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He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened. - Lao-Tzu (c. 550 B.C.)
More quotes: http://mwls.com/quotes/
20 July 2014
An application - Fleex - extracts subtitle data from a video in the the language you want to learn (only English at present) and shows subtitles in both your target and native languages.
Initially, all the subtitles in your own language are displayed with only a small proportion shown in the target language. This is done to avoid swamping beginners. As the learner becomes more proficient, the number of native subtitles diminishes while the target subtitles increase.
Source
5 June 2014
UCAS figures show that university applications are up by more than 20 000 this year, fuelled by rising demand from foreign students, creating more competition for places.
About 634 600 people applied for degree courses by the end of May - an increase of four per cent in a year and the second highest number on record, with overseas applications up by more than six per cent.
This brings applications close to levels seen in 2011 when record numbers of students applied just before a near tripling of tuition fees.
30 000 additional places for British and EU undergraduates are being funded this year before controls limiting the number of students each institution can recruit are abolished altogether in 2015, but many universities are reluctant to expand - prioritising quality over quantity.
4 June 2014
A University of Edinburgh study suggests that learning a second language can have a positive effect on the brain, even if it is taken up in adulthood.
Researchers found that reading, verbal fluency and intelligence were improved in a study of 262 people tested either aged 11 or in their seventies. A previous study suggested that being bilingual could delay the onset of dementia by several years.
However, the question that has to be asked is whether learning a new language improved cognition or whether individuals with better cognitive abilities were more likely to become bilingual. To overcome this problem, the study compared data from intelligence tests on 262 Edinburgh-born individuals at the age of 11 - how their cognitive abilities had changed when they were tested again in their seventies.
The findings indicate that those who spoke two or more languages had significantly better cognitive abilities compared to what would have been expected from their baseline test. The strongest effects were seen in general intelligence and reading.
Source
3 June 2014
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) has announced that it has selected 37 research universities to receive $60 million in grants to improve how science is taught.
The initiative enables the schools to focus on significant and sustained improvement in retaining students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
31 May 2014
Tue 20 June, Summer Solstice 17:12 UT
Thu 23 June, Corpus Christi
28 April 2014
Children are spending an increasing fraction of their formative years online and there is concern that this could get out of control and even become an addiction.
A recent study suggests that excessive time online can result in brain structure changes, which can contribute to chronic dysfunction in people with internet addiction disorder (IAD).
The study, published in PLoS ONE, suggests self-assessed Internet addiction, primarily through online multiplayer games, rewires structures deep in the brain. Also, surface-level brain matter appears to shrink in step with the duration of online addiction.
More from PLoS ONE
28 April 2014
The Payments Council has announced that cheques will continue for as long as customers need them.
The target for possible closure of the cheque clearing system in 2018 has been cancelled.
The Payments Council Board has stated that they will continue to focus on security, efficiency and encouraging innovation in all types of payments.
Source
28 April 2014
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