Learning a Musical Instrument Sharpens The Mind

Recent research suggests that learning a musical instrument as a child has lifelong benefits for the brain.

For more information, check out the entry on the New York Times blog at

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/early-music-lessons-have-longtime-benefits/?src=me&ref=general

which states, "... scientists are puzzling out the connections between musical training in childhood and language-based learning — for instance, reading ... “To learn to read, you need to have good working memory, the ability to disambiguate speech sounds, make sound-to-meaning connections,” said Professor Nina Kraus, director of the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory at Northwestern University. “Each one of these things really seems to be strengthened with active engagement in playing a musical instrument.” ".

Did you learn a musical instrument as a child? Do you believe learning to play and appreciate music is important?

Revival of "big bowl" tea tradition in Jinan, China

Jinan, China, is seeing a resurgence of popularity in "big bowl" tea, an inexpensive and traditional way to refresh with healthful tea made from local spring water.

Read more here:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-09/09/content_15745464.htm

Are any traditional practices or products being revived for locals or tourists where you live?

Smiling Can Lift Your Mood

Go to http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1871687,00.html to learn how smiling can lift your spirits.

Then conduct a little of your own research if you're still not convinced that the act of smiling can change your mood :).

Read about Eco-Friendly Food Shopping

Concerned about how the way your food shopping affects the environment?

Check this link to learn 5 habits for eco-friendly food shopping:

http://www.besthealthmag.ca/embrace-life/green-living/5-habits-for-eco-friendly-food-shopping

Do you already practise some of these eco-friendly shopping habits? Are there still a few changes you could make?

Cat Massage

It's Caturday again!

Check this very clever, fun link: http://www.zurmat.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/cat-massaging-lady-2.gif

Do you have a pet? Why are pets important to us?

How about a trip to the moon for your next holiday?

A trip to space on your vacation may be possible much sooner than you think!

“There’s no question, in the next couple of years there’s going to be commercial space tourism,” said Roger D. Launius, senior curator of space history at the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution. “That’s clearly going to happen.”

Read more about these exciting developments in this article from the New York Times:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/travel/space-tourism-is-here-wealthy-adventurers-wanted.html?hpw

So, would you go if you could afford it? Or would it be a waste of money which could be better spent elsewhere?

Following the News ~ A Reminder

Language experts say that reading is the best way to improve your English language skills. Most people can find at least one or two interesting articles to read in the daily news.

It's also very useful to be up to date with current issues for the IELTS Speaking and Writing tests, where you'll need to write about or discuss a range of topics and concepts, and illustrate your points with examples.

Here's a starter list for some good quality online newspapers:


http://www.reuters.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/index.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

http://www.theatlantic.com/

http://www.guardiannews.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/

http://www.abc.net.au/

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/

http://www.theage.com.au/


Enjoy your reading!

Party Time

Ready for a "False Front Party" (Halloween Masquerade), Hangzhou, China, with Picasso the calico (2005).

Can you be a good distance learner?

Learning online is not always easy. It takes discipline and commitment.

Here's a link to a great article on six qualities of highly successful online learners:

http://www.distance-education.org/Articles/Are-You-Cut-Out-For-Distance-Education--27.html

Can you say you have all of these qualities?

Families held together by love and Skype

Do you ever stop to think how life was for separated family members in the days before technologies such as Skype enabled free long distance phone calls?

Please click the link to see some fascinating portraits of families "held together by love and Skype". Photographer John Clang captured these "strange moments of togetherness".

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/09/here-but-not-here-photographs-of-families-held-together-by-love-skype/262053/

Do you think virtual communication contains an ambiguity; a sense of being here but not here?

How do older members of your family feel about technologies like Skype?

Can families remain intact despite the pressures of modern living?

How the atmosphere affects the way people eat

A study has found that people consumed 18 percent fewer calories when the music and lighting in a restaurant was softer.

"When we softened the lights and softened the music in the restaurant it didn't change what people ordered, but what it did do was lead them to eat less and made them more satisfied and happier,"

The study has implications not only for restaurants but for everyone who wishes to eat more healthfully.

"If softer music and softer lighting seem to get people to eat less in a fast food situation, why not try the same thing at home?" said psychologist Wansink.

Read the whole article here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/31/uk-restaurants-atmosphere-idUSLNE87U00Q20120831

Official IDP Australia IELTS Facebook Page

IDP Australia's official Facebook page, with information and tips,is at https://www.facebook.com/ieltsessentials.

Check it out now!

Free online education

Getting into debt to study at university is becoming less and less necessary as free, high quality online courses from Universities such as Yale, Harvard, MIT and many more become available.


Below is a link to a list of 144 such free courses in areas ranging from computers and engineering to law and English language.


Thank you once again, internet!


"All education is self-education. Period. It doesn’t matter if you’re sitting in a college classroom or a coffee shop. We don’t learn anything we don’t want to learn.

Those people who take the time and initiative to pursue knowledge on their own are the only ones who earn a real education in this world. Take a look at any widely acclaimed scholar, entrepreneur or historical figure you can think of. Formal education or not, you’ll find that he or she is a product of continuous self-education.

If you’re interested in learning something new, this article is for you. Broken down by subject and/or category, here are several top-notch self-education resources I have bookmarked online over the past few years."


For the list, go to http://www.marcandangel.com/2010/11/15/12-dozen-places-to-self-educate-yourself-online/


(*"A dozen" means twelve. We usually buy eggs by the dozen or half dozen).