English as a Second Language Essay Example for Free

English as a Second Language Essay Originally, England’s linguistic changes made English the second language and over the years, second language teaching has undergone a lot of erratic changes. Religious schools have greatly influenced the moral and cultural framing of English at this point in time. UK was also the center of developmental English teaching during World War II. Pioneers such as Harold Palmer, Michael West and Lawrence Fawcett triumphed in founding principled basis for teaching English as a second language. These strategies and methodologies derived from teaching of English on Great Britain were adjoined with other existing forms from overseas settings. In general, English is the first and widely taught foreign or second language and is considered as a medium language for education. Today, it is a common context to learn or study more than two languages. Pope stated, â€Å"English represents access to specific knowledge and skills and tends to be identified with the technology and science as well as the economic and cultural models of the modern 32). Different approaches such as communication, vocabulary and grammar are used in teaching English as a second language. Learning also depends on the fluency level aim, if it is purposely learnt for specific tasks or if the learner wants to achieve a native speaking tongue. English and other foreign languages can be mastered through live encounters or cross-cultural communication and study or technical translation. Early introduction of English in schools poses an academic advantage when it comes to learning the language. Basically, background knowledge of English and other foreign language is one of the most important things to consider. Reading is a cardinal skill in learning. It enhances metalinguistic awareness but for some reason, it can become a hindrance and a false knowledge. Students tend to enjoy meaningful conversation more than teachers’ theoretical strategies of detailed vocabulary and grammar lessons and this causes the problem in comprehension. Since some students do not deliberately concentrate on their reading skills and focus more on conversing, complete understanding is not achieved and it is merely viewed as a plain reading. Children at a very young age study two or more foreign languages and sometimes, English is rather a third language. Schools and educators sometimes forget to pay attention over the verity that it could be too much for young children to learn multiple languages all at the same time. For universities that use English for substantial academic paper works and materials, reading is crucial. But every teacher and learner should focus on the remaining language skills: listening, speaking, writing, and assessment, even if these are all adjunct to the capital skill that is reading. It is important for the teacher to have a considerable degree of attention towards the native language of the learner because native language plays a vital role in understanding a foreign language. English is the universal language. In some instances, teachers also experience difficulty expressing thoughts in English and this indicates that it is hard to achieve proficiency even if an individual has the basic and complex knowledge of the language. Teachers and educators’ goal should not be for the learners to achieve a native speaking tongue that flawlessly pronounces tones and speaks vocabulary and grammar perfectly. The ultimate goal is for students to learn how to listen, speak, write and read in English in a manner of complete comprehension and not necessarily to acquire a native speaking tongue. Works Cited Pope, Rob. â€Å"The English studies book: an introduction to language, literature and culture. † 2002). Routledge. 420 Smith, Richard C. â€Å"Wren and Wyatt†. 2003). Routledge.

