
This episode takes viewers into the Columbian Era, and demonstrates some of the terrible effects that Spain’s discovery had on the people who lived in the West Indies – effects that would ripple out to all parts of both American continents, into today, and will likely continue into the future.

Watching Episode 96
Working from home, I’ve produced Episode 96 of Ramping Up your English. The main focus is the arrival of Europeans to America. You can watch the entire episode from archives.org. Just click here to go right to Episode 96: The Storm.
Episode Summary
We began Episode 96 with a quick review of simple past-tense verbs. These basic forms are indispensable for relating events from the past.
The name of this episode is The Storm. The featured video shows the background of the voyages of Columbus, and how the interactions of Columbus and his crew affected the Tainos: the Native Americans who welcomed these Europeans to the island in the Caribbean Sea.
The video was followed by a list of actions and situations that occurred during the time of Columbus, with an eye to finding patterns in Native American/European interactions.
Videos Used in Episode 96
The focus of this episode is the Video The Storm. Click here to watch the video on my You Tube channel.
The video is also on archive.org. Click here to watch it without ads.
Links to Related Videos
With the focus now on Columbus, here’s a video about this historical figure. Click here to see the video by Native American History.
Learning Materials in Episode 96
We used two groups of educational slides in this episode. The first group was a brief review of simple past-tense verbs (not always so simple since some verbs are irregular in their past tense. The materials are below.







Ten Actions in Video The Storm










Covid 19
As this episode is posted, Oregon residents are being asked to stay home and follow CDC guidelines to slow the progress of this coronavirus. I reflect on the role European diseases had in the demise of Nature American communities. With all our technology, we are susceptible to damage and death from this disease for which we don’t (mostly) have immunity. Native Americans had no such technology, nor did they have a concept of germ theory (neither did Europeans of the time).
We are able to take measures to slow the spread while treatments and vaccinations are developed. That’s an option Native Americans did not have. We use our best tools to keep the death rates in the low percentages, and those measures seem to be working at this time. Native Americans saw death rates of up to 90 percent in some communities. It’s something to think about.
I was within a day of producing this episode when the order came down from Oregon’s governor – No visitors on college campuses. Public Access – as its name implies – involves the public; and the campus is closed to the public until at least the end of April to help contain the COVID 19 Virus. (Now that closure will last until September, if not later).
While I’m eager to produce new episodes of Ramping Up your English in the studios at RVTV, I completely support the governor’s actions, as well at the actions taken at the campus. I plan to produce more new episodes at home until the Digital Media Center reopens.
Update 12-22-21 We’re still in the COVID19 pandemic, now with the omicron sweeping the world. The RVTV studios are still closed to the public. I’ll continue producing new episodes of Ramping Up your English.
Update 7-4-22 As Americans celebrate Independence Day, the effects of COVID 19 are very much still with us. While vaccines drastically reduced deaths and hospitalization, infections continue, even for those who are fully vaccinated. Last year at this time, the numbers were way down, but soon the Delta Variant came, flooding hospitals and funeral homes again. The Digital Media Center has reopened, but my situation does not allow such indoor congregation. Nonetheless, I’ll continue producing episodes of Ramping Up your English.
Covid 19
For information on the COVID 19 virus, visit the CDC website using the link below:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Dear Viewer – Stay well, and we’ll see you on the other side of this thing.
John Letz – Producer and Host – Ramping Up your English
March 31, 2020 May 4, 2020, and July 4, 2022.
Next Episode
Episode 97: Vocal 3 helps viewers clarify key vocabulary that’s necessary for understanding the events that followed from the voyages of Columbus. Click here to visit the Episode 97 page.