in Howard County are discussed.

Key Points:

• About 18,000 refugees from Burma have come to the United States each year since 2007.

• Some have settled in Howard County, Maryland between Baltimore and Washington.

Conclusion

In this section, the speaker concludes the report.

Key Points:

• The report concludes by inviting listeners to comment on VOASpecialEnglish.com about their country's use of a board examination system or any other topic related to education.

Teenage Mothers and Education

The transcript discusses the challenges faced by teenage mothers in education, as well as programs that help them overcome these challenges.

Challenges Faced by Teenage Mothers

• Some teenage mothers wish they could be children themselves again.

• Being a mother is hard.

• One student learned from her mother not to pick up a crying baby.

• Dolores Clemens told the student that's not true.

• If you never pick him up, he is going to keep crying. Pick your baby up.

Programs for Teenage Mothers

• Covenant Houses' Mommy and Me program teaches basic skills like how to give a baby a bath and how to dress a baby depending on the season.

• Around 350 teenage mothers graduate from Covenant Houses' Mommy and Me class every year.

• You can find a link to a video about its academic at V.O.A. SpecialEnglish.com.

• Rockville High School in Maryland has won the championship on the show several times.

Writing Skills for Refugees

The transcript discusses how refugees from Burma are learning writing skills in America.

Learning Writing Skills

• About 18,000 refugees from Burma have come to the United States each year since 2007.

• Linda Bergman is director of the writing lab at Purdue University in Indiana.

• The traditional five paragraph formula for writing an essay is too simple to deal with subjects that require deeper thought and investigation.

• Karen Gosek works for the Institute for Writing and Rhetoric at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

Challenges Faced by Refugees

• Many Burmese refugees work at Coastal Sunbelt Produce.

• Some have settled in Howard County, Maryland between Baltimore and Washington.

• Just knowing how to write a five paragraph essay is not going to be enough for a college student who has to write a longer academic paper.

Miscellaneous

This section covers various topics discussed in the transcript.

Miscellaneous Topics

• Mac McGarry has asked more than 200,000 questions, and gotten more than a few funny answers.

• Rockville High School in Maryland has won the championship on the show several times.

• You can comment on this report at VOASpecialEnglish.com.

• For V.O.A Special English, I'm Alex Filareo.

• Natasha is in class one day with her baby son.

The Importance of Education

This section discusses the importance of education and how it can benefit individuals and communities.

Education is Key

• Education is important for personal growth and development.

• Education can help individuals become more confident and communicative in their personal and professional lives.

• Educated women are more likely to work outside the home, which can lead to economic growth for their communities.

Qualities of Good Writing

This section discusses the qualities that make up good writing.

What Makes Good Writing?

• Good writing should be clear, concise, and easy to understand.

• Good writing should be engaging and capture the reader's attention.

Security Risks in Kandahar

This section discusses security risks in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Security Risks in Kandahar

• Security risks are widespread in Kandahar due to its history as a former power base of the Taliban.

• Despite these risks, the number of women working in Kandahar has risen during the past year.

Women's Employment Opportunities

This section discusses employment opportunities for women in Kandahar.

Women's Employment Opportunities

• The provincial government employs over 1,150 women as teachers.

• Women are also working for private businesses and receiving scholarships to attend programs at the Kandahar Institute of Modern Studies.

• However, more job opportunities are needed for women in Kandahar.

Its Academic

This section discusses the TV quiz show "Its Academic."

Its Academic

• "Its Academic" is a Saturday morning program for high school students that has been on air in the Washington area for 50 years.

• The show features teams from local schools answering questions on various subjects.

• The program is in Guinness World Records as the world's longest-running TV quiz show.

Concerns About Taliban Regaining Power

This section discusses concerns about the Taliban regaining power after international forces leave Afghanistan.

Concerns About Taliban Regaining Power

• Some Afghans have expressed concern that the Taliban could regain power after international forces leave Afghanistan.

• More job opportunities are needed to strengthen gains made by women in Kandahar.

