Key brain development happens before kindergarten. You can actually begin to see an achievement gap between children who will do well and those that will fall behind by the time they are 18 months old. The good news is that with quality early learning experiences, both at home and in programs like child care, head start and preschool, all children can build those brain connections and academic and social skills they will need to enter school, ready to learn.
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110429/OPINION08/304299994/-1/OPINION13
28.4.11
Baby's smile gives mom a natural high
Researchers from Texas Children's Hospital put 28 first-time mums, with babies between the ages of five to ten months, to test.
The mothers underwent a MRI brain scan while looking at pictures of their own babies and also other infants.
Researchers noted that when the mums looked at the infants’ faces, the scanner showed the flow of blood in their brains and revealed the regions that were the most active at any time.
What was interesting was that as soon as the mothers identified their own baby, the areas of the brain associated with 'reward' went on alert and the brain chemical dopamine, important for learning, motivating, sleeping and controlling movement, became active.
The strength of the reaction depended on the babies’ expression, with a smiling face triggering the biggest reaction, reports the Telegraph.
Lead author of the study Dr Lane Strathearn said: "These are the areas that have been activated in other experiments associated with the neurotransmitter dopamine.
"It may be that seeing your own baby's smiling face is like a natural high," he added.
The findings are published in the American medical journal Pediatrics. (ANI)
The mothers underwent a MRI brain scan while looking at pictures of their own babies and also other infants.
Researchers noted that when the mums looked at the infants’ faces, the scanner showed the flow of blood in their brains and revealed the regions that were the most active at any time.
What was interesting was that as soon as the mothers identified their own baby, the areas of the brain associated with 'reward' went on alert and the brain chemical dopamine, important for learning, motivating, sleeping and controlling movement, became active.
The strength of the reaction depended on the babies’ expression, with a smiling face triggering the biggest reaction, reports the Telegraph.
Lead author of the study Dr Lane Strathearn said: "These are the areas that have been activated in other experiments associated with the neurotransmitter dopamine.
"It may be that seeing your own baby's smiling face is like a natural high," he added.
The findings are published in the American medical journal Pediatrics. (ANI)
Joint Letter from Police Chiefs to the Congress
April 22, 2011
Dear Member of Congress:
The more than 5,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, attorneys general, other law enforcement leaders, and victims of violence who are members of FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS know from the front lines in the fight against crime—and by taking a hard-nosed look at the research—that high-quality early care and education programs are among the most powerful weapons we have against later crime. As the federal government confronts serious fiscal issues, these investments are particularly essential because they can save tremendous amounts of taxpayer money. As Congress works toward final budget decisions this year, we strongly urge you to prioritize early care and education investments shown by research to give kids the right start in life...
See the long list of signatures in
http://fightcrime.org/sites/default/files/National%20Sign%20On%20Final.pdf
Strong support for quality early education has come from the most unexpected quarters, i.e. police chiefs from thousands of American counties.
The truth as we see it in Le Beaumont is that early education, esp. from 0 to 2 years, trigger a virtuous cycle leading to success in life.
Dear Member of Congress:
The more than 5,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, attorneys general, other law enforcement leaders, and victims of violence who are members of FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS know from the front lines in the fight against crime—and by taking a hard-nosed look at the research—that high-quality early care and education programs are among the most powerful weapons we have against later crime. As the federal government confronts serious fiscal issues, these investments are particularly essential because they can save tremendous amounts of taxpayer money. As Congress works toward final budget decisions this year, we strongly urge you to prioritize early care and education investments shown by research to give kids the right start in life...
See the long list of signatures in
http://fightcrime.org/sites/default/files/National%20Sign%20On%20Final.pdf
Strong support for quality early education has come from the most unexpected quarters, i.e. police chiefs from thousands of American counties.
The truth as we see it in Le Beaumont is that early education, esp. from 0 to 2 years, trigger a virtuous cycle leading to success in life.
26.4.11
Multi-lingual people are more flexible thinkers
University of Washington's Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, co-directed by Patricia Kuhl and Andrew Meltzoff, was founded in 2003. I-LABS has "revolutionized" how we look at early childhood education and development, according to experts familiar with its work.
"Twenty years ago, we thought that babies were born as this blank slate and when they got to be about 4 or 5 they started to learn," said Nina Auerbach, president and CEO of Thrive by Five Washington, a public-private organization. "Now we know that from day one they are actively learning, and the most important brain development is going on in those first three years."
