Word List

in the twinkling of an eye


in the hard school of life


High school or college doesn't prepare us for it. Only out there in the hard school of life do we begin to slowly and painstakingly piece this information together, usually completing the task by the time we're 65.


Nonetheless, you remain a rare and unique individual, no matter how the world of work treats you. You worth is not defined simply by your work, but by your spirit, your heart, and your compassion towards others.


Adventure:

Power plays! Ambition! Double-dealing! Cheating! Strange alliances! Rumors! Betrayal! Revolution! Overthrow! Sudden plot twists, that no one could have predicted! Sometimes you'll love it. Sometimes you'll hate it.


downright

Sometimes it is downright ugly.

literary review

to keep yourself updated, you have to follow the latest news in this field by reading the industry's trade journals, attending technical conferences and expositions, and finding the time to evaluate the reams of literature that cross your desk every day from companies in the field.

Love Your Path, Paulo Coelho

Love Your Path, Paulo Coelho

1. The path begins at a crossroads. There you can stop and think what direction you want to take. But don’t spend too much time thinking or you’ll never leave the spot. Ask yourself the classic Carlos Castaneda question: Which of these paths has a heart? (…)

2. The path doesn’t last forever. It’s a blessing to travel the path for some time, but one day it will come to an end, so be prepared to take leave of it at any moment. (…)

3. Honor your path. It was your choice, your decision, and just as you respect the ground you step on, that ground will respect your feet. Always do what’s best to conserve and keep your path and it will do the same for you.

4. Be well-equipped. Carry a small rake, a spade, a penknife. Understand that penknives are no use for dry leaves, and rakes are useless for herbs that are deep-rooted. Know what tool to use at each moment. And take care of your tools, because they’re your best allies.

5. The path goes forward and backward. At times you have to go back because something was lost, or a message to be delivered was forgotten in your pocket. A well tended path enables you to go back without any great problem.

6. Take care of the path before you take care of what’s around you. Attention and concentration are fundamental. Don’t be distracted by the dry leaves at the edges. Use your energy to tend and conserve the ground that accepts your steps.

7. Be patient. Sometimes the same tasks have to be repeated, like tearing up weeds or closing holes that appear after unexpected rain. Don’t let that annoy you; it’s part of the journey. Even though you’re tired, even though certain tasks are repeated so often, be patient.

8. Paths cross. People can tell you what the weather is like elsewhere. Listen to advice, but make your own decisions. You’re responsible for the path entrusted to you.

9. Nature follows its own rules. You have to be prepared for sudden changes in the fall, slippery ice in winter, the temptations of flowers in spring, thirst and showers in the summer. Make the most of each of these seasons, and don’t complain about their characteristics.

10. Make your path a mirror of yourself. By no means let yourself be influenced by the way others care for their paths. You have your own soul to listen to, and the birds to whisper translations of what your soul is saying. (…)

11. Love your path. Without this, nothing makes any sense.

Love story with a change of heart comes to grief in the end

Too much newspaper and not enough time.
Tonight I read an article in The Age. Title 'Love story with a change of heart comes to grief in the end'. Which describe a woman married two men who shared the same heart, and both ended up committing suicide. The second husband recieved the transplant in 1996. He contacted the wife of the owner of the heart through the organ donation agency. He and the wife, then 28, married in 2004. last week, the unexpected happened again, when this man ended his life the same way as the first husband did.Both of them took their own lives at home. The second husband was 69.No foul play is suspected.

問題
> 1 一枝火柴被人打傷頭部，入醫院包紮了傷口之後，變成了什麼？
> 2 午餐肉每次見到公仔麵都會打公仔麵，但有一次午餐肉見到意大利粉，午餐肉卻依然打意大利粉。為什麼？
> 3 黑社會人物最愛什麼動物？
> 4 為什麼三文魚生和海膽魚生路上迎面而行，互相見到對方，但都不打招呼？
> 5 在一個由家庭主婦辦的烹飪班裡，黃太教蓮蓉飽、李太教芝麻包，誰教叉燒包？
> 6 兔仔小妹拒絕了斑馬哥哥的愛，為什麼？
> 7 香港的肥仔多數姓什麼？
> 8 國內樣樣都可以是假的，但有一樣一定是「真」的，那是什麼？
> 唔好咁心急睇答案啦，諗下先啦 ............................

