Improving Local Health Care Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Improving Local Health Care - Research Paper Example Community practitioners are also responsible for documenting information concerning a patient’s conditions for treatment in the future. It is a requirement for healthcare practitioners to record a patient’s data to enhance success during operations. This involves the documentation of the patient’s name, age and their condition. This happens before the provision of healthcare services to the patient by a practitioner (Tom, 2001). As discussed in the piece, coordination of various components is necessary in the delivery of healthcare services to the public. Furthermore, technology is fundamental to the delivery of quality services in healthcare facilities. The provision of healthcare services requires the coordination of various stakeholders within the healthcare profession. It is imperative for healthcare practitioners to keep records when conducting their duties (Tom, 2001). Indeed, record keeping is fundamental in the provision of critical care for conditions such as asthma. At the local healthcare facility that I visited, the practitioners were struggling to meet some of the needs of the patients because they were facing challenges prioritizing healthcare services to clients. The absence of an electronic medical record made it difficult for the practitioner to asses my previous record. Besides, the practitioner was having difficulty communicating with his subordinates. Lack of proper policies for handling healthcare issues compromised the delivery of quality healthcare at the facility. The manuals testing kits contributed to pharmaceutical discrepancies at the facility. Additionally, the manual recording system contributed to the difficulties in communication amidst practitioners and professionals from other facilities. Indeed, most of the challenges at the facility required the implementation of sound policies concerning delivery of quality healthcare services (Richard, 2003). Some patients were unhappy with the services

Core Competencies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Core Competencies - Assignment Example This is accompanied by other roles such as promotion of health and ensuring that people are protected from diseases and infections as best as they can through offering of advice during treatment such as advice on sexually transmitted diseases and infections and on reducing obesity among others. Nurse practitioners also carry out counselling with the patients and the relatives and friends of a patient. This may be in preparation of the outcome of results of treatment and especially if the news are devastating. The most common cases are when breaking death news to the relatives and friends or news about terminal diseases. In all of these, a nurse practitioner has to build relationship in order to communicate effectively with the patient. The communication requires cultural competence as patients are culturally diversified and have various cultural beliefs and systems that need to be recognized beforehand and respected. Lastly, a nurse practitioner is supposed to prepare a plan of care for a patient and utilize it using evidence-based practice. The plan of care has to also be explained to both the patient and the relatives for decision making and implementation as well as evaluation (Department of Health and Human Services HRSA, 2002). A nurse administrator is in charge of the administration duties in a health care facility. The administration duties are similar to those of any other manager the only difference being that a nurse administrator is also a nurse and hence understands the medical field better. The most important of the role is the knowledge of the health care environment. This includes knowledge of the health care policies present, the delivery models that can be used, the risks that are anticipated and how to manage them as well as patient safety and case management. The nurse administrator should also exhibit communication and relationship building as one of the roles. This incorporates building and maintaining a working

What Is The Right Thing To Do?