Play is one of the things we do naturally that improves brain development, Lebedeva said, but it also can be enhanced to promote those first relationships.
Ever since cognitive psychology began as a science in the 1960s and '70s, it was thought that we are all a little different - some learn at different rates - and that's true, Lebedeva said. But there has been a revolution in the past generation of scientists, who now know we can predict how a child will do in school based on how the child interacts with parents [and in playgroups] as early as infancy.
"Long-term research data show relationships, how we interact with children, what kind of input, the quality and quantity of that input early on, can predict kindergarten and school readiness much earlier than we think," Lebedeva said.
Among the institute's most significant work is in the area of language acquisition.
"People who are bilingual early on in life have a certain advantage in other domains outside of language," Lebedeva said.
I-LABS research has shown that multilingual people, including children, are more flexible thinkers and therefore better at problem-solving.
"We also know the brain picks up languages early, so if you want a child to pick up a second language, the best thing to do is expose them early on," Lebedeva said. "Most languages taught in this country are taught at a later age when it is absolutely less efficient."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014798386_apwafostercarestudy1stldwritethru.html
In Le Beaumont, massive evidence shows that babies who start early, from 2nd 3rd or 4th month, and join the 4- or 5-language playgroups, become avid learners. Beaumont kids grow up with better IQ, higher energy level in learning and with outstanding language ability. The age of entry, diversity and frequency in Le Beaumont's multilingual playgroups can predict success in school and in life.
"Twenty years ago, we thought that babies were born as this blank slate and when they got to be about 4 or 5 they started to learn," said Nina Auerbach, president and CEO of Thrive by Five Washington, a public-private organization. "Now we know that from day one they are actively learning, and the most important brain development is going on in those first three years."
Play is one of the things we do naturally that improves brain development, Lebedeva said, but it also can be enhanced to promote those first relationships.
Ever since cognitive psychology began as a science in the 1960s and '70s, it was thought that we are all a little different - some learn at different rates - and that's true, Lebedeva said. But there has been a revolution in the past generation of scientists, who now know we can predict how a child will do in school based on how the child interacts with parents [and in playgroups] as early as infancy.
"Long-term research data show relationships, how we interact with children, what kind of input, the quality and quantity of that input early on, can predict kindergarten and school readiness much earlier than we think," Lebedeva said.
Among the institute's most significant work is in the area of language acquisition.
"People who are bilingual early on in life have a certain advantage in other domains outside of language," Lebedeva said.
I-LABS research has shown that multilingual people, including children, are more flexible thinkers and therefore better at problem-solving.
"We also know the brain picks up languages early, so if you want a child to pick up a second language, the best thing to do is expose them early on," Lebedeva said. "Most languages taught in this country are taught at a later age when it is absolutely less efficient."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014798386_apwafostercarestudy1stldwritethru.html
In Le Beaumont, massive evidence shows that babies who start early, from 2nd 3rd or 4th month, and join the 4- or 5-language playgroups, become avid learners. Beaumont kids grow up with better IQ, higher energy level in learning and with outstanding language ability. The age of entry, diversity and frequency in Le Beaumont's multilingual playgroups can predict success in school and in life.
22.4.11
Placenta plays an important role in fetal brain development
April 20, 2011
Researchers have found evidence that the placenta plays an important role in fetal brain development during the early stages of pregnancy.
Experiments in mice show that during a key period, the placenta becomes a source of the chemical serotonin, which helps determine the wiring of key circuits in the brain.
The finding, published in the journal Nature, could help explain what leads to brain disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. And it shows that the placenta does a lot more than simply transport nutrients from a mother to her unborn baby.
http://www.npr.org/2011/04/20/135569520/babies-developing-brains-fed-by-placenta-not-mom
Researchers have found evidence that the placenta plays an important role in fetal brain development during the early stages of pregnancy.
Experiments in mice show that during a key period, the placenta becomes a source of the chemical serotonin, which helps determine the wiring of key circuits in the brain.
The finding, published in the journal Nature, could help explain what leads to brain disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. And it shows that the placenta does a lot more than simply transport nutrients from a mother to her unborn baby.
http://www.npr.org/2011/04/20/135569520/babies-developing-brains-fed-by-placenta-not-mom
20.4.11
Living with bateria
Scientists have long recognized that the bacterial cells inhabiting our skin and gut outnumber human cells by ten-to-one.
Indeed, Princeton University scientist Bonnie Bassler compared the approximately 30,000 human genes found in the average human to the more than 3 million bacterial genes inhabiting us, concluding that we are at most one percent human.
