Abstract People use the word beautiful for many different reasons such as a beautiful woman or a beautiful poem. It is important to take a look at different uses of the word to understand the full meaning of beautiful. Beauty is more than attraction. Beautiful is often used to describe people and objects, but inner beauty is important when it comes to friends and family members. This paper examines the different meanings that the word 'beautiful' can have. The paper explains that the term 'beautiful' can be applied to a number of different objects or ideas and that within each application different people interpret beautiful differently.
From the Paper "What does it mean when someone says a person or object is beautiful? The web describes beautiful as "delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration" (Definitions of Beautiful). People use the word beautiful for many different reasons such as a beautiful woman or a beautiful poem. It is important to take a look at different uses of the word to understand the full meaning of beautiful. Beautiful is often used to describe people and objects, but inner beauty is important when it comes to friends and family members. Beauty brings advantages that some people do not have. "In our society, beauty also gives us many advantages such as having a good social life, making friends, getting a job, and getting a promotion" (Eunsuk). Many people consider beauty important when it comes to hiring or advertising."
Abstract In this essay, the writer examines the personal meaning of tabernacle and the five materials used to build the tabernacle. The writer explains that the term tabernacle represents the building where God can be worshipped. The writer points out that personally, a tabernacle of God in today's terms is a person's body where the Holy Spirit dwells. Further, the writer points out that it is important to consider what the tabernacle means individually to a person as well as considering the different materials used to create the tabernacle.
From the Paper "What does the term "tabernacle" mean? What were five of the materials that the tabernacle was made from? The term "tabernacle" represents the "building" where God can be worshipped. Personally, a tabernacle of God in today's terms is a person's body where the Holy Spirit dwells. It is important to consider what the tabernacle means individually to a person as well as considering the different materials used to create the tabernacle. Why did God want a tabernacle built? "God wanted a place where he could be near the Israelites". When Adam and Eve sinned, God lost the intimacy he had between humans and himself. God told Moses that a curtain needed to separate him and the people. Today, the tabernacle is inside those who accept Jesus because he tore down the curtains of the tabernacle so that people could directly communicate with him. "
Abstract This paper discusses the meaning of the phrase "quality of life" and the response of different people to this question. The paper further discusses how most people base quality of life on how much finances they have, how many friends, and their physical and mental health. The essential components of quality of life for others, is the ability to read, walk, and talk as well as being independent and not relying on others for all my needs.
Abstract In this article, the writer points out that research study has shown that cooperative learning environments are more conducive to English language learning than are other learning environments. The writer explains that, in other words, it is easier for students to learn the English language in a relaxed cooperative learning situation than in the formal classroom instructional environment. This work attempts to discover, through a qualitative review of literature and a qualitative method of applied case study through the instrument of the survey/questionnaire, to understand this phenomena in the acquisition of the English language by students in the school and classroom environment. The writer concludes that the cooperative classroom in English language learning has been shown to be effective in a student's acquisition of the English language.
Outline:
Introduction
Statement of Problem
Literature Review
Research Objectives
Hypothesis/Research Questions
Research Design
Assumptions and Limitations
Data Analysis (Questionnaire - Primary Data)
Limitations/Research Ethics
Conclusions
From the Paper "It is assumed that the teachers in the survey know what cooperative learning actually is and that the teacher has used it consistently for at least one semester of the school year prior to the conduction of this study. It is further assumed that the students interviewed in this survey are not schooled in what cooperative learning actually is in terms of theoretical framework and case study research or techniques or methods of delivering instruction and that their view will be unclouded by this aspect of the learning environment. Limitations exist in this study in that there may be other varying factors that influence the acquisition of the English language, however this research proposal has attempted to allow for that in the instrument used for gathering data or the survey/questionnaire through asking relevant questions as to the home environment and other factors in the life of the student that might be the factor for more success in language acquisition in the school environment."
Abstract This paper explores recent trends and controversy regarding bilingual education and examines various methods for providing bilingual education. Additionally, recent educational trends in this field are discussed, including two-way bilingual education, integrated bilingual education, two-way immersion, and transitional bilingual. Issues such as preserving the students' native culture and language as well as their growth in both the native language and the newly acquired language are examined.
