Sixteen habits to live by
培養好習慣 -
Breakfast provides the fuel your body needs to get started each day.
3. Drink lots of water
Water is good for your skin and helps you lose weight.
4. Exercise
It provides energy, reduces stress and keeps you healthy. But the key to making this a lasting habit is finding an exercise you enjoy.
5. Practice cleanliness
Make sure your hands, teeth, hair, body and clothes are clean. This habit will help you feel better and prevent disease.
6. Take time for your appearance
People judge you based on the way you look. Before you leave the house, take a few minutes to be sure you look your best.
7. Avoid cigarettes, drugs and alcohol
They affect your health, and even worse, they can make your life shorter.
8. Practice good manners
Please and thank you are magical words. They make people happy to help you.
9. Arrive on time
This shows people that you are responsible and that you respect their time.
10. Volunteer
Volunteer your time and/or your money, placing importance on others and their needs.
11. Manage your money
Good money habits will reduce stress and bring financial freedom.
12. Be honest
People will discover that you always tell the truth.
13. Practice the golden rule
Treat others the way you hope they will treat you.
14. Become a regular reader
Reading increases your vocabulary and stretches your mind.
15. Learn to relax
Your mind and body both need times of relaxation. A hot bath or good music can take away stress and help you relax.
16. Get a good night's sleep
Sleep is important because it helps to restore the brain, making your thoughts clearer.
Develop some of these good habits, and you'll lead a happier and more successful life.
Grammar Gym:
"Good habits formed at youth make all the difference."
"to make all the difference " - to be the most important thing in bringing a result.
Using pure cocoa powder to make this chocolate cake makes all the difference!
Making a good first impression when you walk into an interview makes all the difference.
Vocabulary Tips:
philosopher -哲学家。people who study closely on something related to life or religion. 研究形而上的事物。
*Einstein was not only a scientist, he was also a philosopher.
philosophy -哲学。
*Professor Huang is a specialist in Chinese philosophy.
fuel - gasoline for car, energy. 燃料，动力。
*The old truck consumes a lot of fuel.
*The car is low in fuel.
fuel (v) - 供应燃料，激发。
*Ted's repetitive tardiness fueled the boss's anger.
*The train is fueled by coal. 发动是靠煤碳。
disease - (第一个's' 发 'z' )
*Luckily, this highly contagious disease can be cured by medication.
*Scientists have found a strong connection between being overweight and heart disease.
appearance -外表，出现。
appear - 出现。
*Chelsea really cares about her appearance. She spends at least two hours grooming every day.
*The singer's appearance caused a commotion.
alcohol -酒精。
*This drink contains alcohol.
*Bill is fighting against his addiction to alcohol.
alcoholic - 酒精，酒精的。
*These alcoholic beverages shouldn't appear at school parties.
volunteer (v)-自愿，自愿服务。
*Alison volunteered to take care of her grandma.
*Gina volunteered to teach at an after-school program.
volunteer (n) -志工，自愿者。
*Many volunteers participated in the food drive.
relax -放松。
*David took some time off to relax after finishing a big project.
relaxation (n) - 放松，消遣活动。
*Tim plays golf for relaxation.
*Try to find time between tasks for a little relaxation. 在任务的空档里找时间放松一下。
restore -recovery, make it return to the original status.恢复，修复。
*It will take time for her to restore her health after this major surgery.
*Two years after the earthquake, the building was completely restored. 修复。
habit - you do so often that you don't even think about it.
schedule - to do list, listing something you need you do.
stretch - expend.
Language Tips:
listicle = came from " list" and "article".
listicle - 文章以条列示的说明排列。目录是的文章，或是报告提示中带有列目式的清单。
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Please / Thank you :
When people says "Thank you" to you, you should answer:
"You're welcome.", "Don't mention it", "Anytime", "No sweat", and "My pleasure". 不同答复，适用于不同的场合。有通俗的，也有正式些的。
"No problem" - 是很口语的，只能用在一般至亲，好友或同学。如用在正式场合就会显得轻浮，没诚意。（因为话中有“若是真有问题，我就不会帮忙了”的意思。）
"You're welcome" 在正式场合，还是以最为妥当。
Notes taking of Studioclassroom
Showing posts with label Psychology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psychology. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
The Psychology of To-do Lists
待辦事項清單的心 理學 - .
As I write this, a long list of tasks sits on the desk beside me, reminding me what to work on. Many people like me use to-do lists to organize work and manage time. So what makes this method effective?
Psychologists have observed that people usually focus on tasks that aren't finished. This tendency may sound helpful - but it isn't always. In one study, people who didn't finish a warm-up activity struggled with later tasks.
Their minds were still occupied with the warm-up. Planning how to finish the warm-up removed this distraction even if they couldn't complete the task. Similarly, to-do lists let people plan when to complete tasks not yet finished. That frees their minds to concentrate on the task at hand. But writing a to-do list doesn't guarantee success. This technique has several limitations.
Problem: A long list of tasks that need to be done can be overwhelming. When faced with too many choices, people may find it difficult to do anything.
Solution: Prioritize the items on the list and start with the most important tasks.
Problem: Most people have a preference for short, easy tasks. But this can lead to the easy jobs getting checked off while long ones remain.
Solution: Divide long assignments into smaller parts. For example, don't write Plan trip to Japan: write Check plane-ticket prices online. This makes long tasks seem easier. You can also use "fun" tasks as rewards when you finish difficult ones.
Problem: Writing the list itself can be a form of procrastination. It gives you a sense of accomplishment - without doing any real work.
Solution: Don't just list tasks; decide when and where to do them. This will help you follow through. Some experts recommend a method called if/then planning. For example, rather than writing Call Steve, write Monday after lunch, call Steve. Others abandon to-do lists altogether because they prefer scheduling tasks on a calendar.
Remember, to-do lists are tools. They won't solve all your time-management problems. But if used well, they can make you more effective at work and at home.
Grammar Gym:
That frees their minds to concentrate on the task at hand.
'frees' - letting go.
After the war, the prisoners were freed from prison.
'free' - to make something available for another purpose.
*Jan decided to quit her second job; this frees her time to be with her kids more.
*Benjamin needs to free his schedule before he can say yes to any new commitments.
Vocabulary Tips:
psychology -心理学。 'psych'-有‘灵魂，心志’之意。, 'logy' - 有‘学问，理论’之意。
*The detective majored in criminal psychology.
psychological (adj) - 心理的。
*Psychological analysis. 心理的分析。
tendency - usually does, as a habit. 倾向。
*The patient is struggling against suicidal tendencies.
*Tanya has a tendency to avoid conflicts.逃避冲突。
tendency -趋势
*There's a tendency for gold prices to rise when the economy is bad.
concentrate -set mind focus on something.集中，注意，专注。concentrate on 。。。。
*Rita decided to concentrate on her career.
concentration (n) -集中注意力。
*Driving requires constant concentration. 持续的集中注意力。
overwhelming - too much came at once toward you that effect your feeling.使不知所措，令人无法承受。
overwhelm -令人无法承受，或势不可挡， 压倒性的。
*The overwhelming success almost ruined the teenage star.
*The team celebrated their overwhelming victory with their coach.
the task at hand - work on your job at hand. Something you are doing right now.
limitation - something you can not do, unable you or limit you to do something.
preference - 偏好，偏爱。
prefer - 更喜欢，偏好。
*Greg has shown a strong preference for astronomy since he was a boy.
*In order to serve our customers better, it's important to know their preferences.
procrastination -拖延，延迟。
*Any procrastination in decision-making can cause a loss of millions of dollars.
procrastinate (v) -延迟，蓄意拖延，拖延。
*The buyers intentionally procrastinated when making their house payments.
follow through -坚持，进行到底，持续到最后完成任务。
*Chloe is good at planning, but really bad at following through.
follow through on something. -对某项任务持续到底，贯彻始终。
*Richard was assigned to follow through on this project.
abandon -抛弃，中途停止。stop, not finish with, give up, dump.
