Nguyen Hong Anh, M.A. in TESOL: November 2008

UNIT 1: BILL GATES

I. Listen and fill in the blanks

Last week, Bill Gates retired from full-time work at the world's biggest computer software company, Microsoft. He will remain chairman of the company he established with Paul Allen / in nineteen seventy-five.

Mister Gates leaves Microsoft at a time of change in the computing industry. Microsoft grew at a time when personal computers, or PCs, were replacing big mainframe computers as the main computing tools. He showed that huge profits could be made in software / as PCs increasingly were found "on every desk and in every home."

Early on, Microsoft understood the importance of the "network effect. "That is, software is the kind of product / that increases in value as more people buy and use it.

II. Listen and answer the questions

Now, free Internet software / threatens to replace PC-based software.
Devices like "smart phones" / connect people to the Internet.
Google has become a leader in Internet Web searching and advertising.
Microsoft has struggled to change with the new computer environment.
Its efforts to sell music / and its latest operating system, Vista, have not been big successes.
And an attempt this year to buy Yahoo / for over forty-seven billion dollars / failed.
In the last several years, Bill Gates has slowly given control of Microsoft to others.
In two thousand, he gave the job of chief executive officer / to Steve Ballmer, a friend of his / since their years at Harvard University. Mister Ballmer has been with Microsoft / since nineteen eighty.

III. Listen and dictate

Still, it is hard to overestimate the influence of Bill Gates on computing.
He developed the business model / that put the Windows operating system / on about ninety percent / of the world's one billion PCs.
Microsoft now has almost ninety thousand employees.
At fifty-two years old, Bill Gates is currently the third richest man in the world.
He is worth about fifty-eight billion dollars.
He remains Microsoft's biggest shareholder.
Mister Gates will now spend most of his time / working at his charity organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The foundation is the world's largest charity / with over thirty-seven billion dollars.
It provides money for health, education and other projects, mostly in developing countries.

UNIT 2: FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE

I. Listen and fill in the blanks

The Australian government (1) commissioned economist Ross Garnaut to look at ways to (2) address climate change / and to ensure that Australia does (3) its fair share / to support international efforts to (4) tackle pollution.

The government has promised to introduce a (5) carbon trading program within two years. It would be designed to give a (6) financial incentive / to reduce (7) emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which many scientists believe (8) contribute to a warming climate.

Garnaut has put a price on pollution. He suggests that (9) companies be charged $16 for producing a ton of carbon dioxide. He estimates that would be close to the international price / if a (10) global free market in carbon-trading / emerges from a United Nations climate conference in Denmark next year.

II. Listen and answer the questions

Delegates at the Copenhagen summit will look to set new international greenhouse gas targets after the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012.
Garnaut says that striking a comprehensive global deal will not be easy.
"The process of international cooperation / is perhaps the most formidable of international relations challenges, more formidable that the multilateral trade negotiations / which have recently fallen onto hard times," he said.
"The development of domestic policies / consistent with ultimate international agreement / is immensely difficult in every country."
Garnaut recommends that Australia cuts its overall emissions by between 10 and 25 percent by 2020.
Doing so, however, could reduce Australia's gross domestic product / by more than one percent by 2020.

III. Listen and dictate

The government has yet to respond to Garnaut's report.
Some environmentalists think the proposed emissions cuts are too low,
while business groups have broadly welcome the recommendations.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd hopes to unveil (cong bo) his government's final blueprint (KH chi tiet) for a domestic carbon trading program in December / and introduce legislation early next year.
Australia is one of the world's worst carbon dioxide polluters per capita (theo dau nguoi) because of its heavy reliance / (le thuoc) on its abundant reserves of coal.
This arid continent (kho can) is also considered by many experts / to be particularly vulnerable (gap nguy hiem) to the effects of climate change.

UNIT 3: COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS

1. Listen and fill in the blanks

American colleges and universities consider a number of things about a student who wants to be admitted. Experts on the subject say the most important thing is the student's high school record. Admissions officers look not only at the grades that the student has earned. They also look at the level of difficulty of the classes.

A student's interests and activities may also play a part in getting accepted. But in most cases another consideration is how well the student did on college entrance exams. This week in our Foreign Student Series, we discuss two of these tests: the SAT and the ACT. Most American schools accept either one.

