HOW TO BECOME A PICTURE OF HEALTH

Are you leading a healthy life? If you feel you are not, take advantage of the useful tips given by Dr. Paul Benton from the Health Education Council

ü What is health?
Although some people think that health equals 2keeping the doctors at bay” or being the ideal weight for their height, this is only one side of the coin. Being healthy is much more than that. It covers all the measures we can take to prevent illnesses plus all the steps we can follow to feel even better. So, here are the ins and outs of healthy living.
ü You are what you eat
When it comes to health , food is a crucial factor to take into account. What you eat deeply affects your daily living. That´s why a alanced diet is essential to satisfy your body´s needs. Make sure your diet is rich in vegetables, meat, dairy products and cereals. This is the surest way to meet your body´s need for proteins, vitamins or minerals.
ü Being fit is part of being healthy
Remember that a varied diet and physical activity go hand in hand. If you eat more than body burns up, the extra energy is stored as body fat. So, try walking, running, swimming or practising a sport and you will soon be able to tell the difference.When you are fit, your muscles have strenght and resilience, and your blood pressure is lower. This means it is easier for the heart to pump the blood around the body. What are you waiting for? Start moving!
ü Stay away from bad habits
Smoking and drugs are typical health hazards these days. That smoking is a cause of diseases and premature death is nothing new. Tabacco smke contains harmful substances that can cause cancer. Apart from this, it can hinder smokers´ sports performance. Though they make you feel confident, they can have side effects such as infertility, heart attacks and even death.
ü It´s time for a change!
So, start thinking about your lifestyle. It may feel good. But how much good is it doing you? If you want to live to be a hundred and run without gasping, this is the moment for a change: prevention is better than cure!!

COPING WITH EXAMS

An exam hangs over and you feel it´s driving you round the bend? I know it´s a slog to go through it, but there are many useful tips you can follow to make it go well.
First of all, relaax. You will find it easier to keep your mind on your books if you don´t let the pressure of the test prey on you.
Besides, you can make a plan of what you are doing to swot and try to keep up with it. In this way, you won´t go nuts. And make sure you take enough rest. If studying does you in, it is unlikely that you will pass. Set up little goeals and whenever reach one, take a quick break to stretch your legs or grab a snack.
There are things you should avoid: spending too much time under artificial light, studying in bed or after a heavy meal: you will nod off! And lastly, be confident. You can do it!

I DON´T LIKE MY APPEARANCE

I know how it feels to look at yourself in the mirror and think everything is wrong with your bedy: your hair is too curly; your eyes are oo big; your skin is too pale. And you could do without those extra kilos you have lately put on as well.
It always happens some time in our lives. But don´t let such feelings of self-pity beat you! You have all those other virtues for which your family and friends love you, don´t you? Have you tried listing them? Come on! You´ll find you have many more thatn you can imagine now.
It´s OK if you wear make up, go on a healthy diet ot try new clothes to boost your cocnfidence. But remember: life is not all about looks. What counts is NOT what you look like but what you ARE! This is the side of yourself you should be paying attention to!

“How to cope with adolescents”

Your 14-year-old son is growing into a rebel and you don´t know how to control the situation? Here are some tips from our psychologist, Dr Paul Bonton.
Staying up till all hours: it is characteristic of teenagers and their parents to be at loggerheads over the time they go out. You may wonder where the enthusiasm for being night hawks comes from. The fact is, yougsters tend to feed freer and safer under the moonlight. So let him enjoy himself till past midnight. Just check this does not affect health.
How about some junk food?: if you heard him complain over and over again about your steak and nice, or if he dines more at Mc. Donald´s than at home, it´s time you changed your culinary habits.
Delight him with a hamburger and chips every now nd then. This will not only gain you his gratefulness, but you will also be able to control his diet.
Tell me what you are wearing and I´ll tell you who you are: clothes are quite an issue when it comes to adolescents. Is they have a sense of belonging to a group, it´s likely that they will all dress alive. Or maybe he has his own attention-seeking style. However scruffy his outfit is, avoid hagging him about his looks. Having to face a mirror daily is enough of a hassle for him. His clothes are the shield of his identity, and trying to alter this will be more of a hindrance than a help.
Better alone than in ill company?: he has forgotten his old folks and goes out with a gang of strangers instead? It´s only natural that he needs to experience new sensations. Don´t try to influence him on this matter. Certainly, he has taken the values you´ve taught him, so he will feel a wisfit and return with his old pals in no time.
A Hitler won´t do: finally, think about how you get along with him . Avoid complaining about everything or trying to have him under your thumb. Just let him know you´re there if he needs you. He will soon learn to trust you and count on you.
And a final point. Don´t impose your will on your son. If you want him to respect you, start by letting him feel a member of your family.