About the Vacation

About the Vacation Why Beach Vacations Are Better Than Mountain Vacations Many people are always mesmerized by any upcoming vacations. Due to this, they make early plans on how to use their vacation time by choosing some of the areas where they can visit. There are always many places where many people can choose for their vacation period but most of them end up choosing the two most common places namely; the mountain and the beaches. Many people assert there is more fun in the beaches and mountains than when they visit other areas such as game parks, reserves and circuses. The two places are however very much different because they offer a variety of fun activities which are totally diverse .This essay is going to focus on the various factors which make people prefer to spend their vacations in the beaches rather than on the mountains and vice versa. Some of the factors to be considered will include the geographical location, climatic conditions and the fun activities of both the beach and the mountains. Based on climatic conditions, we are all aware that mountains are colder because of the higher altitude just as the adage goes that the higher you go the cooler it becomes. On the mountains you will find that the weather conditions change dramatically time after time (hourly). For example there can be a perfect clear sky at 12pm but after a few minutes a huge thunderstorm can come rolling. A few hours later may be at 3pm the temperatures can rise to extremely hot temperatures and then just after a few hours the temperature can drop to below the freezing point. Due to this sudden temperature changes, one has to have some layers of cover over the body so that they may not fall sick after the vacation. I think the changes in temperatures plays a very significant role in making people prefer their vacation in beaches than on the mountains. For example you will find that beaches are warm because the temperature are high or at the sea level compared to the low temperatures experienced on the mountains. Many beaches experience warm breezes from the sea compared to when in the mountains. Majority will choose beaches for their vacations because they only carry swimming costumes, a few clothes   and eatables but while going to the mountains one has to be well prepared (a packed lunch,  Ã‚   tinned water, heavy jackets because as the temperature changes one will require either the warm clothes or the temperature might rise thus make one very thirsty. Another factor is the geographical location of the beaches or mountains. Naturally, most of the mountains are found in the hilly or high altitude areas. As a result, it becomes difficult for many people to access them especially at the top because it requires a lot of courage, energy, food, and water areas for one to get at the mountain peak. This limits the number of tourists visiting these areas compared to the number of visitors in other places such as national parks, game reserves and beaches. Most of the mountains are also found in the forests or they can even be covered by a thick forest. It is natural for the wild animals to encroach areas which are covered by huge forest cover. This means that there might be conflict between people and the wild animals when people decide to have their vacation on the mountains. Again, some countries have very thick forest cover which sometimes catch fire on its own (forest fires). These fires also stretch to the mountains where these vacation s take place. We are all aware of the fact that many of the evil doers in the society especially armed gangs stay in the forest and even in the mountains. This means that it is risky for people to go to the mountains without the backing of the security. On the other hand many beaches are located at the lower altitudes or in almost flat grounds. This happens to be one of the reasons as to why many people will prefer to spend their vacations in the beaches rather than on the mountains. This is propelled by the fact that to access the mountain tops one will require a lot of energy due to the upward mobility but to access the beaches its easy and less energy will be used. Most of the beaches are not covered by forests and they are also located in very open places. This means that there is no habitation of the wild animals such as guerillas which are a threat to the security of the humans. This prompts many people to prefer beaches for the vacation to the mountains. Beaches are also very secure than forest because there is the beach patrol police to maintain security therefore making it difficult for the armed gangs to hide there unlike in the mountains where the security of the humans is threatened by the armed gangs. The beaches are al so secure because they are located in far from forest and therefore they cannot be affected by the forest fire which always threatens the lives of the visitors who go to have fun on the mountains. The other factor which is to be considered is the types of activities which take place both on the mountain and the beaches. It is very clear that these two places offer different kinds of fun activities due to the different climatic changes which are experienced. For example you will find that in the mountain the climatic conditions are characterized by changes in either cool or hot temperature which are either accompanied by snow or rains respectively. Some of the vacation activities which take place in the mountains include snowboarding, mountain biking, mountain climbing, hiking, and skiing. More often you will find that children cannot engage in some of these mountain activities simply because of the heights of the mountains or because of the lack of experience and also due to fear of wild animals such as bears. Statistics have shown that these mountain activities mainly involve people who are aged between 15-45 years thus eliminating many older and young people. On the other hand, the sea and the warm climates determine the activities which take place in the beach. Many activities that take place in the sea tend to favor all people young and old inclusive because they are simple. Again, it entails what people do at home. This is unlike the mountain activities where one has to go to the mountains in order to practice and even learn them. Some of the activities in the beaches include swimming, volley ball games, soccer games and even the riding of the water bikes. Many people will prefer to have a vacation on the beaches because they will (young and the adults) have some enjoyable activities which they are familiar with unlike on the mountains were activities are technical and require a lot of experience. Again beaches have discos and restaurants were people can enjoy their fun until morning without worrying about the colds and insecurities either from wild animals or intruders. This is unlike the mountain activities where by there are no ente rtainment areas and if they exists they located a bit far from the mountains. Again many beaches tend have many visitors all the time but the number of visitors is not as high on the mountains thus making everything very boring and dull. Beach vacations are always better that the mountain vacations because many people hate cold areas and the beaches are always warm. Beaches are also easily accessible compared to the mountains thus making them more marketable. Beaches also tend to have a wide variety of activities for both the young and the old thus making it easy for families to come in their wholes. Beaches are also very secure due to the presence of the beach patrol police thus making it easier for many people to choose the beaches because they are not afraid of any insecurity issues.

