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Episode: 1623 The textbooks of J. Dorman and Esther Steele. Today, we meet two very special teachers.
Download Free PDF Everyday English Speaking Courses Espresso English Academy Do you want to sound more natural when you speak English? This English lesson will show you how to replace common textbook English phrases with more natural, everyday English expressions. Improve your english speaking and make your English sound more authentic with these practical English tips. Don't forget to download the free lesson guide to help you with learning English!
My Path to Global International Relations: A semi-autobiographical textbook by Dr Vendulka Kubalkova https://www.amazon.com/Path-Global-International-Relations-semi-autobiographical/dp/B0GJSFG95W Drvkubalkova.com My Path to Global International Relations is a semi-autobiographical textbook. Textbooks are comprehensive compilations of content in a branch of study students learn. Textbooks are produced to meet primarily the needs of educators. They come with ready-made PowerPoints, quizzes, videos, lesson-by-lesson schedules, etc., to facilitate the teacher’s job. Unlike textbooks but like fiction generally, the autobiographical format of this work is designed primarily with a reader in mind: to be learned in an enjoyable way since it tells a real-life story. It is a story of “study abroad” gone awry at the height of the Cold War. The permission to study abroad in the Communist country came with strings attached: a KGB espionage assignment. The author’s home Prague, and she was only 24 at the time, was occupied by tanks. It became a moral issue for her, and having been blackmailed into accepting the espionage assignment, she blew her cover in England, where she was to study on a British scholarship. It started a lonely path of exile through international relations, statelessness, undocumented, and, for decades, unable to go home. It led to a challenging but successful career as a Professor of International Relations in several countries. Standard textbooks quickly become out of date, the Preface stresses, the “Globe is in everybody’s living room.” Many stories and animated learning videos are referenced throughout this book and available separately. The chapter’s topics are interdisciplinary with history excursions, the philosophy of knowledge, social sciences, postcolonial studies, and sociology of knowledge (challenges universities face), and it introduces some of her friends and colleagues, the prominent scholars of the field of International Relations.
THE Leadership Japan Series by Dale Carnegie Training Tokyo, Japan
There are tons of things leaders should be doing. The sheer volume of advice can become a mental blizzard—a complete leadership whiteout. That is why it helps to isolate a few essential leadership practices and remind ourselves why they matter. These are not complicated theories. They are practical leadership disciplines that determine whether teams produce results, understand expectations, cooperate effectively and continue moving in the right direction. Here are eleven leadership basics worth revisiting. What should leaders focus on first? Leaders should focus chiefly on the results to be achieved rather than simply on the activities being performed. Everything happening in the organisation should move the team towards a desired outcome. That sounds obvious. However, analyse your diary and look closely at where your time is going. You may be shocked by how few appointments, meetings and activities are directly propelling important results. Busy work is seductive because it creates the sensation of progress. Emails are answered, meetings are attended and reports are produced. Yet activity is not the same as achievement. Leaders also need to plan and organise effectively around the desired result. They must coordinate everyone involved so that individual contributions combine into meaningful organisational progress. Markets change, customer expectations move and circumstances can run over the top of even a good plan. Leaders must therefore keep asking whether the current plan is still relevant, whether the organisation is properly structured and whether the balance between individual responsibility and teamwork is right. Do now: Review your calendar and identify which activities directly contribute to your organisation's most important results. Reduce, delegate or eliminate the rest. How should leaders turn major objectives into action? Major objectives should be divided into bite-sized pieces, communicated clearly and supported by deadlines, measurements and individual accountability. Large organisational goals can sound inspiring but remain useless if people do not understand what they personally need to do. Leaders must translate strategic objectives into specific actions, time targets and measurable outcomes. Every important objective needs an accountability system. Without measurement, deviation from the plan can remain invisible until it is too late to make an easy correction. The post-pandemic workplace has made this more difficult. For many organisations, the orderly pursuit of targets was replaced by constant disruption, emergency responses and scrambling to survive. Even after the immediate crisis passed, hybrid work, shifting customer behaviour and economic uncertainty continued to complicate performance management. Textbook answers are not always enough. Leaders must combine data, judgement and practical experience to decide which performance standards remain realistic. Do now: Take one major organisational objective and break it into milestones, owners, deadlines and measurable indicators of progress. How can leaders establish effective performance standards? Leaders must make expectations explicit so that people know what successful performance looks like, why it matters and how it will be measured. Vague expectations create frustration. Employees believe they are doing well, while managers quietly feel disappointed. Effective performance standards remove this ambiguity. Standards should guide people towards profitable and productive action. They should be demanding enough to encourage growth but realistic enough to maintain credibility. Leaders must also build a results-oriented attitude throughout the organisation. This means helping people develop self-reliance, confidence and ownership of their goals. Remote and hybrid work have shifted visibility. Leaders can no longer judge contribution by who arrives early, stays late or appears busy in the office. Performance is increasingly represented by customer outcomes, project completion, financial measures and numbers on a spreadsheet. Some people thrive with autonomy. Others struggle without direct supervision, informal contact and frequent teamwork. Leaders must recognise these differences rather than assuming one working style suits everyone. Do now: Ask each team member to explain what is expected of them and how success is measured. Any inconsistent answers reveal a communication gap. Can leaders really motivate their people? Leaders cannot directly inject motivation into another person. They can, however, create an environment in which people are more likely to become self-motivated. Try yelling, "Be motivated, be motivated, be motivated," at your team and see how far that gets you. Leaders can motivate themselves, but they cannot control the internal drive of another person. Their real task is to understand what helps each individual perform at their best. That may include recognition, autonomy, meaningful work, career growth, financial reward, mastery, belonging or the opportunity to contribute to something important. The correct combination varies from person to person. This is where leadership becomes difficult. There is no universal motivational switch. The leader has to understand people individually and deliver the right environment one person at a time. Leaders should also encourage creativity. Creativity can be learned, but many leaders have never studied how creative thinking works. If leaders do not know how to generate ideas, challenge assumptions or explore alternatives, they will struggle to develop those abilities in others. Do now: Ask each team member what conditions help them do their best work. Do not assume their answer will be the same as yours. How should leaders track progress and coordinate people? Leaders must track progress consistently and coordinate everyone whose contribution affects the final result, both inside and outside the organisation. Tracking progress sounds easy. The reality is that leaders are often lost in the weeds, pulled hither and thither and overwhelmed by constant urgencies. Following up on planned results gets postponed because something more immediate demands attention. Yet when leaders stop tracking, deadlines slip, responsibilities blur and small problems grow into expensive ones. Coordination has also become more demanding in remote and hybrid workplaces. When everyone was in the office, people could exchange information informally, notice emerging problems and resolve misunderstandings quickly. When employees, clients, suppliers and partners are separated, leaders must expend more time and energy ensuring that the right people know what they need to know. They must also confirm that tasks are being completed when they need to be completed. Communication cannot be left to chance. Coordination requires deliberate updates, clear decision rights and reliable follow-through. Do now: Establish a simple review rhythm showing each priority, its owner, its current status, the next action and any obstacle requiring leadership intervention. Why must leaders keep communicating purpose and teamwork? Leaders must repeatedly connect everyday work to the organisation's continuing purpose and demonstrate through their decisions that teamwork is genuinely expected. Leaders often pontificate from on high about purpose and imagine everyone is on board. They assume the message was received, understood and accepted. It is always a shock to discover that not everyone got the message—or that they interpreted it differently. Purpose must therefore be communicated repeatedly. Leaders must explain what the organisation is trying to achieve, why it matters and how each person's work contributes. They must also check for understanding rather than assuming agreement. Leadership credibility is tested most severely when a high performer refuses to act as a team player. Are you prepared to confront—or even fire—a top performer who persistently undermines teamwork? This is where the rubber meets the road. If leaders praise collaboration but tolerate the corporate outlaw who does whatever they want, everyone learns how the organisation really operates. Behaviour that is tolerated becomes part of the culture. Do now: Identify one behaviour that contradicts your stated values. Address it directly before it becomes the organisation's unofficial standard. What is the most important leadership starting point? The most important starting point is self-awareness. Very few leaders can give themselves a perfect score across all eleven areas: Focusing on results Planning and organising effectively Breaking objectives into manageable actions Establishing clear performance standards Building a results-oriented culture Creating conditions for self-motivation Developing creativity Tracking progress Coordinating people and resources Communicating organisational purpose Demonstrating leadership and teamwork I certainly cannot give myself a perfect score. Reviewing this list is a painful reminder of my own failings and imperfections. That is the point. Busy work can mask what is vital. Leaders become tied up in meetings, messages, minor decisions and operational stuff. Eventually, they lose sight of the leadership responsibilities that matter most. Let's get back to basics. We are not divine. We still have work to do on ourselves. Author Bio Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie One Carnegie Award in 2018 and 2021 and received the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2012. As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver leadership, communication, sales and presentation programmes globally, including Leadership Training for Results. He has written several books, including the bestsellers Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery and Japan Presentations Mastery, as well as Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. His books have also been translated into Japanese, including Za Eigyō(ザ営業), Purezen no Tatsujin(プレゼンの達人), Torēningu de Okane o Muda ni Suru no wa Yamemashō(トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう)and Gendaiban "Hito o Ugokasu" Rīdā(現代版「人を動かす」リーダー). Greg publishes regular business insights on LinkedIn, Facebook and X and hosts six weekly podcasts. On YouTube, he produces The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show, Japan Business Mastery and Japan's Top Business Interviews for executives and professionals seeking practical strategies for succeeding in Japan.
