Sunday 20 June 2010

More than words


Me dejasteis sin palabras...
...Ahora que me ha vuelto el habla, os explico lo que me habéis hecho sentir:
Estoy emocionada, he leído vuestra tarjeta ya no se cuantas veces, y confieso que incluso se me ha saltado alguna lagrimita. Lagrimas de las buenas, de esas que se escapan al final de las películas, cuando después de hora y media, por fin, los personajes a quienes hemos cogido cariño, encuentran un final feliz.

Y así ha sido este final, sin películas, pero de película. De película con final feliz.

Esta noche, como casi todas las noches, la luna se pasea frente a mi ventana, y hoy me parece más bonita que otras veces, y esto es porque me habéis hecho sentir que se puede luchar contra la monotonía y a veces ganar pequeñas batallas.

Con las fuerzas que me habéis dado prometo seguir intentándolo.

Me encanta saber que vosotros, la juventud, los que pronto tomareis las riendas de este loco mundo, venís tan buenos.

Haber si entre todos lo hacemos más divertido y más humano.

Con ese deseo, y con el de que seáis tremendamente felices me despido, no sin antes agradeceros vuestro esfuerzo, y por supuesto vuestro cariño.

Besos, muchos y felices

Ainhoa-Written on the 17th of June at 1am.

Wednesday 21 April 2010

The happiest moment of your life



Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation transforms the lives of impoverished Nepalese children by providing them with what should be every child's birthright – education, housing, medical care, and loving support.

In the video above, Nirmala, a blind woman whose life was transformed thanks to this ONG, talks about the happiest moment of her life. Once you've listened to Nirmala, you'll realize how lucky we are and how easy are things for us... Anyway, as I don't think any of us share Nirmala's happiest moment, I ask you to write about the most memorable time of your entire life.

~Write a comment in this post, telling about the happiest moment of your life :)

Monday 19 April 2010

Mad World

Friday 16 April 2010

These last days we've heard about volcanic eruptions in Iceland.
I've found this short video about what happened there in 1783. You'll have to write a brief summary about what it is said in it and send it to Ainhoa by means of an e-mail.

Monday 12 April 2010

Saturday 10 April 2010

Sunday 21 March 2010

I'll Be There For You Bon Jovi

Another Bon Jovi song, this time one of my favourites :)
I hope you enjoy it, and the same as the last two pieces of homework, send the quiz to Ainhoa.

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Bed of roses - Bon Jovi

The same as we always do. Answer the quiz and send it to Ainhoa.

This is a quiz about one of my favorites singers and about one of my favorites songs too. I hope you will like it.


Thursday 11 March 2010

Answer the questions listening to the video.

It has an intermediate level because I couldn' make very difficult questions with this video. I have chosen it because I really like Woody Allen, and I think he is very funny.

He was invited to de Oscar's Ceremony of 2002, the year after the terrorist attacks in New York. I can't tell you any more... but it has to do with that. I hope you find it funny.


Monday 8 March 2010

Just a game

H O M E W O R K

Please check the list below which quotes the dates when you have to submit your ideal homework. Always remember, to write clear instructions explaining what the others must do. Do not forget to write the due date for submission.
Topics are free, but remember, they should aid to either maintain or improve your English.

Regarding labels, you should always include "homework" and any other/s you choose

Andreu Sedeño,Laura----------------19th April
Arroyo Garcia,Roberto-------------- 3rd May
Camacho Sanchez,Irina---------------22nd March
Diez Martin, Adrian----------------26th April
Fernandez-Silgado Gil,Candela------12th March
Forte Diaz, Alejandro---------------7th May
Hernandez Martin, Daniel-----------12th May
Ibañez Pulgar,Carlos----------------9th April
Lopez Jimenez,Ana Maria -----------17th May
Martinez Perez de la Manga,Sandra--12th April
Mellado Muñoz,Mario----------------24th May
Porras Rojano,Ana------------------14th April
Ramirez Herrero,Sara---------------21th April
Raso Martin, Adrian----------------26th May
Recio Sendin, Andrea---------------21st May
Retamar Garcia, Maria--------------17th March
Revuelta Arribas, Alberto----------15th May
Riofrio Aparicio, Andres-----------16th April
Roel Conde, Ana--------------------30th April
Sanz Soblechero,David---------------10th May
Suarez Sanchez,Hernan---------------19th May
Vacas Macarro, Pablo-----------------5th May
Ventas Gutierrez,Ruben--------------28th April
Vicente Ramos, Sandra---------------23th April

P.D: If you fail to submit your post on time you will lose HALF of the maximum possible grade for homework.