Influence of William Shakespeare on Melville’s Moby-Dick Essay

In 1820 in the Edinburgh Review Sidney Smith said: â€Å"In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book?† (par. 4). That was the conventional idea concerning American Literature to the conservative British writers. But Melville proved this assumption of the British writers wrong not by arguing with them but by producing a huge work which in its quality is comparable to Shakespearean great tragedies. Melville’s masterpiece Moby-Dick consists of thousands of references, but specially references of Shakespeare are in abundance in this book. When Melville wrote this novel, next to the Bible Shakespeare was in his mind because he wanted to prove the superiority of American Nation as well as American Literature. The protagonist of the novel, Captain Ahab, is comparable with Macbeth and Lear in many ways. Also the setting of the novel and language of the novel are like those of Shakespeare’s plays. The construction of Ahab as the tragic hero-villain, his madness and blasphemous behaviour, the Shakespearean dramatic technique, the Shakespearean language and parallel scenes are the things which Melville borrows from Shakespeare. Though the portrayal of character and the construction of the novel are Shakespearean, the novel’s greatness lies in its originality. Melville creates Ahab in the model of a Shakespearean tragic hero. Melville’s conception of Ahab as a tragic character was made possible by this immersion in Shakespearean tragedy. Shakespearean tragic heroes, for example Macbeth and Lear are blinded by hubris or pride. They are tragic because of their error in judgment. Captain Ahab also becomes tragic because of the error in judgment. Ahab’s misfortune is brought 1 upon him not by vice and depravity but... ...ck. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Editions Limited, 2002. Melville, Herman. â€Å"Hawthrone and His Mosses.† Moby-Dick. Ed. Harrison Hayford and Hershel Parker. New York and London: Norton and Company, 1967. 535-551. â€Å"Melville’s Moby-Dick.† Wow Essays.15 September 2008 Olson, Charles. â€Å"Ahab and His Fool.† Moby-Dick. Ed.Harrison Hayford and Hershel Parker. New York and London: Norton and Company, 1967.648-651. Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Surrey: Thomas Nelson and Son Ltd, 1997. Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. 13 Shakespeare, William. Othello. London: Penguin Books Limited, 1968. Smith, Sidney. â€Å"Who Reads an American Book?† Great Epochs in American History. 15 (1820): pars. 4. 26 June 2008 14