Overall, this transcript covers a range of topics including education, writing, security risks, employment opportunities for women, and a TV quiz show called "Its Academic." It also touches on concerns about the Taliban regaining power in Afghanistan.

Organizing Paragraphs for Academic Writing

In this section, the speaker discusses how students in different cultures organize their paragraphs to build towards the main idea at the end of a paper. American college students are expected to state their thesis at the beginning of their paper.

Different Approaches to Paragraph Organization

• In some cultures, students organize their paragraphs to build towards the main idea at the end of a paper.

• American college students are usually expected to state their thesis at the beginning of their paper.

Launching New Schools in Kenya

This section discusses plans by American educators to launch 50 new schools in Kenya through Bridge International Academies.

Bridge International Academies' Expansion Plans

• Bridge International Academies plans to open 50 new schools in Kenya at the beginning of the school year.

• The goal is to educate children from families who make two dollars a day or less.

• Bridge International Academies aims to educate ten million children around the world.

Affirmative Action and Writing Formulas

This section covers recent developments related to affirmative action and writing formulas used by college students.

Affirmative Action and Admissions Decisions

• Reaction appears mixed following a recent United States Supreme Court decision on affirmative action in university admissions.

• The court ruled that race can be one of many factors considered when a student applies to a college or university.

• The goal of affirmative action is to create a more diverse campus and give more opportunities to groups that are underrepresented in higher education.

Writing Formulas

• Millions of students have been taught a formula for writing a five-paragraph essay.

• Linda Bergman, director of the writing lab at Purdue University, notes that this formula is too simple to deal with subjects that require deeper thought and investigation.

Bridge International Academies' Low-Cost Plan

This section discusses Bridge International Academies' low-cost plan for educating children in poor areas.

Academy in a Box

• Bridge International Academies uses new technology to help teachers and follow student progress through its "Academy in a Box" system.

• Their low-cost plan is designed for very poor areas but still aims to make a profit.

Lessons Developed by Trained Educators

This section covers the lessons developed by trained educators for all classes at Bridge International Academies.

Lessons Designed to Meet National Education Plan Requirements

• The lessons have been developed by trained educators for all classes at Bridge International Academies and are designed to meet the requirements of Kenya's national education plan.

• Every teacher uses an e-reader provided by Bridge International Academies, which provides them with daily lessons.

Local Radio Station in Afghanistan

This section discusses the role of a local radio station in Afghanistan.

Mauryam Durani operates a local radio station.

• The radio station broadcasts educational programs.

• The programs are aimed at women and children.

• The goal is to provide education to those who cannot attend school.

• The radio station also provides information on health and other important topics.

Afghan Youth Orchestra

This section discusses the Afghan Youth Orchestra's trip to the United States.

Secretary of State John Kerry called the young musicians ambassadors of peace.

• The orchestra performed in famous American music halls, including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.

• Music can give someone a sense of power, according to Aaron Colverson.

• During their trip, they met with local musicians and learned about traditional Kenyan instruments, dances, and songs.

• Ahmad Sarmasht started the orchestra as part of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul.

Progress for Women's Rights

This section discusses progress made for women's rights in Afghanistan.

A few years ago, Ahmad Sarmasht founded the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul.

• Most girls could not attend school under Taliban rule.

• Today, music is studied and played freely in Afghanistan.

• Women are working for private businesses as well as government jobs.

• There is concern that progress made for women's rights could be lost if the Taliban regains power after international forces leave Afghanistan.

Education Report

This section provides an overview of education issues in Afghanistan.

During that period, women were banned from working outside the home.

• Women were not permitted to work outside the home during a certain period.

• Most girls could not attend school under Taliban rule.

• The Afghan School Project has given women scholarships that can lead to careers.

• There is an increasing demand for jobs among both educated and uneducated women.

Afghan Youth Orchestra's Trip to the United States

This section discusses the Afghan Youth Orchestra's trip to the United States.

One Berkeley student, David Chapman, said for some of the Kenyans, it was the first time to see and touch such instruments.

• The orchestra performed in famous American music halls, including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.

• Music gives children a chance to express themselves through songs and writing songs.

