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 Jacek Tomaszczyk from Poland. He writes;
Voice 3
‘Hello. I am writing on behalf of a Polish Christian website. We would like to create a Free English course based on some of your Internet programs. Our aim is to teach people English and religious values. Could you give us permission to use the scripts of Spotlight Radio on our website? We would put a link to your service with our podcasts.’
Voice 1
Thanks for writing Jacek. I know that the Spotlight office has already been in touch with you about this. Generally we are happy to have other websites use Spotlight materials, but like to be asked. So thank you for asking us first. We will put a link to your site on the script page of this programme on our own website.
Voice 1
Our star letter today is from Patrice. She writes,
Voice 2
‘I am writing to you about ‘Thirteen Healthy Habits. When I was young, twenty years [20] old, my weight was seventy two [72] kilos. At the age of forty [40], it was eighty six [86] kilos! So I thought I must begin serious exercise. I began running. At first I ran two kilometres. Then, five kilometres. And finally I completed ten kilometres. I run two times a week. Today my weight is seventy three [73] kilos. I have been running for two years. And I have improved my health and well being.’
Voice 1
So, congratulations to Patrice! That is great! Your weight loss has lowered the risk of heart disease! And you have increased your chances of a long healthy life! How did you find the ten kilometre race? Was it difficult? I ask because Marina and I did a ten kilometre last month! We did not find it easy! But, we felt very satisfied at finishing the race! Marina and I hope to complete another race in the near future. Entering races gives us something to aim for. And so, it is easier to keep fit and healthy! Do let us know if you run any more races! Yes, we would like to hear about all of your sporting successes! Write and tell us: radio @ english . net
Voice 2
Our next letter comes from Alberto-Florence in Italy. He wrote requesting some older programmes. We were able to put some of these on our website, but not all. He writes;
Voice 4
‘Please remember I would like programme one one six seven about Global Warming. I know there are other programmes about the same issue. But I fell in love with THAT very one because:
Firstly it is the first mp3 Spotlight programme I ever used to teach to a Japanese female student. Thanks to some other Spotlight programmes she later got married - they were “The Kindness Movement” and “Succeeding in Marriage.”’
Voice 2
Wow, that’s great Alberto - congratulations to your student! We hope she has a long and happy marriage! Alberto continues with his second reason for wanting the Global Warming programme;
Voice 4
‘It is the first one I listened to with my older child. He was, and is, very interested in protecting the environment. And so he became very interested in learning English. (This way he could) better understand your programmes about the environment.’
The third reason is I have another Japanese female student. She is a friend of the first one. I would like her to experience the very same things that worked miracles in her friend.’
Voice 2
Well, Alberto - these are the best reasons I have ever heard for wanting a programme! I will personally put in a request to our website manager for you! Thanks for writing! And we hope you and your students continue to enjoy Spotlight!
Voice 1
Our next letter is from a listener in Ecuador. Luz is eighteen years old. She writes:
Voice 2
“I want to say that you have an excellent programme. It would be wonderful if we had more programmes like this. I really enjoy all the programmes. But the most striking programme was the one about water.”
Voice 1
Luz is talking about our programme, “Clean Water For All”. This programme talked about ways of providing clean water for people in great need of it. Luz goes on to explain why this programme affected her so much:
Voice 2
‘The week I heard your programme, I had travelled to Daule. This is a small town in the area of Guayas. I saw that they do not have any clean water there. They only have water from the river and from the tanquero. This is a truck that brings water. What a difficult way of life.’”
Voice 1
Luz also wrote to us about her future. Luz is a very skilled at playing the piano. And, she has just finished one year’s music study. Before that, she had started to train as a doctor. And she planned to return to her medical training after completing her music study. However, Luz is not sure about her future anymore. She would love to continue studying music. But she would still like some sort of medical job too. This would please her family. Luz faces some difficult choices! And she asks for some advice.
Voice 1
Well, it is good that you have people around to advise you about your future Luz. But deciding about the ‘Big Things’ in life can be very difficult. You may find it helpful to ask God to guide you. Many people do. And we at Spotlight will pray that God will show you the best path to take.
Voice 2
Our next letter comes from south eastern Europe. Joshua works as an English teacher in Kosovo. Kosovo is next to Albania. And recently, Joshua met a worker from Albania’s Radio Seven. This radio station broadcasts Spotlight every day. Joshua was interested to find out more. He writes:
Voice 3
“I work in Kosovo…along with another Christian worker, I am responsible for six hours of Christian programmes on a local radio station. I would be interested in using your programmes on the radio. Could you let me know what is involved in this process?”
Voice 2
Well Joshua, again, I know the office has written to you. Spotlight is on about seventy radio stations worldwide, but we are always pleased to add more. So thank you for giving us a chance say this to all our listeners on the Internet: If you know a radio station near you that you think should broadcast Spotlight, please, tell them about us.
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