Daily Quick Fix – 9 (Phrases, words)

Critical thinking skills are essential in every industry at every career level, from entry-level associates to top executives. Good critical thinkers can work both independently and with others to solve problems. Issues such as process inefficiencies, management or finances can be improved by using critical thought.

Because of this, employers value and seek out candidates who demonstrate strong critical thinking skills. Being objective is a fundamental part of critical thinking. That means analysing the problem without allowing personal bias, emotions or assumptions to influence how you think. A strong critical thinker will only analyse a problem based on the context and facts collected after conducting thorough and impartial research.
(Способный к критическому мышлению человек будет анализировать проблему только на основе контекста и фактов, собранных после проведения тщательного и беспристрастного исследования.)

1. Rational /ˈræʃᵊnᵊl/
Sensible, logical, and using reason.
[0:12] In debate, persuasive arguments and oratory skills are used to appeal not only to our rational side, but also to our emotions.

2. Slippery slope /ˈslɪpᵊri sləʊp/
Idea or course of action which will lead to something disastrous.
[1:15] A slippery slope is when someone argues that a small change will have a disastrous impact.

3. Personal attack /ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl əˈtæk/
Making damaging remarks relating to somebody's lifestyle or choices.
[1:50] A personal attack is when an opponent's arguments are ignored, and they are attacked personally instead.

4. To be committed /kəˈmɪtɪd/
Feeling dedication and loyalty to a cause, activity, job, or person.
[1:56] I am committed to fighting for clean air in our community!

5. To be worth something /wɜːθ ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
To be important or interesting enough to deserve something
[2:26] You either support this plan, or you decide that our women aren't worth investing in!

'Out' Phrasal verbs

Find out (to discover)

• I found out that my boss is going to give me a bonus at the end of the year!

Figure out (find the answer/solution to a problem)

• I can't figure out why the wifi keeps cutting out.

Work something out (to solve a problem)

• We will work everything out in the end.

Sort out (to resolve a problem or difficulty)

• Keeping an organised schedule will help you sort out your time management problems.

Turn out (to result in something - good or bad)

• How did the conversation with your brother turn out?

*************************************

All people experience fluctuations in their motivation and willpower. Sometimes you feel fired up and highly driven to reach your goals. Other times, you might feel listless or unsure of what you want or how to achieve it. If you're feeling low on motivation, there are steps you can take to help increase your drive. Adjust your goals to focus on things that really matter to you.

Focusing on things that are highly important to you will help push you through your challenges more than goals based on things that are low in importance. If you're tackling something that feels too big or too overwhelming, break it up into smaller, more manageable steps. Then, set your sights on achieving only the first step. Instead of trying to lose 50 pounds, for example, break this goal down into five-pound increments.

1. Extrinsic /ɛkˈstrɪnzɪk/
Originating on the outside.
[0:15] ... Extrinsic is motivation for an external reward, like a prize.

2. Intrinsic /ɪnˈtrɪnzɪk/
Being an extremely important / fundamental characteristic.
[0:20] ... Intrinsic on the other hand, is motivation for an internal reward.

3. Accomplished /əˈkʌmplɪʃt/
Able to do or finish something successfully; skilled.
[0:23] ... like feeling accomplished or satisfied.

4. Take in /teɪk ɪn/
To receive into the mind.
[0:33] Our brains take in lots of information.

5. Optimise /ˈɒptɪmaɪz/
To make as perfect, effective, or functional as possible.
[1:00] Trying to understand what motivates you is the first step in optimising and directing your natural motivation.
*******************************

Adjectives Ending in -ed vs. -ing

-ED: To Express Feelings 

• I am bored. (I feel bored.)
• Are you tired? (Do you feel tired?)
• Sarah is excited for her trip to Europe. (Sarah feels excited.)
• He's really interested in horticulture. (This is his personal feeling about horticulture.)

-ING: To Express Opinions

• This movie is very boring (in my opinion).
• It has been a very tiring day (in my opinion).
• Sarah's trip is going to be so exciting (in my opinion)!
• He thinks horticulture is more interesting than modern art. (That's his opinion.)

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, experience of media closures, layoffs and salary cuts were frequent across the globe. While the media business in each country operated within its own unique agreements and economic systems, the worldwide media crisis increased.