• Violins and trumpets played along with traditional Afghan music in performances.

• The State Department and US Embassy in Kabul funded most of the trip.

Exchange Program

This section discusses an exchange program involving young musicians from Afghanistan.

During the trip, Aaron Colverson says they met with local musicians and listened to them play.

• 48 young musicians traveled from Kabul to play at some of the most famous American music halls.

• The Institute offers training in business management, information technology, English, and communications.

• Sam Lutomia hopes that this exchange program will take place every year and expand to neighboring countries.

• The children are ambassadors of Afghan culture whose efforts reflect changes in their country over ten years.

New Schools in Kenya

This section discusses new schools being launched by American educators in Kenya.

American educators plan to launch 50 new schools in Kenya.

• Bridge International Academies will open the new schools in January.

• The schools will offer training in business management, information technology, English, and communications.

• This is part of an effort to improve education in Kenya.

• You can learn English and stay informed every day from your computer or mobile device at VOASpecialEnglish.com.

Phonetics and Education in Afghanistan

This section discusses the efforts of American educators to teach English as a second language in Afghanistan, including the use of phonetics to study non-native speakers' pronunciation.

Teaching English as a Second Language

• Students in beginning phonetics class are mostly interested in teaching English as a second language.

• The goal is to study how non-native speakers pronounce different sounds.

• The students were sent out to record non-native speakers, and their pronunciations were compared to each other and native speakers of English.

Music Education in Afghanistan

• Under Taliban rule, music was banned and girls were not permitted to be educated after age eight.

• Today, music is studied and played freely in Afghanistan.

• Ahmad Sarmasht started an orchestra that developed into the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul.

Bridge International Academies

• Bridge officials Shannon May, Jay Kimmelman, and Phil Fry want to educate ten million children around the world using new technology.

• Their low-cost plan uses new technology to help teachers follow student progress.

• Every bridge teacher uses a nook e-reader for daily lessons; they call this new system Academy in a box.

Speech Accent Archive

This section discusses Professor Steven Weinberger's creation of the Speech Accent Archive, which contains recordings of people reading a 69-word paragraph designed to test their pronunciation abilities.

The Speech Accent Archive

• Professor Weinberger created the archive with recordings from non-native English speakers reading a 69-word paragraph.

• The archive contains more than 1,500 recordings and is used by speech pathologists, computational engineers, and PhD students.

• Professor Weinberger would like more people to send in their own samples.

Using the Archive

• The archive is for anyone who wants to compare and analyze the accents of different English speakers.

• Some people think the archive would be better if it included natural speech, not just readings of the same words.

Bridge International Academies Expansion

This section discusses Bridge International Academies' expansion plans in Kenya and its efforts to provide education to children living in poverty.

Bridge International Academies Expansion

• American educators plan to launch 50 new schools in Kenya at the beginning of Kenya's school year.

• The goal of the private group is to educate children of families who make two dollars a day or less.

• Supporters say that Bridge's operation compares well with public education in Kenya despite large class sizes and unusual teaching methods.

Cost and Curriculum

• The average cost to attend a bridge school is about $5 a month; books match electronic lessons provided by teachers using nook e-readers.

• Lessons have been developed by trained educators for all bridge international academies classes; they are designed to meet the requirements of Kenya's national education plan.

VOA Special English Education Report

This section discusses a low-cost education plan that uses new technology to help teachers and follow student progress. It also talks about traditional Kenyan music and the TOEIC test.

Berkeley College of Music in Kenya

• The school provides students with books that match the electronic lessons.

• Lessons have been developed by trained educators for all Bridge International Academies classes.

• Mr. Lutomia works for the Berkeley College of Music and helped create a group called Global Youth Group.

Cultural Exchange Program

• Current and former students from Berkeley College of Music in Boston recently returned to the United States after three weeks in Kenya.

• The Americans gave out laptop computers, recording software, and about 20 instruments including some recorders and an entire drum kit as part of a cultural exchange program aiming to influence lives through music.

