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Class 1: The Benefits of Learning A New Language

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Class 1: The Benefits of Learning A New Language

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The Benefits of Learning A New Language | Interesting to know | Keep it in mind

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HOMEWORK from 21.02: Please watch the video again, select one argument and prepare your thoughts/opinions about it so we can discuss it next time

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HOMEWORK from 21.02: Please watch the video again, select one argument and prepare your thoughts/opinions about it so we can discuss it next time

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HOMEWORK from 03.03: please use the new vocabulary in a context (a sentence for each one or small dialogues)

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HOMEWORK from 03.03: please use the new vocabulary in a context (a sentence for each one or small dialogues)

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Class 3 (07.03) Is art easy to define? worksheet

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Class 3 (07.03) Is art easy to define? worksheet

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HOMEWORK from 07.03 (przełożone na 28.03)

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HOMEWORK from 07.03 (przełożone na 28.03)

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Watch another video about art and focus on 3 theories of art interpretation. What are they? Which one is the best in your opinion? Also note down 10 new words and prepare to explain them in English:)

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Who decides what art means? - Hayley Levitt

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Bob's unlucky day - Storytelling | Past forms

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Wordwall - Twórz lepsze lekcje w krótszym czasie

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Bob’s unlucky day - Storytelling | Past forms

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Test - Seria pytań wielokrotnego wyboru. Wybierz poprawną odpowiedź, aby kontynuować.

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Class 6 (04.04) - Horse Therapy for Veterans 

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Class 6 (04.04) - Horse Therapy for Veterans 

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Class 6: Alternative PTSD Therapies (Equine Therapy)

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Class 6: Alternative PTSD Therapies (Equine Therapy)

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Alternative PTSD Therapies:  Equine Therapy

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HOMEWORK from 04.04: ex. 6, 7 and 8 (choose one topic and write about it for approx 1/2 page, send it by  email)

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HOMEWORK from 04.04: ex. 6, 7 and 8 (choose one topic and write about it for approx 1/2 page, send it by  email)

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HOMEWORK [video] White House Easter Egg Roll

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HOMEWORK [video] White House Easter Egg Roll

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History of the White House Easter Egg Roll

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This year, Easter will be celebrated on Sunday, April 12. Easter is one of the most important festivals for Christians all over the globe, as it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter also has several traditions that are so popular that they are even celebrated by many non-Christians. One of the most popular and fun Easter traditions is that of the Easter Egg Hunt.

What is Easter egg hunt
Also Read | Trump sends out Easter message amid virus
Easter Egg Hunt is a treasure hunt for children that is organised by both parents and entire communities. During the Easter Egg Hunt, children look for clues and try to hunt down an Easter Egg. This Easter Egg can either be a real painted hard-boiled egg, or a fake egg full of chocolates and sweets.

Eggs were considered to be the symbol of resurrection. Since Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, the egg is used to represent the event of resurrection and Jesus Christ. However, nowadays the Easter Egg Hunt is just a fun tradition that is celebrated worldwide and even several non-Christian communities partake in this special treasure hunt.
Also Read | As Easter nears, virus deaths test Italian priest's faith
Easter Egg Hunts are mostly played outdoors, but you can also make an indoor egg hunt inside your house. The difficulty of the Easter Egg Hunt is changed according to the average age of the children, and often, difficult obstacles are added to the hunt to make it more interesting. Moreover, several communities also hold large Easter Egg Hunts that have hundreds of participating children from the surrounding neighbourhood.
Also Read | Man accused of pointing gun at a waving Easter Bunny
Nowadays, people are finding new innovative ways to keep Easter Egg Hunts fresh and interesting. Instead of putting chocolates in the Easter Egg, some families put in special coupons that give the children various wishes. Some coupons allow kids to skip chores while other coupons let them select any movie or gift of their choice. Several different Easter Eggs can be added to this type of hunt, and each child who finds an egg can be awarded something unique and different.
Also Read | Virus death toll tops 100,000 as locked down Easter kicks off

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What is Easter Egg Hunt? Why is it the most popular Easter tradition?

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This year, Easter will be celebrated on Sunday, April 12. Easter is one of the most important festivals for Christians all over the globe, as it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter also has several traditions that are so popular that they are even celebrated by many non-Christians.

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EXTRA Homework: Why Do We Dye Eggs? Who Is the Easter Bunny? Find Out!

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EXTRA Homework: Why Do We Dye Eggs? Who Is the Easter Bunny? Find Out!

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The Surprising Origins of Easter Symbols: From Lambs to Lilies

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From lambs to lilies, there are many beautiful Easter symbols that have significance to us. But do you know how they came to be symbols of this holiday? Learn about dyeing eggs, the Easter lamb, and more!

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Class 8 (20.04 ->za 18.04) Present perfect practice

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Class 8 (20.04 ->za 18.04) Present perfect practice

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Wordwall - Twórz lepsze zajęcia w krótszym czasie

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Koło fortuny - Zakręć kołem i zobacz, co wypadnie.

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Class 9 (25.04) Are emojis making us dumber?

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Class 9 (25.04) Are emojis making us dumber?

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Class 9: Linguistics Research: Are emojis the future of communication?

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Class 9: Linguistics Research: Are emojis the future of communication?

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Linguistics Research: Are emojis the future of communication?

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HOMEWORK from 25.04: Emojis: An Essential Tool For Innovative Business Communication? [Forbes] 

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HOMEWORK from 25.04: Emojis: An Essential Tool For Innovative Business Communication? [Forbes] 

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Emojis: An Essential Tool For Innovative Business Communication?

