Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Literature Review Language Attitudes - 2398 Words
Literature Review Draft 1. Introduction to language attitudes Language attitudes, which include peopleââ¬â¢s perception about the language variety in their own community and language varieties in other communities, has been one of the crucial topics in sociolinguistics since 1960s. When people speak of affective qualities of a language variety, it is not the language that is being evaluated, but an underlying stereotype of the speakers themselves. For this reason, attitudes toward divergent language varieties ââ¬Å"are better understood as attitudes towards the members of language communitiesâ⬠rather than the variety itself (Edwards, 1994, p. 89). In this way, then, by judging the speakers of in-group language varieties, respondents are also indirectly evaluating members of these in-groups as well , essentially making qualitative judgments regarding language and their own group identity (Edwards, 1985). Fundamentally, as Edwards (1985) writes, language attitudes ââ¬Å"allow some insights into the perception and presentation of identityâ⬠(p. 151). Therefore, by looking at attitudes of learners of Mandarin toward regional accented-Mandarin, we can probably understand whether this language variety is more likely to be used, emulated, and accepted thr oughout learners of Mandarin. The way to figure out what are peopleââ¬â¢s attitudes towards a language variety is to conduct attitude surveys. Several investigative techniques have been adopted during the long history of language attitude studies,Show MoreRelatedThe Benefits Of Bilingual Education873 Words à |à 4 Pagesthe circumstances of the use of JC. In this chapter the focus is to attempt to answer the research question through a combination of the information from the literature review with that from the findings gathered. The plan, to gather qualitative information from secondary school teachers which would highlight their opinions and attitudes on the use of creole in the Jamaican classroom, had achieved the purpose for which it was intended. Teachers were able to identify areas where creole could beRead MoreEarly Generation Vietnamese Americans : An Investigation On Attitudes1749 Words à |à 7 PagesHeritage Language Maintenance in Second-Generation Vietnamese Americans: an Investigation on Attitudes Chi Phan ERE220 Spring 2017 California State University, Fresno Lità ¬erature review This study investigates the attitudes of second-generation Vietnamese Americans towards Vietnamese language maintenance. The purpose of this literature review is (1) to describe the theoretical framework of the study and (2) to analyze and summarize current research on the problem of practice. In terms of the theoreticalRead MoreThe Identity Of Saudi Arabia900 Words à |à 4 Pages2013). Seeing the language as social practice, we consider its influenced and influencing on our identity. Moreover, in language learning and/or acquisition, identity is subject to change and struggle. For a first look, Saudi Arabia lacks the diversity in concern of languages that other countries have, such as the United States and Canada. However, this monolingual situation is deceivable. Hence, there is a language diversity that need to be addressed and discussed. Mehri language is one of the familyRead MoreUnderstanding Americans Perspective Toward Immigration Essay1362 Words à |à 6 Pagesimpacted the U.S. politically, socially and culturally. The population of America sharply divides over the issues of immigration, especially their concerns regarding the rise in illegal immigration and how to resolve issues of their legal status. The attitudes of Americans differ considerably toward documented immigration, but overall they favor keeping documented immigration levels either below the current level or the same. There seems to be a general consensus that illegal immigration should be reducedRead MoreAnalysis Of Article Writing Style1068 Words à |à 5 Pagesorganization was not clearly delineated. There was an ineffective use of headings. The research question and population sampling were embedded within the text which required the reader to search for these items. There was no Literature Review heading. The review of the literature was discussed within the Introduction section. References were listed throughout the research article. Terms or ââ¬Å"jargonâ⬠used was defined and related to public internet social netwo rk programs. Definitions were also includedRead MoreVariation Between Females And Males Anxiety Level Of English As Foreign Language Learning1025 Words à |à 5 Pagesfemales and males anxiety level in English as foreign language learning. Importantly, students from both of the two genders can perceive considerable level of language anxiety inside and outside the classroom environment. This phenomenon seems natural in foreign language classroom with relevance to the stress level of accompanied learning. Consequently, this led the researchers to study the role of anxiety among foreign language learners and review the current psychological factors which are involvedRead MoreAn Based Palliative Care Educational Program Essay1529 Words à |à 7 PagesLiterature Review The purpose of this project is to implement an evidenced-based palliative care educational program in the intensive care unit. The protocol aims at educating registered nurses who work in the intensive care unit to identify those patients that can benefit from early implementation of palliative care. Nurses who have adequate skills and knowledge and are at ease communicating with patients, families, and health care providers about palliative care can significantly help improve theRead MoreCultural And Social Capital Theory999 Words à |à 4 PagesChinese international studentsââ¬â¢ academic success. Yuan (2011) examined the experiences of ten Chinese students at one American university. This study examined the challenges faced by Chinese international students, their social interaction, and their attitudes to adapting into the American culture and society. The result indicated that Chinese participants identified spoken English and class discussion as their major challenges while studying at American higher education institutions. Besides, they statedRead MoreQuantitative Data Analysis And Results902 Words à |à 4 Pagesconclude the analysis by comparing mean scores and standard deviations of strategies to investigate whether or not there are any significant differences between male and female students. The following research questions are delineated from the literature review, and are the central focus of the study and analysis: 1. What vocabulary learning strategies do students use to learn new English words? 1.1 What discovery strategies do students use to find the meaning of new words? 1.2 What consolidation strategiesRead MoreThe Effects Of Violence Against Women On North American Society1663 Words à |à 7 Pagesaddress all the areas affecting the attitudes of the population. We are a society that does not overtly condone violence against women and yet the problem persists. There is no one discipline that could cover the many facets of our social conscience that contributes to the underlying beliefs of society. To truly understand how a personsââ¬â¢ attitudes are developed and sustained we must consider the sources of information they are exposed to. The link between language and thought is often underestimated