What Is The Right Thing To Do? If someone, in an attempt to exercise his right of self defense coerces anyone else into defending him then that would mean that the defender himself is a criminal invader of the rights of someone else. So, if X is aggressing against Y, Y may not use force to compel Z to join in defending him, for then, Y would be just as much a criminal aggressor against Z. This immediately rules out conscription for defense, for conscription enslaves a man and forces him to fight on someone elses behalf. Is it always wrong to lie? Consider the case whereby A sets out to murder B and although C knows where B is but C lies to A in order to save Bs life. Under such circumstances would we still render the act of lying wrong or would it be justified to lie in such a case? What do you think is the Right thing to do? Are moral values absolute or are they subjective? Are they universal or are they social conventions instead? Do natural laws exist or do they evolve with time? Who decides between Right and Wrong? Without speck of a doubt, the ability to evaluate reasons for belief is one of the most fundamental critical thinking skills. It is the ability to reason indeed that differentiates human beings form other living organisms. However, one of the biggest dilemmas of moral reasoning remains to be its contradictory nature. We have the mental capacities to reason our belief in something; however, we are just as capable of analyzing it critically at the same time. Question of what is right and what is wrong are not always black and white. At times it seems like the societies are governed by natural laws and social conventions whereby there is a distinct categorization of right and wrong. On the contrary, however, it occurs to us on a great many reflections that problems of morality are relative, and subjective. To re strengthen our belief that reasoning about morality and the problems of morality are themselves contradictory in nature, we are going to cover a few case studies and then see if we reach any conclusion. A many in history nevertheless have made attempts at defining moral ethics and an effort to address to its problems too has been made. According to Protagoras, a Sophist, Man is a measure of all things. The implication is that right and wrong or good and bad, according to Protagoras, must always be considered in relation to a persons needs. Sophists had travelled around the globe splendidly. It couldnt have been anyone better but them to have realized that laws governing the city states and also the norms of a society could vary massively across boundaries. Hence their observation led them to raise questions based on morality and ethics that had to do with conception of what was natural and what was socially induced. Moreover, Sophists believed that there were no absolute norms for what was right and wrong. For instance the idea of natural modesty, to a Sophist who had travelled the world, was a matter of social convention. Had it been natural, it would have been something innate, something humans are born with. Since its seen to be taken differently across different places, not everyone everywhere is afraid or reluctant to show themselves off nakedly, that is not the case. Morality differs in every society, and is a convenient term for socially approved habits.  [1]   However, other philosophers such as the legendary Socrates were of the view that some such norms were in fact absolute and universally valid. According to Socrates, He who knows what good is will do good.Hereby he meant to imply that a right insight will lead to right action and that the virtuous is one who does right. Therefore Socrates proposed that peoples reason and not the society, differentiates between right and wrong. Aristotle had a slightly different take on the issue. He propounded the Golden Mean whereby he emphasized the need to keep a balance. Only by maintaining balance and temperance, so the Aristotelian school of thought goes, does one achieve a happy or harmonious life. As seen hitherto answers to the problems of ethics and morality are not black and white in nature. There cannot be one absolute definition of Morals and Ethics and hence moral reasoning too cannot be chalked out in one specific manner. Moral Reasoning: We are discussing no small matter but how we ought to live.  [2]   One way of explaining Moral Reasoning is by categorizing it into two broad categories: i) Consequentialist Moral Reasoning ii) Categorical Moral Reasoning. Consequentialist Moral Reasoning locates morality in the consequences of an act. Example of Consequentialist Moral Reasoning would be Utilitarianism according to which the right act is that which maximizes utility. Categorical Moral Reasoning on the other hand locates morality in certain duties and rights that have to do with the intrinsic quality of the act itself. Therefore, according to Categorical Moral Reasoning, Murder is a Murder and the act of murdering is wrong irrespective of the circumstances of the act. Utilitarianism: This theory was proposed by David Hume (1711-1776) and defined further by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806-1873). Utilitarianism stands by the slogan, the greatest good for the greatest number.According to Bentham the ultimate Moral Principle, namely the Principle of Utility, requires us to choose whatever action would have the best consequences. According to the utilitarian philosophy, we act in a way that maximized the overall level of happiness and pleasure over suffering and pain. In a nutshell, the right thing to do is to maximize utility. However utilitarianism is not as perfect a philosophical concept as it sounds. Some of the objections raised against utilitarianism are that it fails to respect certain individual rights and fails to acknowledge the rights of the minority (lesser number of people).Hence it is argued that certain individual rights of the minority cannot be traded off for the sake of utility. Secondly, it is not possible to aggregate all values. For instance, how would you assign monetary terms to values such as the value of life, respect, etc? Even if we could measure such values then how possibly could we have captured them according to a single uniform measure of value? Let us look at some of the cases concerned with morality in the light of Utilitarian approach and see for ourselves whether utilitarianism befits it: Case1: Euthanasia Mathew Donnelly, a physicist, had contracted cancer perhaps due to an over exposure of X-Rays. It