Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids

Child prodigy Adora Svitak says the world needs "childish" thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids' big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups' willingness to learn from children as much as to teach.

Vocabulary:

a prodigy: someone unusually intelligent or skillful for their age
Mozart was an infant prodigy, composing music at the age of four.The 12-year-old prodigy will play America’s reigning chess champion next week.

to abolish: oficially end (a law, a statement etc)

This tax should be abolished.

Thinking that children are irrational should be abolished.

to hamper: to prevent sb from easily doing or accomplishing sth 

Our efforts were hampered by lack of money.

Kids are not as hampered as adults when it comes to imagination.

audacity: brave or rude but shocking behaviour

He had the audacity to say I was too fat.

The sheer audacity of the plan amazed everyone.

inherent: that is basic or permanent part of sth/sb and cannot be removed 

Violence is inherent in our society.

Children have an inherent ability to push the boundaries of possibility.

5 ways to listen better

In our louder and louder world, says sound expert Julian Treasure, "We are losing our listening." In this short, fascinating talk, Treasure shares five ways to re-tune your ears for conscious listening — to other people and the world around you.

Vocabulary:

cease - to stop happening or existing
You never cease to amaze me!
Bullying in our school ceased after lecture of a psychologist.


savouring - enjoying the full taste or flavour of something, especially by eating or drinking it slowly
He ate his meal slowly, savouring every mouthful.
She took a sip of wine, savouring the fine vintage.

mundane - not interesting or exciting
I lead a pretty mundane existence.
There is nothing more mundane than listening to her stories.

Why thinking you're ugly is bad for you

Vocabulary:

instantaneously = immediately
The show sold outinstantaneously.
The police came instantaneously.

relentless: someone who is cruel, evil, merciless, and that never ceases to be bad to others
The enemy was relentless, they shown no mercy.
Teachers were relentless in demanding our homeworks everyday.

flagrant: shocking because it is done in a very obvious way and shows no respect for people, laws, etc.
He showed a flagrant lack of respect for anyone else's feelings.
Your rude behaviour during the meeting was clearly flagrant.

chiseled: The sculpted features of a man's face.
The hero in the romance book had a handsome chiseld face.
A chiseled cheekbones are what many girls like the most,.

peer: Someone who is your age or close to it.
She enjoys the respect of her peers.
Children are worried about failing in front of their peers.