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Emojis have become a cultural phenomenon--much more than just fun characters we exchange in texts, tweets and emails--now an essential tool for business communication, shaping the way we express ideas and emotions. Find out why.

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Class 10 (05.05): What are your traveling tips?

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Class 10 (05.05): What are your traveling tips?

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Wordwall - Twórz lepsze lekcje w krótszym czasie

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Koło fortuny - Zakręć kołem i zobacz, co wypadnie.

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HOMEWORK from 05.05 - answer the questions from ex. 8 AND do ex.10 - select 2-3 topics from the blue box and prepare tips and rules for them (can/can't, should/shouldn't, have to/ don't have to) 

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HOMEWORK from 05.05 - answer the questions from ex. 8 AND do ex.10 - select 2-3 topics from the blue box and prepare tips and rules for them (can/can't, should/shouldn't, have to/ don't have to) 

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Class 11 (09.05) and 12 (16.05) FIRST OCTOPUS FARM TO OPEN IN SPAIN

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Class 11 (09.05) and 12 (16.05) FIRST OCTOPUS FARM TO OPEN IN SPAIN

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HOMEWORK from 16.05 - writing (based on ex.5 - try to use all the new vocab and the linking expressions like "as soon as", "although", "honestly" etc. 

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HOMEWORK from 16.05 - writing (based on ex.5 - try to use all the new vocab and the linking expressions like "as soon as", "although", "honestly" etc. 

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Class 13 (26.05): The woman who was kind every day for a year - BBC Ideas

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Class 13 (26.05): The woman who was kind every day for a year - BBC Ideas

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How does being kind affect us?
What is a helper’s high?
Why do some people choose not to be kind?
How did COVID change our approach to being kind?
Can we simply instruct people to be kind?

fluffy –
wishy-washy –
overwhelmed with gratitude –

foolhardy –
fundamental –
utterly heart-warming –

immense –
to enable -
humility -
physically hazardous -
limelight -

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Based on The Kindness Test, the world's largest study of kindness, launched on BBC Radio 4 devised by the University of Sussex. ROBIN BANERJEE; Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness: You might think about kindness as being this quite soft, fluffy, wishy- washy thing, but actually, it's really fundamental to how we connect with each other. BERNADETTE RUSSELL; Kindness Campaigner: I think being kind is part of the purpose of being alive. NINA ANDERSEN; Founder, Community Senior Letters: Acts of kindness are needed in the world, right now more than ever. CAPTION: THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER OF KINDNESS BERNADETTE RUSSELL: Back in 2011, I was sitting in a café, just enjoying a breakfast, when I looked up at a screen and there was a double - decker bus on fire in London. It was terrifying. It looked like civil war. And there was a very negative response to the riots that really upset me as well. I'd felt increasingly despairing about what felt like the enormity of the problems of the world . I didn't know what I could do. CAPTION: A FEW DAYS LATER, BERNADETTE GAVE A STRANGER IN A POST OFFICE 50P FOR A STAMP. BERNADETTE RU SSELL: And he was overwhelmed with gratitude, it was disproportionate to my tiny amount of time and money. But I thought, I did kind of put a smile on his face, that sort of did make a difference. So as I was going home, I concocted this foolhardy notion t hat I was going to try and do an act of kindness every single day for a stranger for a year. It was completely life - transforming. CAPTION: STUDIES HAVE REPEATEDLY SHOWN KINDNESS TO BE INTUITIVE. THE MORE TOME WE HAVE TO THINK, THE LESS KIND WE ARE LIKELY TO BE. EVEN LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE AN INSTINCT FOR HELPING BEHAVIOUR WHEN THEY FEEL CONNECTED TO OTHERS. BEING KIND CAN ALSO HAVE POWERFUL EFFECTS ON OUR BRAINS. ROBIN BANERJEE: It's one of the big paradoxes of kindness, that an act of kindness that is intended to benefit others actually had some positive consequences for yourself. There are patterns of activation in the brain which correspond to a boost to wellbeing. The reward pathways in the brain are activated when people are performing kind acts. CAPTION: KIND ACTS TRIGGER NEUROTRANSMITTERS IN THE BRAIN - THE CHEMICAL MESSENGERS THAT CONTROL OUR MOOD. THE PLEASUREABLE SENSATIONS THAT FOLLOW DRIVE A SENSE OF CONNECTEDNESS WITH OTHERS. ROBIN BANERJEE: Those relationships that are required for worki ng cooperatively are founded upon basic social connections. So it's pretty fundamental to how human beings interact with each other. Thank you so much, that's really kind of you. CAPTION: SO, BACK TO BERNADETTE... WHAT HAPPENED WHEN SHE WAS ACTIVELY KIND EVERY DAY? BERNADETTE RUSSELL: Oh, yes. So over the course of the year, it proved itself to be utterly heart - warming, completely terrifying, occasionally expensive, sometimes physically hazardous, like when I carried some really heavy shopping over four miles to a lady's flat. So it was a really, sort of, creative journey, that was also tiring and incredibly inspiring. KINDNESS CAMPAIGNERS: Kindness changes the world! CAPTION: BERNADETTE EXPERIENCED THE CHEMICAL EFFECTS OF THE SO - CALLED 'HELPER'S HIGH' - THE SPECIAL TINGLY FEELING THAT COMES OVER US WHEN WE ARE KIND. BERNADETTE RUSSELL: I was like high every day. Mostly it was kind of a warm glow round your heart and also your tummy. It just felt really good. CAPTION: SO IF KINDNESS IS SO BENEFICIAL, AND IT'S IN OUR NATURE, WHY DON'T WE LIVE IN A KINDER WORLD? ROBIN BANERJEE: Human beings have a predisposition to exhibit kindness to other people. But they also have the possibility of demonstrating quite significant unkindness to other people. The environment makes a huge difference. All of those stories about kindness being weak, we have to challenge those now. When you think of a really successful person do you think of someone who's kind? Or do you think of someone who's out there in the limelig ht, really dominant figure, a celebrity, who's very wealthy? What can we do to turn the narrative of success around, so we sa y that actually being successful does involve positive relationships with other people. CAPTION: THE KINDESS TEST - A RECENT STUD Y OF OVER 60,000 PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD - FOUND THAT TWO - THIRDS THOUGHT THE COVID - 19 PANDEMIC HAD MADE PEOPLE KINDER. IN THE FIRST LOCKDOWN IN 2020, NINA ANDERSEN SET UP A LETTER - WRITING CAMPAIGN CONNECTING SCHOOL PUPILS WITH OLDER PEOPLE. NINA ANDERSEN : This is one of my favourites. Some old people dancing. I just thought about how elderly people had no contact beyond the walls of their care homes. What started off as quite a small localised idea just became something way bigger than I could ever have imagined. It's reached over 250 schools and over 250 care homes and positively impacted thousands of people. BERNADETTE RUSSELL: What we witnessed during that time was how much we yearn to help each other. What we have to do now is remember the immense k indness that we were capable of during this time. CAPTION: SO HOW COULD WE BUILD A KINDER WORLD? ROBIN BANERJEE: This can't simply be a matter of instructing people in a given setting to be kind. Hey, you. You need to be kind. We need to change our envi ronment so that it feels normative to be kind. BERNADETTE RUSSELL: I would really like to see businesses, schools, hospitals all public services, have a kindness manifesto. So that they all ask themselves, "Is this kind?" So that it becomes an ordinary pa rt of our conversation at every level in every organisation, everywhere. CAPTION: BUT THE DESIRE FOR BIG CHANGES DOESN'T MEAN SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS AREN'T MEANINGFUL. BERNADETTE RUSSELL: The biggest lesson for me was to embrace the fact that every single day I can do something. That thing might be just say ing good morning to someone. That thing might be just smiling. That's how we change the world. NINA ANDERSEN: If you carry out a good deed to someone else that will increase the chance of them carrying out kind deeds to other people. So it kind of goes in a circle, kindness. ROBIN BANERJEE: The small stuff may actually be the big stuff. All those small things that you figure, "Well, they're not important, just people being nice to each other." Maybe th at's the most important thing for creating an environment which actually enables people to feel good and to be able to work together and to be able to take on some really big challenges. BERNADETTE RUSSELL: In the same way that a beach is filled with a billion grains of sand, there's this sort of beautiful humility in saying, "I can, at every single moment, at any point of any day, contribute to making the world a better place."