BUENOS AIRES!

If you think you have seen it all in your visit to Buenos Aires, you are wrong. Why not try to move away from the deafening city centre? You will discover a whole new world in an hour´s drive from it.
Are you an art enthusiast? Then San Isidro has two spots you would not want to miss for the world. Witness the enchanting beauty of its cathedral, richly adorned with the finest aboriginal works of art.
A guided tour around Pueyrredon´s House is also a must. You will feel a colonist of the 1800s the moment you cross its front door. This historical “house-museum” will delight you with the magnificent sculptures and paitings created y Mr. Pueyrredon himself, while you tour its river-facing spacious rooms.
So far, you are wondering where the “gauchos” are. Spend a day at “Estancia la Milagrosa”, a generous piece at land filled with all you need to experience from the Pampa. Horses will be set at any time of the day for you to enjoy a ride or perhaps work on your polo. Besides, you can try any traditional dishes, sweet meat “empanadas” or “pastelitos de batata”.
The highlight od the outing is a live doma, in which you will laugh out loud ar a daring native twisting on the back of a wild horse.
A third indisputable optio is taking a boat trip along the channels of “ El Tigre”. Specially planned for those seeking quietness, it promises relaxation and fun in a most natura environment. As you sail, you will appreciate the original fauna and flora of the region, with scattered islanders´houses. The best bit of this excursion is having tea at “ El tigre Athletic club”, where the most pleasurable and combined the smell of the fine trees.

NOTTING HILL

“ A place called Notting Hill”, directed by Richard Raphmer, is a typical love story between man and women of different social classes. It is set in the pisturesque London suburb, Notting Hill, hence the name of the film.
The main character is an archetypal cute, reserved English man, played by Hugh Grant, who runs a travel-book shop. The plot revolves round his romance with Anna Scoot ( Julia Roberts), who happens to be a film star at the height of her fame.
It is love at first sight when layman and princess meet in his bookshop. However, an American boyfriend, hard core photographs revealinng a dark past and much press gossip prove scandalous enough to make happiness come to an end.
An incomparable sound track accompanies the ups and downs of the lovers in their messy relationship, while David´s acquitance , incluiding Spike, his scruffy roomate, add the humorous touch to the romantic dialogues.
Though with predictable outcome, the plot finds it highlight in a thrilling climax, at which avant´s a Robet´s roles become most brilliant and moving.
London is also shown at its best, from the “Rita” to David´s blue door in Notting Hill. Its parks and avenues have been shot in such a law-dropping way that even a Parisian would be tempted to spend his honey moon love.
So, if you are fond of light, romantic comedies “Notting Hill” is the next film you should rent. Star-studded and with the most touching script,, it is a classic of its kind you would not miss for the world.

A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING

Oxford has put on the market its third edition of Jeremy Harmer´s latest best seller among teachers of English: “ The Practice of English teaching”.
In twelve chapters, the author offers the reader a brief description of the first principles underlying the instruction of English as a foreign language.

He starts by making an accoun if the most influential linguists and psychologgists and the fundations of their appearanc to language teaching. Based on all these theories, Harmer redefines the roles of teacher and student, stressing the importance of environment and motivation in their interaction within the language classroom. Moreover, he provides us with examples of typical classroom situations and how deal with them, as well as creative teachingresources which have proved very practical when applied to real-life learning conditions.

Personally, I found “ The practice of English teaching” really enriching. Apart from making me aware of the old and new conceptions of learner, teacher and subject matter, its advice made me confident in front of the class at the moment of practice.