The SAT measures reasoning skills in mathematics and language. Students have almost four hours to complete the SAT. The newest part is an essay. Students have twenty-five minutes to write an answer to a question.

II. Listen and answer the questions

The SAT costs forty-one dollars and fifty cents.
The international processing charge / is twenty-two dollars more.
And test-takers in India and Pakistan / must also pay a twenty-one dollar and fifty cent security charge.
Students may also need to take SAT subject tests / in areas like history, science and foreign language.
Subject tests / cost eighteen dollars each.
The Web site for the SAT / is collegeboard.com.
The ACT / is an achievement test.
It is designed / to measure what a student has learned in school.
Students are tested in mathematics, English, reading and science.
A writing test is offered / but not required.
Without it, the ACT takes about three hours to complete.
The essay part adds thirty minutes.

III. Listen and dictate

The ACT costs forty-nine dollars to take outside the United States.
The writing test costs an additional fourteen dollars.
The ACT Web site is act.org.
Recent Chinese news reports / suggested that ACT testing would be expanded in China next year.
But an ACT spokesman denies those reports.
He tells us / they were based on a misunderstanding.
He says there are no plans / to increase the number of testing centers in China.
Ten centers there offer the ACT, but students must first take training classes at those centers.
The only place in China / where the SAT is offered for Chinese students / is in Hong Kong.
International students living in China have more choices.

UNIT 4: FEELING LONELY

I. Listen and fill in the blanks

Moving to a new city can be a (1) lonely experience. When I first moved to Los Angeles, I didn’t know anyone and it was hard (2) to strike up new friendships. I’m a pretty sociable person, but it’s still hard meeting new people and even (3) harder to make lasting friendships.

I’ve never been a (4) lone wolf, so being in a new city (5) out on my own was a new experience. Sometimes I liked doing solitary things, but after awhile, I yearned (want) to be around other people. I would go to (6) busy places to people-watch. I would see families walking by, groups of (7) friends hanging out together, and (8) couples arm-in-arm, and wished I was walking along with them. When you’re feeling lonely, it sometimes feels like there’s a wall between you and everyone else, a wall that’s not easy to break down.

II. Listen and dictate

Slowly, I started to meet people at my new job and to see them outside of work.
Having this companionship and camaraderie (friendship), especially with people I had a good rapport with (get along), was a welcomed change.

In time, I made some good friends and I no longer dreaded the weekends. But, I’ve never forgotten how hard it was in those first months to be a stranger in a new place!

UNIT 5: A BIRTHDAY PARTY

My sister called me (1) at the last minute to help her with my nephew’s birthday party. She was (2) feeling really sick and couldn’t get out of bed. I’d never given a children’s party before, but how hard could it be? Well, I found out.

First, I had to go to the (3) party supply store to get a few things. I couldn’t believe (4) all of the stuff people could buy for children’s parties. There was an aisle with all (5) kinds of party invitations and another one with party (6) favors, streamers, and other decorations. Fortunately, my sister had already bought most of the things we needed earlier in the week. All I needed to pick up were some (7) candles for the birthday cake and some (8) helium balloons.

After the party supply store, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up the birthday cake.
My sister had ordered it the week before, so all I had to do was to pay for it and to make sure nephew’s name was spelled correctly on the top in icing.

Two hours later, I was ready for the party. When the kids arrived with their parents, I took the birthday cards and presents they had brought, and I handed each child some party favors. I was so glad when the clown my sister had hired arrived, and she entertained the kids with games. I have never seen so many kids with so much energy!

A little later, we sang “Happy Birthday,” my nephew blew out the candles, and we cut the cake. My nephew opened his presents and the kids played with his new toys. The kids had a good time and so did my nephew.

I have to hand it to my sister. I don’t know how she does it. After three hours with 15 young kids, I’m exhausted and my ears are ringing!

UNIT 6: THE COSTS OF STUDY IN THE US

I. Listen and fill in the blanks

This week / in our Foreign Student Series: the cost of higher education in the United States.
Students / who want to attend an American college or university / must explain / how they will pay / for their education. They have to show / that they will be able to pay / for each year of study.

Students have to consider not only the tuition, the cost of classes, but also meals and a place to live, known as room-and-board. They also need money for books and supplies. And they need money to spend for social activities and other things.