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The woman who was kind every day for a year - BBC Ideas

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Watch the "The woman who was kind every day for a year" video at BBC Ideas. Explore other related content via our curated "Expand your mind with Radio 4" playlist.

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notatki 26.05 + homework (vocab from the video)

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notatki 26.05 + homework (vocab from the video)

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Class 14 (01.06): Reported speech - refresh

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Class 14 (01.06): Reported speech - refresh

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Class 15 (06.06) How does silence make you feel?

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Class 15 (06.06) How does silence make you feel?

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The Power of Silence: Why Silent People Are Successful

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The Power of Silence: Why Silent People Are Successful

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The Power of Silence: Why Silent People Are Successful

If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

hey everyone and welcome to top think today we're going to learn about why silent people are so

0:00

10:04

0:01 / 10:04•Watch full video

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The Power of Silence: Why Silent People Are Successful

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Meet Man Who Went on 75-Day Retreat and Missed the Pandemic

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Reported speech:  określenia czasu w mowie zależnej

last Monday/month | → | the Monday before, the month before
two days/years ago | → | two days/years before
yesterday | → | the day before, the previous day
today | → | that day
this month | → | that month
at the moment | → | at the time
now | → | then
tomorrow | → | the following day
next week | → | the following week
the day after tomorrow | → | two days later

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Video CVs: A Must-Have For Your Hiring Process? What's your opinion based on this article?

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Is it time you started accepting video CVs to take your hiring process to the next level?

Read on to find out!

What is a video CV?

A video CV, or video resume if you're in the US, is a short presentation. The candidate showcases their career history and attributes to prospective employers. This is done through the medium of video.

TikTok Video CVs

Over 30 companies, including Target and Chipotle, have signed up to the initiative. This gives you a clue as to the types of open positions and industries the app is targeting - with an emphasis on retail and hospitality.

Gen Z has been hit hard by the pandemic. TikTok is being hailed as a timely way to show off their skills. The mostly young audience has grown up in this virtual capacity, an experience intensified by the pandemic, which of course rendered many stuck at home, in front of a screen. In-person interviews and networking events are becoming outmoded as employers opt for remote working, causing unconventional recruitment methods to surface.

Video CVs: The recruitment process has changed

Recruitment has evolved alongside technology and social media. Employers are now discovering talent through various alternative means. Kira Meinzer, Chief People Officer at Envoy Global, has echoed this. He states that "employers have shifted from a 'post and pray' mentality to now having to source talent through various non-traditional methods".