I would highly recommend this book to any would be teacher of English, though not exclusively of tehm: it is worth reading for those who are educators, too. It may make them more knowledgeable of their profession and more practical and resourceful at work. Certainly, this can bring about nothing but the betterment of our profession.

Fashion or Commerce?

Fashion has always been of paramount importance. To a huge proportion of women the clothes they wear everyday either to go to work or to go to the gym are carefully selected. With the passing of time, men have not been able to resist the temptation of being part the chic world. Both, females and males, are driven by a burning desire to follow the trend regardless of the money they pay in order to be “in”.

People have attached especial importance to clothing. They are so concerned about being in vogue that they do not think of the possibility of becoming a fashion victim. To such an extent that they may wear the weirdest clothes even though these may not look appealing.

This short-lived craze is the business that encourages people to waste money. They are willing to pay whatever sums in order to look stylish. Fashion and the media are pushing society to adopt a “disposable attitude” towards all the ítems of clothing that go out after a few weeks. This belief is actually hiding a compulsive behaviour towards shopping.

All in all, it is important to highlight that new clothing articles are daily manufactured. And that it is up to each person whether to take part in the world of fashion or rather the world of commerce.

SHOULD PUBLIC MONEY BE USED TO SUPPORT THE ARTS?

Not until recently, theatres, galleries and orchestras were regarded as a mean of entertaiment, not only for the elderly but also for the young ones.So, the government invested public money in keeping these places in optimum conditions for visitors to have the most pleasant experience ever. But as time went by, society’s likes, need and priorities have radically changed. Therefore, the fate of this money should evolve as well .

During the eighteenth century, moneyed and cultured people looked forward to the weekend only to go to the theatre, sit down there and enjoy the latest play. That was the most popular, and favourite,show business. After some years, the Young also started getting pleasure out of the galleries, museums and orchestras. Due to the large attendance, the state considered that the best use of money was putting i tinto the art world; famous and expensive paitings were bought, and well-known bands were invited.

Currently, not only have society’s likes changed but so have its needs. Art is no longer the focus of attention and, as a result, the idea of subsidising a museum is regarded as a waste of their public money.Given that only a reduced proportion of elderlies maintain the custom, the local budget should be invested in building hospitals, schools and house for homeless people. The use of money should be donated to meet the needs of the big majority, not the ones of a small minority.

To sum up, fifty years ago museums, theatres and painting galleries were crowded. Nowadays, they are empty and the streets are crammed with people looking for entertainment else where. Public money should, thus be devoted to improve the city and its many places, cwhich after so many years of being neglected are growing deteriorated.

Will it someday?

Decades ago, women were not allowed to work, and were therefore trapped in their homes doing the housework and lookinf after their children, while their husbands were in charge of making a living.

However, nowadays men and women are used to working. Both husband and wife make money to support their home and family. That is tos ay, the duty is now shared. On the contrary, it is generally women who run the household. And they not only have to juggle with whisks and baby’s bottles, but also with books, a cell pone, a hair ddryer and diskettes. In other words, they are supposed to keep the house and bring up their children; they have to be intelectual, and they should, as well, be available at all times, and pretty and modern. And, as if that wasn’t enough, they ought to do some yoga so as to relax. In fact, women do millions of things, and the plain truth is that they are much more active than men. Why is this so?

On the one hand, there are those who believe that society makes women be the way they are. Most people disapprove of women being hosewives. At the same time, many criticise those who have a job and leave their children and home in the hands of a housekeeper. Women, the, according to society, should work and look after their house and kids.

On the other hand, many women have said they do the millions of things they do because they love it. They can’t bear the idea of having nothing to do, or being bored. So, they try to keep themselves occupied 24 hours a day. Besides, they want to have the house and kids under their control.

To conclude, women cope with lots of things at the same time. Some, in order to be accepted by society. Others, because it’s their will. This does not happen to men. Will it someday?