Passive Voice

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Thursday 4 March 2010

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!

Please rate the video and the song in the comments, and email me the answers

Friday 26 February 2010

The lady and the Reaper


Last February 14th,“The Lady and the Reaper” won the 2010 Spanish Best Animated Short Film Award during the 24th Goya Awards Gala

The Lady and the Reaper”, co-produced by Kandor Graphics and Antonio Banderas, is nominated for the Oscar in Best Animated Short Film category, as announced by the Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences in Hollywood.
This is the first ever nomination for a Spanish animated film

Please watch it:
http://212.227.136.88/press/

1. Copy the entire link and paste it into your browser, so you do not commit any errors when transcribing it.

2. Write TWO sentences each, following the same directions you followed to write " The Woman in the Swing".

3. Please correct any mistakes you may find in previous sentences (just in case you find any). You can also modify previous sentences to improve their style, so we end up with a beautiful story!

Remember to follow the advice given in http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Script

Monday 22 February 2010

Reported Speech

As promised, here are the slides shown in class today.
You will only need to learn how to construct reported statements and questions.

Friday 19 February 2010

Digital dossier

Please watch the video by clicking on the title above. Then comment what do you think about it.
Do you find it frightening, or on the contrary does not it make you feel anything?

Monday 15 February 2010

Wednesday 10 February 2010

The Fray-Over my Head

Dreaming of RIO in 2016

RELATIVE CLAUSES

Check out this presentation. It is a summary of the grammar topic we have been working in class today.. Hope it helps.
Let me know if you find it helpful, so I know whether it is worth posting this type of material

Tuesday 9 February 2010

How to write a script


Please, before writing your sentence, read some notes about how to write a script on: http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Script

Monday 8 February 2010

The Woman in the Swing-link



This is the mainpage:
http://www.notodofilmfest.com/ediciones/09/?lg=en

1. Please copy the entire link and paste it into your browser, so you do not commit any errors when transcribing it. The main page of the film festival should open. There are many short films for you to watch...only if you like.
For the work I have asked you to do, you only need to watch one:

2. Click "SEARCH"
Then, you should write in the Title box: La mujer en el columpio

3. To finish, you will need to write an email adress

4. Watch the video

5. Write the sentence, following the directions I have given you in class..... In this post, not in the previous one

Wednesday 3 February 2010

The Woman in the Swing


Let`s write a script
Watch the short film by clicking the title above the picture "The woman in the swing".
Then, each one of you should write a sentence based on what you have seen. You should write it in the comments.
The first post would be the beginning of the story.
The last post would be the end of the story.
The story should be finish by Monday 7th, February 2010.
As usual,the latest: 11.59pm
Unconventional Cinderella

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Reader: Second Term

OK, after reading your opinions regarding utopian societies, I have choosen a book which is based in reality, recent reality. As always, with the best wishes you enjoy what you read.


THE KITE RUNNER
de HOSSEINI, KHALED
BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING LTD. 2004
Lengua: INGLÉS
Encuadernación: Tapa blanda
ISBN: 9780747573395
Año de edición:2004
Plaza edición: LONDON

Friday 27 November 2009

Tuesday 24 November 2009

How to Recycle at Home

Step 1

Take a doggie bag when eating out. Refrigerate leftovers so that you can eat them at a later date, and they will still retain their freshness.

Step 2

Start a compost pile in your garden so that you can recycle all your organic household waste. This can include newspaper and lawn clippings. Eventually you'll have rich compost to add to your garden.

Step 3

Dispose of chemicals such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides that contain potentially hazardous ingredients with special care. These hazardous waste materials cannot be simply disposed of by pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or putting them out with the trash.

