In China many non-English majors, who often score high on English exams that emphasize reading comprehension and grammar, have difficulty finding the English words they need to express their ideas in speaking and writing. This problem is not unusual, and it is often difficult for students to use their receptive reading and listening vocabulary for the productive skills of speaking and writing (Nation 2001b). Although students do display individual differences when it comes to vocabulary acquisition and use, they generally find it a great challenge to sufficiently master the spelling, pronunciation, and comprehension of words in their second language. This article discusses a method to deal with this obstacle to language production and illustrates how to use the Voice of America (VOA) Special English program to increase advanced students' vocabulary and improve their spoken and written skills.