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, Anna Mateo, has a story about an increasing interest in natural elements in design.

As a result, building designers and others are including trees in their work aiming to bring nature to more people.

Then, in many parts of the world, it is a time for seasonal infections, like cold and flu.

Katie and I give some advice on how to avoid getting sick.

Finally, Jill Robbins and Andrew Smith bring us the lesson of the day.

They give some tips about communicating and summarizing.

But first, here is Anna.

There is a growing movement worldwide to use plants in building design to establish closer connections with nature

and soften hard city styles. The movement also seeks to improve designs to help protect the environment

and increase personal wellness.

Many of the efforts by architects and designers have centered on one natural element, trees.

Examples of such design can be found in many places, including New York City.

A building in Manhattan that houses the Ford Foundation has a 12-story, light-filled entrance area or atrium.

It is also filled with plants and flowers, including magnolias, eucalyptus,

jacaranda, cryptomerea, iron bark, and pear trees.

Another example sits within New York City's Brookfield Place Shopping Center.

The center's main atrium includes a collection of 12-meter-tall Washingtonia palm trees.

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