A Simple Way to Break a Bad Habit | Judson Brewer | TED – YouTube Dictation Transcript & Vocabulary
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Interactive Transcript & Highlights for Dictation
1.When I was first learning to meditate, the instruction was to simply pay attention to my breath, and when my mind wandered, to bring it back
2.Sounded simple enough
3.Yet I'd sit on these silent retreats, sweating through T-shirts in the middle of winter
4.I'd take naps every chance I got because it was really hard work
5.Actually, it was exhausting
💡 Tap the highlighted words to see definitions and examples
Key Vocabulary (CEFR B1)
momentary
A2Lasting for only a moment.
Example:
"about what was happening in our momentary experience?"
disenchantment
B2The act of disenchanting or the state of being disenchanted.
Example:
"which is why this disenchantment is so important."
evolutionarily-conserved
B1A B1-level word commonly used in this context.
Example:
"It turns out that we're fighting one of the most evolutionarily-conserved"
conserved
A2To save for later use, sometimes by the use of a preservative.
Example:
"It turns out that we're fighting one of the most evolutionarily-conserved"
cigarette
A2Tobacco or other substances, in a thin roll wrapped with paper, intended to be smoked.
Example:
"feeling stressed out triggers that urge to smoke a cigarette"
experiences
B1The effect upon the judgment or feelings produced by any event, whether witnessed or participated in; personal and direct impressions as contrasted with description or fancies; personal acquaintance; actual enjoyment or suffering.
Example:
"These are bite-size pieces of experiences"
scientist
A2One whose activities make use of the scientific method to answer questions regarding the measurable universe. A scientist may be involved in original research, or make use of the results of the research of others.
Example:
"We become this inner scientist"
processing
A2To perform a particular process on a thing.
Example:
"we found that parts of a neural network of self-referential processing"
mechanisms
A2(within a machine or machinery) Any mechanical means for the conversion or control of motion, or the transmission or control of power.
Example:
"that target these core mechanisms"
distraction
B2Something that distracts.
Example:
"and, ironically, use the same technology that's driving us to distraction"
| Word | CEFR | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| momentary | A2 | Lasting for only a moment. |
| disenchantment | B2 | The act of disenchanting or the state of being disenchanted. |
| evolutionarily-conserved | B1 | A B1-level word commonly used in this context. |
| conserved | A2 | To save for later use, sometimes by the use of a preservative. |
| cigarette | A2 | Tobacco or other substances, in a thin roll wrapped with paper, intended to be smoked. |
| experiences | B1 | The effect upon the judgment or feelings produced by any event, whether witnessed or participated in; personal and direct impressions as contrasted with description or fancies; personal acquaintance; actual enjoyment or suffering. |
| scientist | A2 | One whose activities make use of the scientific method to answer questions regarding the measurable universe. A scientist may be involved in original research, or make use of the results of the research of others. |
| processing | A2 | To perform a particular process on a thing. |
| mechanisms | A2 | (within a machine or machinery) Any mechanical means for the conversion or control of motion, or the transmission or control of power. |
| distraction | B2 | Something that distracts. |
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