So, it seems that one way to get Gen-Z engaged in the job application process is by exchanging their traditional cover letter for a video. This shift may allow potential employers to get a better sense of what an applicant is really like. Video CVs are an innovative method for people to show off their skills and experiences in authentic, creative ways. This is conveyed with all the depth of video that a paper resume can't offer. Swapping text with video may also promote the inclusion of individuals who might not otherwise have access to more standard communication channels. Perhaps the medium could bring about a democratisation of the recruitment process.

Video CVs seem to have plenty going for them. There are also some definite drawbacks. It's time to weigh it up. Here are the pros and cons:

Pros

Video CV's place in hiring

Hiring via social media is a powerful new tool. That's because it aids recruiters in adapting their strategy based on the specific roles they're recruiting for. Then they can identify hidden talent.

This is crucial for employers relying on global applicants. Social media platforms can help source international talent and streamline the evolving communication process.

However, it's important to distinguish a recruiting opportunity from one that merely provides data that can be used to vet candidates and determine who is most likely to succeed in the role and company culture.

Add a personal touch to the hiring process

Companies increasingly prioritise speed and efficiency in the recruitment process. It's easy for applicants to get lost in the shuffle. Candidates are forced into a narrow process that favors standard traits over individuality. Video potentially offers the tools to distinguish oneself from the crowd.

People are finding video CVs refreshing during the job search process. In TikTok's case, it provides an interactive platform where candidates can talk candidly with one another via the app, about their experiences within various industries.

Job seekers are able to get invaluable feedback from fellow millennials who've been down the path before. Perhaps this public element will endure among subsequent video CV platforms.

When considering remote workplaces or filling a new job from afar, it's important you get a sense of who they really are; otherwise, how will you really know if the applicant is right for the job?

TikTok has already established video CVs and profiles of creators who continue to produce career and job-related content. This makes it easy to access and respond to job listings with your own highly personalised video CV.

Your company's growth trajectory

As the global economy shifts and job seekers become more discerning, employers need to work on a strong growth trajectory. The best way for companies could be through new platforms that directly connect with Gen Z's career conversation.

Being mindful of the hiring climate and where it's heading, it's important to take proactive steps in order to stay competitive. Finding new ways such as direct engagement via social media or building relationships in person can help you stand out among other companies that are competing for talent.

Recruiters are always on the lookout for talented people. Your company has probably already been successful in creating a digital presence that's attractive to both potential employees as well as clients; however, if you want your business to stand out even more amongst other organisations, then investing some time into developing this aspect may be a no-brainer.

Video platforms like YouTube have become increasingly popular because they offer new ways for professionals, such as YouTubers or video creators, in addition to those outside these sectors, to market themselves. As recruiters know firsthand through their extensive experience in locating talent, videos can supplement job applications or profiles, say, in place of the cover letter - allowing for the candidate to weave a compelling narrative via both text and video.

Cons

A conscious bias?

If recruiters have to examine 100 three-minute videos, efficiency may suffer. Instead, it might be preferable to see the video introduction replace the much-maligned cover letter, where storytelling can make a difference. It would be encouraging to see a range of options to send video messages privately, as opposed to TikTok's public posting service.

Recruiters recognise that unconscious bias filters into the hiring process regardless of the tools used. Social platforms like LinkedIn are curated by algorithms that often respond too heavily to superficial factors such as race, gender, and class.

For decades, leaders have debated technology's role in removing bias from the hiring process. It's difficult to build a platform that is fair, safe, and equitable across all underrepresented groups.

Aside from the platform, plenty of 'blind hiring' software exists, aiming to level a candidate's application by getting rid of aspects that could indicate gender, race, and age, eliminating personal traits and leaving only the raw, relevant information.

By prioritising a candidate's visual presentation, TikTok Resumes veers in the opposite direction.

Unconscious bias filters into the hiring process regardless of the tools or workflow, but the onus is on training HR professionals to recognise and evaluate talent beyond those snap judgments.

Critics agree - video CVs do offer a novel method of showcasing one's uniqueness in an unconventional setting. However, hiring experts remain skeptical about its efficiency as a tool for finding candidates.

The science on video CV's efficacy isn't there...yet

There isn't enough information on any given user just from scrolling through videos, which can be frustrating at times. Especially when looking for specific requirements like education or experience.

A CV should be straightforward and show the applicant has the basic requirements for the role. Text best presents this. An individual's achievements should be quantifiable. Recruiters already skim hundreds of CVs at a time. Sydell doubles down on this, stating, "we're seeing social media being increasingly used in hiring decisions, but there's not a lot of scientific evidence that it's useful," Furthermore, "in the case of video résumés, candidates who are good looking, personable, and funny will likely have greater success. But those traits are not always most related to job performance. What about problem-solving, creativity, or being a team player? Those are useful skills in a variety of jobs, but they're harder to assess in a video résumé."

Older generations are excluded

The New York Times reported that by having to make video CVs public via social media, as with TikTok, any given candidate may have several identical competing video resumes professing enthusiasm for different employers with varying needs. The hiring manager at Facebook won't be thrilled to see an identical application posted for a role at Google. It's clear that while some recent events in hiring more or less flatten the candidate profile to prioritise speed and efficiency, uploading a video CV would negate this progress, to an extent.

This is especially true of applicants that haven't grown up with this technology. The final word on video CVs may well be that it successfully shuts out a large portion of applicants - in favor of younger applicants.