Violence, in its different forms, is escalating at an alarming speed in our country. Why is this so? Are the necessary measures to prevent it being ta

It is a well-known fact that unemployment has risen in the last decade, and, as a consequence, so has aggression against public institutions. A lack of communication, as well as the absence of love and care among the members of a family, usually leads to domestic (and sometimes even sexual) violence. Hooliganism and juvenile delinquency, for instance, are the result of disrespectful, ignorant, and even drug-influenced citizens' behaviour.

It is evident that action should be taken so as to quell the acts of violence. The offenders should be punished in some way or other, in order to correct their moral attitudes and assist them to return to normal life as useful members of the community. Added to this, strictly-applied laws imply that wrongdoers will think twice before acting. What is more, schools and parents ought to teach and promote peace, and anyone who distorts it should suffer the consequences.

All in all, 'violence' is a controversial issue which requires attention. It is not only the government's duty, but also OUR responsibility to prevent and, hopefully, someday, end this brutal behaviour.

The disadvantages of competitive sports

Throughout the last years, children have become highly ambitious. They develop this selfish attitude , which can be observed since their early years, mainly at schools. Many institutions, strongly believe in the value of competitive sports as the most effective way of developing a sense of discipline and empathy with others. In my opinion, they are only developing selfish behaviour.

To start with, if their aim is to foster a set of positive human values, schools should not choose competitive sports. In a competition, students will try their hardest not to help each other but to win. As a result, they will develop an uncooperative attitude towards their potential rivals. Secondly, it is important to keep in mind that what is learnt at school during childhood moulds part of one’s personality. Having a selfish attitude of mind could be a disadvantage later on when looking for a job.

Sports are an effective method of training people to obey rules and orders. They are a way of promoting a sense of discipline. But competitive activities are not the only one that do so. For instance, by encouriging children to take up team sports, they are going to Foster not only self-control but also trhe ability to help others.
Taking these points into consideration, I would say that team rather than competitive sports are more useful ways of fostering human values, and therefore, better relations within the community.

HOW TO COMBAT STRESS IN THE LEAD-UP TO EXAMS?

It is an inescapable fact that college students, with no exception, have been, at least once, under extreme levels of stress in the lead-up to exams. Generally, as they are so worried about their test, they don´t want to take a break to get enought rest, put feet up and chill out. Have you ever thought of what can be done to keep stress at bay in exam situations?

By thinking positively rom the very beginning, you will have enormous advantages; you feel confident, you won´t be scared and you will have a high self-steem. If you really want to be prepared for the test, avoid taking pills and swotting the night before. Instead, try some physical activity on the eve of the exam, like swimming or going for a run.

There is another crucial moment in which students have to cope with stress: during the exam. When you are doing the test aslways remember to sit properly because if you curl up, you will only be generating further tension. Another tip you should pay attention to is your way of breathing. Remember to do so slowly and deeply so as to keep calm.

All these different activities will be of great assistance for students to ease tension. When the time comes, the worst you can do is to get stressed. Give yourself some minutes to lie down in bed and relax. If that will make information stay fresh in your mind, isn´t it worthwhile?

THE BEST WAY STUDENTS CAN PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR FINAL EXAMS AND THE TECHNIQUES THEY UTILIZE TO REMEMBER WHAT THEY´VE READ..

Final exams have become a significant challenge that high school and college students have to face at some point of their educational courses. In many cases, being a brilliant student and spending many hours studying for their tests doesn´t guarantee success. The reason for failing is that they don´t know what techniques to employ to remember what they have read. So, the question is: How can we help students tp prepare for final exams?

To start with, we need to show pupils how to get organized and develop study skills. Providing them with specific instructions on how to get their papers ready is one way of assiting them. Another is try to anticipate exam questions to clarify any confusing piece of data. Consequently, students will better understand the different topics and, thus it will be easier for them to remember what they have studied.

Besides, adoting effective studying techniques is highly relevant when trying to gain knowledge. There are several useful ways of studying that might help. For example, highlighting important details, using flashcards and mind-maps, and writing summaries.

To sum up, teachers should try to provide students not only with knowledge about a certain subject but also with techniques that will encourage them to remember it. So, how are we going to plan our lessons from now on accordingly?

