Welcome to Learning English, a daily 30-minute program from the Voice of America.

I'm Katie Weaver.

And I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. This program is designed for English learners, so we speak a little slower and we use words and

phrases especially written for people learning English.

On today's program, Jill Robbins tells about America's first president, George Washington,

on our new All About America series.

Brian Lynn has a story about health concerns in Europe.

John Russell and Anameteo define important terms for artificial intelligence.

Brian Lynn is back with a story from Angkor Watt in Cambodia.

Then Jill joins Andrew Smith for our lesson of the day.

But first...

George Washington was the first president of the United States.

He served from 1789 to 1797. He was a famous general who led the American colonists to freedom from British rule, and he presided over the convention that created the U.S. Constitution.

He wanted to retire from public service and return home.

But the country's founders wanted him to move to New York and serve as the American president.

Washington accepted the job as his duty.

Washington was sworn in as president in 1789.

He had to invent the job of being president for all future presidents.

He established a group of advisors called the Cabinet, as well as the nation's official money.

He appointed a six-member Supreme Court, and he created the Department of Foreign Affairs,

now called the State Department.

He hoped to act in such a way that future presidents could continue to build on what he began.

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