July 31, 2015
Travelling expressions
Now that vacation time has arrived, you may need some useful travelling expressions. Listen to them at HotEnglish
July 26, 2015
What's the big deal with gluten?
If you've been to a restaurant in the last few years, you’ve likely seen the words gluten-free written somewhere on the menu. But what exactly is gluten, and why can’t some people process it? And why does it only seem to be a problem recently? William D. Chey unravels the facts behind celiac disease, wheat allergies and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Questions:
Questions:
- Your friend tells you she is on a gluten-free diet. You want to take her out for a birthday dinner. What might the menu consist of? (Be sure to meet her dietary needs without causing her stomach issues!)
- Explain why gluten sensitivity is difficult to diagnose.
- How may this gluten-free food craze have led to the "nocebo" effect? Imagine and describe a scenario in which the "nocebo" effect may occur.
July 23, 2015
July 20, 2015
Here’s Why Skin Cancer Rates Are Up—and How to Protect Yourself
Skin cancer rates have risen significantly, what's the best way to stay protected?
The rate of skin cancer has doubled over the last 30 years, according to new federal data.
Melanoma, specifically—which is the deadliest kind of skin cancer—is on the rise, and according to the latest research, the yearly cost of treating it is estimated to triple to a total of $1.6 billion in the year 2030.
One way to prevent skin cancer is to cover up, and sunscreen is typically a go-to to protect skin in the summer heat. However, recent data has suggested that while sunscreens add protection, they aren’t necessarily up to snuff and often brands make coverage claims they can’t really deliver. There’s also the fact that many Americans still don’t wear it daily (and many still use indoor tanning beds).
A recent report from the Environmental Working Group showed that many sunscreens offer poor coverage or have ingredients that the organization views as worrisome. Some brands market their SPF 70 or SPF 100+ even though they don’t really have much more protection than SPF 50.
New, better sunscreen ingredients could help. Recently, legislation was passed to make the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to more quickly respond to pending applications for new ingredients to add to sunscreens. Many of these ingredients have already been available in sunscreens abroad for years. The law is supposed to make the agency act more promptly, and hopefully result in sunscreens with better protection for Americans.
The FDA also said years ago that it would crack down on sunscreen regulation, by putting a cap on SPF at a max of SPF 50, establish standards for testing the effectiveness, and enforce better labeling.
So what’s the best way to stay protected? Keep wearing sunscreen (data suggests Americans could do a better job), but abide by other measures too. Health experts recommend covering exposed skin with clothing, avoiding time in the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m, and remembering to reapply sunscreen—a teaspoon per body part—at least every two hours.
Source: Time.com
Melanoma, specifically—which is the deadliest kind of skin cancer—is on the rise, and according to the latest research, the yearly cost of treating it is estimated to triple to a total of $1.6 billion in the year 2030.
One way to prevent skin cancer is to cover up, and sunscreen is typically a go-to to protect skin in the summer heat. However, recent data has suggested that while sunscreens add protection, they aren’t necessarily up to snuff and often brands make coverage claims they can’t really deliver. There’s also the fact that many Americans still don’t wear it daily (and many still use indoor tanning beds).
A recent report from the Environmental Working Group showed that many sunscreens offer poor coverage or have ingredients that the organization views as worrisome. Some brands market their SPF 70 or SPF 100+ even though they don’t really have much more protection than SPF 50.
New, better sunscreen ingredients could help. Recently, legislation was passed to make the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to more quickly respond to pending applications for new ingredients to add to sunscreens. Many of these ingredients have already been available in sunscreens abroad for years. The law is supposed to make the agency act more promptly, and hopefully result in sunscreens with better protection for Americans.
The FDA also said years ago that it would crack down on sunscreen regulation, by putting a cap on SPF at a max of SPF 50, establish standards for testing the effectiveness, and enforce better labeling.
So what’s the best way to stay protected? Keep wearing sunscreen (data suggests Americans could do a better job), but abide by other measures too. Health experts recommend covering exposed skin with clothing, avoiding time in the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m, and remembering to reapply sunscreen—a teaspoon per body part—at least every two hours.
Source: Time.com
July 16, 2015
How plants tell time
Why not listen to this interesting information?
- What was the flower clock?
- How do plants tell the difference between morning light and afternoon light?
- Phytochrome molecules detect....
- Where are phytochromes located in a plant?
- What is starch?
- What is more important when a plant is deciding to create blooming flowers: the time of the day or the season of the year? Why?
July 13, 2015
July 10, 2015
Sara
Dear all,
I wanted to tell you that my daughter Sara is already here. She came on July 5th, earlier than expected, but she is in good shape. She weighted 2.5 kg.
I wanted to tell you that my daughter Sara is already here. She came on July 5th, earlier than expected, but she is in good shape. She weighted 2.5 kg.
 |
| Isn't she cute? |
Hope you are having a good summer!
July 09, 2015
Confessions of an Idiom
Everyone has Skeletons in their Closet but what
happens if one day the Elephant in the Room decides to make the
Skeleton in the Closet bring the truth to light? The Skeleton isn’t one
to confess to his crimes so easily. Mayhem ensues in this power
struggle with a world full of idioms.
How many idioms can you recognize in this short, clever animation?
Confessions of an Idiom from Amanda Koh on Vimeo.
How many idioms can you recognize in this short, clever animation?
Confessions of an Idiom from Amanda Koh on Vimeo.
July 06, 2015
Non-verbal Communication
Did you know that 85% of our message is communicated through body language? How can the body communicate? What signs do they mention in the video?
July 03, 2015
A conversation with white people on race
This short documentary features interviews with white people on the challenges of talking about race.
July 01, 2015
How to improve your reading skills
What’s the best way to improve your reading skills? Here are a few of our top tips.
1 Why you should read!Reading can really help you learn a language. As you’re reading something, you’re learning hundreds of useful words and expressions without even realising it. You’re also seeing how words fit together and how language structures are used. Plus, as you’re reading, you’re finding out about interesting things, which could give you something to talk about in conversation.
2 What to read!The key is to read things you want to read. When you’re interested in something, you focus on the content not the language. This means you learn without even realising it – the language simply flows in and gets registered in your brain. So, choose a topic that motivates you: sport, film, music, marketing, politics, economics, travel, business, technology… the options are limitless. And choose a format that suits you too: a book, a magazine, a website, a newspaper, a social media site… whatever you want.
3 How to read!Before reading, you need to activate your existing knowledge of the topic. When you do this, you “connect” with the text, and your understanding of it will increase. You’ll also find it easier to guess the meaning of any new words and expressions. For example, if you’re going to read an article on skiing, you could start by thinking about all the words you know related to this theme; or you could answer discussion questions on the topic. Then, when you start reading, you’ll find it easier to follow the text.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)