Step 4

Find out what kinds of materials your local recycling center accepts.

Step 5

Purchase a number of tough plastic bins so you can sort your recyclable material.

Step 6

Reuse any item that can be reused. Otherwise, give it to a charity or someone who will find a use for it.

Monday 9 November 2009

Green lifestyle tips



For more tips, check out UK´s most influential environmental organisation web site: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/faqs/living.html

Sunday 8 November 2009

Recycling at home

Well I have to admit few years ago I wasn't concerned about preserving the environment. But, as I grew, I became aware of environmental problems. In my family happpened almost the same thing, and there's a reason why we've changed. Television. This may sound awkward, considering the fact that people is always blaming on television for almost every problem society got, but I believe that without all the commercials and spots there are nowadays on TV about taking care of the planet, a lot of families and mine included, would still be not concerned at all.

At home we separate rubbish (paper, glass, organic, plastics and batteries), we reuse paper (we don't buy recycled paper, just turn the paper and use the other side. Easy and cheap), use public transport (It is faster and cheaper!), use the dishwasher instead of washing the dishes on the sink, we don't use plastic bags (this is mainly thanks to carrefour's new policy) and we use energy efficient lightbulbs. So if you ask me, I do think we're a environmentally friendly family now! However, we all must keep improving and that way we'll protect the Earth.

Wednesday 4 November 2009

What can we do


Hi everyone,

I am really glad reading that you do care about the environment, I am impress reading the things you are already doing to preserve this beautiful planet where we live in. It seems to me that you are willing to do even more, so I am going to propose a few more easily implementable things. Every little thing counts, at least I firmly believe so, perhaps you may do even more!!


Say no to plastic bags: The plastic bags you bring home probably end up in a landfill.Reducing your contribution to plastic-bag pollution is as simple as using a cloth bag instead of wasting plastic ones.

900 million tress every year become pulp and paper: We can reduce that number by buying more recycled paper. It uses 60% less energy than virgin paper

Reduce packaging:You can reduce the amount of packaging with a little consumer vigilance. For example: give back the extra napkins or unwanted sugar packets.

And you may even persuade your parents to:

Pay bills online: Eliminating your paper trail by banking and paying bills online does more than save trees. It also helps reduce fuel consumption by eliminating their transport.

Cut down on your water consumption by installing a water saving shower cap, it would be even better if we could all shorten our showers.


I suppose there is a basic principle we should always keep in mind: CONSUME LESS

Ways to save the environment

In my house we have different rubish bins the separe the plastic, the glass and the normal waste.
Another thing I do is to use public transpor when I spend my free time with my friends and i go walking to the school instead of using the car.

Things I do to help the environment

There are several things I do at my house to help the environment, they are not huge, but I try to help
  1. I recycle almost everything I can, I sepparate paper, plastics, organic, glass, etc
  2. I opt for having the lights off for as long as I can see with sunlight
  3. I try to keep the use of water to a minimum, for example, I shower instead of taking a bath
  4. I use rechargable bateries, instead of the others
  5. I use life-efficient lightbulbs

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Ways of recycling in my house

•We separate the rubbish into organic, plastic, glass, cardboard and baterries.
•My mother also recycle the oil using it several times until it "expires".
•We use energy efficient bulbs in almost al the house and we turn them off when we are not using them.
•We should use more the public transport to reduce more our ecological footprint.
•We save water by only using the dishwasher and the washing machine only when we can fill them full.

How I can improve my habits?

I think that I could improve environment more using public transport more frequently, for reducing CO2 emissions, do not using plastic bags anymore, and trying to aware the others the damage we can provoke if we develop a big ecological footprint

Ways of protecting the environment

In my house we help the enviroment by using public transport like the underground, recycling waste and saving water as much as we can.

Environment & me

In my house we separate waste into different categories (although I think this is done in every single house nowadays).
We use Low-energy bulbs in every lamp in our house. Doing this we can reduce the energy consumed by the bulbs using them as usual.
We also try to use public transport as much as we can, for example my mother uses the tube daily to go to work.