Outline:
Introduction
Differing Methods of Bilingual Instruction
English Only Mandates
Loss of Native Language
Conclusion
From the Paper "Bilingual Education ideally encompasses dual language learning that can take on any number of forms (Jarvis, 2006). The vast majority of research supports bilingual education as a necessity to facilitate not only learning on non-native speakers of English, but as a tool to maintain and promote heritage language and culture (Adams & Jones 2006; Combs et.al., 2005; de Jong, 2006; Hasson, 2006; Jarvis, 2006; Lee, 2006; Lopez & Tashakkori, 2006; Moses, 2000; Nora, 2000;). While research continues to indicate the benefits of bilingual education there has been recent influx of "English-only" mandates (Adams & Jones, 2006, Combs et. al., 2005; Lee, 2006; Moses, 2000) which perpetuate injustice manifesting itself in various ways throughout the educational experience of English language learners (ELL) (Adams & Jones, 2006; Combs et. al., 2005; Hasson, 2006; Moses, 2000)."
Tags: ELL, English Language Learners, ESL, English Second Language, bilingualism, dual, english only, NCLB, No Child Left Behind, immersion, Hispanic, Spanish, monolingual
Abstract This paper examines how Tolkien's study of philology and creation of languages had a large impact on "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. It looks at how many of the different societies and civilizations of Middle-Earth were shaped by these languages, including the societies of Hobbits, Elves, Men, Dwarves, Ents and Mordor. It discusses how this influence can be seen through a close study of the background and beliefs of J.R.R. Tolkien. Although he believed that language and literature were influential on one another, his love of language and disdain for the term "literature" influenced the way he wrote "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
From the Paper "The Black Speech used by the minions of Mordor shaped Tolkien's creation of Mordor as a bleak, ugly, and evil land. There are two forms of the Black Speech; one form representing the more powerful villains and one representing the baser villains. The more powerful evils include Sauron and the Nazguls. The baser evils include the Orcs and other servants of Sauron. The Black Speech is a harsh-sounding, violent language, that Tolkien did not like to write in as much as others. He meant for it to be unpleasant ("Black Speech"). This influenced the society and culture by making noises like grunts and shrieks or body language more common communication than language. Tolkien did give the villains their share of intelligence, however. "
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that among the many plausible reasons for helping students build vocabulary, perhaps the most important is the contribution of vocabulary knowledge to reading comprehension. The writer notes that one of the most enduring findings in reading research concerns the extent to which students' vocabulary knowledge relates to their reading comprehension. The writer points out that given that students' success in school and beyond depends in great measure upon their ability to read with comprehension, there is an urgent need to provide instruction that equips students with the skills and strategies necessary for lifelong vocabulary development. The writer concludes that reading comprehension places heavy demands not only on classroom teachers but also on curriculum planners, community workers, and parents.
Outline:
Introduction
History of Vocabulary ~ What is Vocabulary?
The Influence of National and State Standards
Two Best Assessment Procedures
Role of Technology
"Best Instructional" Practices in Reading and Writing
Five Dimensions of Learning Specifically Related to Vocabulary
Why is This Topic Important for Teachers?
From the Paper "Vocabulary is knowledge of words and word meanings. However, vocabulary is more complex than this definition suggests. Most commonly, words come in two forms: oral and print. Oral vocabulary includes the words that we recognize and use in listening and speaking. Print vocabulary, are those words that we recognize and use in reading and writing. Next, we have word knowledge, which also comes in two forms, receptive and productive. Receptive vocabulary includes the words that we recognize when we hear or see them. Productive vocabularies are words that we use when we speak or write. According to research, receptive vocabulary is typically larger than productive vocabulary, and may include many words to which we give meaning, even if we don't know their full definitions - or ever use them ourselves when we speak and write."
Abstract This paper highlights the important topic of stuttering and its effects on individual stutterers, from a sociolinguistic point of view. It looks at the negative stereotypes and prejudices that are associated with people who stutter and those that attempt to conceal their stuttering. The paper analyzes whether attempting to conceal stuttering is in fact effective or if it adds to the negative stereotypes that surround stutterers.