We are only beginning to understand the sort of impact our bacterial passengers have on our daily lives.
http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_f0dddee6-6a97-11e0-9611-001cc4c002e0.html
Indeed, Princeton University scientist Bonnie Bassler compared the approximately 30,000 human genes found in the average human to the more than 3 million bacterial genes inhabiting us, concluding that we are at most one percent human.
We are only beginning to understand the sort of impact our bacterial passengers have on our daily lives.
http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_f0dddee6-6a97-11e0-9611-001cc4c002e0.html
Brain development
Humans have over 100 billion brain cells. Each one has dendrites, filament-like extensions that are like branches growing out from a tree. Those dendrites receive and send out impulses, electro-chemical messages, to other brain cells. Those impulses travel to other neurons along pathways called synapses.
This delicate, monumental system we call the brain has 500 trillion synapses — which start to grow soon after conception, Langley told the group.
In the brain of a fetus, 250,00 neurons, or brain cells, are born every minute. By the 26th week of pregnancy, nearly all the neurons are formed, migrating into place and growing connections.
To learn more about brain development in babies and children and learning activities for young children, Kristine Langley of Lower Columbia Heas Start suggests the following websites:
www.bornlearning.org
www.zerotothree.org
www.brainnet.wa.org
www.earlylearningofwa.com
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/dev.ht
http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_f0dddee6-6a97-11e0-9611-001cc4c002e0.html
This delicate, monumental system we call the brain has 500 trillion synapses — which start to grow soon after conception, Langley told the group.
In the brain of a fetus, 250,00 neurons, or brain cells, are born every minute. By the 26th week of pregnancy, nearly all the neurons are formed, migrating into place and growing connections.
To learn more about brain development in babies and children and learning activities for young children, Kristine Langley of Lower Columbia Heas Start suggests the following websites:
www.bornlearning.org
www.zerotothree.org
www.brainnet.wa.org
www.earlylearningofwa.com
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/dev.ht
http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_f0dddee6-6a97-11e0-9611-001cc4c002e0.html
19.4.11
Invest in early learning
By Deirdre Conner
A growing body of research is showing that most of the brain's development takes place in the first years of life. And teachers are finding that many children are already behind educationally before they set foot in a public school kindergarten.
No 'quick return'
Improvements in early childhood education don't have a short turnaround time, said Susan Main, executive director of the Early Learning Coalition of Duval County.
"The case to invest in early learning is wonderful," she said. "But it doesn't sell. You don't see a quick return."
Yet the research conducted since the 1960s has been unanimous in its conclusion that educating children from birth to kindergarten helps them be successful in school in later years.
"We know it all," Main said, "but we have yet to tell the story well enough."
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-04-18/story/hope-should-early-education-be-right#ixzz1JvQXqVDc
Babies participating in Le Beaumont playgroups show marked difference after 2 weeks. They are more focused. Their attention span improves. They like familiar songs. And they are better motivated to learn.
A growing body of research is showing that most of the brain's development takes place in the first years of life. And teachers are finding that many children are already behind educationally before they set foot in a public school kindergarten.
No 'quick return'
Improvements in early childhood education don't have a short turnaround time, said Susan Main, executive director of the Early Learning Coalition of Duval County.
"The case to invest in early learning is wonderful," she said. "But it doesn't sell. You don't see a quick return."
Yet the research conducted since the 1960s has been unanimous in its conclusion that educating children from birth to kindergarten helps them be successful in school in later years.
"We know it all," Main said, "but we have yet to tell the story well enough."
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-04-18/story/hope-should-early-education-be-right#ixzz1JvQXqVDc
Babies participating in Le Beaumont playgroups show marked difference after 2 weeks. They are more focused. Their attention span improves. They like familiar songs. And they are better motivated to learn.
Intelligence develops through play and interaction
Pediatrician Belilovsky says there are several types of intelligence that a parent can work to enhance in their young children: social, linguistic, spatial and numeric. But the most essential tool is parent interaction.
Relying on educational television, apps or computer programs won’t work. Studies show that there is no benefit to intelligence-building programming under the age of three, and Belilovsky calls them a waste of time. Moreover, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends zero screen time for children under age two.
http://blogs.forbes.com/jennagoudreau/2011/04/18/how-to-make-your-baby-smarter/
Parents can leverage on quality playgroups to enhance the social, linguistic, spatial and numeric skills of a child.
