WRITING:
Summaries
It is one of the hardest tasks for me, but I think I am starting to improve. It is much easier than at the beginning of the course, but I still need more practice and keep more focused on grammar, because it is my weak point.
SPEAKING:
Short talks
I think I improved, I can speak more fluently now and increased my knowledge on a lot of different subjects. I found it difficult to search for information for my short talks, but it is easier now.
Impromptu
To my mind, it is the area in which I am best, because I am used to speak impromptu, I think I improved a lot in last term and did not have much room to grow in this one.
Power Point Presentation
It was the hardest task of speaking, because I had a lot of information and not enough time. I think I could improve more in information selection, so that my power point presentations would be more interesting and I would not rush my speech.
LISTENING TO:
Online materials
It was one of the easiest tasks for me, because I am used to listening and do not find any difficulties in it. Online listening sound quality is quite good so it is easy to understand what is told.
Cassettes
Listening to cassettes was a bit harder than listening to the online material, because the sound quality was lower and often the tasks were harder, but despite that I that I think I done pretty well, but there still is some room to improve by practicing.
ESP VOCABULARY:
Formal tests in class
This task was hardest of all for me, because I hate to go over and over the same thing to learn something and for this task it was necessary. I done pretty bad formal tests in class, I think I could improve by reading modules more often.
Class tests online
I think it was easy I hardly made any mistakes over this year in this exercise, I think it is because i was well prepared in school.
2011 m. gegužės 16 d., pirmadienis
2011 m. gegužės 10 d., antradienis
Summary of “Scared to death: the link between stress and coronary heart disease”
It is widely known that heart diseases are caused by numerous physiological factors such as: smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, high levels of serum cholesterol, diabetes, lack of exercise. Recent studies focused of psychological factors and some evidence was found.
Firstly, in 1994 near Los Angeles after earthquake a lot of people who survived but remained in building crushed or trapped faced death from heart attack, it was called Northridge Effect. Most of those people, who died from heart attack, had history of coronary heart disease. Two studies were conducted considering heart attacks and coronary hearts disease as psychological risk factors. Results were shocking, stress and depression can cause a heart attack.
Secondly, the fact that psychological factors can cause coronary heart disease is undeniable. Not only that psychological factors causes risk related behavior such as smoking and poor eating habits, but also increase blood pressure, induce inflammation, cause physiological changes that damage blood vessels over time.
Thirdly, knowing that in modern life stress is unavoidable, scientists suggest activities which reduce stress. Researchers tried using thoughts about a supportive friend or watching a funny movie before stressful activity and it was helpful.
In the end, not only physiological factors cause stress, but also psychological, so people should try to protect themselves from both risk factors. Using the knowledge of science it can be done.
Firstly, in 1994 near Los Angeles after earthquake a lot of people who survived but remained in building crushed or trapped faced death from heart attack, it was called Northridge Effect. Most of those people, who died from heart attack, had history of coronary heart disease. Two studies were conducted considering heart attacks and coronary hearts disease as psychological risk factors. Results were shocking, stress and depression can cause a heart attack.
Secondly, the fact that psychological factors can cause coronary heart disease is undeniable. Not only that psychological factors causes risk related behavior such as smoking and poor eating habits, but also increase blood pressure, induce inflammation, cause physiological changes that damage blood vessels over time.
Thirdly, knowing that in modern life stress is unavoidable, scientists suggest activities which reduce stress. Researchers tried using thoughts about a supportive friend or watching a funny movie before stressful activity and it was helpful.
In the end, not only physiological factors cause stress, but also psychological, so people should try to protect themselves from both risk factors. Using the knowledge of science it can be done.
2011 m. balandžio 28 d., ketvirtadienis
Summary of "Stress Busters"
There are records of how people under pressure unwind. There are discovers a lot of interesting ways how they do that.
Firstly, some people choose to run to the seaside or the fantasy world by writing. For a member of parliament sea is relaxing, for the advertising agency chairman writing.
Secondly, there are people who are calmed by physical work. Domestic tasks for bank executive, gym training, yoga for the TV editor-in-chief helps to unwind.
