Neuroscientists and productivity experts both endorse the recent TikTok trend of setting yourself a personal curriculum.
Read the article:
https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/neuroscience-says-you-need-a-personal-curriculum-for-2026
and choose the correct option a)-c):
1. The article suggests adults’ brains ……. when learning is repetitive.
a) light up
b) explode
c) dim
2. A personal curriculum pushes learners outside their …… zone.
a) safe
b) comfort
c) focus
3. The trend encourages learning over a fixed …… of time.
a) stack
b) span
c) period
4.Productivity experts argue people feel motivated by ….. beginnings.
a) fresh
b) clean
c) early
5. Many participants say the trend helps them ….. their curiosity in a more meaningful way.
a) scroll
b) tap into
c) show off
6. The article describes social media content as highly ……. and mentally exhausting.
a) stimulating
b) structured
c) incremental
7. Neuroscientists argue the brain ……. on challenge and feedback.
a) depends
b) thrives
c) insists
8. A personal curriculum allows learners to ………… their studies to their own interests.
a) tailor
b) assign
c) encounter
9. The “fresh start effect” explains why people feel more ___ at certain times of the year.
a) distracted
b) hesitant
c) motivated
10. Assigning yourself a short course helps you make steady ___ toward a larger goal.
a) pressure
b) progress
c) resistance
Key: 1c); 2b); 3c); 4a); 5b); 6a); 7b); 8a); 9c); 10b)
Glossary
- to rock through – to complete something easily, confidently, or quickly, often with skill
- dicey – risky, uncertain, or potentially problematic
- to dim – to become weaker, less bright, or less active (often used metaphorically)
- to rust out – to slowly lose ability through lack of use
- to harness – to control and use something effectively for a particular purpose
- recuperative – relating to rest, recovery, and regaining energy
- fandoms – communities of fans who share a strong interest in a particular artist, group, show, or cultural product and interact with each other, often online
Practice makes perfect
Read this article:
https://www.inc.com/stephanie-mehta/8-books-to-read-that-will-help-you-lead-in-2026
and answer the questions below:
1. Which book does Maha Aboulenein recommend, and what leadership skill does she highlight from it?
2. What is the key lesson Paul Achleitner draws from Essence of Decision?
3. How does Kevin Boehm describe the approach to business in The Dream of Solomeo?
4. What makes Endurance relevant for modern leaders, according to Jon Gluck?
5. What leadership quality does Mita Mallick emphasize in Unreasonable Hospitality?
6. How does Asif Sadiq’s book help leaders with inclusion?
7. What principle from Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is suggested as timeless for leadership?
8. What does Angela Williams say leaders can learn from Homegoing about community?
Discuss
- Both articles highlight different ways adults can continue learning. Which approach appeals to you more: a structured personal curriculum, or reading books recommended by experts? Why?
- Maha Aboulenein emphasizes the power of storytelling, and Mita Mallick emphasizes human connection in leadership. How do these skills overlap, and why are they important today?
- Do you think technology (like AI or social media) helps or hinders human connection and leadership development? Can we “tap into” both effectively?
- How do seasonal moods or energy levels (as mentioned in the TikTok article) affect your learning or leadership abilities?
- How can leaders today balance professional success with ethical responsibility and human connection?
- If you were to create a personal curriculum for yourself next year, which topics would you choose and why?
- Which of the books recommended in the second article would you include in your own curriculum? How would they complement your self-directed learning?
Watch and Revise!
Master Your Future
Personal Curriculum and Leadership Books for 2026
https://www.cloud.worldwideschool.pl/index.php/s/mbC5wPgRkpgjDrN
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