THE WHATS AND HOWS OF HAPPINESS

Although people differ in their views of what makes them happy, there are some universal situations that might give us an immense pleasure. And I am not talking about money, it is simplier than that. Any idea?

On top of everything, our families and friends are the most important people we need to be in touch with in the different moments of our lives, either good or bad. They are the ones that don´t let us feel alone by providing emotional support, which is priceless. Secondly, our beloved ones teach us that helping others, as they do with us, uplifts a person´s spirit like nothing else does. Doing something for nothing is a highly rewarding experience.

Personal and professional success also has a fundamental importance for our happiness. It will make us feel self-confident, willing to take risks and eager to try new experiences. Thus, we will have a positive attitude towards life. Another source of happiness is freedom, as it gives us the absolute right to do what we really want, say what we really think and make our own decisions.

So, after concluding that not everything is materialism, that happiness and pleasure can be found in even the simplest and most intangible everyday life moments: At the end of your work day, would you choose to make extra hours or to spend some time with your friends at the pub?

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

It is the 1940s. She is wearing a polka dot knee-length dress. When he gets home from work in the evening, everything is spick-and-span. She has already laid the table and a warm dinner is awaiting them. Mamy years separate us now from those days. However, have things really changed?

On the one hand, some people believe it it women´s duty to stay at home and juggle woth whisks, baby battles, books, a cell phone, a hair dryer and diskettes. In other words, they are supposed to keep the house and bring up the children; they have to be intellectual, and they should, as well, be available at all times, and pretty and modern. And, as if all this was not enough, they are expected to have their husband´s dinner ready by the time they arrive.

On the other hand, there are those who think that women have the right to have a job, too. And this is what many couples do these days. They leave their kids in the hands of nanny most of the day while they go out and make money ( to support the home and family ). In fact, many kids claim that their parents have no time for them. It is childminders who raise them, playing the part of parents.

In the era of sexual equality, it would be somewhat of an anachronism to expect women to stay at home raising the kids ans feel rewarded. It is up to each couple to strike a balance between professional duties and house chores.

PARADISE CITY


However old you are, and whichever your interests are, there is no way you can miss the charm of this city. Jaw-dropping scenery, relaxed, cheerful lifestyle, surprisingly warm people: there is no place that matches the beauty of Lake Tahoe.

The picturesque city is situated in the west of the United States, more precisely, in the centre of California. Its crystal clear water and the impressive mountains surrounding it, give an incredible view, and provide its visitors with a great number of sports to practise all year round: skiing and snowboarding are the winter favourites, and aficionados have a wide variety of ski resorts to choose from; trecking, mountain climbing, horse-back riding and mountain biking start appearing in spring, together with the sweet-smelling flowers and exotic birds. Summer comes on July 21st, and with it do rafting, kayak, diving, kite-surf and wakeboard. Colourful trees and falling leaves indicate it's time for bears to start hibernating, and for people to replace swimming suits for pullovers.

If you are not a sportsperson, there are many other activities you can engage in. If you don't feel like exercising, or if the weather isn't superb, you can go to the cinema, the casinos, or bowling, or enjoy a delicious meal in one of the many international cuisine restaurants.

The people in Tahoe are really friendly, helpful and trustworthy. Not only would you be surrounded by 'gringos', but also, and mainly, by people from all over the world. This would enable you to learn about various different cultures, and make friends you wouldn't make elsewhere.

All in all, Lake Tahoe, with its incomparable wildlife, its variety of activities, and its mixture of cultures, makes a great place to visit, and even (why not?) to live in.

TV OR NOT TV?

From the moment Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon to Roberto Piazza's wedding, everything is televised nowadays. He who doesn't own a TV set is at least outcast, and at most, outrageously wrong. Yet, there are those who would go back to the good old times, when the living room sofa naturally faced the fireplace.

Those who believe that TV is essential in everyday life support the idea that it serves as a form of entertainment for everyone, from children to the elderly. What is more, it is a means of communication, and even fulfils the purpose of educating. Viewers can choose, from a wide variety of channels, the one that suits them best: cartoons, news and sports programmes, documentaries, films, series and soap operas, just to mention a few.