Le Beaumont is incorporating maths as a language in its English and Putonghua playgroups. A playgroup creates a group dynamic which enhances social skills that can hardly be taught one by one.
Some children do not feel the need to speak up as over enthusiastic carer will guess-speak everything for the child. Children, prompted by an experienced teacher, are more willing to speak up in a play situation in a playgroup.
Relying on educational television, apps or computer programs won’t work. Studies show that there is no benefit to intelligence-building programming under the age of three, and Belilovsky calls them a waste of time. Moreover, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends zero screen time for children under age two.
http://blogs.forbes.com/jennagoudreau/2011/04/18/how-to-make-your-baby-smarter/
Parents can leverage on quality playgroups to enhance the social, linguistic, spatial and numeric skills of a child.
Le Beaumont is incorporating maths as a language in its English and Putonghua playgroups. A playgroup creates a group dynamic which enhances social skills that can hardly be taught one by one.
Some children do not feel the need to speak up as over enthusiastic carer will guess-speak everything for the child. Children, prompted by an experienced teacher, are more willing to speak up in a play situation in a playgroup.
17.4.11
Early language training boosts IQ
The pace at which a baby’s neural network is built is truly mind boggling. In utero, brains build 250,000 neurons a minute to result in about 100 billion by the time the baby is born.
To work efficiently, the brain needs to be able to adapt, to learn new things, to forget old things. Fortunately, it can be molded and shaped, and because of this plasticity, the brain can adapt to its environment, learning things it needs to and not spending resources on things that are irrelevant.
http://www.successmagazine.com/growing-a-better-brain/PARAMS/article/1308/channel/22
Le Beaumont offers a cutting-edged brain and language development program for infants and toddlers in Hong Kong. When to start? The earlier the better. Early language training boosts IQ.
Abecedarian Project
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~abc/FPG_ABC-video.cfm
In how many languages? Le Beaumont offers 6 languages, all by native graduate teachers from England, France, Spain, Germany, Japan and Bejing.
Changing Brains, Oregon University
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMOHtSkSPfA
Would the baby be confused? Of course not. Look at babies in multilingual regions like Singapore, Switzerland and Scandinavia. They don't get confused. They grow up highly gifted in languages.
To work efficiently, the brain needs to be able to adapt, to learn new things, to forget old things. Fortunately, it can be molded and shaped, and because of this plasticity, the brain can adapt to its environment, learning things it needs to and not spending resources on things that are irrelevant.
http://www.successmagazine.com/growing-a-better-brain/PARAMS/article/1308/channel/22
Le Beaumont offers a cutting-edged brain and language development program for infants and toddlers in Hong Kong. When to start? The earlier the better. Early language training boosts IQ.
Abecedarian Project
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~abc/FPG_ABC-video.cfm
In how many languages? Le Beaumont offers 6 languages, all by native graduate teachers from England, France, Spain, Germany, Japan and Bejing.
Changing Brains, Oregon University
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMOHtSkSPfA
Would the baby be confused? Of course not. Look at babies in multilingual regions like Singapore, Switzerland and Scandinavia. They don't get confused. They grow up highly gifted in languages.
13.4.11
globalization
We live in a globally connected world, whether we want to call it globalization or not. The bottom line is the workforce around the world has changed dramatically in just the last five years. All over the world, the bottom line is that you have a global workforce and there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of services and languages. And so we’re in a great position to service that need.
You target both individuals and organizations. What are the benefits for each?
If you're an accountant, for example, and can speak English, you're in great shape. But if you can also speak Mandarin, you're in much better shape. And these days, you're up against people who grew up in China, got their schooling in the United States at some of the best colleges, and are fluent in Mandarin, English, and probably a third language.
So from a competitive standpoint, if you have career aspirations, although its still true that English is the single biggest driver for opportunity from an economic perspective, the truth is from a competitive landscape, in a global workforce, if your only language is English, you’re actually constraining your career opportunities.
From an organizational standpoint, most companies recognize that if you have mastered one language outside of your native tongue, you’ll be much more likely to develop cultural sensitivities to effectively collaborate in a global workforce. So as a business, you're better off hiring people with those skills and that demonstrated ability to work across different cultures and languages because it will only help your company grow.
http://www.inc.com/best-industries-2011/language-learning-goes-social-with-livemocha.html
You target both individuals and organizations. What are the benefits for each?