*David was forced to abandon his studies because of his illness.
*This little baby was abandoned in front of an orphanage.
*The captain decided to abandon ship as it began to sink.
Language Tips:
occupied / preoccupied :
occupied - 在使用中或是被占据，被侵占。
The seat is already occupied.
preoccupied -全神贯注，心思被占据。很入神，心事重重的。
She seemed preoccupied when I was talking to her.
occupied - refer to physical.
preoccupied - refer to mental, (our thought and mind)
Their minds were still occupied with the warm-up......=They were still preoccupied with the warm-up...
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all together - 大家在一起。（非常重要，句子中不可少的，否则意思就不全了）
* The last time we were all together was in 2001.
altogether (adv) - （副词），完全地，简直是。（在一个句子中可有可无，不会影响一个句子的意思。）
*That test was altogether too difficult. 简直是太困难了。
*Others abandon to-do lists altogether because they prefer scheduling tasks on a calendar.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Decision Fatigue
Decisions, decisions, the constantly need to decide maybe effecting the quality of your decisions.决定疲乏，做决定！做决定！如果持续不断地需要做决定！可能会影响到决定的品质。
Do you consider yourself a good or a bad decision-maker? If you answer "bad." you might simply be choosing the wrong time of day to make your decisions.
A new phenomenon
When was the last time you made an end-of-the-day business decision or a late-night online purchase only to regret it the next day? Most of us are guilty of some regrettable decisions from time to time, but researchers may now have an explanation for these poor choices. Psychologists and researchers call the newly identified phenomenon "decision fatigue." They suggest that each time we make a decision, we use up some of our willpower, that ability to control our own actions and say "No."
After making numerous decisions, our willpower is then depleted, leading us to make increasingly poor choices. Roy Baumeister, social psychologist and pre-eminent researcher on the topic has conducted a series of experiments. These experiments demonstrated that willpower functions like a muscle and can actually be fatigued with use. As a result, when fewer decisions are involved, there is less decision fatigue.
But in a world with endless choices, everywhere from the coffee shop to the classroom, how can we avoid decision fatigue and choose wisely? Baumeister found that the most successful people have learned how to conserve their willpower by adapting their habits and routines.
What can we learn from them?
* Make your mornings count
When possible, make all major decisions in the morning while your mind is fresh and before fatigue takes over. When you face problems that must be dealt with, handle the situation early in the day in order to avoid a harsh word or an error in judgment.
* Avoid crises
Don't wait until the last minute to pay your bills, finish a project or make needed repairs. Use your willpower to avoid a crisis rather than just get through one.
Sleep on it
Trying to decide on something like a new apartment or can can be draining. As with any major financial agreement, it's best to sleep on it before making any final decisions.
*Shop with a list
Marketers long ago figured out that a customer's willpower is low after deciding on one grocery item after another. That's why candy and other snacks are always located at the checkout counter. Avoid temptation by always shopping with a list and sticking to it.
*Know yourself
Baumeister shared a final common denominator among those who avoid decision fatigue. "The best decision makers are the ones who know when not to trust themselves." he said.
Writing Tips:
But in a world with endless choices, everywhere from the coffee shop to the classroom, how can we avoid decision fatigue and choose wisely?
In a world with endless choices.
" world" here is not refer to the world we live on.
"world" here is a created way to say "life/society/environment."
---------------------------------------
as a result = because of this.
Vocabulary Tips:
fatigue (n)-疲劳，疲乏。
*Taking care of too many patients can cause compassion fatigue in doctors and nurses.
fatigued (adj)-疲劳的，疲乏的。
*The workers became fatigued after working long hours.
regrettable- 会后悔，会感到遗憾的。feel bad, sorry. "regret"-后悔，遗憾。 "able"-会如此的，可能的。
*The defeat was a regrettable failure for both the team and the coach.
*This regrettable mistake caused blackout for thousands of households.
pre-eminent -顶尖的，卓越的，杰出的。 "pre"-有“前面”的意思。, "emi"-有 “突出”之意
*This pre-eminent pianist won numerous awards. 顶尖的钢琴家。
*Dave graduated from one of the country's pre-eminent medical schools.顶尖的医科学府。
conserve- protect, save, use less not waste, keep up. 保留，保存，节省。
*To conserve electricity, we seldom turn on our air-conditioner.
*The customs and traditions of this tribe were carefully conserved.
*The singer didn't speak much to conserve her voice for tonight's performance.
drain-使消耗，流出，排出。to make something more tired.
*These marathon meetings completely drained me.
*Taking care of the new-born baby really drained the couple's energy.
denominator -分数的分母，此为“共同处，共通点”
common denominator- 共同处，共通点。
*The common denominator of all the directors' work is family values. 强调家庭价值。
series-系列。
depleted - go down, reduce.
Chat Room:
fatigue-疲劳，疲乏。
decision fatigue- 决定疲乏。
compassion fatigue-慈悲疲乏。
compassion-慈悲，同情心。
run out of steam - （很口语的片语）意即“耗尽，筋皮力竭。”- 火车上的蒸汽用完了，火车就无法再开，无法产生动力。
steam -蒸汽，火车行驶是靠蒸汽带动的。
-----------------------------------------------
sleep on it- get a good sleep before making any big decisions. take time to make decisions. 睡在上面。yi意即“别急着做决定，慢慢考虑，三思而后行。回家先睡个好觉，等休息够了，再做决定。
sleep over (at)..留在别人家过夜，小朋友or teenagers 到到同学家玩，在朋友家过夜。
.
Do you consider yourself a good or a bad decision-maker? If you answer "bad." you might simply be choosing the wrong time of day to make your decisions.
A new phenomenon
When was the last time you made an end-of-the-day business decision or a late-night online purchase only to regret it the next day? Most of us are guilty of some regrettable decisions from time to time, but researchers may now have an explanation for these poor choices. Psychologists and researchers call the newly identified phenomenon "decision fatigue." They suggest that each time we make a decision, we use up some of our willpower, that ability to control our own actions and say "No."
After making numerous decisions, our willpower is then depleted, leading us to make increasingly poor choices. Roy Baumeister, social psychologist and pre-eminent researcher on the topic has conducted a series of experiments. These experiments demonstrated that willpower functions like a muscle and can actually be fatigued with use. As a result, when fewer decisions are involved, there is less decision fatigue.
But in a world with endless choices, everywhere from the coffee shop to the classroom, how can we avoid decision fatigue and choose wisely? Baumeister found that the most successful people have learned how to conserve their willpower by adapting their habits and routines.
What can we learn from them?
* Make your mornings count
When possible, make all major decisions in the morning while your mind is fresh and before fatigue takes over. When you face problems that must be dealt with, handle the situation early in the day in order to avoid a harsh word or an error in judgment.
* Avoid crises
Don't wait until the last minute to pay your bills, finish a project or make needed repairs. Use your willpower to avoid a crisis rather than just get through one.
Sleep on it
Trying to decide on something like a new apartment or can can be draining. As with any major financial agreement, it's best to sleep on it before making any final decisions.
*Shop with a list
Marketers long ago figured out that a customer's willpower is low after deciding on one grocery item after another. That's why candy and other snacks are always located at the checkout counter. Avoid temptation by always shopping with a list and sticking to it.
*Know yourself
Baumeister shared a final common denominator among those who avoid decision fatigue. "The best decision makers are the ones who know when not to trust themselves." he said.
Writing Tips:
But in a world with endless choices, everywhere from the coffee shop to the classroom, how can we avoid decision fatigue and choose wisely?
In a world with endless choices.
" world" here is not refer to the world we live on.
"world" here is a created way to say "life/society/environment."
---------------------------------------
as a result = because of this.