cost him his jaw, upper lip, his nose, left hand, and two fingers from right hand. As if this wasnt enough, he was also left blind. Donnellys physician told him that he had just about a years time left to live. Donnelly, however, was in excruciating pain already, and he thought against better judgment that he would rather die than continue life in such a state. In an urge to free himself of misery and pain, he asked his three brothers to kill him. Two of his brothers refused to do so while the youngest one, 36-year-old Harold Donnelly, shot Mathew to death with a 3.0-caliber pistol. The question in point is whether Harold did wrong. According to social conventions and moral traditions which essentially dictate that the intentional killing of innocent people is always wrong. Hence according to moral traditions, Harold was wrong. However, Harold is assumed to have shot his brother for a no ble cause; he loved his brother and wanted to end his misery. Moreover, Mathew had himself asked to die. Therefore, in consideration of the consent (of Mathew), and noble motives (Harolds love for his brother and wanting to alleviate him of the pain), the point in case asks for a lenient judgment. Utilitarianism would have gone by whichever of the choices available to Harold at that point of time, had the best overall consequences. Utilitarianism would support that action which maximizes happiness for all concerned. Killing Mathew, a utilitarian would think, would free Mathew of misery and pain hence in this case a utilitarian would conclude that the greatest balance of happiness will be achieved for everyone concerned here, by euthanasia. Hereby euthanasia is morally right and justified. Amongst the western States, Euthanasia is legal only in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Colombia. United States renders Euthanasia illegal and terms it as an act of murder hence Haorld Donelly was arrested and charged. A question then arises whether Euthanasia be made legal provided its taken to be morally right by a utilitarian at least. On that point, John Stuart Mill says; The sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their member, is self-protection. The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrantà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.  [3]   Thus utilitarian believes that laws prohibiting euthanasia contradict general welfare of the society, and restrict peoples right to control their own lives the way they wish to. When Harold killed his brother Mathew, he did so in order to end Mathews miserable life in a manner that Mathew had himself chosen. Since the consequences didnt harm anyone, it shouldnt be a problem for anyone either. Things are now changing, in 2005, 58% of Americans were of the view that doctors should be allowed to help patients die who are suffering from painful incurable disease. Case 2 : Case of Queens Vs. Dudley and Stevens: Queens Vs. Dudley is a 19th Century famous British Law Case. The case put a huge question on the validity of utilitarian doctrine. It involves the shipwreck crew of four. After being lost at sea for 19 whole days, Dudley, the Caption decided to kill the weakest among them, the young cabin boy Parker in order that rest of the crew members survive feeding on his blood and body. On the 29th of September 1884, 1300 miles away from Cape, Mignonette was found. Richard Parker, 17-year-old cabin boy was the youngest of all crew members on Mignonette. He was an orphan and had no family. It was Parkers first voyage to sea and had gone against the advice of his friends. A wave hit the shaft, and Mignonette went down. The only food that the crew members had on them was two cans of preserved turnips. What was worse was that the crew members did not have any fresh drinkable water either. For the first three days, the crew members did not eat. On the fourth day, however, they opened one of the cans of Turnips and ate it. The next day, they cut a turtle and together with the second can of turnips, the turtle enabled them to survive for the next few days. For eight days, then, they remained of food and water again. The cabin boy Parker had by now gotten ill as he had drunk sea water. His condition was such that he appeared to be dying. On the 19th day, the captain Dudley proposed an idea that they should all draw a lottery to see who would die to save the rest. Brooks refused to do so and hence lotts werent drawn. Next day, there still wasnt a sign of a life boat , and it was in the midst of harsh conditions that Captain motioned Stevens that boy Parker better be killed. Dudley told the boy his time had come and killed him with a pen knife, stabbing him in his jugular vein. For four days, the three of the crewmembers fed on the blood and body of Parker. At last, on the twenty fourth day of the shipwreck, they were rescued by a German ship which took them back to England where t hey were arrested and tried. Dudley and Stevens went on trial while Brooks turned States witness. It turned out that the captain and his companion werent guilty much, they claimed to have acted out of necessity. They defended their stance by saying that under dire circumstances better that one should die so that three could survive. The prosecutor wasnt influenced; he said a murder is a murder hence the case went on trial. This leaves us with following questions rather objections to the doctrine Utilitarianism: Do we have certain fundamental Rights? If yes, then individual rights shouldnt be traded off and need to be valued. Does a fair procedure justify any result? What is the moral work of consent? Would an active consent at either the time of drawing lottery or at the point of death make so much of a moral difference that an act that is considered morally wrong, taking away someone life for example, would turn morally permissible after the consent? Shall the rights of a weaker being or a minority (in terms of count or numbers) be traded off for the sake of general welfare? Case 3: Baby Theresa: Publically known as Baby Theresa, Theresa Ann Campo was an anencephalic child, born in Florida in 1992.Anencephalic children are sometimes termed as babies without brains as important parts of their brain including the cerebrum and cerebellum are missing and so is the top of their skull. There is however a brain stem, present in such infants, that allows for their autonomic functions such as breathing and heart beat. Even on accounts of survival (from stillbirth), such infants do not live long and for whatever