Thirdly, family-not all have a chance to unwind just at home. Business executive thinks that good sense of humor and family is all you need to forget your problems and the marriage counselor feels that spending time with her partner and gardening in the summer is what makes her calm.
To sum up, everyone has a sacred place or activity that helps them unwind. Different people got different kinds of ways to relax.
Firstly, some people choose to run to the seaside or the fantasy world by writing. For a member of parliament sea is relaxing, for the advertising agency chairman writing.
Secondly, there are people who are calmed by physical work. Domestic tasks for bank executive, gym training, yoga for the TV editor-in-chief helps to unwind.
Thirdly, family-not all have a chance to unwind just at home. Business executive thinks that good sense of humor and family is all you need to forget your problems and the marriage counselor feels that spending time with her partner and gardening in the summer is what makes her calm.
To sum up, everyone has a sacred place or activity that helps them unwind. Different people got different kinds of ways to relax.
Summary of "Giving Entire Cultures a Personality Test"
There are a lot of different personalities around the globe, so it is natural that stereotypes of people in different cultures appear. A test was created which can measure if the stereotypes about it are true.
Firstly, the test was developed by a large group of researchers and was called the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. This test is unique because it can be used in a fifty different countries and can measure national character, perception of national character.
Secondly, the results of the test showed that stereotypes were false. It is thought that those stereotypes may be outdated or exaggerated. National character is, as indicator of how people see themselves but not how they actually are.
To sum up, the experiment on stereotypes of personality differences of people in different cultures was carried out and the results show that the stereotypes are far from the truth.
Firstly, the test was developed by a large group of researchers and was called the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. This test is unique because it can be used in a fifty different countries and can measure national character, perception of national character.
Secondly, the results of the test showed that stereotypes were false. It is thought that those stereotypes may be outdated or exaggerated. National character is, as indicator of how people see themselves but not how they actually are.
To sum up, the experiment on stereotypes of personality differences of people in different cultures was carried out and the results show that the stereotypes are far from the truth.
Summary of “The mystery of memory”
Sciences of memory are only a century old. Psychologist discovered that there are short-term and long-term memories.
To start with, long-term memory is divided into procedural memory and declarative memory. Procedural memory is more stable than declarative. Recovering memory is divided into recall and recognition. Recognizing is easier than recalling.
What is more, “eidetic” - photographic memory. All have this memory in childhood, but most lose it when they grow old.
In addition, human brain consists of brain cells and memories are made by making connections between brain cells. To retrieve missing information it is useful to try to remember information associated with the one which is missing.
To sum up, neuroscientists are trying to explain how coherent conscious experience is made. By that they are improving our life.
To start with, long-term memory is divided into procedural memory and declarative memory. Procedural memory is more stable than declarative. Recovering memory is divided into recall and recognition. Recognizing is easier than recalling.
What is more, “eidetic” - photographic memory. All have this memory in childhood, but most lose it when they grow old.
In addition, human brain consists of brain cells and memories are made by making connections between brain cells. To retrieve missing information it is useful to try to remember information associated with the one which is missing.
To sum up, neuroscientists are trying to explain how coherent conscious experience is made. By that they are improving our life.
Happiness in Nations
Recently I have been doing some research on happiness in nations, so I have found some interesting info and I would like to share it. I will compare Lithuania as it is my home country with Japan and Bhutan.
Firstly, Lithuania according to most surveys I watched is neither in the top nor the bottom on the list of country happiness, it is just about in the middle of the center and the end of the list. Actually it is no surprise that Lithuania is not one of the happiest countries in the world, life expectancy is 66 for males and 78 for females, males life expectancy is the lowest in the European Union. With population of 3,2 million and GDP per capita 10605$, just an average European country, where people are happiest when they are young, when they do not have to care about the salary.
Secondly, Japan is totally different country from Lithuania, with different economy, culture, landscape and so on, but it’s only slightly happier that Lithuania, as surveys says. It is a real surprise, because this nation has strong sense of collective identity, which other researchers have associated with well-being. Although GDP per capita is amazingly 42325$ and life expectancy is 82.6 it is the highest in the world. People are not so happy, it is probably of the landscape, which is risky to live at, because a lot of earthquakes and tsunamis appears.
