"Everything that irritates us about

others can lead us to a better understanding of ourselves."

- Carl Jung

I recently read a column in "allAfrica.com" about the importance of knowing one's self and knowing others when taking on a leadership role. If we understand our own personality, it could then make our perceptions clearer and therefore, our opinions more sensible. The article spoke about how significant it is to truly know ourselves: what we are like and why we are that particular way. The unknown author went on to discuss that our temperament is an inborn trait derived from our genes like our race and ethnicity. This in-turn affects our behavior, our personality (the face we show to others), and our character, which is consequential of the way we were brought up.

Vocabulary:

personality: the visible aspect of one's character as it impresses others:He has a pleasing personality.
perceptions: the act or faculty of apprehending by means of the sensesor of the mind; cognition; understanding.
sensible: having, using, or showing good sense  or sound judgment: a sensible young woman.
significant: important; of consequence.
temperament: the combination of mental, physical, and emotional traits of a person; natural predisposition.
trait: a distinguishing characteristic or quality, especially of one's personal nature: bad traits of character.
genes: A portion of a DNA molecule that serves as the basic unit of heredity. Genes control the characteristics that an offspring willhave by transmitting information in the sequence of nucleotides on short sections of DNA.

Vocabulary Exercise:

unscramble the words at the bottom:


1. senge
2. artit
3. besinsle
4. tanoreliysp
5. sonitceeprp
6. canstignitfi
7. pamertentm

Grammar:

Definition: Adjectives are words that describe or modify another person or thing in the sentence. The articles — a, an, and the — are adjectives.

• the tall professor
• the lugubrious lieutenant
• a solid commitment
• a month's pay
• a six-year-old child
• the unhappiest, richest man

Grammar Exercise:

Circle the adjective in each sentence.  Then, tell what noun the adjective is describing.

Example:  The green alien walked out of the spaceship.

(The adjective green describes the alien).

  1. The shiny spaceship landed in my yard.

The adjective ____________ describes _________________.

  2. An alien with big eyes walked out of the ship.

The adjective ____________ describes _________________.

  3. It waved its tiny hand in the air.

The adjective ____________ describes _________________.

  4. The alien said, “Earth is such a beautiful planet.”

The adjective ____________ describes _________________.

  5.  A brown rabbit hopped into the yard and scared the alien.

The adjective ____________ describes _________________.

To read more about the article mentioned above on leadership qualities, go to:http://allafrica.com/stories/201204020067.html

To "Test Which Disney Princess You Are," visit this site (I did it, and it was very accurate-I am Cinderella/ LOL!): http://disney.go.com/games/play3/?content=204062

Music...food for the Soul.

Lately, I have been listening to a great Contemporary Mexican Band named "Camila." I listen to them on my Pandora Radio account on the internet at night before I go to sleep, and I also went as far as buying their CD to listen to in my car. Something about the lyrics and sound that seem to lift my spirits, especially when I am feeling down, or even when I'm in good mood and want to "keep rock-in." Regardless of my mood I always seem to gravitate to music to make me feel better. The Huffington Post suggest that although, music is helpful to our "hearts and souls." Coincidentally, the Mayo Clinic now also report that it can also help your physical state of being....

What are these benefits?

*Ease in Anxiety in Cancer patients: Cancer patients who either listened to music or worked with a music therapist experienced a reduction in anxiety.

*Reduces Stress: To get the positive effects of music, you have to listen to music that you like.

*Boosts Heart Health: The researchers found that listening to joyful music is linked with dilation of blood vessels' inner lining, meaning more flow of blood through the blood vessels.

*Soothes Pain: Researchers from University of Utah Pain Research Center showed that listening to music is effective as a distraction for anxiety-prone people from feeling pain, and as a result, could help people feel less pain.

*Helps Memory: Web MD reported that taking music lessons is linked with doing better on tests where you have to recall words you read on a list.

* Protects the Aging Brain: Health Day reported that older people ages 60 to 83, with different levels of music experience, who had the most musical training in their lives had the best mental sharpness, and scored the highest on brain functioning tests.

For more information/other benefits and full article click on: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/09/music-and-health-11-ways-body-mind_n_1413241.html?ref=healthy-living#s854677&title=Protects_The_Aging

Vocabulary

contemporary: existing, occurring, or living at the same time; belonging to the same time.

lyrics: (of poetry) having the form and musical quality of a song,and especially the character of a song like outpouring of the poet's own thoughts and feelings,

as distinguished from epicand dramatic poetry.

spirits: the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans,animating the body or mediating between body and soul.

gravitate: to move or tend to move under the influence of gravitational force.

coincidentally: happening by or resulting from coincidence; by chance: a coincidental meeting.