(慢慢拉落去睇答案喇！)

> 答案
> 1 火柴入醫院包紮了頭後，變成了一枝「棉花棒」。
> 2午餐肉見到意大利粉依然照打，因為午餐肉對意大利粉說：「別以為你做了負離子直髮，我便不認得你！」
> 3 黑社會人物當然喜歡「斑馬」（班馬）。
> 4 三文魚生不跟海膽魚生打招呼，因為「佢地都唔熟?！」
> 5 誰教叉燒包？當然是「程尋磨教叉燒包」。
> 6 兔仔小妹拒絕斑馬哥哥的愛，因為兔媽媽說：「紋身的人一定唔係好人」。
> 7 香港的肥仔是多姓「死」，因為通街都有人叫「死肥仔」。
> 8 國內一定是真的當然是「賊」。

童言

怎么样让蚊子不叮我们呢？
> >
> >答：请一个保姆在门口守着。(保姆血溅五步……)
> >
> >在身上涂点油，蚊子蹬上去就会滑掉了。
> >
> >身上涂点胶水，就把蚊子粘在上面了。
> >
> >放《摇篮曲》，蚊子就去睡觉了，就不会咬人了。
> >
> >
> >
> >为什么小孩是从妈妈肚子里生出来的，不是从爸爸肚子里生出来的

？
> >答：男的生男孩子，女的生女孩子。
> >
> >爸爸肚子里都是啤酒，生出来的孩子都是醉的。
> >爸爸没有产假，妈妈有产假。(爸爸血溅五步……)
> >爸爸是男的，如果生孩子，就会难产。(爸爸继续血溅五步……)
> >爸爸生不来的，因为奶奶没有教他。
> >
> >
> >
> >人的鼻子有什么用处？
> >
> >答：没有鼻子就不能闻出饭菜的味道，吃了就很怪的。
> >
> >没鼻子的话，鼻毛和鼻涕就没地方住了。(抱头……)
> >
> >没鼻子香水就卖不掉了。
> >
> >
> >
> >头发有什么用处？
> >答：冬天不会被雪砸破头。
> >
> >给理发师一点事做。(理发师血溅五步……)
> >
> >
> >
> >为什么上海有个地方叫浦东？
> >
> >答：有很多鸭子跳进去，扑通扑通的，所以叫浦东。(……一切的谜都解开了！！！
死鸭子出来给我捏！！！)
> >
> >
> >
> >牛奶是哪里来的？
> >
> >答：是用奶粉冲出来的。(出现了！！！)
> >
> >牛小便小出来的。(我血溅五步……)
> >
> >
> >
> >有个老爷爷丢了一匹马，你认为马还会回来吗？
> >
> >答：那匹马肯定会回来的，因为它认识自己的脚印。
> >
> >我觉得马到外面去结婚了，不会回来了。(好、好浪漫……)
> >
> >会回来的，因为它的押金还在老爷爷这里。(好、好现实！)
> >
> >
> >小朋友谁知道“谈心“是什么意思？
> >
> >答：谈心就是心像个弹簧一样在弹。
> >两个人坐在沙发上谈生意。
> >
> >谈心就是一个人和对面的那个人在谈关于心的问题。
> >
> >
> >什么是“书生“？
> >
> >答：抓老鼠的人。(书生血溅五步……)
> >
> >叔叔生的孩子。(叔叔血溅五步……)

口误2007贺岁版

HAPPY WEEKEND

1 小时候放电视连续剧《神探亨特》和《流氓大亨》，院儿里一个老奶奶说：“今天晚上演《大流氓亨特》。”。。。。。。

2 一不熟的同事和我聊天,聊的内容无聊至极,,净讲他和他女朋友怎么啦,怎么啦
我无言以对,,,,待他讲了半天之后,看着我,,,,意思可能是,他说这么多,我总该表表态吧,,,,
一瞬间,,实在不知说什么,,脱口竟然问了一句:你女朋友是女的吧 ?
自己暴寒半天!!!!

3 初中时候老师讲古巴比伦文明的时候，讲到苏美尔人，历史老师一激动讲成“还有两河流域的舒而美人”，当场笑晕一大半

4 一起买锅盔吃，某男的上前：老板，来两个钢盔！
（牙好，胃口就好，吃嘛嘛香。。。）

5 高中时班上有个同学叫黄家健
某天上课没有到 老班进教室后见他座位空着
就问了一句：夷，黄家健 人呢？
全班大笑 以后都叫他黄家贱人。

6 以前考试老师发卷子，后边的女生多拿了一张，高呼“老师，我有了，我有了”结果坐他旁边的男生说道“是我的，是我的”全班爆寒~~~

7 两年前在厂里干,一天我跟我师父(其实就比我大1岁)去分厂办事,材料员是个四十多数的大姐, 姓董.办完事,我师父十分有礼貌,想说:董姐,走了啊.结果说出来成了:“懂了啊.“

