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Easy English News
February 08, 2010

easynews2
eencover2The news here is the same that you will find in the Bangkok Post except that it is much easier. I've included some of the vocabulary of the original stores, so you can learn several new words every day. Notice that you can listen to the text with the audio player below. You can also download the soundfile and play it back on your mp3 player.

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Charity home in trouble.

homedebts1Nualnoi Timkul, of the Baan Khru Noi charity home for children, weeps as she apologises to donors at the home in Rat Burana district. KOSOL NAKACHOL

It takes a special kind of person to run a home for 72 needy children, ranging from three years old to university students. You need to be a combination of parent, teacher, nurse, nutritionist and motivator.

Unfortunately, as Nualnoi Timkul is finding out, you also need to be an expert financier. Operating a charity home is very expensive.

Ms Nualnoi operates Baan Khru Noi, a charity based in Rat Burana district in Bangkok. The charity has outgoing expenses of at least 4,000 baht a day. The children in kindergarten receive 10 baht a day each to go to school and those attending university require up to 100 baht a day.

In recent years, donations to the charity have not been adequate and Ms Nualnoi has been forced to borrow money to keep the home going. Bank loans have not been available so she has turned to private lenders who charge very high interest rates.

Altogether, she has run up debts totaling 8 million baht. She said she owed money to 20 lenders and had to pay 50,000 baht a day off the loan principal as well as interest.

It is not clear how much she still owes.

She said yesterday she used some of the money received as donations to pay the daily interest on the huge debt.

homedebts2Children at the home queue up for a meal.

The police have now stepped in and are offering to talk to money lenders to renegotiate her borrowing.

Assistant police chief Pongsapat Pongcharoen yesterday said the lenders could ask to meet him in person to discuss the money owed by Ms Nualnoi.

The matter is clearly urgent. Ms Nualnoi said she borrowed 500,000 baht each from three big lenders and now owed one of them 1.3 million baht because she had been late in making repayments.

She has had to borrow from small loan sharks to pay the bigger lenders. These sharks charge her 200 baht a day in interest on loans of 10,000 baht.
 
Adapted from a story in today’s Bangkok Post.

charity – an organisation to which you give money so that it can give money and help to people who are poor or ill, or who need advice and support กิจการกุศล, มูลนิธิ
weep – to cry because you feel unhappy or have some other strong emotion ร้องไห้
apologise – to say you are sorry for doing something wrong or for cause a problem ขอโทษ
donor – a person who gives money or goods to an organisation, especially one that helps people – ผู้บริจาค
donation – money or goods that you give to an organisation, especially one that helps people เงินหรือสิ่งของบริจาค
combination – the mixture you get when two or more things are put together การรวมกัน
nutritionist – someone who is an expert on healthy foods นักโภชนาการ
motivator – someone who is skilled at making someone feel determined to do something or enthusiastic about doing it ผู้เป็นแรงจูงใจ
financier – a person or an organisation that manages or lends large amounts of money ผู้เชี่ยวชาญเกี่ยวกับการเงิน,นักการคลัง
adequate – good enough or large enough for a particular purpose พอเพียง
loan – an amount of money that a person, business or country borrows เงินกู้
interest rate – the percentage that a bank or other financial company charges you when you borrow money, or the percentage it pays you when you keep money in an account  อัตราดอกเบี้ย
debt – an amount of money that you owe หนี้
principal – the original amount of money that someone borrows, which is paid back with additional money called interest ต้นทุน
renegotiate – to try to reach an agreement for a second time by discussing something in a formal way เจรจาอีกครั้ง, ต่อรองใหม่, เจรจาใหม่
urgent – needing to be dealt with immediately ที่เร่งด่วน
loan shark – a person who charges very high interest rates for money borrowed ผู้ปล่อยเงินกู้โดยคิดดอกเบี้ยสูงมาก

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 08:47 AM

February 05, 2010



To download audio file, right click here

Tight security at PM’s house

spmguardPol Snr Sgt Maj Weeraphat Jaidet from the Crime Suppression Division is among about 50 police officers assigned to guard Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s house on Soi Sukhumvit 31.
 
Security at Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajiva’s house has been stepped up after it was attacked on Monday by a man who hurled four bags filled with excrement and fermented fish (pla ra) into the yard.

The attacker hurled the bags into the house compound.

Three bags landed in the front yard and the other on the house roof. While no damage was done, police are well aware that the attacker could have thrown bombs.

Thus, there are now 50 security officers stationed outside the residence on Soi Sukhumvit 31, up from 12 before the incident.

