08. Shopping

Hi there!

In this video, you will learn about the history of consumerism, from families buying small luxuries in 18th-century Europe to modern consumer habits.

Watch the video and think about these simple True/False statements:

1. For most of history, people owned very few possessions.

2. In the 18th century, some families could buy small luxuries.

3. The Christian Church approved of new fashions and material goods.

4. Bernard Mandeville believed shopping for pleasure could help make countries rich.

5. Adam Smith thought that consumer societies could create wealth even with trivial purchases.

Be ready to discuss in class: Do you think shopping is important for modern life?

Have a great weekend!

 

07. Food & Drink

Hi there!

This week we’ll watch two chefs prepare their own versions of paella. One is Jamie Bissonnette from Boston, and the other Omar Allibhoy from Jamie Oliver’s channel. Compare their recipes with the real paella valenciana: ingredients, steps, and even their cooking styles!

 

 Enjoy — and get ready to defend the true paella! 😄

06. Routine and Habit

Hello!

Organising our routines at the right moments of the day —what Josh Waitzkin calls “day architecture”— is very important for our health and productivity. We invite you to watch this conversation between Andrew Huberman and Josh Waitzkin, where they share some fascinating ideas about how to build the ideal daily routine.

It may seem a bit long or challenging at times, but it’s definitely worth it!

 

(By the way, MIQ stands for “Most Important Questions”.)

Enjoy the video!

05. Transport

Hi there!

What do you think about public transport? Watch this video and we'll talk about it in class:

See you next week! 

 

04. Weather

Hi there!

The weather is directly related to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. The seasons, for example, are a result of this movement. Watch this video to remind yourself how it works:

Have a great weekend!

 

03. House & Home

Hello there!

A house can be full of life, warmth, and memories… but what happens when it’s empty? To reflect on this, we invite you to listen to Tom Waits’ song “House Where Nobody Lives”:

See you on Wednesday!

02. Time

Hello there!

Why do we have the feeling that time goes faster as we grow older? Besides that, what is time, really? These are questions we will deal with next week, and to prepare yourselves we recommend watching these two videos:

1.  Why Life Seems to Speed Up as We Age

 

2. Does Time Exist? 

Have a great weekend!