June 13, 2013 Thursday Meeting Topic

예전에 레이가 올려준 토픽입니다.   감사합니다.   [TOPIC 1] Are You Making a Good First Impression? When you meet someone for the first time or simply pass a stranger on the street, it's human nature to make assumptions about them: He's conceited and lazy, she's rich and friendly, that little girl is a huge brat. And you may have wondered what people think of you the first time they lay eyes on you. "When it comes to appearance, how you put yourself together matters more than being conventionally pretty," says Brandy Mychals, author of How to Read a Client from Across the Room (McGraw-Hill, 2012). "A job interview can be over before you even sit down because the person has already made snap judgments." Some of the ways others come to those opinions aren't what you may expect. Check out these five things people rate you by so you can make that tenth of a second count and wow everyone at first sight. 1. Your feet do the talking: You can never have too many shoes-and people judge you based on every single pair. In a study published in Journal of Research in Personality, researchers found that people could accurately guess a stranger's age, gender, and income simply by looking at what was on their feet. They also associated certain personality traits with different shoes. More masculine-looking pairs were thought to be worn by less agreeable people, while stylish or attractive shoes were assumed to be donned by rich, conscientious folks. And people rocking those ankle boots that are so in right now came across as aggressive. 2. Cosmetic powers: Brushing on a little shadow or blush can not only up your attractiveness factor, it can make you appear more confident. In a 2011 study funded by Proctor & Gamble and performed by Harvard University, people said women wearing a little makeup were more likeable, competent, and trustworthy than those with bare faces. But don't use a heavy hand with that eyeliner: Too much makeup still made women attractive, but they also seemed untrustworthy and dishonest, especially when participants only got a quick glimpse of the woman. 3. Grin and bear it: Your dentist is about to become your most popular medical practitioner. Earlier this year, Kelton Research conducted a study funded by Invisalign where more than 1,000 people were shown pictures of men and women's teeth. Those with straight smiles were perceived to be happier, smarter, and more successful and popular than those with crooked teeth. Thirty-eight percent also said crooked choppers would kill the chances of a second date, and almost half said that when two job candidates had the same skills and experience, one with straight teeth would be hired over one with crooked teeth. 4. The clothes make the woman: While Hillary Rodham Clinton rocks the pantsuit-and certainly nobody would doubt her confidence or competence-showing a little leg (tastefully, of course) may work better for you. Women in skirt suits were thought to earn more money and be more confident than those in pantsuits in a study conducted at the U.K.'s University of Hertfordshire. The researchers say the skirt balances professionalism with attractiveness without being provocative. Wearing the right outfit can also change your self-perception, researchers at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management found. Students who wore white lab coats while doing a scientific experiment performed better than those in regular clothes. 5. Take up space: Simply standing tall can speak volumes. According to a 2011 study published in Psychological Science, so-called "posture expansiveness"-where you open up the body and occupy space-not only makes you appear more confident and authoritative, you actually think and act that way. Posture matters even more than your title: It gives you a sense of power, no matter where you line up on the totem pole, researchers say.   <Questions>   1. How important are first impressions to you? Why? 2. What do you think are people's first impression about you? Do you think it's true? 3. What cosmetic products do you use? Why? 4. Even men nowadays are already conscious about how they look. Do you think it's OK for men to use some cosmetics? Why/ why not? 5. What's your favorite attire? Why? 6. What do you consider on choosing/buying clothes? The style? The brand? the price? Why?     Topic Socializing   Throughout our lives, our idea of what makes someone a good friend might change,  but the general principles remain the same.  In kindergarten, good friends might have let us have the red crayon, instead of the yucky black one. They were the one who seemed able to play with us for extended periods without it turning into all out war. They were the ones who shared their precious snacks with you at lunchtime.  In childhood, good friends were the people who were always there to sit with at lunchtime or the people who always wanted to walk home with you after school. They were the people who laughed at your antics, when everyone else thought you were just being idiotic. In adolescence, good friends let you copy their homework, risked punishment to pass you notes in class, always managed to get the seat next to you, and never revealed who you secretly had a crush on. As a teenager, your good friends were probably your partners in naughtiness, helped you laugh through the rough world of growing up, stood by and cheered on your successes, and picked you up and dusted you off after the sting of disappointment or betrayal.  As adults, good friends are those who are dependable, always ready with a listening ear, words of encouragement, or advice. Good friends remember your birthday. Good friends are the people you want to call when something has got you down, or when things suddenly seem to be falling apart. Good friends don't let you take yourself too seriously. They let you be yourself, but also help you grow to become a person.   Question   1. Which of your friends have you known the longest? How did the two of you meet? How often do you see each other these days? 2. Do you think that men and women can be friends? How about after marriage? 3. Are there any long lost friends you'd like to get back in touch with? 4. Do you usually hang out with the same group of close friends or with many different people? 5. What do you think would be different about the way you socialize if you lived in a Western country? Are there differences between the way that people in Korea and people in Western countries spend time together?