Pol Sgt Maj Udom Chooloet, 36, an anti-riot officer with the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said he was proud to be working there, although the shift was hard. ‘‘It’s my duty. I have to do it,’’ he said.

As a result of the attack Pol Sgt Maj Udom is now carrying a weapon, an M16 assault rifle.  He said he and his colleagues guard the house for 12 hours each shift.

He said the shift was long but he had no choice but to accept the assignment.

‘‘By the way, the housemaid here gives us only lunch boxes and drinking water. The food isn’t that tasty, but I can’t leave my spot to go elsewhere for food. There’s no coffee, either,’’ Pol Sgt Maj Udom said wearily.

Another officer guarding the house is Pol Cpl Chalongsak Wanpan, 30, who is accompanied on his rounds by ‘‘Johnny’’, a police dog from the Special Police Operations Command.

‘‘No one wants the country to be in political conflict. We have to work hard because so many cars pass this area every day,’’ Pol Cpl Chalongsak said.

Pol Sen Sgt Maj Weeraphat Jaidet, from the Crime Suppression Division, said he hoped the political situation would return to normal soon so that police guarding the prime minister’s house could serve the public elsewhere.

He felt too many police had been assigned to guard the house and they could be better used elsewhere.
 
Adapted from a story by Wassayos Ngamkham in today's Bangkok Post.

security – protection; safety from attack, harm, or damage ระบบรักษาความปลอดภั, ความปลอดภัย
suppression – stopping illegal activity การปราบปราม, การระงับ
step up – to increase เพิ่ม
hurl – to throw something using a lot of force  เขวี้ยง ขว้างปา
excrement – the solid waste that your body gets rid of อุจจาระ
fermented - changed chemically through the action of living substances, such as yeast or bacteria หมัก
compound – an area in which a group of buildings stands บริเวณบ้าน
residence – a place where someone lives บ้านพัก
incident – something that happens, usually something bad เหตุการณ์
riot – a violent protest by a group of people ความไม่สงบ การจลาจล
shift – a period of work time in a factory, hospital or other place where some people work during the day and some work at night เวร, กะ หรือระยะเวลาทำงานเป็นช่วงๆ,
colleague – someone who works in the same organisation or department as you do เพื่อนร่วมงาน
tasty – having a nice flavour or taste อร่อย
weary – very tired, especially because of hard work or activity เหนื่อยอ่อน, เหน็ดเหนื่อย
accompany – to go with someone ไปกับ,ไปด้วยกัน,ไปเป็นเพื่อน
conflict – an angry disagreement between people or groups ความขัดแย้ง

 


Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 08:37 AM

February 04, 2010



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How good is too good?

polsParliament President Chai Chidchob accepts a motion to amend sections 94 and 190 of the constitution submitted by key members of the five junior coalition parties at parliament yesterday. APICHIT JINAKUL
 
Section 279 of the current constitution requires that the House of Representatives draft an ethics code, a law stating clearly how lawmakers should behave.

A special house committee has been working on the code and yesterday it submitted its draft bill for members of parliament (MPs) to consider.

Many were not at all pleased. The problem, they say, is that the code of ethics requires lawmakers to be too good, abnormally good.

At the centre of the controversy is a section that promotes family values among MPs and bars infidelity.

Puea Thai Party MP for Nakhon Phanom Phaijit Sriworakhan criticised the code for infringing on an MP’s right to privacy.

Puea Thai MP for Nong Khai Somkid Banthaisong said the section should be omitted as it could lead to the impression that the House was full of ‘‘bad guys’’.

‘‘Divorces and remarriages are normal,’’ Mr Somkid said.
‘‘If this regulation is enforced, nearly half of the MPs would be affected.’’

But Democrat MP for Bangkok Watchara Phetthong argued that MPs should serve as a model for family values.

Even though having a mistress is not against the law, it does not set a good example, Mr Watchara said.

Democrat MP Apichart Sakdiset, who sat on the drafting panel, said the code would help people to monitor parliamentarians’ conduct and petition a house ethics committee to take action against MPs who breach the code.

The chairman of the drafting panel, Democrat list MP Charoen Kanthawong, said the main purpose of the bill was to make people proud that their MPs upheld high moral standards.