Vocabulary Tips:
fatigue (n)-疲劳，疲乏。
*Taking care of too many patients can cause compassion fatigue in doctors and nurses.
fatigued (adj)-疲劳的，疲乏的。
*The workers became fatigued after working long hours.
regrettable- 会后悔，会感到遗憾的。feel bad, sorry. "regret"-后悔，遗憾。 "able"-会如此的，可能的。
*The defeat was a regrettable failure for both the team and the coach.
*This regrettable mistake caused blackout for thousands of households.
pre-eminent -顶尖的，卓越的，杰出的。 "pre"-有“前面”的意思。, "emi"-有 “突出”之意
*This pre-eminent pianist won numerous awards. 顶尖的钢琴家。
*Dave graduated from one of the country's pre-eminent medical schools.顶尖的医科学府。
conserve- protect, save, use less not waste, keep up. 保留，保存，节省。
*To conserve electricity, we seldom turn on our air-conditioner.
*The customs and traditions of this tribe were carefully conserved.
*The singer didn't speak much to conserve her voice for tonight's performance.
drain-使消耗，流出，排出。to make something more tired.
*These marathon meetings completely drained me.
*Taking care of the new-born baby really drained the couple's energy.
denominator -分数的分母，此为“共同处，共通点”
common denominator- 共同处，共通点。
*The common denominator of all the directors' work is family values. 强调家庭价值。
series-系列。
depleted - go down, reduce.
Chat Room:
fatigue-疲劳，疲乏。
decision fatigue- 决定疲乏。
compassion fatigue-慈悲疲乏。
compassion-慈悲，同情心。
run out of steam - （很口语的片语）意即“耗尽，筋皮力竭。”- 火车上的蒸汽用完了，火车就无法再开，无法产生动力。
steam -蒸汽，火车行驶是靠蒸汽带动的。
-----------------------------------------------
sleep on it- get a good sleep before making any big decisions. take time to make decisions. 睡在上面。yi意即“别急着做决定，慢慢考虑，三思而后行。回家先睡个好觉，等休息够了，再做决定。
sleep over (at)..留在别人家过夜，小朋友or teenagers 到到同学家玩，在朋友家过夜。
.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Spring-Cleaning
Six steps to help you spring-clean your mind, body and emotions.
Spring officially arrives tomorrow! After the long, cold winter months, springtime brings a promise of nicer days. The season makes us want to throw open our windows and enjoy some warmth. Springtime also gives many of us the desire to clean things up. This year, though, why stop with just the house? Let's also bring some order to our mind, body and emotions.
Here are some ideas to help get started:
Reconnect-
*** with nature.
Try to spend some time each day in the sunshine. Walk to work or walk your dog. Take a book to the park, sit under a tree, and read. Outdoor activities will provide the healthy vitamin D your body needs after a long winter.
*** with friends and loved ones.
Call a friend you haven't seen for a while and meet for lunch. Take your family on a hike. Plan, prepare, and eat a meal together as a family. Loving relationships refresh our emotions.
Pare down:
*** the clutter because an organized home leads to an organized mind. Go through your clothes, and give away anything you didn't wear last season. Then pledge to give away one clothing item for every new one you buy. Look through your old magazines and newspapers. If they are a month old and you haven't read them, the odds are you never will. Get in the habit of cutting out articles you want to keep. Then throw away the rest of the paper. (Studio Classroom magazine is the exception! You'll want to keep it for future study and review.)
*** your spending. If you don't have a budget, now is a good time to make one. A budget will help you eliminate needless spending. You'll be surprised how much you can save in just a short time.
*** your weight. Replace all your junk food with healthy snacks. Spring is also a great time to begin exercising.
Unplug
***electronic devices and the television. During the winter, it's easy to spend hours each day in front of a screen. But spring's nice weather seems to invite us outside. Why not set aside a few hours, leave all electronic devices at home and go out. You may be surprised how free you'll feel without non stop texts and phone calls.
Clear
***your mind. Treat yourself to a spa. Or create your won spa at home with a warm bath scented candles and soft music. Allow yourself to completely relax, and feel your worries slip away.
Join
***a new group. Sports teams, dance classes, photography clubs, etc. help you meet new people and learn new skills.
Go
***to a museum, play or concert. These events will stretch your mind and feed your soul. Why not welcome spring this year with a freshly cleaned home and a renewed mind and body!
Grammar Tips:
Get in the habit of cutting out articles you want to keep.
"get in the habit of "= "develop the habit of ".
Get in the habit of recycling.
How do I get in the habit of exercising every day?
Becky got in the habit of chewing her nails whenever she felt nervous about her work.
Vocabulary Tips:
warmth (n)-温暖，亲切，热情。 warm (adj)-温暖，
*Surrounded by the warmth of the fireplace, the girl fell asleep.
*We would never forget the warmth of the town's people.
reconnect -重新连结，使再结合。 "connect"连接，连结， -, "re"-再一次
*The electricity will be reconnected in five minutes. 恢复电力供应。
*We have to reconnect with our previous suppliers to get sufficient materials.
refresh - 使振作精神，重新得力，更新，使恢复体力。"re"- “再一次，"fresh"-精力充沛
*I refreshed myself with a walk in the woods.
*A glass of iced tea can refresh you right away.
pare down -削减，减少。reduce, make things less to living only with neccessary things. "pare"-削皮，减掉
*We have to pare down our expenses by 10% then we will be able to pay all the bills.
*The manager pared down the advertising budget.
clutter-杂物，零乱的东西，杂乱的东西。stuff that does not look nice, most are unused.
*Dad spent a whole weekend to clear out the clutter in the garage.
*His dorm room is full of clutter.
odds - 机率，可能性。
*If you begin your business without careful planning, the odds of succeeding are very poor.
*What are the odds our team will win?
*The odds are that this product will be very popular.
unplug - 拔掉电源。"un"-“不”， "plug"-接通电源。
*Sean unplugged all the appliances before leaving the house.
*Dad decided to unplug our TV so we would have more quality time.
set aside-留出来，空出来，拨出，挪出，放在旁边。 save them for something.
*Vince always sets aside one hour everyday to exercise.
*Tanya and her husband set aside some money every month for their children's education.
scented -有香味的，芳香的 scent- 香味good smell.
*The scented tissures are very poplular, especially among femals.
*These scented candles were one of our wedding gifts.
electronic - something use electricity to work.
spa - a place provide people a nice, pretty and calm feeling, people fell relax and enjoy.
renew- make new that can last longer.
pledge-promise.
Chat Room:
spring-春天，春，弹簧，弹跳，跳躍
Spring officially arrives tomorrow!
spring chicken -春鸡，小鸡， 年轻人。通常用在否定句，“不再年轻了” 当年纪大的人不服老，还常和年轻小伙子们打蓝球，体能，行动跟不上年轻人了。可说"You are no spring chicken."
No spring chicken - 不再年轻了
You are no spring chicken.不再年轻了
spring to mind-突然的（跳）出现在脑海中
spring a surprise on you -突然提出某事让你惊讶。
-------------------------------------------------
habit -嗜好，习惯。
have a habit - "have" 养成，有
I have a bad habit.
in the habit -特定的习惯。
I'm in the habit of drinking coffee every morning.
Get in the habit of cutting out articles you want to keep.
break the habit = kick the habit - 改掉习惯。
by force of habit - 出于习惯性的，习惯性的。
You wake up early by force of habit. 习惯性的早起，虽是假日，也自然的因习惯性而早起。
---------------------------------------------------
slip away - 悄悄地溜走。usually use this idiom in a situation that "you don't want to be there"
slip - 轻轻的，悄悄地，没人注意的滑 （溜）走。逃走。
Allow yourself to completely relax and fell your worries slip away.
slip away-逃走，悄悄溜走。
slip away from the police. 坏人从警察面前逃溜走。
slip out 不告而别，神不知，鬼不觉地离开（有心的）。与 slip away 意思相近。机会悄悄地溜走。
.
Spring officially arrives tomorrow! After the long, cold winter months, springtime brings a promise of nicer days. The season makes us want to throw open our windows and enjoy some warmth. Springtime also gives many of us the desire to clean things up. This year, though, why stop with just the house? Let's also bring some order to our mind, body and emotions.
