Voice 1
Hello and welcome to Spotlight. I'm Steve Myersco.
Voice 2
And I'm Ruby Jones. 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! This is the time when we hear from the most important people in Spotlight - our listeners!
Voice 2
Many of you have been visiting the Spotlight website at http://www.Radio.English.net. One of the aims of the website is to give listeners a chance to comment directly on our programmes. We enjoy reading your comments a lot. They help us to know what subjects interest or excite you. This helps us to know better what kind of programmes to produce.
Voice 1
Two recent programmes have had very interesting comments! The first one is called "Creating Leaders in Africa." It describes the African Leadership Academy. A man called Fred Swaniker started this school. He was concerned about the many young Africans leaving the continent. These young people did not think that Africa held any hope or future for them. So they looked for jobs overseas. This troubled Fred Swaniker. He believed that leaders in society should encourage these young Africans to stay. They could use their skills to improve their own countries. The young people needed a place to learn, a place to grow together - a place that would develop them into the leaders of the future! So, Fred talked to teachers and business men about his idea. And in 2008, the African Leadership Academy started.
Voice 2
The idea of such a school created interest among our listeners. Vherito wrote:
Voice 3
"When we are young, we often do not have enough money to study what we want. This can trouble us, and little by little we lose our skills. We then become unhappy adults and bad workers. The idea of this academy is so great! I would have liked to have had this chance in my country. However, it encourages me to do something with my knowledge - to help young people to be better."
Voice 1
Another programme that caused listeners to comment was also about Africa. It is called "Justice: The Story of Mapule Ramashala."
Voice 2
Mapule is from South Africa. She grew up during the time of Apartheid law. This system kept people of different races or skin colours separate. Life was especially difficult for non-white South Africans. Mapule is a black South African. And, she suffered many injustices under the Apartheid laws. In 1994, Apartheid finally came to an end. Since that time, Mapule has worked to heal the pain it caused.
Augusto from Ecuador commented on the programme. He wrote:
Voice 4
"The story of Mapule is like a film! I would like to know her because of the way that she forgave people - people who caused so much physical and mental damage to black people! I was very surprised how she could forgive and not find the white people guilty when she had the legal power to do this. She accepted the idea that people should recognize their wrong acts. This is something we can learn - to look at the future of South Africa in a new way. Thanks to Spotlight for letting me know about horrible acts that happen in other countries. This makes me value the peaceful situation in my country!
Voice 2
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Augusto. You are right - Mapule's story is an amazing one. And we can learn much from other people's experiences - good and bad.
Voice 1
And now it is time for today's Hodgepodge!
Voice 2
The subject of today's Hodgepodge comes from a listener's letter. Cecilia Castro wrote to us to say:
Voice 3
‘I am a listener of Spotlight. It is an interesting programme which helps me to improve my English learning. I am learning a lot of vocabulary and phrasal verbs.'
Voice 2
We hope you are enjoying learning phrasal verbs, Cecilia. They can be very difficult! Here is more on phrasal verbs:
Voice 1
Well, a phrasal verb is usually two words together that combine to mean something new. The meaning of the two words together can be very different to the meaning of the individual words.
Voice 2
One example of a phrasal verb is to ‘look after'. ‘Look after' means to care for something or someone. This is very different from the individual meanings of the words ‘look' and ‘after'.
Voice 1
Another phrasal verb is to ‘hang out'. To hang out means something very different than just to hang. ‘Hang out' means to spend time with someone.
Voice 2
When using phrasal verbs like this, it is very important that you use the right words together. This is because if you use the wrong word it can mean something completely different! Often it is not clear why one combination of words has a particular meaning.
Voice 1
For example, we know that hang out is very different to just hang. But ‘hang out' is also very different to ‘hang up', or ‘hang on'. ‘Hang up' means to end a telephone call. ‘Hang on' means to wait for a short time. So you see why learning phrasal verbs can be difficult!
Voice 2
And that is the end of this week's hodgepodge. But do not leave us yet. ‘Stick around'- that means stay here - and listen to the rest of the programme.
Voice 1
Our last letter comes from Amanda Lucia from Ecuador. She wrote:
Voice 4
‘Hello Spotlight people. Thanks, every day I listen to the radio programme. It is wonderful. I feel like I am in a family with all the people who read the text. My English is progressing.'
Voice 1
Thank you for your letter, Amanda. It is nice to hear you feel like you are in a Spotlight family. You may be interested to hear about another way to be a part of the Spotlight community. We have a Facebook group. This is an internet group for all the Spotlight listeners who use the Facebook website. It is easy to join if you are a Facebook user. Just search for Spotlight Radio. The group also makes it easy to tell your friends about Spotlight.
Voice 2
That is all we have time for in this month's Listener Mail. Remember you can e-mail us at radio @ english . net.
Voice 1
The writers of this programme were Ruby Jones and Steve Myersco. The producer was Ruby Jones. The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom and the United States. All quotes were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. Thank you for listening. Until next time, goodbye. |