Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight's Listener Mail Program. I'm Ryan Geertsma.
Voice 2
And I'm Liz Waid. 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
On today's Listener Mail program we share your comments and questions about Spotlight programs. We talk about getting married, solving traffic problems, and doing too many things at one time. And we also hear a story with a message. Let's get started!
Voice 2
Our first comment today is about our program called "I Want to Get Married." In that program we told about Ghada Abdul-Aal - a young woman living in Egypt. She wrote a popular blog about her experiences finding a husband. She told about the different traditions and experiences that are normal for young people there. Her blog was very popular with young people. Soon, her blog became a book, and now it is a television program. We asked you to tell us about marriage traditions in your country. One of our listeners wrote:
Voice 3
"A long time ago in my country, Vietnam, traditionally parents chose husbands for girls. The parent's choosing was the most important thing. A girl had to follow her parents even if she had never seen the man before or if she was in love with another man. I think that custom was too conservative. Fortunately, today boys and girls are free to choose their partners. They can be married to the one they love."
Voice 2
Another commenter from Russia wrote something similar.
Voice 4
"In our country, we can choose who we want to marry. And our choice is based only on love for a person.
Voice 2
Love and marriage can be a difficult subject. Thank you both for sharing your experiences!
Voice 1
We also heard many people's personal experiences about a problem many people have to deal with - busy roads and traffic! This was from our program called "Traffic Problems." In this program we told about cities with big traffic problems. These problems included slow traffic and air pollution. This program told about solutions in some cities. But we asked if you had any other ideas that might improve traffic in busy areas. User Vukhucthienthanh wrote:
Voice 5
"I think that these measures are only good in developed countries where there are lots of cars. But in developing countries such as my country, Vietnam, most people use motorbikes. A congestion charge and Pico y Placa are of no use!"
Voice 1
Another comment we received made an excellent point. Nyamsuren wrote:
Voice 6
"I think that Pico y Placa, congestion charges and banning cars and similar ideas and rules can help to reduce traffic problems and air pollution. But we cannot forget those rules and laws will cause problems for some people, companies, and organizations."
Voice 1
You are right, Nyamsuren, that limiting driving can cause problems for people who drive for their job. In the program we told about a young man who worried about the results of this rule on his father. His father was a truck driver. Rules and laws like these can have effects we do not understand until we experience them. Thank you both for your comments!
Voice 2
In another program, "Doing Many Things at Once," we asked, "How many things can you do at one time?" Today, people often try to do many things at one time - check email, watch television, listen to music and send text messages. But you might be surprised to learn that the brain actually works best when it is only doing ONE thing at a time. In that program we shared some ideas about how to slow down. Many people could use this message in their own lives. Commenter Alena wrote:
Voice 4
"I totally agree with the expert Professor Duncan. Experience and different activities are what make multitasking effective. But in any case, doing a lot of work all at once is not good for your brain. To be busy and overloading with information all day means that your brain and body are extremely tired in the evening. As a result, you are in a low spirit, nervous, easily angered, unable to fall asleep, and more. And if most of your working days are busy, you should do something about it. By the way, your suggestions are very useful."
Voice 2
Thanks Alena! We are glad the tips were helpful for you. Other listeners had similar experiences to Alena.
Voice 8
"This information is so useful. I used to multitask all the time. So I used to be unable to fall asleep in the evening. Now I know ways to work effectively and keep good health."
Voice 9
"I see that if I listen to music while I do English exercises it is OK. But when I listen to music and do math at the same time, I cannot concentrate on anything!"
Voice 10
"Multitasking is difficult for me and it increases the chance to make mistakes. But I want to learn it. I think that silence is the most important thing to concentrate on one task. But music and sounds give me more energy when I do tasks that I am good at."
Voice 2
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us!
Voice 1
Our last comment today comes from Manuel. He heard the program called "Stories With a Message." In that program we told about urban legends. These are stories that are NOT real. But they SEEM like they COULD be real. These stories are often based on real fears. And they may have a message for the listener. Manuel shared an urban legend he has heard in his city. Here is the urban legend Manuel shared:
Voice 11
A young man is injured in a car accident. He is taken to a private clinic. There, they request a credit card or cash money to take care of him. But the injured man does not have a credit card or money. So, the nurses talk with the director of the clinic. They ask if they can treat the man even without payment. The director decides to deny the young man's treatment. He makes the nurses send the young man to a public hospital. But the young man is severely injured and he does not survive the trip to the hospital. The next day, the director of the clinic discovers that the young man he sent away was his own son!
Voice 1
Thanks Manuel! That is a great urban legend. It definitely makes the listener think!
Voice 2
And thank you to all who have written to us. We welcome all your comments and questions. And do not forget to look at our discussion boards to talk with other English learners from all over the world. You can also find us on Facebook. Just search for Spotlight Radio. And if you have a comment or question, write it on the script page of any program. Or email us at radio @ english . net.
Voice 1
The writer and producer of this program was Liz Waid. The voices were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes have been adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can find more Spotlight programs on our website at This program is called "Listener Mail 111." We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.