8 ~还有一次，我去买早餐，排队时发现平时不苟言笑的老板也在排队，于是非常紧张，打过招呼后，鼓起勇气对厨师说：“师傅麻烦来一杯包子，两个奶子！” ~
~~~~呜~~ 两年来第一次听老板笑那么大声~~~郁闷~~~

9 朋友小孩半岁了，打电话去关心，寒暄了两句后，来了一句：你的小孩现在是吃人奶还是你的奶

10 有一天傍晚，碰到个熟人，开口就说:“早啊“...

11 晚上,一室友进屋大声宣布: “今天我看午夜版的美国凶铃了!“

12 那天去买西瓜，听见有人在问卖瓜的：你的西瓜有皮吗？

13 一农民在场院里晒麦子，几只鸡来啄食，农民扫，鸡挠，再扫再挠，忍无可忍，大骂：“你们这些坏东西，我挠挠，你扫扫，我挠挠，你扫扫。”

14 一天去逛街，尿急，发现前方一网吧，冲进门去对着网管大喊：你们这个茅房的厕所在哪~？

15 在食堂买饭,看到了心仪以久的豆腐皮,一激动和服务员说,来一份土豆皮,把周围人都惊呆了.

16 由于一次出差机会，要去某地的中国银行维修设备，从宾馆出来做上出租车后对女司机说：“去中国银行、顺便找一家五金店买把刀”汗！当时我的意思是买把螺丝刀，我没注意到我说错了，这时那个女司机一直看着我非常委屈的说：“大哥我要下班了，你重新打辆车吧 ”。当时我就非常生气，恶狠狠的说：“你要下班了在宾馆泊什么车呀！？”女司机看了看我快要崩溃的说：“大哥那买完刀我不要车钱了你再找辆吧”晕！！！这才知道我说错了，赶紧解释了半天，现在想一想都感觉对不住人家女司机。

17 政治老师有一次讲课的时候说：“下面我举个比方”，然后觉得不对，又说：“打个例子”

18 记得《汉武大帝》里面
张骞从西域回来，带来的炼铁新材料
炼出来一柄好剑，刘彻拿来给李广
李广不停的重复：
陛下，好剑（贱），陛下，好剑（贱）阿 ……
无语……

19 真是好驴当做心肝肺

20 初中的时候，老师叫翻译Who is this man ?
一同学翻译：这是谁的男人？全班大笑，老师无语

21 上次去麦当劳，对营业员说：来一包薯片，人家说没有。我说，什么店啊连薯片都没有，说完转身就走了。。。

22 期中考试，偶后面的女生桌上有个裤子形状的笔袋，我一回头，笔袋掉了，我说：“MM你裤子掉了”

23 记得路遇一犬，旁MM惊讶的大叫：呀，那个尾巴没有狗！！

23 晒阳太屁股

24 记得小时候去买玩具枪里装的圆形塑料子弹，直接对玩具店里的老爷爷说：买一包原(圆)子弹！

25 同学向我解释如何拨打某查询电话。
我想问问那边接电话的是真人还是语音，竟说成了：“接电话的是活人还是死人呀？”

26 拎着好多东西和gg在火车站找存包的地方。
迎面来一巡警，gg立刻上前很客气地问：“请问埋包处怎么走？”

27 政治课时谈到中日政治问题，扯阿扯说到日本武士剖腹自杀。
老师介绍说：“日本武士死前都剖腹产的~~~”

28 有一次找一位姓王的客户打电话,总机接电话的是一个声音很甜的MM,她告诉我他的分机号,我不知道我要找的这位姓王的是男是女,我就顺便问了一句“请问他是男先生还是女先生？”

29 大学时期，我一同学刚买了手机，办了移动卡，打 1860人工台询问，一时激动：请问你们的地感动带业务。。。，从免提中我们竟然听到话务员小姐客气的说：我们的地感动带业务。。。全宿舍暴笑

30 大三那年十一我同学去卖鱼的商场打工。客人拿了挑好的鱼，我同学很温柔地指着杀鱼台对他说：
“你过去，有人会把你杀掉。。。”

31 昨天有个人说要给我介绍一个女朋友，我本来想问“漂亮吗”，结果说成“便宜吗”。汗死自己！

32 老师嘱咐我们：“春游坐车时老实点，别总把头和胳膊扔出去。。。”

33 我老公特别瘦，有次我急了就说道“老公，看你瘦的象猪似的！”

34 有一天去天津比较出名的大桥道食品店买吃的。差不多每次都要买老婆饼吃吃！结果那天我看到新出了一种稍微小一号的饼，样子基本一致，可是我不确定，于是向售货员阿姨发问：“这个是小老婆饼吗？？”
结果全场白眼

35 表姐家开幼儿园，有一次她有急事，要我去帮她照顾那些小孩1小时，做游戏讲故事什么的。头一次面对十多个小孩，太紧张了，舌头打结：“小朋友，今天阿姨给你们讲一个“阿拉灯”的故事（阿拉丁和神灯）………”

36 凹出来
凸进去....

37 播音稿原文：两歹徒打伤我110干警后逃窜
播音员读成：两歹徒打伤我一百一十名干警后逃窜
（黄飞鸿转世？？！）

38 我上高中的时候和我弟弟一个班，他就坐在我后面
一天晚上我们地理老师问我们：
你们谁是姐姐？谁是弟弟？
当时我就呆掉了

39 一次买凉皮回宿舍后，去别的宿舍溜了一圈，回来发现舍友在吃我的凉皮。
她们见我回来，其中一人对我说：你怎么才回来？凉皮都凉了！

40 那天想喝汽水，赶几步朝冷饮摊想说来瓶汽水，不料看见跟前放着的啤酒，一急竟说： “老板，来一瓶屁水”，老板………………

41 刚才一同事看报纸问了句“昨天中国队一比几赢的？”
中国就一了，新加坡怎么也出不来负数吧

42 以前红白机上有个游戏叫《荒野大镖客》，欧们一般都叫它《荒野大嫖客》

43 有个解说员：冲出亚洲、冲出世界！

44 有一次,我和老公吵架，他骂我：“猪！”我骂他：“你是猪的老公。。。”骂完真觉得自己是猪。

45 我们一个同事,他去考驾照时,对考官说了一句经典的话:
报告仪表,,考官正常 ~~~~~~

46 记得有一次，和一姐们儿去KFC,排队的时候我听她口中念念有词，一个鸡腿汉堡，一对鸡翅......，好不容易轮到她了，一开口就笑翻了所有人，她本想说“小姐，来个鸡腿汉堡”，可话到口中竟成了“小腿，来个汉堡”

47 大学同学在森林公园聚会，时间到了大家准备开饭，俩男生自告奋勇去小卖部买啤酒。班长想提醒他们买啤酒买易拉罐的，可能由于刚才一直在聊国际时事，班长站起来喊：“啤酒要伊拉克的啊~~~”
我们全倒了，俩男生疯了。。。

48 MM告诉我肯德基新出的“骨肉相连”（肉串有脆骨），要我带她去吃，那几天北京巨热无比，我昏昏沉沉，到了餐厅，我对微笑的肯德基小姐来了句：请给我两个“血肉模糊”，谢谢！ .............
无地自容-_-！

49 平时工作一直很忙，情人节，下班比较晚，急匆匆的去买花，老婆在家做饭等我，打来电话，问我什么时候回家，我骗老婆说，还要很久，听到她不是很高兴的挂了电话，我心说，给你个惊喜……，买了花，又匆忙去买巧克力，又匆忙去打车，很久打不到，终于找到车，到家，匆忙上楼，悄悄开门，看到老婆在厨房，心里一阵温暖，一下，蹦过去，举起花，有些颤抖且深情的跟老婆说……
……圣诞快乐！！！！！！

50 唉，又把键盘都喷到水里了。。。

柏拉图与苏格拉底的对话

柏拉图有一天问老师苏格拉底什么是爱情
苏格拉底叫他到麦田走一次
要不回头地走
在途中要摘一棵最大最好的麦穗
但只可以摘一次
柏拉图觉得很容易
充满信心地出去
谁知过了半天他仍没有回去
最后，他垂头丧气出现在老师跟前诉说空手而回的原因：
"很难得看见一株看似不错的，却不知是不是最好，
不得已，因为只可以摘一次，只好放弃，再看看有没有更好的，
到发现已经走到尽头时，才发觉手上一棵麦穗也没有
这时，苏格拉底告诉他：
"那就是爱情"



柏拉图有一天又问老师苏格拉底什么是婚姻
苏格拉底叫他到彬树林走一次
要不回头地走
在途中要取一棵最好、最适合用来当圣诞树用的树材
但只可以取一次
柏拉图有了上回的教训
充满信心地出去
半天之后，他一身疲惫地拖了一棵看起来直挺、翠绿

，却有点稀疏的杉树
苏格拉底问他："这就是最好的树材吗？"
柏拉图回答老师：
"因为只可以取一棵，好不容易看见一棵看似不错的又发现时间、体力已经快不够用

了，也不管是不是最好的，所以就拿回来了
这时，苏格拉底告诉他：
"那就是婚姻"


柏拉图又有一天又问老师苏格拉底什么是外遇
苏格拉底还是叫他到树林走一次
可以来回走
在途中要取一支最好看的花
柏拉图又充满信心地出去
两个小时之后，他精神抖擞地带回了一支颜色艳丽但稍稍焉掉的花，
苏格拉底问他："这就是最好的花吗？"
柏拉图回答老师：
"我找了两小时，发觉这是最盛开最美丽的花，但我采下带回来的路上，它就逐渐枯
萎下来"
这时，苏格拉底告诉他：
"那就是外遇"


又有一天又问老师苏格拉底什么是生活
苏格拉底还是叫他到树林走一次
可以来回走
在途中要取一支最好看的花
柏拉图有了以前的教训
又充满信心地出去
过了三天三夜，他也没有回来。
苏格拉底只好走进树林里去找他，最后发现柏拉图已在树林里安营扎寨。
苏格拉底问他："你找着最好看的花么？"
柏拉图指着边上的一朵花说："这就是最好看的花吗。"
苏格拉底问："为什么不把它带出去呢？"
柏拉图回答老师：
"我如果把它摘下来，它马上就枯萎。即使我不摘它，它也迟早会枯。所以我就在它

还盛开的时候，住在它边上。等它凋谢的时候，再找下一朵。这已经是我找着的第
二朵最好看的花。"
这时，苏格拉底告诉他：
"你已经懂得生活的真谛了"

Concentrating

Concentrating when studying	Learning to learn Critical reading Effective study habits Concentrating ◄ Memorizing A.S.P.I.R.E. - a study system Index - a study system Studying with multiple sources Test preparation & taking	Concentration is the eternal secret of every mortal achievement Stefan Zweig, 1881 - 1942 Austrian
