Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for Spotlight’s Listener Mail program! I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. Spotlight 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 today’s Spotlight listener mail program! You may have been listening to Spotlight for a long time. You may have been listening to Spotlight for only a few weeks. Or maybe this is the first Spotlight program you have ever heard! Well, whether you have been listening for a long time or a short time, we have got a special treat for you today! And it’s all because of Semion from Israel! Semion wrote us an e-mail. He wrote:
Voice 3
“Hello! I’m enjoying listening to your programs! I started listening to Spotlight only a half a year ago. And I’m interested in what was in the first Spotlight program. Is it possible to get it?”
Voice 1
Semion, your question got us thinking! The idea for Spotlight began in 1996 - more than ten years ago! And in that time, Spotlight has changed a lot! Today, we would like to take you on a journey. We will explore a little bit of Spotlight’s history. And we will even listen to parts of our very first program ever! Keep listening!
Voice 2
The idea for Spotlight came from a man named Mike Procter. In fact, you may recognize his name and voice! Mike has worked on many Spotlight programs.
Voice 1
In the mid 90’s Mike was working in Cyprus. There, he heard some radio programs from Voice of America. These programs were in Special English. This method of broadcasting is easier for people to understand. The Voice of America broadcasts news stories. But Mike believed that he could also use the method to share Christian ideas!
Voice 2
So, Mike closely studied this broadcasting method. In the beginning, Mike produced programs himself. He asked a few people he knew to read parts of the script with him. Voices in the first program came from the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and the United States. Radio stations broadcast Mike’s first program in October of 1999.
Voice 1
This program was fifteen [15] minutes long - just like Spotlight. It used a special English method of broadcasting - just like Spotlight. But the very first program sounds different than a Spotlight program you would hear today! The original structure of the first Specialized English programs was different. In the first programs, Mike combined three unrelated subjects into one program. But today, each Spotlight program concentrates on only one particular subject. This way, we can include more information and explore a subject more carefully.
Voice 2
Mike’s first program was not called Spotlight. Instead, he called it “a program in Specialized English.” But in 2001, this Specialized English program got its name - Spotlight.
Voice 1
The first program to use the name Spotlight was the program “Responses to Suffering.” This program told about different ways people react to tragedies and sad events. This was Spotlight’s 86th program. A few programs later, we explained why we chose the name “Spotlight” for our Specialized English program. So, why is our program called Spotlight?
Voice 2
In the program, “Spotlights,” we explained that a spotlight is a strong and narrow beam, or line, of light. Spotlights can help people find things. They can place importance on a subject. A spotlight often shows a performer on a theatre stage. A spotlight can also help to lead people or show people the way. In a news story, a presenter can also “spotlight” a particular subject. He concentrates on one particular issue - like we do in our Spotlight programs.
Voice 1
But here is another important way that people can think about the word spotlight. It is a deeper meaning. In the Bible, Jesus says he is the light of the world. He is like a light that leads us to safety. He is a light showing us the important things in life - like love, peace, and justice.
Voice 2
When people read the Bible, they can know more about Jesus and God. This knowledge can help us to shine God’s light in the world. We call our program Spotlight because we believe that God’s light can shine into every part of life. God’s light can shine in science, art and culture, stories, technology or anything! Our programs try to show how God’s light shines in our world.
Voice 1
In his e-mail, Semion also asked if we will ever repeat our first Spotlight program. The answer is probably no. The name is different, the structure is different, and the subjects are no longer fresh. But, so that you can hear it, here is a short part of that first program. We hope you enjoy this short journey into the past!
“Welcome to our program in Specialised English. I’m Mike Procter. This program uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand - no matter where in the world they live.
In today’s program we will tell about slang words and how the word Christian first came into use. And we have some information about an interesting internet website for movie lovers. But first here is Anne Rajoo with some thoughts about the future of radio. Anne comes from the country of Malaysia.
Have you noticed how much radio has changed in recent years? International radio especially is different...
...From all of us in the Specialised English team, happy listening!
English speakers often use slang words and sayings. These are common but they are not one hundred [100] percent correct use of English. Here is Lee De Young:
One of the things that makes it hard to learn another language is the use of “slang”. “Slang” is the way we often speak in our....
...who believe in him, and try to live like him. It is the same in every language, no matter what word you use...
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