Tuesday 31 December 2013

2013年12月份VOA美国之音VOA News新闻听力下载

Wednesday 4 December 2013

美国之音11月份VOA News新闻听力

Monday 26 August 2013

Aiying Wen's Discussion Production in Week 1

Hello, everyone
My name is Aiying Wen. I’m from China. I have been an English teaching researcher of Teaching and Teaching Material Research Institute of Jiangxi Provincial Education Department since 2005. I’m in charge of guiding English teaching and assessment in junior high schools. Before 2005, I had been an English teacher in a junior high school for more than ten years. So I have some teaching experiences. Which is very useful for me as a researcher. I know which kind of problems or difficulties the teachers would face, what they are thinking about and what they need. What’s more, I go to classes twice a week. I observe teachers’ classes and sometimes record videos of their classes. After class, I have discussions on the classes with the teachers and students. Teachers love to share their ideas, worries and wishes with me. Which helps me to be familiar with their teaching and students’ learning. To know the teaching and learning situation is the first step to do teaching research, which helps me focus on teachers’s problems or difficulties.
Since 2005, I have studied three subjects on Writing Good Test Papers for Junior High School Students, Task-based Language Teaching and Developing Students’ Listening Skills. I have written 15 articles and investigation reports which were all published on the very important magazines in China. Sometimes I am invited by schools or publishing houses to make reports to teachers on English teaching and assessment.
I love my job. I love teachers. I have been trying my best to help teachers teach and students learn English happily and effectively. I hope I can do it. In order to do better, I am participating the Global English e-Learning course. I believe I can learn a lot from my dear teachers and colleagues.
Thanks a lot!  

Dicussions:
Your learners and teaching context

My name is Aiying Wen from China. I'm an English teaching researcher. What I do is to guide teachers in Junior high schools to teach English happily and effectively. I also write testing papers for Junior high school students. There are three grades,Grades 7, 8 and  9 in junior high schools. The students in junior high schools is about 13 to 15 years old. In my province most of them started to learn English in Grade 4 in primary schools, but nearly half of them did badly in English in primary schools because of big-size class and unprofessional teachers. The situation in rural areas is more serious.  
When students go to a junior high school, some of them are still interested in learning English, but some are not. The students in one class are in different English levels. This is a big challenge for teachers to teach. In junior high schools in my province, English is one of the most important subjects. Schools, teachers and parents pay much attention to students' and children's English learning. But the class is big. Generally there are about 50 to 60 students in one class. In some schools there are even 70 or more students in one class. It's really hard for teachers to care about every student. The students from the schools in the city have rich English learning resourses, such as newspapers, magazines, vedios  and so on. In their classroom, teachers can use computers to teach. But in the schools in the countryside, students have only textbooks. Their teachers usually use blackboards and chalks to teach. 
In my opinion, how to make students interested  and confident in English learning in Grade 7 is the first important.


Hi Molly,
Thanks a lot for your reply! In junior and senior high schools, generally girls study English better than boys. Because girls like listening, speaking and reading English more. They are also better at memorizing words, sentences and passages than boys.
I asked many teachers what is the biggest challenge for students to learn English. 'Words,' most of them said. They said because there are so many English words to be  memorized, they don't like learning English.
In my opinion, because teachers don't have proper ways to teach words, which makes students be bored with English. So teaching in happy and effective ways is the most important.
Warm regards,
Aiying 
Hi Molly,
Thank you so much for your reply! I agree with you that we need to change the way of teaching. You say students are sometimes too lazy to recite those new words and passages. As teachers, we should ask why students hate reciting new words and passages? In my opinion, because students think memorizing new words is boring. 
So how to teach new words is a subject we should study. We should teach new words in context. Students need to do more reading, reading conversations, passages. In this way, students know how to use the words. 
Not all the new words must be recited, such as people's names, adress names, the words which are not used often. Students only need to memorize the words which are used often in the daily life, especially for junior high school students. They can be familiar with the new words by listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Warm regards,
Aiying Wen

