American Stories...

American Stories for English Learners

Text & MP3 FilesThere are 57 fifteen-minute MP3 files. That is about 14 hours of listening.

http://www.manythings.org/voa/stories/

Story 1:

One Thousand Dollars (By O. Henry)

Or download MP3 (Right-click or option-click and save link)

Our story today is called “One Thousand Dollars.” It was written by O. Henry. Here is Steve Ember with the story."One thousand dollars," said the lawyer Tolman, in a severe and serious voice. "And here is the money.” Young Gillian touched the thin package of fifty-dollar bills and laughed.

Story 2:

The Ambitious Guest - Download MP3. Our story today is called, "The Ambitious Guest. " It was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Here is Harry Monroe with our story.

English Club on Privacy, Comfort, and Technology

Fun Fact of the Day: “The first U.S. capital was New York City” (johnb0127.hubpages.com). 

Topic: 

1. What is privacy? Do you think privacy exists in our modern world? How do you try to protect your own privacy? In what ways is our privacy compromised? Do you think that “private” phone calls and emails, for example, are really private? How can you protect yourself? 

2. Some people consider social networks as an “invasion” of privacy? Do you agree? How can information we put on social networks affect our daily lives? What social networking sites do you use? How do you try to protect your privacy on these sites? Is there anything you think you should avoid sharing on such pages? 

3. What other problems have arisen due to social networks? Do you think that people can become truly addicted to social networking? How have social networks changed face-to-face interactions between people? 

4. Some scientists link a reliance on technology and social networks to an increase in depression. Do you think that there is a connection between them? If a person spends their entire day using one mode of technology or another (at work and at home), how may this affect their social interactions? Do they become almost robotic in their daily routines as a result? 

5. Do you think that people have become overly reliant on technology? Is it a good or a bad thing to follow all technological advances? Do you consider some technological changes as obsolete or do you think that any change is a good improvement? 

6. How have technology and social networks severely altered certain individuals’ comfort zones? What is your comfort zone? Does your comfort zone rely on technology and social networks? Does your comfort zone stress the importance of privacy? How does your comfort zone differ in various aspects of your life? 

Schedule: Please put your topic ideas in our Suggestion Box! 

Thursday, 04 October at 5:30 

Saturday, 06 October at 10:30

Effective Presentations. Training 3: Delivering a Presentation

At least, we have the 3d training on Effective Presentations. The next two activities are dedicated to making our own presentations. It is time to create and implement our ideas how to presentable. 

The key words of this training are the following ones: Posture, Presence, Voice qualities (Volume, Pace, Pitch), Breathing and Drinking, Humor, Reading vs. Learning, Contact with Audience, etc. You will be absolutely right when saying that the topic of today's ativity is Delivering Presentations. 

'Giving presentations can be a complex and anxiety-ridden task. Every word, every nuance, your appearance, the tone of your voice, not to mention the content of your presentation, will be scrutinized in every way /http://www.wikihow.com/Deliver-Effective-Presentations/, /http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/studyadvice/Studyresources/Seminars/sta-delivering.aspx/. 

You are welcome to get to know more on it participating in this activity with maryna Lysun as an instructor.

 

English Club on "Acquaintances and Social Life"

In our journey through life, we encountered tons and tons of people, and some of these strangers have turned into acquaintances. Then, if you're really lucky, some of these acquaintances may form into friendships. But my best friend has always been there for me and vice versa. You are welcome to discuss this topic today.

Fun Fact of the Day: “The first night baseball game was played in Cincinnati, Ohio” (johnb0127.hubpages.com). Topic:

1. What is an acquaintance? Do you think that it is important to have a lot of acquaintances? How might they be useful? How many acquaintances do you think you interact with on a daily or weekly basis? Where do you interact with them? 

2.What’s the difference between an acquaintance and a friend? How important do you think friendship is in our daily lives? Do you think it’s possible to have many “true” friends? How many people do you consider as real friends? How did you meet them and how long have you known each other? 

3. There is a saying: “to have a good friend, you need to be a good friend.” Do you agree with this sentiment? What makes a person a good friend? Do you think that you can ever have a “best” friend? If so, what would make someone your best friend? 

4. Do you think that having an active social life helps increase or decrease friendships? What do you consider an “active” social life? Is this a priority to you? What activities do you like to do to relax and have fun? How can you maintain a balance between work and social spheres? 

5. Generally, who do you think has better social interactions, married or single people? Why might marital status affect our social lives? Is this a positive or negative change, in your opinion? How can this status alter friendships and increase or decrease the number of acquaintances? 

6. How do our social lives change over time? What are the biggest factors that alter them? Similarly, how do friendships change over time? Is it possible to lose friends and gain others? If a friendship has been lost, can you ever regain this relationship? How can acquaintances turn into friends? Is there anything you would like to change about your social life or friendships? 