Placental Ruminants and Herbivorous Marsupials of Australia Essay

Placental Ruminants and Herbivorous Marsupials of Australia The marsupial animal species that have evolved on the isolated continent of Australia are unique compared to the rest of the animal kingdom in many ways due to the harsh and distinctive environment found on the continent. The major area of marsupial biology that distinguishes them from all other eutherian mammals is their mode of reproduction. However, it can be said that there are many other areas in which unique differences can be seen between marsupials and eutherian mammals; one such area of adaptation is in the anatomy and physiology of digestion, which distinguishes them from many other similar animals worldwide. The foregut fermenters, such as kangaroos and wallabies, evolved in regions of poor forage quality to be able to extract the most nutrients out of the poorest feeds. Fermentation in the foregut has many advantages over hindgut fermentation, which is seen in marsupials such as the koalas and wombats. The anatomy and physiology of the digestive tracts of both types of fermenters, however, are uniquely suited to their individual modes of nutrition. It can be suggested that the foregut fermenters of the marsupials are very similar to the eutherian ruminants, as both types of adaptations are designed to increase fiber digestibility and increase nutrient absorption. However, there are many major differences between the two groups. Ruminants have developed a four-chambered stomach system, which is not seen in the marsupials, as well as a rumination cycle which allows for the rechewing of previously ingested meals. While regurgitation may be evident in marsupials, it is, however, not analogous to rumination, and is instead called â€Å"merycism.†... .... 23 March 2004. Milewski, A.V. and R.E. Diamond. 2000. Why are very large herbivores absent from Australia? A new theory of micronutrients. Journal of Biogeography. 27(4): 957-978. Russell, J.B. 1988. â€Å"Ecology of Rumen Microorganisms: Energy Use.† In Dobson, Alan, and Marjorie J. Dobson, eds. Aspects of Digestive Physiology in Ruminants: Proceedings of a Satellite Symposium of the 30th International Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences. Cornell University Press: Ithaca, NY, pg 74-98. Stevens, C.E. and I.D. Hume. 1995. Comparative Physiology of the Vertebrate Digestive System. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Strahan, Ronald, ed. 1995. The mammals of Australia. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington, DC. Van Soest, Peter J. 1994. Nutritional ecology of the ruminant. Ithaca: Comstock Publishing. Placental Ruminants and Herbivorous Marsupials of Australia Essay Placental Ruminants and Herbivorous Marsupials of Australia The marsupial animal species that have evolved on the isolated continent of Australia are unique compared to the rest of the animal kingdom in many ways due to the harsh and distinctive environment found on the continent. The major area of marsupial biology that distinguishes them from all other eutherian mammals is their mode of reproduction. However, it can be said that there are many other areas in which unique differences can be seen between marsupials and eutherian mammals; one such area of adaptation is in the anatomy and physiology of digestion, which distinguishes them from many other similar animals worldwide. The foregut fermenters, such as kangaroos and wallabies, evolved in regions of poor forage quality to be able to extract the most nutrients out of the poorest feeds. Fermentation in the foregut has many advantages over hindgut fermentation, which is seen in marsupials such as the koalas and wombats. The anatomy and physiology of the digestive tracts of both types of fermenters, however, are uniquely suited to their individual modes of nutrition. It can be suggested that the foregut fermenters of the marsupials are very similar to the eutherian ruminants, as both types of adaptations are designed to increase fiber digestibility and increase nutrient absorption. However, there are many major differences between the two groups. Ruminants have developed a four-chambered stomach system, which is not seen in the marsupials, as well as a rumination cycle which allows for the rechewing of previously ingested meals. While regurgitation may be evident in marsupials, it is, however, not analogous to rumination, and is instead called â€Å"merycism.†... .... 23 March 2004. Milewski, A.V. and R.E. Diamond. 2000. Why are very large herbivores absent from Australia? A new theory of micronutrients. Journal of Biogeography. 27(4): 957-978. Russell, J.B. 1988. â€Å"Ecology of Rumen Microorganisms: Energy Use.† In Dobson, Alan, and Marjorie J. Dobson, eds. Aspects of Digestive Physiology in Ruminants: Proceedings of a Satellite Symposium of the 30th International Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences. Cornell University Press: Ithaca, NY, pg 74-98. Stevens, C.E. and I.D. Hume. 1995. Comparative Physiology of the Vertebrate Digestive System. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Strahan, Ronald, ed. 1995. The mammals of Australia. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington, DC. Van Soest, Peter J. 1994. Nutritional ecology of the ruminant. Ithaca: Comstock Publishing.

