Self Evaluation

This semester in our English classes we learned a lot. Also, we worked a lot too: we did tests, discussed modules, wrote summaries, spoke...
Writing summaries wasn‘t easiest thing for me, because in formal language I use words like they etc. But if you spend more time while writing them then you are able to think how to say “they” in other, formal, ways.
Listening for me was one of the easiest tasks. You just have to read what you need to find out and listen carefully. Of course, listening the record twice helps a lot.
We did some speaking too. There were times when we had to speak in class without doing preparations at home and other times we had to prepare it at home. I’m not a very good speaker, because in my head I often jump from one thing to another and that gets me confused. After these thing I get nervous and have to calm down in order to continue my speech. But speaking without preparations is more fun to me. You tell and hear what comes to everyone’s mind first. We were laughing during those classes.
We also did Power Point presentations. It was an interesting thing. In order to make a presentation I had to read module carefully and find out main things. And then I looked in internet for other interesting things to that module. I was lucky, because my module was short and clear. Everything was on it. I think I did good job on that.
In order to test our knowledge we did Moodle tests at home and ESP tests at class. They were hardest part of our studies. At least for me. In order to do it good we had to read material again and learn it. It takes some time to read everything, but it helps. I’m not very happy with my work. I know I could have done much much better, but I was to lazy. That’s the biggest problem. We did Moodle tests at home through our computers. There was no time limit and if didn’t have conscience we were able to find answers in material. Of course with these test we had some problems, as person who made them did few mistakes in writing correct answers and that’s why even if our answer was correct computer showed that it was incorrect. ESP test had limited time as we always did them in class 10-15minutes until the break. And there was more stress for me doing them, because when I get that little paper and suddenly get nervous and forget what I’ve read. But I think in some time I will get over this problem.
To sum up, there was good and bad times this semester, but life is wavy and we can’t expect it to always be good. And I must put more effort in studying in future.

Types of laughter

Parents quickly learn what baby wants when he‘s crying, but don‘t think much about what their laughter means. Very few people think about types of laughter. People laugh at strangest things. There are two ways to group laughter, but both ways group five similar types.

First grouping consists of:
1) Etiquette laughter – when people laugh at things even though they aren’t funny. For example, when people want to please their boss or friends. People rely on laughter as a means to get along with others.
2) Nervous laughter – during times of stress or anxiety, people often laugh in subconscious attempt to reduce stress and calm down.
3) Pigeon laughter – laughing without opening mouth. Lips are sealed, laughter produces humming sound, much like the noises a pigeon makes. Also called bees laughter.
4) Silent laughter – freeze your smile into Jokers smile and let belly do all the work of pushing air in and out just as we are laughing loud. In yoga and laughter therapy it is called “Jokers laughter”. It helps to relax, calm down and go back to sleep after waking from bad dream.
5) Belly laughter – is considered the most honest laughter, but hardest to experience, because people have to find something truly hilarious before they start laughing with clutching their bellies and gasping for air (sometimes people also end up rolling on floor).

Another grouping of laughter is grouping it by emotions:
a) Snorting – a snob expressing disapproval
b) Sniggering – intensive, unsympathetic and immature
c) Cackling – loud, ape-like shrieks, enjoying the misfortune of others
d) Chuckling – kind and thoughtful
e) Belly-laugh – open and trustworthy

Laughter has benefits like removing stress, calming down and sometimes helps to see a better side of bad or sad situation. However, there are drawbacks of laughter. People can feel shame when they laugh in wrong time or place. Sometimes other people may not understand and get insulted by ones laugh.
All in all, people laugh and it is said that “laughter is the best cure” and “if you laugh more, you live longer”.

References:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-nature/emotions/happiness/science/5-types-of-laughter.htm
http://changingminds.org/techniques/humor/laughter.htm
http://www.laughangeles.com/images/world-laughter-day-logo.jpg

Psychology of obsession

There are people who check if they have locked their house or some people have to wash their hands dozens time in day. It is not normal. Those people have psychical disorder – obsession.

Obsession is a compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety.

There are few types of obsessions. These are two of them:

· Obsessive – compulsive disorder (OCD)

· Obsessive love disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is the fourth-most common mental disorder and is diagnosed nearly as often as asthma and diabetes. OCD causes the brain to get stuck on a particular thought or urge. A typical person with OCD performs rituals which leads them to relief from anxiety. This is why people strangest things – washing hands over and over again, checking if the lights are turned off, if door is locked and so on.

Treatment - Exposure and response prevention. For example, if you are a compulsive hand washer, you might be asked to touch the door handle in a public restroom and then be prevented from washing up. As you sit with the anxiety, the urge to wash your hands will gradually begin to go away on its own. In this way, you learn that you don’t need the ritual to get rid of your anxiety – that you have some control over your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.

Obsessive love disorder is much worse. There are persons who confuse love with obsession. Obsessive lovers believe that only the person they fixate on can make them feel happy and fulfilled. In some cases people think that they are in love with another person even if they do not know each other. This can leads to stalking and in worsed cases – raping and murdering.

It can be cured in few ways:

#1: learning to let go

#2: talking to yourself

#3: finding a hoby or special interest

#4: talking to friends

#5: getting professional help

Disorders may be treated and people may get rid of them. Firstly, people have to realise that they have a problem. Secondly, people must want to be cured. Thirdly, people must get help.

References:

http://helpguide.org/mental/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_ocd.htm

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/obsessive-love-treatment.html

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/obsessive-love-disorder.html