English Conversations 2

  Oxford’s 2024 Word of the Year is brain rot—a term once used humorously, now backed by real science. Mindless scrolling, doomscrolling, and digital addiction are rewiring our brains for distraction, instant gratification, and cognitive decline. Studies show excessive screen time can shrink gray matter, weaken memory, and impair decision-making. Luckily, the brain is adaptable. 🧠 By setting boundaries, curating what you consume, and prioritizing real-world experiences, you can rewire your brain for focus, resilience, and deep thinking. A very interesting article here.

 What is your daily routine? Do you observe a specific time for meals, sleep, exercise, etc? Now check out this chart depicting the human circadian rhythm. Does it match your activities? So, what is the circadian rhythm? Where does the word come from? Watch this video to find out! READ ON... Do you want to find more information about circadian rhythms and how they affect you?  This is  a gripping article  by the Sleep Foundation. VOCABULARY PRACTICE

 What do you do to save space at home or at the office? People can become very creative when they are pressed to find space. For example, in this famous Bangkok market, Medlong, stall owners are required to move out of the way to let trains get through! Shoppers must stand to the one side to let train the pass.     Read  these other ingenious solutions: What are the advantages and disadvantages of each space-saving solution? Could any work in your town or city? Why? Which would you be happy to experience? LANGUAGE: Causative Verbs Practice more here 

 When and where do you think there were invented? brain surgery, concrete, eye make-up, water sanitation systems Read the text and check your predictions Which information did you find the most surprising?  How certain is it that the sentences are true?  Write certainly true (CT), possibly true (PT) or certainly not true (NT).  1 Egyptians invented make-up.   2 Both men and women in ancient Egypt wore make-up.  3. Our ancestors knew about bacteria.  4. It was a bad idea to perform brain surgery. 5. Roman concrete was good as modern concrete.  6. Roman concrete was very strong.  7 The people in the Indus valley were safe from dangerous diseases.  Find the sentences in the text that told you the answers to Exercise 3. Match the modal structures with their meaning (1-4). Then read the Grammar box to check.  1 It's very probable or certain that something happened  2 It's quite possible that something happened.  3 It's imp...

 Andrea is the new team leader of a team working on a project. In a meeting she gets angry and shouts at you for delaying a piece of work. You had explained beforehand that you needed more info to complete the job. You remember times in the past when Andrea didn't finish her work on time. How do you react? a. think about why she may be angry and talk to her afterward b. remind her of times in the past when she didn't finish her work on time c. decide she is a bad leader and complain to the other team members in the kitchen area Here is a video about empathy by the well-known researcher Brene Brown. As you are watching, note down 1. The characteristics of empathy 2. How it is different than sympathy Here are 5 tips to increase empathic reactions Listen actively. Practice active listening by reformulating the message to the person who just said it. ... Consider how the other person may be feeling. ... Focus on similarities ... Practise mindfulness... Listen actively. Speak less t...

  What have the masters achieved? To what extent are their achievements due to natural talent or hard work in your opinion?    So how did Judith become so good ____chess? She had a long-term commitment _____ becoming the best. So, from a very early age, she focused ____ the game and pracised. Where do Stephen's amazing abilities stem ___? Already as a child, he had a passion ____ drawing. Practice prepositions https://create.kahoot.it/share/prepositions-advanced/20ca120f-311c-4ae7-a6f9-30c426e8afb5 Circle all the /dj/, /tj/ and /sh/ sounds in the tongue twisters (1-8).  Practise saying the tongue twisters in pairs.  1. I'm sure 1 saw Sheila selling seashells on the seashore, but I can't be sure she sold seashore shells.  2. Julia, George, Jean and Joan joyfully jumped down the jagged hill.  3. Chester the Cheetah chewed a chunk of cheap cheddar cheese.  4. Fresh fried fish,  Fish fresh fried,  Fried fish fresh,  Fish fried fresh....