On October 19, 1959, the first Special English program was broadcast on the Voice of America (VOA). The goal was to communicate by radio in clear and simple English with people whose native language is not English. VOA Special English programs quickly became some of the most popular on VOA. And they still are. Forty years later, VOA Special English continues to communicate with people who are not fluent in English. But during the years its role has expanded. It also helps people learn American English. And it provides listeners, even those who are native English speakers, with information they cannot find elsewhere.

Today, VOA Special English broadcasts around the world seven days a week. Each half-hour broadcast begins with ten minutes of the latest news followed by 20 minutes of feature programming. There is a different short feature every week day about science, development, agriculture and environment, and on the weekend, about news events and American idioms. These programs are followed by in-depth 15 minute features about American culture, history, science medicine, space, important people or American stories.

Three elements make VOA Special English unique. It has a limited vocabulary of 1500 words. Most are simple words that describe objects, actions or emotions. Some are more difficult. They are used for reporting world events and describing discoveries in medicine and science. VOA Special English is written in short , simple sentences that contain only one idea. No idioms are used. And VOA Special English is spoken at a slower pace, about two-thirds the speed of standard English. This helps people learning English hear each word clearly. It also helps people who are English speakers understand complex subjects.

Through the years, VOA Special English has become a very popular tool for teaching English, even though it was not designed as teaching program. It succeeds in helping people learn English in a non-traditional way. Individuals record the programs and play them over and over to practice their listening skills. In countries around the world, English teachers assign VOA Special English to their students. They praise it for improving their students’ability to understand American English and for the content of the programs. Universities and private companies in many countries produce packages of VOA Special English materials for student use.