A Visit to Thailand.mp3
Voice 1
Hello. I’m Marina Santee. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special
English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand no matter where in
the world they live.
Voice 2
‘It was hot! For people who had just flown from England, it was very, very hot!’
Voice 1
Joy Smith is one of Spotlight’s writers. She went with her husband to visit friends in
Thailand. Joy has had a wonderful time in Thailand. She enjoyed finding out about
another country and culture. She wrote to us about her experiences. And she wanted to
share them with Spotlight listeners. Here are her words.
Voice 2
When we left London, the temperature was fifteen [15] degrees centigrade. When we
landed in Chiang Mai, in Thailand, it was thirty [30] degrees centigrade. It was a big
change. During our stay, it got even hotter. One day the temperature reached forty [40]
degrees! It never, ever, gets that hot in England! We discovered many things in
Thailand that are different from England. But that is what makes travel so much fun!
Unusual food is one of the best things to discover! We especially enjoyed eating
strange new fruits. They all tasted so good! But probably the biggest change to our
usual diet was the rice, lots of rice! We eat rice in England, but not with every meal! In
England, it is more common to eat a vegetable, potato, with the main meal of the day.
But we enjoyed the many different kinds of rice in Thailand. And we loved the tasty
meat and fish we ate with it. We visited the north and south of Thailand during our
stay. But first, we spent several days in the city of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is more
than seven hundred [700] years old. The ancient part of the city is in the shape of a
square with very high, strong walls around it. There is a huge gate in each side of the
square. All around the walls is a moat full of water. In ancient times the walls and the
water provided security for the city. These days, the walls are not complete. There are
many roads that cross the bridges into this old part of the city. Our friends, David and
Jenny, are British. They have lived in Chiang Mai for five years. We wanted to see

with brown branches, green leaves and red flowers! It was very surprising! Riding an
elephant was another new experience for us. A young man sat on the huge head of each
animal and directed where it should go. We sat on a seat on the back of the elephant.
We crossed a deep, fast flowing river and travelled through the forest. It was great
fun! Each area of Thailand has something special to see. In the north there are
mountains, forests and many ancient buildings. We enjoyed driving through the
beautiful countryside to the Golden Triangle. This is where you can see the countries of
Burma, Laos and Thailand all at the same time. The Mekong River separates the
countries from each other. The north of Thailand is also where the hill tribes live. Their
way of life has not changed very much for hundreds of years. The men fish in the rivers
and grow rice. The women weave cloth and make beautiful things to sell. We travelled
in a fast, narrow boat to visit them. The river was full of large rocks. The boatman very
skilfully avoided the rocks. It was another new, fun experience for us. We left Thailand
with many pictures and happy memories. The gentle, smiling people had made us very
welcome. We are hoping that, one day, we will be able to go there again.
Voice 1
The writer of today’s programme was Joy Smith. The producer was Elizabeth Lickiss.
The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom. Computer users can hear our
programmes, read our scripts and see our word book at www.radio.english.net. This
programme is called ‘A Visit to Thailand’. Thank you for joining us in today’s
programme. Goodbye.
Alison Lapper.mp3
Voice 1
Hello. I’m Elizabeth Lickiss.
Voice 2
And I’m Marina Santee. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special English
method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the
world they live.
Voice 3
‘Why shouldn’t my body be art?’

Alison spent her childhood in a children’s home. There were about two hundred and
fifty [250] children there. Some had mental difficulties. Others had physical problems.
Alison spent many unhappy years in the children’s home. Some of the workers treated
the children very badly - causing them mental and physical pain.
Voice 2
When Alison was eleven years old, her life improved. She moved to a different part of
the children’s home. Here, the children were in small groups. Each group had a woman
who acted as the children’s mother. They wanted to make it more of a family
atmosphere. But Alison said,
Voice 3
‘These days, the children’s home is a friendlier place. The children are well cared for.
However, for us it was too little too late.’
Voice 2
Alison left the home at the age of sixteen [16]. She moved to a training centre for
young people. Here, she learned the necessary skills to live alone. And, at the age of
nineteen [19] she moved to a home of her own in London. She said,
Voice 3
‘I became a carefree person. I enjoyed the discoveries of each new day. It was as if I
had been set free from prison’.
Voice 2
Alison continued with her art education. She was clearly skilled and gifted. At Art
College she enjoyed painting life-size pictures. One day, one of her art teachers looked
at her work. She commented,
Voice 4
‘I think you paint all these pictures of beautiful people because you do not want to deal
with how you look - who you really are.’
Voice 1
At first, Alison was shocked and hurt. But then she began to think about her teacher’s
words. She said,
Voice 3

Voice 2
Marc Quinn’s sculpture of Alison is four point seven [4.7] metres high. It stands near to
the statue of Nelson on his column in Trafalgar Square. Nelson is a hero because he
won victory over the outside world. Some people say that Alison is also a hero. Her
statue represents winning victory over your own situations. Alison has proved many
critics wrong. She is a successful artist. And she is a successful mother. Her child is
healthy and happy. One writer says that the statue represents overcoming the judgments
of other people.
Voice 1
This strong message leads some people to say that the statue of Alison is not art. It is
just a statue with a message. Alison disagrees. She says,
Voice 3
‘Anything that we are not at ease with, we avoid. But now I am up there - almost five
metres high. You cannot avoid me any more. Why shouldn’t my body be art if Naomi
Campbell’s is? People want things to be boring and safe. That is why the statue is
causing debate.’
Voice 2
Whatever people say, Alison is pleased that they are saying something! The statue of
Alison may make people question their own ideas about normality, art and beauty. But
if it does, in Alison’s eyes, that is progress.
Voice 1
The writer and producer of today’s programme was Marina Santee. The voices you
heard were from the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. Computer users
can hear our programmes on our website at www.radio.english.net. This programme is
called, ‘Alison Lapper.’ Thank you for joining us today. Good-bye