Hot topics of interest
b. civic engagement. In my country, more and more people have interest in engaging in social activies. First, because people's lives are getting better and better, they have time and energy to care about social activities. Second, people are getting higher and higher education. They have conciousness of sharing social activities. Third, our government hope all the people can engage in social activies. Because our country is like a big family. Eveyone have rights and responsibilities to share rights and responsibilities.
In my opinion, the more civic engagement, the better. But civic engagement should be in order. People do what they can do and what they like to do. But people must know what they should do and what they musn't do. We need a strong country and a harmonious environment.
c. women empowerment. In the cities in my region, women have equal rights in their families as men. In the rural areas, in the families or on the business, Genarally men make important decisions. Men have more rights than women. For example, my father died last month. According to the old rules in my region, only my brothers' and my brothers' sons' names can be  printed on my father's tomb stone, but my mother's, my sisters' and my name can't be printed on his tomb stone. But my father was a open-minded man. When he was alive, he said daughters have the same rights as sons. My father was hard-working, warm-hearted and kind man. I love him forever.
Now adays, some companies only take in men. They think wemen will spend more time and energy on their families. Men can pay full attention to their jobs or work. In fact, in my region, wemen do more housework in families. But I think wemen have some advantages on some jobs. S o I think the one who is the most suitable for the job can get the job. Companies can't decide by sex.
Aiying Wen   
Hi Tomo,
From your statement, we know many men still think women have to do all the housework even though they both work. In China, things are different. If husband and wife both work, they will share the housework. In my region, most English teachers are women. They work very hard. They pay much attention to their students. Luckily, most of their husbands would like to cook meals at home after work. If wife doesn't work, she may does all the housework.
In China, if a woman who works gets pregnant, she will have about 4 month leaves. After the leaves, she will continue the job. Her baby will be looked after at her home by her mother or mother-in law.
Thank you!
Best regards,

Aiying Wen

Saturday 1 June 2013

Download VOA Videos of May,2013(full text+video+audio)

Download VOA Standard English of May,2013(full text+audio+video)

