0:03 Welcome to Learning English, a daily 30 minute program from the Voice of America.
0:12 I'm Caty Weaver.
0:14 And I'm Mario Ritter, jr.
0:16 This program is designed for English learners.
0:21 So we speak a little slower and we use words and phrases, especially written for people learning English.
0:32 Coming up on the show, we have reports from Anna Matteo and Andrew Smith.
0:39 Brian then has the Science and Technology report.
0:44 And we close with the lesson of the day.
0:49 But now here's Ana.
0:53 At America's 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monty the Giant Schnauzer won the top prize.
1:06 The lively Schnauzer beat six other finalists in New York City to become the first of his breed to win Westminster's best in show.
1:19 The prize is the most important and respected in the U.S.
1:24 dog show world.
1:27 While Monty came close to winning Westminster the past two years, he fell short of the big prize in December 2020 for the dog won another big prize.
1:42 The huge American Kennel Club Championship.
1:47 But for dog show lovers, Westminster is considered the Super Bowl of all shows.
1:55 This year, the comparison is especially fitting.
2:00 That is because the most respected U.S.
2:03 dog competition opened on the same weekend as the Super Bowl, the most important game in American professional football.
2:14 This rare happening came after the dates of both competitions changed in recent years.
2:23 At Westminster, dogs first compete against other members of their breed.
2:30 Then the winner of each breed goes up against other dogs within different competition and groups.
2:39 Among the groups are sporting working toy and herding group winners then compete in the final round.
2:51 The best in show winner gets an award, a large shiny cup called a trophy and a place in dog world history.
3:03 The top prize, however, does not include money.
3:08 In her report on the dog show.
3:10 Learning English, as Caty Weaver explains that the Westminster show dates back to 1877.
3:20 It centers on the traditional purebred judging that leads to the best in show prize.
3:28 But over the last few years, the organization Sun has added agility and obedience events open to mixed breed dogs.
3:39 In 2024, Sage, a miniature poodle, won best in show at the 148th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
3:53 And in 2023, a petite basso griffon van Diane named Buddy Holly won best in show at Westminster.
4:04 The breed he represents is known for its rabbit hunting abilities.
4:10 I'm Anna Mateo in Senegal.
4:45 Educators are starting to teach English to younger children in an effort to better prepare them to succeed in future educational and professional activities.
5:01 The preschool students also learn French, the country's official language, as well as Arabic and the nation's national languages.
5:12 The French news agency AFP reports Senegalese children who attend preschool, also known as nursery school, are generally under five.
5:29 Since mid-January, the Education Ministry has been testing a program that teaches English in more than 600 nursery and primary school classes.
5:44 It is part of a plan to better connect Senegal with the rest of the world.
5:52 At one nursery school visited by AFP reporters near central Dakar, five year old students were heard singing Good Morning, Teacher.
6:06 The teacher, OBS Dere said they're interested in the lesson and they start a conversation with.
6:17 How are you?
6:19 Senegal recently became an oil and gas producer and has seen large population growth.
6:28 However, many young people have been leaving the country searching for opportunities elsewhere in Senegal.
6:38 French is used in public schools and in government administration.
6:45 Until recently, English was only taught in public high schools and universities, and sometimes in private nursery schools.
6:57 Axiata SA CC is in charge of the Education Ministry's English program.
7:06 She told AFP that even after some students had studied English for up to seven years, they can barely communicate properly in English.
7:20 We're starting from a younger age so that they can improve their language skills.
7:28 The aim is to shape people who are open to the world.
7:33 Cissé said.
7:35 She added that improving their English will give them access to more opportunities to cooperate with Senegal's partners.
7:47 In March, President Bashiru DOMA FE was elected after running a nationalist campaign.
7:56 After many years of strong ties with the former colonial power.
8:03 He is trying to reset Senegal's relationship with France without breaking away completely in the schools, testing the program.
8:15 English is taught every Tuesday and Thursday.
8:21 On both days, 225 minute lessons are taught in nursery schools and 230 minute lessons in primary schools.
8:33 The subjects taught center on family colors everyday Greetings, the environment and the weather in Dakar, working class Medina neighborhood teacher Mamadou Kama listens to a conversation in English between 213 year olds in his primary school class of around 60 students.
9:02 I can see that the students are motivated.
9:06 Some of them are asking for English lessons to be taught every day, said Kama, who has a degree in English.
9:17 The ministry has invested in teachers who have high English levels.
9:24 However.
9:25 Most of them have not yet received the teaching materials.
9:29 The ministry aims to provide.
9:33 We haven't had the time to create handbooks, said the Education Ministry's Cissé.
9:41 Computers have been ordered and in the meantime we have provided students with printed documents with fun pictures.
9:53 The project has been praised by Ousmane, senior director of the Dakar based West African Research Center, or W JRC.
10:07 WRC handles educational exchanges between the United States and West African universities.
10:17 English is the most common language at an international level, and it's the most used language in diplomacy and international cooperation, so it's an additional asset, Senior told AFP.
