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3. Communication courses. How to communicate confidently.
The world of communication is changing rapidly. The need for people to do public speaking in their work is constantly rising be it face to face or via the web. Stress in the working place is increasing dramatically, and one of the main reasons is the lack of confidence in giving presentations.
More and more people are more frequently taking communication courses these days to help them in both work and home life. If you find it difficult to speak up during seminars, if you feel you can’t get a word in edgeways when others are talking and just want to manage these situations with more ease and confidence, you should do a communication course.
There you will learn how to:/ The course will teach you how to:
interact successfully with other people/ communicate more effectively, in an assertive and not a passive or aggressive way
remain in control of your emotions and your voice (Your voice gives people a clear indication of how you are feeling. If we’re stressed, our voices can crack under pressure and get louder giving away our emotions)
maintain good posture (Even when you are sitting still, your body is communicating with the audience. Aim to look confident.)
stay calm and polite
consider your potential listeners/ be aware of your listeners
understand cultural differences
dress smartly to make a good impression (People judge you very quickly. You look much more confident when you have made an effort to smarten your appearance.)
prepare what you want to say before the event. (Keep rehearsing it until you can say it confidently.)
4. Do men and women communicate differently?
There are some differences in communication styles of men and women. This is because of the fact that our brains function in different ways. Men speak more directly and get straight to the point, while women go into details and beat about the bush. Also, women are more successful in building relationships and they are more talkative.
In sharp contrast to women, men are much more likely to dominate a conversation and to show off. Men often prefer facу-to-face communication with the opportunity to shake hands or pat each other’s shoulders. Men typically have wider postures in order to stand out and hold center stage.
Speaking about non-verbal communication, females almost always use eye contact thereby paying attention and engaging with someone, while males don’t think its necessary. Males still use eye contact as a challenge of power or position in order to maintain status in a hierarchical social order. Women use participatory listening, they nod to show that they are listening, but for men nodding is considered agreeing with what one is saying.
In addition, facial expressions vary based on gender. Overall men use fewer facial expression than women. Moreover, men are more likely to focus on the process rather than on a relationship. Men are more interested on the results rather than on details.
In conclusion, too often these communication styles are seen as a problem, but from my perspective it would be much more productive and convenient for everyone if we could find a way to benefit from these differences rather than arguing over them.
5. Public speaking.
Public speaking may be terrifying for some people, since a speaker has to hold centre stage and engage people with interest and excitement. The feeling of social anxiety and lack of confidence may be so unbearable that some speakers forget to consider their potential listeners. To interact successfully with the audience, a speaker needs to maintain good posture and try to raise interest in the subject he/she is talking about. Public speaking requires giving a speech with ease and confidence. Even though the main goal of public speaking is to impart information, it is essential to remain in control of one’s emotions and voice. A good speaker needs to be aware of the audience and not to forget to make eye contact and to speak up. If needed, speakers should change the pace of their delivery and volume of their voice.
Some speakers are afraid of looking a fool in front of other people. They start to stumble over words, ramble, look all over the place, read their notes and fidget.
A well-prepared speaker knows how to manage a tricky situation. A good way to maintain good eye contact is by giving one look at one person, when saying one thought. To avoid reading instead of giving a speech, it is important to have simple notes, underlying the main points without making them too detailed. One more tip is to simplify slides and make them concise and easy to understand. One of main things to consider when making a speech is voice of a speaker, it should be confident and loud.
Main rules in giving a presentation is to keep one’s body open, to open one’s palms towards the listeners. Openness allows a speaker to establish a connection with the audience. Using body language is only possible if a speaker is comfortable. So, making one’s self comfortable is a key to being a great speaker. The golden rule of a world champion public speaker is to never touch the podium if you have one. Speakers can have their notes on the podium, but they should keep a distance between themselves and the podium in order to avoid shaking or leaning on it.