Video CVs, exemplified by TikTok's latest initiative, clearly focuses on the youth market. After all, Gen-Z and Millennials mainly use the app. This demographic is also the target market for retail and hospitality recruiters. These are high-churn sectors that can reach out to charming young people to energise their workforce. But what about other audiences? Erik Sydnell further casts doubt on the enterprise, "tools should be efficient and effective, and offer experience and equity," he says. "Using a video résumé could create a good experience if you're the type of person who likes uploading videos of themselves. If not, then it's not a good experience."

So, video CVs are one to watch, for sure

TikTok has made them popular again, but perhaps just for the moment. It seems a video component of an overriding, traditional job application could be effective, but for the broader recruiting audience, relying on a video CV isn't going to change the game anytime soon.

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Video CVs: A Must-Have For Your Hiring Process? | Jobheron

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Is it time you started accepting video CVs to take your hiring process to the next level? Read on to find out! What is a video CV? A video CV, or video resume if you're in the US, is a short presentation. The candidate showcases their career history and attributes to prospective employers.

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Class 17: Why the Swedes love doing something that Americans hate

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Class 17: Why the Swedes love doing something that Americans hate

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Why the Swedes love doing something that Americans hate

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Sweden has some of the world’s highest taxes, so why is the taxman so popular with the Swedes?

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HOMEWORK from 04.07:  How to be better with money? [BBC Ideas]

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HOMEWORK from 04.07:  How to be better with money? [BBC Ideas]

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mystifying
bank balance
far more painful
keep track of
saving for a rainy day
safety net
mortgage

1. What is a freedom fund?
2. Do you tend to keep track of your spendings?
3. How important is it to have savings for a rainy day?
4. Are you rather a spender or a saver?

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Five ways to be better with your money

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Five ways to be better with your money - BBC Ideas

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This is a video about how these savvy money-saving experts' realistic and vital advice can help our bank balances.

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If you want to get better at managing your money and start saving for the long term, we've got some great challenges for you to try.

In this article we look out at various way to save money including:

Find the right savings challenge for you to cajole yourself into fulfilling a financial goal

1. The no spend month

You could save a small fortune doing a no-spend month, but you need to be disciplined. This involves not spending money anything other than essentials like:

Basic groceries

Utilities, such as energy bills

Car insurance

Mortgage repayments or rent

Travel costs

That means saying "no" to all additional spending, which includes:

Takeaways and coffees

Beauty treatments

Clothes that aren't essential

Trips out to the cinema

For inspiration, read how Times Money Mentor reader Claire Roach gets her husband and five children on board every January to do a no-spend month.

TIP: Pick a good month to do this - lots of people chose January to try going vegan or drinking no alcohol. It's that time of year when fewer of us go out after the excesses of Christmas there is less temptation to spend.

If a four week savings challenge sound too much, try a smaller time frame, like a no-spend week every month for a year, or a no-spend weekend every second week.

It's likely you'll save more, if you have a clear financial goal, whether that's building a vacation fund or buying a new smartphone. We have lots more easy saving tips and tricks in 20 ways to save money.

2. The 1% challenge

This is great if you are new to saving:

Calculate what 1% of your monthly wage amounts to

Set up a savings account

Arrange a standing order to put money in. The 1% figure automatically moves from your bank account to a savings account every payday

Come back to the account in a year

Increase the amount you save the following year to 2% or whenever you get a pay rise

Initially it won't seem like a lot of money, but you will be surprised how much the pot grows and how easy it was to save that money.

Now you are starting to build up your savings, you need to find somewhere to put it that pays you a decent rate of interest. Check out our top savings accounts in 2022.

Saving just one percent of your salary could leave you with a tidy sum

3. The banned list challenge

Is there a habit you would like to kick this year or one you would like to promote? Perhaps you want to stop smoking, to not spend money on fast fashion or junk food, or go to the gym twice a week?

It's time to get tough with yourself. Commit to paying a set amount, say £5, into a savings account every time you spend money on something on your banned list or when you don't go the the gym. You could use a savings or investing app to help you like Moneybox, Tandem or Chip.

Hopefully you'll get so fed up of paying out that you kick that bad habit - if not, you will have saved extra money that can be used as emergency funds.

Having a financial goal can help you stay focussed, so check out our top 10 financial goals for 2022 for some inspiration.

4. The 52-week challenge

With this challenge, you set aside an incremental amount of money each week and by the end of the 365 days you'll have saved £1,378.

Week 1: you set aside £1 per week

Week 2: £2 per week

Week 3: £3 per week, and so on

Week 52: £52 per week

By the end of the 52-week challenge, you will have £1,378. Using an app or a savings account is probably safer that storing the cash at home in a piggy bank.

One of the best ways to manage your money is to draw up a budget and stick to it. Check out our Guide to budgeting and use a budgeting app to help you.

5. The 365-day challenge

This is a step up from the 52-week challenge as it requires you to transfer a small amount of money to your savings each day. However, it can be a particularly effective way of starting a "rainy day" fund to cope with unexpected expenses such as fixing or replacing a broken boiler.

Have a savings plan where you decide on an amount that you could realistically afford to put away every day, and then set up a standing order. Saving in this way means you shouldn't have to alter your lifestyle dramatically.

Fancy a financial deep clean, to rid yourself of any bad habits? Check out our Guide to a financial detox.

6. Cupboard clear out

This challenge requires you get familiar with your kitchen

Take an inventory of your freezer and cupboards every couple of months

Create a meal plan based on what you have

Buy fresh produce to complete the meals as you go

Meal planning and using what you have already means that you spend less on food and reduce waste. You will be surprised at how much you can save this way. Shopping online can really help reduce temptation by sticking to your list.