More than a year after COVID-19 spread across the globe, researchers and media reporters in some countries carefully tracked media industry cutbacks in the pandemic’s wake; in others, specific data was scarce. Reporting on industry descent was a tedious matter, with a broad range of changes within newsrooms, in addition to steering some worthy attention away from the good news: the innovative and determined journalism practitioners working to fill the gaps.

1. Hold someone to account /həʊld ˈsʌmwʌn tuː əˈkaʊnt/
To require someone to accept responsibility for their actions.
[0:21] It can hold the powerful to account and prevent the abuse of power.

2. Ad revenue /æd ˈrɛvənjuː/
Income from advertisements being shown on your content.
[1:02] News organisations made money from clicks that could be converted into ad revenue.

3. Clickbait /klɪkbeɪt/
Content with the main purpose is of attracting attention and clicks.
[2:02] In a bid to increase audiences and the ad revenue that comes with them, outlets focus on entertainment and clickbait.

4. Crowdfunding /kraʊdˈfʌndɪŋ/
Raising money from small contributions made by many people.
[3:08] Crowdfunding and donations tend to be time limited, so are unlikely to be the most sustainable models.

5. Allegiance /əˈliːʤᵊns/
Commitment to a superior or to a group or cause.
[3:18] The membership model gives the audience different levels of access as well as a sense of allegiance to a news outlet.

************************

1. Rational /ˈræʃᵊnᵊl/
Sensible, logical, and using reason.

2. Slippery Slope /ˈslɪpᵊri sləʊp/
Idea or course of action which will lead to something disastrous.

3. Personal Attack /ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl əˈtæk/
Making damaging remarks relating to somebody's lifestyle or choices.

4. To be committed /kəˈmɪtɪd/ 
Feeling dedication and loyalty to a cause, activity, job, or person.

5. To be worth something /wɜːθ ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
To be important or interesting enough to deserve something.

6. Extrinsic /ɛkˈstrɪnzɪk/
Originating on the outside.

7. Intrinsic /ɪnˈtrɪnzɪk/
Being an extremely important / fundamental characteristic.

8. Accomplished /əˈkʌmplɪʃt/
Able to do or finish something successfully; skilled.

9. Take in /teɪk ɪn/
To receive into the mind.

10. Optimise /ˈɒptɪmaɪz/
To make as perfect, effective, or functional as possible.

11. Hold someone to account /həʊld ˈsʌmwʌn tuː əˈkaʊnt/ 
To require someone to accept responsibility for their actions.

12. Ad revenue /æd ˈrɛvənjuː/
Income from advertisements being shown on your content.

13. Clickbait /klɪkbeɪt/
Content with the main purpose is of attracting attention and clicks.

14. Crowdfunding /kraʊdˈfʌndɪŋ/
Raising money from small contributions made by many people.

15. Allegiance /əˈliːʤᵊns/
Commitment to a superior or to a group or cause.

************************

1. Metrics /ˈmɛtrɪks/
A system or standard of measurement.
[1:30] Those are the metrics that really matter. Not the metrics of: "Do you come to work on time?" "Did you take your vacation?"

2. Performance Review /pəˈfɔːməns rɪˈvjuː/
An assessment to evaluate an employee's work performance.
[2:50] Let's take the annual performance review. What else do you do in your whole life that you're really good at that you only do once a year?

3. Sloppy /ˈslɒpi/
Careless and unsystematic; excessively casual.
[3:31] The company was rocky and things weren't getting done on time, and he felt like things were sloppy.

4. To pooh-pooh /puːˈpuː/ 
To dismiss an idea or suggestion as being foolish or impractical.
[4:16] They are always pooh-poohing the companies that I work with, "That is such a stupid idea."

5. To shift your thinking /ʃɪft jɔː ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
Change your way of thinking or opinion regarding something.
[4:35] I want you to shift your thinking to say, "Think about the way it's going to be."

