Web sites
VOA - Voice of America
click
- VOA "Special English provides clear and simple news and information to listeners
whose own language is not English. Using a 1,500 word vocabulary and a slow delivery,
about 90 words a minute, Special English has helped tens of millions of listeners
learn English since its first broadcast on October 19, 1959."
- Words Used in VOA Special English
- VOA Special English -- home page for Special English bureau.
Time and Frequency. - Complete Vocabulary -
Please credit VOA Special English & Voice of America in any reuse of this word list.
- OnLine Listening to VOA requires RealAudio software. Some downloads are in MP3 format.
- RealAudio download is free, but you have to click on "free download" on several pages to get it. The free version will generate ongoing advertising to your PC. The paid version (US$20) probably will not add new ads/spam. It is a large download, about 7MB.
- To get started :
http://www.voanews.com/SpecialEnglish and click on "Listen Now" or select a topic or search the Archives.
Or, http://www.voaspecialenglish.com. Also has TV demo with subtitles.
Another, VoiceAmerica.com internet is not VOA and neither special nor Basic English, but seems to be spoken more slowly than normal radio.
- VOA Special English vs. Basic English
- New Dynamic English. On September 26, 2002, Voice of America began the rebroadcast of New Dynamic English and Functioning in Business,
the two English courses created by DynEd
International as part of their comprehensive English-language teaching program.
Each series will last 26 weeks. The 25-minute programs will be broadcast daily throughout the world.
Time and Frequency - Special English Games -
There are many international sites offering Special English as a training medium. Try doing a web search for "Special English" + [the native language of interest] .
BBC - British Broadcasting Corporation.
- The BBC offers online aid in learning English.
- World Service - Learning English
- You Me Us - see Learning
- BBC Simile - solve language problems
- British Council - home page, not much
Internet
- I-Love-English -links for learning/listening to English
- LexFiles - a few good links
- Radio by Internet - English Club, listening
- History of Basic English - brief
- Lostory's Special English - good history towards bottom of page.
- Listening Express - VOA links, oriental source
- English as a Second Language - a few links.
This site illustrates my concern with most ESL as containing agendas of other stuff than just learning acceptable English as quickly as possible. I tend to overlook ESL sites. This one is okay. - Study Saint - Software, Spanish, I've not tested.
- Specialized English - Approximately VOA Special English, home page.
An organization utilizing Special English and will do work for you. - Specialized English - word list.
- Comparison of Specialized English with VOA Special English
- Specialized English - links
- Examples from : Specialized English web site.
The British English way of writing words, where there is difference with American English.American > British airplane > aeroplane
apologize > apologise
archeology > archaeologybaptize > baptise
behavior > behaviour
center > centrecolor > colour
cooperate > co-operate
criticize > criticisegram > gramme
gray > grey
honor > honourhumor > humour
labor > labour
meter > metreorganize > organise
recognize > recognise
specialize > specialise
Back to the Ogden's Basic English
Basic English Institute
About this Page: VOA.html -- Special English is available on the short-wave and internet radio using 1,500 words and slow delivery. Last updated December 1, 2002 - add RealAudio URL: http://zbenglish.net/sites/basic/voa.html