7. What difficulties do people face living in big cities?
People face a wide range of problems living in the city. I will list the most common concerns and their solutions. Very often people are worried about traffic problems, in particular, traffic congestions. The reason for this problem is that public transport connections are poorly established in many cities. To sort this problem out, people should get the local government to change the public transport connections by improving the quality of transport, increasing the number of buses, trams, trains in the subway, as well as increasing the number of stops thereby giving access to all the facilities and a wide range of shops.
Next common problem is the amount of litter people drop on the streets. This happens due to the fact that a lot of people don’t really care about the way urban environment looks. To tackle this problem, local government should provide more recycling points as well as explain to people how to use them and how it will affect the quality of their lives.
One more worrying concern is that many people feel unsafe while walking on the streets at night. The solution to this problem is quite obvious, it is necessary to put cameras everywhere so that criminals are afraid to attack, as well as to increase the number of lights on the streets.
8. What are the causes and effects of global warming?
Dramatic effects of global warming include sea level rise, extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, shrinking glaciers. All of those changes are emerging as humans continue to add heat-trapping greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, changing the rhythms of climate that all living things have come to rely on. Glaciers are shrinking at the rate of one metre per year, it leads to decline in polar bears. The rapid rise in greenhouse gases is a problem because it results in sudden changes in ecosystems. Many species risk extinction from disappearing habitat and changing ecosystems, for instance, coral reefs are highly sensitive to small changes in temperature. Due to global warming some rare species are put at an increasingly high risk of extinction. Global warming is caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mainly from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation. It is still possible to reverse environmental changes until it is not too late, and some species are not wiped out. That’s why in order to be environmentally friendly, it is instrumental to reduce emissions from burning fossil fuels and deforestation. When we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas to create electricity, we release CO2 pollution into the atmosphere. To tackle this problem we should get the government to reduce CO2 emissions and to work on environmental projects. Humanity should
* Reduce the amount of electricity generated from coal and gas * Increase the amount of electricity from renewable/alternative energy sources like solar and wind. Deforestation is a huge problem for the environment. Plants and trees play an important role in regulating the climate because they absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen back into it. In order to sort this problem out we need to * Prevent deforestation and tree-clearing * Plant more trees through reforestation and afforestation
We need to think long-term and set a good example for the future generations
9. What do you know about volcanoes?
A volcano is a geological formation, which appears above canals and cracks in the Earth crust. Hot gases, ash, water steams erupt on the surface. Volcanoes can be active, extinct and dormant. They can be located underwater and ashore.
Volcanoes are a natural way that the Earth has of cooling off. Extremely high pressures under the ground cause volcanoes to erupt – the pressure forces very hot lava up out of the volcano. Lawa flaws can have temperatures up to 1250 degrees centigrade. Volcanoes eject tons of ash into the atmosphere. Earthquakes are generally a precursor of volcanic eruptions.
Now I will tell you about Klyuchevskaya Sopka, an active volcano of the Kamchatka Peninsula, far eastern Russia. It is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, rising to a height of 4750m, it’s the highest point on the peninsula. Powerful eruptions occur here once every five years and cause inconvenience to local people and the airline industry, as ash emissions make navigation difficult, and ash particles trapped in aircraft parts can damage them.
This volcano is considered one of the most active on the planet and is referred to stratovolcanoes. Klyuchevskaya Sopka structure is quite complex, it has an almost perfect conical shape and more then 70 minor cones and craters. The uniqueness of the volcano is in its size, active processes and the nature of the relief and forms.
The most dangerous thing about volcanoes is that people know almost nothing about them. Eruptions have no strict warning signs. So, we need to learn more about them to prevent catastrophes and also try to preserve an air picturesqueness of volcanoes.
10. What sources of energy do you know? Speak about advantages and disadvantages of using renewable energy sources (wind farms, in particular)?
Modern people have learned to produce energy from different sources. The most common one is fossil fuels (including coal, oil and natural gas). Biomass and nuclear power are also used as the sources of energy. From my perspective, there’s no doubt that renewable sources are the future, especially wind farms.