TOEIC Test

• The Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey develops and administers the TOEIC test which measures the ability of people to communicate in the workplace using everyday English.

• Non-native English speakers take the test to demonstrate their English skills when seeking a new job or promotion. Some organizations use it to measure progress in English training programs or as a placement test.

Traditional Kenyan Music

• Sam Lutomia works for the Berkeley College of Music but was born and spent his early years in Kenya where music is an important part of life. They taught music, performed, and donated instruments to a Kenyan community center during their visit there as part of their cultural exchange program.

American Students Visit Kenya

This section discusses the exchange program between American and Kenyan students.

Exchange Program Details

• The exchange program involves 13 Americans visiting Kenya in July.

• The trip organizer, Sam Lutomia, is happy with the energy levels produced by the program.

• The group included four high school students from Boston.

Written Answers and Warning about Scams

• Eight questions require written answers, including an opinion essay.

• A warning about a fishing scam was seen on the ETS website when looking for more information about TOEIC.

Gifts and Activities

• During their visit to Kakamega in Western Kenya, the American group presented a gift that included around 20 instruments, some recorders, and an entire drum kit. They also gave out laptop computers and recording software.

• Local musicians were met with during the trip, where they got a chance to listen to them play.

• Many Kenyans attended activities offered by the group such as learning traditional Kenyan instruments, dances, and songs.

English Language Tests

This section discusses English language tests.

TOEIC Test Information

• A fishing scam is a kind of crime that uses email to trick people into providing financial or other personal information. In this case, emails claim to be from Educational Testing Service (ETS). Spokeswoman Christine Betanelli advises people taking TOEIC to be suspicious of any emails claiming to be from ETS asking for information already provided for the test. If you get an email that you are not sure about, forward it or send a separate message to contact ETS at ETS.org.

• Students in Professor Stephen Weinberger's beginning phonetics class are mostly interested in teaching English as a second language.

Speech Accent Archive

• The Speech Accent Archive is for anyone who wants to compare and analyze the accents of different English speakers.

Future Exchange Program Plans

This section discusses future plans for the exchange program.

Expansion Plans

• Trip organizer Sam Lutomia hopes the trip will take place every year and expand to neighboring countries.

English Online Learning for English Language Education

This transcript discusses the benefits and drawbacks of online learning for teaching English as a second language.

Teaching Literature Online

• Lisa Jadwin, an English professor at St. John Fisher College, recognizes the strengths and weaknesses of online education for teaching literature.

• She believes that face-to-face interaction is necessary to teach literature effectively.

• However, she acknowledges that some students could learn well from presentations and reading assignments, blogs, and discussion groups.

Hybrid Courses

• Professor Jadwin believes that hybrid courses work best for teaching English as a second language.

• Hybrid courses mix face-to-face course elements with computer-aided teaching and writing projects.

The Speech Accent Archive

• Professor Stephen Weinberger created the Speech Accent Archive in 1999 to help people compare and analyze the accents of different English speakers.

• The archive contains more than 1,500 recordings from non-native speakers of English pronouncing a paragraph containing almost all of the sounds used in English.

• Mr. Weinberger encourages people to send in their own samples to expand the archive's collection.

TOEIC Test

• The TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) measures people's ability to communicate in everyday workplace situations using English. It is administered by Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey and taken by non-native speakers seeking employment or promotion opportunities worldwide.

• Last year alone, it was given over 5 million times worldwide.

Conclusion

• Online learning has both benefits and drawbacks for teaching English as a second language.

• Hybrid courses that mix face-to-face elements with computer-aided teaching are effective.

• The Speech Accent Archive is a valuable resource for analyzing the accents of non-native speakers of English.

• The TOEIC test is popular worldwide among non-native speakers seeking employment or promotion opportunities.

Introduction

This section introduces the TOEIC test and its popularity worldwide.

• The TOEIC test was given more than 5 million times worldwide last year.

Cost and Purpose of the TOEIC Test

This section discusses the cost and purpose of the TOEIC test.

• The cost of the test is set locally in each country.

• The purpose of the test is to measure people's ability to communicate in English for international communication.