Read more about how Times Money Mentor's Faith Archer had 40% lower food bills when she did the cupboard clear-out challenge

7. The borrow-rather-than-buy challenge

Whether it's a new laptop, mobile phone, some DIY equipment or an outfit for a special event, family and friends may be able to help here. Alternatively there are lots of websites and apps that can help:

Badlee is a free sharing app that lets you borrow items from friends and neighbours "without being judged"

The Library of Things in south London lets you borrow useful products such as drills, gazebos and carpet cleaners at affordable prices

BookBub offers free or steeply discounted ebooks

Toy libraries where children can borrow toys to take home are useful for parents, and don't forget your local library for books, films and music

If you do decide to splash out on an item, you could include a 30-day waiting rule if it's a big purchase. Put the date in your phone calendar, or similar, and really push yourself to find an alternative, or the cheapest option possible.

8. The £5 challenge

This is easy and wouldn't make much of a difference to your spending if you mainly use card payments. But when you're using cash, just save every £5 note you receive in change. (Don't cheat by asking for specific change!)

Avoid making lots of trips to the bank by putting the notes in a piggy bank or similar. And when you get to a certain amount, say £50, visit your bank or building society to deposit them.

9. The 1p challenge

Each day, you save what you saved the day before, plus a penny more. So you start by saving 1p, then 2p, then 3p a day - right the way up to £3.65 by the end of December.

Start on January 1 and by December 31 you will have saved £667.95

You can collect actual pennies in a piggy bank or log into your online banking to transfer 1p, then 2p and so on into a savings account. It may sound laborious but that's the challenge.

If you have a Monzo current account, you can transfer increasing amounts automatically using the free web service If This Then That (IFTTT).

10. Sell stuff you don't need

Find your inner Del Boy because there's a market for everything.

There are also lots of books you can read to help you get started, for example, Never Go Broke: How to make money out of just about anything.

Read more about how Times Money Mentor reader Amber saved £3,000 in 2020 by selling unwanted possessions online

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Ten money-saving tricks - Times Money Mentor

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If you want to get better at managing your money and start saving for the long term, we've got some great challenges for you to try. In this article we look out at various way to save money including: You could save a small fortune doing a no-spend month, but you need to be disciplined.

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Class 19 (18.07) - Did you pass the first time?

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Class 19 (18.07) - Did you pass the first time?

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Spider-Man: Homecoming: Driver's Test Audi Commercial - Tom Holland | ScreenSlam

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Spider-Man: Homecoming: Driver's Test Audi Commercial - Tom Holland | ScreenSlam

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Spider-Man: Homecoming: Driver's Test Audi Commercial - Tom Holland | ScreenSlam

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HOMEWORK from 25.07 -> Article reading "15 Tips for Driving on the Left Side of the Road" + vocab research

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HOMEWORK from 25.07 -> Article reading "15 Tips for Driving on the Left Side of the Road" + vocab research

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After a few years on the road, driving becomes almost like walking for most people-something you can do with very little conscious, direct attention. But put that same person in a country that drives on the opposite side of the road than they're used to, and it requires almost complete concentration to keep from turning their car directly into oncoming traffic. For Americans, that means driving on the left side of the road in places like the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.

The biggest difference is arguably not on the roads, but inside the car-it is like Opposite World in there.

Not only are you driving on the "wrong" side of the road from what you're used to, but all the controls are on the wrong side, too. The blinkers are where the light switch should be, the window controls where the radio should be, the mirrors-well, it's hard even to describe what happens when you look into a rear-view mirror when everything is already backward.

During breakfast at a B&B outside London several years ago, I made a comment about driving on the "right" side of the road; in true British form our host both heard the pun and took a bit of honest umbrage at it. So since SmarterTravel's readership is global, and the truth is that driving on the left side of the road is not that uncommon (people in some 75 countries worldwide drive on that side), I'll use the term "opposite" instead of "wrong" side of the road for the following tips.

Get an Automatic Transmission

In many parts of the world, the majority of rental cars have a manual transmission (that is to say, a stick shift), and rentals of automatic transmission cars are both harder to find and more costly. Nonetheless, if you're used to driving an automatic transmission at home, it's worth making an effort to find an automatic car abroad.

I have driven stick-shift rentals (including a massive passenger van) in the U.K. and Japan, and it is challenging but doable. But if you don't already know how to drive a stick, I would not recommend trying to learn while driving on the opposite side of the road-you may find it truly overwhelming.

Take It Easy

There is defensive driving, and then there is extra-cautious "I don't know which side of the road I am supposed to be on" driving; opt for the latter. If your defensive driving habits are generally solid, add another layer of care to your usual approach. If you tend to be an aggressive driver, this is a good time to press "pause" on habits like speeding, tailgating, and weaving in and out of lanes.

Get to Know the Car

It's always wise to familiarize yourself with the pedals, buttons, and other operations of your rental car before pulling out of the lot, but it's even more important if these functions are on the opposite side of where you expect them. I'd recommend making the first 10 minutes of your car rental more like 15 or 20 minutes so you feel fully comfortable with the vehicle before getting out on the road.

Be Careful at the Beginning of Each Day

I've found my first few minutes in the car to be my most uncertain. After a few turns and maybe a roundabout, I feel more confident, but before then it's almost like starting over each day.

Use caution when heading out first thing in the morning, especially if you haven't yet had your morning coffee. Taking a walk before you drive might help a bit, as you can reorient yourself to looking for traffic in the opposite direction of what you're used to.