Concentration: the ability to direct your thinking The art or practice of concentration, no matter if studying biology or playing pool, is to focus on the task at hand and eliminate distraction We all have the ability to concentrate -- sometimes. Think of the times when you were "lost" in something you enjoy: a sport, playing music, a good game, a movie. Total concentration. But at other times, Your mind wanders from one thing to another Your worries distract you Outside distractions take you away before you know it The material is boring, difficult, and/or not interesting to you. See the Flash distraction (needs high speed connection) These tips may help: They involve What you can control in your studies Best practices What you can control in your studies: "Here I study" Get a dedicated space, chair, table, lighting and environment Avoid your cellphone or telephone Put up a sign to avoid being disturbed or interrupted If you like music in the background, OK, but don't let it be a distraction. (Research on productivity with music versus without music is inconclusive) Stick to a routine, efficient study schedule Accommodate your day/nighttime energy levels See our Guide on Setting goals and making a scheduling Focus Before you begin studying, take a few minutes to summarize a few objectives, gather what you will need, and think of a general strategy of accomplishment Incentives Create an incentive if necessary for successfully completing a task, such as calling a friend, a food treat, a walk, etc. For special projects such as term papers, design projects, long book reviews, set up a special incentive Change topics Changing the subject you study every one to two hours for variety Vary your study activities Alternate reading with more active learning exercises If you have a lot of reading, try the SQ3R method Ask yourself how you could increase your activity level while studying? Perhaps a group will be best? Creating study questions? Ask your teacher for alternative strategies for learning. The more active your learning, the better. Take regular, scheduled breaks that fit you Do something different from what you've been doing (e.g., walk around if you've been sitting), and in a different area Rewards Give yourself a reward when you've completed a task Best Practices: You should notice improvement in a few days But like any practice, there will be ups, levels, and downs: It will benefit other activities you do! Be here now | Worry time | Tally Card |Energy level | Visualize Be Here Now This deceptively simple strategy is probably the most effective. When you notice your thoughts wandering astray, say to yourself "Be here now" and gently bring your attention back to where you want it. For example: You're studying and your attention strays to all the other homework you have, to a date, to the fact that you're hungry. Say to yourself "Be here now" Focus back on subject with questions, summarizing, outlining, mapping, etc. and maintain your attention there as long as possible. When it wanders again, repeat "Be here now" and gently bring your attention back, and continue this practise, repeatedly. It will work! Do not try to keep particular thoughts out of your mind. For example, as you sit there, close your eyes and think about anything you want to for the next three minutes except cookies. Try not to think about cookies...When you try not to think about something, it keeps coming back. ("I'm not going to think about cookies. I'm not going to think about cookies.") You might do this hundreds of times a week. Gradually, you'll find that the period of time between your straying thoughts gets a little longer every few days. So be patient and keep at it. You'll see some improvement! Do not constantly judge your progress. Take it easy on yourself. Good practice is enough to say that you did it, and that you are on the road. The mind is always different and the practice unfolds over time with many ups and downs. Worry or Think Time Research has proven that people who use a worry time find themselves worrying 35 percent less of the time within four weeks. Set aside a specific time each day to think about the things that keep entering your mind and interfering with your concentration. When you become aware of a distracting thought, remind yourself that you have a special time to think about them, Let the thought go, perhaps with "Be here now," Keep your appointment to worry or think about those distracting issues For example, set 4:30 to 5 p.m. as your worry/think time. When your mind is side-tracked into worrying during the day, remind yourself that you have a special time for worrying. Then, let the thought go for the present, and return your focus to your immediate activity. Tallying your mental wanderings. Have a 3 x 5 inch card handy. Draw two lines dividing the card into three sections. Label them "morning," "afternoon," and "evening." Each time your mind wanders, make a tally in the appropriate section. Keep a card for each day. As your skills build, you'll see the number of tallies decrease Maximize your energy level When is your energy level at its highest? When are your low