Educational advisers say / foreign students should keep enough money in a local bank / to pay for at least two months of spending.

II. Listen and answer the questions

So / how much will a year / at an American school / cost?
Generally speaking, the answer is: a lot.
A leading state university in the Pacific Northwest / will serve as our example.
The University of Washington says / foreign students / are paying more than thirty-six thousand dollars / this year.
This major research university / currently has two thousand six hundred foreign students / from more than one hundred countries.
There are many schools / that cost less, but also others / that cost more.
Its Web site says / the University of Washington / does not offer /financial assistance / to international students.
This is generally true / of American schools, especially / at the undergraduate level. (2.14)

III. Listen and dictate

The international application for the university / includes a Statement of Financial Responsibility / that must be signed.
Students must also provide a bank letter or statement / from within the past six months.
And they have to name anyone / who will help with payments.
These people must send proof from a bank / to show that they have the money.
Your government or employer / may be able to help you pay all or some college costs.
A good idea / is to ask at least eighteen months / before you want to start classes / in the United States.

UNIT 7: A TRAFFIC JAM

I. Answer the following questions

I was on my way to a restaurant to meet my date for dinner when I hit a traffic jam.
I saw that the road was congested.
but since I had to take the bridge to reach downtown, I had no choice but to stay on that road.
The traffic was bumper-to-bumper. (Noi duoi nhau)
One crazy driver even tried to drive on the shoulder to get around the backup. (chen vong qua dam dong )
But as it turns out, there wasn’t any way to bypass it (vong qua) because the backup wasn’t due to an accident, a stalled car (xe chet may) or some rubberneckers. (dam donh tu tap vi to mo)
It was because of road construction and only one lane was open.

II. Listen and dictate

After 25 minutes of stop-and-go traffic, (nhich tung chut) I was at my wit’s end. (to be crazy)
My date was sitting at the restaurant waiting for me
and I didn’t have her cell phone number.
What’s more, I was really hungry.
Finally, I got past the road construction and was on my way again.
I drove a little recklessly (carelessly),
but I had to make up for lost time. (to do s.th quickly becuaae he ciuld not drive enough)
I really liked this girl.
The last thing I wanted was to make her think that I stood her up! (let so down)

UNIT 8: MOUTH EXPRESSIONS

1. Listen and fill in the blanks

People use their mouths / for many things. They eat, talk, shout and sing. They smile / and they kiss. In the English language, there are many expressions / using the word / mouth. But some of them are not so nice.

For example, if you say bad things about a person, the person might protest / and say / “Do not bad mouth me.”

Sometimes, people say something to a friend or family member / that they later regret / because it hurts that person’s feelings. Or they tell the person something they were not supposed to tell.

The speaker might say: “I really put my foot in my mouth this time.” If this should happen, the speaker might feel / “down in the mouth.” In other words, he might feel sad / for saying the wrong thing.

Another situation / is when someone / falsely claims / another person / said something. The other person might protest: “I did not say that. Do not put words in my mouth.”

2. Listen and answer the questions

1. Information is often spread through “word of mouth.”
2. This is general communication between people, like friends talking to each other.
3. “How did you hear about that new movie?” someone might ask.
4. “Oh, by word of mouth.”
5. A more official way of getting information is through a company or government “mouthpiece.”
6. This is an official spokesperson.
7. Government-run media could also be called a “mouthpiece.”
8. Sometimes when one person is speaking, he says the same thing that his friend was going to say.
9. When this happens, the friend might say: “You took the words right out of my mouth!”
10. Sometimes a person has a bad or unpleasant experience with another person.
11. He might say that experience “left a bad taste in my mouth.”
12. Or the person might have had a very frightening experience, like being chased by an angry dog.
13. He might say: “I had my heart in my mouth.”

3. Listen and dictate

Some people have lots of money because they were born into a very rich family.
There is an expression for this, too.
You might say such a person “was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.”
This rich person is the opposite of a person who lives “from hand to mouth.”
This person is very poor and only has enough money for the most important things in life, like food.
Parents might sometimes withhold sweet food from a child as a form of punishment for saying bad things.
For example, if a child says things she should not say to her parents, she might be described as “a mouthy child.” (hon xuoc)
The parents might even tell the child “to stop mouthing off.”
But enough of all this talk. I have been “running my mouth” long enough.

