LINGUAWIRE
An AI school will open in Silicon Valley, and Qantas will start ticket sales for its long nonstop flight from New York to Sydney.
A current English news story adapted for language learners at A1, with audio, transcript, vocabulary and comprehension work.
Welcome to LinguaWire English A1.
Today we have two stories: AI school and Qantas tickets.
Read along at linguawire.com. The transcript and word explanations are there.
A Silicon Valley firm is starting an AI school.
Now we go to Mia, our LinguaWire correspondent for technology.
Thanks, Daniel. This school is new.
And it is unusual.
Andreessen Horowitz says it will open an academy.
It is for young people.
They want to build AI products.
So this is not a normal college?
No, it is not.
The firm calls it a college alternative.
Students can choose it instead of college.
What will students do there?
They will build real projects.
They will not take tests.
They will not get homework.
The school will teach design.
It will teach fundraising too.
That sounds very practical.
Yes, and that is the point.
The idea is to learn by making things.
The school also wants people who can sell businesses.
It also wants people who can tell stories.
How many places are there?
There are 50 slots for fall 2027.
The program lasts one year.
It is tuition-free.
Free sounds strong.
But the group still needs money, right?
Yes.
The program got a $42 million investment.
That money came from big tech companies.
It also came from investors.
The school says it will start with students after high school.
And there is a big name inside this plan too?
Yes.
The school named Sam Altman as an instructor.
Or a guest lecturer.
The school also says it will later ask for approvals.
That is for a longer program.
So this is still the start.
But it is already serious.
It is.
It is a new bet on how young people learn.
Thanks, Mia.
Qantas is opening sales for a very long flight.
Now we go to Ethan, our LinguaWire correspondent for transport.
Thanks, Daniel. This route is getting closer now.
Qantas plans to start selling tickets next August.
The flight will be from New York to Sydney.
It is a nonstop flight.
That is a huge trip.
Yes, it is.
The flight is set to begin in 2028.
It should take about 18 hours.
That is very long.
So passengers stay on one plane the whole time?
Yes.
They do not need to connect in another airport.
The company says many travelers want that.
Why does Qantas think people will pay for it?
The CEO said there is a customer who wants this.
She said some people are ready to pay more.
They want a direct trip.
They do not want to change planes.
What kind of plane will it use?
Qantas will use an Airbus A350-1000 ULR.
That means ultra-long range.
The plane has an extra fuel tank.
It will have first class.
It will have business class.
It will have premium economy and economy.
So it is built for distance and comfort.
Yes, and Qantas has spent years on this.
The company worked with sleep scientists.
It wanted to study jet lag.
It also looked at lighting schemes.
These can help travelers.
That makes the flight sound very planned.
It does.
Qantas is not just selling a seat.
It is selling a very long journey.
Thanks, Ethan.
Now let’s look at a few useful words.
academy
A school or training place. In the story: “open an academy.” Example: My sister goes to a music academy.
alternative
Something you can choose instead. In the story: “a college alternative.” Example: We need another plan today.
tuition-free
Free to attend. No school fees. In the story: “It is tuition-free.” Example: This class is tuition-free this year.
It will open an academy.
We use will + verb for future plans and future facts. We make it with will and the base verb.
will open, will build, will start
“It will open an academy.”
“They will build real projects.”
Repeat after me: will open
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