The word Wanderlust means a strong desire to travel and see the world. The term actually comes from the German words wandern (to hike) and lust (desire). Wanderlust isn’t just about having a desire to travel and see famous landmarks. It goes deeper than that. It’s about wanting to experience, on a daily basis, […]
#TravelThursday — Shenandoah National Park
Posted October 23rd, 2014 at 11:01 am (UTC-5)
One of the things I like most about living in DC is, well, leaving DC. A two-hour drive transports you to places like Shenandoah National Park, which feels a world away. The colors of autumn are on full display in Shenandoah, which is about 120 kilometers southwest of Washington, DC. Every fall season, people flock […]
Eight Writing Tips from Famous Authors
Posted October 20th, 2014 at 1:03 pm (UTC-5)
I’ve been giving quite a bit of writing advice in this blog. But today, you’re going to hear directly from the masters. I’ve compiled what I think is the best writing advice for English learners from famous writers. Notice how similar their advice is. Do great minds think alike? #1. “If it is possible to […]
Can This Marriage Be Saved?
Posted October 17th, 2014 at 11:07 am (UTC-5)
In this week’s installment of American Stories, we present “The Line of Least Resistance” by Edith Wharton. The main character, ‘Mister Mindon,’ finds out his wife is having an affair with his business partner. He plans to divorce her, but something makes him change his mind (read the story to find out!) A common expression is […]
#TravelThursday – Kansas City
Posted October 16th, 2014 at 5:21 pm (UTC-5)
Happy #TravelThursday, everyone! It always feels good to go home. Last weekend, I traveled to my hometown of Kansas City for a few days of fun and relaxation. It takes about three hours by plane to get to Kansas City from Washington, D.C. It’s a common expression here in the U.S. to call states in […]
#TravelThursday
Posted October 9th, 2014 at 10:26 am (UTC-5)
Hello everyone! My name is Ashley, and I’m new here at VOA Learning English. I’ve already met some of you on Talk2Us, but I would like to introduce myself here. I grew up in Kansas, a state in the Midwest region of the United States. Its nickname is ‘Sunflower State,’ because of all of the […]
Getting started with the TOEFL
Posted October 8th, 2014 at 12:45 pm (UTC-5)
If you’re interested in studying at an American university, you’ve probably heard of the TOEFL. The Test of English as a Foreign Language is the most widely used language assessment test for American universities. The other major test is IELTS, which Dr. Jill will discuss in a future blog. Many foreign students are terrified of […]
Five Ways to Start a College Essay
Posted October 3rd, 2014 at 3:24 pm (UTC-5)
We’ve all been there. It’s midnight and your paper is due in 8 hours. You are staring at a blank Word document. You have no idea what to write. If only you could write SOMETHING. In frustration, you bury your head on your desk. The first paragraph of a college essay, or any […]
