Needless to say it has been over a month since my last post. Quite an eventful month and a half it has been. Nonetheless, keeping this blog alive is one of the goals I set out to pursue from the beginning.  Regarding my topic for today, I would say it is deeply connected with the theory of evolution. In fact, the scientist I am about to mention inspired Darwin to develop his theory. In the following, I will tackle Charles Lyell's Theory of Uniformitarianism and his contribution to Darwin's Evolutionary Theory.

Charles Lyell was born to a wealthy family in Scotland in 1797. They moved to England two years later. Charles was interested in nature from an early age. His father who was a botanist, would take him to the woods to collect bugs and butterflies. Lyell grew up to become and geologist. Earning his degree from Exeter College in Oxford at age 22. Additionally, he pursued and acquired a Master's degree in law in 1821. Be that as it may, he resumed his initial career path after a few years. By this time, Charles had already published some minor works which would later serve as a foundation for his more prominent ones. Case in point, his dissertation paper: "On a recent formation of Freshwater Limestone in Forfarshire".

 

During the 1800s, it was accepted as fact that everything  in heaven and Earth had been created by the Judeo-Christian god. Thus, the old testament was taken literally. Notwithstanding, Lyell debunked this assertion. He believed that the Earth was much older than only 6000 years old. Consequently, concluding it had taken millions of years to form.  Charles was able to corroborate his hypothesis while in Europe. Conducting research and collecting fossils. His theory of uniformitarianism posits that the Earth has been shaped by forces such as erosion and sedimentation. Which happened progressively throughout long periods of time. As opposed to Noah's ark flood and other isolated biblical events. What is more, Darwin himself applied the principles of uniformitarianism while studying volcanic rocks on The Canary Islands. Further cementing the validity of Lyell's work.

 

Lastly, even though most people regard Darwin as probably the greatest scientific mind of the 19th century, it is crucial to know who influenced his discoveries and conclusions. Had he not befriended Charles Lyell, he would have not read "The Principles of Geology". Hence, he would have probably never been inclined to discover a wide variety of fossils and patterns from different animals. Which ultimately lead to the development of his theory.

Sources:
- Famous Scientists: Charles Lyell.
- Famous Scientists: Charles Darwin.
- UC Berkeley: Understanding Evolution: Uniformitarianism: Charles Lyell.
- Dr. Mary Dowd article.

Lateral Thinking: Generate Brilliant Ideas

Is this my very first post of 2020. Sometimes searching for the right topic to write about turns into a taxing task. Nonetheless, I always seem to stumble upon the right piece of information at the right time. Recently, did I encounter the term "lateral thinking" on a math book. Ever since then, I have been planning  on explaining what it is and how it works. In the following, I will address this topic and provide a few insights into how we can apply it into our lives.

 

I am sure you have heard the expression "to think outside the box". Lateral thinking is most likely the technical term for it. You see, most people think in a linear way (vertical thinking). When presented with a problem or question, most would employ logic and devise one solution. Conversely, lateral thinking encourages you to apply several strategies after looking into the problem. Thus, generating multiple solutions or answers. In other words, lateral thinking is used "to dig a whole in a different way". Whereas vertical thinking is used "to dig the same hole deeper". Both types of thinking should complement each other. Lateral thinking primarily being used with out-of-the-ordinary situations. For instance, mathematicians use this type of thinking so as to ideate different ways to solve a problem.

 

Dr. Edward De Bono coined the term back in 1967. He is a pioneer in brain training.  He has published several books on creative, critical and lateral thinking throughout his career. One of his most prominent works being "The Six Thinking Hats". Schools from over 20 countries have included his thinking tools into their curriculums. Not to mention he has helped countless people all over the world improve their creative skills and thinking abilities. De Bono believes our brain is organized and operates in patterns. Which makes it difficult for new information to be integrated easily. Which it needs to fit within the aforesaid existing patterns. Hence, lateral thinking allows us to restructure those patterns. Opening our minds to new ideas.

 

Lastly, I would say that even though this principle may be quite useful when playing chess or doing math, it can also be applied in our daily life. As stated above, problem solving skills do come into play when making decisions. Those decisions can lead us either to success or failure. The focus of lateral thinking lies on using all the alternatives we have to our advantage in order to produce the best solution.

Sources:
- Blahzinga YouTube Channel
- https://www.edwddebono.com/

8 Stages of Development by Erik Erikson

Has it indeed been over a month since my last post. Quite an eventful year this has been. Hopefully, 2020 will be a better year not only for publishing new posts, but for all aspects in general. In today's post, I will be going over Erick Erikson stages of development. You can draw a parallel with similar posts I have written in the past.

 

Erik Erikson was an German-American psychologist born in 1902. Best known for his "Stages of Psychosocial Development". His work was influenced by Sigmund Freud:

1. Trust vs Mistrust (Infancy - 1 and 2 years old) : At this stage, we are experiencing the world for the first time. Thus, it is hard to know if we can trust other people. We could have a positive experience with one person, and trust other people as a result. Conversely, we could have a negative one and be more cautious about whom we trust. Mother-child relationship is essential at this time.

2. Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt (Early childhood - 2 to 4 years of age) : During this stage, we start discovering our body and identity. If we are permitted to discover ourselves, we become confident. On the other hand, if we are not, we begin doubting ourselves and to feel insecure. Both parents need to be quite supportive at this time.

3. Initiative vs Guilt (Preschool age - 4 to 5 years of age) : During this period, we take initiative and experience new things. We also learn basic concepts. Such as how round objects roll. We wonder if it is fine to keep doing a new activity we tried for the first time. We will pursue our interests if we are encouraged by our parents. Nonetheless, if we are discouraged, we will stop doing what we enjoy.

4. Industry vs Inferiority (School age - 5 to 10 years old) :  We learn that we are different from others and develop our own interests. We feel the need to prove our worth at school, etc. and seek recognition from our teachers, parents, and other people in our community. If we are motivated by our teachers for instance, we become more responsible. Being ignored or discouraged by them however, could make us feel less valuable than our peers.

 

5. Identity vs Role confusion (Adolescence - 13 to 19 years old) : We realize we have different social roles. We take the role of children, friends, students and citizens. This period is usually when an "identity crisis" takes place. Phrase coined by Erikson himself. It is important that parents allow their children to explore new things to certain extent and with limits that is. Be that as it may, if we completely shut down our children, they will feel lost, Hence, struggling to find an identity.

6. Intimacy vs Isolation (Early adulthood - 20 to 40 years of age) : When we reach young adulthood, we begin to understand what our place is in the world . We no longer have the need to fit in as much as we did before. Besides, we also have the desire to build strong relationships with friends and even romantic relationships. If we feel that we are failing at one or both, we start feeling isolated and left out. Having a close bond with our peers is crucial for the most part.

7. Generativity vs Stagnation (Adulthood - 40 to 65 years of age) : We are more comfortable from the start of this stage. We use our spare time intelligently and in some cases contribute to society. If we have been successful, we care for generativity (the need to inspire and lead next generations to brighter future). If we have not conversely, we become pessimistic and stagnant.

8. Ego integrity vs Despair (Maturity - 65 to death) : We look back at our lives. We assess how successful with have been and compare ourselves with others.  If we believe we have had a fruitful life, we are nice to the people around us and have a positive attitude. If the opposite is the case, we become bad-tempered and are rude to others.

 

This has been one of my unusual articles where I explain a theory, concept and so on. Usually not following my regular layout. Even so, I consider this an enriching topic to close the year. Especially in the fields of education and psychology. Best wishes for 2020!

 

Sources:

- Sprouts YouTube Channel.

- https://www.verywellmind.com/erik-eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-2795740

 

The ONLY Thing You Have To Do To Speak English Fluently

Have I already talked about English teaching theories and approaches. Nonetheless, this time around, I would like to share a common issue regarding TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign language). In the following post I will address why I believe it is essential for non-native English teachers to be as close to perfection as possible. As well as offering some advice for reaching a higher proficiency level.

It is indeed quite challenging to teach English in a country where the aforesaid language is not official. Most teachers in Peru and other South American countries for instance. They mainly focus on the academic side of English. They believe that the more degrees they possess, the better able they will be at delivering a lesson in EFL. Be that as it may, being  fluent in the language you are aiming to teach is a must. Academic competence should go hand in hand with mastery of the target language.

According to a study done in 2014 by Education First (worldly recognized organization), Argentina is the Latin American country with the largest number of competent English speakers as a second language.

 

Even if you as an non-native English teacher have not had the opportunity to live overseas, there are a few recommendations you could follow: First of all, joining language exchange events is one of the most fun and enriching experiences you could ask for. I will share the link to some below this post. Interacting with different kinds of native speakers gives a wider perspective on how English is spoken in the real world. You could even befriend some of the attendees. Moreover, reading constantly in the target language (especially books and magazines that have a high enough register) and being exposed to the media should work in tandem. Especially auditory and visual media that is. Such as videos and movies, among others. As a last suggestion, I would add making an effort to visit an English speaking country and force yourself to use the language.

 

In sum, I would say that you should never be satisfied with the knowledge you have of a language which is not your own. Especially if you plan to teach it. As a wise man once said: "There are lots of t-shirts, but a few teachers". The aforementioned applies to all subjects. Even so, when it comes to teaching English, you should be able to sound as natural as possible. Bear in mind at all times that students will mimic your speech. Consequently, it is highly recommend to double-check the content you are going to cover for any given class beforehand. Case in point, even if you believe you know how to pronounce a word you have not encountered before. It is always better to make sure you do.

 

Sources:

- https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2015/02/150210_ingles_idioma_aptitud_indice_wbm

- https://www.meetup.com/topics/esl/

- Personal experience.