Here are some ideas to help get started:
Reconnect-
*** with nature.
Try to spend some time each day in the sunshine. Walk to work or walk your dog. Take a book to the park, sit under a tree, and read. Outdoor activities will provide the healthy vitamin D your body needs after a long winter.
*** with friends and loved ones.
Call a friend you haven't seen for a while and meet for lunch. Take your family on a hike. Plan, prepare, and eat a meal together as a family. Loving relationships refresh our emotions.
Pare down:
*** the clutter because an organized home leads to an organized mind. Go through your clothes, and give away anything you didn't wear last season. Then pledge to give away one clothing item for every new one you buy. Look through your old magazines and newspapers. If they are a month old and you haven't read them, the odds are you never will. Get in the habit of cutting out articles you want to keep. Then throw away the rest of the paper. (Studio Classroom magazine is the exception! You'll want to keep it for future study and review.)
*** your spending. If you don't have a budget, now is a good time to make one. A budget will help you eliminate needless spending. You'll be surprised how much you can save in just a short time.
*** your weight. Replace all your junk food with healthy snacks. Spring is also a great time to begin exercising.
Unplug
***electronic devices and the television. During the winter, it's easy to spend hours each day in front of a screen. But spring's nice weather seems to invite us outside. Why not set aside a few hours, leave all electronic devices at home and go out. You may be surprised how free you'll feel without non stop texts and phone calls.
Clear
***your mind. Treat yourself to a spa. Or create your won spa at home with a warm bath scented candles and soft music. Allow yourself to completely relax, and feel your worries slip away.
Join
***a new group. Sports teams, dance classes, photography clubs, etc. help you meet new people and learn new skills.
Go
***to a museum, play or concert. These events will stretch your mind and feed your soul. Why not welcome spring this year with a freshly cleaned home and a renewed mind and body!
Grammar Tips:
Get in the habit of cutting out articles you want to keep.
"get in the habit of "= "develop the habit of ".
Get in the habit of recycling.
How do I get in the habit of exercising every day?
Becky got in the habit of chewing her nails whenever she felt nervous about her work.
Vocabulary Tips:
warmth (n)-温暖，亲切，热情。 warm (adj)-温暖，
*Surrounded by the warmth of the fireplace, the girl fell asleep.
*We would never forget the warmth of the town's people.
reconnect -重新连结，使再结合。 "connect"连接，连结， -, "re"-再一次
*The electricity will be reconnected in five minutes. 恢复电力供应。
*We have to reconnect with our previous suppliers to get sufficient materials.
refresh - 使振作精神，重新得力，更新，使恢复体力。"re"- “再一次，"fresh"-精力充沛
*I refreshed myself with a walk in the woods.
*A glass of iced tea can refresh you right away.
pare down -削减，减少。reduce, make things less to living only with neccessary things. "pare"-削皮，减掉
*We have to pare down our expenses by 10% then we will be able to pay all the bills.
*The manager pared down the advertising budget.
clutter-杂物，零乱的东西，杂乱的东西。stuff that does not look nice, most are unused.
*Dad spent a whole weekend to clear out the clutter in the garage.
*His dorm room is full of clutter.
odds - 机率，可能性。
*If you begin your business without careful planning, the odds of succeeding are very poor.
*What are the odds our team will win?
*The odds are that this product will be very popular.
unplug - 拔掉电源。"un"-“不”， "plug"-接通电源。
*Sean unplugged all the appliances before leaving the house.
*Dad decided to unplug our TV so we would have more quality time.
set aside-留出来，空出来，拨出，挪出，放在旁边。 save them for something.
*Vince always sets aside one hour everyday to exercise.
*Tanya and her husband set aside some money every month for their children's education.
scented -有香味的，芳香的 scent- 香味good smell.
*The scented tissures are very poplular, especially among femals.
*These scented candles were one of our wedding gifts.
electronic - something use electricity to work.
spa - a place provide people a nice, pretty and calm feeling, people fell relax and enjoy.
renew- make new that can last longer.
pledge-promise.
Chat Room:
spring-春天，春，弹簧，弹跳，跳躍
Spring officially arrives tomorrow!
spring chicken -春鸡，小鸡， 年轻人。通常用在否定句，“不再年轻了” 当年纪大的人不服老，还常和年轻小伙子们打蓝球，体能，行动跟不上年轻人了。可说"You are no spring chicken."
No spring chicken - 不再年轻了
You are no spring chicken.不再年轻了
spring to mind-突然的（跳）出现在脑海中
spring a surprise on you -突然提出某事让你惊讶。
-------------------------------------------------
habit -嗜好，习惯。
have a habit - "have" 养成，有
I have a bad habit.
in the habit -特定的习惯。
I'm in the habit of drinking coffee every morning.
Get in the habit of cutting out articles you want to keep.
break the habit = kick the habit - 改掉习惯。
by force of habit - 出于习惯性的，习惯性的。
You wake up early by force of habit. 习惯性的早起，虽是假日，也自然的因习惯性而早起。
---------------------------------------------------
slip away - 悄悄地溜走。usually use this idiom in a situation that "you don't want to be there"
slip - 轻轻的，悄悄地，没人注意的滑 （溜）走。逃走。
Allow yourself to completely relax and fell your worries slip away.
slip away-逃走，悄悄溜走。
slip away from the police. 坏人从警察面前逃溜走。
slip out 不告而别，神不知，鬼不觉地离开（有心的）。与 slip away 意思相近。机会悄悄地溜走。
.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Good Parenting Skills Can Change the World
改變世界就從良好的教養技巧做起 All of us need to practice healthy parental behaviors toward young children and teenagers by Judi Light Hopson, Emma H. Hopson, R.N. and Ted Ha
Have you noticed that relationships all over the world are full of tension? Many families are stressed to the breaking point. Governments, schools and workplaces all wrestle with "people problems."
The world cannot change for the better until families become more emotionally healthy. Mental health and balanced citizens create a sane society. There is no substitute for a mentally healthy parent figure in one's life. Individuals who raise mentally and emotionally healthy children make a major contribution to our world.
Good parents use these strategies:
* They listen to their children. We all feel valued when other people listen to us. Children cannot feel safe without adults taking time to listen.
* They treat children with respect. Respect means treating a child's feelings tenderly in every possible situation. They give out hugs. Children need the power of touch. Parents who dish out orders and never give hugs are raising emotionally deprived children.
* They discipline properly and consistently. Parents should take control and speak authoritatively when feel safe when parents take control.
(Four keys: listen, respect, love, discipline)
"I see patients in my counseling office who've never had true nurturing from anyone," says a psychologist we'll call Gerald. "They've never known the inner peace of feeling loved and cared for." Gerald says that children under the age of six cannot receive too much love and attention. He adds that discipline is part of that package, but he emphasizes that small children really need this kind of devotion. "Small children who've been hugged, kissed and loved on will grow up to be mentally stable adults," says Gerald.
He goes on to say that hungering for parenting can, for example, get teenage girls into trouble. If the father figure isn't there, a teenage girl will look for love in all the wrong places, Gerald emphasizes. "People in good marriages try hard to nurture each other," says Gerald. "But, if you're married to someone who never got tenderness and hugs, they don't feel comfortable giving that nurturing to you."
Adults who've lived with kindness and respect coming from their parents are the luckiest people on earth. That's not to say they don't feel upset, stressed out or depressed at times. But, those who've been nurtured have the resiliency to bounce back from most problems. It's tough to simulate this kind of nurturing once you're grown. But it can be done.
Gary Smalley, the nationally known relationship expert and author, believes that adults can form "small groups" to kind of "parent" each other. This can be a spiritually based group, or a small group can be caring friends who desire to open up about their lives.