Transformations in 3D: How AMSI approaches new concepts in the ICE-EM textbooks Episode summary Three-dimensional coordinates and transformations are a significant addition to the Year 8 mathematics curriculum—but how do we introduce them without making 3D geometry feel unnecessarily abstract? In this episode of MathsTalk, AMSI Schools' Leanne McMahon explores the thinking behind the new Transformations in 3D chapter she authored for the fourth edition of ICE-EM Mathematics Year 8. Beginning with students' existing understanding of 2D coordinates and transformations, Leanne looks at how teachers can build towards ordered triples, coordinate planes and transformations in three-dimensional space. She discusses the value of dynamic geometry software such as GeoGebra, practical approaches for developing spatial reasoning, and real-world applications including drones, robotics, gaming, animation, architecture, 3D printing and navigation. AMSI ICE-EM Mathematics textbooks The fourth edition of ICE-EM Mathematics covers Years 5–10 and has been updated for Australian Curriculum Mathematics Version 9.0 and Victorian Curriculum Mathematics Version 2.0. The new editions include additional digital resources, video explanations, written solutions and connections with AMSI Calculate and AMSI Careers resources. Explore the ICE-EM Mathematics series https://schools.amsi.org.au/ice-em-mathematics-textbooks/ ICE-EM Mathematics Fourth Edition – Year 8 https://schools.amsi.org.au/2026/03/10/ice-em-mathematics-third-edition-year-8/ Order ICE-EM Mathematics from Cambridge University Press & Assessment https://www.cambridge.org/au/education/australia-subject/mathematics/ice-em-mathematics-5-10-4th-edition Year 8 curriculum: position and location in three dimensions The Australian and Victorian Curricula Mathematics content description VC2M8SP03 asks students to describe the position and location of three-dimensional objects using different representations, including a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system and dynamic geometry software or other digital tools. Its elaborations include drones, 3D printing, virtual maps, multistorey car parks and the construction of objects in a 3D coordinate system. Victorian Curriculum Mathematics 2.0 – VC2M8SP03 https://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Search?q=VC2M8SP03 GeoGebra and 3D geometry GeoGebra's free 3D Calculator allows students to plot points and objects in three-dimensional space, manipulate the viewing perspective, construct planes and solids, and explore mathematical transformations dynamically. Open the GeoGebra 3D Calculator https://www.geogebra.org/3d?lang=en_AU GeoGebra 3D Calculator – help and overview https://help.geogebra.org/hc/en-us/articles/8493632359069-3D-Calculator Learn GeoGebra 3D – official tutorial A guided introduction to the 3D Calculator, including solids, rotations, cross-sections and other 3D constructions. https://www.geogebra.org/m/aWhYSpvy GeoGebra apps and downloads Includes the Calculator Suite, Geometry app and 3D Calculator. https://www.geogebra.org/download?lang=en-AU GeoGebra transformation resources An interactive collection exploring translations, reflections, rotations and dilations. https://www.geogebra.org/m/TReQvk73 Upcoming: AMSI Industry Day for Teachers – Albury-Wodonga AMSI's next Industry Day for Teachers will be held on Thursday 10 September 2026 at La Trobe University's Albury-Wodonga Campus. This free professional learning event is designed for secondary mathematics and STEM teachers and careers advisers from regional Victoria and southern New South Wales. The day connects teachers with tertiary educators and industry professionals to explore where mathematics is being used in the workforce and the diverse pathways available to students. Victorian high school teachers attending the event can also apply for one of a limited number of $500 CRT/travel bursaries. Albury-Wodonga event details https://amsi.org.au/events/event/industry-day-for-teachers-la-trobe-albury-wodonga/ AMSI Industry Day for Teachers – program, speakers and registration https://amsi.org.au/amsi-industry-day-for-teachers/ Proudly supported by Texas Instruments Texas Instruments provides Australian mathematics teachers with classroom technology, curriculum-aligned activities, teaching resources and professional learning opportunities. Its Australian Teacher Resource Centre includes free classroom activities and assessment resources for Years 7–10, as well as webinars, tutorials and professional development. Texas Instruments Australia – Teacher Resource Centre https://education.ti.com/en-au/teachers Australian Curriculum Nspired – classroom activities and resources https://education.ti.com/en-au/australiancurriculumnspired/aus-nz/home Texas Instruments Australia https://education.ti.com/en-au/ More from AMSI Schools AMSI Calculate – mathematics resources for teachers and students https://calculate.org.au/ AMSI Careers – explore where mathematics can take you https://careers.amsi.org.au/ Listen to more MathsTalk episodes https://calculate.org.au/mathstalk-podcast/
Following the International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS), David and Kate reflect on how IDEMS' vision for open textbooks was received by the statistics education community. They explore how rapid developments in AI are changing what students need to learn, and why adaptable resources, carefully designed assessment, and meaningful human decision-making are becoming increasingly important. They also discuss the encouraging response from textbook authors, educators, and international organisations, and what this could mean for building a wider community around the open textbook initiative.
In this episode of Defend, Publish, and Lead, Christine Tulley argues that writing project management isn't separate from the scholarly writing process but an essential part of it, since standard "writing process" models (drafting, revising, publishing) only look at a single project in isolation and ignore how projects interact. She lays out four reasons why writing project management is a built in part of the scholarly writing process. Slides from this Episode Resources Mentioned: Join our Fall 2026 Writing Accountability Group - just $60 for 15 weeks and sessions are recorded. Register here DPL Resources Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.
Textbook used in this episode: TRY! N3 (P121)US: [https://amzn.to/4fsggGV]Canada: [https://amzn.to/4vmq7TC]Japan: [https://amzn.to/3RulOaK] My first Japanese reading book: Whispers from JapanUS: [https://amzn.to/4eYERDe]Canada: [https://amzn.to/3RACFZz]Japan: [https://amzn.to/4yiOzb4] (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
In today's interview, Spencer Dalke and Obbie Tyler Todd explore the enduring influence of Jonathan Edwards' Religious Affections, a classic work that has shaped American Christianity and theology for nearly three centuries. Drawing on church history and Edwards's profound insights into love, desire, and the will, Todd explains why our heart's deepest affections drive everything we do and how genuine faith is revealed through a transformed heart that treasures God above all else. Whether you're interested in Jonathan Edwards, Christian discipleship, the Holy Spirit's work in believers, or the relationship between emotions, worship, and spiritual growth, this episode offers rich biblical wisdom and practical guidance for examining your faith and cultivating a deeper love for Christ. “We should not conceive of the heart as if there is some kind of neutrality when we reach or approach certain things. The human heart is not neutral. The human heart is not static. … We love things and we hate things.” “We're always inclined to be saved because we want to save ourselves. But are you inclined toward God? Do you desire him above all things? This is the essence of religious affections.” Featured work: “‘Religious Affections': Textbook of the American Soul” Connect with Obbie Tyler Todd at ObbieTylerTodd.com. For more faith-filled, Gospel-centered content, download the Pilgrim Radio app today on Google Play and Apple, or stream at PilgrimRadio.com.
In the final episode of this three-part series reflecting on the International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS), David and Lily discuss the reception of IDEMS' open textbook initiative within the statistics education community. They explore how new approaches to adaptation, accreditation, and collaboration could strengthen open educational resources, enabling communities to build on one another's work while preserving the expertise and contributions of original authors.
In Episode 291 of the Defend, Publish, and Lead podcast, host Christine Tulley describes a useful short exercise to find out why it is taking so long to start writing when you sit down to write. Slides from this Episode Resources Mentioned: Join our Fall 2026 Writing Accountability Group - just $60 for 15 weeks and sessions are recorded. Register here Episodes Mentioned Episode163: Opening a Writing Session DPL Resources Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.
Textbook used in this episode: TRY! N3 (P120)US: [https://amzn.to/4fsggGV]Canada: [https://amzn.to/4vmq7TC]Japan: [https://amzn.to/3RulOaK] My first Japanese reading book: Whispers from JapanUS: [https://amzn.to/4eYERDe]Canada: [https://amzn.to/3RACFZz]Japan: [https://amzn.to/4yiOzb4] (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Everything has changed this summer and Every Year After is officially going for it. Jillian is joined by Claire to break down Episode 4, “Anatomy of a Romance,” as the series reaches one of the book's most anticipated scenes and takes the story into completely unexpected territory.They discuss Percy's mission to swim across the lake, the anatomy textbook moment that finally pushes Percy and Sam across the friendship line, and Sam immediately getting in his own way. Plus, Charlie reveals the heartbreaking truth about what happened after his father died, Percy confronts Sam about years of mixed signals, and Sue causes chaos from beyond the grave by leaving The Tavern to Percy.Jillian and Claire also rank their Top 5 “Everything Has Changed This Summer” moments, unpack Percy's struggle to reconnect with the fearless girl she used to be, and celebrate the wine-fueled Barry's Bay girls' night that ends with breaking and entering, shocking confessions, and a trip to jail. With kisses, breakups, family resentment, and one truly unhinged will reading, this episode brings the drama in every possible timeline.00:00 Intro to pod02:08 Ep 4 "Anatomy of a Romance"03:03 Recap of Ep 407:33 Top 5 Everything Has Changed Moments09:02 Percy swims lake16:40 Truth after dad's death21:56 Anatomy textbook scene26:05 Sam ends it34:37 Percy's Tavern41:36 McMansions43:16 ChantalThank you to Matt Buechele (@mattbooshell) for creating our new theme song. You can listen to "Sunscreen" on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1gFHHF3QyQxjbbKXV3qLu9Buy our merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PreviouslyOnTeenTVFollow Previously On Teen TV on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/previouslyon_teentv/Follow Previously On Teen TV on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@previouslyon_teentvSubscribe to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe2lgvvZGKMrQ8v24FmDdWQ?sub_confirmation=1
Murray Rothbard's economic perspective changed significantly in 1949 when he met Ludwig von Mises and read his magnum opus, Human Action. With the financial support of the Volker Fund, Rothbard accepted Mises's offer to write a textbook rendition of his treatise. Early on, Rothbard evinced a thorough understanding of Mises's monetary transmission mechanism and praxeological method. This allowed him to further develop the theories of value and price formation the emerging neoclassical synthesis had neglected. In particular, Rothbard used the means-ends relationship to deduce the law of ordinal marginal utility rankings and contrasted it with modern theories of utility. He then showed how this law logically resulted in demand schedules that always sloped downward, which in turn led to a theory of pricing that explained the process of equilibration to the market clearing price. Finally, he extended his analysis to price formation in a monetary economy. In addition to exhibiting his own intellectual progress, Rothbard's developments significantly advanced economic science because Mises assumed these logical deductions but never actually derived them.
