WRITING
I think that my writing skills are not better than were last semester, because at present I have a less practice as compared with last semester. But I can formulate and write my opinion in English.
WRITING ESP VOCABULARY TESTS
So, I think that I write ESP vocabulary tests well enough. In my view, it is because we read at home and discuss this topic in group. Also, it is important how long time we can prepare for tests at home.
WRITING CLASS DICTATIONS
I evaluate my class dictations writing more or less good, but this activity is too difficult for me. To my mind, it is related with a lack of general vocabulary and sometimes with the rate of dictating.
LISTENING COMPREHENSION IN CLASS
The results of this kind of activities are different. I think it is related with topic of listening. If information that is given is new for me, I can make more mistakes than when material is not new.
LISTENING TO PEERS’ POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS
I listen to presentations of other students, and understand all aspects about which presenters talk. But if a topic of presentation is a very specific and a presenter gives deep knowledge, I can have some difficulties. But presenters always explain the most difficult aspects of their topic, and because of that I think that I understand material well enough that is explored.
MAKING POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS
First of all, I like to make presentations, because it is a creative work. I can realize myself when I choose the topic for a presentation, search and process information, make a report and think about the design. I think that I take an interesting topic of a presentation for the audience. Because I have enough time and have possibility to prepare for the presentation at home, my speech could be evaluated as good enough . I can discuss this topic with other students; answer the questions if there are. I think it is because I go deep into the topic of presentation, improve my knowledge and vocabulary. Generally I evaluate this kind of my work as nice.
SPEAKING ON ESP THEMES IN CLASS
To my mind, I can pass an opinion on ESP themes in class, when we discuss in a group. It is a very interesting activity, because I can find interesting things, when I listen to others. Moreover, I improved my speaking skills, and learned to rephrase my opinion, formulate questions.
2008 m. gruodžio 1 d., pirmadienis
PSYCHOLOGY OF HAPPINESS
All people have a need to be happy, but everyone of us has a particular conception of happiness. For example
, one person understands the happiness as having and being with near and dear people, while others think that it means to do something valuable, important for the humanity. In days of yore thinkers of antiquity discussed what the happiness was and how to get it. Nowadays psychologists study this phenomenon though it is difficult to define what the happiness is. Why is it interesting for them? Probably because people try to reach happiness during all their life.
There are two views of what it is happiness. The first is that happiness is the set of dominant positive emotions. According to others, the happiness need to be understood how life satisfaction. Furthermore, some scientists point the importance of good health, while others – the ability of problem solving. Also, there are psychologists who maintain that the happiness is a secondary res
ult of person's particular activities and goals and to be happy is not a person's primary purpose in life. At present we know that there are psychological techniques that can regulate our emotion state. Practically all scientists of this sphere postulate the importance of social contacts. Also, there is very important factor as disorder that is called depression. Reducing of depression's symptoms allows a person to feel happy. Such simple thing as smile or good sleep at night can really change our emotional state.
According to the psychologist Michael Argyle ("Psychology of Happiness"), the most important thing for person's well-being and feeling happy are good and productive relationships with other people. Also, in his book "Psychology of happiness" he says that the best way to intensify life satisfaction is the use of such methods: the increase of the frequency of activities that give us satisfaction and the second is the learning to socialize and cooperate with other people. So, we know some possibilities how to become happy. We need only give them a try.
Resource:
Michael Argyle, "Psychology of Happiness"
, one person understands the happiness as having and being with near and dear people, while others think that it means to do something valuable, important for the humanity. In days of yore thinkers of antiquity discussed what the happiness was and how to get it. Nowadays psychologists study this phenomenon though it is difficult to define what the happiness is. Why is it interesting for them? Probably because people try to reach happiness during all their life. There are two views of what it is happiness. The first is that happiness is the set of dominant positive emotions. According to others, the happiness need to be understood how life satisfaction. Furthermore, some scientists point the importance of good health, while others – the ability of problem solving. Also, there are psychologists who maintain that the happiness is a secondary res
ult of person's particular activities and goals and to be happy is not a person's primary purpose in life. At present we know that there are psychological techniques that can regulate our emotion state. Practically all scientists of this sphere postulate the importance of social contacts. Also, there is very important factor as disorder that is called depression. Reducing of depression's symptoms allows a person to feel happy. Such simple thing as smile or good sleep at night can really change our emotional state. According to the psychologist Michael Argyle ("Psychology of Happiness"), the most important thing for person's well-being and feeling happy are good and productive relationships with other people. Also, in his book "Psychology of happiness" he says that the best way to intensify life satisfaction is the use of such methods: the increase of the frequency of activities that give us satisfaction and the second is the learning to socialize and cooperate with other people. So, we know some possibilities how to become happy. We need only give them a try.
