In Grand Lake, not far from the Rocky Mountains National Park, it has become a tradition for people to get together and play ice hockey on the frozen lake in the middle of winter. Kate introduces us to some of her friends there and also to a very American snack, the s’more!

Abi tells us a little about the history of the origami paper crane, from its significance in Japanese culture to her own personal contact with this powerful modern symbol of hope and goodwill.

Hasn't everyone tried to miss a day of school by pretending to be sick? Annette reads us a humorous poem by American poet Shel Silverstein about the very subject.

Timothy Russell Strayer and Michael Barsinsky, two members of the "Occupy" movement, talk about the main points of the occupation with respect to the Guantánamo Bay problem and the ways in which society can be changed in a progressive way.

Along with the rule of law, "due process" is an important element of U.S. constitutional law that gives anyone accused of a crime the right to defend him or herself and be judged by a fair and impartial judge or jury. There is a proper, legal way to do this, and that's called due process.

In the United States, there are rights that allow all people who are accused of something to defend themselves: "the rule of law" and "due process of law." Right now, these rights are being challenged, and so it's important to know what they're all about.

Jasmin reveals some Christmas traditions in the UK, including exactly which day they celebrate, and more importantly, what’s on the Christmas menu!

Jasmin feels lucky to belong to two very different countries and cultures, and enjoys telling us some interesting facts about India and England.

John looks out across the Hudson River and explains the appeal of New Jersey for many residents who have recently moved there from New York City.

Pierre talks about the tradition of afternoon tea, which is practically a ritual in England. Today, he's taking a relaxing break with Earl Grey tea and digestive biscuits.

Lots of English words can serve as nouns, verbs, or adjectives depending on the context. Sometimes even the pronunciation changes. Let's look at the slogan "Black Lives Matter" in both a grammatical and historical context.

Austin and Luana give us some tips about words and phrases you can use when you're on a date. Stock Footage courtesy of: Videvo.cin, Pixabay.com, and Videezy.com

Sigrid talks about some of the important aspects of the Christmas season: light, scents, food, and good company.

We keep seeing the "Black Lives Matter" slogan all around — what's it all about? Well, it's a long story. Here's part of the story in a nutshell.

What a time to be learning English! Things are happening quickly in the United States and history is being made right now, so don't miss out on the words and expressions you need to know.