In episode host Christine Tulley describes "zombie writing projects" - projects that remain perpetually on to do lists but are never completed. The episode covers how to identify zombie projects and four actions to take to finally clear them from your writing backlog. Slides from this Episode Resources Mentioned Free Fall 2026 Planning Webinar - Free Fall 2026 Planning Webinar - Monday, July 27 • 11 AM - 12 PM ET Join our Summer 2026 Writing Accountability Group - just $25 for entire summer and sessions are recorded - email me if you want to join us every Monday (christine@defendpublishlead.com) and get a FREE summer progress tracker Episodes Mentioned Episode 108 – Your Writing Project Mix Episode 39 - Abandoning a Project DPL Resources Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.
Textbook used in this episode: TRY! N3 (P119)Get the textbook on AmazonUS: [https://amzn.to/4fsggGV]Canada: [https://amzn.to/4vmq7TC]Japan: [https://amzn.to/3RulOaK] (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Brandy Shufutinsky details how Qatar has provided extensive grants for Arabic language and culture programs in U.S.K-12 schools. These programs often utilize textbooks that omit Israel from maps and glorify extremist ideologies. Qatar Foundation International (QFI) even funds teacher salaries and work visas, raising concerns about who these educators truly report to. This funding creates a "pipeline" from elementary school to higher education, potentially instilling foreign-influenced perspectives in future generations of American citizens. (15)SEPTEMBER 1932
Rob van de Ven, managing director of Landing Aquaculture, discusses his extensive experience in the RAS industry, emphasizing innovation and tackling challenging projects. He highlighted the importance of tailoring RAS systems to specific species. He stressed the need for standardization while maintaining flexibility, especially for new species.
In this episode, host Christine Tulley describes how to conduct a 6-month review of your writing productivity to see if you are on track to meeting your writing goals and how to adjust the remaining months to close out the year with a focus on completion. Resources Mentioned: Free Fall 2026 Planning Webinar - Monday, July 27 • 11 AM - 12 PM ET Join our Summer 2026 Writing Accountability Group - just $25 for entire summer and sessions are recorded - email me if you want to join us every Monday (christine@defendpublishlead.com) and get a FREE summer progress tracker Episodes Mentioned: Episode 286 - Five Updates to Your Scholarship Profile This Summer Episode 108 – Your Writing Project Mix DPL Resources: Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP25! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.
Textbook used in this episode: TRY! N3 (P118)Get the textbook on AmazonUS: [https://amzn.to/4fsggGV]Canada: [https://amzn.to/4vmq7TC]Japan: [https://amzn.to/3RulOaK] (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
In Episode 288, host Christine Tulley describes a variety of ways to start a writing session and encourages self-study of starting processes with strategic questions. Resources Mentioned Five Entry Points to Writing free webinar! Join our Summer 2026 Writing Accountability Group - just $25 for entire summer and sessions are recorded - email me if you want to join us every Monday (christine@defendpublishlead.com) and get a FREE summer progress tracker Other Episodes on Starting Episode 163 Opening a Writing Session DPL Resources Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.
The Dean's List with Host Dean Bowen – The Battle of Monongahela reveals George Washington's courage, General Braddock's fatal arrogance, and the devastating consequences of ignoring frontier allies. Amid chaos and heavy British losses, Washington organizes the retreat and survives against extraordinary odds, strengthening his belief in Providence and securing a defining place in American history textbooks today...
Textbook used in this episode: TRY! N3 (P117)Get the textbook on AmazonUS: [https://amzn.to/4fsggGV]Canada: [https://amzn.to/4vmq7TC]Japan: [https://amzn.to/3RulOaK] (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Lawmakers hear from teachers who say their students want more instruction from teachers and less from tech, a major AI company now has a stake in a Kentucky data center, why the FBI arrested a former UK basketball player, and a campaign focused on reducing the use of plastic.
In Episode 287, host Christine Tulley describes how she's planning for her upcoming office move and the decision-making process for what stays and what goes. Resources Mentioned Five Entry Points to Writing free webinar! Join our Summer 2026 Writing Accountability Group - just $25 for entire summer and sessions are recorded - email me if you want to join us every Monday (christine@defendpublishlead.com) and get a FREE summer progress tracker Other Episodes on Offices Episode 23: Summer Reset: My Office (my office looks the same!) DPL Resources Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.
In this episode, we have a conversation between the four co-authors of a new textbook in the field of royal studies, Exploring Monarchy in Medieval Europe 1000-1500, Elena (Ellie) Woodacre, Lucinda Dean, Simon Lambe and Patrik Pastrnak. They discuss the challenges that they faced in the composition of the book, the intended audience and use for the textbook and the contributions of colleagues in the field which enabled them to achieve a wide ranging survey of monarchical practices across the continent. Guest Bios:Elena Woodacre is Reader in Renaissance History at the University of Winchester. She is a specialist in queenship and royal studies and has published extensively in this area.See Elena's staff profile pageQueens and QueenshipLucinda H.S. Dean is Senior Lecturer at the Centre for History, UHI. Her research expertise includes medieval and early modern ritual, ceremony, kingship, material culture, gender, and the life cycle.See Lucinda's staff profile pageDeath and the Royal Succession in Scotland, c.1214-c.1543Simon Lambe is Associate Fellow of the Institute of Historical Research, University of London, and Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. His academic background is in gentry and royal relations in late medieval and early Tudor England.See Simon's staff profile pagePatrik Pastrnak is Associate Professor at Palacký University, Olomouc. He specialises in royal weddings, wedding journeys, queenship, and rulership in late medieval and early modern Central Europe and Italy.See Patrik's academia.edu profile pageConfiguring Bohemian Queenship Project (and project Instagram account)
Fluent Fiction - Korean: Whispers of Jeju: Lessons Beyond the Textbooks Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2026-07-02-22-34-01-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 제주의 뜨거운 여름 햇살이 주변을 감싸고 있었습니다.En: The scorching summer sun of Jeju wrapped around the surroundings.Ko: 성읍 민속 마을에는 전통 초가집들이 포근하게 자리 잡고 있었고, 바람이 불 때마다 나뭇잎이 속삭이는 소리가 들렸습니다.En: In Seongeup Folk Village, traditional thatched-roof houses were cozily nestled, and the sound of leaves whispering could be heard whenever the wind blew.Ko: 그런 광경 속에서 고등학생들이 설레는 마음으로 탐방을 시작했습니다.En: Amidst such scenery, high school students began their exploration with hearts full of excitement.Ko: 지호는 학교에서 역사 수업을 좋아하는 학생이었습니다.En: Jiho was a student who enjoyed history classes at school.Ko: 이번 현장 학습에서 지호는 특별히 할아버지, 할머니들이 들려주는 이야기를 기대하고 있었습니다.En: During this field trip, he was particularly looking forward to the stories shared by the grandfathers and grandmothers.Ko: 그러나 더 중요한 이유는 그가 좋아하는 하은 때문이었습니다.En: However, the more important reason was Ha-eun, whom he liked.Ko: 하은은 자연과 사람들의 이야기에 깊은 관심을 가지고 있었고, 지호는 그런 하은에게 조금이라도 더 다가가고 싶었습니다.En: Ha-eun had a deep interest in stories of nature and people, and Jiho wanted to get a little closer to her.Ko: 반면, 친구인 민준은 모든 것에 경쟁심이 강했지만, 지호에게는 중요한 친구였습니다.En: On the other hand, his friend Minjun was very competitive about everything, but he was an important friend to Jiho.Ko: 아침의 따뜻한 햇살에 찬란한 포도밭을 지나, 학생들은 민속 마을에 도착했습니다.En: Passing the radiant vineyard in the warm morning sunshine, the students arrived at the folk village.Ko: 학생들은 벌써 기대에 가득 차 있었습니다.En: The students were already filled with anticipation.Ko: 지호는 머릿속으로 배운 것들을 준비했지만 곧 깨달았습니다.En: Jiho had prepared what he learned in his mind but soon realized.Ko: 하은은 교과서의 내용보다는 현장에 와서 보고, 듣고, 직접 느끼며 배울 것을 더 중요시했습니다.En: Ha-eun valued seeing, hearing, and directly experiencing things on-site over the content of textbooks.Ko: 점심 시간이 지나고 지호는 생각에 잠겼습니다.En: After lunchtime, Jiho fell into thought.Ko: '하은에게 어필하고 싶은데, 어떻게 해야 할까?' 그래서 그는 학교에서 배운 지식을 잠시 뒤로 하고, 실제 이야기들을 듣기로 결심했습니다.En: 'I want to impress Ha-eun, but how?' So, he decided to put aside the knowledge he learned at school for a while and listen to real stories.Ko: 마침내 할아버지의 이야기 시간이 되었습니다.En: Finally, it was time for the grandfather's storytelling session.Ko: 마을의 오래된 전설과 함께 전통 놀이에 대한 이야기가 이어졌습니다.En: Along with the village's old legends, stories about traditional games followed.Ko: 이야기에 빠진 지호는 자신이 아침에 보았던 전통 도구와 벽화에 대해 궁금해졌습니다.En: Jiho, engrossed in the stories, became curious about the traditional tools and murals he had seen in the morning.Ko: 그는 용기 내어 할아버지에게 직접 질문하기 시작했습니다.En: He mustered up the courage to start asking the grandfather questions directly.Ko: 그의 진지한 태도에 마을 사람들은 기쁘게 여러 이야기를 나누어 주었습니다.En: The villagers were delighted to share various stories with him due to his sincere attitude.Ko: 지호는 듣고, 배운 것을 바탕으로 자신만의 특별한 관찰을 이야기에 덧붙였습니다.En: Jiho added his own unique observations to the stories based on what he heard and learned.Ko: 할아버지는 그가 한 이야기를 들으며 고개를 끄덕였고, 하은도 그런 지호를 흥미롭게 바라보았습니다.En: The grandfather nodded as he listened to Jiho's storytelling, and Ha-eun watched him with interest.Ko: 이야기 시간이 끝난 후, 하은은 지호에게 다가왔습니다.En: After the storytelling session ended, Ha-eun approached Jiho.Ko: "정말 대단해! 저렇게 많은 질문을 할 줄 몰랐어," 그녀는 칭찬의 말을 아끼지 않았습니다.En: "That was amazing! I didn't know you could ask so many questions," she said without holding back her praise.Ko: 민준도 경쟁을 잊고 지호의 손을 톡톡 두드렸습니다.En: Minjun also forgot about competition and patted Jiho's hand.Ko: "역시 친구다!"En: "That's our friend!"Ko: 지호는 생각했습니다. '진정한 관심과 귀 기울임이 얼마나 중요한지 알게 되었군.'En: Jiho thought to himself, 'I've realized how important genuine interest and listening are.'Ko: 그날 저녁, 석양이 아름답게 지는 제주의 하늘 아래에서 지호는 자신만의 방식으로 큰 성장을 이루었습니다.En: That evening, under the beautiful setting Jeju sky, Jiho achieved significant growth in his own way.Ko: 이번 현장 학습은 단순한 수업 이상의 큰 깨달음을 주었습니다.En: This field trip offered a profound realization beyond a simple lesson. Vocabulary Words:scorching: 뜨거운thatched-roof: 초가집cozily: 포근하게whispering: 속삭이는amidst: 속에서anticipation: 기대mustered: 용기 내다engrossed: 빠진murals: 벽화sincere: 진지한profound: 큰unique: 특별한realization: 깨달음observations: 관찰curious: 궁금한praise: 칭찬competitive: 경쟁심이 강한environments: 환경folklore: 전설embraced: 감싸고legends: 전설experience: 느끼며directly: 직접tools: 도구sessions: 시간remarkable: 대단한patting: 톡톡 두드리다valuable: 중요한surroundings: 주변nestled: 자리 잡고