On the other hand, those who maintain they were far better without a telly, suggest that television is addictive and, therefore, leads viewers to spend hours in front of the screen, instead of devoting that valuable time to more productive activities, such as reading a book. Added to this, the quality of TV programmes has decreased enormously in the last years. Consequently, there are hundreds of channels, but actually very few worth tuning to.

In my opinion, television is an important source of information, and it is true that it does help us to keep ourselves entertained and our minds busy, always provided that we are watching it a reasonable amount of hours a week. It is up to us to decide what kind of viewers we want to be: the one who watches with a critical eye, and knows when TV is harmless and when it is harmful; or the couch potato, who will lie on the couch for hours on end, not filtering out the abusive language and violent scenes, who speaks like the latest soap opera gallant and only exercises his thumb while flicking channels.

Advertisements Targeting Children

Dear audience,

I am writing to bring to your attention the pernicious effects advertising campaigns have on children nowadays. As a citizen, I consider that this massive project is exploiting children for commercial and financial purposes, regardless of its harmful psychological implications for their development. Based on this, I would like to offer a little constructive criticism.

I strongly think that the tremendous impact adverts have upon children is closely related to their incapacity to understand or care about the aim of the adverts. Marketing managers take advantage of children´s lack of understanding to make money, purposefully ignoring the damaging consequences. The results are not only an epidemic of materialistic values among children, but also the belief that they are inferior if they don´t have a new product.

Something should be done to prevent children from becoming more and more insecure; similarly parents should stop fostering a materialistic value that makes their kids believe that they need to buy the latest product to be happy.
One solution to the problem would be to introduce a tight regulation in order to decrease the amount of advertisements aimed at children that are constantly published. Moreover, parents should stop with the bad habit of buying their sons whatever they want, and instead, teach them that they have to feel more secure and that material objects have nothing to do with happiness.

• Taking into account children´s incapacity to differentiate between fantasy and reality and the tremendous influence advertisements have upon them, a tight regulation is needed to protect the young ones. It is assumed that marketing managers only worry about the financial gain regardless of the harmful effect adverts´ can produce on children. As it is beyong parental control to decrease the amount of advertisements that are displayed, an official rule made by the government is required.

LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMDPql6rweo

- LEARNING AT COLLEGE -

The word Neuro linguistic programming can be broken down to three distinct words:
neuro
linguistic and
programming.

Neuro refers to the brain and neural network that feeds into the brain. Neurons or nerve cells are the working units used by the nervous system to send, receive, and store signals that add up to information.
Linguistics refer to the content, both verbal and non-verbal, that moves across and through these pathways.
Programming is the way the content or signal is manipulated to convert it into useful information. The brain may direct the signal, sequence it, change it based on our prior experience, or connect it to some other experience we have stored in our brain to convert it into thinking patterns and behaviors that are the essence of our experience of life.
Our experiences and feelings affect the way we react to external stimuli. Let me illustrate. I am afraid of snakes. The impulse I get if I see a snake or even hear a sound close to resembling that of a snake is a feeling of total fright. This is because, I was born in an area infested with several deadly snakes. One day a boy from my neighborhood came to our house. He knocked on the door. I opened the door. He had a snake in his hand. He wanted to show me the prize catch he had. He was holding it like we hold a pet cat. For him it was a pet. So, it gave him lot of joy to hold one. To me, it gave a migraine headache!
Both myself and my neighbor boy saw the same thing. The same signal was passed to our brain. It was the picture of a snake. However, our brains interpreted the implications of the snake entirely differently. In processing the information, our brains used our experiences (good and bad), our biases, our opinions, our value systems, etc. to convert it into useful information that we can use.
Neuro linguistic programming (NLP for short) was developed in the early 1970s by an information scientist and a linguist at the University of California at Santa Cruz. They had observed that people with similar education, training, background, and years of experience were achieving widely varying results ranging from wonderful to mediocre. They wanted to know the secrets of effective people. What makes them perform and accomplish things. They were especially interested in the possibility of being able to duplicate the behavior, and therefore the competence, of these highly effective individuals. It was the golden era of modeling and simulation. They decided to model human excellence. They looked at factors such as education, business and therapy. They have then zeroed in on the communication aspect. They started studying how the successful people communicated (verbal language, body language, eye movements, and others). By modeling their behavior, John Grinder and Richard Bandler were able to make out patterns of thinking that assisted in the subject's success. The two theorized that the brain can learn the healthy patterns and behaviors and that this would bring about positive physical and emotional effects. What emerged from their work came to be known as Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
The basic premise of NLP is that the words we use reflect an inner, subconscious perception of our problems. If these words and perceptions are inaccurate, they will create an underlying problem as long as we continue to use and to think them. Our attitudes are, in a sense, a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The neuro linguistic therapist will analyze every word and phrase you use in describing your symptoms or concerns about your health. He or she will examine your facial expressions and body movements. After determining problems in your perception, the therapist will help you understand the root cause. The therapist will help you remodel your thoughts and mental associations in order to fix your preconceived notions. These preconceived notions may be keeping you from achieving the success you deserve.
NLP will help you get out of these unhealthy traits and replace them with positive thoughts, and patterns that promote wellness.


