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Hello.  I’m Jim Tedder in Washington.  On today’s program, we hear about some children who are learning not only reading, writing, and arithmetic, but are also being told about real monsters that may live in their back yards.  Then we are off, once again, to the South China Sea.  It is fishing season, and tensions are rising.  We will tell you why.  The Voice of America, As It Is, and you.  What a nice combination!   Of all animals that live both on land ...

From VOA Learning English, this is The Making of a Nation – American history in VOA Special English. I’m Steve Ember.   This week in our series, we tell about relations between the American colonies and Britain after the French and Indian War about two hundred fifty years ago.   The French and Indian War was one part of a world conflict between Britain and France. It was fought to decide which of the two powerful nations would control North America.   The British defeated the ...

"Harry used to have a busy social life." Does Harry still have a busy social life? Find out how to use "used to" in our latest Basics exercise.

"That trip to the beach cemented our friendship."

Have you got a problem? Take this quiz and learn how to talk about it. Quiz: 19 June 2013

Many English learners will eventually take one of the following tests: TOEFL, TOEIC, IETLS or Cambridge FCE / Proficiency. These tests are needed for a number of purposes qualifying English skills for university admission, job requirements, etc. Which test you choose depends on your needs. Here in the USA, the two most common tests are the TOEFL and the IELTS. This guide to making the decision between IELTS or TOEFL will help you understand the differences. Make sure make a wise choice before you take a test to ensure that your qualification will meet your needs.

Which Test Should I Take? originally appeared on About.com English as 2nd Language on Wednesday, June 19th, 2013 at 14:04:50.

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Thousands march in Brazilian cities to protest about public transport costs and the expense of the World Cup. Video Words in the News: 19 June 2013

1. Obsessive interest in words. 2. Excessive and often incoherent talking.

lout: a man or boy who behaves in a rude...

Topics: Famous songs: "Three Blind Mice"; Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park; incoming versus oncoming versus upcoming; featured; to fill in versus to fill out

Words:
nursery rhyme
round
to harmonize
carving knife
obscure
volcano
to erupt
lava
archipelago
caldera
awesome
to marvel
incoming
oncoming
upcoming
featured
to fill in
to fill out

balk: to stop, as at an obstacle, and refuse to proceed or to do something specified.

This cartoon by Morten Morland from The Times shows UK Prime Minister David Cameron presenting the final communiqué at the end of the G8 summit in Northern Ireland. He predicts that trade will flow, corporations will pay tax—and the weather will stop being weird.

COMMENTARY
Although Cameron succeeded in persuading his fellow G8 members to sign the Lough Erne declaration, a commitment to end corporate tax evasion and clear up tax havens, the cartoonist shows he is sceptical about the chances of this happening by adding the comment about the weather (which, of course, Cameron did not say anything about). In fact, a group of leading scientists and meteorologists meeting at the Met Office on Tuesday to discuss the UK's unusual weather patterns in recent years predicted that Britain could expect “a cycle of wetter summers” for up to the next ten years. Read more >>

VOCABULARY
1. If you describe something as weird (rhymes with 'cheered'), you mean that it is very strange or unusual and difficult to explain. • He's got some really weird ideas.
2. A communiqué (pronounced 'communikay') is an official statement or report, especially to the media.

Related articles How tax havens stole your money Met Office experts meet to analyse 'unusual' weather patterns Global leaders to tackle tax evasion at G8 summit, but 'naming and shaming' strategy appears to be shelved Hottest Day Of The Year Expected PM vows 'tax justice' after G8 deal

Australian Leanne Rowe suffered a head injury in a car crash eight years ago, leaving her with a rare case of Foreign Accent Syndrome and an unwelcome French accent. Miriam Berger reports. 

TRANSCRIPT
REPORTER: Leanne Rowe, a born and bred Tasmanian, used to speak like most other Australians. But eight years ago a bus crash forever changed her life - leaving her with a French accent. The rare condition is known as Foreign Accent Syndrome - and Rowe says that it has made her feel anxious, depressed and reclusive.
LEANNE ROWE: "I prefer night time because its very peaceful. Not many people about."
REPORTER: University of Sydney psychologist, Dr Karen Croot, says the syndrome is caused by tissue damage to area of the brain responsible for speech.
PSYCHOLOGIST, DR KAREN CROOT: "It's just an accident, an accident of chance that happens to that person. That what happens to their speech, happens to overlap with the features of a known accent."
REPORTER: Dr Robert Newton has been the Rowe family doctor for decades.
LEANNE ROWE'S DOCTOR, ROBERT NEWTON: "She turned up after having a nasty head injury eight years ago speaking with a French accent. I couldn't believe my ears."
REPORTER: But the rarity of her situation does not comfort Rowe, who is still awaiting a formal diagnosis.
LEANNE ROWE SAYING: "It makes me so angry because I am Australian. I am not French."
REPORTER: There have been only 62 cases of Foreign Accent Syndrome recorded globally in the last 70 years, including two Australians.

Related articles Watch Australian woman speak with French accent after suffering serious head injury in car crash Australian Woman has French Accent Following Car Accident, Foreign Accent Syndrome to Blame Accident leaves woman with French accent Rare foreign accent disorder baffles Australian Woman Leanne Rowe's Accent Turns French After Car Accident; Only 62 People Diagnosed With Foreign Accent Syndrome In Last 70 Years

The Guardian reports that a parliamentary commission says bank bosses should face prosecution if their actions lead to bailouts. Full story >>

VOCABULARY
If you say that someone is reckless, you mean that they act in a way which shows that they do not care about danger or the effect their behaviour will have on other people. • He is charged with causing death by reckless driving.

I’m Susan Clark with Words and Their Stories, a program in Special English on the Voice of America.   People often say that money talks. They mean that a person with a lot of money can say how he or she wants things done. But it is not easy to earn enough money to gain this kind of power. Ask anyone in a business. They will tell you that it is a jungle out there. The expression probably began because the jungle is filled with wild animals and unknown dangers that threaten people. ...

Also, before the International Space Station, Skylab led the way for long-term space flight | As It Is

The podcast for 19 June 2013 comes from our Debate section. You'll hear the Spotlight Audio presenters discuss a food scandal in Britain, and you'll find out what two people on the streets of Peterborough, England, have to say about it.

"I won't know until next week if I've got the job, but it looks promising."

Who's a big fish in a small pond? Find out in Today's Phrase. Today's Phrase: 18 June 2013

guise: a way in which somebody/something appears...