Thirdly, Bhutan is the country that I was never heard before I started this research and that is why it caught my eye, it was one of the top happiest countries. Money cannot buy happiness, with GDP per capita of only 1400$ and life expectancy only 55 years this small country is something extraordinary. Scientist thinks that happiness in this country is the result of unspoiled culture, unusually strong sense of national identity and beautiful scenery.
In the end, there are a lot of ways to become happy and Lithuania could learn from other countries, like Bhutan. My research also shows that money not always means happiness, there are many ways to improve it and I wish that Lithuanian people will become happier in the future.
References: http://www.physorg.com/news73321785.html
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2006/gb20061011_072596.htm
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/10/happiest_countries/index_01.htm
http://thehappinessshow.com/HappiestCountries.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuania#Health
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan#Health
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy
Firstly, Lithuania according to most surveys I watched is neither in the top nor the bottom on the list of country happiness, it is just about in the middle of the center and the end of the list. Actually it is no surprise that Lithuania is not one of the happiest countries in the world, life expectancy is 66 for males and 78 for females, males life expectancy is the lowest in the European Union. With population of 3,2 million and GDP per capita 10605$, just an average European country, where people are happiest when they are young, when they do not have to care about the salary.
Secondly, Japan is totally different country from Lithuania, with different economy, culture, landscape and so on, but it’s only slightly happier that Lithuania, as surveys says. It is a real surprise, because this nation has strong sense of collective identity, which other researchers have associated with well-being. Although GDP per capita is amazingly 42325$ and life expectancy is 82.6 it is the highest in the world. People are not so happy, it is probably of the landscape, which is risky to live at, because a lot of earthquakes and tsunamis appears.
Thirdly, Bhutan is the country that I was never heard before I started this research and that is why it caught my eye, it was one of the top happiest countries. Money cannot buy happiness, with GDP per capita of only 1400$ and life expectancy only 55 years this small country is something extraordinary. Scientist thinks that happiness in this country is the result of unspoiled culture, unusually strong sense of national identity and beautiful scenery.
In the end, there are a lot of ways to become happy and Lithuania could learn from other countries, like Bhutan. My research also shows that money not always means happiness, there are many ways to improve it and I wish that Lithuanian people will become happier in the future.
References: http://www.physorg.com/news73321785.html
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2006/gb20061011_072596.htm
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/10/happiest_countries/index_01.htm
http://thehappinessshow.com/HappiestCountries.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuania#Health
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan#Health
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy
Biorythm test
Recently I have calculated my biorhythm, I am actually skeptical about it, so I tried to find some proof that it is just a hoax. I matched recent events with my biorhythm and here is what I have got.
Firstly, when I was writing my ESPN test my Intellectual biorhythm was at 42% and Intuition was at -82%, my score on ESPN was only 30%, but I don’t think that biorhythms had anything to do with that, I was just simply not ready for that test.
Secondly, when I was doing my stress test, my result was that I was stressed, my Emotional biorhythm was at -33% and spiritual 62%, I cannot find strong correlation here, either.
Thirdly, I was at my karate competition, I was ready for it, I thought I was going to win it, but I took third place, though my Physical, Intuition and Emotional biorhythms were at their peak.
All in all, my attitude towards biorhythms have not changed, I still do not believe that they make some difference, well at least not for me, maybe for some other people they work.
References: http://www.procato.com/biorhythm/
Firstly, when I was writing my ESPN test my Intellectual biorhythm was at 42% and Intuition was at -82%, my score on ESPN was only 30%, but I don’t think that biorhythms had anything to do with that, I was just simply not ready for that test.
Secondly, when I was doing my stress test, my result was that I was stressed, my Emotional biorhythm was at -33% and spiritual 62%, I cannot find strong correlation here, either.
Thirdly, I was at my karate competition, I was ready for it, I thought I was going to win it, but I took third place, though my Physical, Intuition and Emotional biorhythms were at their peak.
All in all, my attitude towards biorhythms have not changed, I still do not believe that they make some difference, well at least not for me, maybe for some other people they work.
References: http://www.procato.com/biorhythm/
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