Learning english

BBC Learning English
Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I"m Rob.
Vera: And hello, I"m Vera.
Rob: In today"s programme, we have news of a pioneering scheme to help families in one of the World"s poorest countries.
Vera: Yes, that country is Nepal, where it is estimated 40% of the population live in poverty. So they have poor living standards and do not have access to facilities that some of us take for granted. But how bad do things have to be to live in poverty?
Rob: It"s a good question. The government in Nepal has launched a new scheme to assess the extent of poverty in the country - in other words, to find out how bad it really is.
Vera: It"s very keen to find out exactly how many people are living below the poverty line, or in other words, to work out who the poorest people are.
Rob: We"ll find out more about this scheme shortly but, as always, we like to start the programme with a question to think about. So here is the question. According to the International Monetary Fund, the IMF, which is the poorest country in the world? Is it:
a) The Democratic Republic of Congo
b) Malawi
c) Burkina Faso
Vera: I would take a guess that it"s Malawi.
Rob: Malawi, b. Well, we will find out if you"re right at the end of the programme. But before then, let"s talk more about this new scheme by the Nepalese government to assess the extent of poverty in the country.
Vera: It"s a massive undertaking because officials will be going from house to house across the country gathering data.
Rob: It could take some time. But once this data - or information - is collected, what are the government going to do with it?
Vera: Let"s hear from the BBC"s Jill McGivering, who can tell us a bit more about what is going on.
from ielts2.com
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bbclearningenglish.com
BBC correspondent, Jill McGivering:
Officials in Nepal are starting a massive task: going from house to house across the country, gathering data about each family"s income, assets and how much food they have to eat. They"re trying to identify those living in extreme poverty - people who go hungry for either three, six or nine months of each year. They"ll later allocate new "poverty cards" which will make these families eligible in the future for government subsidies - cheaper food, education and health care. Officials expect about a quarter of the population to be issued with them.
Rob: So, we heard that the government is trying to identify those living in extreme poverty - so the worst kind of poverty.
Vera: It will be finding out about people"s income, their assets - so what they own - and how much food they have to eat. Those who are in extreme poverty have been defined as people who go without food for between three and nine months each year.
Rob: Those people who fall into this category will later be allocated "poverty cards" which give these families subsidies - or financial support - for food, education and health care.
Vera: And the scheme could help a quarter of the population, so it sounds like a good idea.
Rob: It does. Many people have welcomed the idea but there are challenges too in running such a big scheme. Let"s hear from the BBC"s Jill McGivering again. See if you can hear what the challenges are.
BBC correspondent, Jill McGivering:
The government"s been talking for years about introducing a scheme like this. Those involved are delighted that the process has finally started, although this is only the first phase and no-one"s sure how many months it will take just to survey the whole country. They describe it as pioneering but also admit there will be challenges. Making sure people give accurate information, for example, preventing bias against different ethnic groups and protecting the programme from fraud and corruption. The best judges, of course, will be Nepal"s most poor - whose burden this new national programme is supposed to ease.
Vera: So there are a number of challenges in running this scheme. They include relying on people to give accurate information and preventing bias - or prejudice - against different ethnic groups.
Rob: Yes, there are many different ethnic groups in Nepal, so it"s important to make sure that one isn"t favoured over another. Finally, there"s a risk that there could be fraud and corruption because of the economic advantages on offer to the poorest families.
Vera: Of course, the other challenge is how many months it will take and no-one is really sure, especially because of the mountainous terrain that some people live in.
Rob: But people seem delighted - or happy - that after years of talking, something is finally being done to tackle poverty in Nepal. from ielts2.com
6 Minute English © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
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bbclearningenglish.com
Vera: But who can really tell if it"s successful or not?
Rob: Well, the best judges - as we heard - are Nepal"s poor, whose lives may be made a little easier.
Vera: Well, something that isn"t easy is your quiz question Rob.
Rob: Really?! Well, earlier I asked you, according to the IMF, which is the world"s poorest country?
a) The Democratic Republic of Congo
b) Malawi
c) Burkina Faso
Vera: And I said Malawi. Was I right?
Rob: I"m afraid you were wrong. The answer is actually The Democratic Republic of Congo. OK, it"s almost time to go now but before we do, Vera, please can you remind us of some of the vocabulary we heard today?
Vera: Yes, of course. We heard:
pioneering
the extent
data
allocated
subsidies
bias
corruption
terrain
Rob: Thanks Vera. We hope you"ve enjoyed today"s programme. Please join us again soon for more 6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish.com. Bye for now!
Vera: Bye! from ielts2.com
6 Minute English © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
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bbclearningenglish.com
Vocabulary and definitions
pioneering
new and original
the extent
the amount
data
information
allocated
given an amount of
subsidies
a sum of money from the government or financial support
bias
prejudice in favour or against someone or a group of people
corruption
dishonest conduct by someone in charge or power, sometimes involving bribery
terrain
an area of land, described with reference to its physical features
Read this story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2012/09/120920_6min_nepal_poverty.shtml
More information about Nepal:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12511455
from ielts2.com

