1 . One thing that’s never in short supply at the beginning of each new year?     1     But many of us fail to stick with our New Year’s resolutions months (or even weeks) after making them. It turns out there are commonly avoided mistakes. That explains why some people always seem to reach their goals while others keep falling short.

    2     If you fail to pick the right habit, you aren’t likely to accomplish the corresponding goal. Say you want to lose some weight this year, forming a habit of running 30 minutes a day may not help you do that if you don’t also form habits related to the foods you eat, because diet affects weight more than exercise.     3     Failure to establish habits that support your goals may cause your resolutions to flop before you begin.

Another common mistake people make when setting goals is becoming overly concerned about the amount of time it will take to form a new habit. There’s no one right answer when it comes to how long new habits should take to form.     4     Some people simply adopt new habits faster than other people and that complex habits usually take longer to form. Consider how easy it is to brush your teeth at night compared to reading a full chapter of a book each day.

So the yearly ritual of resolution setting doesn’t have to be an annual disappointment. Sometimes, the difference between success and failure is simply choosing the right habits and the process you use to go about achieving it. Most importantly, remember to be kind and flexible with yourself and to celebrate any and all progress along the way.     5    

2 . If you understand the fable of the frog in the boiling water, it is time to learn how to avoid becoming the frog and make positive changes so that you can succeed and live your dream life. Here are a few tips you can follow.

    1     You don’t want to go through every day without having a clear direction. The first thing you want to do to create a better future is to identify what kind of future you desire. Once you have a clear direction, you can run as fast as you can to get there.

Make a plan and work on it every day. Besides knowing what you want, you need to also know what you need to do to get there.     2     Every one of us wants to have a better future, but most people don’t know what to do to get there. This is why having a plan is important. Once you have a plan, all you need to do is stick to your plan and take massive action.

Take consistent action. Identifying your goals and knowing your plan is just a foundation step to achieving the success you want. You also need to take action and work on your goals if you want to achieve them.     3    

Improve yourself regularly. Just like your phone, you update your mobile phone from time to time so that the software is the latest.     4     Constantly update and improve yourself so that you can perform at your best. If you want to be financially rich, you can’t just do nothing about your finances.     5     You need to learn how to manage your wealth too.

Always remember the story of the frog in the boiling water. And follow the tips I shared about to “hedge” yourself against the impact of gradual changes.

3 . Hello, 2024. It’s that time of the year again. The start of the new year is a natural time to consider what you may want to do differently, and your goals for the upcoming year. It is a common practice to create New Year’s resolutions, yet are they helpful?    1    

Reflecting on your behaviors and creating goals that align (使一致) with your values can motivate helpful change.    2     you can experience a sense of meaning and quality of life.

However, people don’t always approach New Year’s resolutions in a helpful way.    3     Do you feel the need to set a goal or make a change based on what someone else would like you to do? It can be difficult to implement and maintain a new behavior, even when you genuinely want to do it, let alone when you don’t. Resolutions based on shoulds are not likely to last.

So, if you plan to set a New Year’s resolution, first be honest with yourself about whether the resolution is important and meaningful to you.    4     Have you got an understanding of the value that the resolution is connected to that provides you with a sense of purpose?

    5     Goals based on unrealistic expectations are unhelpful. If a goal is too large and does not match your current circumstances and resources, success is unlikely, which may fuel self-criticism and make it more challenging to achieve.

Targeting small changes may be more useful than creating one or two large resolutions at the start of the year.

4 . Local Chinese Teachers’ Training in Sri Lanka

The Confucius Institute, University of Colombo successfully conducted the “Local Chinese Teachers’ Training in Sri Lanka” on 20th-21st May. This event was carried out through online platform. Fifty three Chinese teachers from various schools across Sri Lanka participated in this training program. Here is the training workshop agenda.

Arrangement for the First Day:

Combining their own teaching practice and theory, the lecturers gave instructions to the participants (参与者) with the focus on English-Chinese classroom teaching.

5 . How to Make and Keep a New Year’s Resolution

Are you making a resolution in the New Year? You’ll give yourself your best shot at success if your goals are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound).

•Specific. Your resolution should be absolutely clear. Making a concrete goal is really important rather than just vaguely(含糊地) saying “I want to lose weight.” You want to have a goal: How much weight do you want to lose and at what time interval?     1    

•Measurable. This may seem obvious if your goal is a fitness related one, but it’s also important if you’re trying to cut back on something, too. If, for example, you want to stop biting your nails, take pictures of your nails over time so you can track your progress in how those nails grow back out.     2    

•Achievable. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have big stretch goals.     3     So, for example, deciding to save enough money to retire in five years when you’re 30 years old is probably not realistic, but saving an extra $100 a month may be.

•Relevant.     4     If you do it out of a sense of self-hate or a strong passion in that moment, it doesn’t usually last long. But if you build up a process where you’re thinking harder about what’s good for you, then you have a fighting chance.