Resource:
Michael Argyle, "Psychology of Happiness"
PSYCHOLOGY OF KLEPTOMANIA
There are a lot of psychiatric disorders. Impulse Control Disorders - a group of psychiatric disorders, known as impulse control disorders which include compulsive gambling, pyromania etc. Today I would like to talk about one disorder of this group of psychiatric disorders, about kleptomania.
First of al
l, I define what kleptomania is. According to Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders, kleptomania is an impulse control disorder, characterized by a recurrent failure to resist stealing. Discussing this phenomenon, we are in a dilemma, is it a mental disorder or maybe simply a crime? True kleptomania is a very rare condition. Sometimes people confuse it with recurrent failure to resist obsessive, addictive, or compulsive thoughts or urges to steal objects which they often will use. Kleptomaniacs will steal without ever needing the things they steal. They do not feel anger, but they also don't premeditate their actions. These patients have an irresistible inclination to steal. Often they throw away the stolen goods, as they are mostly interested in the stealing itself.
Kleptomania is rare overall, but more common in females than in males, but it
cannot be associated with gender difference idea. To my mind it is related with our culture, traditions, and lifestyle (simply more often women do the shop rather than men). It is obviously difficult to document the precise number of people with this problem and we can not maintain that women are risk-group.
People with kleptomania often have another psychiatric disorder, often a mood disorder such as depression and anxiety. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders and substance abuse disorders are common in individuals with kleptomania. But we have not a informative data and researches that could demonstrate that kleptomania is the result of other psychological disorder or that situation is inverse.
First of al
l, I define what kleptomania is. According to Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders, kleptomania is an impulse control disorder, characterized by a recurrent failure to resist stealing. Discussing this phenomenon, we are in a dilemma, is it a mental disorder or maybe simply a crime? True kleptomania is a very rare condition. Sometimes people confuse it with recurrent failure to resist obsessive, addictive, or compulsive thoughts or urges to steal objects which they often will use. Kleptomaniacs will steal without ever needing the things they steal. They do not feel anger, but they also don't premeditate their actions. These patients have an irresistible inclination to steal. Often they throw away the stolen goods, as they are mostly interested in the stealing itself.Kleptomania is rare overall, but more common in females than in males, but it
cannot be associated with gender difference idea. To my mind it is related with our culture, traditions, and lifestyle (simply more often women do the shop rather than men). It is obviously difficult to document the precise number of people with this problem and we can not maintain that women are risk-group. People with kleptomania often have another psychiatric disorder, often a mood disorder such as depression and anxiety. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders and substance abuse disorders are common in individuals with kleptomania. But we have not a informative data and researches that could demonstrate that kleptomania is the result of other psychological disorder or that situation is inverse.
Resource:
2008 m. gegužės 12 d., pirmadienis
SELF-ASSESSMENT of ESP Learning
Writing skills. To my mind I write summaries enough well but it takes a long time. I think that I need reduce time for accomplishment of this task. Results of dictations and ESP vocabulary tests are similar, because these tasks are related (it is important to know words in every tasks). I need work with my vocabulary further.I like self –designed test, because it is creative task and I can use my ideas, while we write an usual test, it involve only my knowledge. I do self-designed tests well, because I make this kind of tests for other students and I think what is the most important thing in the module, also I repeat the material of the topic. Contributions to weblogs are creative tasks too.But there are more problem in this task rather in self-designed test, because this kind of task takes all knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. Generally I think that I do not do this task very bad, I can express my opinion in weblog enough easily. But of course I need improve my writing.
Speaking skills. I think that I can express my opinion in class discussion. But sometimes it is not successful, because class discussions concern very different topics and I lack for words or expressions. When I made presentation, I told enough well, because I had possibility to prepare for the topic of my presentation at home and I knew information which concerned the topic enough well.Because of it I answered to questions of participants of discussion shortly and definitely. When I speak in pairs my English is not clear, because this form of speaking allow to use body language when I do not know some word which is needful to express my opinion.