Neil: Hello, I"m Neil.
Rob: And I"m Rob.
Neil: And welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Today we"re
looking forward to this New Year which stretches out ahead of us...2012. Now
Rob, you"ll have to remind me, there is something happening in London in 2012, I
can"t quite remember what it is.
Rob: Have you been asleep Neil, or are you just having a joke with me?
Neil: I think both...
Rob: Well of course we at BBC Learning English are based here in London and after
years of waiting we have finally arrived in Olympic year.
Neil: And we"ll get in to more of the Olympics later in the programme. Before that I
have a question for you, Rob. 2012 is not the first time the Olympics has come to
London. It is in fact the third time London will have hosted the Games. The last
time they were here was 1948, but when was the first time? Was it:
a) 1918
b) 1908
c) 1848
Rob: Well, it can"t be as far back as 1848, as I don"t think the modern Olympics had
started then. So I"m going to go for the middle one, 1908.
from ielts2.com
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
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Neil: OK. Well we"ll find out the answer. But now we"re talking about hopes and what
you are looking forward to in 2012. What are your hopes, Rob?
Rob: My hopes, as every year, are to get fit and eat more healthily.
Neil: Well people are listening to this and can"t see you. I can assure people that you
are not a fat man.
Rob: I could be leaner.
Neil: Well good luck with that one.
Rob: What about you, Neil?
Neil: As for me, it"s going to be a big year for me. My wife and I are expecting a second
child at the end of February. So that"s going to be dominating my year.
Rob: And you"ll be hoping for more sleep. That"s your hopes.
Neil: Well I was hoping for more sleep but it"s not going to happen. It"s not going to
happen. We"ve been asking some of our colleagues from BBC Learning English
what their hopes are and what they"re most are looking forward to in 2012.
Vox
Well, I would like to say the Olympics but, unfortunately I didn"t get any tickets, so I think
probably what I"m looking forward to most is going to Disneyland, Paris so I can be a child again
and go on all the rides and meet Mickey Mouse.
I"m currently a student doing a Master"s degree, so in 2012 I look forward to finishing that
successfully and to getting a bit of rest.
Three of my very good friends are getting married so I"m looking forward to going to a lot of
weddings because I love weddings and I just think it"ll be a lovely day of drinking and being
happy and watching my school friends getting hitched and going off into the distance with their
lovely husbands.
Neil: Some interesting responses there - and the Olympics was only mentioned once, so
perhaps it"s not as much a part of people"s lives as you"d think. One of our
colleagues there, Carrie, mentioned that she"s looking forward to going to
from ielts2.com
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
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Disneyland Paris. Is that something you"d fancy, Rob? Do you have any secret
childish dreams you still want to fulfil?
Rob: Well luckily I"ve already been to Disneyland, so I think I"d really like to go to
Lapland to meet Santa Claus, because apparently he really lives there.
Neil: Right, OK, well it"s a long wait, you"re going to be waiting until the end of the
year for that - you"ve just missed your chance but good luck with that one.
Another of our colleagues, Kaz, mentioned that he"s also studying at the moment,
as well as working. How about you, Rob? Do you have any academic ambitions?
Rob: Only really to do my degree again and perhaps get a better grade this time.
Neil: Right, I always promised myself that I"m going to brush up a language I"ve failed
to learn before and I think I"ll say that to myself again. The final colleague we
spoke to, Michelle, mentioned that three of her friends are getting married. I went
to a wedding for the first time in a long time in the summer. Do you have any such
wedding plans?
Rob: No. Well, I"ve been to a lot of weddings recently, but actually this year looks like
being wedding free. All of my friends are married. I suppose we"re looking
forward to the next stage in their life - whatever that may be.
Neil: Michelle used an interesting expression there - she said to get hitched. To get
hitched is an informal expression for getting married. So let"s end our programme
where we started - with the Olympics. Rob, are you excited?
Rob: I am excited. I"ve got tickets for the Olympics and the Paralympics, so I"m very
lucky.
Neil: Wow! What events have you got tickets for?
from ielts2.com
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
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Rob: For the Olympics I"ve got athletics and the football. And I"ve got athletics and
swimming for the Paralympics, so it should be very exciting for me at least. Let"s
hope we win some gold medals.
Neil: Well you"re a lucky man because a lot of people applied and a lot of people were
disappointed and you"ve got some fairly popular sports there as well. 2012
Olympics: will this be the even that defines the year for us in the UK, do you
think?
Rob: I think so. I don"t think we can avoid it really, I think it"s really going to be a big
thing for us in this country.
Neil: I think you"re probably right. By the end of the year we might be happy to see the
end of it!
Rob: We"ll be sick of it by then.
Neil: Let"s just hope it goes well. Now it"s time for you to answer our quiz question,
Rob. It"s the third time that London will have hosted the Olympics: when was the
first time?
Rob: I said 1908 here in London, wasn"t it.
Neil: Yes, you are absolutely correct: it was 1908. So that means all we have time for
now is to wish our listeners a Happy New Year.
Neil: Happy New Year!
Rob: Happy New Year!
from ielts2.com
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 5
to look forward to something to want something to happen
lean thin but strong and fit
to get hitched an informal expression meaning to get married
to miss your chance to fail to take advantage of an opportunity
to brush up to revise or improve your knowledge of
something
to be sick of something to be annoyed or bored by something
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/2012/
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2012/01/120105_6min_english_2012hopes.shtml
from ielts2.com