Cleopatra Essay example -- essays research papers

Significant Woman: Cleopatra I chose to write my "Significant Woman" paper on Egypt’s last pharaoh, Cleopatra. When I began my report, I knew very little about Cleopatra, except that she was the mistress of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony of Rome. I wondered what impacts on history Cleopatra made on her own. I feel that Cleopatra was a very significant woman in history because she was very aggressive and assertive, characteristics that have always been considered unfeminine. At the same time, however, Cleopatra has been remembered by some as somewhat of a sex object, which is and always has been a common judgement of attractive females. Cleopatra did use her sex appeal to her advantage. It was one of the few manipulations that nobody could take away from her, and it was a very convincing form of persuasion. Cleopatra’s family had been ruling Egypt since 305 BC, when Ptolemy I declared himself King of Egypt sometime after Alexander the Great’s death. The Ptolemy family was of Macedonian decent, not Egyptian. Cleopatra, more precisely, Cleopatra VII, was the third daughter of Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos "Auletes", who began his rule of Egypt in 80 BC. Cleopatra VII’s mother could possibly have been Cleopatra V Tryphaena, who either died or disappeared in 68 BC, right after Cleopatra VII’s birth in 69 BC. Cleopatra VII had two older sisters, Cleopatra VI and Berenice IV, and one younger sister, Arsinoe IV...

The Protagonist Victor in “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie

Victor In the very first sentence of Sherman Alexie's â€Å"This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,† you can assume that the main character, Victor, is facing a hard life. Not only did he lose his job, he also lost his father to a heart attack the same day. The story tells the journey of Victor and an old friend, Thomas Builds-the-Fire, traveling to Phoenix to pick up his father's ashes, pickup truck, and money from his savings account. Victor did not have any money and neither did anyone else living on the reservation, â€Å"Who does have money on a reservation, except the cigarette and fireworks sales-people? (page 275) Victor has to turn to the tribal council for money, but they are also low on funds and can only give him one-hundred dollars. Thomas is considered the town’s outcast and he is the only one willing to help Victor. Victor goes on to say that he used to be friends with Thomas until they were about fifteen and then Victor turned his back on him bec ause everyone else thought he was weird. He also talks about their childhood and the memories they share and the fact that Thomas knew about Victor’s father wanting to leave before it ever happened. Once, when they were seven years old, when Victor’s father still lived with the family, Thomas closed his eyes and told Victor this story: â€Å"Your father’s heart is weak. He is afraid of his own family. He is afraid of you. † (page 275). Thomas ends up giving Victor the rest of the money he needs, but only if Victor allows Thomas to go along. The author never really gives any physical traits, but you know he is an Indian, does not have a lot of money, just lost his father, and lives on a reservation.The author does not specially tell you how old Victor is. There is no mention of any other family besides his mother, â€Å"†¦and the rest of his family didn’t have any use at all for him. † (page 275) Even though Victor’s father did no t play a big part in his life, â€Å"there still was a genetic pain, which was soon to be pain as real and immediate and a broken bone. † (page 275) Victor is a dynamic and round character because he slowly begins to change throughout the story. Victor is continuously complaining about Thomas or making fun of him.When they are on the plane and Thomas is talking to the gymnast, â€Å"Victor was ready to jump out of the plane. Thomas, that crazy Indian storyteller with ratty old braids and broken teeth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (page 278) I think that Victor is somewhat ashamed of his Native American background because he did not want to turn out like Thomas. Throughout the course of their trip, Victor begins to accept Thomas and understand him more. When Victor agrees to listen to just one of Thomas’ stories, â€Å"Just one time when I’m telling a story somewhere, why don’t you stop and listen?Thomas asked. Victor waved his arms to let Thomas know that the deal was good,† (page 282) the reader begins to see the new, more accepting Victor. The old Victor would be too afraid of what others were thinking about him to stop and listen to Thomas tell a story, but now he accepts who he is and also who his cousin Thomas is. â€Å"Victor was quiet for a long time. He searched his mind for memories of his father, found the good ones, found a few bad ones, added it all up, and smiled. This is another turning point in the story because this is where Victor finally accepts his relationship with his father and is at peace. â€Å"This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona† shows the true value of friendship. In the later part of their relationship, Victor was a really bad friend to Thomas, but Thomas has been there for Victor so many times throughout their childhood, and even now that they are adults. Although Thomas was not physically by Victor’s side, he was there the whole time waiting to come to Victor’s rescue.The story go es back and forth to show how Victor and Thomas were once friends. Thomas even made a deal with Victor’s father to watch over Victor, â€Å"But he said I had to watch out for you as part of the deal. † (page 279) Victor is in debt to Thomas and even gives him some of his father’s ashes. By the end of the story, Victor finally realized the true meaning of friendship with his own cousin Thomas, and that all those other guys that made fun of him for being friends with Thomas when they were children were not true friends.At the end of the story Victor realizes how hurtful he has been to Thomas when in reality; Thomas was the only one who stood by Victor’s side and in return â€Å"all Thomas had ever wanted from his whole life,† (page 282) was for someone to just stop and listen to him tell one of his stories. I think Victor became a man at the end of the story. He finally learned to accept Thomas, his relationship with his father, and his Native Americ an heritage.