If you're an accountant, for example, and can speak English, you're in great shape. But if you can also speak Mandarin, you're in much better shape. And these days, you're up against people who grew up in China, got their schooling in the United States at some of the best colleges, and are fluent in Mandarin, English, and probably a third language.
So from a competitive standpoint, if you have career aspirations, although its still true that English is the single biggest driver for opportunity from an economic perspective, the truth is from a competitive landscape, in a global workforce, if your only language is English, you’re actually constraining your career opportunities.
From an organizational standpoint, most companies recognize that if you have mastered one language outside of your native tongue, you’ll be much more likely to develop cultural sensitivities to effectively collaborate in a global workforce. So as a business, you're better off hiring people with those skills and that demonstrated ability to work across different cultures and languages because it will only help your company grow.
http://www.inc.com/best-industries-2011/language-learning-goes-social-with-livemocha.html
10.4.11
Build on what you have
“Early literacy, early reading makes such a significant impact on academic success,” she said. “As far as a child’s brain development we know there are connections in the brain that create the foundation for growth and development … You can always build on what you have but you can’t get back what you don’t have in terms of brain development.”
http://www.jdnews.com/news/onslow-89650-county-children.html
http://www.jdnews.com/news/onslow-89650-county-children.html
9.4.11
James Heckman, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, on early education
James Heckman, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, has shown that early-childhood development heavily influences health, economic and social outcomes for individuals and society at large. His research proves that investing in early-childhood development can lead to significant economic gains for society – an average of 10 percent per year through increased personal achievement and social productivity. In addition to saving money, early-childhood investment is more effective than later remediation, such as school interventions, juvenile justice or job training. In the short term, studies confirm that children who attend early-childhood programs have better language skills, math skills, graduation rates, SAT scores and behavior.
http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2011/04/07/investing-in-early-childhood-education-benefits-all-of-us/
http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2011/04/07/investing-in-early-childhood-education-benefits-all-of-us/
7.4.11
44 Countries English Proficiency Ranking
The top 5 countries with "very high proficiency" are all Scandinavian countries. Children brought up in a multi-lingual environment are particularly gifted in languages. So are our Beaumont Kids. Sam
'Rank' 'Country' 'EF EPI Score' 'Level'
1 Norway 69.09 Very High Proficiency
2 Netherlands 67.93 Very High Proficiency
3 Denmark 66.58 Very High Proficiency
4 Sweden 66.26 Very High Proficiency
5 Finland 61.25 Very High Proficiency
6 Austria 58.58 High Proficiency
7 Belgium 57.23 High Proficiency
8 Germany 56.64 High Proficiency
9 Malaysia 55.54 High Proficiency
10 Poland 54.62 Moderate Proficiency
11 Switzerland 54.60 Moderate Proficiency
12 Hong Kong 54.44 Moderate Proficiency
13 South Korea 54.19 Moderate Proficiency
14 Japan 54.17 Moderate Proficiency
15 Portugal 53.62 Moderate Proficiency
16 Argentina 53.49 Moderate Proficiency
17 France 53.16 Moderate Proficiency
18 Mexico 51.48 Moderate Proficiency
19 Czech Republic 51.31 Moderate Proficiency
20 Hungary 50.80 Moderate Proficiency
21 Slovakia 50.64 Moderate Proficiency
22 Costa Rica 49.15 Low Proficiency
23 Italy 49.05 Low Proficiency
24 Spain 49.01 Low Proficiency
25 Taiwan 48.93 Low Proficiency
26 Saudi Arabia 48.05 Low Proficiency
27 Guatemala 47.80 Low Proficiency
28 El Salvador 47.65 Low Proficiency
29 China 47.62 Low Proficiency
30 India 47.35 Low Proficiency
31 Brazil 47.27 Low Proficiency
32 Russia 45.79 Low Proficiency
33 Dominican Republic 44.91 Very Low Proficiency
34 Indonesia 44.78 Very Low Proficiency
35 Peru 44.71 Very Low Proficiency
36 Chile 44.63 Very Low Proficiency
37 Ecuador 44.54 Very Low Proficiency
38 Venezuela 44.43 Very Low Proficiency
39 Vietnam 44.32 Very Low Proficiency
40 Panama 43.62 Very Low Proficiency
41 Colombia 42.77 Very Low Proficiency
42 Thailand 39.41 Very Low Proficiency
43 Turkey 37.66 Very Low Proficiency
