PSCW Library Magazine 4th issue

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stress Management: 6 ways to Maintain a positive attitude in stressful Times

it’s very easy to be dragged down by the stress and pressure of everyday life and once you’re down it’s even easier to stay there, beaten and tired, muddling from day to day. The choice to live your life with a more positive attitude is always the right choice. but it is a choice that will take work and time. everyone is different and one of the hardest things in life can be figuring out what in the world will make us happy. it’s an experiment that lasts a lifetime, but there are a few things that have been proven to help keep a positive attitude, especially in times of stress.

1. Make Lists. a great way to put your problems into perspective is to sit down in a quiet place, away from the sources of your stress, and make a list of everything that is causing you anxiety. Laying everything out on paper can make your problems seem smaller and easier to manage. The next step it so make a second list of one thing that you can do to fix each problem. Use the second list as a to-do list!

2. Meditate. what comes to mind when many people think of meditation is an old, bald monk sitting with his legs crossed on a pillow on the top of a mountain, chanting a mantra. but that’s not all meditation is. Meditation is about being in control of your mind and that is often the first step to creating a positive attitude for yourself despite stress from the world around you.

3. Exercise. The choice to get up in the morning and go for a jog can be a difficult one when stress and exhaustion have already taken over. But just doing fifteen minutes of yoga in the morning can release an extra boost of endorphin that can give you a more positive outlook to face the day with. a quick workout in the morning can wake you and get your blood pumping faster than any cup of coffee and won’t have the negative side effects of a crash later in the day. if you’re absolutely not a morning person, walking on a treadmill while watching TV or choosing to take the stairs instead of the elevator can help you

feel better too!4. Cut Out Unhealthy Foods.it doesn’t have to be a dramatic diet change but small changes to what you put in your body can make a big difference. although it is tempting in stressful times to take solace with a few drinks after work, alcohol is a depressant and can ultimately make you feel worse. Foods that are clearly unhealthy for you and have little nutritional value can make your body feel lethargic and sluggish. by cutting out just the occasional junk food for a healthier option, it can not only make your body feel better but you’ll feel better on the inside knowing that you resisted temptation. For those willing to go to the extreme, there’s always cutting out caffeinated drinks. it’s guaranteed to make you feel better after the withdrawal ends, but it can be difficult until then!

5. Live In the Now. by focusing on what you do have rather than what you could have, you can decrease the amount of time you spend wishing and increase the time you spend appreciating. it really comes down to choosing to live your life in a “half full” mentality. you could say that your life doesn’t have a high paying job that gets you lots of respect and the newest smartphone, or you could look at it as, ‘in my life, i have a loving family, a roof over my head and an income that allows me to travel from time to time.’

6. Try Something New. sometimes, you start to feel like you’re in a rut. You may find yourself going to work, driving home, eating dinner, watching TV and doing it all over again day after day. This monotony can lead to the things in life becoming mundane and harder to appreciate. shaking up this pattern should help you to break up the routine and see your life in a new light. Trying something new could be as complicated as taking a trip somewhere, as local as joining a bowling team or as simple as buying a new set of pens with wacky monsters on the ends to use at work..

reviewed article from:www.emotional-detachment.comby: Dr. Manal Khalil

Books available in PSCW Library about Stress Management

second Language acquisition (often abbreviated as sLa) is a sub-discipline of applied linguistics which is devoted to studying the process by which people learn any language in addition to their first language or mother tongue. That is, the term “second” can apply to a third, fourth, fifth, etc. language that the person learns. The discipline, which is broad-based and relatively new, is interdisciplinary as it related to psychology, cognitive psychology and education in addition to a number of other sub-disciplines of Linguistics. The discipline has been flourishing at a rapid pace since the 1960s and is now at the upfront of applied Linguistics research.

