Third-Culture Kids

    Did you grow up in one culture, your parents came from another, and you are now living in a totally different country? If so, then you are a third-culture kid!

    The term “third-culture kid” (or TCK) was coined in the 1960s by Dr. Ruth. She first came across this phenomenon when she researched North American children living in India. Caught between two cultures, they form their very own.  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} About 90 percent of them have a university degree, while 40 percent pursue a postgraduate or doctor degree. They usually benefit from their intercultural experience, which helps them to grow into successful academics and professionals.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} In fact many hardships may arise from this phenomenon. A third-culture kid may not be able to adapt themselves completely to their new surroundings as expected. Instead, they may always remain an outsider in different host cultures. Max, for example, experienced this fundamental feeling of strangeness throughout his life as a third-culture kid.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} While this can be a way to create a network of friends all around the world, it can be difficult for a third-culture kid like Max to maintain close friendships and relationships.

    For a third-culture kid, it is often easier to move to a new foreign country than to return to their “home” country. After living in Australia and South Korea for many years, Louis finally returned to Turkey as a teenager. But she felt out of place when she returned to the country where she was born. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} She did not share the same values as her friends' even years after going back home.

    While a third-culture kid must let go of their identity as foreigner when he/she returns, the home country can prove to be more foreign than anything he/she came across before. The peer group they face does not match the idealized image children have of “home”.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    As a part of the growing “culture”, TCKs may find it a great challenge for them to feel at home in many places.

A. Yet being a third-culture kid is not always easy.

B. In general, they often reach excellent academic results.

C. This often makes it hard for them to form their own identity.

D. However, their parents can help them see the opportunities of a mobile lifestyle.

E. Their experience abroad helps them to gain a better understanding of cultural differences.

F. Unlike other teens of her age, she didn't know anything about current TV shows or fashion trends.

G. Additionally, making new friends and saying goodbye to old ones will at some point become routine for a third-culture kid.

    Kids love to go online. There is so much to explore and learn. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}The answer to the question is as difficult as determining at what age a child can be left at home by themselves, since all children are different. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine what is right for your child.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Of course when you are trying to determine if you can let him or her go online, your child has probably already said, "I'm ready; I can handle it." But are they? {#blank#}3{#/blank#} How would they handle the material if they ran across it by accident?

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    Does your child question other people's actions? Do they easily believe anything that is presented to them? It is an important question to ask to determine if your child is ready to go online alone.

    Have you taught them what the dangers are?

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Have you explained to them that there are people out there that might want to do them harm? It is a dangerous world out there. If you are going to let them wander around in the online world, they need to be prepared for what they might see or run into.

A. You may be thinking this is a strange question to ask yourself.

B. Is your child easy to cheat?

C. There are a lot of dangers online.

D. Are they ready to go online by themselves?

E. Is your child skilled in using a computer?

F. Unfortunately there is a lot of unpleasant material online.

G. At what age should you allow your child to go online alone?

Ways to make your bedroom unique

    Tired of your room looking the same all the time? Here are some ideas to make it match your own unique style.

    See the transformation as a process，not a quick change.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}You don't have to follow all the suggestions in this article but if you do, it'll probably take you a while, Try to be patient.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Before decorating it's important to make sure your room is organized. Small drawers and dividers can make it easier to be organized and quicker to put stuff away.

    Evaluate what you already have. Look around your house and see what materials you already have on hand. Cool holiday lights, lengths of fabric, paint, unwanted furniture, bulletin boards, pillows, and mirrors can all be fun additions to your room that your family might have sitting around unused. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Throw away stuff you do not need.

    Develop a theme. A theme can be as simple as a color or a mood, or it can center on a certain time period or fictional character {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Rearrange your furniture.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Think about ways to maximize(使最大化)your space and leave more room open in the middle. If you're out of ideas, check out IKEA or other department stores, and pay attention to how they arrange furniture to maximize space.

    Get some different comforter and pillows. Change the way your bed looks by finding a different comforter and some new pillows for it. Shop online or at a store or browse through a thrift store. If you're feeling industrious(勤勉的)，you can even sew your own.