energy times? Study your most difficult courses at your high energy times. Sharpest early in the evening? Study your most difficult course then. Later in the evening? Work on your easier courses or the ones you enjoy the most. Most students put off the tough studies until later in the evening when they become tired, and it is more difficult to concentrate. Reverse that. Study hard subjects at peak energy times; easier ones later. This alone can help to improve your concentration Visualize As an exercise before you begin studying, think of those times when concentration is not a problem for you--no matter what situation. Now try to feel or image yourself in that situation. Recapture that experience immediately before your studies by placing yourself in that moment.. Repeat before each study session. Portions adapted with permission from Help Yourself. http://www.k-state.edu/counseling/concentr.html University Counseling Services, Kansas State University. "Be here now" corresponds to Bhuddist insight strategy See also J. R. Hayes, The Complete Problem Solver. Franklin Institute Press, 1981

Improve your memory (Science students)

For Science students

Science students often need to memorise complex and detailed information. This pamphlet provides some strategies to help you remember scientific material more effectively. You can experiment with different techniques yourself and develop methods that suit your own learning style and the subject matter.

Generally speaking, the more important it is for you to remember something, the more actively you need to engage with it and the more frequently you need to revisit it.

To memorise something you need to attend to it, to store it and be able to retrieve it.

Here is a method to help you remember things:

Why? Establish the benefit of recalling this knowledge (after all, we can't memorise everything)

How? Determine how your brain best stores and retrieves information

What? Categorise and relate to the information ( make it memorable)

When? Actively review and revise the material frequently

1. Establish why you need to remember something

   Memorising detailed material is a different process to learning theory or concepts; hence the methods you use to store these types of information are different. The first step in memorising something is to be motivated to remember it. Ask yourself why you need to commit it to memory. Is it fundamental knowledge in your subject area? For example, the structure of molecules is fundamental in organic chemistry and knowledge of electric circuits is fundamental in physics. Sometimes you need to remember an author's name and experiments so that you can refer to them in an exam or a tutorial. You will remember things better if they are important to you.

2. Focus your attention on the information

   Your brain 'files' information in a more accessible way if you pay attention to the information carefully in the first place. When you first attempt to memorise new material, it is important to:

   • choose a time when you feel alert
   • work in a place with minimal distractions
   • focus your full attention on it
   • use your preferred learning style

   You can get an idea of your preferred learning style by taking this test.

   The table below gives you some examples of how different learners might prefer to remember things:

   Visual (~55% of the population)	Auditory (~30% of the population.)	Kinaesthetic (~5% of the population.)
   write lists	read lists aloud	travel lists (in your head, move through a familiar space (e.g. your bedroom) associating familiar objects with the items on your list)
   Use pictures, visualise information as 3D images	Associate with sounds rather than words
   Use concept maps and timelines	explain diagrams to yourself	Write the information on place cards and move them around as you memorise them (lay them out in a design that helps you connect them, omit some and see if you can recall the 'gaps' from memory etc.)
   draw diagrams/flow charts	Use auditory cues (e.g. tell yourself 'listen , I have to remember this...')

   Information will be retrieved via the same process that you used to store it. Hence if you're not sure which method of storing information is best for you, think about how you would like to retrieve the information - do you want text to trigger the memory (i.e reading an exam question?) or sounds (do you read the questions 'aloud' in your head?) or via connections to other things? Match your techniques to your preferred outcomes.

3. Consolidating the information to be remembered