What is your child's history book actually teaching?In this episode of Proclaiming Justice, Laurie Cardoza-Moore sits down with Dr. William Saxton — chairman of Citizens for National Security and a veteran of the U.S. intelligence community — and Dr. Gary Newman, who became an education watchdog after his own daughter came home repeating Palestinian land narratives she had learned at school.Together they document how organizations tied to the Muslim Brotherhood embedded themselves on the editorial boards of Pearson — the publisher behind roughly 70-80% of K-12 textbooks in America — and shaped content that called Jesus a Palestinian, described Islam as the only hope for peace, and systematically minimized Christianity and Judaism.They also expose CAIR's newer strategy: bypassing textbooks altogether and entering classrooms directly under the guise of anti-bullying programs — a tactic CAIR's own national director confirmed with a chilling statement: "I'm going to use education."God's command in Joel 1:3 — to teach truth to every generation — is the mandate behind this fight. It has never been more urgent.Follow, share, and support PJTN at PJTN.org00:00:00 — "A Bloodless Revolution"00:00:28 — Intro & Guest Introductions00:02:05 — Dr. Newman: How It Became Personal00:04:21 — How PJTN Got Involved00:05:07 — Dr. Saxton: Discovering the Textbook Threat00:06:41 — The Council on Islamic Education & Pearson Publishers00:09:04 — The Hitler Playbook: Control the Textbooks, Control the State00:11:33 — Early Warning Signs That Were Ignored00:13:08 — What's Actually in the Textbooks00:16:12 — Specific Examples: Jesus, Muhammad & Islam as "The Only Hope"00:18:02 — How CFNS Forced Pearson to Reprint00:21:17 — The Pipeline: K-12 to College Campuses00:26:00 — What Parents Can Do00:33:28 — Congressmen Had No Idea00:36:07 — The Role of Parents as Role Models00:41:04 — CAIR's New Strategy: Getting Into Classrooms Directly00:42:06 — San Diego Unified & the Anti-Bullying Trojan Horse00:44:18 — Antisemitism Up, Muslim Persecution Down — The Real Data00:45:09 — Where Do We Go From Here?00:49:38 — Closing Quotes: Hooper, Margaret Mead & Joel 1:3Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help us equip more Christians to stand with Israel and fight antisemitism.✨ Stay connected with PJTN! ✨
In Episode 286 of the Defend, Publish, and Lead podcast, host Christine Tulley describes five tasks to update everything from your CV to your ORCID ID. Resources Mentioned Five Entry Points to Writing free webinar! Join our Summer 2026 Writing Accountability Group - just $25 for entire summer and sessions are recorded - email me if you want to join us every Monday (christine@defendpublishlead.com) and get a FREE summer progress tracker Episodes Mentioned Episode 131: Why You Need an Orcid ID DPL Resources Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.
How close are we to human extinction because of AI? Leading AI expert Professor Stuart Russell believes we’re much too close for comfort and has been raising the alarm for a few years. Ironically, Stuart himself wrote the book that laid the foundation for AI research back in the 1990s. And he was the only AI expert Elon Musk’s team called upon during their trial with OpenAI. Stuart joins Oz to discuss what changed his mind about pursuing AI superintelligence and makes the argument that human extinction is being treated as an external liability in favor of shareholders. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/techstuff Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guaranteeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In Episode 285 of the Defend, Publish, and Lead podcast, host Christine Tulley tackles the anxiety of being scooped, when another scholar is about to publish something strikingly similar to your work-in-progress. She offers four practical strategies: carefully examine the competing project to assess how it truly differs from yours; consider whether the overlap signals a hot topic with room for multiple voices; identify different venues or presses to find your own lane; and, most counterintuitively, reach out to the potential scooper as a possible collaborator. Resources Mentioned Faculty Writing Support- it's open access and free! Read the introduction to learn more about how we moved from competitors to collaborators. Free Academic Parenting and Time Management Webinar Wed., June 17, 12-1pm ET. Join our Summer 2026 Writing Accountability Group. Just $25 for entire summer and sessions are recorded - email me if you want to join us every Monday (christine@defendpublishlead.com) and get a FREE summer progress tracker DPL Resources Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.
Suffering is the textbook that'll teach you who you really are. -------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
Struggling with retention, churn, or adoption in your product, service, or program? Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide and see how to apply real behavioral design to your engagement: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Alan Yeats, CEO of Pocket Sized Hands, a co-development game studio in Dundee, Scotland, explains why the best learning games start with play and add the curriculum second. He walks through real projects, a knife-crime prevention game stopped cold by school firewalls and a stem cell science game built with Cambridge University, to show how co-design keeps everyone pointed at the same goal. Alan argues that the job is to find the underlying play and the real "why" behind a request, not to cram years of lessons into one product. Listeners come away with a practical filter for any educational or engagement project: build a genuinely good game first, then weave the learning in so people actually engage. About the Host Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A globally recognized gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts. He designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Key Takeaways Pocket Sized Hands built a polished Jackbox-style game to steer young people away from knife crime, then hit a wall when school IT firewalls blocked the phone-to-screen connection the experience ran on. The end user is never the only stakeholder a product has to satisfy. For Cambridge University, the studio corrected public misconceptions about stem cell science by running back-to-basics workshops to isolate the one message that mattered, rather than cramming an entire syllabus into a single game. Alan Yeats's rule for education clients who want to throw the whole textbook at a game: make it genuinely fun first, then layer the lessons in, because curriculum with no play earns no engagement to teach against. Co-design converts a client from someone who merely commissioned a product into an owner who evangelizes it, which is why Pocket Sized Hands opens projects with a workshop for facilitators and real users instead of a written spec. Pitching the visual register openly, from a corporate LinkedIn-style progress bar to a fully magical world, lets a team test how far it can push a client before the client pushes back with "that is too much fun." Topics Covered 0:00 - Stop cramming textbooks into games 0:16 - Meet Alan Yeats and Pocket Sized Hands 3:16 - A knife-crime game blocked by firewalls 5:23 - Design for the stakeholders you forget 8:08 - The Cambridge stem cell game that worked 9:03 - Make the game fun first 10:40 - Co-design and finding the real problem 12:33 - From corporate progress bars to magical worlds 14:54 - Focus on the play, not the game 16:25 - The future guest he would want to hear 17:46 - Why Deep Work sharpens his focus 19:04 - His superpower, favorite game, and final advice Struggling with retention, churn, or adoption in your product, service, or program? Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide and see how to apply real behavioral design to your engagement: professorgame.com/WildCD About Alan Yeats Alan Yeats is the CEO of Pocket Sized Hands, a co-development game studio based in Dundee, Scotland. He left school at 16 to work on games, dropped out of university, and founded the studio nine years ago. Since then, Pocket Sized Hands has helped ship titles including Pocket Mortys for Adult Swim, Oddworld: Soulstorm, and Bendy and the Ink Machine, working with clients ranging from indie developers to major publishers. The studio specialises in co-development, porting, networking, and live ops. Find the Guest Online Pocket Sized Hands: pocketsizedhands.com Personal site: alanyeats.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanyeats X (studio): @PKTSizedHands Mentioned in This Episode Some links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Proposed future guest: someone who wants to use gamification but hasn't yet Recommended book: Deep Work by Cal Newport Favorite game: Ratchet & Clank 3 Free Resources and Get in Touch Core Drives in the Wild: Professor Game Free Guide Get Daily Value on Your Email Let's chat about your gamification project YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Start Your Community on Skool for Free Ask a question
In Episode 284 of the Defend, Publish, and Lead podcast, host Christine Tulley interviews productivity author Laura Vanderkam about her newly released book Big Time. In this book, Vanderkam centers on the idea of viewing time as abundant rather than scarce. She introduces the concept of "golden hours", the four to five hours between work and bedtime on weeknights, arguing that these underutilized stretches can be reclaimed for rejuvenation, socializing, and personal enjoyment rather than defaulting to doomscrolling. She also encourages academics to think in weeks (168 hours) rather than days, since the full week reveals far more available time than any single 24-hour period suggests. For academics juggling increasingly fragmented schedules — more classes, more committees, more email — Vanderkam offers three core strategies: track your time for a full week to see where it actually goes, set aside a dedicated weekly planning session to assign priorities to specific time slots, and always identify a backup research block in advance so that when life inevitably intervenes, progress doesn't grind to a halt. Tulley connects these ideas to the challenges of carving out scholarly writing time, and the conversation closes with Vanderkam emphasizing that time tracking isn't about self-judgment, but about ensuring the stories we tell ourselves about our time actually match reality. Resources Mentioned "Big Time" by Laura Vanderkam Join our Summer 2026 Writing Accountability Group. Just $25 for entire summer and sessions are recorded - email me if you want to join us every Monday (christine@defendpublishlead.com) and get a FREE summer progress tracker DPL Resources Set your writing goals with us! Try us out in a free consultation. Check out our current and past workshops at Eventbrite for writing support content. A FREE webinar is posted each month. Missed a workshop? Request a workshop or webinar recording from christine@defendandpublish.com Don't forget about the wonderful resources at Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The organization can be found at: https://www.taaonline.net New to TAA? Join for just $25 using discount code DP26! You will also receive a copy of the eBook, Guide to Making Time to Write: 100+ Time & Productivity Management Tips for Textbook and Academic Authors.
