节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-10-02
难易度:Medium
关键字:non-dominant, look-up, senior, critical, sudoku, crossword, tweet
Well, in our lesson today, Making Our Brains Smarter, we learned some steps
toward making our brains even smarter.
And of course one of these steps was to use our non-dominant hand.
So if you are right-handed, start using your left hand more.
Another tip, of course, was to read often.
Don't neglect reading.
And if you don't know what something means, look it up.
If you're not sure what a place is or if you want to find out more about a place
while you're reading, look those things up.
These will make your brain smarter.
Well, of course we have more steps to learn.
Let's do that now.
Make Your Brain Smarter.
Calculate while you shop.
As you put things in your grocery cart, total everything in your head.
See how close you get to the actual total.
Play video games.
Studies have found that certain video games force you to use critical
decision-making skills and can even improve students' math scores.
Tweet!
Read messages from people who represent a wide range of interests.
And some say that learning to express yourself in just 140 characters is a great
brain challenge!
So get in the habit of challenging your brain, and make yourself smarter.
Let's continue learning about these steps to make our brains smarter.
The next step is to calculate while you shop.
Now if you calculate something, what does that mean, Gabe?
Well, you're kind of doing math in your head.
OK. So of course you could have a machine called a calculator that can help you
calculate.
But even without a calculator, you can try to calculate things in your head.
Do this while you shop.
That's right.
And we continue.
As you put things in your grocery cart, total everything in your head.
So if something is $0.99 and something else is $0.59, can you total that in your
head?
Try and see.
All right.
So try to do this.
Now see how close you get to the actual total.
All right.
You added those things in your head.
You did your own calculating.
How close are you to the total?
Well, here we see the word "total" used in different ways, right?
These two sentences - you can total everything in your head and see the actual
total.
So that word can be a noun or a verb.
That's right.
So can you do this?
Do you try to calculate things in your head as you shop?
I know sometimes I try to just so I know how much I'm spending.
Well, I think it's a good idea.
I don't usually do it that often.
I try, but I... I try to maybe estimate.
I don't go with the exact number.
Carolyn, do you do this when you shop so that you can save money?
Yes. I do it so that I know how much I'm spending.
And if I think I'm spending a little bit too much, maybe I will reconsider what
I'm buying.
All right.
Well, I think it is a good idea.
Right now it's time for us to go on to the next tip here, the next step - play
video games.
Wait a minute.
I thought we should read more often and... and maybe play games less?
Well, we didn't say to play games less.
In fact, we had puzzles that are great ways to improve your memory.
And some video games can be good for your brain.
Studies have found that certain video games force you to use critical
decision-making skills and can even improve students' math scores.
All right.
Well, let's take a look at that word from our Word Bank: critical.
If you have critical decision-making skills, that means you are using your
brain.
You're being thoughtful and careful in judging something.
That's right.
So you can think about them very carefully.
You think about something critically.
You look at all aspects of it.
And you can take a critical look at a book that you want to discuss.
You can take a critical look at a puzzle that you are trying to solve.
Or here, you can have critical decision-making in certain video games.
And sometimes you might hear the phrase "critical thinking skills." It's
important to have critical thinking skills,
not to just read everything and listen to everything and then just put it in
your brain, no.
You should think about those things that are in your brain.
Think about the things that other people are telling you.
Even the things that your teachers are telling you, you should be able to ask
questions about those things.
Have critical thinking skills.
Those are great to develop.
And they will help make your brain smarter.
Now our last step here is very interesting: Tweet!
And here it's talking about Tweeter, one of the social media sites.
And you tweet on this site.
Now Gabe, how do we continue about this tweeting?
Well, there is a benefit to tweeting.
I don't do it, but here's the benefit:
Read messages from people who represent a wide range of interests.
OK, so you're learning about lots of different kinds of people with many
different backgrounds.
That's right, and many different opinions so that you can form your own opinions
and have new ideas.
Maybe you will find something that you've never even thought about.
And some say that learning to express yourself in just 140 characters is a great
brain challenge!
How can I say this idea with only 140 characters?
It's like a puzzle!
It's true.
And it's... it's great.
Actually a lot of advertising is good at this.
People who are into marketing and advertising know how to say something big or
complicated in a short way, 140 words or less on Tweeter.
OK. So get in the habit of challenging your brain and make yourself smarter.
Well, this is great.
And we do want to get in the habbit of doing things; a great phrase.
If you are in the habit, then you are used to it.
You do it often.
Are you in the habit of going to bed early?
Hmm, no, I'm not in the habit of doing that.
I'm in the habit of getting up late.
I should get out of the habit and get into the habit of getting up early.
So you can get into the habit of something or get out of a bad habit.
Right now it's time for us to enjoy a review skit.
And then we'll join Michelle in the Language Lab.
Eat a sensible diet and get plenty of exercise.
Yeah. Keep your body healthy and strong.
Right.
But don't forget about your brain.
Right.
Here are 10 steps to make your brains healthier and smarter.
Follow these 10 steps.
One, two, three, four.
Number 1: Limit TV viewing.
And watch educational and informative shows.
Number 2: Travel.
It provides stimulation to the brain.
And you can see and do new things.
Number 3: Learn a new language.
New learning methods will sharpen your brain.
Number 4: Master a new subject.
Learn something new and stretch your brain.
Number 5: Use your non-dominant hand.
Right.
Left.
Do familiar things in a new way.
Number 6: Read.
Look up things.
Expand your vocabulary.
It will make you smarter.
Number 7: Do puzzles.
They will keep your brain sharp.
Yeah. And finally, do something fun.
Number 8 is calculate.
When you shop, calculate the amount in your head.
And try to guess the total.
Number 9 is fun - Play video games.
They're fun.
Oh, yeah!
And they will force you to use critical skills.
Number 10 is tweet.
Tweet?
Tweet! Express yourself in just a few words.
It challenges your brain.
So, those are the 10 steps?
Yes.
One, two, three, four... Oh, come on.
Follow these steps.
Five, six, seven, eight...
(Chinese).
And let's see what our teachers are up to.
The past two days we've talked about 10 different tips or steps toward a smarter
brain.
Now which one do you think is the most beneficial to you? Gabe?
Well, the most beneficial one I think is learning another language because I'm
making my brain smarter and I'm also learning how to communicate with someone
who speaks another language.
What do you think, Carolyn?
Well, I really like the idea of mastering a new subject.
And that could include languages.
But I love to learn; I want to be a student for life.
Well, I think that's a great thing to do.
We are all students for life.
Thank you for joining us here, students for life.
And we'll see you next time right here at Studio Classroom.
Bye-bye.