   A mass of new information can seem overwhelming - how can you consolidate the numerous pieces into something more manageable? You need to bring the material together (group it) and relate it to things that you already remember easily, or things that mean something to you. You need to make it memorable!

   Grouping the information

   Research into memory suggests that most of us can only hold seven, plus or minus two, items of new information in our short-term memory at once. You can 'chunk' information, by remembering a group of items as one unit and so increase the amount of information you can remember. You do this, for instance, when you recall the differences between mammals and reptiles, or their similarities - as opposed to a tree! Obviously, the grouping of information can help us to recall and categorize far more complex material than this, so utilise this technique whenever you are faced with a mass of new information. For example, you could divide the chemical properties of compounds into their functional groups.

   Connect new material with your existing knowledge

   Draw a concept map of your existing knowledge of a topic and show how the new material fits into the map

   Link new material with things, places or people that you can already recall easily. The best 'memory triggers' are the ones that are specific to you .

   Use new material in a meaningful context

   Relate new concepts to 'the real world' For instance, if you encounter the word, 'hypothyroidism' you may remember it better if you consider - what would it mean to your life if you had it? What symptoms? What effects? You can also consider language roots as contrasts - hyper thyroidism - what effects would that cause? (Hypoc hondriac may then become applicable...). Words in a text can become more meaningful if you consider their 'real world' implications, making them easier to remember.

   Use a new formula to solve a variety of different problems.

   Explain a biochemical cycle to a friend. Teaching others requires your brain to order and reproduce information logically and this process helps you to consolidate your own understanding of the material.

   Mnemonics

   Use memory tools, called 'mnemonics'. Although they are generally meaningless (ROYGBIV for the spectrum of visible light), mnemonics may be so vivid that you remember them for your lifetime. The most memorable mnemonics are the ones you create for yourself (the sillier the better). Remember, the idea is to make it memorable , and where the information itself is not particularly easy to remember, a silly mnemonic can certainly help.

   Mnemonic	Example
   Link the first letters of the materials to be remembered to the first letters of words in a crazy sentence.	To remember the nine essential amino acids for humans: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, threonine, valine, tryptophan, histidine, methionine, phenylalanine, some students remember the sentence: "I love lysine though Val thinks his meth's preferable." (Verhagen 2004)
   Use acronyms to help remember the order of words.	LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. You can invent your own acronyms for word sequences you need to remember. ELMO (for Sesame St fans) reminds us that Electron Loss Means Oxidation.
   Create a rhyme that includes the concepts to be remembered	Sedges have edges Rushes are round Grasses are hollow, right down to the ground. (Verhagen 2004)
   Set the words to be remembered to a memorable song	Students have used the nursery rhyme, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, to memorise quadratic equations and the Christmas carol, the Twelve days of Christmas to remember the twelve pairs of cranial nerves.
   Create memorable visual images	Melanie had difficulty in remembering the composition of chemical compounds but she had no difficulty in remembering the names of her friends. To remember the make-up of compounds she associated each commonly found cation, such as sodium (Na + ), lead (Pb ++ ) and aluminium (Al +++ ), with the name of one of her male friends. Then she associated each anion, such as chloride (Cl - ) or oxide (O -- ) with one of her female friends. After that, the formation of compounds became a fun exercise of grouping her friends together in different combinations with different interesting outcomes (properties)!
   Locate things to be remembered at different points along a journey.	For example, to remember a sequence of chemical reactions, imagine each reaction in the correct order occurring at a different spot along your route from home to university. To recall the sequence of reactions, imagine walking to university and finding the correct reaction at each spot. You can revise this every day!
