Learn from New Scientist

First published in 1956, New Scientist is a weekly magazine covering science and technology. Its targeted readers are not the Ph.D crowd at college campus, but anyone who has a curious mind.

At its website (also available at its YouTube channel), New Scientist also produces many short video reports. Its topics tend to be light and interesting, such as the advantage that a scared expression brings,  why electric car makes fake engine noise, and the robot with a rat brain.

For English learners, you may pick up the British accent; most of the videos are narrated by Briton.

Learn from Cartoon Network

Cartoon is the best friend of kids–and of many adults, too. It’s simple, it’s creative, and it’s fun to watch.

For English learners, cartoon videos can be wonderful learning resource. The dialogues are easy to follow, the tones are exaggerated but clear, and the scenes are animated.

At the Cartoon Network’s website, it offers some video clips from many of its shows, including Batman, Cow and Chicken, and Pokemon.

Learn from Oprah Winfrey

The most influential woman in the U.S. is Oprah Winfrey. She’s a media juggernaut. She publishes a magazine, she acts in movies, she organizes a book club, and–what she’s really known for–she hosts a TV talk show.

Her program, The Oprah Winfrey Show, usually focuses on the themes of self-improvement, spirituality, and pop literature. Her guests–and audiences, too–often love to confess, even if it’s embarrassing.

You can see more video clips at her website and her channel on Youtube.

Learn from Bloomberg Television

Bloomberg Television acts like Cable Network News (CNN)–24/7  non-stop reporting from many countries in the world, but its master of domain lies in covering business and finance.

Bloomberg Television doesn’t offer a good online viewing experience at its website, except two programs called CEO Spotlight and CFO Spotlight. However, you can watch a lot of short clips at its YouTube channel.

Bloomberg does its best to stay away from business jargon in its reporting. That makes the life of English learners easier. Slightly.

Learn from Common Craft

Common Craft produces the simple and short videos that explains complex ideas in plain English. The videos have been wild popular since they came out two years ago.

Most of The ideas it covers are new stuffs on the web, such as Blog, Social Bookmarking, and Online Photo Sharing. But it ventures out to some other non-geek ideas, such as Electing a U.S. President, CFL Lightbulbs, and
Investing Money.

Plain enough? That plainness is even more blessing to English learners. Check them out at either Common Craft’s website or its channel in YouTube.