Hi everyone! I have decided to share this piece of information about NeuroLinguistic Programming because the other day we worked on it in ECO (Taller de Expresión) and it found it very relevant to our formation as teachers.

For further information go to http://www.holisticonline.com/hol_neurolinguistic.htm

Hi all! I have found something about successful presentations that I'd like to share with you:



In Ten Steps To a Successful Presentation

Start in time.
Once you submitted the abstract to the conference organizers, it is time to start thinking about how you organize the material in a talk if your abstract will have been accepted. Read about the background of your work, read related work, look at your own results regularly and think about the most relevant conclusions. Try to imagine what type of audience you would have and consider what you would have to include as background information

The Message
Try to capture the message of your presentation in a single sentence. This is difficult. You will only be able to do this if you really master your subject (which is actually the main requirement for being able to clearly present your work to others).

Select Results and Order Them
Although it may at first sight seem natural to present your results in the chronological order in which you obtained them, this does not have to be the most ideal order for the audience to understand what you have done. Think about where to discuss highlights, at the beginning? Near the end? Maybe dispersing the remarkable features through the entire talk? It is up to you, but take the order which you feel appeals most to the audience.The scientific background of your audience determines how much you should explain about experimental approaches, characterization techniques. Be careful NOT to identify your audience with your supervisor, the majority of listeners is unlikely to possess much specific knowledge about your subject. By the way, hardly anyone minds to hear something he already knows, as long as you explain it well, and possibly in an entertaining way.

Opening and Introduction
In the opening, i.e. the first few sentences, you catch the attention, for example by a scientific question, or a catchy or maybe even provocative statement. Perhaps you could already give the conclusion of your work too. Try to speak slowly, with emphasis, and look at the audience. Of course, you must have prepared and rehearsed the opening carefully.
However, before you give your opening sentence, it is good to start with "Mister Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen … " followed by a few seconds of silence, in which you look around to see if people are paying attention. By doing so, you actually force the audience to listen. With these words you also test the sound system, and you ascertain that your important opening lines are going to be heard.
In the rest of the Introduction, you sketch the background of your research. Remember that many people will be very interested in a concise summary of the status in your area. Hence, reserve sufficient time (i.e. at least 30% of the total time) for the general aspects of your work. It is good practice to not only clearly identify the scientific question you address, but also give the conclusion of your work, if you wish so. In this way you enable the audience to better follow your reasoning and to anticipate on the outcome of the experiments. In other words, you give them a chance to listen actively. Remember that a scientific presentation is not a detective story which is solved in the last moment.

Conclusions and Ending Conclusions should be properly announced to regain full attention. Present your conclusions in relation to the questions you raised in the Introduction. Avoid all irrelevant details. Once you finished the conclusions, you may acknowledge people who helped you (not the coauthors listed in the program) and the Funding Agencies. Then you may end with a final sentence that repeats the message of your talk, for instance: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope I have convinced you that XY/Support is a very promising catalyst for converting methane into synthetic gasoline at room temperature." This is the take-home message that the audience should remember, hopefully in combination with your name and affiliation.