Swange Dance

SWANGE DANCE Introduction. Benue State is state of the historic Benue river, a State renowned for the valiancy of its progenitors, a State of notable political gladiators and hardworking people who rightly brand themselves as ‘the food basket of the nation’. Benue is also a State of rich cultures and traditions, as exemplified in the world acclaimed SWANGE DANCE which has brought fame to both the State and the nation. Meaning of Dance Dance is a type of art that generally involves movement of the body, often rhythmic and to music.It is performed in many cultures as a form of emotional expression, social interaction, or exercise, in a spiritual or performance setting, and is sometimes used to express ideas or tell a story. Dance may also be regarded as a form of nonverbal communication between humans or other animals, as in bee dances and behaviour patterns such as a mating dances. Definitions of what constitutes dance can depend on social and cultural norms and aesthetic , artistic and moral sensibilities.Definitions may range from functional movement (such as folk dance) to virtuoso techniques such as ballet. Martial arts kata are often compared to dances, and sports such as gymnastics, figure skating and synchronized swimming are generally thought to incorporate dance. In some cases, the motion of ordinarily inanimate objects may be described as dance (the leaves danced in the wind). History Dance does not leave behind clearly identifiable physical artifacts such as stone tools, hunting implements or cave paintings. It is not possible to say when dance became part of human culture.Joseph Jordania recently suggested that dance, together with rhythmic music and body painting, was designed by the forces of natural selection at the early stage of hominid evolution as a potent tool to put groups of human ancestors in a battle trance, a specific altered state of consciousness. The same could be said of the Swange dance which originated from middle belt of Nigeria, Benue state, among the Tiv, Igala and Idoma people, a locale which is around the River Niger. Swange is a popular social dance of the Tiv people of Benue State in Central Nigeria.It is a dance of fast, slow, rhythmic and undulating movements, expressing youth and vigour. Swange is played at various types of social and religious functions for the enjoyment of the old and the young. The dance is characterized by rhythmic contortion in slow mode & vibrant display, typical of African dance forms. It has wonderful beat and beautiful rhythm. It is heavily percussion- based, aided by a traditional horn (al-gaita), which blows in an unbroken succession for as long as the drumming, Singing and dancing is going on. The dance particularly exhibits fluidity in body movement, which was inspirited by the flow of the River .Sixfootplus had this to say about it â€Å"Swange is the name given to the traditional dance of the Tiv-speaking people of Benue state of Nigeria. The dance is cha racterized by rhythmic contortion in slow mode & vibrant display, typical of African dance forms. It is heavily percussion- based, aided by a traditional horn (al-gaita), which blows in an unbroken succession for as long as the drumming, Singing and dancing is going on. † Some Benue artists mix this dance pattern up with their stage performances to the admiration of their fans; notable amond these are, Zulezoo, Bravo D, Sixfootplus etc.If you have been opportuned to listen to Swange music or watched the Swange dance, let us know what you feel about it. Significance of Swange Dance Swange Dance has been an important part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of the earliest human civilizations. [pic] Swange Dance References www. nairaland. com/12749/swange-music-how-see-it http://www. goodlife. com. ng/gltourism. php? gltourism=read&id=164 Joseph Jordania, 2011, Why do People Sing? Music in Human Evolution, Logos, pg. 98-102