Today we talked about memory and memories, and made a spider graph of all of the words that are connected to this topic. We also skimmed and scanned three short articles about memory enhancement. One of the articles was called "facts and figures" so as an introduction we watched a video of Arthur Benjamin performing "mathemagic". Below you will find a link to that video as well as to other pages and videos that are related to the topic.
The homework assignment is to write an autobiography after doing some exercises from the photocopies I gave to the class. Even if you weren't at the lesson, you should come to class next week with a written autobiography. It does not have to be long, but it should be well-organized and give details about significant events and periods.
Here are the links: (let me know if you have read this post and tell me what you think about the links!)
http://www.ted.com/talks/arthur_benjamin_does_mathemagic.html
15 min. video about “mathemagic” by Arthur Benjamin
(don't forget to turn on the subtitles!)
http://www.subply.com/en/Video/Improve+your+memory+with+the+POPCORN+method/1bf52548-b753-4b85-bcd1-e89da4dc8738/eng
5 minute video on a method to improve your memory
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-602962800234523793#
Excellent BBC Video on memory (50 min.)
http://www.mindtools.com/memory.html
A whole page of memory improvement techniques and links to similar articles.
11 comments:
Hello Dianna! The last lesson was really interesting. A question: the singular of "memories" is "memory"?? Thank you very much!
Hi Dianna, the video about "popcorn" is really funny and also useful! Thank you for the advice! Bye!
The plural form of memory (un ricordo) is memories (i ricordi), but memory is also 'la memoria' - meaning the ability to remember things (I have a good memory), the place where memories are stored (I have a memory like an elephant.)
Ciao Diana :)
Could you please help me? I was listening a song (with lyrics) by Beyonce when I saw something strange.
She says "If I were a boy" but it's written "If I was a boy". Is it possible?
Thank you for the answer :)
Marco
Thank you Dianna for the explanation. So you can understand the meaning ("memoria" or "ricordo") from the context of the phrase?
@Marco: If I were a boy is correct, but so many people say "was", that it has become correct also, mostly in spoken English. That's what happens in "descriptive" grammar - whatever a lot of people decide is right, becomes right!
@anon: yes, the context helps, but if you are writing you have to know the difference!
I've just watched the mathemagician...wow, he's astonishing! And quite funny as well.
I particularly enjoyed the scene when he talks about his mnemonic codes. Cookie fission fission cookie.
He should have kept the secret, now we know we can steal the show :P
Hi Dianna,
you are wonderfull. Unfortunately last mondey I missed your lesson but I have just given a glance at the mathemagician and I'm partial to popcorn.I hope to be able to download it on my laptop to watch it again and again to test it. I'm quite afraid about my homework because I don't know the right way to do it, moreover I had to confess that I fell embarrassed by the topic. Anyway thank you very mutch indeed because astonished by the way you wark,I fell like a boy in atoyshop...
Franca Valeria
Just a question:
Does "on graduating " mean appena dopo la laurea?
Many thanks by Franca Valeria
Dear Franca, yes, you are right!
Hi Dianna,
I have just analysed in details "Arthur Benjamin does mathemagic" and "Improve your memory with the popcorn method". Concerning the former I want you to know that it doesn't work very well for your students'self-esteeem.Two passages were too difficult for me:1) that one in which he is explaining the exercise he wants to do after squared three digit number 2)the other one when he explains his "big finish".Anyway what does cookie fission mean? The latter instead gives us difficult instructions . I'm referring to positive attitude,find and keep concentration and how boring is for me reviewing information loud. Won't I never improve my trained memory? As regards BBC video on memory it doesn't allow me to collect vocabulary on one hand because of lack of subtitles and on the other hand because it lasts more than the others and it's impossible to watch it twice or more in succession. No matter how hard it is trying to undertand it but at the same time it is really interesting especially for me cause I'm fashinated by brain's structures and functions.
Franca Valeria
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