What are the effective ways to learn American English?
The VOA Learning English site (www.learningenglish.voanews.com) is another great site for learners of English. The most interesting aspect of the website is the VOA Special English programs. The programs include Education report, Technology report, In the news, Words and their stories, and American mosaic. The stories written at the intermediate and upper-beginner level are read one-third slower than regular Voice of America (VOA) English. Learners of English find the special English programs very useful. They can improve their listening skills, vocabulary and comprehension skills.
Words and their stories is a program about American phrases and idioms. Learners can read, listen and learn English with different stories. If they are not sure of the meaning of any word, they can double-click on the word to find the definition in the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary. For example, if they want to know the story about eyes, they can check www.learningenglish.voanews.com/content/words-and-their-stories-all-about-eyes/1513084.html. They can play or download the MP3 of this story. Listening to the story enables them to learn the meanings of the phrases and idiomatic expressions related to eyes such as to catch one’s eye, to set eyes on someone, to make eye at, to hit between the eyes, apple of one’s eye, etc. The definitions are explained in proper contexts.
Look at this sample:
Today’s programme is all about eyes. When it comes to relationships, people’s eyes can be a window into their hearts. This means that their eyes can tell a lot about how they feel. We will tell a story about a man and woman who are teachers at the same school. The woman is interested in the man. She uses many methods to catch his eye, or get him to notice her. Once he sets eyes on her, or sees her, she might try to get him interested in her by acting playful. In other words, she might try to make eyes at him or give him the eye.
Users can subscribe to free VOA podcasts. The podcasting service offers three ways to subscribe to programs the user may wish to play anytime on portable media players or on computers.
Another useful feature of the website is The Classroom, which has different sections such as activities, articles, programs and stories to improve English. The users can learn Business English, Everyday American English or Academic English by visiting the site. For example, do you want to know how Americans say ‘going to’? Click on the site www.learningenglish.voanews.com/section/the-classroom/2345.html and follow the links. The VOA WordBook is a great online tool to know the meanings and pronunciations of all the words.
Americans take a humorous look at the British variety of English and vice versa. When Gypsy Rose Lee, an American entertainer and playwright, heard that her detective novel G-String Murders was going to be published in London, she wired her publishers, ‘Who is going to make the English translation?’
— rayanal@yahoo.co.uk