Can you memorize entire books by using your concentration alone? Some people claim such retention is possible, and often point to figures like Swami Vivekananda. Frankly, I’m skeptical. Not because Vivekananda wasn’t smart, influential and an author of interesting works. No, I’m skeptical and concerned because such claims are unlikely to be true. And not only has no solid evidence been presented, but when myths about people who aren’t here to be tested, stories about them tend to grow larger with each retelling. Plus, there is so much value to be had from real techniques that actually work. True, there’s a bit of effort involved in learning and using mnemonic devices properly. For some people, lots of effort. But you can still get there with proper training, steps you might never find if you’re lost in mythology and chasing after outcomes that were never true. That’s why I want to respond in depth to this question from a reader of this website and fan of the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass: I like your MMM System, and I am learning and following it bit by bit. But I have one doubt. In India the Swami Vivekananda and other people read a book page by page without using any mnemonics techniques, and are still able to recall all of the concepts and vocabulary words. Simply they say, and only by using concentration. Which memory technique is this? Is this better than mnemonics or journey system? How do I develop this type of memory? Thank you for your reply. Quick answer: Concentration certainly can assist memory when reading. But reliable recall and verbatim memorization from books requires robust memory techniques for encoding and ample review. I’ve done quite a bit of verbatim memorization and will share my process at the end of this post. For now, let’s look deeper at the question of whether or not concentration will help with book memorization. Can Concentration Alone Help You Memorize An Entire Book? Assuming Vivekananda did this or anyone exists who has memorized any substantial amount of information through concentration alone, then I guess that’s the word you would use to describe this memory technique: “Concentration.” Guess what? Concentration does work to help you form memories. It’s also a great way to connect new information to older information that you’ve already learned. But you have to concentrate on the right things, such as using a mnemonic linking method to connect the information in your mind. As far as I’m aware, there’s only ever been one documented case of what people sometimes call “photo reading.” But it’s an episode from the history of memory science that should make us all skeptical. I cover it in my full breakdown of why photographic memory doesn’t exist. Long story short, such claims involve people who are probably not being honest. Why Extraordinary Claims About Memory Need Scientific Testing Let me ask you this: Do you really think such extraordinary claims about people reading one page or more of a book and repeating it perfectly would stand up to scrutiny through scientific testing? Even if something like flashbulb memory were involved while reading (which is unlikely), the claims of being able to recall entire books remain dubious. Part of the argument about concentration assisting memory does make sense, however. Merely concentrating on a book does indeed help me personally learn and remember the material from it. But how exactly this increase would lead to memorization of the exact content without some kind of elaborative encoding in the mix is a mystery to me. How I Use Memory Techniques While Studying Law Frankly, I’ve dealt with lack of concentration often in my life. I’m dealing with it now as I go through law school and apply memory techniques to help me get through it. I reported this new study project recently in my law memorization announcement. In order to reliably memorize the tons of material I’m currently facing, I’m once again using the textbook memorization system that helped me so much while getting my PhD in Humanities at York University many years ago. You can learn all about the process in this detailed video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIQRiqQFKQY Here’s the full written version of the video above on How to Memorize a Textbook if you prefer reading. Quite frankly, there are so many advantages to this textbook method that I would sooner have people who are serious about learning take a few extra steps rather than experimenting with the claims of dead Swamis and their fans. In the case of Vivekananda, he was called a srutidhara. This is a Sanskrit term used to describe an eidetic person. This condition is sometimes confused with, but is absolutely not the same as photographic memory. Not only that, but eidetic memory has to do with visual memory, not the semantic memory involved in words on pages. According to my research, eidetic memory has only been scientifically demonstrated as valid for a couple of minutes. And as the original study by Ralph Haber discusses, it’s a kind of recall practically unheard of in adults. The Closest Case Still Involves Memory Techniques If there is one interesting case, you’ll find it in the story of Solomon Shereshevsky. But even then, there’s evidence that the potent memory skills of this figure involved the use of mnemonics. In any case, I suspect that many people can recite the gist of what they read on a page for a couple of minutes after placing a book aside. It’s long-term retention that matters. And this means that even if you could work on developing an eidetic memory to visually recall a page, it’s unlikely to help with developing the strong memory skills that help you retain information for the long haul. What Did Vivekananda Say About His Own Memory? Of course, Vivekananda did not use either the term photographic memory or eidetic memory. A large part of how his memory was described comes from the diary of a disciple named Shri Sharat Chandra Chakravarty. This disciple records the following statement from Vivekananda after being asked to explain how he quoted a variety of points from various texts: Simply by the observance of strict Brahmacharya (continence) all learning can be mastered in a very short time. Now, the fact that this quote comes from a diary doesn’t make it false. But the text does not exactly say that Vivekananda recited anything verbatim. In fact, the diary recounts: Disciple: Whatever you may say, sir, the manifestation of such superhuman power cannot be the result of mere Brahmacharya, something else there must be. Swamiji did not say anything in reply. Then Swamiji began to explain lucidly to the disciple the arguments and conclusions about the difficult points in all philosophies. Notice that Vivekananda, referred to here as “Swamiji” declines to explain himself further, as if to let the disciple create an illusion in his own head. A More Likely Explanation As for recalling a few passages here and there, which is what the text says Vivekananda actually did, I regularly perform this skill myself and often cite the page numbers of various quotes during my live streams. Do I use “continence” to do it? Partly, yes, in the sense that brahmacharya means to control the senses and bring one’s conduct into accordance with basic ethics. But I also use a PAO System to help me recall page numbers. It’s based on an ancient memory technique called the katapayadi, which Vivekananda almost certainly knew. He also likely knew: Krama-pāṭha Jaṭā-pāṭha Ghana-pāṭha These techniques are similar to the Recall Rehearsal process I’ll talk about in a bit more detail below. They help install lots of information in long-term memory that can lead to extraordinary results. Above all, it’s important to understand how other people exaggerate things. But unlike Vivekananda, when one of my private coaching clients exclaimed that I had spoken in eight languages in just fifteen minutes, I corrected him immediately. I said, “I may well have quoted various lines in a handful of languages, and probably drew from four or five. But let’s not mistake knowing various quotes in various languages for speaking those languages.” In other words, I did not sit in silence to bask in his praise or allow myths to grow. I nipped the false impression in the bud. Probably due to one of my biggest influences when I was younger. Why We Must Debunk Extraordinary Claims About Memory James Randi was a magician and professional skeptic who spent decades challenging people to demonstrate and validate their claims to have super powers of concentration. He even offered a million-dollar prize if they could prove their claims true. That’s a lot of coin, so it’s hard to believe that more people didn’t rush to get tested. Their absence says everything, don’t you think? I’ve read that the Randi prize was eventually terminated following his death, but it’s still worth knowing about and considering for its decades-long promotion of critical thinking. If we don’t promote critical thought ourselves, we risk having more and more gullible people roaming the earth. And we wind up with people thinking that everything is about memory and not another very important ingredient. Recall Without Understanding Is Not Enough Being able to recall what you read is not just about retention. Parrots can retain and repeat, after all. The results most people want involve (and should involve) developing deep understandings of written material. And content in any medium, for that matter. This point is important because you want to turn raw information into knowledge that leads to wisdom. This was a point made by Thomas Aquinas that still holds true. But to weave data and information into wisdom is likely only possible if you stop chasing after useless fantasies and worrying about which memory method or style is better than the others. The only method that ultimately matters is the one that: You'll actually use Gets you results reliably But if concentration works on its own for some people without using any kind of mnemonic method, what can I say? Rock and roll. Good for them and hurray. Personally, I’ll stick with memory techniques that can be, have been and will continue to be tested by authentic memory champions and polymaths in the future. With their level of skill in mind, let me give you a brief overview of how I suggest you go about tackling books. A Practical Formula for Memorizing Key Content From Books The path I suggest you follow is simple. Build at least one Memory Palace based on a familiar location Encode information inside of it using strongly elaborated mnemonic images Practice with material you care about in addition to books, such as poems, speeches, names and anything else you want to remember Recall the information using Recall Rehearsal (the Magnetic Memory Method term for a simple spaced repetition procedure that harnesses the power of the primacy effect and recency effect using serial positioning) Work on improving your selective attention skills Keep studying accelerated learning techniques for life You might also find my walkthrough on memorizing Sanskrit phrases useful. Apart from the passages from Shakespeare I shared in my Anthony Hopkins case study, memorizing verbatim from ancient Sanskrit books comprise the longest passages I’ve committed to memory. I’ve worked up to over 2000 words. If you’d like similar results, the best place to start is with a proper understanding of Memory Palace development. That’s why I created this free memory improvement course: It walks you through the process step-by-step with tutorial videos and worksheets. That way, you can stop wondering about whether memory techniques will work for you and start proving it to yourself with information you actually want to remember. And real memory training will stop the temptations and seductions of myths. As interesting as these stories might be, if they can’t be reproduced, they don’t matter.
