Kiwiprofesor's Blog - "A little bit of English...EVERY DAY"

Halloween "Friends" - don't be afraid!

10/31/2018

The "Friends" sitcom/TV series is one of the most popular ways to learn English and practice your listening.
Here's an episode about Halloween PLUS a quiz - don't be afraid!
Listen to, #Watch, #Read, #Speak and #Learn "A little bit of #English...EVERY DAY!"

Number One Songs NOT in English

10/27/2018

This is one post NOT about English, but very cool anyway.
Check out THIS list of foreign language No. 1 US hits - classics!
Listen to, Watch, Read, Speak and Learn "A little bit of English (and sometimes non-English)...EVERY DAY!"

Earth, the Moon, Mars & beyond....

10/25/2018

NASA has just released a special PODCAST called "The Invisible Network".
It uses a story-telling format to talk about sometimes overlooked technologies and the human side of space science and exploration.
Listen HERE (transcriptions with every podcast)
Listen to, Watch, Read, Speak and Learn "A little bit of English...EVERY DAY!"

How to overcome FEAR with Pizza & Cookies - by a 6-year old

10/17/2018

Out of the mouths of babes...

Remembrance For Walter Mischel, Psychologist Who Devised The Marshmallow Test

10/15/2018

Walter Mischel, a revolutionary psychologist with a specialty in personality theory, died of pancreatic cancer on Sept. 12. He was 88.
Mischel was most famous for the marshmallow test, an experiment that became a pop culture touchstone. But, he said, the thrust of the experiment and its results were often misinterpreted.
His idea, which you've probably heard of, was simple enough. First, you sit a kid in front of a delicious marshmallow. Then, you tell her she will get two marshmallows if she can resist eating the marshmallow while you leave the room.
His experiment was a test of delayed gratification and, over the years, the test epitomized the idea that there are specific personality traits that we all have inside of us that are stable and consistent and will determine our lives far into the future.
"What my life has been about is in showing the potential for human beings, to not be the victims of their biographies — not their biological biographies, not their social biographies," he said. "And to show, in great detail, the many ways in which people can change what they become and how they think."

China's Social Credit System

10/11/2018

Who can you trust?
How can you tell whether someone who borrows money from you will pay it back?
In the West, we have a credit score to help make these calls. But in China, no such system exists.
So the government came up with its own equivalent: it will score peoples' trustworthiness using not just court and bank records, but also data from the online shopping companies. Today on the Indicator: China's social credit system and what it might mean for citizens.
(Transcript HERE)

Every girl....of every age, should know Pippi Longstocking

10/11/2018

Read about Pippi HERE
Buy the Book HERE
Watch the animated movie below...
Listen to, Watch, Read, Speak and Learn "A little bit of English...EVERY DAY!"

Why should you read "Don Quixote"?

10/8/2018

Mounting his skinny steed [horse], Don Quixote charges an army of giants. It is his duty to vanquish these behemoths in the name of his beloved lady, Dulcinea. There’s only one problem: the giants are merely windmills. What is it about this tale of the clumsy yet valiant knight that makes it so beloved? Ilan Stavans investigates.

Firstly, Relax and watch this TEDEd lesson. Don't stress if you can't catch every word, just try to get the gist (general idea).

Next, listen again and focus on the words and phrases you think are interesting, difficult or new.

Lastly, prepare some questions for me (using the question grid) and let's talk about it next class.

3 lessons on decision-making from a poker champion

10/6/2018

Is it better to be lucky or good?
Should we trust our gut feelings or rely on probabilities and careful analysis when making important decisions?
In this quick talk, professional poker player Liv Boeree shares three strategies she's learned from the game and how we can apply them to real life.

AFTER you've watched the video(maybe a couple of times), answer these questions:

What are the 3 lessons the speaker talks about?
Do you prefer to rely on your "gut feelings"?....or careful analysis?
Would this talk make you change the way you make decisions?
Make your own questions for me, using the Question Grid

Author

I'm a Kiwi living in Colombia, a Qualified, Experienced and Passionate Online English Language Coach.
I specialise in Business and Academic English for Computer Programmers and Software Developers.

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