time period they live, they would still never be conscious due to malfunctioning of brain components. Thus Baby Theresas parents volunteered her organs for transplant thinking other needy children could perhaps benefit from the eyes, kidneys, liver, heart, and lungs of Baby Theresa after the transplant. Physicians too thought that it was a good suggestion forwarded by the babys parents that her organs be volunteered so that other children who are in need may benefit. A huge num ber of children need transplants each year but there are never enough organs available. Since Florida law does not permit organ removal until the donor is dead, Baby Theresas organs werent taken. Nine days later, Baby Theresa expired and it was too late by then to use her organs for other children as her organs had been damaged. The newspaper stories of the time opened up a heated debate whether it would have been right to remove the babys organs in order to help other children. If we probe arguments for and against the case, we would come to realize that the problem of removing Theresas organs in order to help other children is not as simple as it sounds. The debate was boiled down to three main line of arguments namely; The Benefits Argument, The Argument that we should not use people as Means, and the third line of Argument from the Wrongness of Killing. The Benefits Argument: Knowing that baby Therese is an anencephalic infant who is incapable of being conscious and is going to die anyway, her parents proposed the idea that Theresas organs be used for transplant in order that other children be helped. Apparently, they reasoned as follows: If we can benefit someone, without harming anyone else, we ought to do so. Transplanting the organs would benefit the other children without harming Baby Theresa. Therefore, we ought to transplant the organs.  [4]   It is interesting to note how this very line of thinking has a division of opinions. On one hand, the contention that Therese wouldnt be harmed is a mere assumption hence the act of removing her organs, based on a mere assumption that she wouldnt be harmed, while she is still alive would be unjustified. On the contrary, however, under such circumstances her parents were right thinking that mere physical existence wouldnt benefit Theresa much provided that she would miss out on thoughts, feelings, connections with people and other normal human activities. Being an anencephalic infant, they must have thought, she is only virtually alive, and that being alive for a few days would not do her any good than ending a miserable life to save the lives of other children. Whereas those children who are in dire need of organ transplants would benefit greatly. Therefore, The Benefits Argument supports the proposition that Theresas organs be used for transplant to help other children. We should not use people as Means: This line of argument opposes the stance that Theresas organs be removed to help other children. It stands by the principle that people should not be used as means to benefit others. Using people is usually used in the context of violating peoples autonomy. Either through manipulation and deceit or by forcing people to do something against their wish, using others only to get our own personal benefits is wrong as it thwarts others autonomy. In Baby Theresas case we wouldnt be deceiving or manipulating anyone by removing her organs for transplant but we would indeed be using her organs to benefit others. In case you are thinking, that happens every time transplants are carried out, you are wrong. Transplants are carried out with the consent of people, and certainly not against their permission. Baby Theresa, however, is incapable of voicing her opinions or expressing her wish by any means hence the complexity of the case remains. Moreover, it can be argued that Baby Theresa does not have wishes in the first place and she is incapable of making any decision for herself therefore she is not really an autonomous being. Thus her parents decision on her part wouldnt really be a violation of anyones autonomy. This leaves us with two ways of thinking about the problem. One, by questioning what would possibly be in the best interest of Baby Theresa, and secondly, if she could have told us what she wanted what would she have said ? Unfortunately, Theresa does not have any preferences, and her interests, even if there were any, wouldnt be affected much since she would die soon after birth no matter what. It all boils down to only one option then which is to do whatever we think is best. Wrongness of Killing: According to most Western traditions, killing someone is absolutely wrong. Since most western states are dominated by the religion of Christianity whereby intentional killing of an innocent being is out rightly wrong and punishable, ethicists who believe in traditional morality would disapprove and condemn an act of killing. To them, killing is always wrong. Nowadays, however, consequence of the act and the circumstances under which the act was committed too is taken very much into consideration. So, according to this way of perceiving things, killing might not always be wrong such as in the case of Baby Theresa. Another approach to the problem would be to think of Baby Theresa as already dead. This might not be as awkward as it sounds after all Brain Death is now accepted at large as a criterion to pronounce someone legally dead. Eventually, Brain Death came to be accepted as real death because such people couldnt live conscious life due to malfunctioning of their brain cells. If brain death is redefined, to include anencephalic since they too lack any hope of conscious life as they do not have any cerebrum or cerebellum, then we would in effect regard anencephalic infants as born dead. Then removing their organs would not be regarded as killing them and hence the argument for wrongness of killing then stands void. Conclusion: In the light of the cases mentioned above, we may conclude that solutions to the problems of ethics and morality are not black and white. As we proposed and opposed line of arguments for the cases under consideration we noticed how reasoning about such matters is often contradictory in nature. Moral Reasoning seems to fluctuate between being definite to vague. One of the biggest dilemmas of human ability to reason is that much as it helps them reach a decision, it engrosses them too at times with contradictions and recessions thus rendering the decision-making process all the more difficult.