10:36 Additionally, most scientific material worldwide is written in English, said mathematician Mm.
10:46 He helped create the English program.
10:50 Thiam added that if people in Senegal do not adapt and improve their English, they will run into many barriers.
11:02 But Sun noted that something needs to happen first.
11:07 The project needs to train and equip the teachers well.
11:13 Some critics of the program point to a lack of teachers.
11:19 Samba Diesel de Tom is a former member of parliament and retired teacher.
11:27 In an opinion article he wrote on these grounds alone.
11:33 Introducing English at nursery and primary school levels is a pipe dream.
11:39 It's impossible.
11:42 He noted that intellectuals have been demanding the introduction of Senegal's national languages in education for many years.
11:53 The program involving English could further delay that goal.
11:59 But 113 year old student asked to bury seems far removed from such debates.
12:08 She told AFP that she can't wait to study English in sixth grade.
12:17 I'm Andrew Smith.
12:56 Smartphones have become valuable tools for helping to organize our lives.
13:05 However, the devices can also capture personal data and location information that users might want to keep private.
13:18 Here are some tips suggested by the Associated Press.
13:24 AP to help smartphone users limit the collection of private data on personal devices, all a user has to do is open a phone's map tool to search for a restaurant or other business to activate data tracking.
13:48 Similarly, someone choosing to look up the price of a product online can unknowingly permit the smartphone to track the user's location and share data with others.
14:04 Darren Guccione is the chief executive of U.S.
14:09 based Internet security company Keeper Security.
14:15 He told the AP that many apps from fitness tracking to navigation can record data signals that show a user's movements both physical and digital.
14:31 Guccione is advice to users is to turn on location tracking only when necessary, such as during navigation emergencies or sharing updates with trusted contacts.
14:49 He adds that after this kind of necessary tracking is complete, users should immediately turn off location tracking.
15:00 One step to limit smartphone tracking is to identify and change app permissions settings.
15:09 To do this, iPhone users can first go to the device's privacy and security settings.
15:18 Then go to location services to check settings for individual apps.
15:25 Internet security experts say it is not a good idea to let apps always use your location in the background.
15:36 Instead, get the app to either ask first before using your location or use it only when the app is open.
15:46 A user can also choose the setting that never lets an app track location.
15:54 The process works a little differently for Android phones because manufacturers have different versions.
16:03 In general, Android users should go to settings, then go to location to turn the setting on or off.
16:13 For all apps to avoid being tracked by advertising systems, privacy experts suggest that users block advertising identifiers on Android or Apple devices.
16:29 This can stop third parties from tracking ads to target users.
16:37 To do this, iPhone users can go to the privacy settings, then find Apple advertising, then turn off personal Allies ads.
16:49 On newer Android phones, users should go to the privacy settings, then to ads and choose or delete advertising ID along with app permissions for your device.
17:05 Security experts say it is a good idea to look closely at your Google account to make sure it is not tracking you.
17:16 To find this out, go to my account dot google dot com and find data and privacy.
17:24 Users can find location, history controls there.
17:30 Under recent changes, the history will be removed after three months.
17:35 Although users can change that setting as well.
17:41 Popular web browsers for smartphones like Safari or Chrome could also give away location information.
17:51 Try using one that does not store your data.
17:56 Such browser users include DuckDuckGo.
18:00 Firefox Focus or Ecosia.
18:04 If a privacy protected browser needs to identify your location through an IP address, it will ask first before doing so.
18:17 These kinds of browsers will also let users easily remove internet cookies and other web browsing data.
18:27 Phones or tablets can also be tracked with Apple's Find my or Google's Find my device services are designed to recover lost devices.
18:42 Users can turn this tool off if they think someone was able to take control of their Apple or Google account and is using it for tracking.
18:55 Some cybersecurity websites advise using a smartphone's airplane mode to block tracking operations, but some experts say this does not always turn off all tracking signals.
19:12 Users should not depend on this setting alone to block data collection.
19:19 A better tool in many situations would be a signal blocking ferret a bag.
19:27 These block all wireless signals to the smartphone.
19:32 Experts suggest testing the bag to make sure data is actually being blocked.
19:39 While such bags can be helpful, devices kept inside the containers cannot be used.
19:48 I'm Brian Lin.
20:15 Hello, My name is Anna Matteo.
20:20 My name is Andrew Smith.
20:23 And I'm Jill Robbins.
20:25 You are listening to the Lesson of the Day on the Learning English podcast.
20:32 Welcome to the part of the show where we help you do more with our series.
20:38 Let's Learn English.
20:41 The series shows Anna Matteo in her work and life in Washington, D.C., in Lessons 32 and 33 of the series.
20:52 Ana has a new TV show for children in the show.
20:57 There is a computer named Mindy that helps Ana travel to different places.
21:02 But Mindy sometimes has trouble sending Ana to the correct place.
21:08 Ana loves baseball and she wants to travel to a ballpark to talk about the sport of baseball.
21:17 But Mindy has sent Ana to wrong places, including the ocean.
21:24 Let's see if Mindy can fix the problem.