Vocabulary Exercise

Complete Crossword puzzle below.

Your Crossword Puzzle

1 2 3 4 5

ACROSS 2. the vital principle in humans. 3. or living at the same time. 4. to move or tend to move under the influence of something.

DOWN 1. by chance.

Grammar Point

A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or idea. Whatever exists, we assume, can be named, and that name is a noun.

A common noun names general items.

A proper noun has two distinctive features: 1) it will name a specific.

A compound noun normally has two parts. The second partidentifies the object or person in question.

A Plural noun means more than one item.

Grammar Exercise

Write the letter of the description next to the word it best describes

.....Common a. nouns that refer to more than one person, place, idea or thing.

.....Proper b. nouns that refer to one person, place, idea or thing.

.....Compound c. nouns that cannot be perceived by your five senses.

.....Plural d. general nouns for non-specific things.

Read more at: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/nouns.htm

On December 21, 2012 the Mayan civilization predicted the end of their "Long Count" calendar of 5, 126 years.

The Mayan civilization lived during the years of 300-900 A.D., and were known for their mathematical, astrological,

architectural and engineering abilities.

But, what does this mean to us? Well, it could mean many things. For some it might mean the end of the world as we know it...an "Apocalypse," if you will. For others, it could mean a new beginning to the way we view and treat the earth. According to an article in USA Today, titled "Does Mayan Calendar Predict 2012 Apocalypse?" many people became intrigued with the Mayan calendar's prediction. This came to be primarily from a film about the Mayan civilization released in 2006 by Mel Gibson titled "Apocalypto," (which I saw and loved), and also by several books that went on sale the consecutive year,one of which was; "The Return of Quetzalcoatl" by Daniel Pinchbeck (which I also began reading some time ago). Another reason, that G. Jeffrey MacDonald, author of the USA article, suggests to the sudden trend of this phenomena is also due to society's concern for the global environment. Yet, regardless or your opinion, the fact is that a prediction was definitely made, and we are fast approaching December 21, 2012. I guess everyone is just going to have to wait and see what comes...if anything.

Read more at http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-03-27-maya-2012_n.htm http://www.mayafifthsun.com/

Vocabulary

civilization: an advanced state of human society, in which a high level of culture, science, industry, and government has been reached.

predicted: an instance of this; prophecy.

astrological: the study that assumes and attempts to interpret the influence of the heavenly bodies on human affairs.

architectural: the act of having a profession of designing buildings, open areas, communities, and other artificial constructions and environments, usually with some regard to aesthetic effect

engineering: the act of having art or science of making practical application of the knowledge

of pure sciences, as physics or chemistry, as in the construction of engines, bridges, buildings,

mines, ships,and chemical plants.

Apocalypse: a prophetic revelation, especially concerning a cataclysm in which the forces of good permanently triumph over theforces of evil.

intrigued: to arouse the curiosity or interest of by unusual, new, or otherwise fascinating or compelling qualities.

Vocabulary Exercise

Writing Activity:

What do you predict?

After having read the above article use the vocabulary words to help you write your own prediction for the coming month of December. Write down four predictions for 2012. Feel free to include any predictions, no matter how crazy they might seem!

Predictions

We often use the Future Simple when making a prediction based on experience or intuition.

Examples:

It will rain in a moment. Positive Statement: subject + will + verb

It won’t get more difficult. Negative statement: subject + will not/won’t + verb

Use the following words to help you write:

probably… most likely… we’re sure …

we think… we expect… It is certain…

Grammar Point

Future Tense
Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.

FORM Will

[will + verb]

Examples:

• You will help him later.
• Will you help him later?
• You will not help him later.

FORM Be Going To

[am/is/are + going to + verb]

Examples:

• You are going to meet Jane tonight.
• Are you going to meet Jane tonight?
• You are not going to meet Jane tonight.

Read more at: http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html

Grammar Exercise

Predictions

We often use the Future Simple when making a prediction based on experience or intuition.

Examples:

It will rain in a moment. Positive Statement: subject + will + verb

It won’t get more difficult. Negative statement: subject + will not/won’t + verb

Complete five of the six questions listed below in the future tense.

1. What do you think will happen to the governments of the world when resolving the issues facing the global economy?

________________________________________________________________________.

2. What new developments will companies have for the iPhone, iPad and Android platforms during the first two quarters of 2012?

________________________________________________________________________.

3. After you have had so many classes scheduled in the first semester of 2012 will you do to recover from so many tests?

________________________________________________________________________.

4. Do you might think the world is going to end on December 21^st 2012?

________________________________________________________________________.

5. Do you think that the world will be a more peaceful place in 2012?

________________________________________________________________________.

6. Ask someone at home what they might predict for this New Year and write it down. Also write down if you agree or disagree with their predication.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________.