UNIT 9: AIRPORT ANNOUNCEMENTS

I. Answer the following questions

I was walking through the airport to Gate 11 to catch my flight when I heard this announcement:
“Attention passengers on English Air flight 232 to Boise.
The departure gate has been changed.
The flight will now be leaving from Gate 26.”
That was my flight!
I looked at the flight information monitors, turned around, and walked in the opposite direction.
As I was approaching Gate 26, there was another announcement: “This is an announcement for passengers on flight 232 to Boise.
The flight has been delayed due to bad weather conditions.
The flight crew has arrived at the gate, but the ground crew is still de-icing the wings of the aircraft.
Our new departure time is 10:50 AM.”

II. Listen and dictate
1. I thought the gate agent was done, but she had another announcement to make:
2. “I’m afraid that flight 232 is overbooked.
3. We’re looking for passengers who are willing to take a later flight in exchange for a travel voucher worth $300.
4. Any passenger who is interested should see an agent at Gate 26.”
5. Oh, no, I thought. I hope I don’t get bumped from this flight.
6. Fortunately, a few minutes later, I heard this. It was music to my ears = it is a good news
7. “We are now ready for boarding.”

Unit 10: BUSINESS TRENDS

Today, I’m going to be giving you (1) a brief overview of the trends / that are likely to affect our industry / in the next 10 years. It’s difficult to (2) predict the fads / that affect how the (3) general public thinks and behaves. However, by looking at recent polls, we have a good idea about one area / that is likely to have a (4) dramatic influence / on the way we do (5) business down the line. (in the future – get old and sick)

The trend that I’m talking about / is the environment. The biggest concern right now (6) / across major business industries (in each of the major..)/ here and in other parts of the world / is about how (7) “going green” (begin doing things good for the environment) will affect company outlook (future). The (8) growth of environmentally-friendly products / has been (9) off the charts (very hard)/ in the past five years, and this trend is likely to continue / for at least 10 more years. If you’ll look at this chart up here, you’ll see what the major trend reports are (10) forecasting. It’s my opinion / that it’s time we (11) sat up / and took notice.

UNIT 11: COLLEGE COSTS IN US

I. Listen and fill in the blanks

We talked last week / about the costs of higher education for students / who want to study in the United States. Today, as our Foreign Student Series continues, we discuss a cost / that students may not always consider: health insurance.

Medical care can be very costly / if a person has an accident / or gets sick. Health insurance might pay for most or all of it. Students might already be covered / under their parents' health plan. If not, many schools offer plans of their own.

Most American colleges and universities / have student health centers. Some have hospitals where students can go / for more serious problems.

Our example this week / is the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It has more than four thousand six hundred international students this year.

II. Listen and answer the questions

All University of Michigan students / pay a health service fee.
This fee is included / in the cost of tuition at the school.
It pays for some kinds of medical care and examinations / through the University Health Service.
It also pays for health education, physical therapy, X-rays and most laboratory tests.
But the health service fee / does not pay for everything.
For example, it does not pay for medicines or eyeglasses or routine eye exams.
It also does not pay for hospital care.
University officials say / international students / are required to have health insurance.

III. Listen and dictate

The University of Michigan / offers its students / a choice of plans.
One is especially for international students.
This plan is designed to pay for medical care in emergencies.
It does not pay for things like dental care.
And it generally does not pay for treatment of conditions / that existed / before the student arrived at school.
Students can also buy private insurance policies / from independent companies, but the university must first approve them.
Whatever the plan, schools want to know that all of their students / can pay for their health care needs.

UNIT 12: DINING AT A RESTAURANT

I. Listen and fill in the blanks

Well, I love going out to restaurants to eat. One of (1) the best experiences I've had recently / was at a place here in Los Angeles / called Il Fornaio. It's an Italian restaurant / in a very nice part / of Beverly Hills. I don't go there very often--I can't really (2) afford it, but every once in a while / I'll (3) treat myself.The last time I went, I walked in with a friend / and I was (4) greeted by the hostess. She asked how many people / were in my party, and I said, "Just two." "Right this way! I'll (5) show you to your table" she said. She was very polite. When we reached our table by the window, she asked us, "Is this all right?" We said, "Of course!," and then she handed us (6) the menus, along with the wine list. The place setting with the silverware / was very complete. There were two forks / (7) (one for the salad course, one for the main course), a spoon, a knife, a dinner plate, (8) a dessert spoon on top, a wine glass and a water glass, a cup and saucer for coffee, and a bread basket. I was already getting hungry!

