Have you asked yourself this question before?
I know I have.
So is technology destroying our memory or is it helping it?
Yes, we live in a world of constant distractions, but technology does have its advantages.
Listen to what Lisa Genova, author and neuroscientist, has to say about the topic.
Do you use jargon when speaking or writing in English?
So what exactly is it?
Jargon is a bit like a secret ‘insider’ language. It’s a language that is only understood by people in a certain group. Those who use it believe it makes them sound more professional.
You might hear words or expressions like ‘due diligence’, ‘core competency’, ‘outside the box’ or ‘low-hanging fruit’.
The problem though is that it can be difficult for people outside the group to understand.
So what can you do about it?
If you’re talking to someone outside your professional group or writing to an international audience, use words you know your readers or listeners will easily understand.
They’ll thank you for it!
I like grammar-monster.com‘s definition.
An analogy is a comparison of two things to highlight their similarities. The things being compared are often physically different, but an analogy highlights how they are alike.
Here’s an example of one that is often used. It’s from the film Forrest Gump.
“Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get.”
It’s true, isn’t it?
Life is unpredictable and full of surprises. Of course, we never know what will happen next.
Now, over to you. Would you like to complete the following sentence?
Reading an exciting book is like ….
“Let go of certainty.
The opposite isn’t uncertainty.
It’s openness, curiosity and a willingness to embrace paradox, rather than choose up sides.
The ultimate challenge is to accept ourselves exactly as we are, but never stop trying to learn and grow.”
Tony Schwartz
Some thoughts for you before the weekend!
Practise making small talk!
Steer the conversation to something interesting. Learn how to ask good questions that show a real interest in the other person. A good question can keep them talking for several minutes.
And a few decent questions will leave the other person thinking you’re a brilliant conversationalist.
If you need some practise, you know where to go: https://english-trainer.de/angebote/
You’ve probably experienced ‘neuroplasticity‘ many times.
But what exactly is it?
‘Neuroplasticity’ is the ability we all have to rewire our brains by forming new connections and by weakening old ones.
This animation illustrates it well.
And what does it mean?
1. Anyone can learn new information or new skills.
2. We learn by repeating what we’ve learnt over and over again.
So age is no barrier to learning a language. Yes, there’s no excuse. 