Table of Contents:
Ignorance and Generalization
Backfiring of Concealment Strategies
From the Paper "In sum, the attempts to disguise or avoid stuttering may contribute to an even worse overall perception of the stutterer. Listeners are not easily fooled by concealment strategies, and they tend to react more favourable to speech "blocks, repetitions and prolongations" than to attempts of disguise (Parry)."
"Even if the stutterer does get away with his attempt, the outcome might be far from desirable. He may confirm the popular stereotype that sutterers are "shy, nervous, anxious, tense, fearful, introverted, quiet or reticent (Acton and Hird 505; Heite)," or maybe even worse, create himself a social identity that is associated with terms like arrogance and disinterest."
Abstract This paper argues that language, a highly social tool, reflects the social reality men have created. It discusses how, by reassessing their power, women have begun the battle for linguistic equality, thus triggering change and variation in language. The paper attempts to give an overview of the evolution of this particular area of research, and in the second part of the paper, details the linguistic androcentricity.
From the Paper "But before going into further detail, the notion of gender must be defined precisely, because it is at the heart of our discussion. Gender is a very complex concept that is completely different from that of biological sex; while the latter is something given when a baby is born, the former is a construct, something that a person develops all along his/her lifetime. In The Second Sex, Simone De Beauvoir famously wrote, "one is not born a woman, but becomes one." It could actually be argued that it is the same for a man. This quotation exemplifies the notion of gender inasmuch as it shows that it is a social construct, that an individual will 'receive' from the social order an idea of what it is to be a man or a woman, and he or she will take what s/he judges good. "
Abstract The paper presents a study on imperialism with a focus on France and her battle against English as an international language. The paper shows how France's battle against the use of English as the main language of the world is essentially a fight against globalization and the loss of French culture. The paper examines French cinema and its war against Hollywood.
From the Paper "On March 23rd, 2006, during a meeting in Brussels, Jacques Chirac, the President of the French Republic, followed by two of his ministers, went out of the room when Ernest-Antoine Seillieres, the boss of the European bosses and former boss of the MEDEF, started delivering a speech in English. However bizarre or ludicrous this attitude may seem to many, whether French or not, it indicates something important as far as language is concerned. It reveals the omnipresence of the English language: even though translation was available - for, in the European Union, all languages of the member-states are official - a Frenchman chose to express himself in a foreign tongue. Why didn't he stick to his native language?"
Abstract With the increase of channels of communications in the twentieth century, the need to acquire one second language or more has grown rapidly. This has opened the way to new linguistic theories concerning second language acquisition. This paper focuses on the contrastive analysis hypothesis, which aims at providing an explanation of errors by exploring the relation between two linguistic systems and more specifically by attempting a comparison between them. It also examines the error analysis hypothesis, which tries to provide researchers with an in-depth knowledge of foreign language deviations. The paper attempts to establish the purposes of these theories and their fundamental aspects, and then describes the criticisms of these theories and discusses their accuracy.
From the Paper "The Contrastive analysis hypothesis emerged in the 1940's with Charles Fries, one of the leading applied linguists of the day. His idea was that "The most efficient materials are those that are based upon a scientific description of the language to be learned, carefully compared with a parallel description of the native language of the learner."(Fries 1945, as reported in Lanlin Zhang). Robert Lado, Fries' colleague at the University of Michigan, also worked on this idea in his book Linguistics across Cultures which marks the real beginning of modern applied linguistics. In his book, as reported in Lanlin Zhang (2005), he claims that "we can predict and describe the patterns that will cause difficulty in learning, and those that will not cause difficulty, by comparing systematically the language and culture to be learned with the native language and culture of the student". Wardhaugh (1970)(Cf: Lanlin Zhang) later termed this claim as the "Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis" (CAH). "
Abstract The paper explains how language diversity is a necessity in the critical thinking process, in expressing thoughts and in implementing the power of persuasion. The paper discusses how language barriers are not as much of a problem as they may appear to be. The paper concludes that it is necessary and important for people to be able to efficiently communicate with one another.
