Voice 1
Welcome to our listener mail program. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. 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
In today’s program we share opinions and questions from Listeners just like you, from many different places in the world. Listeners contact us by email. Or they share opinions by writing on the script page of any program or our discussion forum. On our Facebook fan page listeners connect with each other and share their views. Have you shared your opinion yet?
Voice 2
In today’s Listener Mail program we look at thoughts and opinions about the connection between money and sports, life at sea, and on the structure of our program! Keep listening!
Voice 1
Our first comments today come from Leonardo, living in Brazil, and Mr. Minh, living in Vietnam. They heard our program called “Big Money, Better Football?. In this program we told about the huge amounts of money people pay to buy football teams. We asked if money was killing the true worth of football. Or are large amounts of money necessary for the sport to survive? Leonardo wrote us an email:
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“I live in Brazil and I see the big intensity of all people with football here. Football is in the heart of many Brazilian people. But, though football can be seen as only a simple and innocent game, it involves A LOT of money! Because of this, many Brazilian young people leave their studies to play.
"I am not against football. Football is life! But the problem is the false image created around the young boys. Football catches their dreams. But it does not offer a real life.”
Voice 2
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Leonardo! It is interesting how you see football affecting the young people in Brazil. Money can be very tempting for some people. It is sad when it is all people can see.
Voice 1
Mr. Minh wrote to tell us how he has seen sports change over the years:
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“Many years ago, in my youth, sports in all fields were played for joy, for fun. A strange thing called “sportsmanship” was around. For today’s youth, I probably should explain. It means to congratulate the opposing team for an act of skill. I supported my local team, Aldershot, week in, week out. To me it did not matter who won. It only mattered if it was a good game.
"Today, teams compete in an atmosphere of hatred. I think today’s players are much more skilled and professional than in my day. But all I see is cold-blooded killers out to win win win! I have no interest in modern sport at all.”
Voice 2
Thanks for your comment Mr. Minh! It is interesting to hear your point of view about how sports have changed. It is difficult to see the joy in sports when there is so much competition. Has more money in sports changed people’s attitudes? Maybe someday we can go back to the important idea of sportsmanship. We can just enjoy sports for their demonstrations of skill!
Voice 1
Our next comments come from Ecuador, in South America. Augusto heard the program called Seafarers: Life at Sea. In that program we told about the lives of people living on boats at sea.
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Seafarers face many dangers - from their work, the weather, and even pirates who attack them for their goods. And one of the greatest dangers they face is feeling alone. In that program we told about a Christian group that helps seafarers feel less alone.
Voice 1
Augusto had some first-hand thoughts about the effects of living on the sea. His father was a seafarer, a sailor. Augusto experienced life at sea through his father’s experiences. He wrote to us about them:
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“Thanks Spotlight team! This program transported me to the sea, drinking coffee at four in the morning, in the quiet night of the sea.
"I wanted to be a sailor like my father, and to visit a lot of cultures around the world. I like being alone because I can concentrate better. And I think I inherited that from my father. But, I think it is true, my father changed very much, and living on the sea is a job for single people. Because when seafarers come back to land, things have changed. They may be angry at home. Or they want the family to function like a big container ship.
"I would like to work to help seafarers because I know the story of my father. He never was the same person when he retired from his job at sea.”
Voice 2
What powerful experiences, Augusto. We can see how you would be moved to help other people who live at sea. We hope you can use your experiences to help other seafarers, like you suggest. It is a good goal! Thank you for writing to us.
Voice 1
Our final letters today have a common theme. They both have suggestions for Spotlight! First, Murat from Istanbul writes:
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“I like listening to Spotlight every day to develop my English listening skills. I always tell my friends who want to improve their English to visit the Spotlight website. But I and my friends want you to change your program format a little. For example, speak faster, and show video with your story.”
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Eugenie, from Taiwan has a similar suggestion! Eugenie says:
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“I found your speaking is too slow for me. In fact, I am almost losing my patience for this speed. If possible, I wish there would be a faster version of the same program every day.”
Voice 2
It is common for us to get letters like this. Many people begin listening to the Spotlight programs at a beginner or intermediate level. The programs may be difficult to understand at first. But then, listeners find the programs get easier and easier to understand! Then they find the programs too slow!
Voice 1
We always welcome suggestions like these. But at this time we do not plan on offering our programs at a faster speed. We are a small group. So we are currently limited in what we can do. But we are always working on ways to improve our programs. We try to include links on the script pages to interesting resources, videos, or pictures. We also are always working to improve our resources - like our website. We will keep your suggestions in mind!
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