Schedule:  Saturday, 29 September at 10:30 

Thursday, 04 September at 5:30

A Training: "Effective Presentations". Day 2 (Instructor: Maryna Lysun)

http://www.med.yale.edu/library/education/effective.pdf

http://www.stereolize.com/about.php?gclid=CLLA-snky7ICFUHxzAodhEIAkw

http://www.presentationload.com/en/Templates-Designs/?tm_type=adwords&adword=Google-EMEA/EMEA-EN-Vorlagen/effective%20presentations&gclid=CP6u893ky7ICFYqvzAodWHwA6g

http://www.research.ucla.edu/era/present/

The phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words" has existed since the New York Post discovered the value of visuals in the news business. This remains true to this day /http://www.theegglestongroup.com/writing/keystep1.php/

SELECT THE PROPER VISUAL AIDS

The Key Steps

http://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/effective.html

http://michaelhyatt.com/5-rules-for-more-effective-presentations.html

http://www.accuconference.com/resources/effective-presentations.aspx

English Club on Best Buddies and Volunteer Programs

Topic: Best Buddies and Volunteer Programs

Fun Fact of the Day: “The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is the most-visited museum in the U.S.  [It] gets 8.3 million visitors a year and is second only to the Louvre in attendance worldwide” (http://todaytravel.com).

Special Presentation: Best Buddies Ukraine.  “Best Buddies International is a nonprofit organization.  It consists of volunteers that attempt to create opportunities for people with intellectual and development disabilities.”

 Topic:

1. What did you learn about Best Buddies from this presentation?  Are you interested in participating in such an initiative?  What are the biggest personal and community benefits of this program?  How does it help promote acceptance and cooperation?  Do you believe that even one person can make a large difference in a community by helping others?

2. Have you heard of any other similar programs in our community?  Do you know of separate programs designed to meet the needs of specific groups of children or adults?  Are there any special programs in schools or projects designed to help orphanages?  What additional initiatives do you think should be implemented in Vinnitsa to increase quality of life for everyone?

3. How do projects like Best Buddies promote volunteerism on an international level?  What is volunteerism and how does it affect all of us?  How important do you think volunteer work is within a community and worldwide?  Would you volunteer your time for a particular cause?  If so, which is the most important to you?

4. Would you ever take part in a larger global volunteer project, perhaps living abroad for your work?  If so, would you choose to work at a “nonprofit organization”?  What are the benefits for working and volunteering at a nonprofit organization?

5.Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan once said, “… let us remember the large numbers of citizens who, day in and day out, through acts of volunteerism large and small, bring hope to so many of the world’s disadvantaged.  Let us ensure that this wonderful resource, available in abundance to every nation, is recognized and supported as it works towards a more prosperous and peaceful world” (www.doonething.org).  Do you agree that we are all a “resource” for volunteerism?  Do you think that volunteer work can create a “prosperous” and “peaceful” world?  How can we each improve the world we live in?

Serving Diverse Students – EducationUSA Opportunity funding in Ukraine

Opportunity funding, provided by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, supports talented international students with the application process to U.S. higher education institutions. Opportunity provides funding for talented international students who are highly competitive for full financial aid but who do not have the financial means to apply to universities in the United States and who are not eligible for (or not funded by) U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs. Opportunity offers no guarantee of acceptance or financial aid awards at U.S. institutions.

2007 – 2012 Opportunity funding                 • 220 applications, 153 awarded                 • From 70 universities and 15 high schools                 • 158 applicants from outside Kyiv (72%)                 • 85 admitted to U.S. colleges and universities                    Outcomes 2007 - 2012                 • Opportunity recipients report admission offers from 88 U.S. institutions with $2,849,991 total non-USG funding offers.  • 77 Opportunity recipients enrolled at 54 U.S. institutions with $2,258,451 first-year funding.                 • U.S. graduate programs offer substantial financial aid opportunities, an ECA priority for the Opportunity Program. 86% of Opportunity applicants in Ukraine sought a U.S. graduate degree.

2011 – 2012 Opportunity funding             • 30 applications, 25 awarded             • From 17 universities and 1 lyceum         • 18 applicants from outside Kyiv (89%), 68% of recipients studied at/graduated from institutions outside of Kyiv, 6 admitted to U.S. colleges and universities           Outcomes 2011 - 2011  • Opportunity recipients report admission offers from 9 U.S. institutions with $263,840 total non-USG funding offers.   • 7 Opportunity recipients enrolled at 5 U.S. institutions with $240,852 first-year funding: 2 UGs, 4 Master’s, 1 PhD  • 80% of Opportunity applicants in Ukraine sought a U.S. graduate degree.

153 Opportunity recipients from 56 towns/cities

Opportunity funding provided by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs – EducationUSA@state.gov

                         77 Opportunity recipients enrolled at 54 US institutions, 2007-2012:

Baruch College, Baylor College of Medicine, Brandeis University, Brigham Young University, Butler University, Central Michigan University, City College of New York, City University of New York, Brooklyn College, Duke University, East Carolina University, Florida International University, Foothill College, Franklin College, Golden Gate University School of Law, Grinnell College, Harvard University, Kent State University, Louisiana State University, McNeese University, Michigan State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Minnesota State University at Mankato, New York University, Northwestern University School of Law, Ohio University, Pepperdine University, Princeton University, Purdue University, Rutgers University, Sam Houston State University,  Oregon State University, Pennsylvania State University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, State University of New York, Suffolk University, Texas A&M university, Texas Christian University, University of Akron, University of Arizona – Tucson, University of Arkansas, University of California at Merced, University of Florida, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, University of Maryland, University of Memphis, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Pittsburgh, University of Rochester, University of Southern California, University of Texas at Austin, Valparaiso University, West Texas A&M University.