Confusing Prepositional Phrases

In the end / At the end

• He didn’t want to come at first, but we talked a lot, and in the end, he agreed. (finally)
• We will answer any questions at the end of the meeting. (last action/place)

On time / In time

• The train departed on time, so we caught our plane without problems. (punctual)
• We arrived at the office in time to grab a coffee. (not late)

On the way / In the way

• I bought milk on the way to work. (about to arrive)
• We couldn’t drive any further because there was a fallen tree in the way. (a blocking obstacle)

******************************

1. Entrepreneur /ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː/
Someone who organises and sets up a business or enterprise.
[0:19] Many are entrepreneurial millennials piecing together freelance gigs anywhere in the world.

2. Make a living /meɪk ə ˈlɪvɪŋ/
To earn the money you need to pay for housing, food, etc.
[1:02] He offers tips for others interested in this new way of making a living.

3. Coworking /kəʊ ˈwɜːkɪŋ/
Renting a shared working space with communal facilities.
[2:04] ... With its low cost of living, wide range of coworking spaces and easy access to high speed wifi.

4. Independent contractor /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt kənˈtræktə/
Someone who provides a service for a business but is not an employee.
[2:20] I've been working for Airbnb remotely as an independent contractor for about two years now.

5. Work-life balance /wɜːk laɪf ˈbælᵊns/
The time you spend on both work and personal life.
[4:15] We have a conversation about being a digital nomad or remote worker and having a work-life balance, it's not even a close comparison.

🎧 Listen to today's audio and practice the pronunciation of the /h/ sound in the words in blue.

To study history is to study change: historians are experts in examining and interpreting human identities and transformations of societies and civilizations over time. They use a range of methods and  tools to answer questions about the past and to reconstruct the diversity of past human experience: how profoundly people have differed in their ideas and cultural practices; how widely their experiences have varied by time and place, and the ways they have struggled while inhabiting a shared world.

Historians use a wide range of sources to weave individual lives and collective actions into narratives that bring critical perspectives on both our past and our present. Studying history helps us grapple with hard questions and dilemmas by examining how the past has shaped (and continues to shape) global, national, and local relationships between societies and people.

🎧 Listen to today's audio and practice the pronunciation of the words with silent letters in blue.

Reading literally changes your mind. Research has confirmed that reading involves a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain. As your reading ability matures, those networks get stronger and more sophisticated. Reading with your children at home boosts school performance also increasing vocabulary, raising self-esteem, building good communication skills, and strengthening the prediction engine that is the human brain.

By making reading time interesting it will encourage them to choose their favourite books and hopefully share them with their friends. Furthermore, people who read literary fiction show a heightened ability to understand the feelings and beliefs of others. Researchers call this ability the “theory of mind,” a set of skills essential for building, navigating, and maintaining social relationships.

1. Bigotry /ˈbɪɡətri/
An obstinate attachment to a negative belief or opinion.
[0:19] By evil forces I mean bigotry, prejudice and other negative attitudes that are the roots of our social conflicts.

2. Wizardry /ˈwɪzədri/
The art or practice of magic.
[1:03] Harry’s world wasn’t just fun magic and wizardry-- it was plagued with the same injustice that exists in our world.

3. Prejudice /ˈprɛʤədɪs/
A preconceived opinion not based on reason or actual experience.
[2:16] Kids who focused on sections dealing with prejudice and also identified with Harry, showed improved attitudes towards immigrants.

4. Empathy /ˈɛmpəθi/
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.
[2:46] Empathy is communicated to readers through Harry’s inner thoughts, perspectives, actions and words.

5. To befriend /bɪˈfrɛnd/
To become a friend to someone.
[4:19] An orphan who stands up against injustice and discrimination, and befriends a variety of people...

**********************

"E-waste", "electronic waste", "e-scrap" and "end-of-life electronics" are terms used to describe used electronics that are nearing the end of their useful life, and are thrown in the trash, donated or given to a recycler. Electronics have always produced waste, but the quantity and speed of discard has increased rapidly in recent years. Interestingly, there was a time when households would keep televisions for more than a decade.

But thanks to growing changes in technology and consumer demand, devices now last only a couple of years. Consumers certainly have a role to play in the increase of e-waste — they’re buying the products, after all. But manufacturers have given people fewer viable ways to keep older electronics functioning effectively. For this reason, reducing e-waste cannot fall primarily on the shoulders of patrons or manufacturers alone.