The Tempest the Play by William Shakespeare Essay -- Tempest William S

The Tempest the Play by William Shakespeare Ruler’s in general face many problems, as is the nature of having power and authority. However rulers like Prospero face even more difficulties, as Prospero has the ultimate power of magic and can control and manipulate people and their actions, more so than a natural ruler. The first difficulty presented is an issue, which is dealt with throughout the play: the idea of how much or how little to intervene? From the beginning of the play we are told of how and why Prospero is usurped from his dukedom, â€Å"I thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated/ To closeness, and the bettering of my mind/ With that which, but by being so retired, O’er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother.† Namely because he did not get involved in running the country and possibly felt that his job was not to intervene but to be a figure-head for the country and leave the country to run itself, a ‘laissez faire’ attitude to ruling. This short speech by Prospero raises the idea that perhaps we should remember that being a ruler involves both rights and responsibilities; Prospero wanted the former but not the latter. The idea of intervention and responsibility is presented in Act 2, Scene 1, where Prospero intervenes telling Ariel to wake Gonzalo before Antonio and Sebastian draw their swords and kill him. This issue, is particularly difficult for a ruler such as Prospero as he has the power to manipulate the situation to suit him self, raising moral as well as personal dilemmas? This raises yet another problem faced by rulers, specifically Gonzalo; of how much trust you can give your subjects or more appropriately those who are next in line to the throne? This idea of trust was .. ...have alcohol. Caliban gives his only power, knowledge of the island, as a pledge to his new masters. His hope is that by exchanging masters, he will be able to better his life. This continues the idea of trust and the problems faced by those ruler’s such as Prospero who have slaves who have an inherit need to be incarcerated by a ruler, but unfortunately by any ruler at all and are therefore not faithful. In conclusion, Act 2 reveals the difficulties faced by ruler’s such as Prospero, through cleverly interwoven narrative threads which are developed gradually throughout the play. This is especially true of the themes of trust and the fixed natures of characters, which both pose a problem for those in power. Prospero of course has the added dilemma of possessing supernatural powers which brings with it additional problems when placed in the role a ruler.

A Roman Catholic Understanding Of Justice In Health Care

Over the past hundreds of years, the Church has been involved in taking care of the health of the people.   The church has included religious men and women, and also laymen and laywomen, to ensure relevant healthcare is provided to the population.It has also utilized all the technological advancements to ensure the best medical care for the population.   It has ensured that the people serving in the healthcare sector should be disciplined, dedicated and have compassion towards the sick.The Catholic Church has provided healthcare and has given consideration to the poor and the not so well to do segments of the population.   It has also tried to improve the provision of healthcare, accessibility and upgrading the health status of the community to a higher level.In the US, the Catholic Church is one of the largest groups that provide healthcare for non-profit purposes.   It should also be noted that the Catholic Church provides healthcare to people belonging to various castes, r eligions and faiths[1].The Catholic Health Association of the US (CHAUS) was formed in the year 1915, and its basic aim was to unite all the Roman Catholic Healthcare organizations so that a common force could emerge in providing healthcare in the country[2].One of the main objectives of the Roman Catholic organizations in healthcare is to ensure that high quality services are provided right from birth until death.These services have to be provided to people belonging to various castes, faith, religions, races, ages, sex, etc.   This has ensured the people that no bias exists in providing healthcare.   Hence, people do consider the Catholic hospitals as universal and secular organizations in providing healthcare.   About 16 % of the population and about 20 % of all hospital admissions in the US is actually made into Catholic hospitals.   About 615 Catholic hospitals are existent in the US, out of a total of 5000.   70 % of these Catholic hospitals are located in urban area s, and 30 % in the rural areas.A wide range of services is provided by the Catholic hospitals, as they are interested in using the latest technological means in ensuring high quality services.   The Catholic hospitals have also given ample importance to family care, women’s health, emergency care, nursing, hospice, assisted living, residential facilities, newborn care, etc.The other sectors in which the Catholic Church has significant contributions include alcohol and drug treatment, psychiatric services, disaster management, dental care, geriatric services, HIV/AIDS services, nutrition, teenage care, etc.Another area in which the catholic hospitals have also given importance is the community health sector.   Community services in the year 2006 by all the Catholic hospitals in the US amounted to about $ 5.7 billion.These services were mainly to ensure that the public health needs were fulfilled and that the health status of the community could improve.   It is important to note that the Catholic hospitals have provided healthcare to the needy and the underprivileged segments of the population[3].[1] The Catholic Health Association of the United States (2007). Catholic Health Care in the United States, Retrieved on October 31, 2007, from the CHAUS Web site: http://www.chausa.org/NR/rdonlyres/68B7C0E5-F9AA-4106-B182-7DF0FC30A1CA/0/FACTSHEET.pdf[2] The Catholic Health Association of the United States (2007). Catholic Health Care in the United States, Retrieved on October 31, 2007, from the CHAUS Web site: http://www.chausa.org/NR/rdonlyres/68B7C0E5-F9AA-4106-B182-7DF0FC30A1CA/0/FACTSHEET.pdf[3] The Catholic Health Association of the United States (2007). Catholic Health Care in the United States, Retrieved on October 31, 2007, from the CHAUS Web site: http://www.chausa.org/NR/rdonlyres/68B7C0E5-F9AA-4106-B182-7DF0FC30A1CA/0/FACTSHEET.pdf   