LIL #002: Why Doing "All the Right Things" Keeps You BrokeThe investing playbook you inherited was never designed to set you free. Here's what works instead.Episode SummaryIn this episode of The Lifestyle Investor Podcast, host Justin Donald breaks down why following conventional investing wisdom - save, max out the 401k, grow the pile - keeps most people stuck. You'll learn the critical difference between a Textbook Investor and a Lifestyle Investor, how three mobile home parks created financial freedom for Justin's family, and the first five of his 10 Commandments of Cash Flow Investing.Question of the DayAre you a Textbook Investor or a Lifestyle Investor? What's one piece of conventional investing wisdom you've started to question? Drop it in the comments.Key TakeawaysThe "accumulate and deplete" model leaves you working until 65 with no guarantee it's enoughCash flow, not net worth, is how the ultra-wealthy measure real financial freedomThree mobile home parks replaced Justin's family income before he was ever a millionaireMost inherited investing wisdom was never questioned - it was just passed downThe 10 Commandments of Cash Flow Investing give you a framework the textbooks don't teachTimestamped Outline00:00 - Introduction and recap of the three shifts00:31 - What is a Textbook Investor?01:15 - The ham story - why we follow inherited wisdom01:37 - The problem with the textbook approach02:13 - What is a Lifestyle Investor?02:29 - How mobile home parks created financial freedom03:16 - Core differences: Textbook vs. Lifestyle Investor04:51 - The 10 Commandments of Cash Flow Investing05:46 - Five more commandments coming in future issues05:53 - Why the ultra-wealthy don't write textbooks06:25 - The choice is yours06:47 - What topics do you want next?Links & ResourcesThe Lifestyle Investor (Justin's book) - https://access.lifestyleinvestor.com/lifestyleinvestor-bookThe Lifestyle Investor Lens (weekly newsletter) - https://lifestyleinvestor.com/newsletterConnect & CTAEnjoyed this? Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Every week, The Lifestyle Investor Lens breaks down what's changing in the world of wealth, what the wealthy are doing differently, and how to build passive income that funds your life today: https://lifestyleinvestor.com/newsletterCreditsHost: Justin Donald © 2026 Lifestyle Investor. All rights reserved.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
learn 20 high-frequency expressions, including education and work-related words
In this episode of Here I Am with Shai Davidai, Shai sits down with Rebecca Schgallis and David Litman from CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis). They discuss how misinformation and ideological framing can shape public understanding of Israel and the United States, from news coverage to classroom curricula. Rebecca shares what she saw as a former high school history teacher and why she believes K-12 education has become a major front in shaping narratives, especially after October 7. David explains CAMERA's approach to media accountability and offers practical “red flags” viewers can look for, including selective context, loaded language, double standards, and misplaced agency. Guests: Rebecca Schgallis and David Litman Consider DONATING to help us continue and expand our media efforts. If you cannot at this time, please share this video with someone who might benefit from it. We thank you for your support!https://gofund.me/30c00151c BUY MERCH!https://hereiam.threadless.com/ SUPPORT SHAI ON PATREON!https://www.patreon.com/shaidavidai/about?utm_source=campaign-search-results
Send us a text if you want to be on the Podcast & explain why!SUF STM is the BEST corrective exercise certification because it helps personal trainers build a better team, assess clients in pain and charge more per hour. The avg suf-stm charges between 100-150/ hr whereas a NASM CES charges on avg $61. With purchase of the SUF-STM, you also get 1 year access to the Prehab Guys Exercise Library which provides more value for clients.Textbook certifications are everywhere, but the moment a client mentions shoulder pain, low back pain, or a post-ACL history, a multiple-choice test does not tell you what to do next. We talk candidly about the best specializations for personal trainers who want more skill, more income, and fewer “I hope this works” moments. The thread that ties it all together is simple: hands-on learning beats passive learning, especially when the goal is coaching performance around pain and keeping clients training safely. We compare big-name corrective exercise certifications with a mentorship-first model that emphasizes soft tissue mobilization within scope, barbell rehab basics, and a real assessment process you can repeat. We also get into what trainers actually need to level up: live feedback, video submissions, and the ability to lean on a physical therapist team when a case gets complex. Along the way, we challenge outdated cross-syndrome thinking, explain why the biopsychosocial model changes how clients experience pain, and share how better communication can improve retention during slow seasons. Finally, we make the case that anatomy mastery is the career shortcut nobody wants to do, but everyone benefits from. Knowing the actions of key muscles, understanding shoulder function, and being able to explain what you see is how you earn trust and charge $100 to $150 per session without feeling “salesy.” If you want a personal training specialization that builds real competence, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a trainer friend, and leave a review with the skill you want to master next.Want to become a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer? SUF-CPT is the FASTEST growing personal training certification in the world!Want to ask us a question? Email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!Website: https://www.showupfitness.com/Become a Successful Personal Trainer Book Vol. 2 (Amazon): https://a.co/d/1aoRnqANASM / ACE / ISSA study guide: https://www.showupfitness.com
Send us Fan Mail*FOR PART I of this interview, please go to the Reinforcing Conversations PodcastGrab a cold one and pull up a chair! In this episode of ABA on Tap, hosts Mike Rubio and Dan Lowery are joined by a powerhouse duo shaking up the behavior analysis space: Nicole Stewart and Christina Torres, creators of the Reinforcing Conversations podcast. This is a pod-swap, so part I of this convo starts on the Reinforcing Conversations platform. Please do check it out.Nicole and Christina are known for their honest, unfiltered dialogue and deep reflection on the ethics of real-world practice. In this "pour," the crew moves past the rigid, compliance-based textbook jargon to focus on what it truly means to center humanity while still honoring the science. They dive into the realities of modern clinical practice, the nuances of trauma-assumed care, and how to build an authentic professional brand without losing your mind.In this pour, we are serving up:Textbook vs. Reality: Why standard "one-size-fits-all" behavior protocols fail in the field, and how to individualize affirming care.Trauma-Assumed Practices: Shifting the focus from strict behavioral compliance to fostering true safety, assent, and belonging.Building an Authentic Brand: Christina shares her journey as a self-made entrepreneur and how she uses social media to make ABA accessible.Navigating Field Burnout: Honest talk on setting boundaries, advocating for yourself, and upholding ethical supervision standards.Whether you are a seasoned BCBA, an RBT in the trenches, or a business owner trying to steer the future of therapy, this episode delivers the straight talk you need—minus the boring jargon.Tune in, drink up, and always analyze responsibly!Connect with the Guests:Listen to their podcast: Reinforcing Conversations on SpotifyFollow on Instagram: @reinforcing.conversationsSupport the show
(Stereo Version) Back when CheapShow was only a couple of dozen or so episodes old, the economy comedy podcast was originally recorded in Cambridge, where Paul had his fill of charity shops to explore. However, despite recording there for almost two years, they'd never done a “walkabout” episode. So this week, to make up for lost time, Paul and Eli are heading back to Cambridge for a wander and a “Tat Hunt”. Not only that, but because Ep 500 will be a LIVE EVENT at the Cambridge Junction venue in August, it gives them a chance to track down and snoop about the theatre. The Tat Hunt rules are in place… They both get £10 to spend on whatever they can… Trinkets, Toys, Tracks or Textbooks, and they get to review them in next week's conclusion. So here we are, Part One of another Tat Hunt adventure that ends up being all “rather pleasant”, which is a delightful change! See pics/videos for this episode on our website: https://www.thecheapshow.co.uk/ep-488-tat-hunt-cambridge GET TICKETS FOR Ep 500 LIVE Cambridge Junction (J2) August 23rd @ 4pm https://www.junction.co.uk/events/cheapshow-podcast-live/ www.patreon.com/cheapshow If you want to get involved, email us at thecheapshow@gmail.com For all other information, please visit: www.thecheapshow.co.uk Like, Review, Share, Comment... LOVE US! MERCH Official CheapShow Magazine Shop: www.cheapmag.shop Send Us Stuff: CheapShow PO BOX 1309 Harrow HA1 9QJ
(Mono Version) Back when CheapShow was only a couple of dozen or so episodes old, the economy comedy podcast was originally recorded in Cambridge, where Paul had his fill of charity shops to explore. However, despite recording there for almost two years, they'd never done a “walkabout” episode. So this week, to make up for lost time, Paul and Eli are heading back to Cambridge for a wander and a “Tat Hunt”. Not only that, but because Ep 500 will be a LIVE EVENT at the Cambridge Junction venue in August, it gives them a chance to track down and snoop about the theatre. The Tat Hunt rules are in place… They both get £10 to spend on whatever they can… Trinkets, Toys, Tracks or Textbooks, and they get to review them in next week's conclusion. So here we are, Part One of another Tat Hunt adventure that ends up being all “rather pleasant”, which is a delightful change! See pics/videos for this episode on our website: https://www.thecheapshow.co.uk/ep-488-tat-hunt-cambridge GET TICKETS FOR Ep 500 LIVE Cambridge Junction (J2) August 23rd @ 4pm https://www.junction.co.uk/events/cheapshow-podcast-live/ www.patreon.com/cheapshow If you want to get involved, email us at thecheapshow@gmail.com For all other information, please visit: www.thecheapshow.co.uk Like, Review, Share, Comment... LOVE US! MERCH Official CheapShow Magazine Shop: www.cheapmag.shop Send Us Stuff: CheapShow PO BOX 1309 Harrow HA1 9QJ
How a lingering ocean heatwave could affect our weather and sea life here in SoCal. UCLA has a new tool to teach Asian American and Pacific Islander history to Gen Z. And the labor activist Dolores Huerta is honored with a new mural in L.A. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comSupport the show: https://laist.com
Tim Draper didn't become a legendary investor with billions in his account overnight; he started by taking a $6 million loan to launch his first venture fund, knowing failure was a real possibility. That decision didn't just shape his career; it laid the foundation for backing some of the biggest companies in the world, including Hotmail, Skype, Tesla, and more. In this episode, Tim joins Ilana to break down how to spot world-changing ideas before they make sense, why most people miss their biggest opportunities, and how listening to your gut can be more powerful than logic alone. He shares the lessons behind massive wins like Hotmail, painful misses like Netflix, and the mindset required to navigate uncertainty, fear, and reinvention. Tim Draper is a third-generation venture capitalist, founder of Draper University, and one of Silicon Valley's most legendary investors. He is a lifelong advocate for entrepreneurship, innovation, and the next generation of world-changing founders. In this episode, Ilana and Tim will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (04:11) Early Lessons on Money, Risk, and Capitalism (08:43) Leaving Home at 13 and Learning to Figure It Out (11:48) Venture Capital Roots and Family Background (14:17) Taking a $6 Million Loan and Betting on Himself (17:14) Spotting Billion-Dollar Companies Before Anyone Else (20:11) The Viral Growth Strategy Behind Hotmail (23:26) How Skype Changed Global Communication Forever (29:18) Navigating the Dot-Com Crash (34:13) Will AI and Crypto Follow the Same Boom Cycle? (35:55) The Power of Listening to Your Gut as an Entrepreneur (46:59) Q&A: How Do I Know What to Invest In? Tim Draper is a third-generation venture capitalist and founder of Draper University. He backed world-changing companies, including Hotmail, Skype, Tesla, SpaceX, Coinbase, and Robinhood. Known for spotting transformative trends before the mainstream, he's also a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship education, cryptocurrency, and celebrating innovation. His show Meet the Drapers reaches roughly 300 million people globally. Connect with Tim Tim's Website: https://timothydraper.com/ Tim's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothydraper/ Tim's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timdraper/ Resources Mentioned: Tim's Book, How to be the Startup Hero - A Guide and Textbook for Entrepreneurs and Aspiring Entrepreneurs: https://www.amazon.com/How-Startup-Hero-Textbook-Entrepreneurs/dp/1973585340/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training