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
3 Types Of People Essay Example For Students
3 Types Of People Essay In life, there are certain stages one must go through to obtain ones self-identity. These stages are the carefree years of ones youth, the rebellious teenage years, and the passage from a teen into a mature, young adult. Children have the best life. They dont have to wonder and worry. Teenagers have the rebellious, careless type of lifestyle that often gets them into trouble. Young adults look back on their childhood and on their teenage years and laugh at the wonderful memories. In the eyes of children, there is no worry. The days are made to play, and to explore a world that is shinning like a new penny, and as magical as their imagination wants it to be. They make wonderful memories like tasting a fresh orange, and the juice dripping down his/her chin and seeing a butterfly take flight and trying to catch it to feel the soft velvet wings. Children have an uncanny ability to learn. They are full of questions. If given the opportunity to be able to ask these questions and receive the right answers, the constant learning process in children will never cease or be extinguished. There are things one does as a child that are never forgotten. Memories that would bring a smile to the face are sometimes pushed to the back of the mind, but they are never lost. Some of these things are making mud pies, tasting of a favorite food, playing of favorite games, running after fireflies in the dark to make a makeshift flashlight, or a first outing trip to an amusement park. Children have a carefree life, full of surprises and adventures. Kids have the opportunity to be themselves, because at this stage, the pressures of adulthood have not been bestowed upon them. Society has placed a label on the children of todays world. They view the child as sweet and innocent, unlike their older part: the teenager. The teenage years, also called the rebellious years, are one of the most strenuous times of a young persons life. The thought of being told what to do can sometimes overwhelm even the most well adjusted teen. There are new things to explore, some of which may not be appropriate, or for that matter, even suitable for this time of their lives. The teen faces emotional and sometimes physical abuse that in turn lowers the self-esteem of the individual. Some teens face adulthood early by being thrown into a situation like pregnancy. Teens act differently than any other age group. They feel like they own the world and that it should revolve around them and only them. Teens have the most stressful, complicated life of any age bracket. They must put up with the stereotype label of a lazy, rebellious generation that society has placed on them. Adults label teens by the clothes they wear and the people they hang around with. These classifications also influence the placement of teens into different categories among other teens. Due to stressful, agitated,Ã decisions on how to be perfect and popular, teens need a way to get away from it all. While others may find refuge in sports, music, or religious associations, drugs and alcohol become a key factor in the lives of the other teens. When in teenage years, the individual may not feel like this is the best time of his/her life. Once adulthood is reached, they will realize that the major stresses of the teenage years are just minor problems compared to the situations adults face. The next group of people, the adults, have new situations to face. They must choose a career. This means they need to decide whether to school to get a degree or enter the work force right out of school. Sometimes life makes those choices easier for them by supplying key factors like money and accompaniment, which every adult needs. Adults often face the stressful problems that teens face also. Drugs, alcohol, and pregnancy plague the lives of many adults today. The stress of losing a job or not being able to find one can drive an adult to using drugs or drinking alcohol. The idea of starting a family may scare many adults. They worry about not having the money to care and provide for their children. They often wonder if the child is making the right decisions, and often try to decide for them. Finding time for work and finding the time to be with a spouse are some of the stressful problems adults face today. .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928 , .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928 .postImageUrl , .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928 , .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928:hover , .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928:visited , .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928:active { border:0!important; } .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928:active , .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928 .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u7935ac74a08b71414453c7515a632928:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: On the Roads optimism EssayDealing with stressful bosses at work, household chores, automotive repairs, and their financial situations complicate the adult life even further. From the action packed, bright childhood of a youngster, to the slow, gray life of a senior adult, one is preparing oneself for the real world. As children, one cannot wait to grow up into a teenager. As teens, one wonders what happened to the carefree days of his/her youth and anticipates what lies ahead. As adults one often looks back at the best years of their lives. They wish they could go back to those days and relive it all over again, but as mature adults, they know it is not possible. All they can do is talk about the past and try to teach younger generations from their experiences.