44 Kazakhstan 31.74 Very Low Proficiency
http://www.ef.fi/epi/ef-epi-ranking/
'Rank' 'Country' 'EF EPI Score' 'Level'
1 Norway 69.09 Very High Proficiency
2 Netherlands 67.93 Very High Proficiency
3 Denmark 66.58 Very High Proficiency
4 Sweden 66.26 Very High Proficiency
5 Finland 61.25 Very High Proficiency
6 Austria 58.58 High Proficiency
7 Belgium 57.23 High Proficiency
8 Germany 56.64 High Proficiency
9 Malaysia 55.54 High Proficiency
10 Poland 54.62 Moderate Proficiency
11 Switzerland 54.60 Moderate Proficiency
12 Hong Kong 54.44 Moderate Proficiency
13 South Korea 54.19 Moderate Proficiency
14 Japan 54.17 Moderate Proficiency
15 Portugal 53.62 Moderate Proficiency
16 Argentina 53.49 Moderate Proficiency
17 France 53.16 Moderate Proficiency
18 Mexico 51.48 Moderate Proficiency
19 Czech Republic 51.31 Moderate Proficiency
20 Hungary 50.80 Moderate Proficiency
21 Slovakia 50.64 Moderate Proficiency
22 Costa Rica 49.15 Low Proficiency
23 Italy 49.05 Low Proficiency
24 Spain 49.01 Low Proficiency
25 Taiwan 48.93 Low Proficiency
26 Saudi Arabia 48.05 Low Proficiency
27 Guatemala 47.80 Low Proficiency
28 El Salvador 47.65 Low Proficiency
29 China 47.62 Low Proficiency
30 India 47.35 Low Proficiency
31 Brazil 47.27 Low Proficiency
32 Russia 45.79 Low Proficiency
33 Dominican Republic 44.91 Very Low Proficiency
34 Indonesia 44.78 Very Low Proficiency
35 Peru 44.71 Very Low Proficiency
36 Chile 44.63 Very Low Proficiency
37 Ecuador 44.54 Very Low Proficiency
38 Venezuela 44.43 Very Low Proficiency
39 Vietnam 44.32 Very Low Proficiency
40 Panama 43.62 Very Low Proficiency
41 Colombia 42.77 Very Low Proficiency
42 Thailand 39.41 Very Low Proficiency
43 Turkey 37.66 Very Low Proficiency
44 Kazakhstan 31.74 Very Low Proficiency
http://www.ef.fi/epi/ef-epi-ranking/
4.4.11
HK people’s English standard
Source: HKET (A33)
HK people’s English standard ranks twelve among 44 countries with English not being the mother tongue. While listening skills are concerned, it is found that over 40% HK people stay at primary school level, plus poor spoken and written abilities. As English standard will affect competitiveness and promotion opportunities, local employees are advised to improve communication with English speaking people by learning the slangs they use.
Beaumont Phonics is a research based English program that drastically improve on the spoken English communication skills for school children, adults and teachers. enq@beaumont.hk
HK people’s English standard ranks twelve among 44 countries with English not being the mother tongue. While listening skills are concerned, it is found that over 40% HK people stay at primary school level, plus poor spoken and written abilities. As English standard will affect competitiveness and promotion opportunities, local employees are advised to improve communication with English speaking people by learning the slangs they use.
Beaumont Phonics is a research based English program that drastically improve on the spoken English communication skills for school children, adults and teachers. enq@beaumont.hk
3.4.11
Early adolescence
Researchers compared the fMRI results from age 10 to age 13, finding that activity increased significantly in the ventral striatum and the ventral medial portion of the prefrontal cortex over this three-year period. In addition to the scans, the researchers considered the children's self-reports on their ability to resist peer influences and engagement in risky or delinquent behavior.
The most enhanced response occurred in the ventral striatum, a brain region most frequently associated with reward-related processing. Over time, increases in brain activity there correlated with increases in children's resistance to peer influence.
It's just that peer pressure is increasing because they spend a lot more time with peers during this time and less time with family. So it is a good thing that resistance to such influences is actually strengthening in their brains."
http://www.sciencemagnews.com/in-adolescence-the-power-to-resist-blooms-in-the-brain.html
The most enhanced response occurred in the ventral striatum, a brain region most frequently associated with reward-related processing. Over time, increases in brain activity there correlated with increases in children's resistance to peer influence.
It's just that peer pressure is increasing because they spend a lot more time with peers during this time and less time with family. So it is a good thing that resistance to such influences is actually strengthening in their brains."
http://www.sciencemagnews.com/in-adolescence-the-power-to-resist-blooms-in-the-brain.html
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