Learning English (version of English) facts for kids
Learning English (which used to be called Special English) is a simpler kind of English language that started on October 19, 1959. It's still used every day by the United States broadcasting service called Voice of America (VOA).
When you listen to Learning English, news and other shows are spoken about one-third slower than regular VOA English. The people speaking avoid using tricky phrases (called idioms) and stick to a basic set of about 1500 words. They only add other words if they really need to explain something important in a story. This special way of speaking English is made for people who are learning English and want to get better at it. In 1962, VOA even made a special dictionary called the Word Book.
VOA also works with the University of Oregon to offer free online lessons for English teachers. These lessons are called Let’s Teach English and are based on a program named Women Teaching Women English. They are designed to help adults who are just starting to learn English.
What You Can Learn About
VOA Learning English offers many daily news reports and 14 different weekly shows. These shows cover topics like farming, money matters, health, and what's happening in the world right now. Other programs explore American society, the history of the U.S., common English phrases, science, and arts and entertainment.
For example, a story from May 18, 2010, explained rheumatoid arthritis like this:
Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful sickness that can damage joints. Women are three times more likely to get it than men. This sickness is an autoimmune disease, which means the body attacks its own healthy cells. We don't know the exact cause. But in a recent study, a new medicine seemed to stop the problem in lab mice.
Another show from July 15, 2010, talked about patent law:
The United States Supreme Court recently made a decision about the rights of inventors. The question was if a way of doing business could be enough of an invention to get a patent. Patents are a type of intellectual property. They give legal protection to people and companies so others can't easily copy their inventions.
A special report about Michael Jackson was broadcast on July 5, 2009, soon after he passed away:
Today we will talk about one of the most famous performers in the world, Michael Jackson. He was known as the 'King of Pop'. Jackson sold more than 750 million albums during his career. Michael Jackson changed popular culture with his exciting music, dance moves, and amazing music videos. But Jackson’s huge success as a performer was not always easy. He was a complicated person with a private life that was often difficult.
For people learning English, this service not only gives clear and simple news and information, but it also helps them get better at using American English. In some countries, like the People's Republic of China, VOA Special English is becoming very popular for younger and intermediate English learners. Many teachers around the world, even at universities, use these programs to help students learn the language and understand different topics.
The BBC and China Radio International have also used the name "Special English" for their slower English broadcasts. However, it seems they don't use all the same methods as the original VOA program.
Specialized English
Specialized English is a different kind of Special English that was created and used by Feba Radio. Now, people in the U.S. and the U.K. also use it. It follows the same rules as VOA Special English: it's spoken slowly, uses short sentences, and has a limited vocabulary. Most of the words in its word list are the same as those in VOA Special English.
See also
In Spanish: Inglés especial para niños