Sunday, April 5, 2020
10 Interesting Facts About Radioactive Tritium
10 Interesting Facts About Radioactive Tritium Tritium is the radioactive isotope of the element hydrogen. It has many useful applications. Here are some interesting facts about tritium: Tritium is also known as hydrogen-3 and has an element symbol T or 3H.à The nucleus of a tritium atom is called a tritonà and consists of three particles: one proton and two neutrons. The word tritium comes fromà Greek the word tritos, which means third. The other two isotopes of hydrogen are protium (most common form) and deuterium.Tritium has an atomic number of 1, like other hydrogen isotopes, but it has a mass of about 3 (3.016).Tritium decays via beta particle emission, with a half-life of 12.3 years. The beta decay releases 18 keV of energy, where tritium decays into helium-3 and a beta particle. As the neutron changes into a proton, the hydrogen changes into helium. This is an example of the natural transmutation of one element into another.Ernest Rutherford was the first person to produce tritium. Rutherford,à Mark Oliphant, and Paul Harteck prepared tritium from deuterium in 1934 but were unable to isolate it.à Luis Alvarez and Robert Cornog realized tritium was ra dioactive and successfully isolated the element. Trace amounts of tritium occur naturally on Earth when cosmic rays interact with the atmosphere. Most tritium that is available is made via neutron activation of lithium-6 in a nuclear reactor. Tritium is also produced by nuclear fission of uranium-235, uranium-233, and polonium-239. In the United States, tritium is produced at a nuclear facility in Savannah, Georgia. At the time of a report issued in 1996, only 225 kilograms of tritium had been produced in the United States.Tritium can exist as an odorless and colorless gas, like ordinary hydrogen, but the element is mainly found in liquid form as part of tritiated water or T2O, a form of heavy water.A tritium atom has the same 1 net electrical charge as any other hydrogen atom, but tritium behaves differently from the other isotopes in chemical reactions because the neutrons produce a stronger attractive nuclear force when another atom is brought close. Consequently, tritium is better able to fuse with lighter atoms to form heavier ones. External exposure to tritium gas or tritiated water is not very dangerous because tritium emits such a low energy beta particle that the radiation cannot penetrate the skin. However, tritium does pose some health risks if it is ingested, inhaled, or enters the body through an open wound or injection. The biological half-life ranges from around 7 to 14 days, so bioaccumulation of tritium is not a significant concern. Because beta particles are a form of ionizing radiation, the expected health effect from internal exposure to tritium would be an elevated risk of developing cancer.Tritium has many uses, including self-powered lighting, as a component in nuclear weapons, as a radioactive label in chemistry lab work, as a tracer for biological and environmental studies, and for controlled nuclear fusion.High levels of tritium were released into the environment from nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s and 1960s. Prior to the tests, it is estimated only 3 to 4 kilograms of tritium was pres ent on the Earths surface. After testing, the levels rose 200-300%. Much of this tritium combined with oxygen to form tritiated water. One interesting consequence is that the tritiated water could be traced and used as a tool to monitor the hydrologic cycle and to map ocean currents. Sources Jenkins, William J. et al, 1996: Transient Tracers Track Ocean Climate Signals Oceanus, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Zerriffi, Hisham (January 1996). Tritium: The environmental, health, budgetary, and strategic effects of the Department of Energys decision to produce tritium. Institute for Energy and Environmental Research.
