Voice 1
Hello. I’m Ruby Jones
Voice 2
And I’m Marina Santee. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Welcome to our listener mail programme. We begin with a letter from Safal in Nepal. Safal manages a young people’s group in Kathmandu. He writes about their newest project,
Voice 3
‘We just launched our internet magazine. It is from Nepal. Teensansar.com is our site. We are starting it for teens around the world.’
Voice 1
Thanks for sending this information, Safal. The website looks very interesting. I see that teenagers produce the website too! This is a good idea! They know their audience best - as they are part of it. The website looks like a good place to share ideas and thoughts about teenage life! It also looks like a good place to talk about problems. This is so important in our world today. After all, young people are the future! We need to look after them!
Voice 2
Yes we do! You know the United Nations have given young people their own day? And it is in August. It was last week. August the twelfth is International Youth Day. People everywhere celebrate the work of young people. They talk about particular problems affecting young people too. This year the central idea was ‘Be Seen, Be heard, Youth participation for development.’
People all over the world organise different events. It is a chance for people to recognise young people’s abilities and possible great futures! One particular concern is to get young people involved in development work. They plan events that will show young people how they can do this. The idea is that the young people should be included in decision making - at local, national and international levels! How did you celebrate International Youth Day in your country? Write and tell us.
radio @ english . net.
Voice 1
Our next letter is about our programme, ‘Hitting Children.’
Voice 4
‘Thanks to Spotlight radio. And thanks to the producer and writer Ryan Geertsma for broadcasting today’s programme, “Hitting Children”.’
Voice 2
‘Hitting Children’ talks about people’s different ideas on punishment for children. In particular, it looks at the situation in New Zealand. The government there recently created a new law. It is now illegal for parents to hit their children. This has caused protests and much debate. Some people said that parenting has nothing to do with the government. Other people have welcomed the new law. What do you think about this issue? Are you a parent? How do you teach your children right from wrong? Write and tell us!
Our next letter is from Jorge Castro. He is a parent. He and his wife, Vilma, have two daughters. They live in Ecuador, South America. Two months ago, Jorge was taking his daughters to school. He was searching for some FM stations on his radio. And, to his surprise, he found Spotlight! Jorge writes:
Voice 5
‘It was the first time that I had the chance to listen to so much English in my country.’
Voice 2
Jorge does not just listen to Spotlight programmes for his enjoyment. He had the idea of using his English skills to help other learners. He says:
Voice 5
‘Your programmes encouraged me to try for a job as an English teacher. This position was at my daughter’s school. They decided to give me the job!’
Voice 2
As a teacher, Jorge believes that learning is very important. And he has decided to use his education to help people living in his area. A good education improves a person’s chances of finding a job. Jorge explains more:
Voice 5
‘I live in a poor area. And I have started teaching English classes in my home. I find that in today’s international world, there are not many chances for people to find work. It is even harder for people who do not speak a second language, like English. Most people speak English in the world of business, science and technology. I want to help people by teaching them this very nice language. For many years, I did not feel like continuing my English studies. But, thanks to your Spotlight programmes, I have started again.’
Voice 2
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us, Jorge. We are happy that you find Spotlight programmes so useful. And we wish you every success as you serve the people of your area in this very helpful way.
Voice 1
Well, that is nearly all we have time for - Oh! I’m very sorry!
Voice 2
What is the matter with you? Are you tired?
Voice 1
Yes, a bit. I did not sleep very well last night. And I cannot survive without much sleep. I must be getting old.
Voice 2
Well, listen to today’s hodgepodge. You may hear some good advice about how to stay young!
Everybody gets older. It is a fact. Over the years, some people wrote down their thoughts about the time when we are young - youth - and about old age. Is being older - and wiser - to do with time or experience? Here are some sayings. Do you agree with them?
Voice 3
“In youth we learn. In age, we understand.”
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
Voice 6
“It takes a long time to become young.”
Pablo Picasso
Voice 5
“Youth is wasted on the young.”
George Bernard Shaw
Voice 5
“It is easy to trick young people. They are too quick to believe in things.”
Aristotle
Voice 2
“Youth is the time of life when you can feel hopeless. The end of every experience can seem like the end of the world. But during this, we learn the power of hope. We learn that the heart can survive anything. And that can give us courage as we grow older.”
GK Chesterton
Voice 1
Well, those sayings are very interesting. And I do not feel so bad about getting old now - I think!
Voice 2
Good. Well that really is all we have time for today. Thank you for listening!
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