Adapted from a story in today's Bangkok Post by Mongkol Bangprapa.

motion – a formal proposal that people discuss and then vote on in a meeting or debate ญัตติ, ข้อเสนอเพื่อการอภิปรายในที่ประชุม
amend – to make changes to a document, law, agreement, etc. especially in order to improve it แก้ไข
coalition parties – the political parties making up the government พรรคร่วมรัฐบาล
current – of the present time ปัจจุบัน
draft – to write a document, plan, etc. that may be changed before it is finally accepted ร่าง
ethics – a set of principles people use to decide what is right and what is wrong จริยธรรม
code – rules of proper behaviour for a particular job, organisation, etc. มาตรการ, กฎเกณฑ์, ระเบียบ
draft bill – a proposal for a law ร่างกฎหมาย
abnormal – not usual or typical ผิดปกติ ไม่ธรรมดา
controversy – a strong disagreement, especially about a public policy or moral issue ความขัดแย้ง  ประเด็นข้อขัดแย้ง
bar – to say that something must not happen ห้าม
infidelity – a situation in which someone has sex with someone who is not their husband, wife, or partner การนอกใจ
infringe on - to take away some of a person’s rights or to limit their freedom ล่วงละเมิด, ละเมิด
privacy – the freedom to do things without other people watching you or knowing what you are doing ความเป็นส่วนตัว
omit – to not include  เว้นไว้, ข้ามไป
impression – an opinion or feeling that you have about someone or something you have seen but do not know very well ความรู้สึก
divorce – a legal way of ending a marriage การหย่า
regulation – an official rule that controls the way that things are done ระเบียบข้อบังคับ
enforce – to make sure laws are obeyed บังคับให้ใช้,  บังคับให้ทำ, ใช้กำลังบังคับให้ปฏิบัติตาม
mistress – a woman who is having a sexual relationship with a married man ภรรยาลับ, ภรรยาน้อย, เมียน้อย
panel – a group of people who make decisions or judgments คณะกรรมการ
monitor – to regularly check something or watch someone in order to find out what is happening  ตรวจสอบ ตรวจตรา
petition – to ask someone in authority to do something ยื่นคำร้อง
breach – to fail to follow a law or rule ละเมิดกฎข้อบังคับ
uphold – to defend or keep to a principle or law; to show that you support something by what you say or do สนับสนุน, รับรอง, พิทักษ์รักษา, ยืนหนัด
moral – relating to right and wrong and the way that people should behave ทางศีลธรรม, เกี่ยวกับความรู้สึกผิดชอบชั่วดี
standards – traditional principles of good behavior มาตรฐาน, บรรทัดฐาน

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 08:46 AM

February 03, 2010



To download audio file, right click here

Bringing help to the stressed

stressMental health staff from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration provide people with stress relief at a mobile unit. The service caters to the increasing number of people suffering stress caused by the severe political, economic and social problems. SOMCHAI POOMLARD
 
Many Bangkok residents are suffering from stress and anxiety, but relatively few of them seek help for their problems. It can be embarrassing to visit a mental health specialist and people also worry their friends and neighbours might think they are crazy.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is trying to help by setting up a mobile health unit to remove the stigma of visiting a psychologist for help with stress and depression.

‘‘Many people who suffer from stress avoid visiting a psychologist, so we decided to go and meet them instead,” said Deputy Bangkok Governor Malinee Sukavejworakit yesterday.

‘‘The mobile unit will have psychologists, psychiatric nurses and experts to diagnose stress disorders and to advise on stress management,’’ she explained.

The mobile unit will visit all of the city’s 50 districts throughout the month, focusing on crowded communities and workplaces. The first service was provided at the Maleenont Building in Klong Toey yesterday.

Today, from 9am to 3pm, the unit will offer services at the Manorom Building and then in front of the Loxley offices, both in Klong Toey.

The unit’s first visitor was a 26-year-old bank worker who was diagnosed as having moderate stress.

Asking not to be named, she said she had difficulty sleeping as she could not stop thinking about unimportant issues and tasks.

‘‘Yesterday, I wanted to rearrange the room and I thought about how to do it all night,’’ she said.

‘‘It is just a little thing and I don’t know why I take it so seriously. I know that I suffer from stress but I don’t know what the cause is.’’

The woman said a psychologist at the unit advised her on stress reduction techniques such as breathing exercises and talking to someone about the problem, as well as providing a list of hospitals that treat the condition.

Sixty-nine people visited the unit yesterday.
 