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Kaplan SAT Book - Full Review
Kaplan SAT Book - Full Review SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Kaplan is a giant in SAT prep, but that doesn't mean its prep materials are good. In fact, they tend to be far from excellent. In this review, we'll examine Kaplan's SAT 2015 book for its strengths and weaknesses. Why trust this review? When you get advice on the internet, it's important to understand why you should believe the advice you're receiving. Because your SAT score is important, follow the wrong advice, and it might be too late to improve your score. To be transparent, hereââ¬â¢s why you might be able to trust this review more than others: I like to think that I know what Iââ¬â¢m talking about.I scoredtwo perfect scores on the SATand have worked personally with thousands of students prepping for the SAT. Iââ¬â¢ve worked with students at all levels, from people at a 1200 level to people aiming for a 2300+. Other writers often don't have the expertise to differentiate between books, and they recommend books as an afterthought (and you can probably tell). I donââ¬â¢t get paid for these recommendations, and I donââ¬â¢t get paid if you buy these books.Iââ¬â¢ve studied dozens of books for SAT prep, and I review the books that I come across. Other sites, especially about.com and reviews.com, get paid for featuring books and get a kickback when you buy a book they recommend. One disclaimer: Iââ¬â¢m co-founder ofPrepScholar, an online SAT/ACT prep program. I believe weââ¬â¢ve built the best prep program available right now. Itdiagnoses your strengths and weaknessesand gives you a structured all-in-one program, combining the best aspects of the books below, so you know exactly what you need to study at every point. But I want to stress that you donââ¬â¢t need a program to excel at the SAT. In fact, writing this guide may lose us some customers, since you might decide that you donââ¬â¢t need a program at all. But if you decide that you donââ¬â¢t want to manage 10 books and want an integrated complete program that customizes to your learning,check PrepScholar SAT out. Kaplan SAT Prep Book Review When I consider the quality of a book, I think about a few important questions: Who's the author, and what is his or her experience with the subject matter? How effective is the book, and why? What are the book's main pros and cons? About Kaplan If you've researched SAT prep, you've most likely heard of Kaplan. One of the first SAT prep programs, Kaplan established a reputation for being able to improve student SAT scores while the College Board maintained it was impossible to prep for the SAT. Unfortunately, since its heyday in the 20th century, Kaplan has taken a huge fall. Its classes are consistently rated to be bad, and its prep books tend to receive poor ratings. In some sense, its success was its downfall. Because it's such a mainstream company, it needs to cater to a large span of students. To cut costs, instead of tailoring programs to different students, it shoots for the lowest common denominator. This means it provides a lot of students with subpar experiences, just like most Kaplan SAT books. The specific authors of this book aren't clear, but they're likely internal writers in Kaplan. It's therefore hard to judge the credentials of the authors, but you can guess that they're likely not superbly impressive. How Effective is the Book? I'll say it outright - if you're serious about SAT prep and want to improve your SAT score by over 150 points, this is not the book for you. I know there are some students who just want to put in 5 hours, get some exposure to the test, and then take the SAT and forget about it. I personally believe that for most students, improving your SAT score is, hour for hour, thebest way to improve your chances of college admission. So I would say that if you feel this way, you should re-examine your approach. But if you just want a book that does a mediocre job of a lot of things, the Kaplan book is reasonable.Itââ¬â¢s an all-in-one book that covers the three sections and contains practice questions and practice tests. It doesnââ¬â¢t excel at any of what itââ¬â¢s doing, but it covers the important bases. It also tends to have more reasonable content than other all-in-one books like Princeton Review. What's wrong with it? The strategies aren't very helpful - the tricks it offers might help students scoring in the 400 range, but they quickly lose effectiveness once you gain familiarity with the SAT. The content isn't thorough - for example, it doesn't cover all the grammar rules you need to know. The questions also tend to not be realistic, compared to official SAT practice questions. By training on low-quality questions, you risk learning the wrong patterns of the actual SAT test. I donââ¬â¢t love this book. I donââ¬â¢t even really like it. I donââ¬â¢t recommend it if you at all want to improve your score seriously and are willing to put in study time. But if you just want a single source that can do an OK job and is easily digestible, this is the best one out there. Kaplan SAT Book Pros and Cons Pros: Covers all three sections and contains practice tests. It's an all-in-one book that provides an acceptable broad introduction to the tests. At $15, affordable for the breadth that it covers. Contains some basic strategies that can get you a few easy points if you get stuck answering questions, or if you're performing at a low level. Cons: Practice questions tend to be unrealistic ââ¬â they often donââ¬â¢t phrase questions the way the SAT would, and they donââ¬â¢t test concepts in the right way. The questions also donââ¬â¢t trick you in the same ways that the SAT does. Answers and materials can have errors ââ¬â not great quality control. Strategies are not helpful once you move beyond a 600 score level in the section. Overall Rating Once again, if you're not too committed to SAT prep, want to spend fewer than 10 hours, and want a brief whirlwind introduction to the SAT, this book is fine for you. If any of these isn't true for you, then other top SAT prep books will be much better for you. Overall Rating:50/100 What's next? Read our detailed guide to theBest SAT Prep Booksto put together your own study program based on the best SAT books available now. What's a good SAT score for you?Figure it out with our step by step guide based on the colleges you're applying to. Aiming for a high score? Read ourguide to scoring a perfect SAT score, written by me, a perfect SAT scorer. Check out our industry-leading online SAT program. We've designed it to cover all the advantages of books and tutors at an affordable price. Featuring in-depth strategy lessons and thousands of practice questions, we have the content from the leading books. Beyond that, the programacts like your personal tutor. It guides you step-by-step through what you should be working on at every moment to best improve your score. Itcustomizes to your strengths and weaknesses, then gives you focused practice so you learn the patterns on the SAT. Furthermore, it motivates you to study so that you put in enough time. There's a 160 point guarantee - if you don'timprove your score by 160 points, you get all your money back.
