#8 TED Talk

Joachim de Posada : Don't eat the marshmallow!

Posted May 2009

In this short talk from TED U, Joachim de Posada shares a landmark experiment on delayed gratification — and how it can predict future success. 

With priceless video of kids trying their hardest not to eat the marshmallow.

l   equivalent

(adj.) having the same amount, value, purpose, qualities, etc.:

        She's doing the equivalent job in the new company but for more money.

(N.) something that has the same amount, value, purpose, qualities, etc.

as something else:

        There is no English equivalent for "bon appetit" so we have adopted the French expression.

l   marshmallow  (N.)

[ C or U ] a soft, sweet, pink or white food:

        Why don't we toast some marshmallows over the fire?

[ C ] informal humorous a person who is not strong, brave, or confident:

        The situation called for someone tough, and I was a complete marshmallow.

l   reproduce

(V.) to produce a copy of something, or to be copied in a production process:

His work was reproduced on leaflets and magazines.

(V.)to show or do something again:

        The new design unfortunately reproduced some of the problems of the earlier model.

(V.)When living things reproduce, they produce young plants, animals, etc.:

        These plants can reproduce sexually and asexually.

l   exactly

(adv.) used when you are giving or asking for information that is completely correct:

        The journey took exactly three hours.

(adv.) used to emphasize what you are saying:

Do exactly what I tell you and no one will get hurt!

l   principle (N.)

[ C ] a basic idea or rule that explains or controls how something happens or works:

        The country is run on socialist principles.

If you agree with or believe something in principle, you agree with the idea in general, although you might not support it in reality or in every situation:

        In principle I agree with the idea, but in practice it's not always possible.

[ C or U ] approving a moral rule or standard of good behaviour:

        She doesn't have any principles.

『That child already, at four, understood the most important principle for success, which is the ability to delay gratification.

Self-discipline: the most important factor for success.』

I chose the teacher's recommended TED speech to watch.

After reading I found this speech much like a book I watched before "盯住最大的棉花糖".

The subject is to delay the enjoyment, to know how to endure, master the long-term goal of enthusiasm and persistence.

This presentation is about 6 minutes long and funny and interesting.

In particular, the film's last little girl, uncontrollable smell of marshmallow look, very cute.

I feel TED is a good learning English site.
Though, I am not accustomed to some accent , and speak a little faster.