I think we could reduce our ecological footprint using cloth bags instead of the traditional plastic bags, that, as seen on TV lately, supermarkets are taking away gradually.
We could also reuse some water, for example the toilet tank store.
As well, we could recycle the wasted oil of the kitchen.

And theese are my Do's and to Do's

Sunday 1 November 2009

Ways of protecting the environment

At home we are very concerned about the problems of the environment:

For example, we separate almost all the rubbish into glass, plastic, paper and organic. This way we help to the environment as a great quantity of our waste can be recycled.

When we go shopping we don't use plastic bags

In Addition, we try to save energy: if we are not in a room the light is normally turned off. We don't use heating or the air conditioning unless the temperature is very low or very high.

Apart from recycling and saving energy we try to use our car only when it is necessary. The rest of the time we go by bus or by train (although sometimes is quite difficult as I live far away from the high school).

To end with I would like to say that recycling and, in general taking care of the planet, is the only way of ensuring a good future for it and our descendants. Nowadays a lot of people is starting to realise about this but it's not enough it's a message that should reach everyone, from kids to old people.

Help the environment

There are a lot of things people could do to help the environment, and that things are not only important for the environment but also for the money.

One of the most common ways of helping environment is recycling, but that is not the only one.

To save energy, we can change our normal light bulbs to the ones which need less quantity of it.

You can also, to save water, use the washing machine and the dishwasher only when they are completely full.

When we have to buy clining products and all of that, is better if we buy the ones that are marck with the symbol of "biodegradable".

To conclude, it is better if we use public transport if we can.

Methods of preserving the environment

In my family we follow a series of methods to mantain a better environment and to help the preservation of our planet. I am sure that if everybody would follow a few techniques of preserving or simply recycing the Earth would be a better place to be.

We recycle daily ( well we dont recycle we separate litter ) putting the rubbish in different recycling bins , one for each type of waste including organic matter, paper, glass and plastics. We never throw all the rubbish in a same bin and we never throw waste to the steets, always to bins.

We save the much water as we can, because is a very important resource , especially here in Spain were rains are not very usual these last years. I take a shower of no more ten minutes, we dislike baths , they consume much more water and money. When we are washing our teeths the tap is always closed.

We always turn off the lights or machines we are not going to use such as TV, computer, and the places of the house we are not at there.

With a few habits we can help the environment, but if we continue punishing it the damage could be horrible for the survival of animals. plants and us.

Friday 30 October 2009

How to develop incredible memory

The cultivation of the memory is too important and too useful to waste it on trivial or unimportant matters. If you must exercise your memory, put your will behind something that has lasting power. That means you must go to it as you do to the work of gardening, or any other productive work. Take it steadily, and note your result, and then see that it is checked up with exactitude. Do not be satisfied with something "fairly good," but demand of your mind exactness, and promptitude, and by and by your mind will get accustomed to giving you what you demand of it, because you have taken the care and made the effort to give the mind what it needed in order to have something to give back when you asked it to. No memory can give what it has not in it. No memory will have in it what is not carefully placed there, either by design and effort, or by continuity of contact, which amounts to the same thing. Therefore if you want a good memory, the rule is simple, both for yourself and for your children. Make one ! Patience in detail, clearness of vision, utterance and expression, vividness of contrast, and variety and distinction in association, all these help. But the great agent is the will.

Monday 12 October 2009

Incredible Memory!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W3TiVAYSYY