Friday, February 21, 2020
CRIMINAL LAW 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
CRIMINAL LAW 2 - Essay Example Such an action shall be construed as theft regardless of whether the thief has taken it for gain or for personal benefit. Sections 3 to 6 of the Act define the terms ââ¬Å"appropriatesâ⬠, ââ¬Å"propertyâ⬠, ââ¬Å"belonging to anotherâ⬠and ââ¬Å"with the intention of permanently depriving the other of itâ⬠. (Theft Law 1968, n.d.). Since criminal law deals with accusation and punishment for offenders, it is important that a correlation be established between blameworthiness and criminal liability for serious illegal activities. This argument is more applicable for theft because in this offence the other elements related to the appropriation are not properly defined, and so it is only the element of dishonesty that is assessed for punishment under law. In case the other elements related to the appropriation are judged to assess their wrong culture, it is however not possible to establish criminal liability on the defendant without some kind of judgement on the mo ral perspective of the defendantââ¬â¢s actions. ... ding is for a period and in circumstances making it equivalent to an outright taking or disposal.â⬠(Theft Law 1968, n.d.) For example, if a person takes a cinema ticket from its owner and returned it after the completion of the movie, then it is as good as depriving the owner permanently of enjoying the interest of the ticket because when returned the ticket has no usage value left (Clarkson, 2005, p.238). Fraud Act 2006 The Fraud Act 2006 was implemented to ââ¬Å"make provision for, and in connection with, criminal liability for fraud and obtaining services dishonestly.â⬠(Fraud Act 2006, n.d., p.1) The Fraud Act has revised the Theft Act 1968 in many respects. Some sections of the Theft Act have been removed in Schedule 1 of the Fraud Act and they are section 15, section 15A, section 16 and section 20(2). Section 15 is about ââ¬Å"obtaining property by deceptionâ⬠, section 15A is about ââ¬Å"obtaining a money transfer by deception, section 16 is about ââ¬Å"obta ining pecuniary advantage by deceptionâ⬠, and section 20(2) is about ââ¬Å"procuring the execution of a valuable security by deceptionâ⬠. (Fraud Act 2006, n.d., p.7) The principle objective of the Fraud Act was to present the previous criminal law in a reformed manner so as it make it more acceptable for juries and practitioners. In this modern world of technology, fraudulent activities are rapidly becoming sophisticated and complicated by enhanced use of technology. It is increasingly becoming tough to catch the fraudsters and then prove their offence in court. Therefore the purpose of the Fraud Act is to form a ââ¬Å"modern and flexible law of fraudâ⬠that is suitable to combat the increasing complications of fraudulent activities (Post-legislative assessment of the Fraud Act 2006, 2012, p.3). The Fraud Act associates
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Marketing Plan Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 3
Marketing Plan - Term Paper Example This market target is viable because the foods are purchased for consumption in offices, schools and sometimes at homes. This represents a real market audience. The NRO plays a fundamental role in meeting the demands of this market niche and expanding its market base of existing and new products. The NRO through its strong distribution channels intends to expand its market by advertising the Companyââ¬â¢s products. The NROââ¬â¢s employees in marketing and advertising section should embrace online marketing and ads to increase its customer base (Wood, 2003).2.2 Marketing strategy Online marketing should be facilitated by online marketing and advertising channels. Tools such as Google, twitter and other online platforms need to be used in a bid to expand awareness and accessibility of the General Mills products. The ads should include the types of products, prices and locations of retail outlets. Sustaining of the current international sales of $3 billion, the superiority of the companyââ¬â¢s brands should be strategically put into both the new and existing market niches (Luther, 2001). Equally, the NRO should break down the current barriers to expansive market. For instance, the issue of retail placement fragmentation, for the case of single-serving pre-prepared meal group should be rectified, defined and facilitated. The placement channel is fundamental in sustaining the product market through flow of product information to the market audience in a consistent manner with the current GIS distribution channels (Luther, 2001).