So I’d like to speak about some of their advantages:
- Wind farms are not harmful for the environment. Their work can’t lead to poisonous emissions or waste.
-Wind farms can be set up wherever it is necessary. They can work under all weather conditions and on any terrAin.
- I’m totally convinced that the best thing about wind power and alternative sources of energy in general is that they are renewable and it’s impossible to run out of them
There are also some disadvantages of wind farms:
-The first one is inconsistency of wind power, which causes hesitations in energy production. It’s quite unreliable as an energy source. Prevailing winds could shift overtime and make wind farms less efficient in the future. There can be almost no wind for a few days , so windmills don’t always produce the same amount of energy.
-Another problem is that turbines are detrimental to birds and bats. 450,000 birds and bats are killed by turbines each year.
To sum up, from my perspective in the long run alternative sources of energy are really promising
11. Reasons for doing martial arts.
Martial arts are fighting sports originated mostly in Asian countries. They require ongoing commitment and mental calm. Martial arts teach self-control, self-discipline and stamina. In order to succeed in martial arts it is essential for sportsmen to produce mental calm and assurance. Martial arts are based on mutual respect between opponents. This kind of fighting sports improves not only the body’s physical stamina, suppleness and agility, but also self-control and self-confidence.
Unfortunately, nowadays, assaults on innocent people have increased. People should be able to stand up for themselves and their loved ones and this is the main reason for doing martial arts. Furthermore, you can take greatest satisfaction from crossing your barriers, witnessing your changes, your successes and new physical capabilities.
Martial arts are based on a lot of respect, self-control and in no case violence. They instill discipline in people. You can learn basic etiquette, courtesy and tolerance by attending martial arts trainings.
Martial arts can develop your personality. If you are fearful of something, for example, standing up for yourself in a street fight, trainings will help you become braver and help concentrate. Speaking about physical condition, they improve the body’s physical stamina, suppleness and agility, but one should remember that all of this doesn't come easily or overnight it requires ongoing commitment.
People who practice martial arts can measure their achievements and progress through different belts. And they take tremendous joy when they get their new cherished belt, I believe that it gives them the most satisfaction.
To sum up, only effort and hard work can help you achieve the desired result, the most important thing is not to give up.
12. Which sportsperson do you admire? Why? How do they get to the top of their sport?
I would like to express my deepest admiration for a truly remarkable sportsman named Usain Bolt. Usain Bolt is a role model to millions of people from all around the world! He is a champion. The records he set speak volumes about his caliber and dominance on the track. From my perspective, there is no doubt he deserves to take number one spot in sprint. Fans call him ‘lightning bolt’. His performances on the track certainly justify this title! He is regarded by many as the greatest sprinter of all time. His competitions are breathtaking and his extraordinary technical skills can only be admired.
He holds World Records in 100m, 200, and relay events. At his peak, he dominated the 100m, 200m and relay events. He was so good that nobody came close to him when finishing the race. Collectively, he has won eight Olympic Gold medals and 11 World Championships (Gold). His impressive medal collection is a source of inspiration for budding athletes. Such results are based on an inordinate amount of drive and determination. Success doesn’t come easily or overnight. Sports require ongoing commitment and in order to take number one spot, Usain Bolt applied himself to running. He developed self-discipline and self-control, when became a pro.
Bolt was born on 21 August, 1986 in Sherwood, Jamaica. As a child, Usain enjoyed playing cricket and football. In high school he focused mostly on cricket. He enjoyed the game and loved playing it. It was his cricket coach who suggested him to try athletics. Usain decided to give it a try. And the rest, as they say, is history!
His performances in Olympics is what we remember about him the most. He set the track on fire in 2008 Summer Olympics. In his impressive career, he took part in three Olympics – Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro.
