1. It's relative income that's important. As I've noted previously, money is relative. It turns out we don't mind so much about our actual level of income, so long as we're earning more than other people around us. Unfortunately as we earn more money we're likely to be surrounded by richer people so we often end up failing to take advantage of the positive comparison.
   2. Material goods don't make us happy. Acquiring things like houses and cars only have a transient effect on happiness. People's desires for material possessions crank up at the same, or greater rate, than their salaries. Again, this means that despite considerably more luxurious possessions, people end up no happier. There's even evidence that materialism make us less happy.
   3. People don't shift to enjoyable activities when they are rich. People who earn more money don't spend their time enjoying themselves, they spend their time at work, in activities likely to cause them more stress and tension. This may be because of 'the focusing illusion'. When people think about earning more money they probably imagine they would use the money on recreational activities. In fact, to earn the money, they have to spend more time at work, and commuting to and from work.
Does money really bring happiness? - I would have to say no, but in today's materialistic society many think they will be able to use money to buy happiness.

Far too many people think that new pair of shoes, new car, new house, bigger bank balance will make them happy, and for a short while it does, but then the effect wears off and they start looking for the next object of desire to buy. Or when they get what they wanted all of a sudden it doesn't fit the bill and they now want the newer model car, the more expensive trainers, the flashier jewelry.

Something I have always noticed is the amount of effort needed to obtain something always makes it much more special and you are happier you have it. For many...

Essay topic: The difficulties in learning English and how to overcome

-from the outset. For me, I had to overcome these problems when I started learning English.

-English pronunciation is my first obstacle. The pronunciation in English puzzles me a lot because the same letter has different sounds. For example the letter “a” in “bath” is not pronounced in the same way of that in “bathe”. The “ou” in “South” is also different from “ou” in “Southern”. Generally verbs and nouns are pronounced differently although they are written the same. Record is a good example to illustrate it.

-In order to solve this puzzling question I carefully study The A.P.A (The International Phonetic Alphabets) which helps me pronounce English words correctly.

-In order to have an accent just like the native speakers, I often listen to tapes,download many toppics listening on the internet to my mobile ...and repeat after them, trying to imitate them. Moreover, my everyday conversation with the foreigners I meet in the street will enable me to acquire a proper accent.

-Compared with French, English grammar is much easier. However, this does not mean that learners meet no difficulties in learning it. It took me a long time to learn how to master the tenses in English grammar, to endeavor to do as many grammar exercises as possible and read various grammar books.

In writing English, English language has its own style. In order to drill writing skills, I have tried to read short storys,topics and so on ...on the internet,in the websites VOA -VOA special english,english for tourism...etc

-After long and hard years of English study, how pleased I feel when I am able to read English without any obstacles and difficulties at all.

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-từ khi bắt đầu. Đối với tôi, tôi đã phải vượt qua những vấn đề này khi tôi bắt đầu học tiếng...

learn English.

English is considered to be the most common and important language of the world today. A great number of people understand and use English in every part of the world.

English is the most useful language. Being good at English, we can travel to any place or any country we like. We shall not find it hard to make others understand what we wish to say.

English also helps us to learn all kinds of subjects. Hundreds of books are written in English every day in all countries to teach people useful things. The English language has therefore helped to spread ideas and knowledge to all the corners of the world. There is no subject that cannot be learned in the English language.

As English is used so much everywhere in the world, it has helped to make countries of the world become friendlier with one another. The leaders of the world use English to understand one another. The English language has therefore spread better understanding and friendship among countries of the world.

Thanks to these characteristics, English has been used in all important meetings and conferences or in summit talks between leaders of powerful countries. To acquire correct and fluent English I should learn the basic rules of English Grammar and practice speaking English regularly with my friends and my teachers. “Practice makes perfect”. I should frequently listen to native English speakers through videos, television and radio. Whenever I find a new word whose pronunciation I do not know I should look it up in the internet and dictionary anywhere !

It cannot be denied that today English is the most widely used language in the world. It has been used in all spheres of public activity. Because of its importance I have chosen English as the second language after my mother tongue.

In fact, English has become the international language. If I master this language I can go to any continent in the world: Asia, Europe, Africa, America and Australia....