They help each other grow and heal and vow to "be there" for each other. "I'm 65 now," says a woman we'll call Betty. "My parents are gone and my children are scattered around the country. I was depressed for three years before I decided to form a small group. We kind of parent each other." Betty continues, "We meet twice a month to share problems and help each other figure out what to do. We simply encourage each other in a thousand ways."
Grammar Tips:
Gerald says that children under the age of six cannot receive too much love and attention.
"subject cannot verb too much."- "something can never verb too much"
As far as Franklin is concerned he can't ever get too much sleep.
Ralph loves watching Jackie Chan movies; he can never get too much of the action.
Vocabulary Tips:
wrestle- 摔跤,絞力. wrestle with something -努力,解決,對付某個問題.
*For weeks, Sean has been wrestling with the decision of which school he should go to.
*The government is wrestling with the problem of unemployment.
dish out something-(口語用法)分發,給與. give out something.
*Tome loves to dish out advice that you don't need.
*Hilary dishes out criticism so easily that she often hurts the people around her.
*Bendy came from a deprived family, but that only motivated her to succeed.
deprived ( adj )貧窮的,被剝奪 .- deprive-剝奪,使喪失
*Sleep-deprived teenagers may have emotional problems. 缺少睡眠
devotion - 熱愛,関愛,專一devote (v)-專心致力於于某事. 對某個對專一用" ".
*Janet's devotion to acting made her character really touch the audience.
*His unselfish devotion to his pupils was greatly respected. 無私德熱誠...他的學生.
hunger for something -strong desire for something. hunger- (n )飢餓, (v)-渴望.
*Vivian hungers for attention, which explains why she acts out a lot in class.
*William hungers for his parents' approval.
tenderness-love, gentle, and care. 親切溫柔的
Even though she's gone, Nick will never forget his mother's tenderness.
Mandy always treats people with love and tenderness.
resiliency -彈性，此指“恢復的能力”。 resilience=resiliency
*Patrick has the resiliency to face frustrations at work.
*Kate was very ill, but she recovered because of her strong resilience.
bounce back-振作起來，重振旗鼓，重新站起（上），重新囘到。。bounce- 彈起來
*Alex bounced back from his breakup really quickly.
*Oil prices bounced back after a steep plunge.
simulate-模仿，摸凝。摩擬
*This computer program simulates a real driving situation.
*This training exercise is made to simulate what would happen during a fire.
spiritually- something to do with "faith".
scattered around - spare out around.
Chat Room:
parent figure- 像父母親般的人, 給與你多方面的照顧. parent -父親,母親. figure-人物.
guardian-法定上的監護人.
home away from home-提供一個像家一樣舒適的地方
----------------------------------------
hugged, kissed, and loved on .......
love someone-愛某個人.
to love on someone -関愛某人.很口語,同常是指父母對孩子, 長輩對晚輩的關愛.
nurture-養育,也指"後天的(培育)"
nature- 自然，指"先天的（才智）
nature (n) /nurture (n) -先天的/後天的
-----------------------------------------
empty Nest-空巢
empty nest syndrome -空巢疹侯群 （感到孤單沮喪）
empty Nestor -空巢者
Have you noticed that relationships all over the world are full of tension? Many families are stressed to the breaking point. Governments, schools and workplaces all wrestle with "people problems."
The world cannot change for the better until families become more emotionally healthy. Mental health and balanced citizens create a sane society. There is no substitute for a mentally healthy parent figure in one's life. Individuals who raise mentally and emotionally healthy children make a major contribution to our world.
Good parents use these strategies:
* They listen to their children. We all feel valued when other people listen to us. Children cannot feel safe without adults taking time to listen.
* They treat children with respect. Respect means treating a child's feelings tenderly in every possible situation. They give out hugs. Children need the power of touch. Parents who dish out orders and never give hugs are raising emotionally deprived children.
* They discipline properly and consistently. Parents should take control and speak authoritatively when feel safe when parents take control.
(Four keys: listen, respect, love, discipline)
"I see patients in my counseling office who've never had true nurturing from anyone," says a psychologist we'll call Gerald. "They've never known the inner peace of feeling loved and cared for." Gerald says that children under the age of six cannot receive too much love and attention. He adds that discipline is part of that package, but he emphasizes that small children really need this kind of devotion. "Small children who've been hugged, kissed and loved on will grow up to be mentally stable adults," says Gerald.
He goes on to say that hungering for parenting can, for example, get teenage girls into trouble. If the father figure isn't there, a teenage girl will look for love in all the wrong places, Gerald emphasizes. "People in good marriages try hard to nurture each other," says Gerald. "But, if you're married to someone who never got tenderness and hugs, they don't feel comfortable giving that nurturing to you."
Adults who've lived with kindness and respect coming from their parents are the luckiest people on earth. That's not to say they don't feel upset, stressed out or depressed at times. But, those who've been nurtured have the resiliency to bounce back from most problems. It's tough to simulate this kind of nurturing once you're grown. But it can be done.
Gary Smalley, the nationally known relationship expert and author, believes that adults can form "small groups" to kind of "parent" each other. This can be a spiritually based group, or a small group can be caring friends who desire to open up about their lives.
They help each other grow and heal and vow to "be there" for each other. "I'm 65 now," says a woman we'll call Betty. "My parents are gone and my children are scattered around the country. I was depressed for three years before I decided to form a small group. We kind of parent each other." Betty continues, "We meet twice a month to share problems and help each other figure out what to do. We simply encourage each other in a thousand ways."
Grammar Tips:
Gerald says that children under the age of six cannot receive too much love and attention.
"subject cannot verb too much."- "something can never verb too much"
As far as Franklin is concerned he can't ever get too much sleep.
Ralph loves watching Jackie Chan movies; he can never get too much of the action.
Vocabulary Tips:
wrestle- 摔跤,絞力. wrestle with something -努力,解決,對付某個問題.
*For weeks, Sean has been wrestling with the decision of which school he should go to.
*The government is wrestling with the problem of unemployment.
dish out something-(口語用法)分發,給與. give out something.
*Tome loves to dish out advice that you don't need.
*Hilary dishes out criticism so easily that she often hurts the people around her.
*Bendy came from a deprived family, but that only motivated her to succeed.
deprived ( adj )貧窮的,被剝奪 .- deprive-剝奪,使喪失
*Sleep-deprived teenagers may have emotional problems. 缺少睡眠
devotion - 熱愛,関愛,專一devote (v)-專心致力於于某事. 對某個對專一用" ".
*Janet's devotion to acting made her character really touch the audience.
*His unselfish devotion to his pupils was greatly respected. 無私德熱誠...他的學生.
hunger for something -strong desire for something. hunger- (n )飢餓, (v)-渴望.
*Vivian hungers for attention, which explains why she acts out a lot in class.
*William hungers for his parents' approval.
tenderness-love, gentle, and care. 親切溫柔的
Even though she's gone, Nick will never forget his mother's tenderness.
Mandy always treats people with love and tenderness.
resiliency -彈性，此指“恢復的能力”。 resilience=resiliency
*Patrick has the resiliency to face frustrations at work.
*Kate was very ill, but she recovered because of her strong resilience.
bounce back-振作起來，重振旗鼓，重新站起（上），重新囘到。。bounce- 彈起來
*Alex bounced back from his breakup really quickly.
*Oil prices bounced back after a steep plunge.
simulate-模仿，摸凝。摩擬
*This computer program simulates a real driving situation.
*This training exercise is made to simulate what would happen during a fire.
spiritually- something to do with "faith".
scattered around - spare out around.
Chat Room:
parent figure- 像父母親般的人, 給與你多方面的照顧. parent -父親,母親. figure-人物.
guardian-法定上的監護人.
home away from home-提供一個像家一樣舒適的地方
----------------------------------------
hugged, kissed, and loved on .......
love someone-愛某個人.
to love on someone -関愛某人.很口語,同常是指父母對孩子, 長輩對晚輩的關愛.
nurture-養育,也指"後天的(培育)"
nature- 自然，指"先天的（才智）
nature (n) /nurture (n) -先天的/後天的
-----------------------------------------
empty Nest-空巢
empty nest syndrome -空巢疹侯群 （感到孤單沮喪）
empty Nestor -空巢者
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
HOW TO BE THE CEO OF YOUR LIFE-EVEN IN TODAY'S ECONOMY
MANAGE THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE BETTER做自己生命中的执行长-好好经营你的生活.