   Visualise the things to be remembered as a picture or a story.	For example, you could picture the shapes of organic compounds as innovative house designs with each oxygen atom O, as a bathroom and the bonds as passageways connecting bedrooms, methyl groups (CH 3 ) to lounge rooms (N).

4. Actively review and revise the material frequently

   One of the ways in which memorising detailed material is different to learning theory is the need to re-visit it over and over again in a short space of time during the initial learning phase. The amount of repetition and the time between reviews will depend on your brain and the complexity of the material to be remembered, so evaluate these for yourself.

   Review frequently: A guide is to review after 24hrs, again after another 24hrs, then after 48hrs and again after a week.

   Test yourself: Test yourself on the new information frequently and correct your mistakes.

   This will help to fix the information in your long-term memory and facilitate recall when you need it, alleviating the pressure on your short-term memory.

References

Sargeant, D. & Clinkenstein, A. (1998). Remembering Well: How memory works and what to do when it doesn't. St Leonards, NSW. Allen and Unwin

Verhagen , J. 2004 Science jokes: Section 11-Mnemonics. http://www.xs4all.nl/~jcdverha/scijokes/ Retrieved : 10 /4/05

Time and Task Management

Getting it all together

Before you start

Most students begin university with other commitments and so it is important to look at the year ahead and note the things you know will come up and which you must do. If you are employed there will be issues around work hours, travel and other obligations. At university there will be a new set of deadlines relating to enrolment, due dates for assignments, HECS, timetable and examination times and dates.

Think about your year and what is flexible a nd what is not. Make sure you collect your Student diary - it contains all the official university dates you will need to know.

Take some time to think about how you manage time in your everyday life, as this is an important clue to the sort of time management issues you will face in your first year. Are you the sort of person who likes routine? Are you always on time? Do you like organising your time? OR are you the kind of person who leaves things to the last minute? - someone who enjoys the challenge of a deadline?

Whichever sort of person you are there will be challenges to face in terms of adding university study to your life.

Q: If travelling to Bali, when do you pack?

Beware! Your answer will reveal your true self

1. one week before and leave the suitcase in the hall
2. a couple of days ahead
3. the night before
4. as the taxi is pulling up

Successfully managing your time and your study is not about changing your answer to the when do you pack question. Instead, you need to understand the implications of your answer in terms of a realistic appraisal of your use of time. For example, those who pack at the last minute have been packing the suitcase for days (in their head) in terms of ensuring that the needed clothes and other items are ready. It is not until one explores behaviour that different ways of managing tasks and time emerge.

This leaflet outlines some key issues in relation to getting the best out of the time you have to study.

Organising your timetable

1. List all university commitments lectures, tutorials and practicals.
2. Add other fixed commitments (paid work, house duties, sport other areas of responsibility).
3. Look for blocks of time that can be used for study group meetings, researching in the library, reading and writing up.

Using a timetable

If you discuss your study timetable with friends and family - and place the timetable on the fridge - it can greatly reduce the pressure you might find yourself working under; the arguments with girlfriends/boyfriends/children when you refuse to go out too many times in a row.

Managing tasks not time

A helpful way to reframe the idea of time management is to cease thinking about the time to do something and focus attention on what you want to do. If you manage the task the time can manage itself. The stress we feel around time is not time itself but the undone task. Getting on with it is the best way to manage time.

A task management approach

When trying to manage time the easiest way to fail is t o plan a series of tasks in the most general way eg:

2pm physics
2.30pm Biology