21:27 Plus, time on the time traveling treehouse.
21:30 Ana was lost and really lost.
21:35 She wants to learn about baseball, but her computer, Mindy, sent her to many wrong places.
21:43 Mindy, help me.
21:45 I am in the ocean with a shark.
21:49 I will try one more time, Ana.
21:53 Please try harder.
21:54 Mindy. Oh.
22:02 Now, where am I?
22:08 I'm at a playground with a baseball field.
22:13 Yes. I can teach children about baseball here.
22:18 Mindy. Mindy.
22:20 It took you a long time, but you did it.
22:24 Thanks.
22:24 And give me a call when you find the answer.
22:29 Okay.
22:31 Now, Ana can explain how to play baseball, a sport that is popular in the United States.
22:38 To play baseball, you really only need a bat.
22:43 A ball and a glove.
22:47 Each team has many players.
22:50 Pitchers pitch the ball.
22:54 Catchers catch the ball.
22:57 Batters bat the ball.
23:00 Runners run the bases.
23:04 Fielders field the ball.
23:07 In baseball, bases are special places on the field.
23:13 And to bat means to hit the ball with a specially shaped piece of wood or metal called a bat.
23:23 To pitch means to throw the ball to the batter.
23:28 The throw itself is called the pitch.
23:32 Have you noticed how the same word can work in different ways?
23:36 The word bat can be either a verb or a noun.
23:40 To bat means to hit.
23:42 And a bat is the piece of wood or metal.
23:46 And the batter is the person who holds the bat and tries to bat the ball.
23:55 For some words in English, we can take the noun or verb form and add the ending.
24:00 E-R pronounced her to describe the person or agent doing the activity.
24:07 Here are several examples. Run.
24:11 Runner.
24:12 Work. Worker.
24:14 Dance. Dancer.
24:17 Swim. Swimmer.
24:19 Think.
24:21 Thinker.
24:23 Bank. Banker.
24:25 Pitch. Pitcher.
24:28 In baseball, the pitcher is the person who throws the ball to the batter.
24:33 To pitch is the verb, While the pitch is the noun.
24:37 The name for the throw itself from pitcher to better.
24:41 When you are learning new words in English, it is helpful to know how the words can be used in different forms.
24:49 Like to pitch the pitch and pitcher.
24:55 Let's take another example.
24:57 Using the verb create to create means to make something new and original.
25:04 A creator is someone who creates, just like a pitcher is someone who pitches.
25:12 But here's where English spelling might drive you crazy.
25:16 Words like pitcher, batter, runner and dancer all end with the letters e r, but creator ends with the letters o r, but it still sounds like the sound e r creator.
25:32 How else can the word create change?
25:36 Well, we can use the noun form creation, the adjective creative, or the adverb creatively to repeat the forms that create creator creation, creative, creatively.
25:56 So remember, when you learn a new word in English, be sure to check the dictionary, to learn all the forms of the word.
26:08 I'm Jill Robbins and you're listening to the Learning English podcast.
26:13 Before we move on, we should say one more thing about baseball.
26:17 We have many idiomatic expressions in English that come from the sport, such as hit a homerun or be out in left field.
26:27 If you want to learn more about these, enter the following words in a search on the Internet.
26:36 Words and their stories.
26:39 VOA Baseball.
26:43 Let's repeat that.
26:45 The search terms are words and their stories.
26:48 VOA For Voice of America and Baseball, that will help you find a VOA Learning English article that explains all of the baseball expressions and gives more information about the sport.
27:03 After Honors computer, Mindy brought her back to the right place and was able to finish teaching about baseball.
27:13 And then she asks Mindy to return her to what she calls her tree house, which in this scene is really a room at the office.
27:27 Mindy?
27:28 Mindy, we found the answer.
27:31 It's time to return to the tree house.
27:33 Good job. That was as the end.
27:42 Good job on.
27:44 You know, I still don't like children's shows, but I like this children's show in American culture, we often say positive, supportive things to people we work with.
28:00 We call these statements compliments, an easy compliment to say is good job, good job, fabulous.
28:10 S good job on here are some other compliments we commonly say.
28:19 That was thoughtful of you. Thanks.
28:21 You are so helpful.
28:23 I really appreciate it.
28:25 It's great having you on our team.
28:28 Way to go. Nice job.
28:31 I really like what you've done here, Andrew.
28:34 Well, thank you.
28:36 Now, here's something our listeners can do.
28:40 Try to compliment someone you know in English.
28:44 Then you can write to us and tell us about it at learning English at VOA News.com.
28:52 And while Andrew and I don't need compliments, we do like to hear your comments and what you think about the lesson of the day on the Learning English podcast.
29:02 Remember that you can find us on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
29:08 Thanks for listening to the Lesson of the day on the Learning English podcast.
29:13 I'm Andrew Smith.
29:15 And I'm Dr. Jill.
29:43 And that's our show for today.
29:46 But join us again tomorrow to keep learning English on the voice of America.
29:53 I'm Caty Weaver.
29:55 And I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