Listening skills. So now when students speak in classes I understand English better rather when I listen cassettes. I think it depends on speed of speaking and of course depends on it, who speaks. I need improve my listening skills and listen more native speakers.
Reading skills. Material for home reading is not a very difficult, because information of modules sometimes is not new. But extra work, for example the research article, is a very difficult task for me because of vocabulary and writing style. They are very specific. Reading comprehension tests show my middle results.
Speaking skills. I think that I can express my opinion in class discussion. But sometimes it is not successful, because class discussions concern very different topics and I lack for words or expressions. When I made presentation, I told enough well, because I had possibility to prepare for the topic of my presentation at home and I knew information which concerned the topic enough well.Because of it I answered to questions of participants of discussion shortly and definitely. When I speak in pairs my English is not clear, because this form of speaking allow to use body language when I do not know some word which is needful to express my opinion.
Listening skills. So now when students speak in classes I understand English better rather when I listen cassettes. I think it depends on speed of speaking and of course depends on it, who speaks. I need improve my listening skills and listen more native speakers.
Reading skills. Material for home reading is not a very difficult, because information of modules sometimes is not new. But extra work, for example the research article, is a very difficult task for me because of vocabulary and writing style. They are very specific. Reading comprehension tests show my middle results.
2008 m. gegužės 1 d., ketvirtadienis
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Nowadays we can not image our life without something, what is made in our century. TV, mobile or even fridge are enough "young" contrivances, but how we are dependent on these! We are confronted with difficulties which are related with these implements while they need support us.
But it is another topic, now I would like to talk about artificial intelligence. Why do people want to make it? To my mind humans always wanted to do it, and it is demonstrated by story about Frankenstein and his try to make a human. I think that there are many reasons for this. First of all people want to make their life more comfortable, talking of it, generally all our contrivances and discoveries were made for this goal. The second, I think human always tries to come up to God, to feel omnipotent. But on the other hand I think artificial intelligence would be useful. Of course it could be used in the sphere where "human factor“can damage, because artificial intelligence has not weariness, a bad temper or problems in family. But in this instance artificial intelligence is not ideal too.
So I think that our civilization develops and artificial intelligence is our near future. To my mind artificial intelligence can not exchange us, humans, because it can not feel and has not soul.
But it is another topic, now I would like to talk about artificial intelligence. Why do people want to make it? To my mind humans always wanted to do it, and it is demonstrated by story about Frankenstein and his try to make a human. I think that there are many reasons for this. First of all people want to make their life more comfortable, talking of it, generally all our contrivances and discoveries were made for this goal. The second, I think human always tries to come up to God, to feel omnipotent. But on the other hand I think artificial intelligence would be useful. Of course it could be used in the sphere where "human factor“can damage, because artificial intelligence has not weariness, a bad temper or problems in family. But in this instance artificial intelligence is not ideal too.
So I think that our civilization develops and artificial intelligence is our near future. To my mind artificial intelligence can not exchange us, humans, because it can not feel and has not soul.
2008 m. vasario 27 d., trečiadienis
BODY LANGUAGE
Perhaps, there are not people in the world, who disagree with such concept, knows as body 
language. Nowadays this concept is a very common, we talk about it in seminars of psychology, and knowledge of this sphere is used in business. It is difficult to imagine that any boss does not know basics of this sphere. It is true to say that techniques of body language are used practically in every negotiation. Moreover, if we write "body language" to search in Google, we would find a lot of information on this topic from psychological researches to body language of our dog or cat.
Generally, body language is the language of gestures and postures. Studies of body language analyze the emotions transmitted through movement, such as facial expressions and the movement of eyes, hands, legs, feet, and the whole body. These studies show us how the body language of a person can reveal to us his state of mind and intentions, and personality traits such as self-confidence, shyness, aggressiveness, greed. We can say that a person’s posture expresses his attitudes and feelings.
Why is it a popular? Body language is an important – and often decisive – factor in communication. Body language is an element in communication that we should be very much aware of because it gives clues to the character, emotions, and reactions of an individual. If you are aware of what you do with your body, your self-understanding becomes deeper and more meaningful. Once you manage to control your body language, you will be able to cross many defensive barriers and establish better relationships. Body language is to our advantage to develop skills in this area in order to be better communicators.
