Learning English Podcast - July 19, 2024
4Digest
This episode of Learning English begins with a report on the Ojibwe tribe's spear fishing tradition in Wisconsin, which is facing challenges due to climate change and lake development. The report highlights the tribe's efforts to preserve this tradition, which is deeply rooted in their culture and provides a vital food source. The episode then transitions to a segment on "Everyday Grammar," where John Russell provides feedback on listener messages about the Olympic Games, focusing on the use of articles, active voice, and pronoun clarity. The episode concludes with "Lesson of the Day," where Andrew Smith and Jill Robbins discuss reflexive pronouns, explaining their function and providing examples of their use in common expressions. The segment also features a clip from the "Let's Learn English" video series, where Anna Mateo and Pete are tasked with taking care of "flour babies" to experience parenthood.
Outlines
Ojibwe Spear Fishing Tradition Threatened by Climate Change
This Chapter discusses the Ojibwe tribe's spear fishing tradition in Wisconsin, which is facing challenges due to climate change and lake development. The report highlights the tribe's efforts to preserve this tradition, which is deeply rooted in their culture and provides a vital food source. The report also discusses the impact of warming waters, seasonal changes, and lake development on the fish population and the tribe's efforts to manage these changes.
Everyday Grammar: Feedback on Olympic Games Messages
This Chapter focuses on "Everyday Grammar," where John Russell provides feedback on listener messages about the Olympic Games. The feedback centers on the use of articles, active voice, and pronoun clarity. John explains the importance of articles in English and how they can be challenging for English learners. He also emphasizes the importance of using active voice to make sentences clearer and more concise. Finally, he stresses the need for clear pronoun references to avoid confusion.
Lesson of the Day: Reflexive Pronouns
This Chapter delves into "Lesson of the Day," where Andrew Smith and Jill Robbins discuss reflexive pronouns. They explain the function of reflexive pronouns, which reflect or refer back to the subject of a sentence. The segment provides examples of common expressions that use reflexive pronouns, such as "by itself" and "take care of yourself." The segment also features a clip from the "Let's Learn English" video series, where Anna Mateo and Pete are tasked with taking care of "flour babies" to experience parenthood.
Keywords
Ojibwe
The Ojibwe, also known as Anishinaabe, are an Indigenous people of North America. They are one of the largest First Nations groups in Canada and the United States. The Ojibwe have a rich cultural heritage, including traditional practices such as spear fishing, which is central to their connection to the land and their way of life. The Ojibwe language is part of the Algonquian language family and is spoken by many members of the tribe. The Ojibwe people have faced historical injustices, including the loss of their traditional lands and the suppression of their culture. However, they continue to fight for their rights and to preserve their cultural heritage.
Spear Fishing
Spear fishing is a traditional fishing method that involves using a spear to catch fish. It is a common practice in many cultures around the world, particularly in coastal and inland areas. Spear fishing can be done from a boat, from the shore, or by diving. It requires skill, patience, and knowledge of fish behavior. Spear fishing is often considered a sustainable fishing method, as it targets individual fish and avoids the use of nets or other gear that can harm other marine life. However, it is important to follow regulations and to practice responsible spear fishing to ensure the conservation of fish populations.
Climate Change
Climate change refers to the long-term shift in global weather patterns and temperatures, primarily caused by human activities that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, leading to a gradual warming of the planet. Climate change has a wide range of impacts, including rising sea levels, more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, and storms, and changes in plant and animal life. It poses significant threats to human societies, ecosystems, and the global economy. Addressing climate change requires global cooperation and a transition to sustainable energy sources and practices.
Reflexive Pronoun
A reflexive pronoun is a type of pronoun that refers back to the subject of a sentence. It is used when the subject of the verb is also the object of the verb. Examples of reflexive pronouns include myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves. Reflexive pronouns are used to emphasize the subject or to indicate that the subject is performing an action on itself. For example, "I hurt myself" or "She dressed herself." Reflexive pronouns are an important part of English grammar and are used in a variety of contexts.
Let's Learn English
Let's Learn English is a popular English language learning program produced by the Voice of America (VOA). It offers a variety of resources for English learners, including podcasts, videos, and online activities. The program features engaging content that covers a wide range of topics, from everyday conversations to current events. Let's Learn English is designed to help learners improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. The program is available for free on the VOA Learning English website and app.
Q&A
What are some of the challenges facing the Ojibwe tribe's spear fishing tradition in Wisconsin?
The Ojibwe tribe's spear fishing tradition in Wisconsin is facing challenges due to climate change, which is causing warming waters and seasonal changes, and lake development, which is altering the habitat of the fish. These factors are leading to a decrease in the number of fish available for spear fishing, threatening the tribe's food source and cultural heritage.
What are some of the ways the Ojibwe tribe is working to preserve their spear fishing tradition?
The Ojibwe tribe is working to preserve their spear fishing tradition through conservation efforts, such as limiting the number of fish that can be taken and stocking lakes with hatchery-raised fish. They are also collaborating with local conservation teams and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission to monitor fish populations and develop sustainable management practices.
What are reflexive pronouns and how are they used in English?
Reflexive pronouns are pronouns that refer back to the subject of a sentence. They are used when the subject of the verb is also the object of the verb. Examples of reflexive pronouns include myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves. Reflexive pronouns are used to emphasize the subject or to indicate that the subject is performing an action on itself. For example, "I hurt myself" or "She dressed herself."
What are some common expressions in English that use reflexive pronouns?
Some common expressions in English that use reflexive pronouns include "by itself," "take care of yourself," and "do it yourself." These expressions are used to indicate that something is done independently or that someone is responsible for their own actions or well-being.
Show Notes
Table of contents
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