unit1 Hello, I'm Alberto. I'm a student of English, French, Portuguese and Italian. I would also love to learn Chinese and German in the near future. My mother tongue is Spanish and I have a degree in Political Science. I love to learn new languages, because I think it broadens my mind. Even though I still have some difficulty with verb tenses, I'm confident that with time and practice I'll cope with them.
I believe learning a new language besides your mother tongue can be useful, especially in a world where distances are shortened and people from different countries communicate with each other more frequently.
Learning a new language can be a good experience, but only if you keep in mind that nothing is obtained without some effort. In my opinion, the best way to learn a language is to read a lot. It doesn't matter what you read, but that you do it. Even if you don't understand everything, your reading comprehension skill will improve remarkably. Also, if possible, watch a lot of television in that language, or listen to CDs. Maybe at first you won't understand a word, but later you'd catch on to the rhythm of the language.
Good dictionaries are necessary, and books regarding vocabulary can be a plus. The Internet is also a useful tool.
The language you choose to learn might seem a little difficult at first, or even totally strange, but you'll get accustomed to it. Remember that the learning process is long, and that it never ends. However, it is also highly enjoyable. unit3
What is personality? How does knowledge about personality help us?
First of all, let us take a look at what personality means. In general, when psychologists talk about personality, they are usually looking for things that make a person different from others or things that can explain how a person is not the same as others. However, different psychologists have different ways of explaining what personality is. They often use tests to put people into categories and compare them. For example, people who are quiet and like to spend more time at home reading and doing their own things are called introverts. \"Introverts\" is spelt I-N-T-R-O-V-E-R-T-S.
Others who enjoy going out and spending time with other people are called extroverts, E-X-T-R-O-V-E-R-T-S. Do you know which personality type you are? Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Second, how can knowledge about personality help us? Well, one of the ways is that by knowing how people behave and why they behave in a certain way, we can understand them better. This will help to make our relationship with them stronger. For instance, if we know that someone is an introvert, we will understand why he or she does not feel comfortable when he or she is with a big group of newly met people. We may then help this person to make friends and talk to others.
Another way knowledge about personality can help us is when we want to improve ourselves. If we know what personality type we belong to and the reasons we behave the way we do, we can then try to change some of the bad things so that they become good. In this way, we can make ourselves a better person.
So, after listening to this short passage about personality, do you want to find out more about yourself? unit4
Speaker: Grandparents are very special. They are our connection to our family background. As we grow up, our grandparents grow older, perhaps even developing health problems or needing specialized care. This can become a serious problem when everyone in the family is fully occupied. So children need to sit down and decide where grandparents will live and what can be done in the best interests of their aging grandparents. Listen to the following conversation between a grandson and a granddaughter discussing where they will place their sick and aging grandma.
John: Listen, Jenny, now that Grandma has broken her leg, she's going to need extra care, even after she recovers.
Jenny: I agree, John. She really shouldn't live alone anymore, but I'm worried that we don't have the time or resources to take care of her. John: One thing we might do is start looking for a good nursing home. Jenny: If we put her into a nursing home, I would feel absolutely terrible. We live right here in the same city! Don't you think she might feel that we just don't care?
John: Well, maybe we could find a nursing home that's very close to one
of our houses. That way, we could arrange to go over every couple of days, even if it's just for a few minutes.
Jenny: Hmm, I never thought of looking for a nursing home that close. Isn't it difficult to think of putting her in one of those places?
John: Of course it's difficult. But I want her to have good medical care and a lot of attention, and we both work all day. I don't see any other solutions.
Jenny: You are right. But we must find a good one, one that Grandma likes and feels comfortable about. unit5
The Birthday Heart
One day I was helping my mom preparing a picnic when my sisters arrived. They said, \"Happy birthday, Mom!\" and gave her some presents.