• People take the test to demonstrate their English skills when seeking a new job or promotion.

• Some organizations use it to measure progress in English training programs and as a placement test.

Types of TOEIC Tests

This section describes the two types of TOEIC tests available.

• There are two types of tests: paper and pencil, which measures listening and reading skills, and computer-based, which measures speaking and writing skills.

• People can take one or both tests depending on their needs.

Email Scams Related to ETS

This section warns about email scams related to Educational Testing Service (ETS).

• A fishing scam uses email to trick people into providing financial or other personal information.

• Emails claiming to be from ETS should be treated with suspicion.

• Christine Betanelli advises people taking the TOEIC to forward any suspicious emails or send a separate message to contact ETS at ETS.org.

Popularity of TOEIC Test in United States

This section answers whether the TOEIC test is popular in the United States.

• Each year, about 20,000 people take the TOEIC test in the United States.

Resources for English Language Tests

This section provides resources for English language tests.

• VOA Special English Education Report offers transcripts, podcasts, and captioned videos of reports.

• The Foreign Student Series at VOASpecialEnglish.com provides more information about English language tests.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

This section discusses the concept of massive open online courses (MOOCs).

• MOOCs are free or paid online courses available to anyone in the world.

• Some universities offer free non-credit MOOCs while others charge for courses and provide credits.

• MOOCs are available in subjects like computer science, engineering, or mechanics.

• The idea is still developing and it is unclear if MOOCs in subjects like arts or humanities can be as effective as those in other fields.

Distance Learning

This section discusses distance learning.

• Distance learning refers to classes that are taught partly or mostly online.

• MOOCs add to a tradition of distance learning.

Adding More Teachers and Online Discussion Groups

Lisa Jadwin, an English and American literature professor at St. John Fisher College in New York, discusses the weaknesses of online education for her subjects. She suggests adding more teachers and graders and setting up online discussion groups to improve the learning experience.

Ways to Improve Online Education

• Professor Jadwin suggests adding more teachers and graders to improve the quality of online education.

• She also recommends setting up online discussion groups to facilitate face-to-face interaction between students.

• Hybrid courses that mix face-to-face elements with computer-aided teaching are another option that Professor Jadwin believes works best.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

The section discusses massive open online courses (MOOCs), which are free non-credit courses available to anyone in the world. The section explores their effectiveness, advantages, disadvantages, and how they work.

MOOC Advantages

• MOOCs allow tens of thousands or even more people from anywhere in the world to take classes all at once.

• Students can watch short videos repeatedly and take informal quizzes as part of the lecture to keep them engaged.

• Virtual office hours are held by teachers to answer questions that students have voted on sending.

MOOC Disadvantages

• Scott Anderson teaches philosophy at the University of British Columbia in Canada. He sees both good and bad sides to online courses. Increased numbers of people taking MOOCs can mean less communication between students and teachers.

• Mr. Anderson believes that some parts of MOOCs are fine, but increased numbers of people taking MOOCs can mean less communication between students and teachers.

How MOOCs Work

• Tens of thousands or even more people can take these classes all at once. You can be anywhere in the world to take a MOOC.

• Some universities offer free non-credit MOOCs available to anyone in the world. Others charge for courses and provide credits.

Democratizing Education with Free Non-Credit Courses

The section discusses how free non-credit courses are democratizing education by making it accessible to everyone. It also explores how Udacity, an online learning platform, supports free massive open online courses (MOOCs).

Democratizing Education

• Mr. Trun started Udacity, which supports free MOOCs. Udacity hopes to make a profit in the future by connecting possible employers with interested students.

• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently started its first MOOC. The school plans to offer many free non-credit courses through a project called MITX.

Conclusion

Free non-credit courses and massive open online courses (MOOCs) are changing the face of education by making it accessible to everyone regardless of their location or financial status. While there are advantages and disadvantages to online education, it is clear that it has opened up new opportunities for learning that were previously unavailable.

The Future of Education: Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

This transcript discusses the rise of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and their potential to revolutionize education. It explores the benefits and limitations of online education, as well as some strategies for improving student performance.

