Abstract
This paper explains that only through interaction and collaboration among students, teachers, parents and community members will bi-cultural and bilingual students develop an identity and realize their true potential; therefore, schools that neglect to infuse curricula and educational environment with interactive and collaborative policies fail students and society. The author points out that the current number of bilingual programs available in the United Students serve a very small percentage of the actual number of bilingual students in need and these programs. The paper stresses that teachers must understand that a culturally diverse student base means that not all students have the same reference point when learning in the classroom because what is intuitive to one student may seem foreign to another depending on their cultural heritage.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Understanding Bilingual Education and ESL
Cognitive and Linguistic Development in Bi-cultural Students
Structuring Bilingual and ESL Classrooms to Enable Student Achievement
Cultural Conflict Students Face in Schools
Analysis
Conclusions

From the Paper
"The manner in which adults and children interact are also different among various cultures. In most traditional U.S. classrooms for example, most teachers repeatedly ask questions of students to evaluate their achievement. This process may confuse bicultural students who grow up in a culture where adults only ask children questions when they don't know an answer themselves; students in this situation may not understand why a teacher would ask a question if they already had the answer causing a disruption in learning.Text organization also varies among cultures."

Tags:interactive, collaborative, heritage, identify, biases

Abstract
This paper investigates the inherent problems that exist in families characterized by parents and stepparents of a biracial union or of a union that is characterized by diversity in terms of ethnic, cultural or religious differences. It also looks at diverse households headed by lesbian or gay parents. The paper analyzes the socio-cultural theories of Roland Tharp and the 'Spheres of Influence' as proposed in the work of Dr. Joyce Epstein.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Objective
Introduction
Conceptual Framework
Literature Review
Intervention
Outcomes
Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper
"It is clear that it is not possible to just 'ignore' the differences that exist in hopes that they become illusory or nonexistent because these differences are real and are dynamic in the lives of these children. What has been noted in this study to be of great importance is the active participation of the parents and stepparents in the daily activities and events that take place at school because as these parents integrate themselves more fully into the community they effectively place safezones into effect for their children and at the same time present a model for other parents and other children as to the appropriate behavior in the face of the differences that exist. It is not possible that these differences will merely go away but what is possible is that the community at large will become used to the differences thereby enabling the children to fully participate in the school and community events without having a brand upon them due to these differences in racial or culture."

Tags:diversity, parenting, integration

Abstract
This paper describes the great benefits of the bi-lingual nature of the population of the United States today. The paper illustrates how historically American was a great immigrant melting pot with many languages from the colonial population's mother country. The author states that the United States is still the same immigrant nation, and that this quality of diversity and multi-cultural and multi-lingual society can only strengthen America. The paper states that the cultural paranoia of English as the only official language weakens the nation as a whole.

From the Paper
"Just as languages, other than English have at all times been a part of our history and culture, debate over founding a national language dates back to the country's initial stages. John Adams proposed to the Continental Congress in 1780 that an official academy be shaped to "purify, develop, and dictate usage of," English. His suggestion was discarded as unjust and a danger to personal freedom. However, limiting language laws have been passed from time to time since the late 19th century, generally in an answer to new waves of immigration. These laws, in tradition if not in purpose, have punished immigrants for their foreignness and violated their rights."

Tags:language, muli-cultural, john, adams, contential, congress, 1780, english, mother, country, tongue, nation, personal, freedom, immigration, rights

Abstract
The paper presents a history of bilingual and cross-cultural education in the U.S. and offers an exploration of why many groups oppose bilingual education in schools. The paper notes the advantages and disadvantages of bilingual education as it is practiced today. The paper asserts that until the underlying sense of the superiority of English fades, bilingual education will continue to be a problem without easy answers.

From the Paper
"The subject of bilingual education in the United States has always been a hotbed of controversy. For politicians, educators, parents, and students, language diversity in schools is a complex and troubling issue. A long-standing, underlying belief in the superiority of the dominant language--English--has resulted in an educational system that is structured on the underlying assumption of the inferiority of all other languages (Neito 2000). This perspective has contributed to the traditional opposition of bilingual learning in the United States' mainstream educational system."

Tags:assimilation, conformity, social, inequality, segregation, superiority

Abstract
This paper uses Merton's Strain Theory to help explain the homosexual perception of the sub-culture of bisexuals. The author explores theories of deviance and Merton's belief that deviance is related to social structure.

From the Paper
"Woody Allen once quipped that being bisexual doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night. Within the homosexual and heterosexual categories of sexuality exists another subgroup of sexuality bisexuality. Bi-sexuals enjoy sex with both partners."

Tags:homosexuality, heterosexuality, bisexuality, Merton, Strain Theory, deviance, norms, values

Abstract
This paper reviews empirical and discursive articles to compare the modern cultural and ethnic views on premarital sex in Western cultures, such as United States, Sweden and Turkey, and East Asian cultures, such as Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, China and Korea. These views are the result of socio-historical specificities and other social forces.The paper relates that both cultural groupings are open to premarital sex; however, the timelines of the emergence of these modern liberal views are different. The author underscores that cultural beliefs about premarital sex are bi-directional in relationship to the society and individuals.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Some Conceptual Clarifications
Method
Data Presentation
Premarital Sex: Western Cultural Views
Premarital Sex Trends
On Social Institutions
Premarital Sex in Other Western Nations
Premarital Sex: East Asian Cultural Views
Sexual Revolution in China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan
Analysis
On Similarities and Differences
A Macro and Micro Sociological View on Premarital Sex

From the Paper
"In terms of differences, we believe that lies strongly on the fact that sexual revolution occurred at different phases of the broader context of social history, i.e. liberal ideas on premarital sex occurred way earlier in Western societies than in East Asian societies, which is why a causal relationship between the two societies have been consistently pointed out by East Asian social scientists as you may have noticed a while ago. If the Western society has already adopted open views on premarital sex in as early as 1930s in which they have managed to strengthen these views in 1960s, most East Asian countries have stated to adopt such liberal views only fairly recently."