"For years, many people have felt the different parts iof their lives-jobs, families, personal time-are at odds and that there is nothing they can do about it." says Michigan State University distinguished professor Dr. Ellen Kossek, co-author of CEO of Me: Creating a Life that Works in the Fexible Job Age.
But even as work demands ratchet up, you can take steps even small ones-to self-manage your career and life, says Kossek. She's identified three main "flexstyles" - ways people manage to mix their work and personal life.
A. Integrators tend to blend work and personal matters throughout the day. If you are an integrator, you take personal e-mails or calls on the job and handle work while cooking dinner.
B. Separators set apart time and mental space for each primary identity. You focus on one role at a time-when you are at work, you work; when you're with family or friends, you set work aside.
C. Volleyers go back and forth between periods of intense separation and times of integration. A magazine editor's deadlines or an event manager's trade show dates will force periods of separation. But a volleyer will jump back into other commitments and relationships during downtimes.
Your patterns can shift and change over the course of your life and career, says Kossek.
The question you need to ask is whether your current flexstyle is working for you or not. Whatever your flexstyle is, you will benefit from these four tips.
1. Distinguish between high-value and low-value work. Give the most time and attention to the high-value stuff; find new ways to deal with the rest.
2. Negotiate more. Offer more of what you can (and, but) draw lines when you need them most.
(you can't do)Maybe you need to be at home for the kids by 5:00 so that your partner can get to an evening job. Offer to come in early or bring work home.
3. Track your habits. Look at how you spend your time. What does an honest evaluation of your days and weeks tell you?
4. Rethink demands. What is real. unavoidable pressure and what is self-imposed pressure? When it seems that everything is important and nothing can give, it is time to review your priorities.
"Even in turbulent times- perhaps especially in turbulent times- you are the CEO of your life, " says Kossek. "You do call more of the shots than you probably realize."
Grammar
But a volleyer will jump back into other commitments and relationships during downtimes.
downtimes-down time -is the period of time that slow down, not as busy as usual.
But a volleyer will jump back into other commitments and relationships when things are not so busy.
Teresa had been so busy with work that she found her sudden downtime to be a blessing.
Many people have chosen to go back to school to get another degree during this economic downtime.
Vocabulary
at odds (idiom)-不一致,有矛盾的against each other, oppose each other.
Tim and his sister are at odds over how to care for their aging parents.
*对某件事用"over"-The two managers are at odds over the marketing strategy.
*对某个对象不一致用"with"-
ratchet up (phr v)-板手, tide something bid by bid, step by step. up-increase,down-decrease.
My boss really wants me be accept the promotion, so he's really ratcheted up the pressure.
integration (n)-整合,合并..integrate (v)-使结合,使合并
The integration of creativity into the workplace helped the workers feel more important.
*We won't be able to make any decision until the integration of data is complete.
*The European integration is responsible for improving the economy of the whole region.
commitment (n)-所承诺要做的事情.promise.
Ethan can't go with us tonight because he has a prior commitment. 之前.先前.
*Sorry I can't stay for the party-I have a prior commitment.
*She's taken too many commitments and became exhausted.
course (n)-direction, route 路程,过程.
Over the course of a year, Paul usually travels to 65 different cities.
*The trip to China changed her course of life dramatically.
*During the course of the investigation, the detectives found that many mobs were involved in this case.
draw the line at (idiom)-Johnny's mom helps him a lot, but she draws the line at doing his homework for him.
self-imposed (adj)-Kari has stuck to her self-imposed, early bedtime for more than a month.
turbulent (adj)-混乱的,动荡的. turb-混乱
Sylvia and Jack fight quite often, so I think they have quite a turbulent marriage.
*This has been a turbulent week for Patty. She just started her second job.
*During turbulent periods of time people find comfort in literature and music.
call the shots-CEO has authority make the decision. - take control of life.
*You have to listen to me in this restaurant.. I'm calling the shots here.
*Who's calling the shots in this house?这屋子里谁是当家作主的人 call the shots=call the tune.
Chat Room
intense-激烈的,强烈的strong and firm, intense heat-酷热.
intense person-认真的,精神集中,很严肃,做事拘谨的人.
intense study of English专心用功的赌英文.
intensive-集中的,密集的,形容外在的事务. highly concentrate.
intensive care unit -加护病房.
intensive bombardment-
an intensive English course-密集班.
intense vs intensive= person vs the world (outside)
------
Nothing can give-没有转圜的空间.
give-给,折衷,让步.
what give?=what's wrong?=what's going on?发生甚么事,最近如何 ask friend what give?
"give me liberty or give me death." Patrick Henry. 不自由,毋宁死.18 世纪,美独力战争开战前夕宣言,呼吁殖民地连和起来为自由而战,反对英国,向英国宣战.
"For years, many people have felt the different parts iof their lives-jobs, families, personal time-are at odds and that there is nothing they can do about it." says Michigan State University distinguished professor Dr. Ellen Kossek, co-author of CEO of Me: Creating a Life that Works in the Fexible Job Age.
But even as work demands ratchet up, you can take steps even small ones-to self-manage your career and life, says Kossek. She's identified three main "flexstyles" - ways people manage to mix their work and personal life.
A. Integrators tend to blend work and personal matters throughout the day. If you are an integrator, you take personal e-mails or calls on the job and handle work while cooking dinner.
B. Separators set apart time and mental space for each primary identity. You focus on one role at a time-when you are at work, you work; when you're with family or friends, you set work aside.
C. Volleyers go back and forth between periods of intense separation and times of integration. A magazine editor's deadlines or an event manager's trade show dates will force periods of separation. But a volleyer will jump back into other commitments and relationships during downtimes.
Your patterns can shift and change over the course of your life and career, says Kossek.
The question you need to ask is whether your current flexstyle is working for you or not. Whatever your flexstyle is, you will benefit from these four tips.
1. Distinguish between high-value and low-value work. Give the most time and attention to the high-value stuff; find new ways to deal with the rest.
2. Negotiate more. Offer more of what you can (and, but) draw lines when you need them most.
(you can't do)Maybe you need to be at home for the kids by 5:00 so that your partner can get to an evening job. Offer to come in early or bring work home.
3. Track your habits. Look at how you spend your time. What does an honest evaluation of your days and weeks tell you?
4. Rethink demands. What is real. unavoidable pressure and what is self-imposed pressure? When it seems that everything is important and nothing can give, it is time to review your priorities.
"Even in turbulent times- perhaps especially in turbulent times- you are the CEO of your life, " says Kossek. "You do call more of the shots than you probably realize."
Grammar
But a volleyer will jump back into other commitments and relationships during downtimes.
downtimes-down time -is the period of time that slow down, not as busy as usual.
But a volleyer will jump back into other commitments and relationships when things are not so busy.
Teresa had been so busy with work that she found her sudden downtime to be a blessing.
Many people have chosen to go back to school to get another degree during this economic downtime.
Vocabulary
at odds (idiom)-不一致,有矛盾的against each other, oppose each other.
Tim and his sister are at odds over how to care for their aging parents.
*对某件事用"over"-The two managers are at odds over the marketing strategy.
*对某个对象不一致用"with"-
ratchet up (phr v)-板手, tide something bid by bid, step by step. up-increase,down-decrease.
My boss really wants me be accept the promotion, so he's really ratcheted up the pressure.
integration (n)-整合,合并..integrate (v)-使结合,使合并
The integration of creativity into the workplace helped the workers feel more important.
*We won't be able to make any decision until the integration of data is complete.
*The European integration is responsible for improving the economy of the whole region.
commitment (n)-所承诺要做的事情.promise.
