Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro joked on Wednesday (December 3) about his English skills, saying he founded "Madurolingo," emulating the language-learning app Duolingo.

Maduro spoke at a public event in Petare, near Caracas, amid rising tensions with the United States.

Since the military buildup in the Caribbean, where U.S. forces have carried out at least 21 strikes on suspected drug boats since September, killing more than 80 people, Maduro has used some English to address the conflict in his public speeches.

On Wednesday, a flight from the U.S. repatriated 266 Venezuelan migrants, an event hailed by the government as proof that Venezuelan airspace continues to operate despite tensions with the U.S.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

REFILE: MOMENT: 'Madurolingo': Venezuela's Maduro shows off English skills at public event

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITE FROM VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: VIDEO HAS BEEN REFILED TO ADJUST 16:9 ASPECT TO 4:3.

SCRIPT AND SHOTLIST HAVE NO CHANGES.

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: PETARE, MIRANDA STATE, VENEZUELA (DECEMBER 3, 3035) (VTV - Access all)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English/Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING:

[SOUNDBITE BEGINS OVER SHOT OF MADURO’S WIFE, CILIA FLORES AND CONTINUES OVER SHOTS OF FLORES, MADURO, AUDIENCE]

“The man in the peace, the number Nicolas. Please, please, listen to me… Please, please, please, listen to… listen. (Continues in Spanish) Okay, okay, I correct. We are in, what’s it called, Duolingo. Do you know what Duolingo is? I founded something called 'Madurolingo.' (Continues in English) Please, please, listen to me, the man in the peace, the number Nicolas.”