Hence, when showing a series of spectra or activity curves, you put an understandable label on each curve (not a,b,c, which are explained in a separate legend!!). Avoid reference to samples in codes such as "Sample AX234/a5" which may be handy in laboratory notebooks, but are unsuitable in presentations (and in articles as well).
Using tables with numbers is in most cases not recommended. Remember that an audience reads everything you show on a transparency, and while they read they pay less attention to what you say. Also avoid theoretical formulas and mathematical derivations. Sometimes you may have to show one, but try to keep it to a minimum. You should realize that the human memory remembers in terms of pictorial information. Hence clear figures, schemes, and diagrams are the best means to convey information.

Visual Aids: Overhead Transparencies, Slides, or Computer Projection?
Using transparencies on a simple overhead projector is more or less problem free. In most cases, transparencies project well, are easy to read for the audience, and the lecture hall does not have to be darkened so that people can make notes if they wish. For you as a speaker, transparencies leave you the flexibility to make last minute changes, or even write on them during projection.
Slides do not give this kind of flexibility. Optimally prepared slides in combination with a high quality projector can certainly provide beautiful visual support to your talk. Unfortunately, many slide projectors offer less than optimum quality, and moreover, many speakers show unsatisfactory slides. In addition, many things may go wrong: slide carrousels may get stuck, slides may go upside down, the slide control does not work properly, etc. Another serious drawback of using slides is that the lecture theater has to be dark, making it difficult for the audience to take notes. If the speaker is insufficiently entertaining, one easily falls asleep…
Recently the use of computer projection with a beamer has become popular. No doubt, this offers wonderful opportunities for spectacular effects. However, most portable beamers are not bright enough for large conference halls, and only very few conference centers have the necessary high-quality beamers installed. Also, the usual presentation software offers so many inviting opportunities, that speakers often use ineffective color combinations and disturbing background patterns, see also Figure 5.
Actually, the ‘old fashioned’ overhead slides are not so bad at all…

Communication in stead of performing
Your presentation will be most effective if you use the same everyday language in which you explain things to a fellow student in the lab. There is absolutely no need to use a more formal language. In fact, formal language is not desirable at all as it is more difficult to understand for the audience. Do not try to impress the audience with fancy words, formal constructions, subject-specific jargon, or unnecessary abbreviations. Think about oral presentations in terms of communication and do not see it as the performance of a literary play. The audience will be grateful if you are easy to follow.

Timing: Absolutely Necessary
Now comes the moment of truth: Does everything you prepared fit within the available time? There is only one way to find out: Take your stopwatch and go. This is usually a frustrating experience. First, you may note that the sentences simply do not come. My solution is to sit down and write the first part out in clear, short sentences. Second, you will probably find that you have too much material. Hence, you have to cut down and I do hope that you will not take out too much of the General Introduction. Carefully timing your presentation is extremely important. Going overtime is an offense to the audience and to the speakers following you, particularly if there are parallel sessions. Nothing is more embarrassing than that the chairman has to stop you before you have been able to present your conclusions!

Are You Nervous? Hopefully you are!
Only very few of us have been born as a talented speaker. Almost everyone will be nervous before a presentation. For beginners, nervousness may easily lead to lack of confidence, caused by feelings of being inexperienced.
First time speakers often interpret nervousness as a sign that they are apparently incapable of delivering a good presentation. This is not true. All the symptoms that accompany nervousness, such as frequent swallowing, trembling, transpiration, etc. are signs that your body is getting ready for something important. Athletes, stage performers, musicians, and … experienced speakers have learned to recognize these symptoms and to appreciate them. They start to worry when these symptoms stay away!
Experience is something that will come in time, by practicing and by analyzing your presentations and those by others. No one in the audience will blame you for being a beginner. However, if you take care to avoid a number of typical mistakes that beginners (and even experienced speakers) make, you will make a very good start with your career as a presenter. If you know and understand the basic principles and you know how to apply these, you are likely to give a talk that is significantly better than the average presentation at international meetings. Hence, lack of experience is not important provided you prepare your presentation well and you do your best to avoid the obvious mistakes listed in this brochure.