•Time-bound. Like “achievable”, the timeline toward reaching your goal should be realistic, too. That means giving yourself enough time to do it with lots of smaller goals set up along the way.     5    

If you’re building a habit, you’re planning for the next decade, not the next couple of months.

6 . Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, every trip needs a little planning. Things like flights and hotels have to be booked in advance.     1     As long as you allow yourself plenty of time to look around, compare prices, and make sure you have everything you need before you leave, you can plan a great travel experience.

Start planning 3-6 months in advance.     2     International trips can take months to plan properly. Likewise, trips during high seasons, such as summer or over the holidays, need to be booked further out than trips during low seasons.

    3     Before you do anything, you need to know how much money you will have at your disposal. It’s easy to overspend when you’re traveling if you don’t plan ahead, so start your planning by breaking down how much you want to spend on transportation, food, lodging, sightseeing, nightlife, and any other activities you hope to include in your trip.

Pick a vacation destination that you will enjoy. If you’re traveling for pleasure, look for a destination that will be enjoyable for everyone going. Think about your interests and the interests of the people traveling with you, and consider destinations that work for everyone.     4     If you’re bringing kids, look for a destination that has kid-friendly activities.

Make meal plans before you go. You don’t need a restaurant reservation for every meal when you’re gone, but you should think about meal plans before you go. Think about what meals may be included with your accommodations. Does your hotel offer free breakfast?     5    

7 . High School Summer Scholars Program

This program is ideal for students who want to earn college credit, challenge themselves academically, and explore courses in a specific major or subject. Why not enroll in courses for credit and study alongside undergraduates through our High School Summer Scholars Program?

The High School Summer Scholars Program is a five-week program from June 9-July 13, 2024.

●Be a current junior in high school (graduating in 2025) .

●Have an academic average of B⁺ or better.

●As an international student, have a TOEFL iBT score of at least 90 or an IELTS Academic score of at least 6.5.

The 2024 program fee for High School Summer Scholars is to be determined. Need-based scholarship assistance is available. Children of Washington University employees and returning students can enjoy a 10% discount.

Grades earned in High School Summer Scholars Program will be included in a student’s record at Washington University. Official transcripts can be requested from the Office of the University Registrar and sent to any undergraduate admission school. Credit courses use traditional letter grades(A，B，C，D，F).

Students must complete an online application, including short essays, and submit the following additional information：

*$50 nonrefundable application fee

*Transcript

*Teacher recommendation

*International applicants must send an official TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic score report.

The deadline to submit an application is April 1, 2024 at 11：59 pm.

Questions about applying? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

Applications for the 2024 summer will open on November 1, 2023.

9 . CHI’s Academic Year Program (AYP) is your chance to study in America and spend either an academic year or a semester living with a volunteer host family.

The requirements for studying in America

High school students who are aged 15 to 18

A score of at least 212 on the ELTiS exam

Contact a partner agency in your home or a nearby country. We can also send you a list of partners near you. They will set you up with an application and let you know what you need to submit in order to be considered.

Our Admissions Department reviews and accepts your application. We issue and send your agency the Form DS-2023, which is the official US Department of State document that allows you to apply for and receive your J-1 visa. Once you receive the DS-2023, you can make your visa appointment. When the visa is granted, you are all set to travel to America.

Meanwhile, our Field and Operations staff will work hard to find you the perfect family and school as soon as possible! Once we find the right host family for you, you can start to get to know your family by email.

Your agency will book your flight according to your school start date. When you arrive, we will give you a student orientation and introduce you to other exchange students and the surrounding community. When school starts, you will begin the process of cultural exchange!

10 . If you had to choose between spending all your pocket money on games and snacks, or saving some of it for the future, which would you choose?     1     When you have the opportunity to treat yourself to your favourite things, it can be really hard to say no. Before you know it, all your money is gone!

It’s easy to see the fun in buying an ice-cream or going shopping with friends.     2     That’s because saving creates opportunities and opens the door to adventures. Suddenly it doesn’t seem quite so boring when you realise saving money is the key to making your dreams come true.

    3     It’s good to give yourself a mix of short-term and long-term goals, so think of something you’d like to buy that you could save up for in a few weeks. Write down how much it costs, then work out how much you can afford to save each week and how long it will take you to reach your goal. It’s important to be realistic because you’ll soon get bored if you plan to save every single penny.

It helps to keep your savings separate from the rest of your money, so that you don’t accidentally spend it.     4     Most people choose to save their money in a savings account, as this gives them an opportunity to earn interest. Some savings accounts allow you to withdraw money whenever you like, but some will keep your money locked away for several years or until you become an adult.

If you’re new to saving, start off by thinking of some fun goals. Every penny you save takes you one step closer to reaching your goal.     5