Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m David Bast. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
You write, and we answer! It’s time for Spotlight’s listener mail program!
Voice 2
In today’s program we will read letters from Augusto in Ecuador, Victor in Brazil, Jozef from Slovakia, and Brother Sylvester in Kenya. Let’s get started!
Voice 1
Our first letter today is from Augusto. He writes to Spotlight from Quito, Ecuador. Augusto recently listened to the program ‘Social Internet.’ In that program we told about the different ways people use the internet. Some people use the internet to make new relationships. Augusto writes:
Voice 3
“...I’m not [a] Christian. But I like very much the [advice] you give about the Bible [in] each program. For example, [I like the advice] in this [program called] ‘Social Internet’ ... I think relationships by internet can be strong when there is confidence, truth, and when people want to be a friend - not only to take something... [But the words you quote from the Bible are encouraging] - “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you down the wrong path.”
Voice 2
Thanks for writing Augusto! We are really happy that the words from the Bible can help you. The Bible has good help and guidance for all people. These words are important in any new relationship - friends can lead us in good and in bad ways.
Voice 1
Augusto’s thoughts about internet relationships are also very interesting. It is true that confidence, truth, and honesty are important in any relationship. Relationships based on lies are never good. Augusto also writes:
Voice 3
“I would like to have friends [from] Canada, USA, or [Greece], but I feel a little fear because they are very prepared or they have more education than me. “
Voice 2
Meeting people on the internet can be a very exciting thing! But meeting new people can also be a little frightening. Being prepared and having a good education do not make a person better or more important. But as we said, showing honesty, confidence, and love are often far more important!
Voice 1
e-mail and message boards can help people connect across many barriers. In fact, in the future, you may be able to connect to different people through the Spotlight website! People who visit our website could meet people from many different countries! We hope you can find good friends on the internet. We hope you can help lead them down a good path. And we hope they can lead you down good paths too! Thank you again for writing Augusto!
Voice 2
Our next piece of mail comes from Victor in Brazil. Victor recently heard our program called ‘Thin Models.’ This program looked at clothes models. Many models try to copy a particular style - they try to be extremely thin. Often, they do this by starving themselves. They believe this will help them to find more modeling work. But this is very dangerous. It causes many health problems. And some women die. One of the stories in the program ‘Thin Models’ was about a model in Brazil. But one of our facts was wrong. Victor caught our mistake. He writes:
Voice 3
“Hi, I’m from Brazil and I love to listen to [Spotlight] ... But [I would] like to say that there is an error in the [program] ‘Thin Models.’ You say that the capital of Brazil is Rio de Janeiro. But [Rio de Janeiro] was the capital from 1763 to 1960. [Then] the capital was changed to Bras?lia.”
Voice 1
Victor, you are right! Thank you very much for informing us of this mistake. We apologize for it! Our writers and editors read every program to make sure there are no mistakes. But, unfortunately, sometimes they do miss an important fact. It is important to Spotlight that our programs are correct. So, we have corrected our website. Thank you for writing to us!
Voice 2
Victor’s e-mail got us wondering about these two cities. So, we did a little research about them. Rio de Janeiro is the most famous city in Brazil. But Brasilia is also very interesting. Usually cities develop over many years. People will build one part, and then another part.
Voice 1
But Brasilia is different. Lucio Costa planned the city. And Oscar Niemeyer designed the buildings. Everything in Brasilia was built together - at one time. And everything works together - from the buildings to the how the city is set out. Some people say that the shape of the city looks like a bird flying. And in 1987 UNESCO declared Brasilia a World Heritage Site. Brasilia is the only city in the world built in the twentieth [20th] century to be declared a World Heritage Site.
Voice 2
We hope you enjoyed learning a little more about these cities as much as we did!
Voice 1
Jozef writes our next letter. He is from Slovakia. Jozef writes:
Voice 3
“I have been visiting [your website] and listening to ... Spotlight [for about] five months. They are very good. I wanted to [do] better in English. I hope this is the right way to improve my skills. I have a problem with writing [and] speaking. [But I am good at understanding.] I gave your [website] address to one girl. And after some weeks she told me she [listens] to you very often!”
Voice 2
Jozef, we are so pleased to hear that! As you know, Spotlight does not teach English. But many people do find that Spotlight is helpful for learning English. If you would like more resources for learning English you can visit our website. Go to www . Radio . English . net. Then, click on the ‘links’ page. There you will find links to more websites that may be helpful to you!
Voice 1
And thank you for sharing our website with your friend! It can be fun to discuss programs with other people. It can also be great speaking, listening, and understanding practice!
Voice 2
Our last letter today comes from Brother Sylvester in Kenya. He writes:
Voice 3
“Dear Brothers and Sisters, praise the Lord! ... Your radio ... program is a blessing to everyone here in our church and we pray our heavenly Father God to strengthen you up and enable you to continue [making programs].”
Voice 1
We are happy that you enjoy our programs. Thank you for the encouragement. And thank you so much for your prayers. At Spotlight, we believe that prayer is very powerful. We will also pray for you and your whole church!
Voice 2
Well, those are all the letters we have time for today. Thank you for listening to Spotlight. And thank you to Augusto, Victor, Jozef, and Brother Sylvester for writing to us.
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