Young athletes look up to him as a role model. Hard work, determination, dedication and friendly attitude – these are the things that set him apart from his competitors. Usain Bolt lives his life to extremes and pushes himself to the limit on a day-to-day basis
13. What does it take to get to the top in sport? Psychological skills in sport
In order to be at the top in any sport, you need to be strong not only physically, but also mentally. Sports are based on respect, self-discipline and of course self-control, they develop our mental skills as well.
I will now mention psychological skills that one should have in order to get to the top in sport. We all know that success doesn’t come easily or overnight. So, patience is instrumental because training on a day-to-day basis is incredibly difficult.
Another important skill is self-discipline, being at the top in sport requires ongoing commitment, therefore, you need not to feel sorry for yourself and constantly apply yourself to your sport.
Also, I can’t fail to mention mental toughness, it is essential for anyone who wants to pursue a career in sports, as any sportsman faces difficulties. This ability allows one to overcome obstacles in order to develop one’s talent. Also, I should mention that sports improve one’s concentration and help produce mental calm and assurance.
Confidence and self-control are the most significant personal qualities that one should have in order to perform well in any chosen field. There is no denying the fact that sports are the key to develop them. Sports improve one’s physical stamina, suppleness and agility. Last but not least, if you want to take number one spot in any sport, you have to push yourself to the limit.
14. What are the opinions concerning the amount of money top sportspeople earn?
Salaries of athletes attract a lot of media attention and are a subject for discussion. While it is possible that some sportspeople are overpaid, it is unlikely that their salaries will be decreased. So, are athletes worth the money paid?
A lot of people feel that some sports stars deserve enormous amounts of money they are paid. Their earnings come from a number of sources, such as: lucrative sponsorship deals and advertising contracts. To start with, sportsmen are a role model for many people. Both high profile female and male sportspeople have put in years of training to get to where they are now, many of them sacrificed their education, moved to another country to pursue a career in sports. Sportspeople are admirable, as they are at the top of their sport. That’s why many companies are more likely to turn to athletes when it comes down to advertising. For instance, all equipment used by footballers is advertisement, it has manufacturer’s logo. In addition, sports provide entertainment for people. No one argues when actors and actresses receive huge salaries. It also seems to me that both actors and sportsmen could be considered the same in terms of entertaining, since football is the most popular spectator sport with an estimated following of 4 billion fans all around the world. For these reasons, professional sportspeople are paid what they are worth and are worth what they are paid.
Conversely, not all sportspeople can be a role model, as there are cases of drug use, abuse. To put simply, sports stars can set a bad example for those children who want to become professional players. In other words, they do not contribute as much to the society as they could. However, the extent to which one contributes is one’s business.
In conclusion, sports stars receive high salaries, and their earnings will not be diminished due to the success of spectator sports. Ultimately, the amount of money sports professionals get is determined by the sacrifices made and the effort, time, energy put into succeeding.
15. Speak about outstanding medical breakthroughs.
From my perspective, one of the greatest medical discoveries is aspirin. The aspirin we know came into being in the late 1890s in the form of acetylsalicylic acid when chemist Felix Hoffmann at Bayer in Germany used it to alleviate his father's arthritis. Aspirin was invented 11 days before heroin and at first was less popular, since heroin was thought to be healthier. Beginning in 1899, Bayer distributed a powder with this ingredient to physicians to give to patients. The drug became a hit and, in 1915, it was sold as over-the-counter medicine.
On balance, today, aspirin is universally recognized as heart-attack prevention in men who have had prior heart attacks, and it has also shown to have benefits against stroke in women.
More than one-third of all adults, and four out of five people with heart disease, take aspirin on a day-to-day basis.
The drug works as a pain reliever because it blocks an enzyme that's required for the process of inflammatory response. However, patients should not take it without consulting their physicians. Certain conditions such as bleeding disorders make taking aspirin dangerous. Some supplements, such as fish oil and garlic, can also cause bleeding problems in combination with aspirin.
In conclusion, aspirin is truly a great medical discovery. It is effective against many serious diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.