Articles Archive - Marianne Stenger

How to Use Self-Talk to Improve Performance

Do you ever talk to yourself? Although it’s not always a conscious habit, most of us practice self-talk on a daily basis, as a way of guiding, motivating or supporting ourselves. Maybe you’re heading to the store and start running through a list of all the items you need to buy. Or perhaps you’re trying to get through a particularly challenging task at work and find yourself whispering something like “Come on, focus, you can do this.” Over the years, research has shown that self-talk can boost productivity, motivation and confidence, and even help regulate emotions.

ABC Education

5 ways to celebrate International Women’s Day at school

International Women’s Day is all about celebrating the many social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women throughout history. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to teach kids of all ages about gender equality. Research shows that gender bias at primary school can have long-lasting implications for pupils, and children as young as three years old already become aware of gender differences and absorb stereotypes about the activities, toys or traits and skills that are associated with each gender.

Berlitz

15 of the Hardest Languages for English Speakers to Learn

Learning a second or even third language is a challenging but rewarding endeavour that can enrich your life and lead to exciting new career and travel opportunities. We’ve previously looked at some of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn, but what about the hardest ones? As a general rule, languages that have significant linguistic and cultural differences to English will be more difficult for English speakers to learn.

Bob Books

The ‘Mother Gaze’ in Photography – Interview with Eye Mama Project founder Karni Arieli

Born out of the turmoil of the pandemic, the Eye Mama Project is giving mothers around the world a unique opportunity to share their experience of motherhood and provide an artistic and introspective glimpse into their homes and family lives. The project was founded by photographer, filmmaker and mother of two, Karni Arieli, in the midst of the UK’s strict lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Her aim was to connect mothers at a time when most felt extremely isolated, while also documenting an important moment in history through the narrative of motherhood.

Bob Books

Vital Impacts – Interview with National Geographic Photographer Ami Vitale

From telling the story of the world’s last white rhinos in Kenya to the amazing lives of China’s giant pandas, National Geographic photographer and environmental activist Ami Vitale has travelled to more than 100 countries over the course of her career so far. “Photography has the unique ability to transcend all languages and help us understand our deep connections to one another and to all of life on this planet,” says Vitale. “It’s the ultimate tool for creating empathy, awareness, and understanding across cultures; a tool for making sense of our commonalities in the world we share. The genesis of this initiative is to use photography and powerful storytelling images to support organizations working to protect endangered habitats and amplify these critical stories.” We had the opportunity to ask her a few questions about her work as a photographer and environmental activist, as well as the role we all have to play in protecting the planet.

Maximizing Your Feedback’s Impact

Although the importance of meaningful feedback is well-known, one aspect of feedback that’s often overlooked is how students will use it once they receive it. A recent review of 195 studies shows that how students engage with feedback is just as important as how it’s delivered.

Framing the World – Interview with Sian Davey

Sian Davey is a British photographer whose work focuses on themes of family, community, love and belonging. She was born and raised in Brighton and worked as a psychotherapist for 15 years before making the decision to pursue photography full time. We had the opportunity to talk to her about her remarkable transition into photography, what her creative process is like, as well as some of the projects that she currently has in the works.

Huffington Post

The Five Most Important Things You Need To Be Happy At Work

We're all just chasing happiness, and since work is such a big part of our lives it's often one of the first places we look for it. But what does it take to be happy? Money can only go so far, and a study by Nobel prizewinning psychologist Daniel Kahneman found that happiness only rose in line with salary until people earned around £50,000 a year. After this, earning more money did nothing to boost people's happiness.

Documenting London’s Black Lives Matter Protests – Interview with Paula Abu

At just 22-years-old, South London-based photographer Paula Abu has already racked up an impressive list of achievements, from working as creative director for The Floor Magazine to being featured by GUAP & Nike London and working with Getty Images on a series of editorials. We spoke to her about her passion for photography and her work with The Floor Magazine, but also about what it’s been like for her as a young black photographer to be involved in the Black Lives Matter movement that has been gaining momentum in the UK and worldwide

Does technology connect or isolate? Interview with Eric Pickersgill

There’s a good chance you’ve seen them somewhere; the black and white, slightly spooky-looking images of people staring down blankly at the empty space where their phones would normally have been. Removed, a photo series by American artist and photographer Eric Pickersgill, aims to draw attention to the social and physical implications of advances in technology.