Instant messaging (aka chat) has for certain become an important and easy internal communications channel for many organisations. It's changing how individuals and teams interact at work. Controversially, it has its downsides. Instant messaging can become noisy and irrelevant and furthermore create disturbance in the workplace.

There's nothing wrong with sharing a few cat GIFs, but your instant messaging tool should serve a more worthwhile purpose. By choosing a multi-faceted messaging platform with instant messaging and carefully integrating it into your internal communications strategy, you can easily avoid these problems.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT6VwYTCTxo

Gen Z is more likely to pay with cash than people aged 25 to 44, according to the San Francisco Fed. And a recent survey by Credit Karma found that 45% of Gen Z respondents prefer cash for everyday purchases, with 33% of those saying they feel like they have more control when they use cash, and 25% saying they don’t want to rack up debt. For Gen Z, cash’s vintage vibe only adds to its appeal, said Jason Dorsey, president of the Center for Generational Kinetics. “Gen Z is a throwback generation,” he said. “The act of carrying cash is still new and different.”

Other financially savvy TikTokers are using physical money to overhaul their finances through  “cash-stuffing” — a saving strategy in which people track their spending by distributing a set amount of money across various envelopes dedicated to regular expenses and longer-term goals. When we’re using cash, we are taking control of our money instead of it controlling us.

1. To store something /stɔː ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
To put something aside for later use when needed.
[0:12] ...how this generation is using the cash, showing its cash, storing its cash.

2. Recession /rɪˈsɛʃᵊn/
Significant decline in the economy that lasts longer than a few months.
[0:26] A lot of Gen Z came into adulthood in the middle of the pandemic, in the midst of a recession.

3. To take a hit /teɪk ə hɪt/
To suffer damage or loss.
[0:55] They've taken a huge hit financially during this time that's really important for their financial development.

4. Side hustle /saɪd ˈhʌsᵊl/
A second job you can do while continuing to do your main job.
[1:26] They are withdrawing a percentage of their income whether that's from babysitting or other side hustles that they're getting.

5. Everyday purchases /ˈɛvrideɪ ˈpɜːʧəsɪz/
Expenses related to life such as: food, housing, transportation, etc.
[2:44] A recent credit card survey found that 45% of Gen Z likes to use cash for everyday purchases.

Verb + Prepositions

VERB + FOR 

• I applied for a loan in order to start my business.
• You need to pay for your own expenses.
• He excused himself for racking up a huge debt.
• Out of desperation she settled for a low salary.
• It was about time that I asked for a promotion.

VERB + FROM

• I had to borrow money from my brother.
• Interest rates prevented him from getting a mortgage.
• It can take years to recover from debt.
• I never withdraw cash from my account.
• The company mostly profits from its investments.

1. Is your generation similar or different to Gen Z in terms of finance?

2. Do you prefer using cash or a card for making payments? Why?

3. What would happen if we only used cash for everyday purchases?

4. How can our culture affect our point of view about finances?
************************************

You make decisions all the time. Almost all of them are small. However, some are really big: they have ramifications for years or even decades. Many people have thought back on past decisions and realized they have some regrets. The most important decisions in life always relate to family and friends. Spend the time getting these decisions right and then don’t let other distractions — particularly those at work — undermine these relationships.

We are taught to seize opportunities. You can apologise or change course later but you can’t time travel. Avoid making decisions that violate your core values and move you away from your aspirational self. If you have good justifications for a decision now, no matter what happens, you won't have regrets.

1. A far cry from /fɑː kraɪ frɒm/
Very different from something.
[0:30] It's a far cry from their apartment in Brooklyn, where they lived before moving overseas.

2. Pack up /pæk ʌp/
To collect belongings and put them in boxes in order to move.
[1:01] The Baxleys are part of a new wave of Americans packing up and moving to Europe.

3. Spike /spaɪk/
A sudden, sharp increase.
[1:26] So where are they going? Greece is seeing a huge spike, 40% from last year.

4. Make a big leap /meɪk ə bɪɡ liːp/
To make a big change without knowing knowing the outcome.
[1:37] Mom Stephanie Sinclair is among those making the big leap, back to the old world.