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Humanistic Theology and the Educational System
Humanistic Theology and the Educational System The influx of humanistic theology into the educational system has given rise to considerable tension within the Christian community in the recent years. Questions have been asked of what humanism is and where it comes from. Humanism is a methodology that concentrates on the welfare or progress and happiness of all humanity in this alone and only life. Humanism can be traced back to the times of Democritus and Aristotle of Ancient Greece. (Lamont, 1992). Its tie to the Greek culture resulted in pagan features such as glorification of mankind (Dodgen, 1986, 195).). It is said that the Greek set about humanizing everything. They humanized God, nature and daily life, and it is out of these acts that great minded men measured all things and gave a firm and noble body of standards to the human life which came after them (King). The theory of humanism as said has given rise and considerable tension within the Christian community. This brings out curiosity to know what the statement of concern is. Well Humanism is a school of thought that gives primacy to the study of human needs and interest, for instance looking at the theory of Abraham Maslow and his definition of humanism which says ââ¬Å"The focus of the humanistic perspective is on the one self who translates to, ââ¬Å"youâ⬠and ââ¬Å"yourâ⬠perception of ââ¬Å"yourâ⬠experiences. This view proposed by Maslow argues that you are free to choose ââ¬Å"yourâ⬠own behaviour rather than react to environmental stimuli or reinforces. This statement is also in contrast to the beliefs of operant conditioning developed by the American research psychologist Burrhus Frederic Skinner. Skinner believed that all behaviour is the result of application of consequences. The theory of humanism emphasized on faith in action. Faith in action but not in a good way. Humanism teaches that it is immoral to wait for God to act for us. It emphasizes that we must act to stop the wars and the crimes and the brutality of ties and future ages. Humanism says we have powers of remarkable kind. We have a high degree of freedom in choosing what we will do. It tells us that whatever our philosophy of the world may be, ultimately the responsibility for the kind of world in which we live in lies with us. All this brings the fact that the issue of concern is that humanism is a philosophy for those who love themselves, a philosophy of imagination and it is focused upon humanââ¬â¢s means for comprehending reality. It does not leave any room for God as the Creator of the universe rather it only portrays God as one who ordains the good or bad that we do. Hence Humanism causes tension because it does not preserve the legitimacy of the spiritual world and God being the deity of all things All that left aside the understanding of humanism becomes relevant to the practices of Christian education when one begins to look at the principles of humanistic education or educational humanism. Keep in mind that humanism did not birth in a conference room, educational reform or legislative act. It has been influenced by people of different fields. Perhaps it is the advocacy by the modern or naturalistic humanists that seems to have drawn the ire of religious leaders towards humanism, especially fundamentalist Christians. This is in spite of the fact that modern humanists advocate a strict separation of church and state, especially in the domain of public education. When humanism is applied to education it encompasses a variety of assumptions about the teacher, learner, curriculum and the context of learning. There are a lot of principles and each principle highlights the understanding of humanistic education. Some of the principle and objectives that can be seen as basic are: Teachers should be trusting, sincere and empathetic with their students. They should prize their students and hold them with high regard. This as proposed by Carl Rogers who concludes that such an attitude on the part of the learning leader would set stage for successful experiences and students would become more self accepting and aware of themselves. As proposed by Gage and Berliner(1991) there are five objectives that a teacher must meet which are: promote positive self-direction and independence, develop the ability to take responsibility for what is learned, develop creativity, develop curiosity and lastly create an interest in the arts in students. This can also be known as sponsoring invitational learning. Affective factors should be explored as much as the cognitive dimension of classroom instruction (Beihler, 1986, 399). Research by Bayer (1986) indicates that children who are taught in an atmosphere which is conclusive to effective learning will also have a more positive self concept (130-131). The relationship between the teacher and the pupil has important impact on the learning process. Thomas Gordon (1974) a popular humanist educator, describes a healthy teacher student relationship. He says that the relationship between a teacher and a student is good when it has (1) openness or transparency-so each is able to risk directness and honesty with the other, (2) caring-whereby each know they are valued by the other, and lastly (3) interdependence on one another. William Purky (1978) call attention to the relationship between a studentââ¬â¢s self-concept and scholastic achievement and recommends that instructors develop and use skill of invitational learning. Such a skill as learning students names, having one on one contact with them outside of class, praising and affirming them, demonstrating personal and classroom discipline , and being transparent with personal feeling will help the child recognize his/her values and capabilities or in other word influencing self efficacy. That all teachers must always keep in mind that learning is facilitated when the pupil is prized, valued and respected