Allow Extra Time

Even under normal driving conditions, many traffic accidents are caused by people who are in a rush. With your reaction time rendered unreliable by so many changes in variables, you could use a few extra minutes on almost all your drives, even short ones.

Don't Distract Yourself

Driving while impaired is never a good idea, whether that means being drunk or tired, eating, fiddling with your phone, or keeping an eye on a child in the back seat. Adding such distractions to the already challenging task of driving on the opposite side of the road is just asking for trouble.

Put Your Copilot to Work

On a related note, have fellow passengers take on any tasks not directly related to operating the car, such as reading maps, changing radio stations, checking road signs, and giving reminders at stop signs or traffic lights.

Beware the Roundabout

Known as "traffic circles" in most of the U.S., roundabouts are all over the place in the U.K. and many countries that were formerly part of the British Empire. Anyone who has driven on the opposite side of the road will tell you that circles are the single most confusing thing you will encounter; take these slowly and get your wits about you before entering one.

Be Careful About Pedestrians

The instinct for folks who drive on the right side of the road is to look right for pedestrians stepping into the street very close to the car. While driving on the left side of the road, it is pedestrians on your left who could step in front of your car unexpectedly.

Make Stop Signs and Red Lights Your Friend

At home, traffic lights and stop signs can be annoying roadblocks that slow you down en route to where you're going, but when driving on the opposite side of the road, they often offer a welcome pause to get your bearings and reorient yourself-a brief breather from the onslaught of reverse stimuli. You might even come to appreciate them.

Use Caution with Mirrors

As mentioned above, getting used to the mirrors may be the trickiest task you will face; everything is reverse of reverse. It can be jarring to look out the left-side mirror and see parked cars whizzing by. When in doubt, turn around and look out the back window to get a direct, unmediated view of what's actually happening.

Be Extra Careful When Crossing Borders

On a trip a long time ago, a friend and I traveled across the English Channel, and upon arriving on the opposite shore had to switch sides of the road. This can be extremely jarring. In addition, on one side or the other of the border, the controls of your car will be on the wrong side for that country, which is another challenge altogether. Use extra caution if you find yourself in this situation.

Accept That You'll Make Mistakes

You should assume you are going to make a mistake of some kind at some point, and try to anticipate what you might do in that case. Freaking out, compounding the problem with another error, and succumbing to road rage are generally not your best options when you do. Instead, get yourself into a safe spot, and then figure out how to get yourself back on the correct side of the road.

Buy the Insurance

Even if you normally don't purchase insurance when renting a car, it's not a bad idea when you are driving in Opposite World-if only to give you extra peace of mind. To learn more about your options, see 9 Nasty Truths About Car Rental Insurance.

Let Someone Else Drive at First

Navigating out of a strange airport is hard enough without it being your first time on the other side of the car and the other side of the road. Add travel fatigue and jet lag to the mix, and it's not a good state to tackle the equivalent of writing with your non-dominant hand. You might consider taking a taxi or car share for your first ride from the airport. Especially if you sit in the front seat, this can also help you adjust to the flow of traffic by experiencing it first as a passenger.

Editor's Note: After this story was published, a SmarterTravel reader wrote in with a 16th tip: "Sign up for a one-hour driving lesson the day before you pick up your car. [Before a recent trip to Ireland,] I Googled driving schools in Dublin. Then I emailed a couple of them, and went with the one that offered to pick me up at my hotel. The instructor took me out to Phoenix Park, and we leisurely drove around the park, using roundabouts and explaining road signs. Best 35 euros I spent the whole three-week trip."

Another reader, Tom Owens, wrote in with a personal experience from his time living abroad in New Zealand: "One observation I made in my year in NZ is that parking lots in shopping centers caused me to return to old habits, and I would routinely drive on the wrong side. Parking lots don't have the usual cues, which caused me grief even towards the end of my tenure in NZ." The lesson? Take special care when motoring around a parking lot in an opposite-side country.

More from SmarterTravel:
Ed Hewitt is a seasoned globetrotter who brings you a monthly glimpse into the latest travel news, views, and trends-and how they could affect your travel plans. Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the positions of the gas and brake pedals in cars driven on the left side of the road. This error has been corrected.

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15 Tips for Driving on the Left Side of the Road

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After a few years of experience, driving feels as easy as walking for most people-until you find yourself driving on the left side of the road. These essential tips will help you stay safe while driving on the 'wrong' side of the road.

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Wordwall - Twórz lepsze zajęcia w krótszym czasie

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the seaside or the mountains?, bungee-jumping or white-water rafting, a restaurant or homemade food?, a ferret or a parrot as a pet?, shopping online or in a shopping centre?, a theme park or an open-air museum?, dinner with your family or a cheese toastie with friends?, sailing or horseriding?, long walks or long sleep?, folk music or heavy metal?, be surprised or go as planned?, work from 9 to 5 or work shifts?, a modern apartment or an old-fashioned cottage?, comfy shoes or high heels?, sunbathing on a beach or hiking in the mountains?, a laptop or a smartphone?, a phone call or a text message?, a sandwich or cereal for breakfast?, crisps or biscuits as a snack?, a long bath or a quick shower?, a pancake or a waffle for a dessert?, water or orange juice, pork or fish for dinner, coffee or tea in the morning?, a women's magazine or relaxing music?, a horror or a romantic comedy?, a card game or a board game?, a cardigan or a hoodie?.

