November 3, 2009
Appropriate attire, firm handshake, and maintaining eye contact may be the three obvious keys to first impressions, but confidence expressed through tone of voice should not be overlooked. It may not be an overstatement to say, your voice and pronunciation can make or break your first impression, and can benefit or hurt you in your career. Fortunately, it isn’t set in stone, and practice can help. Tough obstacles like foreign accents, are not impossible to tackle, either; with guided practice, the programmed muscles can learn new patterns and improve to achieve close to a “native tongue.”
Preston Ni will coach students on how to access the best, “promotable” voice on Thursday, November 5 at College of San Mateo. Read more on Ni here, and sign up for our class by registering on the web at http://communityed.smccd.edu or by phone at 650-574-6149.
November 3, 2009
Peninsula is filled with fantastic architecture and scenery, and Marty Springer, a talented freelance photographer, will guide us through tips and tricks of professional photography to practice during photo shoots at Stanford University, Union cemetery, and Docktown (Redwood City). Lecture starts Saturday, November 7, at College of San Mateo, followed by two Saturday photo ops.
Register now and come join us on this 3-part photography session! Visit us at http://communityed.smccd.edu or call us at (650)574-6149.
October 30, 2009
(And the holiday season is just around the corner!)
Set your clocks back an hour this Sunday, and give yourself an extra hour of sleep – but don’t snooze on your holiday shopping! Get started early!
Having a difficult time thinking of the perfect gift for your family and friends? Give the gift of lifelong learning! Whether it’s for your grandchildren, neighbors, or employees, we have over 150 classes here in our neighborhood in San Mateo, and over 200 online courses. E-gift cards can be in any denomination, and ca be purchased by phone or online.
Some exciting December courses include Driver’s Education, Secrets to Relaxation, Champagne: a Shared Passion, and HR Bootcamp. Our new catalog comes out early January, with more new and popular classes to kick off the new year.
For more information, check out our site at http://communityed.smccd.edu/ or call us at (650)574-6149.
October 29, 2009
SF Gate’s Peter Harlaub listed St. John’s Cemetery in recent compilation of Best Halloween haunts in the Bay Area (25 October 2009), as one of the spookiest cemeteries around.
If just the thought of cemeteries and Halloween together sends chills down your spine, you may be pleasantly surprised that St. John’s is often noted as “beautiful” and “park-like” in the day time.
Come November 7, College of San Mateo professor Michael Svanevik leads the pack on a breathtaking tour through the tombstones at the borders of San Mateo and Hillsborough, as he tells the history and episodes behind this site on a cool, autumn morning.
To join us on this and other exciting walking tours throughout the year, call us at (650)574-6149 or online at http://communityed.smccd.edu.
Post by Mari Izumikawa, staff
October 27, 2009
It’s treading risky waters out there, filled with scam sharks and distraction. Elders may be the first to shy away from keeping up with the ever-increasing web-based lifestyle, but it may be worthwhile to consider surfing, with caution.
According to a recent article in HealthDay News, it’s possible to “teach an old brain new technology tricks,” and the interactive properties of web surfing has been found to activate the brain in cognitive function and perspectives (Web Surf to Save Your Aging Brain, 19 October 2009).
First-timers who began surfing the internet showed improved activity in just over a few days, and, after a week, a greater extent of activity was visible through MRI scans. After an hour worth of internet exploration daily for two weeks, these first-timers were already catching up to those with prior experience.
While it is still highly advisable to practice safe surfing, exercising the brain through information acquisition and interaction can keep the brain healthier and ultimately in shape for more journey through lifelong learning!
Community Education at San Mateo County Community College District offers classroom and online computing and technology classes for all ages and skill levels. Course descriptions and registration are available for viewing online at http://communityed.smccd.edu.
Post by Mari Izumikawa, staff
October 22, 2009
What if you could acquire foreign language skills in matter of weeks, or even days – enough to journey through India on camels and trade camels with the natives? It may sound overly ambitious to pick up enough foreign language to execute such transaction, but that is exactly what Jim Wilten was able to do. And according to him, so can anyone else.
When Wilton isn’t picking up a foreign language or traveling, he works as a consultant to schools and is a writer. He claims he’s just “your average guy,” with average IQ. But through continuous practice, he’s acquired a superb memory skill that lets him even memorize books. He demonstrates this with copies of National Geographic in his “Secrets of a Super Memory” workshop held at College of San Mateo. Students open up and randomly call out the issue and page number; he gives detailed summary of the content and visual layout of the page. Unconvinced? Try half a dozen issues on him.
While not everyone experiences a camel transaction or need to recall magazine contents on demand like Wilten, we’re all faced with professional or personal situations to remember names on a daily basis. Beyond names, he asserts, that professional and personal success can improve by memory. It’s a confidence and self-esteem booster. Memory is a powerful tool.
Wilten spills his secrets in his highly interactive workshop, which may start out with an explanation on the concepts of memory, followed by a demonstration of how super memory can be practiced. Shortly after, students find themselves energetically tossing bean bags shouting peers’ names on cue, seeing for themselves that his techniques do work. Some participants walk out from the class being able to recite the Bill of Rights just in a matter of few active hours of the workshop – they go home with renewed confidence, as they learn that his powerful tips and exercises are applicable comprehensively.
Wilten offers his workshops again for the Bay Area learners on the evening of October 22 at College of San Mateo. He also makes his appearance donned as Leonardo da Vinci, and takes you in his fascinating theatrical lecture, revealing the mystery surrounding the genius on the evening of October 16. Registration for both workshops is underway at the Community Education office at San Mateo County Community College District at (650)574-6149 or on the web at http://communityed.smccd.edu.
Post by Mari Izumikawa, staff