II. Listen and answer the questions

"Your waiter will be with you shortly," the hostess said.
So we looked over the menus‚ so many choices, especially for a lover of Italian food like me.
The waiter came up to the table a few minutes later
and said, "Good evening. My name is Giorgio, and I'll be your waiter this evening. Is there anything I can get you started with -a cocktail, a glass of wine?"
Well, my friend and I are not exactly big drinkers, so we just ordered a couple of iced teas.
"Would you like a few minutes to look at the menu?" he said.
We nodded our heads, and he went off to get our drinks.
As I was looking at the appetizers, I spotted one of my favorite dishes-crab cakes!
I told my friend that the crab cakes were a must.
Just then the waiter returned to our table, with our drinks on a large tray.
I was ready to order.2.50

Unit 13: RECYLING

I. Listen and fill in the blanks

We hear it a lot in the news these days:

"Recycle newspapers and save a tree. Collect (1)bottles and cans so they can be reused in the manufacturing of new products."

Protecting our delicate (mong manh) environment seems to be on the (2)agenda of politicians, government leaders, and citizens in many parts of the world / to show support for mother nature. The concept of (3)green consumerism (bao ve quyeb loi nguoi tieu dung) has gained momentum / (da) more and more over the last decade, and the public feels moved to pitch in (ho tro) and help. However, three essential keys needed to power this movement / include a more (4) informed public, the development of improved technology, and a greater demand for recycled materials.

Let's use paper as an example. The first step / is to (5) raise public awareness about the recycling process, to explain the kinds of materials that can be recycled, and provide ways on how to properly dispose (su dung) of them. Local governments should educate the public on how to (6) properly sort reusable materials / from those, like waxed paper, carbon paper, plastic laminated (hinh la) material such as (7) fast food wrappers, that can't be recycled very easily. Then, a system of collecting these sorted materials / needs to be established. The Public interest might be there, but soon may wane / (giam) if there isn't a system / where they can take these materials to be recycled. Sometimes we become complacent / (thao man) when it comes to recycling, but when you speak (8) in terms of actually facts and figures / that everyone can understand, people become more cognizant (co y thuc) of the problem. I remember reading one time that the (9) energy saved from one recycled can / can provide enough power to operate a television for three hours. Give the public information they can grasp / (understand), and then you will increase your (10) chances of gaining followers.

UNIT 14: ALL ABOUT EYES

Part 1.

Today’s program is all about eyes. When it comes to relationships, people’s eyes / can be a (1) 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 (3) teachers at the same school. The woman is interested in the man. She uses many methods to (4) 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 (6) make eyes at him / or give him the eye.

Let us suppose / that this man gets hit (trung don)/ between the eyes. In other words, the woman has a strong affect on him. He wants to spend time with her / to get to know her better. He asks her (8) out on a date.

She is so happy / that she may walk around for days / with stars in her eyes. She is extremely happy / because this man / is (10) the apple of her eye, a very special person. She might tell him / that he is the only person she wants, or “I only have eyes for you.” (Em chi de mat den anh thoi)

Part 2

On their date, the couple might eat a meal together / at a restaurant. If the man is really hungry, his eyes might be bigger than his stomach. He might order more food / than he can eat.
When his food arrives at the table, his eyes might pop out. He might be very surprised / by the amount of food provided. He might not even believe his own eyes. If fact, all eyes would be watching him / if he ate all the food. This might even cause raised eyebrows. People might look at the man / with disapproval.

Part 3.

During their dinner, the couple might discuss many things. They might discover that they see eye to eye, or agree on many issues. They share the same beliefs and opinions. For example, they might agree / that every crime or injury / should be punished. That is, they firmly believe / in the idea of an eye for an eye. They might also agree / that it is wrong / to pull the wool / over a person’s eyes. This means to try to trick a person / by making him believe something that is false. But the man and woman do not believe in the evil eye, that a person can harm you / by looking at you.

The next day, at their school, the woman asks the man / to keep an eye on, or watch the young students in her class / while she is out of the classroom. This might be hard to do / when the teacher is writing on a board / at the front of the classroom. To do so, a teacher would need to have eyes / in the back of his head. In other words, he would know what the children are doing / even when he is not watching them.