Ethan can't go with us tonight because he has a prior commitment. 之前.先前.
*Sorry I can't stay for the party-I have a prior commitment.
*She's taken too many commitments and became exhausted.
course (n)-direction, route 路程,过程.
Over the course of a year, Paul usually travels to 65 different cities.
*The trip to China changed her course of life dramatically.
*During the course of the investigation, the detectives found that many mobs were involved in this case.
draw the line at (idiom)-Johnny's mom helps him a lot, but she draws the line at doing his homework for him.
self-imposed (adj)-Kari has stuck to her self-imposed, early bedtime for more than a month.
turbulent (adj)-混乱的,动荡的. turb-混乱
Sylvia and Jack fight quite often, so I think they have quite a turbulent marriage.
*This has been a turbulent week for Patty. She just started her second job.
*During turbulent periods of time people find comfort in literature and music.
call the shots-CEO has authority make the decision. - take control of life.
*You have to listen to me in this restaurant.. I'm calling the shots here.
*Who's calling the shots in this house?这屋子里谁是当家作主的人 call the shots=call the tune.
Chat Room
intense-激烈的,强烈的strong and firm, intense heat-酷热.
intense person-认真的,精神集中,很严肃,做事拘谨的人.
intense study of English专心用功的赌英文.
intensive-集中的,密集的,形容外在的事务. highly concentrate.
intensive care unit -加护病房.
intensive bombardment-
an intensive English course-密集班.
intense vs intensive= person vs the world (outside)
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Nothing can give-没有转圜的空间.
give-给,折衷,让步.
what give?=what's wrong?=what's going on?发生甚么事,最近如何 ask friend what give?
"give me liberty or give me death." Patrick Henry. 不自由,毋宁死.18 世纪,美独力战争开战前夕宣言,呼吁殖民地连和起来为自由而战,反对英国,向英国宣战.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Friends For Life!
一生的朋友！
Choose good friends who are good for you 该选择甚么样的朋友呢？结交益友就对了！
by Pamela Osment
The Scottish poet Robert Louis Stevenson once said, “A friend is a gift you give yourself.” So when choosing friends, be careful to give yourself good “gifts.” The letters in the word friend will show you how to choose your friends!
F is for fun
Choose friends you can have fun with and with whom you can be yourself.
R is for righteous
Choose friends who will help you make good decisions. Genuine friends want you to become the very best you can be!
I is for intimate
Close, personal friends know your faults and like you anyway. You should be able to share your hopes, dreams and fears with them.
The Scottish poet Robert Louis Stevenson once said, "A friend is a gift you give yourself." So when choosing friends be careful to give yourself.
Grammar
Close, personal friends know your faults and like you anyway.
anyway=nevertheless
Even though close personal friends know your faults, they still like you.
Jill knows it's going to rain soon, but she's going out for a walk anyway.
Terence knew that he wouldn't get paid, but he did the job anyway.
Nathan wasn't wearing a suit, but he decided to attend the formal dinner anyway.
genuine (adj)-真实的，真诚的，真正的
David showed genuine surprise when we turned on the lights and everyone shouted "Happy Birthday!"
*Sam is a genuine man. He's always very honest with us.
*She accepted our gifts with genuine gratitude.真诚的感激
*..genuine manuscripts of Shakespeare. 沙士比亚的手稿
intimate (adj)-亲切,亲密的The couple only invited close, intimate friends to their wedding.
abandon (v)-抛弃，放弃，丢弃We might have to abandon the car and walk to the gas station.
*The captain had to order the crew to abandon the ship in order for them to survive.
*Hank was abandoned by his parents when he was only 5.
*During the war many were forced to abandon their homes. 战争期间。
available (adj)-可以取得的，可以买得到的。可以获得的。可以下载而取得的。
I'll be available tomorrow afternoon if you need help preparing for the party.
*I'm afraid I'm not available to help you with your project.
This movie is now available for downloading on the Internet.
Chat Room
acronym-Radar=radio detecting and ranging. SARS=Severe Respiratory Syndrome.
Aids (not AIDS), 好几个子缩成的字。
AWOL = absent without leave=without permission.吴故缺席，擅离职守。没有准许儿缺席。
abbreviation-U.S.A.= United States of America 缩写， 一般只读每个字的字首
Choose good friends who are good for you 该选择甚么样的朋友呢？结交益友就对了！
by Pamela Osment
The Scottish poet Robert Louis Stevenson once said, “A friend is a gift you give yourself.” So when choosing friends, be careful to give yourself good “gifts.” The letters in the word friend will show you how to choose your friends!
F is for fun
Choose friends you can have fun with and with whom you can be yourself.
R is for righteous
Choose friends who will help you make good decisions. Genuine friends want you to become the very best you can be!
I is for intimate
Close, personal friends know your faults and like you anyway. You should be able to share your hopes, dreams and fears with them.
The Scottish poet Robert Louis Stevenson once said, "A friend is a gift you give yourself." So when choosing friends be careful to give yourself.
E is for encouraging
When you face challenges, friends encourage you to not give up but to do your best. They give you hope and help you look forward to the future.
N is for near
Good friends won't abandon you during the bad times. You should be able to count on friends to be available when you need them.
D is for direct
Real friends care enough to tell you what you need to hear. They won't just say what you want to hear.
Since friends can be for life it's important to choose the best ones!
More information
William Shakespeare once described a friend as someone who knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.
Ralph Waldo Emerson famously stated "The only way to have a friend is to be one."
Another famous friendship proverb reminds us that People are judged by the company they keep and the company they keep away from.
Grammar
Close, personal friends know your faults and like you anyway.
anyway=nevertheless
Even though close personal friends know your faults, they still like you.
Jill knows it's going to rain soon, but she's going out for a walk anyway.
Terence knew that he wouldn't get paid, but he did the job anyway.
Nathan wasn't wearing a suit, but he decided to attend the formal dinner anyway.
genuine (adj)-真实的，真诚的，真正的
David showed genuine surprise when we turned on the lights and everyone shouted "Happy Birthday!"
*Sam is a genuine man. He's always very honest with us.
*She accepted our gifts with genuine gratitude.真诚的感激
*..genuine manuscripts of Shakespeare. 沙士比亚的手稿
intimate (adj)-亲切,亲密的The couple only invited close, intimate friends to their wedding.
abandon (v)-抛弃，放弃，丢弃We might have to abandon the car and walk to the gas station.
*The captain had to order the crew to abandon the ship in order for them to survive.
*Hank was abandoned by his parents when he was only 5.
*During the war many were forced to abandon their homes. 战争期间。
available (adj)-可以取得的，可以买得到的。可以获得的。可以下载而取得的。
I'll be available tomorrow afternoon if you need help preparing for the party.
*I'm afraid I'm not available to help you with your project.
This movie is now available for downloading on the Internet.
Chat Room
acronym-Radar=radio detecting and ranging. SARS=Severe Respiratory Syndrome.
Aids (not AIDS), 好几个子缩成的字。
AWOL = absent without leave=without permission.吴故缺席，擅离职守。没有准许儿缺席。
abbreviation-U.S.A.= United States of America 缩写， 一般只读每个字的字首
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Improve Your Business With Bricks
玩積木提升業績
LEGO® toys are not just for children anymore by Simon Stopps
Since 1958, children have loved LEGO® bricks, and they are not alone. Parents and teachers are also big fans of the colorful toys. In fact, the bricks are so popular that they have been named “Toy of the Century” – twice!
The popularity of LEGO toys should be no surprise. The LEGO Group has spent much of its history focusing on fun, high-quality toys. Playing with their bricks can improve creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Even the name LEGO – taken from the Danish term leg godt – means “play well.”
But LEGO bricks are just toys, right? Wrong. Children, as it turns out, aren't the only people who can benefit from playing with the bricks. In 1995, the LEGO Group's owner wanted to improve the way his company made decisions. With the help of university researchers, LEGO Serious Play (LSP) was born. At its heart, LEGO Serious play is a process for improving business performance. But it is also about playing with bricks-seriously.
