How to Keep Tropical Plants Through the Winter
Are you dreaming of a vacation to a warm place next to the sea? You may be thinking of sitting under a palm tree, or next to a banana plant. Or you may dream of walking on a faraway island in the tropics surrounded by colorful flowers such as birds of paradise and cannas. Tropical […]
How to Keep from Feeling Down in the Winter
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. As fall and winter come to some parts of the world, daylight hours grow shorter. This lack of light can cause seasonal depression. “It (is) a feeling of panic, fear, anxiety and dread all in one,” said Germaine Pataki. The 63-year-old woman living in […]
How to Improve Your Spelling
Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Guillermo in Argentina about how to spell words in English. Question Dear Teacher, When I hear some new words in English, I can find their meaning, but for me, the spelling is always difficult. Can you please give me [some] advice? Thank you, […]
How to Use “Swimming” to Deal with Life’s Situations
And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. Swimming is a great exercise for staying healthy. But it can also be a life saving skill and help to keep you from drowning. However, in some bodies of water, swimming might be difficult. For example, in very deep, choppy or fast moving water swimming […]
How to Move an Elephant
When it comes to the business of moving elephants, Dr. Amir Khalil and his team might be the best. The work experience of this Egyptian animal doctor includes possibly the most famous elephant relocation ever. In 2020, Khalil’s team saved Kaavan, an Asian elephant, from years of loneliness at a zoo in Pakistan. They flew […]
How to Summarize
Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Yutaro in Japan about how to summarize what you hear or read. Question Dear Teacher, I enjoy listening to VOA Learning English every night. I have a question about “summarizing.” How do I summarize a speech, paper, or other text I’ve listened to? […]
How to Make Your Smartphone Last Longer
Many people are now holding onto their smartphones longer than in the past. This is true for several reasons. The cost of phones has been rising for years. And device updates are no longer as meaningful as before. This has made it even more important for smartphone users to take good care of their devices. […]
Humans Show Birds How to Fly South for Winter
Humans hunted and killed almost all northern bald ibis birds by the 17th century. But breeding and rewilding efforts over the last 20 years helped grow the bird population. However, the birds do not know which direction to fly to migrate without the guidance of wild-born birds. So, humans are helping the birds learn their […]
How to Keep Your Chatbot Activity More Private
Operators of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot tools have made it clear that users’ requests can be saved and used to further develop the AI systems. But what if a user does not want that? Some tools permit users to request that personal information used in chatbot requests not be saved or used to develop or […]
How to Deal Safely with Poison Ivy in the Garden
Experienced gardeners have likely learned to look out for poison ivy, a common plant found across North America, Europe and East Asia. While this green, leafy plant is not life-threatening, it can cause severe skin reactions in many people. Associated Press gardening writer Jessica Damiano recently wrote that while she personally has not had any […]