UNIT 15: HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS

At my company, I have a choice of health insurance plans. We can pick between HMOs and PPOs, and I have been with the same managed health plan / for the past few years. It’s the plan that has the lowest co- pays and the best coverage, (muc do chi tra) and the network of doctors is fairly large. The drug coverage is good / and the affiliated hospital (chi nhanh) is close to my house. Unfortunately, I’m discovering that it’s also the plan / with the largest bureaucracy(thu tuc hanh chanh) and patients can easily get lost in the shuffle. (so do bat quai)
I have a primary care physician (co ban), but like other plans, if I want to see a specialist, I must be referred by my primary care physician. I have been trying to see an eye specialist for a few weeks. I called my doctor’s office for a referral, (chuyen) but the nurse told me that I needed to first make an office visit.

I tried to get an appointment, but there weren’t any openings for five weeks! I tried to leave a phone message for my doctor / to talk to her about my situation, but she never returned my call. I tried several more times, and still received no response.
I finally decided to file a grievance. (complain). I know that I have patient rights, and that if I didn’t feel / I was being treated fairly, I could file a complaint. I just hope that filing the grievance / will get me a (10) resolution to this problem. I’d like to see an eye specialist before I go blind!

UNIT 16: ROOMS IN A HOUSE

I don’t like cats. That’s not really true. I like cats, but they don’t like me. Last week, my friend Sara asked me to babysit her cat for two days while she was out of town. Normally, I would have said no, but she was in a jam, so I said okay.

As I said, cats don’t like me. When I got home from work, I couldn’t find her. I was sure she was hiding from me. I looked all over the house. I started with the bedrooms, looking in the closets and under the bed. I looked in the bathroom, and even behind the shower curtain. I went downstairs and searched the basement. No cat. Next, I looked all over the living room, checking under the couch and behind the TV. I also looked in the pantry (p. de thuc an) and then the laundry room, thinking that the cat must be hiding behind the washer or dryer. Still, no cat.

Finally, I looked in the kitchen. There was the cat. She was sitting on the counter. Somehow she had managed to open a box of cookies and there she sat eating them all. When the cat saw me, she started mewing. I don’t speak the language of cats, but I could have sworn that she was asking me for some milk!

UNIT 17: A FULBRIGHTER

I. Listen and fill in the blanks

We come to the twentieth week of our series on higher education in the United States. Today / we answer two e-mails / from Thailand. A refugee from Burma / and another listener in Thailand / both want to know more / about the Fulbright Program.

The Fulbright Program gives Americans / a chance to study, teach or do research / in other countries. And it gives people in other countries / a chance to do the same / in America.

Fulbright grants / are given to graduate students, scholars and professionals. There is also a Fulbright exchange program / just for teachers and administrators.

Each year / about six thousand people / receive Fulbright grants. The United States government / pays most of the costs. Foreign governments and schools help / by sharing costs / and providing other support.

II. Listen and answer the questions

The Fulbright Program operates / in about one hundred fifty countries. Around two hundred seventy thousand Fulbrighters / have taken part / over the years. Legislation by Senator William Fulbright / established the program / in nineteen forty-six.

He saw educational exchange / as a way to help people understand other ideas and ways of life. Senator Fulbright also believed / the program could educate future world leaders. In nineteen sixty-eight, the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program began. This Fulbright program / brings foreign teachers to the United States / to work with high school or college students.

Two other Fulbright programs / that offer ways to come to the United States / are the foreign student and visiting scholar programs. The Foreign Student Program / brings graduate students / to study and do research / at a college or university. The Visiting Scholar Program / brings foreign experts / to speak and do research / for up to a year.

III. Listen and dictate

The list of countries in the Fulbright Program / changes each year. And the requirements may differ / from country to country. You can learn more about the program / from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs / at the State Department. We have a link / to the program's Web site / at voaspecialenglish.com. Or do a search on the Internet / for "Fulbright Program."
You can also contact the local Fulbright Commission / or American Embassy in your country / for more information.

UNIT 18: THE FOUR SEASONS

I. Listen and fill in the blanks

Hello everyone. Have you ever wondered what the weather is like in other places around the world? Today, I'd like to talk to you about the changing seasons in my city / which was the (2) assigned topic for this class.