I was sad. I had forgotten it was my mother's birthday, but I didn't want her to know that I had not remembered her birthday. I had one dollar in my piggy bank. With that I was sure that I could get a present that would show my mother how much I loved her. I went to the store. When I looked around, I suddenly realized that my dollar wouldn't buy as much as I had thought it would. Then I saw a heart made of plastic. It contained typewriter correction paper. I knew that it would show my mother how much I loved her. It was ninety-nine cents.
I took the heart to the cashier and gave her my dollar. She said that I didn't have enough money because with tax the heart cost more than a dollar. I didn't understand sales tax. All I understood was that I couldn't give the heart to my mom. I went to put the heart back and the cashier asked me if it was my mom's birthday. I nodded. Then she said that she could help me. She put some of her own pennies in the cash register with my dollar and gave me the heart in a bag.
When my mother opened the bag and pulled out the heart, she exclaimed \"What a beautiful present.\"\"It's just what I need.\" She put me on her lap and told me that she loved the heart and she loved me.
I don't remember many of the gifts that I have given my mother, but I will always remember the heart that I gave her on that birthday. unit7
Narrator: One afternoon after school
Kimberly: Hey, Jim! Wait for me! Jim: (Silent.)
Kimberly: Jim! Jim! Please stop for a while. I would like to talk to you. Jim: I have nothing to say to you, Kimberly. You lied to me and I am still very angry with you. I can't believe my best friend lied to me.
Kimberly: I can explain, Jim. Please let me have the chance to explain to you.
Jim: Okay. I'll give you two minutes, only two minutes to explain yourself. Kimberly: Alright, Jim. I told you I didn't win the scholarship because I thought you might be hurt.
Jim: Well, you hurt me by not telling me the truth. Kimberly: I'm sorry, Jim. I really am. I thought that I could hide the truth from you. I just didn't want you to feel hurt.
Jim: I would have been happy for you, Kimberly, although I didn't win the scholarship. I may be a bit sad not getting the scholarship but I am happy that you got it. It's better that the scholarship goes to you than to other people.
Kimberly: Thanks, Jim. I am really really sorry. Would you forgive me, please?
Narrator: What you have just heard is a dialogue on how two good friends, Kimberly and Jim, tried to settle their misunderstanding. Kimberly told Jim a white lie because she didn't want to hurt him. How many of you do not tell lies at all, not even white lies? How honest are you? Can you really say that you are an honest person? Well, in 2004, Reader's Digest tried to find out how honest 1600 people in different parts of Asia were. They asked these people to answer ten questions about their everyday life. Two situations where people were most honest were returning money to the supermarket cashier if he / she was given more change and returning a wallet to the owner. However, most people would download and use software illegally or take a look at a co-worker's bankbook if he or she left it open on the desk.What would you do in each of these situations? Tell yourself the answers honestly and you will find out how honest a person you are. unit8 I am now a fourth-year student at college, but I can never forget my freshman year here. In general, it is a time filled with anticipation, some anxiety,
and wonderful discoveries.
College is a lot different from high school. Your freshman experience will definitely make an impression on you. So, what can you expect as you head off into the wonderful world of higher education?
The first thing you'll notice is the workload. It will be heavier than you ever experienced before. The major challenges of college work are the large amount of reading and writing, and the short deadlines. A related effect that can be brought on by the workload is doubt, frustration, and possibly loneliness. You'll be away from the comforts and friendships your home provided for you over the previous years.
During the freshman year, you'll be making a lot of new friends. But you should continue to be yourself. Select your friends with the same care and patience you have always shown. Believe it or not, your college friendships will be among the most satisfying and long-term of your life. It's always exciting to discover how wonderfully diverse college relationships can be. You'll also be on your own-you'll be your own boss 24 hours a day, so to speak. But, remember, with freedom comes responsibility. You should always remember that you are at college with an anticipated mission. Don't waste your time on meaningless things.
During the freshman year, you may even start thinking about your future. Maybe a certain professor is especially inspiring. Perhaps your school has some great research going on. If some area of study attracts you, find out all you can about it. It might be the beginning of your lifetime career. Going to college is not just to get a degree — it is to find out who you really are and what you are really made for.
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