The Human Spatial Computing book was published by Oxford University Press on February 5, 2026, and I had a chance to interview the co-authors Reginé Gilbert and Doug North Cook a few weeks after it launched. They alternative as the lead author on each chapter, which provides a comprehensive overview of designing for XR through a variety of different lenses. The entire book is grounded in human rights and ethics, with a recurring focus on how to design experiences that are inclusive and accessible to as diverse of an audience as possible. There's a helpful recap of the history of human computer interaction that goes way back to desire to recreate reality with the Leonardo da Vinci paintings and the imaginative worldbuilding creating new realities by science fiction writers. Other topics covered include insights from universal design principles, industrial design affordances, architecture, neuroscience, and ethics. Here's a list of the chapters of the book, which we also do a brief recap and overview throughout the course of this interview. Why Should We Care about Ethics? The Story of Human–Computer Interaction What Connects Us All Universal Design for Spatial Computing Merging Human Creativity with Technology The Body Affordances of Immersive Technology and the Future of Computing Spatial Computing and the Brain Where Do We Go From Here? There are also a lot of questions and activities at the end of each chapter, which makes this Human Spatial Computing book a compelling textbook option for folks teaching XR design. This is a listener-supported podcast through the Voices of VR Patreon. Music: Fatality
In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with JoAnn McCaig about her new novel, Beneficiary (U Calgary Press, 2026). A novel about what it means to face the world as a woman on her own terms from the award-winning author of The Textbook of the Rose and An Honest Woman. Seren was doomed to a country club cage and a leash of pearls until out of the blue on a Tuesday night in 1969, she found herself suddenly saying “no.” More than fifty years later, she looks back on her life and each choice that followed, beautiful, tragic and completely her own. Leaving her family for the freedom of the 1970s, Seren began a quest to discover how to live in this world as her true self—a quest that would take her from the heady countercultural milieu of communal houses on Vancouver Island through marriage and motherhood, divorce, and an unexpected inheritance that changed everything. Suddenly wealthy, Seren must wrestle with money, with class, and what it means to have more than most. What does it mean to live truly, through tragedy and heartbreak? How do we create ourselves in a world that keeps changing? What does it mean to have money when so many people don't? A richly written, fiercely feminist novel imbued with real bravery, Beneficiary weaves the past and the present in a rich tapestry of life. JoAnn McCaig is the author of The Textbook of The Rose and An Honest Woman. She is the proud owner of Shelf Life Books, an independent bookstore in her hometown of Calgary, AB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Join the channel for daily lessons: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Pbt3q-ihROg1lmmmQdU2w/join Or join the podcast for audio lessons on your favorite podcast platform: https://gne.supercast.com Gabby (00:00) If you still struggle to think 100 % in English, then this is for you. If you're new here, hi, I'm Gabby, your American English fluency coach here at Go Natural English. And today we're talking about something that can completely change your English fluency. Stop translating in your head and do this instead. Maybe this happens to you. Someone asks you a simple question in English and inside your brain, there's a whole emergency meeting happening. You hear English, you translate it into your native language, and you think of your answer in your native language, you translate it back into English, then you check the grammar, then maybe you wonder, you doubt yourself, is this natural? Is this how people really speak in real life or is this just... what I learned in my textbook, but by the time you're ready to answer, the conversation has already moved on. You lost your chance. If that sounds familiar, you are not the problem. You're not bad at English. You just were taught the wrong way. You're using a process that you learned in your classroom from your textbook that is too slow for real conversation. So today, I'm going to show you how to start thinking more directly in English. Not by forcing your brain, not by memorizing more grammar rules, but by building an English environment around your real life. And I think this is actually really fun because here's the truth. You don't start thinking in English by translating faster. It's always going to slow you down. You start thinking in English by living more of your life through English. So here, the obstacle is the way. The obstacle, English fluency, is the way. Living your life through English is the way to fluency. So now I'm gonna share concrete, specific examples that you can use to start thinking in English today. This is going to improve your fluency so much, and I'm so excited. Just before we jump in, I want to let you know about a special project that I've started and I want to invite you to join and go deeper in your fluency with me. If you enjoy these free lessons and you want daily private English lessons, join as a YouTube channel member or a private fluency podcast member, whichever you prefer. Some people prefer watching on YouTube. Some people prefer listening to the podcast. The link is in the description. You'll get short, about 15 to 20 minute daily private English lessons designed to help you immerse yourself in real English. They're conversational lessons with real learning and everyone, we do talk about vocabulary to expand the way you express yourself and real life English. This will help you to start thinking in English more naturally. And there's no big commitment. You can just try it for a month and see for yourself. Also, we've kept this super affordable because we want to help as many people as possible around the world to improve their fluency and confidence. So this is honestly one of the best ways to make English part of your everyday life. It's easy. It's simple. All you have to do is watch along with the videos that I make for you and repeat after me. Just copy and repeat me. Repeat after me. Even if you're busy, you can do this. Okay. So now let's talk about why translation keeps you stuck. This is important to understand the problem. Most people learning English were trained to treat English like a school subject. You study vocabulary, you memorize grammar rules, you translate sentences, you fill in the blanks, you answer textbook questions. Can you relate to any of this? Did you have to do this? All of that can help you build a solid foundation, but real English conversations do not sound like a textbook. And when you go from the classroom and your textbook to real life English, you can feel overwhelmed, stressed out, and honestly feel kind of bad about your English because there is a big gap. But again, it's not your fault. See, native speakers do not usually speak like your teacher. And that's why I'm here to help you understand how to bridge that gap between your old English class and real life English now. So your teacher might say, for example, what are you doing? But in real life, especially in casual American English, people often say, what are you doing? Or what are you up to? Or even what you doing? These are all ways to ask the same thing that you might not have heard or learned, but this is important to start getting familiar with how natives really speak. If your brain is waiting to hear that perfect, clear textbook English, you may not recognize real life English when you hear it. That's one reason you feel like I know English, but I still can't understand people. You may know the clean version of English. The real life gives you the connected version. So let's compare. Textbook English. What are you going to do? Real spoken English. What are you going to do? Textbook English. I do not know. Real spoken English. I don't know. Textbook English. Did you eat yet? Real spoken English. Geet yet? That one sounds funny, but yes, some people really do say it that way. Textbook English. Do you want to? Real spoken English. You wanna? Textbook English. I am going to. Real spoken English. I'm gonna. Now I'm not saying you always need to speak this casually, but you absolutely need to understand it. Because if you only study perfect textbook English, Real English will sound blurry, messy, confusing, and too fast. But it's not random. It has patterns. Native speakers connect words. We reduce sounds. We drop sounds altogether. We blend words together. So part of thinking in English is training your brain to recognize English as it is actually spoken, as you hear it, not just as it is written and as you know how to read it. So here's the big mindset shift for today. Fluency is not translation. Fluency is direct connection. You want to connect an English word with the real meaning, an English phrase with the feeling, an English sound with the situation, an English expression with real life use, not English to your native language to the meaning to your native language to English. So that middle step is what slows you down. So instead of asking, how do I translate this or how do I say this in my native language? Ask, when would I use this in English? For example, don't just translate, I'm running late. That could mean something very different if we translate this directly, literally. Connected to the situation, you're leaving the house, you're stuck in traffic. You're texting someone, you're five minutes behind schedule, that's when you say, I'm running late. Now the phrase is not just a translation, it's connected to your real life. That's how you start thinking in English, connecting real life phrases with real life situations. So now maybe you've heard people say, just immerse yourself in English, and maybe you think, okay, Gabby, but I don't live in the United States. I don't have English speaking friends. I don't work in English all day. It's okay. I get it. Immersion does not have to mean moving to another country. Immersion means creating more English contact points throughout your day. And I think this can be fun. I want you to remember this phrase, start slow and grow. You don't need to change your whole life overnight. Start with small, repeatable habits. Five minutes of journaling. listening to a song in English, one Netflix scene with English subtitles, one voice note to yourself, one short conversation, one private podcast lesson a day. The goal is not to study English for three hours once a week. The goal is to touch English every day in ways that feel meaningful, meaningful to you. Now, let me teach you five useful phrases for this topic because even as we talk about learning to think in English, we can improve your vocabulary. So number one, of course, think in English. This means you connect ideas directly in English without translating every word. For example, and please repeat after me. I'm trying to think in English instead of translating everything. Next, real life English. This means English as people actually use it in normal conversations. For example, I want to understand real life English, not just textbook English. Next, word for word translation. This means translating each individual word instead of understanding the whole idea. For example, word for word translation makes me speak too slowly. Next, daily immersion. This means surrounding yourself with English a little bit every day. For example, daily immersion helps my brain get used to English. Next, natural expression. This is a phrase that sounds normal to native speakers. For example, instead of translating from my language, I want to learn natural expressions. Now, repeat after me. I want to think in English. I want to understand real life English. Moving away from word for word translation. Daily immersion helps me improve. I'm learning natural expressions. Beautiful. Great job. Now let's learn five phrasal verbs that connect beautifully to this topic. First, to pick up. Now this has many meanings, but today we're talking about the meaning to learn something naturally. often without formal study. For example, you can pick up natural English by listening every day. This is what children do. They pick up language from hearing it again and again. Next, get used to, to become comfortable with something over time. For example, at first fast English sounds difficult, but you'll get used to it. This is huge. You don't need to understand everything in English immediately. You need repeated exposure. Next, tune in means to listen or pay attention, especially to audio or video. For example, tune into English podcasts while you're cooking or walking. Next, speak up to say something more clearly, confidently or publicly. For example, Creating a private podcast can help you speak up in English. To keep up with means to follow or understand something that's moving quickly. For example, at first it's