First of all, the winter season usually begins in December / and ends in early March. The coldest month is January, and temperatures can drop below freezing for most of this month. The city usually averages about 30 inches of snow / during this entire, 3-month period. Occasionally, we have snow storms / that can drop a foot of snow / in a very short period of time. Winter activities during this season include sledding, skiing, and snowshoeing. (xe trượt tuyết, …, trượt bằng giày

Spring usually arrives in late March, and the temperatures (7) hover around 50 degrees during the day. It is a beautiful season / because the flowers start to bloom. It is sometimes windy, and this is great for flying kites. People in my city / often like to go on (10) picnics, stroll through parks, and play outdoor games.
1 inch = 2.54cm

II. Listen and dictate

Next, summer starts in June, as temperatures slowly rise to around 80 degrees. 2. The summer in my city is very dry with little rain throughout the season, and temperatures can soar above 100 degrees in August. Fortunately, the weather is very dry with low humidity, so it is pleasant even on hot days. Popular activities during this season hiking, fishing, camping, water skiing, and outdoor sports including football and soccer.

And finally, summer changes to fall in late September when the weather cools off, and the trees begin to change colors. A lot of people enjoy driving into the mountains and viewing the fall colors. It is also a time when people clean up their yards and gardens in preparation for the winter season. So, as you can see, my city has a lot to offer no matter when you visit this area.

UNIT 19: DAILY ERRANDS

I've had a really busy day today. I (1) rolled out of bed / at around 7:00 AM, like every morning, and (2)jumped in the shower. After brushing my teeth and shaving, I picked up my morning paper / from the (3) front sidewalk / and started reading it. I like to eat breakfast when I read the paper, so I (4) poured myself a bowl of cereal. At around 7:30, I went into my office / and sat down / to (5) review my to-do list. First, it was off to the post office / to (6) check my P.O. box. Then I went to the (7) public library down the street / to check out some books / I've been meaning to read.

Next stop: the supermarket.

My wife had given me a grocery list as long as your arm of things to pick up. I grabbed a shopping cart and got down to business. After I checked off everything on my list, I headed to the check out stand / to pay for my items.

II. Listen and dictate

But I wasn't done yet. I zipped over to the bank, where I had to make a deposit and withdraw some money from the ATM. Fortunately, the line wasn't too long and I was able to get in and out quickly. My next stop was the pharmacy, where I needed to pick up my prescriptions.
Finally, I headed home again. Now, I have to go to my real job!

UNIT 20: ENGLISH TESTS

1. Listen and fill in the blanks

This week in our Foreign Student Series, we continue our discussion of college entrance exams. So far / we have talked about (1) three tests / that are widely accepted by American schools. These are the (2) SAT, the ACT / and the TOEFL. The TOEFL is the (3) Test of English / as a Foreign Language.
Now we have a question from a student in France / about another test. Cire Kaba plans to enter an American college or university. The question is: when applying to a school in the United States, can the TOEIC / replace the TOEFL? The TOEIC is the Test of English / for International Communication.
The short answer to the question / is no.
Admissions offices at American colleges and universities / generally do not recognize TOEIC results. The same is () true of scholarship and exchange programs as well. But some schools and English programs in the United States / do use the test. So we thought this would be (9) a good chance / to explain the TOEIC.

2. Listen and answer the questions

ETS, the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey, develops and administers both the TOEFL and the TOEIC.
It says the TOEIC measures the everyday English skills of people working in an international environment.
Non-native English speakers take the test to demonstrate their English language skills when applying for jobs.
Organizations also use the TOEIC to measure progress in English training programs.
And they use it to consider people for placement at the right level in language programs.
Several thousand companies, English programs and government agencies use the TOEIC.
The test is offered in about sixty countries.

III. Listen and dictate

The TOEFL is based on English / used in the classroom.
The TOEIC is based on English / used in the workplace.
But the Educational Testing Service says / the test does not require knowledge of special business words.
It says / the questions come from real situations / like attending a company meeting.
The TOEIC measures listening and reading skills -- and, beginning in December,
ETS will offer speaking and writing tests.