by the teacher who can care without being possessive. This is what Abraham Maslow would call promotion of self actualization which would push students to work very hard. Teachers should use techniques for encouraging students to identify with others, emphasize with them, and relate their feelings to the feeling of others. Teachers are to endorse self determination or self regulation to make students accountable for their action and choices. Looking at those principles of humanistic education it becomes clear that many of them are based upon sound principles of education. It would not be difficult to cite biblical references to demonstrate examples form scripture where many of the principles can be seen. That is not to say that educational humanism has its roots in scripture, because such a statement would be based on faulty methods of hermeneutics. For someone who would study humanism there are a few key terms that would help them understand more about humanism and what it stands for when it comes to education. Some of these are: Self-efficacyis the extent or strength of ones belief in ones own ability to complete tasks and reachgoals. This can be seen as the ability to persist and a persons ability to succeed with a task. As an example, self-efficacy directly relates to how long someone will stick to a workout regimen or a diet. High and low self-efficacy determines whether or not someone will choose to take on a challenging task or write it off as impossible. Self-actualization Maslow explicitly defines self-actualization to be the desire for self-fulfilment, namely the tendency for him [the individual] to become actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency might be phrased as the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming Self- determination, the process by which a person controls their own life. Invitational learning, William Purky said ââ¬Å"no aspect of education is more important than the feeling on the part of the teacher that the individual student is important, valuable, and can learn in schoolâ⬠However humanism goes much further than modernism in its view towards the bible .the view of the humanist is much more radical. Humanism believes in few things that as Christians we may consider them as blasphemy. Some of which are; ââ¬Å"We believe however those tradition dogmatic or authoritarian religions that place revelation, God or creed above human need do a disservice to the human speciesAs non-theists; we begin with humans, not God, nature not deityâ⬠. As Paul Blanshard, an editor of the Humanist (a slick national publication) wrote: ââ¬Å"The evangelists reverently call the Bible ââ¬Å"The Bookâ⬠, and they say it is Godââ¬â¢s word. Letââ¬â¢s be blunt about it. By no stretch of the imagination can the bible be called either the revealed word of God or the errorless work of God. It is not one book, and it is not holy. It is very bad history and even of questionable moralsâ⬠Looking at this we see that humanism is not indifferent toward the Bible-but is at all out ward against it. The quotations are fully typical and representative of humanistic thinking toward any revelation from God. The only way Christians can combat their vicious and desperate influences of humanism and its war on the bibles, is by being so knowledgeable and conversant in the scriptures that can effectively wield the mighty sword of the Spirit. The essence of positive pride is confidence and contentment, a sense of gratitude and accomplishment in the productive use of your gift (Faw, 134-136). There is a need to have a Biblical perspective of the person and human experiences in order to correctly understand the insights contained in certain theories. The truths about human nature in scripture focus largely on our relationship with God and our need for salvation He alone can provide (Faw, 137). A Christian who meditates upon the word of the lord and keeps in his heart will have no difficulty seeing the vast superiority of Christianity over humanism or any other vain philosophy. The bible has something real and stable. The Bible offers a perfect guide for day to day living: teaching the value of time (Eph. 5:15-16); honesty (Eph. 4:25,28); the putting away of every vice which is harmful to ones self and others (Col. 3:5-9); benevolence and kindness in thought and deed (Col. 3:11-14). The Bible condemns all partiality and prejudice (Col. 3:11; Gal. 3:26-28; James 2:19). The Bible teaches moderation, patience, and peace (Phil. 4:4-8). Humanism stresses that this life is all there is that our existence is extremely brief and ultimately hopeless. The Bible, on the other hand, teaches us that while the outward man perishes, the inward man is renewed day by day. Gods word offers us eternal life and provides the motivation to live an honourable, godly life that we might live eternally with God. The Bible and humanistic philosophy are at war. The battle is bitter, but there is only one way that wickedness can prevail: If Christians fail to study and practice the teaching of Gods word. There is a major difference between the belief system of the messengers of God and those who reject the word of God. Others find their beliefs humanistically upon their evidences form senses, logic, philosophy and observation. Instead of founding their human study upon the word of God, they sought to test the Word of God by their human study. Paul warned: ââ¬Å"As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christâ⬠(Colossians 2:6-9). The difference between the humanistic system of the world and Godââ¬â¢s system is outlined in 1Corinthians 1 and 2. The world bases faith in the wisdom of men. Some seek signs- that which can be measured, seen, touched, tasted, and heard. Others look for Philosophical reasoning. Humanistic and Biblical concepts of faith can be compared in many ways some of which are: The humanism starts with doubt in order to prove assertion while the Bible starts with the gift of God. Humanism relies on the