There are many ways in which smartphones have come to encroach on our ability to enjoy some quiet time with a good book or even replaced the pulp in our life all together. The sense of immediate gratification — or should I say procrastination — and the constant stream of notifications can make periods of uninterrupted…
The Pleasure of Reading in a Foreign Language
Apart from English fluency practice, the area most students want to concentrate on when they are with me on an intensive course is improving and expanding their English vocabulary. The activities we normally do together vary from collocations, idiomatic expressions, word formation, phrasal verbs, and identifying vocabulary in reading texts. Most students diligently record this…
Books: The Secret Weapon Against Stress
A study at the university of Sussex found that reading can reduce stress levels by 68%. Technology has significantly accelerated the pace of life over the last century. Cities, factories, cars and television may have made our lives more comfortable but they have also taken a toll on our mental well-being. And we don’t even…
Ten Modern Literary Classics You Probably Haven’t Read But Should
Note: This is a guest post by Alex Morris. Alex Morris works for Office Kitten in Manchester where he writes, researches and blogs about the business world. He can also be followed on Twitter. ~ The Good Earth – Pearl S. Buck (1931) Depicting life in China at a time before mass political and social…