5. Relocate /ˌriːləʊˈkeɪt/
Move to a new place and establish your home or business there.
[2:04] Galen and Meryl Draper recently relocated to this stunning estate in southwest France.

'Mind' Expressions

'Make up your mind' (to make a decision; decide)

• I can’t make up my mind about which colour I want to paint the kitchen.

'Change your mind' (to adopt a different opinion or plan)

• I don't know if I should take the job or not. I keep changing my mind!

'Keep in mind' (to remember and take into consideration later)

• Please keep in mind that we've got to wake up early. I don't want to you to come home too late.

'Bear in mind' (to consider something; take it into account)

• Bear in mind that it's going to snow later. Make sure you take your hat, scarf and gloves.

'Cross your mind' (to briefly and suddenly enter someone’s mind)

• I was out for a walk when you crossed my mind.
• It never crossed my mind to take the extra car key. And now we're locked out!

**************************************

The future of humanity is artificial intelligence. From developing treatments for brain cancer, to self-driving cars, means of communication, or systems that can turn words into beautiful works of art, AI is society's future. The world is changing, and in particular artificial intelligence, which is progressing quickly with companies such as OpenAI, Google, and many others, which develop AI technologies to improve lives and the products people use better.

However, one aspect that must be considered is how these AI systems are used. When developing artificial intelligence, it's essential to create the technology in a way that is not abused or misused. Overall though, OpenAI seems to take its technology and AI technologies seriously and is trying to prevent misuse to the best of its abilities, and so far, it seems to be going well.

An ambivert is someone who exhibits qualities of both introversion and extroversion, and can flip into either depending on their mood, context, and goals. Some other names that exist for ambiverts are: outgoing introverts, antisocial extroverts and social introverts. Ambiverts are flexible in how they react to people. In the right context, in the right mood and around the right people, ambiverts can flip up into extroversion.

In situations that cause anxiety or around toxic people, ambiverts can flip down into introversion. Research has found that how we react to people is physiological. There is no right or wrong personality type. The only right thing to do is to live, act, and address who you really are. Act on your strengths, purge toxicity, calm your anxious thoughts and get to know your true self.

When it comes to avoiding cyberattacks, bigger is apparently better. At least that’s according to a new report that shows small businesses are three times more likely to be targeted by cybercriminals than larger companies. Between January 2021 and December 2021, researchers analysed millions of emails across thousands of companies.

They found that, on average, an employee of a small business with less than 100 employees will experience 350% more social engineering attacks than an employee of a larger enterprise. Accounts of CEOs and CFOs are almost twice as likely to be taken over compared to average employees. Once they have access, cybercriminals use these high-value accounts to gather intelligence or launch attacks within an organisation.

1. Inbound /ˈɪnbaʊnd/
Moving in the direction of the source / point of origin.
[0:10] If you think that your business is completely protected from inbound cyber threats, think again.

2. Succumb /səˈkʌm/
To fail to resist temptation to do something.
[0:33] CyberCatch found that around 1/3 suffered from spoofing while 28 succumb to clickjacking.

3. Spoofing /ˈspuːfɪŋ/
A scam where a criminal tricks someone by imitating a trusted source.
[0:38] Spoofing occurs when a fake IP address is used to masquerade as an authorised device.

4. Masquerade /ˌmæskəˈreɪd/
To pretend to be someone you're not.
[0:40] Spoofing occurs when a fake IP address is used to masquerade as an authorised device.

5. Security breach /sɪˈkjʊərəti briːʧ/
Unauthorised access to a device, network, program, or data.
[1:40] According to cybersecurity intelligence, 90% of security breaches are caused by human error.

Impersonal Passive

It is said that

• It is said that children are afraid of ghosts.
• Children are said to be afraid of ghosts.

It is believed

• It is believed that they killed the animals during the night.
• The animals are believed to have been killed during the night.

It is expected

• It is expected that he will join the company soon.
• He is expected to join the company soon.

It is assumed

• It is assumed that businesses are protected from cyber threats.
• Businesses are assumed to be protected from cyber threats.

Nature is the natural world and everything in it, including all living things, such as plants and animals, and physical phenomena, such as land, water, and the weather. Nature is an essential part of our lives and provides us with many benefits, such as clean air and water, food, medicine, and materials for shelter and clothing.