A remarkable young man, exhibiting stunning mental abilities. Daniel Paul Tammet born 31 Jan 1979 claims to see colours and sparks, which he can somehow relate to words and numbers. Scientists consider him a gold mine to further investigation into the understanding of brain activity and potential.
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Daniel claims that since the age of four, he has been able to do huge mathematical calculations in his head. So the makers of this documentary put him to the test, asking him to calculate 37 raised to the power of 4. He completed this in less than a minute, giving the correct answer of 1,874,161. While considering the question, it was observed that, he appeared to be drawing shapes on the table with his finger. When asked about this, he explained that he could see the numbers as shapes and colours in his mind. This breakdown or confusion of the senses is known as synethsesia.
Next he was asked to divide 13 by 97. This time the researchers had the answer to 32 decimal places, Daniel gave the answer and continued beyond 32. He claims he can do the calculations to 100 decimal places.
He appears to be doing the mathematical calculations without actually thinking about it, which seems preposterous, but if true, blows away scientific theory.
Daniel's talents do not stop at numbers. He is very gifted with words and speaks nine languages and claims to be able to learn a new one in just seven days. To put this to the test, the documentary team shipped Daniel off to Iceland for a week. His Icelandic tutor described their language as immensely complex and considered it an impossibility for anyone to learn in only one week. Daniel Tammet was to appear on an Icelandic talk show at the end of his week to discuss his experience in their native tongue. Although he appeared to struggle to begin with, in the last few days his tutor said "He was like a sponge, absorbing all words and grammar at a phenomenal rate". He made his television appearance with great success.
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In March of 2004 Daniel had his own surprise, in Oxford, England, he would recite the number Pi to 22,500 decimal places, in public in front of a team of invigilators to verify his accuracy. After just over five hours he had completed this extraordinary memory feat.
His childhood holds a clue to his unbelievable brain. As a small child he suffered a number of severe seizures which were later diagnosed as epilepsy. Ever since this time he has been able to see the patterns in numbers. While this is rare, there are other cases where individuals have suffered injury to the brain only to emerge with a similar startling talent. Orlando Serrill was just 10 years old when he was hit, hard, on the side of the head by a baseball. Since when, he has been able to recall the day, date and weather of every day since the accident.
The scientific community refer to people with these extraordinary memory skills as savants of which there are only a handful in the world. The condition is often associated with autism. Professor Simon Baron-Cohen a Cambridge University neuroscientist describes autism as a mix of ability and disability. However, Daniel displays the ability with no obvious sign of disability. Daniel, as a baby, cried constantly up until the age of two. He could only be soothed by being rocked in a blanket forming a hammock. Soothing by repetitious movement is, according to Prof. Baron-Cohen, indicative of autism. By most measures, Daniel is autistic but he has managed to develop the social skills to blend in.
Dane Buttino, another savant, displays phenomenal artistic skills, but his language and social skills remain child like. Unlike Dane, Daniel can describe what he is experiencing, making him very valuable to science.
Next in Daniel's travels is a trip to Salt Lake City to meet Kim Peek, probably the world's best known savant and the original Rain Man. Kim has a double photographic memory and can recall everything he has ever read. He speed reads by scanning opposing pages at the same time, one page with each eye.
We finish by visiting San Diego Center for Brain Studies where two very sceptical scientists, Shai Azoulai and Professor V.S. Ramachandran are going to put Daniel through his paces. As expected, his numeracy skills were flawless but the scientists are still not convinced. They don't believe he can relate coloured shapes to complex numbers so challenge him to make putty models of the shapes he sees for a given set of numbers. The following day, they ask the same to test the consistency of his shapes. Not surprisingly, Daniels excels and the scientists have to concede that they are amazed at what they have seen.

memory

How to Improve Your Memory


Wouldn’t it be nice to just look at a page and never forget what was on there? What if you could never again forget a friend’s birthday? The bad news is, not everyone has a photographic memory, otherwise known as eidetic memory. Only a few actually have it, the rest rely on mnemonic devices. The good news, however, is that everyone can take steps to improve their memory, and with time and practice most people can gain the ability to memorize seemingly impossible amounts of information. Whether you want to win the World Memory Championships, ace your history test, or simply remember where you put your keys, this article can get you started.

Friday 9 October 2009

Thursday 8 October 2009

How to improve your memory

#Step 1

Use memory techniques. Popular ones include "chunking" - breaking up information into bite-sized chunks that are easier to remember (for instance, break down a phone number into batches of smaller numbers), "self-reference" - refer new information to yourself (if introduced to a Bob, think of other Bobs you know).

#Step 2

Develop new mental skills. Learn to speak a new language or to play a musical instrument, challenge your brain with Sudoku and crosswords. Such activity improves the brain's physiological functioning and could keep your memory sharp.

