Learning English (version of English)

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Learning English (previously known as Special English) is a controlled version of the English language first used on October 19, 1959, and still presented daily by the United States broadcasting service Voice of America (VOA). World news and other programs are read one-third slower than regular VOA English. Reporters avoid idioms and use a core vocabulary of about 1500 words, plus any terms needed to explain a story. The intended audience is intermediate to advanced learners of English. In 1962 the VOA published the first edition of the Word Book.^[1]

VOA has teamed up with the University of Oregon and produced free online training Let’s Teach English for English language educators.^[2] The series is based on the Women Teaching Women English and is aimed for adult beginning level learners.^[3]