Despite the many benefits that nature provides us, it is also facing numerous threats, such as pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change. These threats have a negative impact on the natural world and can have serious consequences for both the environment and human health. By valuing and protecting nature, we can ensure that it remains a vital part of our lives for years to come.

1. Shallow /ˈʃæləʊ/
An area of the sea, a lake, or a river where the water is not very deep.
[0:45] There are turtles basking on a log, great blue heron walking through the shallows, clouds floating up overhead.

2. Scenic route /ˈsiːnɪk ruːt/
A way that is not the fastest way, but has beautiful scenery.
[1:24] Her decision to take the scenic route is actually a scientific one. A walk under the canopy has been scientifically proven to refresh you.

3. Wilderness /ˈwɪldənəs/
A region uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings.
[8:42] Is having access to, you know, wilderness and the mountains the same as having access to a park with trees?

4. Habitat /ˈhæbɪtæt/
The environment where a plant or animal naturally lives and grows.
[10:43] Trees are part of a necessary part of a healthy human habitat.

5. Houseplant /ˈhaʊsplɑːnt/
A plant grown or kept indoors.
[11:39] Could I just have you introduce your favourite houseplant?

That, Which, Where & Who

That (specifies which particular thing you are talking about)

• The tree that was struck by lightning has fallen.
• The squirrel that lives in our backyard is playful.

Which (adds information about a thing) 

• The ocean, which covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface, is home to diverse marine life.
• The tree canopy, which you see here in the photo, is huge.

Where (specifies or adds information about a place) 

• There were loads of monkeys on the beach where we spent our holidays.
• The animal sanctuary, where injured and orphaned animals are taken care of, is a wonderful place to visit.

Who or That (specifies which person you are talking about)

• The man who lives next door is a veterinarian.
• The man that lives next door is a veterinarian.

Who... Not 'That' (gives information about a person)

• Amanda, who is getting married next week, has just visited the Amazon Rainforest.
• The author, who was an expert in marine biology, died later that year.

Speaking

🇬🇧 💬 Use the below questions to practise your English conversational skills.

1. Do you experience nature in your daily life? How?
2. What is your favorite part of nature?
3. How can being in nature help our mental health?
4. Do you think people often ignore nature? Why?
********************************

Pronunciation

🎧 Listen to today's audio and practice the pronunciation of the /ə/ sound in the words in blue.

Protesting is a way for people to peacefully express their opinions, concerns, and grievances. It involves demonstrating or expressing opposition through marches, sit-ins, strikes, or other forms of public display. Protesting can be a powerful tool for bringing about social change. It allows people to come together and make their voices heard, and can put pressure on decision makers to address the issues being protested.

Some of the most significant social and political movements in history have been driven by protests. However, protesting can also be met with resistance and backlash. It is not uncommon for protesters to face violence or persecution for their actions. It is important for those participating in protests to do so peacefully and to follow the law.

The Earth's climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, and this is largely due to deliberate human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. These activities release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which trap heat and cause the Earth's average temperature to rise. Unfortunately, this warming is aggravating the planet, including more frequent and severe natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods.

Many of the people who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as those living in poverty or in developing countries, are also the least responsible for causing it. It is therefore our responsibility as a global community to educate the younger generations, take action to regulate and mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

1. Revenue /ˈrɛvənjuː/
Income of a company or organisation.
[0:36] Patagonia will remain a for-profit business, so where will the revenue go under this new structure?

2. A force for good /fɔːs fɔː ɡʊd/
Action inspired by a genuine concern, to make a positive impact.
[0:50] ...so they can show the world that business can be a force for good.

3. Mindset /ˈmaɪndsɛt/
A person's mental attitudes and way of thinking.
[2:10] They also go on to measure the impact that they have in... changing people's mindset.

4. Corporate social responsibility /ˈkɔːpᵊrət ˈsəʊʃᵊl rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti/
The idea that a company should help society and the environment.
[2:16] We keep hearing about corporate social responsibility, why would Patagonia do this?

5. Sustainable planet /səˈsteɪnəbᵊl ˈplænɪt/
Using natural resources without harming the environment.
[2:46] If we don't have a sustainable planet in 50 years, it's their future that's going to be affected.