#Step 3

Be a clever eater. "Population studies suggest that omega 3 fatty acids, found in oily fish such as salmon and mackerel (and linseeds, see left), could play a role in memory and concentration," says Dr Toni Steer of MRC Human Nutrition Research in Cambridge. Eating regular meals that contain slow-burning carbohydrates [so-called "low glycaemic index" foods, such as porridge or lentils] could also improve your memory.

#Step 4

Reduce stress. Studies show that chronic over-secretion of stress hormones can adversely affect brain function, especially memory. When stressed, your body releases the hormone cortisol, which interferes with the function of neurotransmitters. This is why people in crisis forget things and can't "think straight".

#Step 5

Meditate. One recent US study found that the daily practice of meditation thickened the parts of the brain's cerebral cortex responsible for decision making, attention and memory. Try "mindfulness" techniques, where you focus on an image, sound or your own breathing.

text from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/mar/06/healthandwellbeing.health2

How to improve memory?

--> Learn how easy can be improve your memory with the Pop-Corn method...(Funny) =)

http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBiDrJ35kiU

Daniel Tammet

Daniel Paul Tammet was born in 31 January of 1979 in London. He can learn a language in seven days and he holds the Guinnes record for memory 22.514 digits of pi.

He suffers synaesthesia, what means he can “smell” colours, “see” sounds or things like that. For example he has described his visual image of 289 as particularly ugly, 333 as particularly attractive, and pi as beautiful. The number 6 apparently has no distinct image.

He speaks twelve languages (English, Finnish, French, German, Lithuanian, Spanish, Urdu, Estonian, Romanian, Icelandic, Welsh and Esperanto). He also is creating a new language called Mänti wich have many sounds that comes from Slavic languages.

Strategies for remembering


STRATEGIES FOR REMEMBERING


1. Become interested in what you're learning. We're all better remembering what interests us. Few people, for example, have a difficult time remembering the names of people they find attractive. If you're not intrinsically interested in what you're learning or trying to remember, you must find a way to become so.

2. Find a way to leverage your visual memory. You'll be astounded by how much more this will enable you to remember. For example, imagine you're at a party and are introduced to five people in quick succession. How can you quickly memorize their names? Pick out a single defining visual characteristic of each person and connect it to a visual representation of their name, preferably through an action of some kind.

3. Create a mental memory tree. If you're trying to memorize a large number of facts, find a way to relate them in your mind visually with a memory tree. Construct big branches first, then leaves. Branches and leaves should carry labels that are personally meaningful to you in some way, and the organization of the facts ("leaves") should be logical.

4. Associate what you're trying to learn with what you already know. It seems the more mental connections we have to a piece of information, the more successful we'll be in remembering it. This is why using mnemonics actually improves recall.

5. Write out items to be memorized over and over and over. Writing out facts in lists improves recall if you make yourself learn the lists actively instead of passively. In other words, don't just copy the list of facts you're trying to learn but actively recall each item you wish to learn and then write it down again and again and again. In doing this, you are, in effect, teaching yourself what you're trying to learn (and as all teachers know, the best way to ensure you know something is to have to teach it). This method has the added benefit of immediately showing you exactly which facts haven't made it into your long-term memory so you can focus more attention on learning them rather than wasting time reinforcing facts you already know.

6. When reading for retention, summarize each paragraph in the margin. This requires you to think about what you're reading, recycle it, and teach it to yourself again. Even take the concepts you're learning and reason forward with them; apply them to imagined novel situations, which creates more neural connections to reinforce the memory.

7. Do most of your studying in the afternoon. Though you may identify yourself as a "morning person" or "evening person" at least one study suggests your ability to memorize isn't influenced as much by what time of day you perceive yourself to be most alert but by the time of day you actually study---afternoon appearing to be the best.

8. Get adequate sleep to consolidate and retain memories. Not just at night after you've studied but the day before you study as well. Far better to do this than stay up cramming all night for an exam.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Remember-Things&id=2445684

how remember things

How to remember numbers

For short numbers, like a PIN number, try to play with the component numbers mentally and create some kind of memorable link between them or 'picture' of them. Just as an illustration of what I mean, take the easy case of 1230 which could be remembered as 'lunchtime' or of 4007 which could thought of as 'collecting money for James Bond'. Get the general idea?