so, if you are already an sLa fan or just curious to learn more about sLa, here are some recommended references already available at the pscw Library which you can enjoy reading: (1) Klein, W. (1986). Second language acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. The book, although written more than two decades ago, is still a recommended reference for anyone interested in learning more about SLA. The book consists of two parts. The first part offers an overview of the “current” state of the art through discussing some sLa fundamental facts, focal issues, well-known theories, dimensions and consequences for second language (L2) instruction. The second part is dedicated to analyzing and assessing sLa from a learner’s perspective through discussing four problems all L2 learners may face in the process of sLa. (2) Larsen-Freeman, D. & Long, M. H. (1991). An introduction to second language acquisition research. essex, england: pearson education. The book offers a comprehensive, yet a highly accessible, study of sLa that would be of great interest to L2 teachers as well as students from a variety of disciplines including Linguistics, applied Linguistics, psychology, psycholinguistics and foreign language education. The book does not require any prior knowledge of sLa as it presents an easy-to-join journey into SLA research, history and development, and findings on learner language. The book also contains indispensible information on a number of relevant topics including the linguistic environment for sLa, learner variables, sLa theories and L2 formal instruction. (3) Ellis, R. (1994). The study of second language acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. This reference book stands as a real comprehensive introduction to SLA research. The book, consisting of more than 800 pages, includes seven parts that cover a variety of relevant topics. in addition to presenting an overview of sLa, the book describes learner language in depth, explains important internal and external factors in SLA and discusses the significance and types of individual learner differences and learner strategies. The last

part is devoted to the rapidly expanding research on classroom second language acquisition, which is of growing interest to a number of sLa researchers, L2 practitioners and applied Linguistics/ L2 learning students. (4) Ellis, R. (1997). Second language acquisition. China: Oxford University Press. The book, a textbook for eng342 Language acquisition for the applied Linguistics Major, offers a perfect overview of sLa for novice sLa enthusiasts. The book introduces the basic principles of sLa, discusses the nature of learner language in detail, summarizes important individual differences that may affect SLA and finally comments on the relation between SLA and L2 instruction. (5) Fotos, S. &Nassaji, H. (eds.) (2007). Form-focused instruction and teacher education. Oxford: Oxford University press.The book, which includes chapters by prominent figures in sLa, such as nich ellis, peter skehan and Teresa pica, presents an overview of form-focused instruction as a relatively recent and rapidly growing approach to second language grammar teaching. The leading sLa practitioners and researchers contributing to the book cover the field of form-focused instruction from a variety of perspectives, including theoretical concerns, classroom practices and teacher education. (6) Dörnyei, Z. (2009). The psychology of second language acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. The book delivers a systematic overview of the relevant psychological areas and theories relevant to sLa as a response the increasing convergence between psychology and Linguistics in the 21st century. The book is mainly designed to appeal to postgraduate students, researchers, teachers and trainers. The book, which is highly recommended by authorities in the field, covers diverse themes including language and the brain, new approaches to sLa, explicit/ implicit learning and procedural/ declarative knowledge, learner characteristics and the critical period Hypothesis and the psychological basis of language learning in educational contexts.

as a fan of and an interested researcher in sLa, i hope to see more and more books on sLa in the pscw library, not only to serve my needs and interests, but also to enlighten students and faculty on this growing discipline which is of great significance to L2 teaching and learning. Until a more updated list of references is made available on the pscw library’s shelves, however, i do invite everyone to borrow at least one of these highly recommended references to develop basic familiarity with sLa as a discipline and explore its great value and potential avenues for research.

Selected SLA References in PSCW Library __________________________________Dr. Dina El-Dakhs, English Department

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students, faculty and staff members are encouraged to make comments about the library programs and services, and either send them via the library email or call up the library by phone.A library user survey form is available for anyone to fill out in the library during the library hours. The Library hours : Saturday to Wednesday 7:30 am - 3:00 pmContact Information: phone: 01 494-8643 \ 01 494-8788 \ 01 494-8741 website: http://info.psu.edu.sa/pscw/pscw/Library.aspx email: [email protected]

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PSCW Library Magazine 4th issue

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