Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Welcome President Hu Jintao!



VOAVideo: Obama Hosts Hu in State Visit

Military bands and a 21-gun salute were part of the welcome for China's President Hu Jintao as he began the first White House state visit by a Chinese leader in 13 years.

WH.gov: China State Visit Arrival Ceremony (full video approx. 30 min)

President Obama welcomes President Hu Jintao to the White House for a state visit in an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn. January 19, 2011.

wh.gov: Presidents Obama, Hu Meet with Business Leaders (video 10 min)

President Obama and President Hu of China meet with American and Chinese business leaders at a roundtable meeting in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. January 19, 2011.

WH.gov: President Obama and President Hu Press Conference (video 70 min)

President Obama and President Hu Jintao of China hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House. January 19, 2011.

WH.gov: State Visit Working Lunch at the State Department (video 21 min)

Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcome President Hu Jintao of China to the State Department for a lunch during President Hu's state visit. January 19, 2011.

WH.gov: State Dinner with President Hu of China (video 16 min)

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host President Chu of China at a State Dinner at the White House. January 19, 2011.

VOANews: Obama, Hu Vow Increased Cooperation

U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, on Wednesday stressed the need to cooperate - even while acknowledging differences on trade, China's currency, and human rights.

President Obama's speech:

At a time when some doubt the benefits of cooperation between the United States and China, this visit is also a chance to demonstrate a simple truth. We have an enormous stake in each other’s success. In an interconnected world, in a global economy, nations -- including our own -- will be more prosperous and more secure when we work together.

The United States welcomes China’s rise as a strong, prosperous and successful member of the community of nations. Indeed, China’s success has brought with it economic benefits for our people as well as yours, and our cooperation on a range of issues has helped advance stability in the Asia Pacific and in the
world.

We also know this: History shows that societies are more harmonious, nations are more successful, and the world is more just, when the rights and responsibilities of all nations and all people are upheld, including the universal rights of every human being.

Mr. President, we can learn from our people. Chinese and American students and educators, business people, tourists, researchers and scientists, including Chinese Americans who are here today —- they work together and make progress together every single day. They know that even as our nations compete in some areas, we can cooperate in so many others, in a spirit of mutual respect, for our mutual benefit.

What Deng Xiaoping said long ago remains true today. There are still great possibilities for cooperation between our countries. President Hu, members of the Chinese delegation, let us seize these possibilities together. Welcome to the United States of America. Hwan-ying. (Applause.)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Anxious Students Gain on Tests by Writing About Fears

VOA Learning English: Anxious Students Gain on Tests by Writing About Fears

A new study offers a possible solution for students who waste brainpower on worrying about exams EDUCATION REPORT

Monday, January 17, 2011

MLK Day!

USCitizenpod's MLK Day Special!

Today we will review the 96Qs (45) and the new 100Q (48, 84, 85, 100) related to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. You can get the MLK Day handout here. Also check out the following links.

  1. more MLK videos on US Citizenship Podcast
  2. MLK Center
  3. Simple Wikipedia: MLK
  4. Enchanted Learning: Martin Luther King, Jr.

WH.gov: President Obama on Dr. King's Legacy

The President speaks about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the importance of persistence in achieving broader goals in remarks at the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. January 17, 2010.

VOANews: Obama to Honor Martin Luther King Jr

President and Mrs. Obama to participate in Washington ceremony honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

Sean Banville is a busy, busy man. He writes free ESL lessons for his four ESL websites: Breaking News English, ESL Discussions, Famous People Lessons, and his new website: ESL Holiday Lessons.

ESLHolidayLessons.com for Martin Luther King Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. holiday that celebrates the birth date of one of America’s greatest civil rights leaders.
Word Doc PDF MP3 Listening Online Exercise

Famous People Lessons.com English Lesson Plan on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the most important leader of the American civil rights movement.
Word Doc PDF MP3 Listening Online Exercise

ESL Discussions.com Conversation Questions on Racism
What kind of world would it be if there was no racism?

USCIS 100:48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

  • Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
  • You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
  • Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
  • A male citizen of any race (can vote).

Friday, January 14, 2011

Backyard Astronomers Discover Black Holes and Other Wonders



VOAVideo: Backyard Astronomers Discover Black Holes and Other Wonders

Amateur Astronomer Gus Johnson didn't set out to witness what scientists say is the first ever observed birth of a black hole. But that's just what he did in 1979. His discovery of Supernova 1979c was only the third supernova in another galaxy ever detected by an amateur. But it has become one of the most important and studied since. Amateur astronomers have been making discoveries for at least 400 years, dating to Galileo's spotting of Jupiter's moons. VOA's Laurel Bowman introduces us to the hobby that helps professional scientists every day.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Learn Pronunciation of English Vowels 1 - Introduction



JenniferESL: Learn Pronunciation of English Vowels 1 - Introduction

New series: English vowel sounds.

Topic: This is the first lesson in a series of videos I'll make on English vowel sounds. 15 sounds are presented.

Objective: To make learners aware of how vowel sounds are made in English by calling attention to voicing, lip position, tongue position, and other characteristics of these sounds.

STUDENTS:
Additional practice for this lesson is available on EnglishCafe. Read a text summary and watch a short review of the 15 vowel sounds.

Video review: http://www.englishcafe.com/blog/english-pronunciation-vowel-sounds-lesson-1-introduction-review-115627
Complete lesson: http://www.englishcafe.com/lessons/learn-english-pronunciation-vowel-sounds-1-introduction-115677

TEACHERS:
A related blog post is available on my WordPress blog.
http://englishwithjennifer.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/student-stumper-26-phonetic-symbols/
A version of this video with NO CAPTIONS is available at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btuZ0e1qC6A

Music credits:
"radioFlier" by Desibell retrieved from http://www.flashkit.com/loops/Pop-Rock/Pop/radioFli-desibell-5647/
"Smart, Easy Listening" by Enrique Plazaola retrieved from http://www.flashkit.com/loops/Easy_Listening/Instrumental/smart_e-Enrique_-9644/

FOR MORE MUSIC BY ENRIQUE PLAZAOLA, visit
http://www.enrique-plazaola.com/