For longer numbers, the best method is called 'chunking'. You break up the number into smaller and more memorizable chunks. For example, remembering the number 472627607 is easier if one remembers it as 472 627 607 or as 47 26 27 607. Play with the original number and see which chunks best help you to remember it.

How To Improve Your Memory?

Derren Brown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFGG6zWByhM

Photographic Memory power ;)

Chimps outperform humans at memory task

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTgeLEWr614&

Extraordinary people

KIM PEEK
"Savant syndrome, sometimes abbreviated as savantism, is not a recognized medical diagnosis, but researcher Darold Treffert describes it as a rare condition in which persons with developmental disorders have one or more areas of expertise, ability or brilliance that are in contrast with the individual's overall limitations."

Brilliant memory (remembering dates, maps, numbers...) is one of the abilities that "savants" usually have. Kim Peek, who inspired "Rain Man" is able to remember EVERYTHING he has ever lived, read or seen. Reading two pages of a common book takes almost 2 minutes to normal people, but Kim Peek is able to do it in just 8 seconds, and after he does, he can remember 98% words he has read (including the position, the line they were....)




STEPHEN WILTSHIRE

"Stephen Wiltshire is an architectural artist who has been diagnosed with autism. Wiltshire was born in London, to West Indian parents.He is known for his ability to draw a landscape after seeing it just once."



www.wikipedia.org
www.youtube.com

How to improve your memory!

I hope this video is ok.. though it's a bit strange!

how to improve your memory

http://www.howcast.com/videos/4670-How-To-Improve-Your-Memory

How to improve your memory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQelEkzEUII

How to improve your memory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8D8WRgVJA0

some tips of how to improve your memory!!

How to improve your memory!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J9J_yD4-1k


So, yo know, to remember you just have to think of pink elephants!! ^^

Effective Memory Strategies

Monitor Your Comprehension:

You can only remember and fully use ideas that you understand. Find ways to monitor your comprehension. Get in the habit of saying to yourself, "Do I understand this?" Always check the logic behind the ideas, i.e., do things happen in a way that you would predict? If you can see the logic in something, you are much more likely to be able to reconstruct that idea even if you cannot immediately recall it. Also, look out for anything that seems counter-intuitive to you; you are less likely to remember something that does not seem logical or is something that you would not agree with. Evaluate your own comprehension by bouncing your thoughts about a course against those of other students. Tutor another student who is having difficulty; if you teach someone else, you reinforce your own knowledge.

Generate Your Own Examples:

Go beyond examples provided in class and in the text, and bring your general knowledge and experiences into play by relating them to academic ideas. In kinesiology, for example, relate your ability to throw a ball to the physical forces you study in class; in biology, relate photosynthesis to that poor potted plant that struggles in your basement; in sociology relate symbolic interaction to values that you learned from your parents; in geography relate the Canadian Shield to your trip to Algonquin Park; in chemistry relate acids to home uses of vinegar; in physics relate acceleration to riding your bike. When you can generate your own examples, you demonstrate your understanding, and your memory is enhanced.

Think in Pictures, Colours, and Shapes:

Concrete images are more memorable than abstract ideas, and that is why pictures are such important instructional aids for your instructors and text authors. Practice colourful thinking! Associate your own mental pictures to the academic content. In your class and text notes use colour to highlight headings and other key ideas. Use shapes to help you organise ideas; triangles, boxes, flow charts, circles.

Use Mnemonics:

Mnemonics are memory training devices or ways of making associations to aid in remembering. They can be extremely powerful; at the same time, if you overuse mnemonics, you can spend too much time on generating and learning the mnemonics and too little time on real understanding of the material. The economical use of mnemonics to study for a test can be very effective. There are many types of mnemonics and, no doubt, you will have used some of them.