The Potential of MOOCs

• Some universities offer free non-credit MOOCs available to anyone in the world. Others charge for courses and provide credits.

• David Evans says online courses can deliver high quality education to many more students at much lower cost, but he recognizes the limits.

• Education, he says, should be free, accessible for all, everywhere, and anytime.

Limitations of Online Education

• Professor Jadwin says some students could learn well from presentations and reading assignments, blogs, and discussion groups. However, she believes that hybrid courses work best.

• His hope is that the best traditional universities will be able to focus on the things they can do really well.

• She says online education has some weaknesses for her subjects. She says the teaching of literature requires face-to-face interaction.

Strategies for Improving Student Performance

• Mr. Evans says the quizzes are part of the lecture to keep students engaged and keep them thinking.

• For six weeks, the students watch short videos and then take informal quizzes.

• Some students get so nervous before a test they do poorly, even if they know the material.

• They can also watch the videos repeatedly.

• Students receive homework and join online groups to exchange questions and answers about the course.

• Professor Bailock and another researcher, Herardo Ramirez, have developed a possible solution. The teachers hold virtual office hours to answer questions that the students have voted to send them.

• Just before an exam, highly anxious test takers spend 10 minutes writing about their worries about the test.

• Top students get letters documenting their work.

MOOC Examples

• For VOA Special English, I'm Alex Villareal. I'm Alex Villareal with the VOA Special English Education Report. For example, students around the world are taking a free course called Building a Computer Surgeon. Two computer scientists, Sebastian Trun and David Evans are offering this course through udacity.com.

• Udacity hopes to make a profit in the future by connecting possible employers with interested students.

• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently started its first MOOC. The school plans to offer many free non-credit courses through a project called MITX.

Overall, this transcript discusses how MOOCs can provide high-quality education at low cost but also highlights some limitations of online education for certain subjects. It also provides strategies for improving student performance in online courses and gives examples of successful MOOC programs such as Building a Computer Surgeon offered by udacity.com and MITX from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Importance of Writing About Fears Before an Exam

This section discusses the importance of writing about fears before an exam and how it can improve performance.

Writing About Fears Improves Performance

• Students who wrote about their fears improved their performance by 5%.

• Highly anxious students who wrote about their worries got an average grade of B+, compared to a B- for those who did not.

• Writing about fears helps students use attention and memory resources that could be used on the test.

Quizzes and Engagement

• Short videos are watched by students, followed by informal quizzes.

• Quizzes are part of the lecture to keep students engaged and thinking.

• The quizzes are not graded, and students can try them as often as they want whenever they want.

Research Findings

• Those who sat quietly scored an average of 12% worse on the second test.

• Younger biology class students were used in research studies.

• Researchers found that highly anxious test takers spend 10 minutes writing about their worries before an exam, which improves their performance.

Dealing with Anxiety Before a Big Event

This section provides tips for dealing with anxiety before a big event.

Tips for Dealing with Anxiety

• Write down your worries on paper to think about the worst that could happen.

• Realize that things might not be as bad as you thought they were after writing down your worries.

Course Completion and Grades

• Students receive homework and join online groups to exchange questions and answers about the course.

• Everyone who finishes the course receives a grade and proof of completion.

• Top students get letters documenting their work.

Udacity

• Mr. Trun started Udacity, which supports free MOOCs.

• Udacity hopes to make a profit in the future by connecting possible employers with interested students.

Conclusion

This section concludes the transcript.

Research Findings

• Writing about fears before an exam can improve performance by 5%.

• Highly anxious test takers spend 10 minutes writing about their worries before an exam, which improves their performance.

Course Completion and Grades

• Everyone who finishes the course receives a grade and proof of completion, while top students get letters documenting their work.

Tips for Dealing with Anxiety

• Write down your worries on paper to think about the worst that could happen, then realize that things might not be as bad as you thought they were after writing them down.

Udacity

• Mr. Trun started Udacity, which supports free MOOCs and hopes to make a profit in the future by connecting possible employers with interested students.