From the Paper "Critical thinking is defined as the process of solving complex real world problems, and generating multiple (or creative) solutions to the problem (Brighton). When gathering information to form the best possible solution, a number of people might be involved through the process. It is important that the gap be bridged together during this time. When a very foreign accent is presented, most would assume the individual has difficulty in understanding, hearing, or writing the English language (Thiederman). Thiederman's advice is to be optimistic, slow down, and avoid using slang. In these situations most foreigners are able to understand English very well, but have a hard time pronouncing the English language. With this being said, the critical thinking process must not be swayed by the language barrier. Critical thinking can definitely be affected by language, but according to Thiederman is not always as much of a problem as people assume. Language diversity is definitely affected in the critical thinking process, even if it could be eliminated. Not only does language diversity play a role in the critical thinking process, it affects the way in which diverse people express their thoughts."
Abstract This paper analyzes how second language acquisition can be facilitated and made more efficient by content-centered instruction. It particularly focuses on English-as-a-second-language (ESL) study in Korea and how content-based instruction, blending language and culture can make teaching more effective. The paper also discusses the problems associated with not teaching foreign languages in this way.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Literature Review
Holistic Approach
Integration
CBI Benefits
Syllabus Design
Case Studies
Implications for KFL
Conclusion
From the Paper "Clearly, the second language classes, whose importance is being fuelled by globalization, need an instructional system that links language and content to accommodate the cognitive, social and linguistic demands of a responsive and relevant educational system. The content-based instruction concept in ESL study is especially critical in countries like Korea where the written alphabet is phonetically distant from English. By integrating real-life events and situations with language, ESL study becomes a living entity that stirs the interest of students. There is more enthusiasm in the learning process to make learning itself more efficient and productive. Language and content when combined in ESL study unarguably provide more incentive for learning. In sum, second language study will be less interesting, less enjoyable and fulfilling and the acquisition of language proficiency will be slower and more painful if it is limited to language instruction. In the process, education will also fail in its goal to broaden cross-cultural knowledge of students. ESL students will acquire such a well-balanced knowledge if teaching and learning are organized around content or information rather than around forms, functions and situations or skills."
Abstract This paper explains that Portuguese is an Indo-European language, which originated from the Vulgar Latin about two thousand years ago. The author points out that, as Christians conquered the peninsula, a lot of the grammar and words used in Spain and France greatly influenced the modern Portuguese language although the morphology and syntax were only slightly changed. The paper reports that Portuguese is a pluricentric language, which varies from its geographic locations but remains one language. The author describes its phonology, vowels, morphology, syntax, lexicon and pragmatics.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
History
Phonology
Vowels in Portuguese
Morphology and Syntax
Lexicon
Pragmatics
Conclusion
From the Paper "Notice that there are actually three ways that one may say, "You make" in Portuguese. Vos fazeis is actually very archaic and is only used in Holy Scriptures or when praying to God. If you dare mention this, people would look at you very weird. It is similar to the use of ye in English which no one uses anymore (I hope not!). Now depending whether one is in Portugal or Brazil, the use of tu and voce varies. In the Portuguese spoken in Portugal, this dialect is considered as an honorable title. The pronoun voce is used when speaking to older people or when showing respect."
Abstract This paper examines the origins, history, and evolution of Chicano English, described as a new and unique American dialect. The paper describes how the linguistic heritage of Chicano English, combined with unique phonetic qualities gave birth to a dialect which is directly descended from the immigrant experience. The paper concludes that the tapestry of forms ranging from the Spanish of the Ranchero experience, blended with the Americanization of the industrial revolution, and the modern urban experience all helped to create the amalgamation that is the Chicano dialect.
From the Paper "A new foreword vision of prosperity was realized within the Mexican culture. Mexican immigrants desired to become integrated into American culture. This aspiration ultimately resulted in Hispanic participation in unions. "Additional evidence of this Americanization process was in the increased involvement in labor unions, especially the steel unions in the late 1930s, by Mexicans who participated not as Mexicans, but as American industrial workers". Obviously this type of integration into mainstream American culture would demand and that these first-generation Spanish speakers acquire Standard English in order to assimilate."
