Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight’s Listener Mail program. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Ryan Geertsma. 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
Have you ever thought about changing the world? We may see many things in our communities that we want to change. But, how can we begin to change things? In today’s Listener Mail Program we will hear from three young people who want to change the world. They each heard a Spotlight program that made them want to make their world better. And in the hodgepodge, we will hear a famous saying about change. Keep listening!
Voice 2
Recently, a group of students from the Dalat English Speaking Club in Vietnam wrote to Spotlight. Members of this club meet together and listen to Spotlight programs. In this letter, the students told us about their favorite Spotlight programs. We noticed a similarity in some of these letters. These students wanted to change the world!
Voice 1
Our first letter comes from Hanh. Hahn wrote about the Human Speechome Project. In that program we told about Professor Roy. He is studying his son as his son learns to speak. Professor Roy records his son as he learns. He hopes to learn more about exactly how people learn language. Hahn heard this program and wrote to us.
Voice 3
“I had never known about the Human Speechome Project before. Although, I usually wondered how we could speak, who taught us so many words and so on, I had no time to find out the answers... When I was young, I used to dream of a speaking robot - a machine that acts like a human. Now I think it is totally possible for it to come true. Today I have another dream. Someday I will make myself a robot that can talk, can feel, and can act like a real person.”
Voice 2
Those are some very interesting goals, Hahn. It is great to ask questions like these. Good questions are the first step to developing new things. Professor Roy began by asking how people learn language. And now, he is studying it! We hope you continue to ask questions and look for new, interesting solutions!
Voice 1
Our next e-mail is from Ngoc. She wrote about the program “International Day of Disabled Persons.” Disabled people may have a physical or mental difference from a person with normal abilities. A disabled person may be blind or deaf, or have a brain that works differently in some way. In many communities, people treat disabled people as less important, and less valuable than other people. Many people with disabilities have suffered greatly because of these attitudes and opinions. The International Day of Disabled Persons, December third, is a day to think about issues that disabled people face. It is a day to examine our opinions about disabilities and think about ways to create equality for all people. Ngoc says:
Voice 4
“This is a day that people cannot forget. After this program, I think I have to do something. But, I am really sorry, because I do not know what to do. I hope Spotlight has some suggestions about what I can do!”
Voice 2
We are very glad that this program inspired you to change your life and the lives of the people in your community! And we definitely have some suggestions about what you can do!
Voice 1
In that program we said that changing peoples’ attitudes, or opinions, about disabilities is one big step. It sounds simple, but changing attitudes can be a very difficult job! However, people can make a difference in small and big ways.
Voice 2
It is easy to make small changes in your own ways of thinking. Do you ever hear people tell jokes about disabled people? Or have you seen disabled people treated unfairly in your community? At times like these it is easy to stay quiet. But you can speak up! Do not laugh at the joke. Tell other people the things you have learned about disabled people. You may be surprised that other people will join you!
Voice 1
There are also ways you can make big differences! You can lead by example. Do you know any disabled people in your community? Talk with them. Look for ways to support them. Look for ways to improve the treatment of disabled people in your community. Look for ways to include disabled people in your life. But most of all treat disabled people with respect. And encourage the people around you to do the same.
Voice 2
We hope you are able to inspire this change in others around you too! Good luck!
Voice 1
Ngoc’s letter leads us to today’s Hodgepodge! Today we will look at a popular saying. This saying is from Mohandas Gandhi. Many people want to make a difference in the world. But who knows where to start? The job can seem too big! But this saying from Gandhi might help people get a start. The saying says:
Voice 5
“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”
Voice 2
Many times we believe that we have to be loud or show violence for people to hear us. We want to spread our message quickly and powerfully. But people do not need to be loud, violent, “important” or skilled at speaking. They only need to act.
Voice 5
“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”
Voice 1
Gandhi’s saying encourages people to show their message through the ways they act. Helping and respecting people with disabilities in your community is an example. You may not have to say anything. Instead, your actions have shown how you believe people should act.
Voice 2
That is all for today’s hodgepodge! We hope that we have inspired you to be the change you want to see in the world!
Voice 1
And we are happy to see that Thy is also hoping to change the world!
Voice 6
“I have listened to the program “World AIDS Day: Leadership.” I feel sad for the people who have this disease. When I grow up, I will join an organization to help them and to help change others’ attitudes towards HIV and AIDS. In my country, we have some organizations but I want to help all the victims in the world.”
Voice 2
We encourage you in your goal to help people with HIV, Thy. Changing attitudes is very difficult. But it is also very important! People in every country need help in this area. We hope that you can be a leader in your community. We are excited to see how you become the change you want to see in your community!
Voice 1
That is all for today’s listener Mail Program. Do you have any suggestions for the students in today’s program? We would love to hear them! Write to us at radio @ english . net. And remember, like Gandhi said: You must be the change you want to see in the world!
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