autonomy of humanity while the bible relies upon the word of God. Humanism is based on 5 senses while the bible is based on the power of God rather than the wisdom of men. The comparisons are many but the point still stand that humanism cannot attack the bible because God gave us all our reasoning abilities and our senses too. All this raises the question that, what is the implication for Christian education. The focus of humanism is somewhat curious as other scientific theories regarding humans learning and behaviour also advocate a strictly materialistic view of humanââ¬â¢s beings. The general issue of concern is how humanism affects Christian education and somewhat advocates a strictly materialistic view of human beings. Its focus has been on helping the student become ââ¬Ëââ¬â¢humanizedââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ or ââ¬Ëââ¬â¢ self-actualized therefore helping the student discover, become and develop his or her real self and full potential. This brings us to what implication humanism has on Christian education. Humanistic approach to learning means a process that is inevitable and unique for every individual. Humanistic approach considers human being as the central part of learning by humanistic approach. Place of the child in teaching-learning: According to this approach student plays a central role in whole teaching-learning process. This approach believes in child-centred-education. This approach, considers that we should first understand the needs, interests, abilities, age level, attitudes, aptitude of students then try to organize teaching learning process according to these. It emphasizes on reach, touch and teaches the child according to his nature, and interests. All teaching material and its process must be related to individual characteristics of students. 2. Emphasis on individuality: According to this approach every individual has his own individuality. Teacher should respect and develop this individuality through education. Individual differences should be respected and internal virtues of individual be developed. Teacher should understand this individuality and organize his/her teaching-learning process according to this individuality. 3. Understanding the child: According to this approach, we should understand the child first of all, and then teach him. We, as a teacher, should know our students, their interest, personality, capabilities and background environment and use teaching methods and content accordingly. Because this approach believes in student centred education so before teaching, a teacher should understand students thoroughly. 4. Method of teaching: In this approach teacher should use methods of teaching which are based on psychological principles. Teacher should not use teacher centeredness and traditional methods of teaching in it. Teacher should emphasize on active learning which could consider the learner. Teacher should use the methods which could teach according to needs, interests, abilities and attitudes of learners. Learners readiness, mental set and motivation are considered as basis for deciding the method of teaching to be used. So teacher should use learner centred innovative methods of teaching. 5. Discipline: Teacher should not force student to be disciplined. He/she should encourage self discipline and self-control among students. Students should be given the responsibility of to be disciplined. 6. Place and role of the teacher: According to this approach student plays a central role in teaching learning process. Teacher acts as a guide, friend or helper of the students. Students should freedom to develop and make progress according to their own pace, needs and interests. Teacher should be considered as the milestone in the journey of total development of the child. Teacher should not force his own methods and views on students but he should be only a guide in this development process. Looking at all this we wrap it all up in a nutshell that the implication or consequence that humanism has on Christian education is that it helps Christian educators become better teachers, educators and facilitator. Having discussed all this we see that we come to a conclusion that humanism is a rational philosophy informed by science, aspired by art, and motivated by compassion. System of values and beliefs that is based on the idea that people are basically good and their problems can be solved using reason instead of religion. We have seen what the general issue of concern is on humanism form a Christian perspective. We have also seen why the understanding of the topic is relevant to Christian education and lastly the implications it has for Christian education. That humanism gives primacy to the study of human needs and interests. Bibliography . (n.d.).. Retrieved, from http://www.mc.mancopu.edu/dept/d46/psy/des/fallas. Anthony, M. J. (2001). Humanism.Evangelical Dictionary of Christian Education(ed,). : Baker Book House Company. Bayer. D.L. (1986).The Teaching and Learning Process. Beihler.R. F. and Snowman. J.(1986). Humanism in the classroom: An Eclectic Approach to Teaching and Learning. Blanshard. Paul.(1978). Humanism versus Orthodoxy. Truth Magazine. Dodgen.D.J., McMinn.M.R.(1986). Journal of Psychology and Theology. Dolio .J. (2000).Symposium on the Bible and Adventist Scholarship( ed.). Dominican Republic: Dominican republic publishers. Gage, N., Berliner, D. (1991).Educational psychology(5 ed.). Boston: Houghton,: Mifflin. Lamont. C. (1982). The Humanistic Altenative. Lefrancois, G. R. ().Psychology for Teaching( ed.). Boston: Houghton, : Wadsworth. Moody. T. (). Humanism And The Bible:Truth Magazine. Louisville, Kentucky/ Rogers.C, Freiberg,H.J. (1994). Freedom to Learn(3rd ed). New York: Macmillan/Merrill. Rogers.C. (1969). Freedom to learn(1st ed.). New York: Macmillan/ Merrill. Faw, W. Harold. (1995). Psychology in a Christian Perspective, an Analysis of Key Issues. Baker Books
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