hard to keep up with native speakers, but it gets easier. Now repeat after me. I can pick up English naturally. I'm getting used to fast English. I tune in every day. I'm learning to speak up. I can keep up with real conversations. Excellent. I love this for you. Now, here's one of the most important points in this whole episode. Do not just study English. Do things through English. There's a big, big difference. Studying English is when English is the subject. You're solely focused on English. Doing life through English is when English becomes the tool. For example, instead of only writing practice sentences in a notebook, write a real letter in English. You could write to a politician about an issue you care about. You could write to an organization you support. You could write letters to seniors in assisted living who may not have family visiting them. You could write encouraging notes to people who are lonely. You could write to inmates through a legitimate, safe letter writing program if that's something meaningful to you. I'm just sharing these examples as ways that you can use English in real life as a tool and it will help you develop your fluency and give you meaning and motivation while you do it. Now, English is not just an exercise. English is helping you express your values. That is powerful because your brain remembers language better when there's emotion, purpose, and real meaning attached to it. Now let's talk about speaking. A lot of learners say, I don't have anyone to practice with. And I understand that is a real challenge, but I also want to gently challenge you. You can create reasons to speak. You could start a YouTube channel in English. It doesn't have to be public at first. You can make all the videos private. You could start a podcast in English and not publish it until you're ready. You could record voice notes to yourself. You could explain your day in English. You could review a book, a movie, a recipe, a news story, or personal experience. The point is, at this level, give yourself a reason to keep speaking. Don't wait for an assignment from your teacher. In fact, I want to empower you through these lessons to give you ideas to use English in the real world. even if you don't feel quite ready yet. This might be the push or the sign that you've been waiting for. If you're only waiting for the perfect conversation partner, you may wait forever. But if you start speaking privately or publicly, you train your mouth, your brain and your confidence. And later when a real conversation happens, your English is already warmed up. So let's build what I call your immersion ladder. You don't need to jump from textbook exercises to full speed native conversations overnight. That's too much pressure. Instead, climb the ladder step by step. Step one, journaling. Write three sentences a day in English, in a notebook, on your phone, in a word doc. For example, today I feel a little tired, but I'm proud of myself because I practiced English. Step two, music. Listen to songs that you like in English. Look up the lyrics. Sing along. I did this a lot when I was learning Spanish. It was a huge help. Music helps with rhythm, pronunciation, connected speech, and emotional memory. Step three, Netflix or YouTube. Watch short clips in English. Don't try to understand the whole movie perfectly, but watch one scene. Repeat one line. Notice how people really speak. And step four, private speaking practice. Record yourself answering simple questions. For example, what did I do today? What am I looking forward to? What is one thing I care about? And step five, real conversations. Talk with people online, in a class, in a community, while traveling or in your workplace. Step six, travel or routine change. If possible, take a trip where you can practice English outside your normal routine in your native language. It doesn't have to be a huge, expensive trip. Even a short trip, a conference, a retreat, a meetup, or a local intentional event that you're interested in can help. Or if you're traveling internationally, go to a local event there. The key is to put yourself in a situation where English becomes useful, not just academic. It's not just about the grades. It's about how you and use English in real life. So this is exactly why I created Private Daily Lessons. If you want help making English part of your daily life, join as a YouTube channel member or a Private Fluency Podcast member. The link is in the description. You'll get daily private English lessons about 15 minutes a day so you can immerse yourself in real English consistently. This is for you if you want to think in English, understand natural American English, and build fluency without needing to sit down with a textbook for hours. No commitment. Try it for a month and see for yourself. Okay, now let's talk about what this sounds like in real life. Let's compare the translating version and the natural version. So imagine someone asks, what are you up to this weekend? A translating answer might sound like, I will make the cleaning of my house and maybe I will see a movie. It's understandable, but it sounds translated. Very strange. A more natural answer, I'm probably going to clean up around the house and maybe watch a movie. Notice, clean up around the house. Probably going to. Watch a movie. Very normal, very natural. Another example. What are you doing later? Textbook brain hears, what are you doing later? Natural answer. Not much. I might grab a dinner with a friend or I'm just taking it easy tonight or I'm catching up on some work. Now let's practice those. Not much. I might grab dinner with a friend. I'm just taking it easy tonight. I'm catching up on some work. These are the kind of phrases you want to absorb as whole chunks. Don't translate every word. Let the whole phrase speak for you. Learn the whole phrase connected to the situation. Now here's a big fluency tip. Think in chunks, not individual words. A chunk is a group of words that native speakers commonly use together. For example, I'm running late. I'll get back to you. That makes sense. I'm looking forward to it. Let me think about it. I'm not sure yet. I'm trying to figure it out. I didn't catch that. What are you up to? I'm taking it easy. When you learn chunks, you don't have to build every sentence from zero. You can pull a phrase from memory and use it. That's how real fluency feels. It's not perfect grammar construction every time. from scratch, from zero, it's having useful language ready when you need it. So instead of studying one word at a time, like late, learn I'm running late. Instead of studying the word understand, learn that makes sense. Instead of studying one word like busy, learn I've got a lot going on. That is real English. So let me tell you a quick personal story. When I was learning Portuguese, I remember feeling frustrated because I could understand my teachers pretty well. They spoke clearly, they used organized sentences, they slowed down for me, and I thought, okay, I'm getting good at this. Then I went outside into real life and suddenly I felt like I knew nothing. People were speaking fast, they were using slang, they were cutting words, they were laughing, they were talking. over each other and I remember thinking wait, did I study the wrong language? But I didn't study the wrong language. I'd studied the classroom version and now I needed the real life version. So I started listening more. I paid attention to repeated phrases. I copied what people actually said. I stopped trying to translate every single word and slowly things started to click. Not all at once, but little by little. And that is what I want for you. So don't be discouraged if real English feels fast. It's not a sign that you're failing. It's a sign that you're ready for the next level. Now let's practice. Repeat after me. I don't need to translate every word. I can connect English directly to meaning. I'm learning real life English. I'm getting used to fast English. I can pick up natural phrases by listening every day. I'm going to start slow and grow. I can make English part of my daily life. I don't just study English. I do life through English. I can write, speak, listen, and think in English every day. My fluency is growing one day at a time. Beautiful. Now let's make this practical. Here's your challenge for the next seven days. Every day, do one small thing through English. Write three sentences in English about your day. Listen to one song in English and read the lyrics. Watch one short YouTube video or a Netflix scene in English. Record a one minute voice note in English. Write a letter, comment, email, or message in English about something you care about. Repeat five natural phrases out loud. Have one real conversation, even if it's short. So do one of these things each day. Those were seven activities. You can do one each day for the next seven days. And remember, you're not trying to be perfect. You're training your brain to connect English with your real life. That's how you stop translating. So let's review what we learned today. You can expect native speakers to sound like real life English, not like your teacher or your textbook. In real life, people don't always say, what are you doing? They say, what are you doing? So if you want to understand real English, you need real English input. To think in English, you must immerse yourself in English, but start slow and grow. Use journaling, music, Netflix, YouTube, podcasts, voice notes, real conversations, and travel when possible. Don't just study English, make English a part of your daily life. Write through English, speak through English, listen through English, think through English, create through English, and most importantly, learn chunks, not just individual words. This is how your English becomes faster, smoother, and more natural. I want to leave you with this thought. You do not become fluent by translating perfectly. You become fluent by living imperfectly through English every day. So take the pressure off. You don't have to understand every word. You don't have to speak perfectly. You don't have to sound like a native speaker tomorrow, but you can take one small step today. One sentence, one song, one voice note, one conversation, one private lesson, one real life moment in English. This is how fluency grows. If you want daily support with this join as a YouTube channel member or a private fluency podcast member The link is in the description You'll get daily private English lessons about 15 minutes a day to help you immerse yourself in English Understand natural American English and start thinking in English. There's no commitment. Try it for a month and see for yourself I'm Gabby from go natural English And thank you so much for watching and learning with me today. So in the next episode, we'll keep building your real life fluency. So make sure you subscribe and turn on notifications. And remember, don't just study English, live through English.
Purple Pants Podcast | Split The Vote: Survivor 50 Episode 9 Recap Textbook Survivor: Cirie Edition Split the Vote is back with a deep dive into Survivor 50 Episode 8, and Rob is joined by Survivor Maryland alums and superfans Connor, Sam, and Natalie to break down an episode that proved perception can be just as dangerous as reality. From the fallout of Tribal Council to messy damage control, this episode was all about who looks powerful, who thinks they're in control, and who quietly positions themselves to benefit when everything implodes Tickets and updates for Brice and Wen 50 events:https://briceandwenpresent.flite.city/ You can also watch along on Brice Izyah’s YouTube channel to watch us break it all down https://youtube.com/channel/UCFlglGPPamVHaNAb0tL_s7g LISTEN: Subscribe to the Purple Pants podcast feed WATCH: Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Previously on the Purple Pants Podcast Feed: Purple Pants Podcast Archives
Purple Pants Podcast | Split The Vote: Survivor 50 Episode 9 Recap Textbook Survivor: Cirie Edition Split the Vote is back with a deep dive into Survivor 50 Episode 8, and Rob is joined by Survivor Maryland alums and superfans Connor, Sam, and Natalie to break down an episode that proved perception can be just as dangerous as reality. From the fallout of Tribal Council to messy damage control, this episode was all about who looks powerful, who thinks they're in control, and who quietly positions themselves to benefit when everything implodes Tickets and updates for Brice and Wen 50 events:https://briceandwenpresent.flite.city/ You can also watch along on Brice Izyah's YouTube channel to watch us break it all down https://youtube.com/channel/UCFlglGPPamVHaNAb0tL_s7g Previously on the Purple Pants Podcast Feed:Purple Pants Podcast Archives LISTEN: Subscribe to the Purple Pants podcast feed WATCH: Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeSUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Max breaks down seven essential French words and expressions you'll hear every day in France but probably never learned in a textbook. You'll hear them in context, explore real-life examples, and understand the subtle nuances behind each one. Which one will you start using straight away?➡️ Click here to watch the video version of this episode.➡️ Get free mini-lessons and language tips every week by signing up to our newsletter: https://coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.