Women Bear Brunt of Population Growth (May 31, 2013)
London Terror Probe Traces Path to Radicalization, via Somalia (May 31, 2013)
Online Classes May Force Changes at Universities (May 31, 2013)
Jordanians Wary of US Force on Syrian Border (May 31, 2013)
US Hospitals Have Dramatic Differences in Pricing For Same Procedures (May 30, 2013)
Uninsured Americans Face Confusing Bills, Inconsistent Charges (May 30, 2013)
Syrian Crisis Hits Lebanon's Economy (May 30, 2013)
Leaders Call for Investing in Girls (May 30, 2013)
Effort Launched to Save Africa’s Lions (May 30, 2013)
Northern Sudan Set to Eliminate River Blindness (May 29, 2013)
Experts Say More Research Needed to Foil Cyber Criminals (May 29, 2013)
Oklahomans Have Long Tradition of Resilience, Perseverance (May 29, 2013)
Fears Rise in Lebanon of Syrian War Spillover (May 29, 2013)
Violence Against Journalists in Afghanistan Increasing (May 28, 2013)
African Union Leaders Talk Mali, Chinese Investment (May 27, 2013)
Washington Week: Focus on Scandals and Tragedies (May 27, 2013)
In Malawi, an NGO Saves Rural Dwellers from Waterborne Illnesses (May 25, 2013)
Putting Slurplus Food to Good Use (May 25, 2013)
Fake Tanks, Ghost Army Helped Defeat Germans During WW ll (May 25, 2013)
Victims of Oklahoma Tornado Get Help From Near and Far (May 24, 2013)
Star Trek Influence Lives Long and Prospers (May 24, 2013)
Syria's Civil War Fuels Violence in Iraq (May 24, 2013)
Volunteers Help Revive LA's Concrete River (May 24, 2013)
Amnesty Report Highlights Refugee Plight (May 23, 2013)
US Oil Surge Could Impact Mideast Geopolitics (May 23, 2013)
Syrian Troops Show Strength Ahead of Peace Talks (May 23, 2013)
Qusair Fighting Drives More Syrians Into Lebanon (May 23, 2013)
Thai Same-Sex Marriage Bill Not Without Controversy (May 23, 2013)
Moore, Oklahoma, Begins to Recover from Deadly Tornado (May 23, 2013)
Calls Grow For An End to Sexual Assaults in US Military (May 23, 2013)
Kerry Mideast Talks on Syria to Include Russian Call for Involving Iran (May 22, 2013)
Boston Bomber Spent 6 Months in Russia’s Most Violent Republic (May 21, 2013)
Washington Week: Focus on Burma, US Government Scandals (May 20, 2013)
US Military Officials Call Sex Abuse In Ranks Serious Problem (May 19, 2013)
Annual Event Helps Torture Treatment Center (May 19, 2013)
Scientists Race to Contain Malaria: New Discoveries, More Resistance (May 19, 2013)
Citizen Scientists Map Global Emissions (May 18, 2013)
Obama, Burmese President to Discuss Reform Progress, Challenges (May 18, 2013)
Midwest Tea Party Activists Not Surprised by IRS Scrutiny (May 18, 2013)
Cleaning Vietnam Memorial Proves Healing for Veterans (May 18, 2013)
Nigeria Launches Airstrikes Against Militants (May 18, 2013)
Developing World Investment to Rise (May 17, 2013)
Skylab-Era Astronauts Reflect on Life Off Earth (May 17, 2013)
Egyptian Sinai Engulfed in Post-Revolution Lawlessness (May 17, 2013)
Green Card Lottery Faces Elimination Under US Immigration Reform (May 17, 2013)
Pakistan’s Future PM Described as 'Comeback Kid' (May 17, 2013)
Flamenco Band Has Arabic, Islamic Influences (May 16, 2013)
Doctors Say Not All Women with Jolie Condition Need Preventive Mastectomies (May 16, 2013)
Device Keeps Internet On When Power Goes Off (May 15, 2013)
Scientists Search for Those Long Missing (May 15, 2013)
CAR Instability Helps Lord's Resistance Army Regroup (May 15, 2013)
Gay Activists Press for Rights in China (May 14, 2013)
Natural Disasters Displace 32 Million in 2012 (May 13, 2013)
Pastor Uses Circus Animals to Help South Sudan (May 13, 2013)
Former PM Nawaz Sharif Set to Lead Pakistan Once Again (May 13, 2013)
Tax Havens Cost Africa $38 Billion a Year (May 12, 2013)
South Africa Service Uses Text Messaging to Help Expectant Mothers (May 11, 2013)
Wind Power Firms Push to Extend Tax Credit (May 11, 2013)
Traffic Safety at the Heart of Walks, Rallies Around the World (May 11, 2013)
Some US Nurses Struggle to Find Work (May 11, 2013)
US Working Mothers Struggle Daily to Balance Family, Career (May 11, 2013)
'Reluctant Fundamentalist' Explores Cultural Misconceptions (May 11, 2013)
Families Still Rebuilding 5 Years After Massive China Quake (May 11, 2013)
Pakistan Voters Head to Polls in Landmark Elections (May 11, 2013)
India Leads World in Most First-Day Newborn Deaths (May 11, 2013)
Official: Federal Agencies Didn't Share Information Before Boston Bombings (May 10, 2013)
Deep Divisions Surface After Landmark Malaysian Elections (May 10, 2013)
Record Low Price for HPV Vaccine (May 10, 2013)
Polls in Pakistan’s Baluchistan Province Face Multiple Threats (May 09, 2013)
US Diplomat: Military Help Sought During Benghazi Attack (May 09, 2013)
Global Immunization: Despite Successes, Much More To Do (May 09, 2013)
Devon Allman Releases Debut Solo Album, 'Turquoise' (May 09, 2013)
Guantanamo Prison Hunger Strike Grows (May 09, 2013)
Sectarian Violence Skyrockets in Iraq (May 08, 2013)
3 Million Newborns Die Within First Month (May 08, 2013)
The Band Perry Scores Big with 'Pioneer' (May 08, 2013)
Russia Prepares Law to Ban ‘Gay Propaganda’ (May 07, 2013)
NRA Leaders Step Up Calls to Fight Restrictions on Gun Ownership (May 06, 2013)
Analysts Concerned Over Impact of Closer US-Russia Anti-Terrorism Cooperation on Caucasus (May 04, 2013)
Indian Farmers on Frontline of 'Hidden Hunger' Fight (May 04, 2013)
Bangladesh Disaster Calls Attention to Worldwide Garment Industry (May 04, 2013)
China: Japan, Allies Risk 'Long-Term Damage' Over Islands (May 04, 2013)
U.S. Media Advocates Warn Against Repression in South Sudan (May 04, 2013)
South Africa Row Sparks Debate Over Foreign Aid In Britain (May 04, 2013)
Pakistan's Religious Parties Vie for Votes in National Elections (May 03, 2013)
Chinese Immigrants Move Out of US Chinatowns (May 03, 2013)
Obama to Talk Economic Growth With Mexican, Central American Leaders (May 02, 2013)
World Press Freedom Declines (May 02, 2013)
Somali Piracy Diminishes, but Networks Remain a Threat (May 02, 2013)
Chemical Weapons in Syria Fit Pattern of Escalation (May 02, 2013)
Jefferson Bible Sparks Religion Debate in America (May 02, 2013)
Domestic Politics Limits Obama's Options on Syria (May 02, 2013)
Baltimore's Empty Lots Bloom With Healthy Greens (May 01, 2013)
EU Hopes Pesticide Ban Will Halt Bee Decline (May 01, 2013)
Poetry Offers Insight Into Children's Lives (May 01, 2013)
Social Media Draw More US Women to Clothing Swaps (May 01, 2013)
Better Coverage of Rape is Needed (May 01, 2013)
Makeshift Schools Help Mumbai Slum Children Beat the Odds (May 01, 2013)
Syrian Rebels Eye EU Oil Trade (May 01, 2013)
Gay NBA Player Breaks Athletic Barrier (May 01, 2013)

Saturday 11 May 2013

VOA Special English - Science in the News

VOA Special English - This is America

VOA Special English:American Mosaic

VOA Videos of April,2013(MP4+MP3+FULL TEXT)