There is not enough planning here to ensure that you have the relevant material with you or that you have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Compare this:

Monday
break down essay question
write a rough plan of issues
borrow books on reading list
read 2 articles

There are 24 hours in every day and so your task here is to complete these specific tasks. When you do it is flexible but you have noted that these tasks should be finished on Monday. If Tuesday arrives and these tasks are not completed then they must be added to Tuesday's list.

Don't worry. Be organised

Often, the worst part about having a lot to do is not the work itself but the worry associated with it. Find your own way of keeping track of what you have to do. Use your diary, a planner, write on a whiteboard, or keep lists on the fridge. Don't wait for the right time to start work. Anything that you do is assisting you finish. Sometimes grabbing half an hour can be the turning point to finishing.

Early bird or night owl?

You know whether you can work best in the morning or late at night. Managing study will require you to find a rhythm about your work with the possibility of making extra time. Establishing a pattern will be very important. Be as creative as you can. Getting up really early in the morning before coming to uni or going to work can provide an opportunity to catch up but not something you would do everyday because then you have no extra to give when you need to.

Procrastination is just a state of mind

For just about everything we do there is a preferred way of doing it. It can be really helpful to ask other students how they manage their time not so that you can copy them but so that you begin to recognise that managing time is personal.

If you have to battle procrastination it may be that you have not worked out a way of managing a task. Procrastination can be your mind's way of saying I don't know how to start. Frequently procrastinators can be very busy doing things instead of the thing they should be doing. It is not laziness it us just a lack of knowing where to begin.

Many students assume that study is about knowledge and subject content when in fact the best way to be a successful student is to know what to do with the information presented to you.

Study skills assist time management

Having processes in place is the best way to get a job done. It is obvious to us in non academic tasks that there is a method. Think of a hobby such as windsurfing, caving, collecting stamps, sewing or gardening. To do any of these things requires some tools or kit and an idea of achieving something. Academic tasks are no different and perhaps the best way for a procrastinator to get on with the job is to work out some clear steps to take.

Essay writing

Managing time around the task of writing an essay means planning each of the steps in the process so that you always know what you need to be doing. What is your writing plan? For example:

• Read the question.
• Rewrite and break down into issues that need addressing.
• Find and prepare reading materials, (borrow or photocopy).
• Take notes, use a notebook and keep good records of what you are reading in terms of author, date, title publisher and place. This way you won't need to go rushing back to the library. Using a notebook instead of bits of paper can save time when you are looking for that fantastic quote you remember reading.
• Write; rest (not you! The essay draft) and edit. You can have one draft resting while you begin another.

Reading

Students frequently complain that they have spent massive amounts of time reading but they can't remember anything the next day. One must ask why reading needs to be memorised. Note taking is the middle step that provides a bridge between the first reading and the decision to memorise for an exam.

Personal issues

Managing study tasks has to be achieved in relation to the rest of your life. Fitting everything in means making choices and as far as possible knowing what lies ahead. Sometimes managing time successfully means saying no to friends, family and overtime at work.

The essential element to managing time is to always know what you have to do, to have a plan for doing it, and to have worked out a method.

Develop the list habit. Use your diary, or emulate Ros Kelly and put a whiteboard in your room, but keep daily 'to do' lists.

Negotiate with the people in your life around your needs and what they want.

Create different time spaces for study and for life. If you have chosen to go out socially instead of studying don't waste it moping about not studying. Get back to the books the next day.