Helping People Understand Their World
The Roots of Special English On October 19, 1959, the Voice of America broadcast the first Special English program. It was an experiment. The goal was to communicate by radio in clear and simple English with people whose native language was not English. Special English programs quickly became some of the most popular on VOA. They still are. Special English continues to communicate with people who are not fluent in English. Over the years, its role has expanded. It helps people learn American English while they learn about American life and stay informed about world news and developments in science. It provides listeners with information they cannot find elsewhere.
Three Elements Make Special English Unique
It has a core vocabulary of 1500 words. Most are simple words that describe objects, actions or emotions. Some words are more difficult. They are used for reporting world events and describing discoveries in medicine and science.
Special English writers use short, simple sentences that contain only one idea. They use active voice. They do not use idioms.
Special English broadcasters read at a slower pace, about two-thirds the speed of standard English. This helps people learning English hear each word clearly. It also helps people who are fluent English speakers understand complex subjects.
Special English Radio Broadcasts
Special English broadcasts to different parts of the world several times a day, seven days a week. Each half-hour broadcast begins with:
•The latest news from around the world
•A different short feature every day about development, agriculture, health, education, economics, news events and American idioms.
•15-minute in-depth features about life in the United States, news about science and space, American history, popular culture, influential Americans and short stories.
Schedule
Special English On Satellite TV
We offer a 20-minute program of five short features read by Special English announcers along with the scrolling text. This program is televised weekly by satellite. Check out our TV schedule for your area. http://author.voanews.com/specialenglish/tv.cfm
Teaching Tool
Through the years, Special English has become a very popular tool for teaching English, although it was not designed as a teaching program. The short sentences, limited vocabulary and slow pace of speaking make it easy to understand. It succeeds in helping people learn English in a non-traditional way. People around the world practice their listening and speaking skills by recording the programs and playing them repeatedly. Internet users can also listen to programs on the Special English Web site while reading the text. And they can receive scripts of features by e-mail. In countries around the world, many English teachers require their students to listen to Special English. They praise it for the content of the programs and for improving their students’ ability to understand American English. Universities, governments and private companies publish and broadcast Special English materials for use in English teaching.
From Listeners Around the World
Over the years, Special English has forged a strong link with millions of people around the world. Listeners in several countries have formed Special English listener clubs. Testimonials from an ever-increasing number of people show that Special English programs make a difference in their lives.
From Nigeria: “It is with great joy that I am writing this letter to you, commending you on the interesting program you have been broadcasting to us in your Special English program. A very delightful program. I cannot afford to miss it even for a minute. I would rather miss a meal than to miss this program. You really touch our lives positively in this part of the world where English is a second language to us and we are very grateful. Long live VOA Special English.”
From Iran: “The VOA Special English was a dream for me. I've never seen such a useful program in learning a foreign language. I'm an Iranian student and I'm very interested in learning English. I listen to your program and print any article from your Internet Web site every night. Thank you very much.”
From Pakistan: “The programs are so nice that we cannot miss them. These programs are a great source of information. These programs are acting as a ‘Bridge Of Friendship’ between the listeners of the entire world. Your programs have an attraction like a magnet which attracts us. If we want to ignore them, we cannot do this.”
From Kosovo: “Dear friends from VOA Special English, you have the best program, and everyone is watching and listening to your programs here.”
From Brazil: “Congratulations! I really appreciate the Special English program. It was very helpful, especially to increase my awful pronunciation. I usually listen to the same news many times, then I try to write what I am listening and then I compare on VOA's page if I did it right. After doing this for almost a year, I did the test of University of Michigan and guess what!! I passed. Thank you all.”
From China: “I am a Chinese student majoring in International Trade. I often listen to your program. It is wonderful. Thank you for your work, for my English has been improved a lot due to your program.”