To Procrastinate or NOT to Procrastinate???

If your like me, and in most cases people are, then you will admit that you procrastinate quite often. Procrastination does not have to be done on something really important like filing your taxes, or getting your car fixed, but it can also be done on small things like; sending out an e-mail, or buying a gallon of milk. Its amazing what I can come up with to do, rather than what I "have to do!" For example; I might clean my whole apartment from top to bottom, before actually getting started on a college paper, and my excuse is that "I can't possibly think in all this clutter, I need to clean it!" And so apparently, there are more people out there in the world just like me, who would put off tomorrow, what they can actually do today. According to Piers Steel, a business professor at the University of Calgary, "the percentage of people who admitted to difficulties with procrastination quadrupled between 1978 and 2002. In that light, it’s possible to see procrastination as the quintessential modern problem." Quadrupled....mmmmm, very interesting indeed. So you see, I am not the only one, and you were probably shaking your head in agreement with this thing called "procrastination." So I decided to post up 7 helpful steps to combating procrastination (taken from the Huff Post).

1. Don't be shy. Look at what you actually have to do: Usually once you're willing to take a look, what you initially thought was insurmountable turns out to be surprisingly simple and manageable.

2. Break it down into small steps: Be a good project manager: Break down the goal, name the steps and rather than feel like you need to juggle everything at once, get your eagle eye focused on one thing at a time.

3. Fire the perfectionist: Good enough is great (and it's done): Strive to do excellent work, not perfect work. It's not about lowering your standards, it's about lowering the very unrealistic stakes that you've constructed in your mind of what it means to fall short of the non-existent construct of perfection.

4. Set up your launching pad, then walk away: Don't get cozy on the couch until you've done your setup first. Open up your briefcase or backpack, arrange your work station with all the necessary supplies, open the books to the right page, find and open computer files whatever you need and then... leave. Leave? Yes, for a short period of time, and then when you come back, voila! Everything's there waiting for your arrival.

5. Start in the middle. Or, skip the hard parts: Some projects have to be done in a certain order, but most times there are no rules. Getting started is the hardest part. Rather than sit in a staring contest with the proverbial blank page, waiting for inspiration to hit, skip it.

6. Be willing to end just short of finishing something: X marks the spot. That will provide a quick and easy transition or on-ramp when you return to the project later. Immediately knowing where you were headed and what you need to do short-circuits fear and doubt.

7. Follow Grandma's rule -- or, dinner first, then dessert: Do a good chunk of work and then reward yourself with that break. We enjoy breaks more when they're earned, not sneaked. Go into your project knowing your exit strategy. Designate a schedule: work for 45, break for 15.

Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2010/10/11/101011crbo_books_surowiecki

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tamar-chansky/procrastination-tips_b_1411001.html?ref=mindful-living&ir=Mindful%20Living

Vocabulary:

procrastinate: to defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost.

amazing: causing great surprise or sudden wonder.

apparently: readily seen; exposed to sight; open to view; visible.

quintessential: of the pure and essential essence of something.

combating: to fight or contend against; oppose vigorously.

insurmountable: incapable of being surmounted, passed over, or overcome;insuperable.

strive: to exert oneself vigorously; try hard.

Vocabulary Exercise:

Circle the word that does not belong.

wait defer now delay

usual great surprise wonder

not seen visible exposed seen

pure essential essence duplicate

fight contend oppose no struggle

passed over overcome surmounted insuperable

exert lazy try attempt

Grammar Point:

COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES:

>> When we use an adjective to compare two things, we add "er" to the

end of the adjective if it is short, and we say "more" or "less" before the

adjective if it is long.

Comparative Vocabulary:

as, bad, best, better, between, difference, favorite, good, least, less, more,

most, than, what, which, worse, worst

-The planet Earth is big. Saturn is bigger. Jupiter is the biggest.

>> In the above sentence

the word "big" is an ADJECTIVE

the word "bigger" is a COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVE

Grammar Exercise:

Write the correct form of the adverb for each sentence.

1. We travel to the beach _______________________ during the summer months.

(often)

2. Emily usually arrives _____________________ than everyone else in the morning.

(early)

3. This chemical reacts ________________ than the others do.

(quick)

4. The singer on the left sang __________________ than the others.

(loud)

5. Olivia cared __________________ about swimming with friends than doing homework.

(deep)

6. Ethan understood the concepts of algebra _________________________ than his classmates did. (easy)

7. A hybrid car drives _____________________ than a similar gasoline-powered car. (efficient)