Adapted from a story by Lamphai Intathep in today’s Bangkok Post.

stress – great worry caused by a difficult situation, or something which causes this condition ความตึงเครียด, ความเครียด
relief – help for improving a bad physical condition or a bad situation การผ่อนคลาย, การบรรเทา
cater to – to try to satisfy a need จัดหามาเพื่อคนใดคนหนึ่งหรือคนกลุ่มหนึ่ง
severe – very serious and worrying ที่รุนแรง ที่น่าเป็นห่วง
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
anxiety – an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry about something that is happening or might happen in the future ความวิตกกังวล
embarrassing – making you feel nervous or ashamed because of what people know or think about you ความขวยเขิน, ความกระดากอาย
mobile – able to move or be moved around ซึ่งเคลื่อนที่ได้ง่าย
stigma – a feeling that something is wrong or embarrassing in some way ความอัปยศอดสู,มลทิน,รอยด่างพร้อย
psychologist – someone who studies how people’s minds work and how this affects their behavior นักจิตวิทยา
depression – a medical condition in which a person is so unhappy that they cannot live a normal life ความสะเทือนใจ, ความเศร้าสลด, ความหดหู่
psychiatric – connected with the treatment of mental illness เกี่ยวกับจิตวิทยา
diagnose – to find out what physical or mental problem someone has by examining them วินิจฉัย,ตรวจโรค
disorder – an illness or medical condition ความผิดปกติทางกายหรือใจ
moderate – neither very great nor very small in strength, size, amount or degree  ระดับปานกลาง
issue – a problem that needs to be considered ประเด็น
task – something that you have to do หน้าที่; ภารกิจ
rearrange – to put people or things in a different order or in different positions จัดเตรียมใหม่
reduction – the process or result of making something smaller or less in amount, size, importance etc การลดลง

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 08:56 AM

February 02, 2010



To download audio file, right click here

No pigeons, thank you.

slpigeonsThe Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) launches plans to capture pigeons at Sanam Luang yesterday. The process begins with two weeks of feeding the birds to get them used to taking food inside a cage. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

When we first heard about the plan to relocate most of Sanam Luang's estimated 10,000 pigeons to a forest area near Burma, it sounded like a reasonable idea.

Now, it appears that someone forgot to tell the residents living in the area and they are furious.

Ratchaburi governor Suthep Komolpamorn said yesterday that people in his province, which includes the forest area located in Suan Phung district, are not at all happy with the idea of living with pigeon droppings and birds eating their rice crop.

"They're satisfied with their current situation and don't want more pigeons," Mr Suthep said.

Democrat MP for Ratchaburi Samat Piriyapanyaporn held talks with Deputy Bangkok Governor Teerachon Manomaiphibul on the issue after the MP was contacted by residents of the province for help.

"He's told me that the city would move pigeons to other provinces," Mr Samat said.

Mr Teerachon said the birds would not only be released in Ratchaburi but also in state forests in Chachoengsao, Prachin Buri and Kanchanaburi. It is not yet known how people living there feel about the plan.

City officials gathered yesterday at Sanam Luang to see how the birds were adapting to eating food placed in a 12x6x4-metre net cage designed to catch them. It would take at least two weeks for the birds to become familiar with the feeding before they could be netted, according to the plan.

They are facing stiff resistance from bird food vendors, however, whose business will dry up once the birds are gone. The vendors have been using firecrackers to scare away the birds from the traps.

The bird relocation plan is a part of the BMA's renovation of Sanam Luang at a cost of 180 million baht under the Thai Khem Khaeng economic stimulus scheme.
 
Adapted from a story by Supoj Wancharoen and Sunan Ochakajon in today's Bangkok Post.

launch – to start something เปิดโครงการ, เริ่มต้น, เริ่มทำ
capture – to catch someone or something; to take someone as a prisoner จับ, จับกุม
relocate – to move someone or something to another place โยกย้ายประชาชนออกจากบริเวณ
estimated – thought to be a particular amount, size, etc. based on a guess or the best information available ประมาณการ
resident – a person who lives in a particular area  ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
furious – extremely angry ซึ่งโกรธจัด
release – to allow someone or something to go free ปล่อย
gather – to come together in a group รวมกลุ่ม, รวมตัวกัน, จับกลุ่มกัน, ชุมนุม
adapt – to change to suit different conditions or uses ทำให้เข้ากับ, ปรับตัว
net – to catch using a net จับด้วยตาข่าย
stiff – strong แข็งแรง,รุนแรง
resistance – a refusal to accept something or allow it to happen การต่อต้าน, การขัดขืน
vendor – someone who sells something, but not in a shop พ่อค้าแม่ค้าแผงลอย
firecracker – a kind of firework that makes a lot of loud noise when it explodes ประทัด
renovation – making something old look new again by repairing and improving it การตบแต่งหรือซ่อมปรับปรุงสถานที่
economic stimulus scheme – a set of programmes, especially government spending programmes, designed to start an economy growing again แผนกระตุ้นหรือฟื้นฟูเศรษฐกิจ

 


Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 08:09 AM


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