A. Organize your room.

B. Put away your furniture if possible.

C. Redecorating a room can take a lot of work.

D. It's better to think about where to put your bed before decorating.

E. Pick out some items that you might want to include in your new room.

F. Changing the positioning of your room can help it feel different and more unique in very little time.

G. Whatever you choose, it should make your room feel like your own, individualized space.

Cute Ways to Wake Someone Up over the Phone

    In the morning waking someone up is what many people dislike. However, maybe waking up on a special phone call changes a person's opinion.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} As a result, give a person a special morning wake-up call to start his day off and hopefully improve his view for the rest of the day.

    Playing a Song

    Play a song when your lucky one answers the phone. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you don't want to start the day with a bright song, choose his favorite music or one that has a special meaning for the two of you to make sure he'll know at once who is providing his cute wake-up call.

    Making an Impression

    Try out a few expressions to wish your special person a good morning. You can choose a phrase from her favorite movie and imitate (模仿) the actor's voice from the movie.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Joking Around

    Start the morning off with a joke included in your wake-up call. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} No matter how funny you may be, waking someone up before her body is ready is no joke.

    Using Different Languages

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Or go over a few ways to wish your friend a good morning in his native language. For a humorous touch, be creative.

A. Try singing or playing music yourself.

B. You can also choose your favorite line.

C. Choose one that will put a smile on his face.

D. Use any foreign language you are familiar with.

E. Humor, for example, helps improve an individual's view.

F. No matter which type of joke you choose, keep the content lighthearted.

G. You don't want to interrupt your friend or family member's biological clock.

Tips for Writing a Great Speech

    How to write a strong speech? There are a lot of different ways to answer that question. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Read your speech out loud.

    Unlike almost all other forms of writing, speech-writing is designed for listeners. So, when reviewing your text, read it to yourself and pay attention to how the words sound and feel. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If your phrases make you stumble (结巴),they are guaranteed to make your boss stumble as well. Just remember that good writing is not necessarily good speech-writing.

    Simple phrases are your friends.

    Keep your sentences short and sweet. Compound phrases with multiple clauses may look great on paper, but are likely to confuse your audience and decrease the effectiveness of your speech. Limit yourself to one or two ideas per sentence. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Do your research.

    Before beginning a speech, make sure to familiarize yourself with the subject. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The creative aspects of speech-writing are only effective when backed by a strong foundation of knowledge by the speaker. The audience must trust your words in order for their meaning to sink in. If you're well-prepared, it will show.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Your listeners should be a strong determining factor of the content, tone and style of your speech. Before drafting remarks, think about who you're speaking to, the place you're speaking at and the timing of your speech. There's a time and a place for every type of remarks. It's your job to figure out when and where you are.

A. Know your audience.

B. Show respect to your listeners.

C. Express them as clearly and powerfully as possible.

D. Thus, you can write about it with confidence and authority.

E. Do they slip off the tongue or are they clumsy and awkward?

F. Different writers are most likely to adopt diverse approaches to speech-writing.

G. Here are rules that all writers should follow in order to write a winning speech.

Throughout our lives,we have been told to take care of our physical health.But what is often ignored is mental health.That's why World Mental Health Day was created.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

When is World Mental Health Day?

World Mental Health Day is on October 10th.Though there is one specific date for it,it is often times celebrated and observed over the course of a week.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}, it allows more people to know about the importance of mental health and it educates the public about the "why", "how" and "what" of mental health.

What is the history of World Mental Health Day?

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.When it first started,the day had no theme,but instead was an excuse for medical workers to educate the public on what was not always openly discussed — what mental health is and the issues that surround it.Mental health affects everything from our emotional state to our physical state,and everything in between.In the first few years,organizers usually hosted a global live broadcast,leading to live telephone participation from all over the world.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}?

You can volunteer in or donate some money to mental health services to improve the livelihoods of people struggling with mental illnesses.Besides,too often we are too busy to slow down and take a breath.If you take a mental health day,you are giving yourself the space to grow and take care of your mental health.Lastly,you should check on your friends.Go for a walk with them or have an extended phone conversation if you are far away.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A.Why mental health is so important

B.How to observe World Mental Health Day

C.By celebrating it in a week instead of a day

D.If we value the importance of mental health

E.The first World Mental Health Day began in 1992

F.In this article,let's explore World Mental Health Day

G.You might be surprised at how much you can help them relax