【推荐1】Work-Life Balance

Many articles are focused on the importance of work-life balance. Below are some suggestions mentioned frequently.

Decide on priorities(优先的事物).     1     You do not need to do everything in one night. Prioritize what needs to be done early in the week and what can be done later. If you are focusing on a few projects, you will do a better job on each assignment.

Don't be an over-achiever. Being an all-around person is good. However, you do not need to be the captain of the football team, the lead in each activity and the employee of the month.       2     And at the same time get your work done and have time to relax or hang out with friends.

    3     If there's an activity that no longer brings you joy, think about whether you really want to continue pursuing it. It's hard to let go of something you've invested in for years, but if it has become a burden with little return for you, it's time to give it uр.

Take care of yourself.     4     Do not sacrifice(牺牲) your health because you are too busy to take care of yourself. A combination of a healthy diet, regular exercise and plenty of sleep helps you relieve stress.

Schedule time for relaxation. Set aside half an hour a day to do something that just makes you feel good. Read a book or a favorite magazine, take a walk or ride your bike.     5    

【推荐3】In my writing, I adhere (遵守) to some essential rules: understanding the message I want to convey and to whom I am communicating, and presenting it in a clear and concise (简洁的) manner. When my target audience is my professors, or when my writing is expected to be read by my students, I adopt a different style.     1     A clear message is necessary to avoid boring readers or losing your audience.

    2     It matters in all forms of communication. Skilled speakers and performers interact with their audience and deliver their message effectively. In contrast, ineffective communication can result in a lost message.

Effective communication is arguably the most crucial skill you can learn in life.     3     For example: imagine being a scientist who has made a groundbreaking discovery. If you cannot explain your work to others using words, how difficult would it be to mime (比划着表达) your findings?

Unfortunately, communication skills are often overlooked in education. On this account, many people have experienced ineffective communication at some point in their lives, both as the speaker and the recipient.     4     Universities in China are taking steps to improve communication skills. By prioritizing communication skills, we can help students become better communicators.

In conclusion, effective communication is vital in all areas of life, including writing, speaking, and performing.     5     With it we will be more likely to succeed in all aspects of life.

【推荐1】Overseas Learning Programs for Students

The Somerset Yew Wah Classroom, UK, offers a distinctive English language and life education program tailored for Grade 6, Grade 8, and Grade 10 students. Established in 2006, the Somerset English learning and cultural center provides students with an authentic English environment experience. Located in a traditional English village in Somerset, Sibley’s Barn and the Knowle Hall campus offer students a unique setting for learning. The Knowle Hall campus, a newly renovated Victorian-era country house built on 15 acres of land in beautiful open parkland, was established in 2016. This program enhances students' self-confidence, independence, teamwork, and leadership skills, ultimately continuing to benefit them upon their return to China.

World Classroom

The World Classroom program is an extension of the project-based learning approach at the core of the Yew Wah educational model. It allows students to explore major cultures worldwide, including European, African, Middle Eastern, Pacific, and Anglo-American cultures. This immersive experience broadens students' perspectives, promotes critical thinking, and fosters an appreciation for diverse viewpoints, preparing them to thrive in an increasingly globalized world.

Experiencing China

The Experiencing China program offers secondary students the opportunity to delve into Chinese history and culture by visiting various regions of the country. This residential program not only deepens students' understanding of their own culture but also exposes them to firsthand cross-cultural experiences. Through these experiences, students develop critical thinking skills and cultivate an appreciation for different cultures, ultimately shaping them into global citizens with a commitment to serving their communities and society.

Trips and Excursions

Trips and excursions are integral to the students' learning journey, providing opportunities to expand their horizons, enrich their experiences, and strengthen their communication and problem-solving skills. The Hong Kong Hike, a traditional annual outdoor activity, challenges students to rely on teamwork and personal determination to overcome obstacles and reach their destination. Parents have noted significant positive changes in their children after participating in such activities, including increased maturity, independence, and responsibility.

【推荐2】In honor of National Park Week, here’s a list of some of the striking features that you can find throughout America.

Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park is not necessarily a dangerous place…as long as you don’t steal the stones. The fossils (化石) are beautiful and somewhat look like precious stones, which makes them an attractive souvenir. But as with all National Park lands, visitors aren’t allowed to take anything from the site, including rocks, plants and animals. And for good reason, removing any of these items can harm the local ecosystem or degrade the geological features. Legend has it that taking a rock can bring about misfortune. Due to this reason, the park receives letters with returned rocks from people wishing for forgiveness for fossil theft.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park was the first-ever national park, established in 1872. With scenic mountains and rivers and an abundance of wildlife, Yellowstone is home to more than 10,000 hydrothermal features. These include hot springs, mudpots, and over 500 geysers formed from the 2.1 million-year-old super volcano hiding below Yellowstone’s surface. Visitors from all over the world flock to Yellowstone National Park for its geysers.

Mammoth Cave National Park

With tunnels stretching over 420 miles, Mammoth Cave is the world’s largest cave system. Nearly 10 million years ago, water began to swirl its way through the limestone bed, eventually shaping the cave’s massive tunnels. Inside the cave are the classic stalactites and stalagmites, but you’ll also find other unique formations.

Devil’s Tower National Monument

The origins of this unique rock formation is that Devil’s Tower once constituted the inside of a volcano. Eventually, the softer outside rock of the eroded, leaving only the harder igneous rock behind. Among the local peoples, Devil’s Tower is highly sacred. Each community passes down legends of its creation, which typically include someone escaping a big bear and finding refuge atop the rock.

【推荐3】China is one of the best tourist destinations with many great museums, which will show you the Chinese civilization for the past thousands of years.

The Palace Museum, Beijing

There are always long lines at the gate, but it’s worth the wait. The palace Museum had been the Chinses imperial (皇帝的) palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty.

When you wander in the museum, you will be amazed at this largest palace complex in the world! It has about 1,807,000 rare and valuable artworks that witness the 5,000-year Chinese civilization.

Opening Hours:

April 1 — October 31: 8:30 — 17:00

November 1— March 31: 8:30 — 16:30

Closed on Mondays (except for national holidays and July-August)

National Museum of China, Beijing

This is the second most-visited museums in the world. Opened in 2003, the museum is devoted to educating the art and history of China through its collections, exhibitions, and academic researches.

Here you'll find the most brilliant masterpieces in China. It is now holding approximately 1,400,000 amazing objects. These objects are like storytellers who reveal Chinese history from the Yuanmou Man of 1.7 million years ago to the end of the Qing Dynasty.

Opening Hours:

9:00 — 17:00

Closed on Mondays

Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses (兵马俑), Xi'an

The Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses is featured with thousands of life-sized terracotta figures of warriors and horses. They are arranged in battle formations and different from each other with individual characteristics.

Thousands of treasures still remain to be unearthed at this archaeological (考古的) site, and more mysteries of the Qin dynasty will be revealed someday in the future.

Opening Hours:

March 16— November 15: 8:30 — 18:00

November 16— March 15: 8:30 — 17:30

Shanghai Museum, Shanghai

Visiting Shanghai Museum is ranked No. 2 out of 10 things to do in Shanghai. Perhaps, this is the most modern museum in China, housing a diverse collection of around 1,020,000 artifacts that chart the nation's history.

There are eleven galleries in three exhibition halls, covering most of the major categories of Chinese art: bronzes, sculpture, ceramics (陶瓷制品), paintings, calligraphy, seals, jade, coins and Ming and Qing furniture.

Opening Hours:

Monday to Sunday: 9:00 — 17:00