  • Rhymes can be powerful; psychology students will recognize Freud's personality theory in the little rhyme, "Id is the kid!"
  • Acronyms collapse the beginning letters of a set of information into one or a few words; in trigonometry, you can use SOHCAHTOA for right-angled triangles; in French you can use DR and MRS VANDERTRAMPP for verbs that conjugate with être.
  • The beginning letters of a set of information can be built into a sentence; for biology you might recognize Kings Play Chess On Frosted Glass Surfaces.

These are just a few of the many types of mnemonics that you can use. As you study for your tests, use your imagination to generate fitting mnemonics for some of the key information in your courses.

Repetition:

The more times you go over something, the better your memory will be of that information. However, each time you go through something, try to find a different angle so that you are not just repeating exactly the same activity. By varying your approach you will create more connections in long-term memory.

Article from: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/learning/memory.html

Wednesday 7 October 2009

First Book to Read: The Giver



This is the book we are going to read this term. Order it asap, as it may take some time until your bookshop deliver it. Hope you all enjoy it!

THE GIVER by LOWRY, LOIS
Lengua: INGLÉS
Encuadernación: Tapa blanda
ISBN: 9780440237686
Año de edición:2002
Ed: CORGI TRANSWORLD

The Giver won the 1994 Newbery Medal and has sold more than 5.3 million copies in the United States and Canada, where it is a part of many middle school reading lists, but it is also on many banned book lists. The novel forms a loose trilogy with Gathering Blue (2000) and Messenger (2004), two other books set in the same future era.

Strategies for the Student's Memory

Give Directions in Multiple Formats: Students benefit from being given directions in both visual and verbal formats. In addition, their understanding and memorizing of instructions could be checked by encouraging them to repeat the directions given and explain the meaning of these directions. Examples of what needs to be done are also often helpful for enhancing memory of directions.

Teach Students to Over-learn Material: Students should be taught the necessity of "over-learning" new information. Often they practice only until they are able to perform one error-free repetition of the material. However, several error-free repetitions are needed to solidify the information.

Teach Students to Use Visual Images and Other Memory Strategies: Another memory strategy that makes use of a cue is one called word substitution. The substitute word system can be used for information that is hard to visualize, for example, for the word occipital or parietal. These words can be converted into words that sound familiar that can be visualized. The word occipital can be converted to exhibit hall (because it sounds like exhibit hall). The student can then make a visual image of walking into an art museum and seeing a big painting of a brain with big bulging eyes (occipital is the region of the brain that controls vision). With this system, the vocabulary word the student is trying to remember actually becomes the cue for the visual image that then cues the definition of the word.

4. Give Teacher-Prepared Handouts Prior to Class Lectures: Class lectures and series of oral directions should be reinforced by teacher-prepared handouts. The handouts for class lectures could consist of a brief outline or a partially completed graphic organizer that the student would complete during the lecture. Having this information both enables students to identify the salient information that is given during the lectures and to correctly organize the information in their notes. Both of these activities enhance memory of the information as well. The use of Post-Its to jot information down on is helpful for remembering directions.

Teach Students to Be Active Readers: To enhance short-term memory registration and/or working memory when reading, students should underline, highlight, or jot key words down in the margin when reading chapters. They can then go back and read what is underlined, highlighted, or written in the margins. To consolidate this information in long-term memory, they can make outlines or use graphic organizers. Research has shown that the use of graphic organizers increases academic achievement for all students.

http://www.cdl.org/resource-library/articles/memory_strategies_May06.php

How can we develop a better memory? ,

In our daily lifewe have the obligation of learning new phone numbers , dates, events, that are very important to our relations and work success.

There are methods to improve our memory , such as mental techniques for strengthening like schemes or "mental drawings" , brain exercises (jigsaws, games for mental sharpness such as chess, memory trainers with mathematical problems , card games, Rubiks's cube...)

Attention is a basic factor, one of the basis of memory.

Relate previous concepts you alredy know to the new ones

Motivation and a good attitude to develop a sharp thinking that it will be nourished with daily work.

Easier methods to remember complex names

Good nutrition of the brain like vitamin B12 B6 folic acid, antioxidants, or Omega 3 are good examples of memory improvement by nutrition

These are few methods for keeping a great memory ability but the real method lies in the will of each person to continue learning and developing their mental capacities thank to his effort