 We use present continuous

: For an activity which is in progress and not finished

 Example: I"m waiting for my friend now

 Example: I"m baking a cake

: For an activity which is in progress but temporary. (Around Now

 Example: I"m studying really hard for my exams

 Example: He is living in Tehran at the moment

 3: For changes in progress

 Example: My English is getting better day by day

 Example:  The population in the world is rising very fast

: For speaking about a certain appointment in near future

 Example: What are you doing on Sunday

 Example: I"m going to the movies with Sara

: To talk about events which are occurring a lot and often to show jealousy complaint and criticism

 Example: My mum"s always saying I don"t help enough! (complaint

 Example: He"s always visiting exciting places! (jealousy

We use simple present for 

: To talk about the activities which are not limited to  a certain time and always being done

 Example : My parents live in Canada

 Example : I don"t like your house

 : To describe facts

 Example : If you heat water to 100 C, it boils

 : To speak about frequent daily activities and habit

 Example :  We play tennis twice a week

 Example : I get up early and practice for an hour most days

 : For giving address and instructions

 Example : You go down the traffic lights, then you turn left

 Example : To start the program, first you click on the icon on the desktop

 : To describe stories and talking about movies and books

 Example : In the film, she is found of the prime minister

  : After I hope we usually use present simple

 Example : I hope Carol calls tonight

A friend recently told me that her husband has nightmares several times a week, during which he tosses and turns with a look of concern on his face.

Her dilemma: Should she wake him from these disturbing dreams or let them run their course? And does he need to see a sleep specialist and/or a mental health professional?

To get some guidance for my friend, I called Barry Krakow, MD, founder and medical director of Maimonides International Nightmare Treatment Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico

ARE NIGHTMARES HEALTHY?

About half of all adults have occasional nightmares-unpleasant dreams that cause strong negative responses, such as fear, horror, anxiety or sadness, said Dr. Krakow. Why? Nightmares often help dreamers understand upsetting events of the day and their emotional responses to them. Therefore, occasional nightmares are usually healthy, according to Dr. Krakow.

But sometimes nightmares can be unhealthy. And when they become unhealthy, you may need to wake the sleeper and/or refer him or her to a sleep specialist and/or a mental health professional. To learn how to tell the difference, here"s the first question to ask yourself...

HOW SEVERE IS THE NIGHTMARE?

In most cases, said Dr. Krakow, a nightmare is mild, and in that situation, it"s best not to wake the person who is having the nightmare. For example, if the person is simply tossing and turning, looking concerned and/or whispering to himself, leave him be. But nightmares vary in intensity. The only time it"s worth waking someone up, he said, is when the nightmare appears to be severe. For instance, if he"s thrashing about violently, some gentle words and a nudge to wake him are in order because you don"t want him to injure himself (or you).

To figure out whether you should encourage the person to see a sleep specialist and/or a mental health professional, you need to ask yourself a second question...

ARE THE NIGHTMARES CHRONIC?

Most people who have nightmares get them only occasionally-once every few months or less-which is nothing to be concerned about, according to Dr. Krakow. But up to 8% of all adults develop chronic nightmares, having them several times a week, which, of course, is more troublesome. Chronic nightmares can interfere with the amount of sleep that a person gets, so anyone with chronic nightmares-whether the nightmares are mild or severe-should see a sleep specialist and/or a mental health professional.

It may prove to be particularly important to see both types of experts because chronic nightmares can sometimes signal a more serious problem, such as sleep apnea or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

GET RID OF NIGHTMARES-FOR GOOD!

When treatments for sleep apnea and/or PTSD don"t do the trick, or if neither sleep apnea nor PTSD is the cause of the chronic nightmares, Dr. Krakow and his colleagues offer patients a cognitive behavioral treatment called imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), which has been shown in research to stop chronic nightmares in up to 70% of sufferers.

IRT involves three to five group or individual sessions over the course of a few weeks in which the patient talks through his recurring dream with a counselor (and sometimes with other patients) or writes it down...and then creates a "script" for a positive "new dream." The patient then "rehearses" this new dream on his own three or four times each day by reading the "script" aloud. After a few weeks, nightmares tend to dissipate.

To find an IRT therapist near you, look for a behavioral medicine specialist at a sleep center in your area by searching www.SleepCenters.org and ask if he or she can teach you IRT. Most insurance plans will cover IRT, said Dr. Krakow. For self-instruction, Dr. Krakow offers a four-hour IRT educational CD called Turning Nightmares into Dreams. It contains therapeutic instructions divided into 20 sessions and a study workbook. It costs $70, and there is a digital version of the material available for $40. For more information, click here.

Source: Barry Krakow, MD, sleep disorders specialist, founder and medical director of Maimonides International Nightmare Treatment Center, and medical director of Maimonides Sleep Arts & Sciences, Ltd., a sleep medical center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Date: September 3, 2012 Publication: Bottom Line Health