READING: Read the text Mindfulness below and do the true/false exercise after the text.
STUDYBOOK: Do exercise 4 on page 154.
HANDOUT: Finish off the tenses handout.
Friday, 30 September 2022
READING: MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness
‘Mindfulness’ is a word we hear a lot these days, but what exactly does it mean? Find out what it is, what the benefits of mindfulness are and how you can start to practise it.
Have you ever driven somewhere and realised when you arrived that you couldn’t really remember anything about the journey? Or have you ever eaten a whole packet of biscuits when you were planning to only have one? Or have you stayed up much later than you planned, or even all night, watching ‘just one more’ episode of a TV series? All of these are examples of mindlessness. When we live this way, we are not fully awake and not fully living our lives.
What exactly is mindfulness?
When we are mindful, we are more conscious of our thoughts, our actions and what is happening around us. We might notice a beautiful sunset or really listen carefully to what a friend is saying, rather than planning what we’re going to say next. We are also more aware of our own feelings and our thoughts. Jon Kabat Zinn, who has done a lot to make mindfulness popular, says mindfulness is: ‘Paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and without judging.’
So we are consciously deciding what to pay attention to, we are not worrying about the past or planning for the future and we are not trying to control or stop our thoughts or feelings – we’re just noticing them.
Why is mindfulness so popular now?
For most people life is getting busier and busier. Technology means that we always have something to do and there isn’t much opportunity to just ‘be’. People are often doing two or three things at the same time: texting while watching TV, or even looking at their phone while walking along the pavement. People are working longer hours and bringing work home. All this can make us stressed, and mindfulness can be a way of reducing this stress.
What are the benefits of mindfulness?
Research shows that mindfulness reduces stress and depression. It can help you to concentrate, have a better memory and to think more clearly. It can also help people to manage pain better and to improve their sleep, and it can even help you lose weight because you won’t eat that whole packet of biscuits without thinking!
How to become more mindful
A very simple technique that you could try right now is to close your eyes for a couple of minutes and count how many sounds you can hear. This will help to focus you on what is happening right now.
Another technique is to focus on a piece of food, typically a raisin. Instead of eating it without thinking, slow down. Look carefully at it and notice how it feels in your fingers. Smell it. Then put it on your tongue and taste it. Only then start to eat it slowly, noticing how it feels and how it tastes.
Both of these techniques force you to slow down and focus on the present moment, and there are plenty of other ideas you can find online if you want to try mindfulness for yourself.
Thursday, 29 September 2022
Thursday, 22 September 2022
HOMEWORK for Monday 26 September 2022
Reading: Read the text Culture Shock below and do the true/false exercise after the text.
Tense handout: do sentences 11-20.
Reading: Culture shock
Culture shock
Culture shock can be a daunting experience. It might cause depressive and anxious symptoms, but it might also be an enriching experience as it allows you to become aware of how diverse are the cultures of the world and as a result leads one to develop tolerance towards the differences between the different countries. Besides, culture shock provides you with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of your own cultural awareness, stand back from yourself, and become aware of your own culture, values, beliefs, and perceptions.
Culture shock experiences
The following are examples of culture shock experiences, reported by travelers around the world.
Eating with my hands in India
"I’m the kind of person who eats a pizza and sometimes even a sandwich with cutlery. So, using nothing more than my fingers and some chapati to eat curry took some getting used to."
Not Speaking the Japanese language
"I didn't speak any Japanese. I took some lessons at my exchange university and picked up a few basic phrases, but with a completely different alphabet, it can be tricky to get around places and buy items. Japan is quite rare in that hardly anybody actually speaks any English, so a lot of interpretive sign language was required."
Not knowing about the amazing advantages of the product return policy in the USA
"None of my friends back in India believed me when I told them that you can literally buy anything, including food, and return it within ninety days for a full refund even if you don't have a specific reason for doing so. Most stores actually have a 'Buyer's Remorse' category under Reason for Return options while returning the product."
Not knowing about 'small talk' in the UK
"You would think that Poland (the country that I’m from) and the UK shouldn’t be very different when it comes to the culture, I couldn’t be more wrong. Where do I start? For example –“small talk”. It just doesn't exist in Poland. We do not talk to strangers and ask them what they have for dinner. Why would you even want to know that? I remember how surprised I was, when whilst shopping, I was approached by the shop assistant and asked about my personal life and plans for the evening."
Comprehension:
- Jo Fitzsimons had a problem eating with her hands in India.
a. True
b. False - Kevin didn't learn any Japanese.
a. True
b. False - In the USA, you can return a bought product for no specific reason.
a. True
b. False - Polish people tolerate small talk.
a. True
b. False.
Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Monday, 19 September 2022
Friday, 16 September 2022
HOMEWORK for Monday 19 September 2022
Studybook: Read the text My big night out on pp. 76-77 and do exercise 4a, 4b and 5.
Tenses handout: Complete sentences 3-10.
Thursday, 15 September 2022
Friday, 9 September 2022
HOMEWORK for Monday 12 September 2022
Do the quiz Modern manners on page 30-31 and finish off the preposition handout.
WORDS to explain
Thursday, 8 September 2022
Monday, 5 September 2022
The course details
5324 Kurssimaksu: 75.00 € (Maksuerät: Erä 1: 37.50 €, Erä 2: 37.50 €)
Syvennä ja kertaa englantia – jatkokurssi
LisätietoaPaikka: Järvenpään Lukio
Opettaja: FM Kristiina Latvanen
Syyslukukausi: 5.9.2022 - 21.11.2022 (Tunteja: 22.00)
Kevätlukukausi: 9.1.2023 - 3.4.2023 (Tunteja: 24.00)
Päivä ja kello: Ma: 17.30 - 19.00
Ilmoittautuminen alkaa: 9.8.2022 11:00
Syvennämme ja kertaamme englannin taitoja. Kurssiin sisältyy erilaisia puhetaitoa aktivoivia paritöitä, yleiskeskustelua, sanavarastoa laajentavia harjoituksia ja tekstejä, kuunteluharjoituksia sekä keskeisten kielioppirakenteiden kertausta. Keskustelemme myös ajankohtaisista aiheista. Aihepiireinä mm. uutiset, viihde, kulttuuri ja yhteiskunta.
Oppikirja: Cutting Edge Intermediate Students' Book (third edition!). Sarah Cunningham, Peter Moor. ISBN: 978 1447 936879, kpl 8 alk.
Taitotaso B1-B2
Saturday, 3 September 2022
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