UNIT 21: INVESTING YOUR MONEY

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for (1) coming to today’s seminar. We’re going to talk about how to invest your money / and how (2) to maximize those holdings.
First, we’ll talk (3) about market trends / and where to find the best opportunities right now. (4) Getting in on the ground floor / and getting (5) the highest appreciation / is what we all want. A good investor also knows (6) when to divest, and we’ll talk about how to read the (7) warning signs.
Many of you have (8) money in savings, but you want a better (9) rate of return, and you’re willing to (10) speculate a little to get it. We’ll discuss how (11) to diversify your portfolio / to minimize risk / while (12) maximizing your return.
Are you ready to make some money? Let’s get started!

UNIT 23: COLORS

1. Listen and fill in the blanks

Every people has its own way of saying things, its own special expressions. Many everyday American expressions are based on colors.
Red is a hot color. Americans often use it (1) to express heat. They may say they are (2) red hot about something unfair. When they are red hot they are very angry about something. The small (3) hot tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called (4) red hots for their color and their fiery taste. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland jazz.
Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are (5) in the pink when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. It probably comes from the fact (6) that many babies are born with a nice pink color that shows that they are in good health.
Blue is a cool color. The (7) traditional blues music in the United States is the opposite of red hot music. Blues (8) is slow, sad and soulful. Duke Ellington and (9) his orchestra recorded a famous song – Mood Indigo – about the deep blue color, indigo. In the words of the song: “(10) You ain’t been blue till you’ve had that Mood Indigo.” Someone who is blue is very sad.

1. The color green is natural for trees and grass.
2. But it is an unnatural color for humans.
3. A person who has a sick feeling stomach may say she feels a little green.
4. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green.
5. Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has, like a fast new car.
6. That person may say he is green with envy.
7. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks.
8. Dollars are called greenbacks because that is the color of the back side of the paper money.

III. Listen and dictate

1. The color black is used often in expressions.
2. People describe a day in which everything goes wrong as a black day.
3. The date of a major tragedy is remembered as a black day.
4. A blacklist is illegal now.
5. But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.
6. In some cases, colors describe a situation.
7. A brown out is an expression for a reduction in electric power.
8. Brown outs happen when there is too much demand for electricity.
9. The electric system is unable to offer all the power needed in an area.
10. Black outs were common during World War Two.
11. Officials would order all lights in a city turned off to make it difficult for enemy planes to find a target in the dark of night.

A NEW YEAR'S CRUISE

My friends and I decided to do something a little different this year. Instead of going to a crowded club or throwing a party on New Year’s Eve, we decided to take a harbor cruise instead. The cruise would be four hours long, and it included dinner, music, dancing, and a great view of the fireworks. On that day, we drove to the marina and we were among the first to board the ship. This was no little boat. It was a large ship with an upper and a lower deck. The crew helped us get on board and showed us where the life jackets were in case of an emergency. Even the captain came out to welcome the passengers. We had a great time. I didn’t get seasick as I’d feared, and we didn’t have to call out the Coast Guard, either. We had so much fun, we didn’t want to go back on shore. Finally, the captain joked that if we didn’t leave, he’d make us walk the plank!

UNIT 22: WATCHING THE TV NEWS
Anchor: Good evening. I’m Gary Singh and this is the evening news. Tonight, we’ll have a special report from our field reporter, Monique Sanders, on the latest developments in the Eddie Litton (2) court case. And in our (3) feature segment, we’ll go to Arizona to interview the world’s fattest dog, weighing 210 pounds! We’ll also have this week’s weather and the latest on sports. (ct dac biet)
But first, our top story: A man (5) suspected of murdering his business partner led the police on a (6) high-speed chase through downtown this afternoon. Reporting live from downtown Los Angeles is Tanisha Gray. Tanisha?

Tanisha: Thanks, Gary. About three hours ago, the police (7) cordoned off (bao vay) a half-mile area around City Hall after (8) the suspect ran into one of the City Hall offices and took two (9) women as hostages. After a nearly two-hour stand-off, (an binh) the (10) suspect surrendered. Neither of the two women was hurt and the suspect is now in police custody (giu). Back to you, Gary, in the studio.
Anchor: Thanks for that report, Tanisha. We’ll have more for you as this story develops.

Nguyen Hong Anh, M.A. in TESOL

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

OBAMA'S SPEECHES

Monday, November 10, 2008

Tapescript For A208

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Grammar Review

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