VOA-Learning English

Review on VOA Learning English

Voice of America (VOA) is a U.S government funded international multimedia agency. It is the largest U.S international broadcaster site. It produces digital, TV and radio content in more than 40 languages which helps to affiliate this site around the world. In terms of English language learning, VOA multimedia site plays an important role. The different sources or news of this site motivates the EFL learners to learn English. The Learning English began as Special English, which Voice of America launched in 1959. Special English newscasts and features were a primary fixture of VOA’s international shortwave broadcasts for more than half a century. In 2014, it expanded to include more English teaching materials, and the service became known as Learning English.

Learning English is VOA’s multimedia source of news and information for millions of English learners worldwide. All the input of this site maintained with a specific category or level, different levels like Beginning level, Intermediate level and advanced level. In beginning level, programs are designed for beginning English learners. All the materials are certified by American English teachers. There is a program like, ‘Ask a Teacher’. In this program learners can ask question and teachers will answer them. In Intermediate level, Learners absorb American English through content drawn from U.S. and world news, Health and Lifestyle, Science and Technology, Arts and Culture, and other topics. All the materials are designed like that a learner can easily build vocabulary, strengthen speaking skills and improve the ability to communicate for work, school and everyday life. In advanced level, learners can read classic literature with American Stories, learn idioms and expressions with Words, follow innovations and trends in Education in the U.S. and around the world. 

This multimedia source produces some follow up activity which is very interesting. These activities are English in a minute, English @ the movies, Everyday Grammar TV, News words, Lets learn English level-1;2,  News literacy.

In English in a minute, a short one minute video explains about a word meaning or an expression used in American English. this is very helpful activity for the learner who is interested to learn quickly without any pressure of time management. Another interesting activity is English@ the movies, it comes with a short video explaining a term heard in a current movie. It helps to learn a word or term by an act. Everyday Grammar TV is a activity that shares video series to teach grammar for learners of American English. In News words activity, a short video explains a word or term which is used in news stories quite often. Let's Learn English-Level 1 activity, this is a designed course for beginners. The course continues for 52 weeks. Each week, there will be a new lesson with video showing the lives of young Americans. The lesson includes instruction in speaking, vocabulary and writing. There are also printable worksheets, assessments and lesson plans for individual learners and English teachers. It encourages a learner to follow the weekly lessons and share progress through comments or email. Let's Learn English-Level 2 activity, this is a designed course for intermediate learners. Each week, there will be a new lesson with a video showing the lives of young Americans. The lesson includes instruction in speaking, vocabulary, and writing. The activity ‘Let’s Teach English’ is a video series offers free online training for English language educators worldwide. It is based on the Women Teaching Women English text for adult, beginning level learners. There are some audio programs based on History, Arts & culture, Health & Lifestyle, Science & technology, Trending topics, Learning English Broadcast: it is a daily thirty minutes program. Another activity is Take the VOA challenge, it has partnered with EF Standard English test to provide English learners with a 15-minute test to assess reading and listening skills. All the clips and episodes are available and easily accessible.

All the programs of Learning English are broadcasted on radio and satellite TV, it has everyday series program. It also posted all the programs at their Youtube channel, Facebook page, Twitter and Google+ account. These materials are easily accessible, anyone can go through with all the materials from any device with just internet connection. If anyone one want to use these materials for their own purpose, one have to ask for permission through email session ‘Request for content’. Later on, they will provide the material with the proper copyright. The way of presenting the materials are so interesting and creative that it motivates a learner to learn a foreign language. All the materials are multimedia based and comes with interesting pictures, diagrams. All the videos are so informative and captioned with news reports that are read at a slower speed. These videos are very helpful for the beginners and intermediate learners. Learners can build vocabulary, strengthen speaking skills and improve the ability to communicate for work, school and everyday life. In ‘What it Takes’ activity, it podcasts the conversation of well-known people from almost every field. The interviews have been recorded over the past 25 years by the American Academy of Achievement. It offers life stories of people who have had a huge impact on the world. This session is the great inspirational activity for the learners.

Learning English is VOA’s multimedia source and this source maintained the friendliness. This source interacts with the learners through emails or comments and text in different social media sectors. It has no age limitation, no social restriction and very simple to navigate. All the input is presented in an organized way and with a specific goal. The task or activity challenges are also organized in a specific manner with time limit and proper instruction. But it will be more interesting if they add some interesting question related pictures in the reading activity.

A foreign language learning became a most difficult task for a learner if she or he didn’t maintain the proper stage of language learning. VOA’s Learning English helps the EFL learners to learn English by maintaining different levels. It motivates a learner to learn English with their interesting and modified materials.