Tags:bidirectional liberal, female virginity, de-linking revolution

Abstract
This paper discusses how cultural imperialism is the voluntary absorption of one culture by another. In particular, it looks at the particular case of the absorption of American culture by Australia. It examines how the advent of technology has made the world more accessible to huge numbers of people and how this increased accessibility exposes countries to more of other countries' cultures and ideas. The paper argues that Australia should not take steps to try and limit the amount of American media and popular culture that is being imported and that rather than being detrimental to Australia, cultural imperialism is merely a bi product of globalization.

From the Paper
"In Australia the issue of American dominance is a popular topic of debate. Terms like "Americanization" and "McDomination" are thrown around opinion columns and talked about in the media. People are referring to the influx of American popular culture that despite peaking in the 1960's, is still going on today. In "the early 1960s as much as 98 per cent of television drama was imported, while today 55 per cent of television drama is local content." (Sheil) The majority of this imported television was of American origin. However by no means does this say that America is losing its influence in popular culture because American music and movies still dominate Australian airways and movie theatres. Currently only thirteen of the fifty songs on the ARIA (Australia Record Industry Association) top 50 singles chart are Australian with the rest being imported, foreign music. "

Tags:globalization, popular, technology

Abstract
This paper explains that Jocelyn Smrekar in her article 'Early Childhood Bilingual Classrooms' by (2005) suggests that the bilingual education of young children should not be merely about language acquisition but also about a kind of cultural meeting of the minds of teachers and students of a variety of different backgrounds. The author points out that Smrekar's views in this sense coalesces with the esteemed cognitive academic language learning approach (CALLA), which states that valuing the student's own prior knowledge and cultural experiences and relating this knowledge to academic learning in a new language and culture is a key aspect of creating a learning-friendly environment for foreign language acquisition. The paper criticizes Smrekar because, unlike CALLA, she does not give much advice for teachers in terms of creating hands-on approaches that might be effective in the everyday life of the classroom.

Table of Contents:
Article Summary
In Favor of the Article's Point of View
Against the Article
Summary

From the Paper
"Smrekar provides helpful reminders that young children do not learn language as if by magic, rather individual students may vary in the levels of exposure they have to the language at home and in their social environments. She also encourages teachers not to judge student's overall intelligence harshly, merely because they make common initial linguistic mistakes in using English such as code mixing, or referring with a specific word to all general examples of a type, or conversely use under-extensions of specific vocabulary words, or not using a general vocabulary word in a host of specific contexts."

Tags:calla, empowering, diverse, hands-on, culture

Abstract
This paper explains that culture is embraced and at times rejected by people trying to assimilate into another culture and to learn a new language. The author points out that a student's diverse attitude towards culture does not have to be seen as negative; however, in education, it often is. The paper lists eight common traits of people, who try to assimilate into a culture, which must be taken into consideration in the ESL classroom. The author stresses that language is the key to successful adjustment and identification into a dominant society. The paper underscores that the easiest way to teach a language is to have the student identify with the culture they are moving into. The paper stresses that the teacher has a responsibility to not only teach the English language to the bi-cultural student but also to assimilate the student into the culture with minimal conflict.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Common Traits of an ESL Student
Examples of Incorporating Culture into the Teaching of Language in the ESL Classroom
Conclusion

From the Paper
"There are a variety of ways to incorporate culture into the ESL classroom like including music, stories, teaching gender roles, differences in food and the proper behavior in public. These are all things that must be done to flow freely and easily in American society, but could be filled with conflict for a person who does not speak English and who needs to fulfill the basic requirements of assimilating into American culture. The incorporation of these simple yet basic elements in American culture will enhance the teaching of an ESL classroom and provide a fundamental understanding of the language they are learning."

Tags:fear, gender, roles, responsibility, traits, bi-cultural

Abstract
This paper discusses the themes found within the short stories, "The Ancestor" by Bi Feiyu, "Thoughts of Home" by Sonu Hwi and "The Hateful Age" by Niwa Funio. It particularly explores the themes of conflicts of culture with regard to death. It then describes how these conflicts are expressed differently among characters, but still arrive at two basic principles of old versus new cultural expressions and generational differences in respect of those who came before.

From the Paper
"Death is treated differently, when the death is not welcomed, or when those you are among when you die are connected to you by memory of your earlier days and by some semblance of how you lived as in Thought of Home. In The Moon on The Water there is a touching scene of the widow placing a treasured possession in the coffin of her dead husband, placing the mirror upon his stomach, rather than his chest as he had died with a heaviness and pain, upon his chest. (247) While in The Brothers Shu playful young people tease one another about death, as recourse for the predicament of their love. (50-51) Death in the stories of the very old, told by those who never knew them in youth is welcomed even openly longed for by those who are left behind, while in other works death of the young is an unwelcome threat or a silly expression of the overly dramatic."

Tags:narrator, post-modern, expression