Is Organic Food Worth It? Essay

Organic farming began in the late 1940’s in the United States, and in recent years it has seen a dramatic increase in popularity. The sales of organic food have been increasing by about 20 percent a year over the past decade. The general belief is that organic items tend to be better for the consumer and the environment when compared to non-organic items. Organic foods are produced without the use of most synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, pesticides, antibiotics, added growth hormones, ionizing radiation, or genetic modification. Fields must be free of prohibited materials for three years before the soil can be used to grow organic crops. In the United States, organic foods and organic farming have been regulated by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) since 2002. Although many people cannot tell the difference, there are multiple pros and cons between organic and nonorganic. People who buy organic are seeking assurance that food production is gentle to the earth, and looking for safer, purer, more natural foods. But are organic foods really worth the added expense? If cutting pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics off the menu appeals to you, organic foods may be just the ticket. In a recent poll, two-thirds of Americans surveyed stated they would like to be able to fit organic foods into their budgets. Part of our American culture is based on food and the way people treat themselves biologically by deciding what is acceptable to eat. Unfortunately a great portion of our society does not carefully think about the biological effects of certain foods. We live in an era of fad diets and health conscious purchases. For years people have consumed food without knowledge of how the production of what gets put on the dinner table entails. I have noticed especially over the last few years that our society has become more aware of organic farming and the nutritional effects from eating conventional foods. Controversy has sparked the question, what is organic, and is organic food biologically healthier for humans? Organic simply means food grown without the use of drugs, hormones, or synthetic chemicals. Crops are harvested without pesticides and farming techniques slightly differ from a conventional means of agriculture. What if I can’t afford organic foods? Don’t despair. There are things you can do to minimize your exposure to chemicals even when eating conventional foods. First, remove all visible fat from meats because chemical residues tend to accumulate there. Second, remove and throw away the peels from fruits and vegetables. Toss the outer leaves of leafy greens. Third, grow your own vegetable garden or a little herb garden on the window sill. If you live in the city, find out if there are gardening co-ops around your area. Fourth and most important, thoroughly wash all fresh produce to remove as much pesticide residue and bacteria as possible.

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Biology paper essays

Biology paper essays In the article, Condition Critical: An exclusive look at a U.N. assessment of Earths ecosystems shows they are strained to the limit, the author Eugene Linden begins by addressing the fact that the Earth has been showing signs of distress for the past forty years. The signs were not as noticeable at first, but as time drew on, the fact that Earth was in trouble became very clear. Linden believes that the few who take an active role in preserving the Earth and the minor programs that have been started are just not enough to stop the downfall of Earths ecosystems. At the United Nations millennial session they started a four million dollar project called the Pilot Analysis of Global Ecosystems (PAGE). This study will determine whether or not Earth is in the downward spiral that many scientists believe it is. This study will set the stage for a much larger twenty million dollar study called the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, which is set to begin next year. PAGE is sponsored by the U.N. Development program and the World Bank which are agencies that deal primarily with economic issues. However, their involvement in PAGE turns towards the likely possibility that if the environment of Earth is unhealthy, then economies will not prosper either. Page also points out that the worlds population is producing beyond its capacity. The Earths fishing fleets are 40% larger than the oceans can support which will eventually put a good number of fisheries out of business. In the past thirty years, global economies have increased food output and livestock production but have depleted and polluted water supplies, ruined the soil and destroyed habitats. PAGE also examines how human and industrial interference can disrupt the Earths ecosystems. PAGE reveals how the excess release of carbon dioxides and nitrogen into the atmosphere can have negative eff...