Most companies face their problems by holding meetings. Unfortunately, meetings are not always the best way to resolve problems. Meetings can make it difficult for everyone to participate and can lead people to oversimplify problems. As a result, ideas are lost, misunderstandings occur, and some opinions are ignored. LEGO Serious Play uses play to overcome these difficulties. Participants use bricks to build models that show how they and their organization work. This is done over several rounds of building and then talking about what has been made.
There are many advantages to dealing with problems through play. While playing everyone gets to participate. More importantly, the process helps people examine problems from different points of view. Does it work? "Oh, it really works," says David Gauntlett, a university professor and Serious Play researcher. "It gets people thinking and responding to each other in a different way."
You never know. The answer to your next problem may not be in discussion or a meeting. It may be in the toy box.
Grammar
Meetings can make it difficult for everyone to participate...
to make it difficult for someone to... (make hard for someone to do something) 很实用的句子文法
Meetings can become a situation where it's hard for everyone to participate.
Janice's small income makes it hard for her to pay all her monthly bills.
The loud music from the party next door made it hard for Clarence to fall asleep.
serious-usually serious and play don't go together, here you play serious to help performance.
fan (n)-爱好者fan of something, you are admire, enjoy, passionate of something.
I've been a Boston Red Sox fan since I was a kid.
*Many baseball fans stayed up all night to watch Chien-Ming Wang play last night.
*Marco is a big fan of sci-fi movies. He has the whole collection of "Star Trek" movies
popular (adj)-流行的She is America's most popular singer. popularity (n)受欢迎的。人气，通俗性，流行
*The band "Wham" used to be very popular in the 80's.
*The scandal really hurt the singer's popularity
Students will be starting their university exams next week.
university (n), and (adj)
resolve (v)-bring it to the end that come out no problem.解决争端，问题或危险。 下定决心
*We need to resolve our conflicts so we can really work as a team.
*Hank resolved that he would walk 2 miles every day, but he never did.
process (n)-take a long time to get there step by step.过程。
Before you can get a job for the government. you have go through a complicated hiring process.
*The process of learning is actually more important than the result.
*Learning how to drive is a painful process for me.
*The doctor used some medicine to speed up the healing process.
unfortunately (adv)-Unfortunately, I'm afraid I don't know when Mrs. Stevens will be back in the office.Sara wants to resolve the argument between her brothers as quickly as possible..
advantage-好处，优势
Chandra's biggest advantage is her speed. She is an amazing runner. *One of the advantages of traveling in an RV is the freedom it gives you.
*Years of experience gave Victor an advantage over his competitors.
respond (v)-communication with, have relationship with...
Erich will respond to your email later today.
oversimplify-过度的简化。over-过度，simplify-使简单化。
People often try to oversimplify problems, but in the end, that is not helpful.
oversimplification (n)
Chat Room
at its heart=the heart of the matter=-get into the most important part of something.
at its heart 事情的核心，问题的根源。heart-心脏，重心，中心。
take heart -encourage someone, take heart!鼓励别人，加油，再接再厉，振作起来。某人考试考不好，你可以说，take heart, 没关系，下次再来。
take to heart-keep it in the heart.铭记在心的。把别人给你的建议放在心上。
with all my heart-全心全意的。
with half a heart=halfhearted (adj)-半心半意，不甚么用心的， 不怎么上心的。
-----------------
LEGO® toys are not just for children anymore by Simon Stopps
Since 1958, children have loved LEGO® bricks, and they are not alone. Parents and teachers are also big fans of the colorful toys. In fact, the bricks are so popular that they have been named “Toy of the Century” – twice!
The popularity of LEGO toys should be no surprise. The LEGO Group has spent much of its history focusing on fun, high-quality toys. Playing with their bricks can improve creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Even the name LEGO – taken from the Danish term leg godt – means “play well.”
But LEGO bricks are just toys, right? Wrong. Children, as it turns out, aren't the only people who can benefit from playing with the bricks. In 1995, the LEGO Group's owner wanted to improve the way his company made decisions. With the help of university researchers, LEGO Serious Play (LSP) was born. At its heart, LEGO Serious play is a process for improving business performance. But it is also about playing with bricks-seriously.
Most companies face their problems by holding meetings. Unfortunately, meetings are not always the best way to resolve problems. Meetings can make it difficult for everyone to participate and can lead people to oversimplify problems. As a result, ideas are lost, misunderstandings occur, and some opinions are ignored. LEGO Serious Play uses play to overcome these difficulties. Participants use bricks to build models that show how they and their organization work. This is done over several rounds of building and then talking about what has been made.
There are many advantages to dealing with problems through play. While playing everyone gets to participate. More importantly, the process helps people examine problems from different points of view. Does it work? "Oh, it really works," says David Gauntlett, a university professor and Serious Play researcher. "It gets people thinking and responding to each other in a different way."
You never know. The answer to your next problem may not be in discussion or a meeting. It may be in the toy box.
Grammar
Meetings can make it difficult for everyone to participate...
to make it difficult for someone to... (make hard for someone to do something) 很实用的句子文法
Meetings can become a situation where it's hard for everyone to participate.
Janice's small income makes it hard for her to pay all her monthly bills.
The loud music from the party next door made it hard for Clarence to fall asleep.
serious-usually serious and play don't go together, here you play serious to help performance.
fan (n)-爱好者fan of something, you are admire, enjoy, passionate of something.
I've been a Boston Red Sox fan since I was a kid.
*Many baseball fans stayed up all night to watch Chien-Ming Wang play last night.
*Marco is a big fan of sci-fi movies. He has the whole collection of "Star Trek" movies
popular (adj)-流行的She is America's most popular singer. popularity (n)受欢迎的。人气，通俗性，流行
*The band "Wham" used to be very popular in the 80's.
*The scandal really hurt the singer's popularity
Students will be starting their university exams next week.
university (n), and (adj)
resolve (v)-bring it to the end that come out no problem.解决争端，问题或危险。 下定决心
*We need to resolve our conflicts so we can really work as a team.
*Hank resolved that he would walk 2 miles every day, but he never did.
process (n)-take a long time to get there step by step.过程。
Before you can get a job for the government. you have go through a complicated hiring process.
*The process of learning is actually more important than the result.
*Learning how to drive is a painful process for me.
*The doctor used some medicine to speed up the healing process.
unfortunately (adv)-Unfortunately, I'm afraid I don't know when Mrs. Stevens will be back in the office.Sara wants to resolve the argument between her brothers as quickly as possible..
advantage-好处，优势
Chandra's biggest advantage is her speed. She is an amazing runner. *One of the advantages of traveling in an RV is the freedom it gives you.
*Years of experience gave Victor an advantage over his competitors.
respond (v)-communication with, have relationship with...
Erich will respond to your email later today.
oversimplify-过度的简化。over-过度，simplify-使简单化。
People often try to oversimplify problems, but in the end, that is not helpful.
oversimplification (n)
Chat Room
at its heart=the heart of the matter=-get into the most important part of something.
at its heart 事情的核心，问题的根源。heart-心脏，重心，中心。
take heart -encourage someone, take heart!鼓励别人，加油，再接再厉，振作起来。某人考试考不好，你可以说，take heart, 没关系，下次再来。
take to heart-keep it in the heart.铭记在心的。把别人给你的建议放在心上。
with all my heart-全心全意的。
with half a heart=halfhearted (adj)-半心半意，不甚么用心的， 不怎么上心的。
-----------------
Think outside the box-have creative think that are out of the box. box here is not 盒子，是指框架，传统，规范，限制。-指在框架外的思考，跳出了框框的思考，天马行空的想。
Critical thinking- research the topic careful and quick before make decision. 批判性的思考critical 批判的
批判性思考是一种严谨，高层次的思考。这种思想是独立的，且是培养出来的，每个人都该努力去拥有
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