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the seaside or the mountains?, bungee-jumping or white-water rafting, a restaurant or homemade food?, a ferret or a parrot as a pet?, shopping online or in a shopping centre?, a theme park or an open-air museum?, dinner with your family or a cheese toastie with friends?, sailing or horseriding?, long

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Class 21 (01.08): Seven years without a car: How this decision has changed my life

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Class 21 (01.08): Seven years without a car: How this decision has changed my life

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When the brakes on my car became rusty because I hadn't used it for so long, it was clear that I didn't need a car anymore. What's the point of owning a car when it's parked more than it's driven? So I sold it.

I'll admit that it was convenient having a car, especially when I was still commuting. Depending on my mood and the weather I either drove or took my bike on the train and rode it home later. It was very convenient to have the choice. As soon as my 30-kilometre commute became a 5-kilometre commute I stuck with my bicycle. Besides, I can get around Darmstadt quicker on a bike than I can by car. It is pretty easy to get by in the densely populated Rhein-Main region without a car.

Getting around by public transport and car sharing

Of course, there are times when it would be great to have a car to just hop into and drive off. But those times are few and far between. If I need one, I rent one. There's a car-sharing station around the corner from where I live and if I do need a car for a few days then I rent one. Though that doesn't happen often, so much so that I can count the number of times that has happened in the last year on one hand.

Often I just take the train and rent a bike at my destination. At the moment I find this kind of holiday very agreeable. I'm happiest when in the saddle, discovering the area.

If I go shopping, I take my bike. Back when I still had a car, I only used it to go shopping if I went past a shop on the way home from work. Otherwise, my bicycle was my first choice back then too. Sure, I still need a car to carry heavy, unwieldy things that don't fit on my bike. But cargo bikes for rent are becoming more popular too - a great alternative!

No such thing as too many bikes

As much as I love my bike I'm still a little casual when it comes to maintenance. Of course, you're not going to get far without pumping up your tyres and regularly applying some oil. I give my bikes a thorough cleaning once a year. And this works just fine because I don't leave my bikes outside - I should mention that, right now, I have five bikes. It might sound a little over the top, but they all have their purpose.

I've had a used Dutch bike for over 20 years which still runs like a dream, but which is now predominantly used as a guest or emergency bike. Taking on longer, more hilly rides with it has become a little too tough for me. Now I have a modern city bike that can do it all. I was recently given a Dutch bike from the 60s which I ride when visiting family in Saarland. I was also recently surprised with a mountain bike. It was lying on the rubbish heap, missing wheels. After buying a set of second-hand wheels, it's now perfect for tours through the woods. And then there's my road bike with trekking tyres that I train on, but which I do also enjoy using for longer bike trips.

Barely a day goes by when I don't get on a bike, even if it's raining or snowing. I like the daily exercise and the freedom that bicycles give you, they're environmentally friendly and one of the best inventions.

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Seven years without a car: How this decision has changed my life

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It's an attitude towards life: owning a bike instead of a car. Or perhaps even several bikes, one for every occasion. Seven years ago I decided on a life without a car, and this is how it influenced my life.

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Class 21 (01.08) Getting by without a car

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Class 21 (01.08) Getting by without a car

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HOMEWORK: Writing (What problems do people who own a car sometimes have?) - approx 1/2 page, by email

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HOMEWORK: Writing (What problems do people who own a car sometimes have?) - approx 1/2 page, by email

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Class 22 (08.08) - Secret to Icelandic happinness

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Class 22 (08.08) - Secret to Icelandic happinness

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You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.

23 July 2020|Wellness

Cultural Quirks

We travel the globe to bust myths and stereotypes, and reveal truths about cultures and their identities.

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Why the secret to Icelandic happiness lies in their pools - BBC Reel

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Iceland is regularly rated as one of the happiest countries in the world. Could the secret to this sense of satisfaction lie in the countries many pools and hot tubs? Since the 1940s, learning to swim has been a legal requirement in Iceland, and the country has one of the highest people-to-pools ratios in the world.

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to be reborn hot tub run into somebody mandatory hotbed throughout in terms of to float talkative equal be compelled to do something luxury to recharge to have opportunity (1)

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Class 22: Past Simple vs Present Perfect - refresh

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Class 22: Past Simple vs Present Perfect - refresh

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Wordwall - Twórz lepsze zajęcia w krótszym czasie

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Her visit will extend ____ Monday to Thursday. ____ today on, we are determined to change this attitude and work together with adults on violence against children. ____ now on I'll be more careful. Water consumption decreased ____ the winter. We stayed at a student hostel ____ the conference. We've been staying in a hostel ____ the conference. I haven't seen you ____ ages! I'll be ready ____ a minute! I'll be back ____ a moment. She hasn't done anything ____ yesterday. I've lived here ____ 5 years.

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Her visit will extend ____ Monday to Thursday. ____ today on, we are determined to change this attitude and work together with adults on violence against children. ____ now on I'll be more careful. Water consumption decreased ____ the winter. We stayed at a student hostel ____ the conference.

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Class 24: 78-year-old man feels 50 after clocking up 520,000km cycling around the world | ABC Australia

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Class 24: 78-year-old man feels 50 after clocking up 520,000km cycling around the world | ABC Australia

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78-year-old man feels 50 after clocking up 520,000km cycling around the world | ABC Australia

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HOMEWORK from 12.09 - ex. 6 from the worksheet

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HOMEWORK from 12.09 - ex. 6 from the worksheet

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Wordwall - Twórz lepsze zajęcia w krótszym czasie

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English idioms (way, path, street) SPEAKING

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Is it true that some people are meant to cross our path for a reason? , Do you tend to procrastinate or get the show on the road?.