Do you want to find a fun and hair-raising hobby that’s also educational, fulfilling and will enhance your life? There are tons of mental health benefits associated with having hobbies. Hence they’re often very cheap or even free! Many of these can be done from home and are interesting ways to pass the time. Many people don’t have inexpensive hobbies because there is a misconception that inexpensive means boring.

The truth is inexpensive doesn’t mean a lack of excitement, discovery, creativity, self-expression or satisfaction. Inexpensive hobbies are accessible, easy to do and are great opportunities to connect with activities that give you happiness. They are a great way to relax and have fun. They can also be an inexpensive substitute for more expensive ones that you may not want to spend the money on right now. What hobbies do you have?

Does language shape thought and, is our thought changed when we speak a different language? The answer to this question is naturally complicated. Language is more involved than just thought and communication. Culture, traditions, lifestyle, habits, family and society all shape the way we think and talk. Even though thousands of studies have been conducted and entire books written on this one seemingly simple question, it’s still hotly debated.

However, the majority view among serious scholars, linguistics, psychologists and anthropologists is that thought is NOT dependent on language, as language is primarily an instinct and is coded into our DNA. But what about for people that are actually bilingual and multilingual? For these polyglots, the answer is still a bit muddled.

1. Conceive /kənˈsiːv/
Imagine or understand something.
[0:39] Differences across languages have an influence on the way speakers of those languages conceive of the world.

2. Perceive /pəˈsiːv/
Come to an opinion, or have a belief about something.
[1:02] I go into a certain mindset, I sound deeper. I don't know why. I perceive situations differently, I react differently.

3. Get straight to the point /ɡɛt streɪt tuː ðə pɔɪnt/
Address the main subject directly, without deviation.
[1:14] It makes me feel more assertive when I'm speaking Dutch because you just get straight to the point.

4. Array /əˈreɪ/
Impressive display or range of a particular type of thing.
[2:43] After 30 seconds we show them the full array of colours and we say, "Now, pick the one that you just saw."

5. Gateway /ˈɡeɪtweɪ/
Entrance to somewhere or a way of achieving something.
[3:46] Speaking a different language is almost a gateway into a completely different cultural understanding.

Let or Make?

Let + Person + Verb

• My mother lets me use her car. (allow, give permission)
• Learning  a new language lets you communicate with more people. (make something possible)
• Let's go out for dinner tonight. (a suggestion)

Make + Person + Verb

• The teacher made us study very hard. (to force)
• My brother often makes me laugh. (to cause)

Spot the difference!

• My boss let me leave early that day. (something I wanted to do)
• My boss made me work overtime. (something I didn't want to do)

Speaking

🇬🇧 💬 Use the below questions to practise your English conversational skills.

1. Do you think you gain another perspective when you learn a new language? Why/Why not?
2. Do you think differently in different languages?
3. What does ‘language is culture and culture is language’ mean?
4. Name some of the benefits of speaking more than one language.
****************************

At first guess, the terms blue ocean and red ocean seem to have something to do with geography, biology, or even marine life. But in fact, they were introduced to bring some clarity to the types of market spaces, especially during a new project launch. The terms blue ocean and red ocean are actually indicating types of market spaces. The analogy with the natural environment demonstrates the characteristics of contrasting market environments.

The blue ocean is the name for a newly discovered or created business, while the red ocean indicates an already existing industry. It is quite challenging to come up with the idea of a completely originals and unique project. It seems that everything that could have been invented, is already there. In any case, why would you want to fight with all the competitors that are already successful?

March is Women’s History Month, a perfect time to reflect on some of the wonderful women from the past who changed the world with their massive contributions to science, politics, technology, art, sports, entertainment and the military, and thus warranted the future to be female.

Susan B. Anthony is one of the main reasons ladies get to vote on election days in the United States. She participated in her first women’s rights convention in 1852. Over the next 54 years, she published The Revolution; circulated petitions for married women’s property rights; established a press bureau to provide articles to national press outlets; gave speeches; formed Working Women’s Associations for the publishing and garment trades; called the first Woman Suffrage Convention in Washington D.C. and was arrested for voting.