I would like to talk about how our non verbal communication, calls body language, depends on heredity and environment in which person develops. It is difficult to determine exactly how a communication system is inherited or learned. Darwin believed that facial expressions of emotion were the same in all human beings, regardless of their culture. Today it is considered that within a specific culture there exists a general agreement to recognize the different emotional states. The human brain is programmed to raise the corners of the mouth when the individual feels happy and turn them down when he is discontent. Depending on the sensation that reaches the brain, a person will frown, raise his eyebrows.
The work of different researchers has shown that we can inherit in our genetic makeup certain basic physical reactions. We are born with elements of a body language. We can make another human being aware of basic sensations of hate, fear, pleasure, or sadness, without ever having learned how to do so. This does not contradict the fact that we do also have to learn many gestures that mean one thing in one society and something else in another.
There are certain expressions and standards that vary according to the culture, which are learned during the years of early childhood. These standards prescribe what should be done in response to the manifestation of each sensation or feeling in the different social environments. They vary according to social roles and demographic characteristics, and they differ from one culture to another.
Our body language can be partly instinctive, partly taught, and partly imitative. There are many movements which appear to be universal, suggesting we are born with them, such as a look of surprise, but also a person’s culture is an important factor to bear in mind.
language. Nowadays this concept is a very common, we talk about it in seminars of psychology, and knowledge of this sphere is used in business. It is difficult to imagine that any boss does not know basics of this sphere. It is true to say that techniques of body language are used practically in every negotiation. Moreover, if we write "body language" to search in Google, we would find a lot of information on this topic from psychological researches to body language of our dog or cat.Generally, body language is the language of gestures and postures. Studies of body language analyze the emotions transmitted through movement, such as facial expressions and the movement of eyes, hands, legs, feet, and the whole body. These studies show us how the body language of a person can reveal to us his state of mind and intentions, and personality traits such as self-confidence, shyness, aggressiveness, greed. We can say that a person’s posture expresses his attitudes and feelings.
Why is it a popular? Body language is an important – and often decisive – factor in communication. Body language is an element in communication that we should be very much aware of because it gives clues to the character, emotions, and reactions of an individual. If you are aware of what you do with your body, your self-understanding becomes deeper and more meaningful. Once you manage to control your body language, you will be able to cross many defensive barriers and establish better relationships. Body language is to our advantage to develop skills in this area in order to be better communicators.
I would like to talk about how our non verbal communication, calls body language, depends on heredity and environment in which person develops. It is difficult to determine exactly how a communication system is inherited or learned. Darwin believed that facial expressions of emotion were the same in all human beings, regardless of their culture. Today it is considered that within a specific culture there exists a general agreement to recognize the different emotional states. The human brain is programmed to raise the corners of the mouth when the individual feels happy and turn them down when he is discontent. Depending on the sensation that reaches the brain, a person will frown, raise his eyebrows.
The work of different researchers has shown that we can inherit in our genetic makeup certain basic physical reactions. We are born with elements of a body language. We can make another human being aware of basic sensations of hate, fear, pleasure, or sadness, without ever having learned how to do so. This does not contradict the fact that we do also have to learn many gestures that mean one thing in one society and something else in another.There are certain expressions and standards that vary according to the culture, which are learned during the years of early childhood. These standards prescribe what should be done in response to the manifestation of each sensation or feeling in the different social environments. They vary according to social roles and demographic characteristics, and they differ from one culture to another.
Our body language can be partly instinctive, partly taught, and partly imitative. There are many movements which appear to be universal, suggesting we are born with them, such as a look of surprise, but also a person’s culture is an important factor to bear in mind.
I used some of information in this essay from www.cepis.ops-oms.org/tutorial6/i/pdf/topic_05.pdf
2007 m. gruodžio 11 d., antradienis
Chimps beat humans in memory test.
The discover was made in Japanese. Researcher Tetsuro Matsuzawa and other colleagues of Kyoto University made the experiments with three pairs of mother and baby chimpanzees and university students. Every one of experiment subject was presented with various numerals from one to nine on a touch screen monitor. The numbers were then replaced with blank squares. The test subject had to remember which number appeared in which location, then touch the appropriate square. In a result chimps performed much better than university students in speed and accuracy. Young chimps have a photographic memory which allows them to memorise a complex scene or pattern at a glance.
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