Bank of America Mobile Banking

Brown, who was responsible for the development and launch of mobile banking, reported on the current status, In less than three years we have four million mobile banking customers. Brown was hesitant to make the banks mobile app complex by adding more features. The added complexity could slow down the app and negatively affect user experience. He explained, App comple xity has led to some high-profile failures in the marketplace. This carries a huge risk. It was also unclear if users were ready to sign up for mortgages or credit cards on their mobile phones. Carrel reminded them, Dont forget that competitors view mobile as yet another platform to differentiate themselves. Just last month, Citi integrated credit card account information in its iPhone app. Citi customers can even track their credit card rewards on their mobile devices now. Carrel floated a second option, Why not create different apps for different target groups, say an app for Merrill Lynch brokerage, or for small business customers? Citi and Wells Fargo have done this, feeling they can provide users a more customized solution. (See Exhibit 1 for mobile banking apps for major players. ) McDonald, Brown and Carrel agree that they have to come up with a new strategy on mobile banking. Financial Services Industry The U. S. financial services industry was fragmented, with thousands of banks offering retail and wholesale banking services. In 2009 the 10 largest banks held 46. 4% of total deposits, with BofA the largest U. S. bank holding company, followed by JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo. In 2008-2009, the financial services industry went through the most stressful times in recent history. The collapse of the U. S. real estate and subprime mortgage markets caused a dramatic fall in the value of mortgage -backed securities, which led to a deep recession in the U. S. and financial troubles abroad. In 2012 they situation in the banking industry has improved. Bank of America By 2009, BofAs businesses included retail banking (i. e. , deposits, debit and credit cards, mortgage loans), global wealth management, middle market lending, large corporate lending, global treasury services, and investment banking. By December 2009, BofAs markets covered 82% of the U. S. opulation, and the bank served over 53 million customers and small businesses. U. S. Mobile Banking Market Mobile banking was introduced in the U. S. in 2007. Consumers could access their bank accounts on the move from their cell phones. Many banks saw it as yet another channel to differentiate themselves from competitors and engage customers that could potentially lead to both higher income and increased customer re tention. While mobile banking introduced some new capital investment and operational costs, analysts projected it to be one of the least costly banking channels. Since almost all banks had a well established online presence, this was the easiest option for banks. Slow browser speed on many mobile phones coupled with small phone screens made this option less appealing to some users. The emergence of smartphones, such as iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry, allowed banks to provide a richer experience to users through apps. By optimizing the user interface specifically for these devices, apps had the potential to engage users. Smartphones were expected to grow in use from 10% in 2008 to 46% of the total U. S. mobile phone market by 2012. App development costs could range from $40,000 to several hundred thousand dollars. Research from Global Industry Analysts shows that mobile and internet banking are becoming increasingly intertwined. This is largely due to the success of smartphones, which afford consumers convenient access to internet banking. The global mobile internet market will continue to drive the expansion of the mobile banking services sector. Financial institutions are responding by launching downloadable applica tions and encouraging consumers to bank online and through mobile devices by rolling out mobile and internet banking services. Market Size and Consumer Adoption In 2009, an estimated 10 million consumers used mobile banking in the U. S. ; by 2014 this number was expected to grow to 37 million, representing 30% of the total expected online banking users in the U. S. Total annual transactions for mobile banking services were expected to increase from about 180 million in 2008 to 2. 4 billion in 2014. Improvement in mobile devices and networks, better features from banks, and increasing awareness among users were the main drivers of growth. Most banks required customers to be registered online banking users before they could sign up for mobile banking. However, a 2009 survey of 500 mobile users showed that almost 60% of consumers not currently using online banking would be interested in using at least one mobile banking service. In early 2010, Wells Fargo allowed customers to sign up for its mobile banking service, regardless of their online usage. In spite of increasing interest, mobile banking was still relatively small compared to other banking channels. According to an American Bankers Association survey, only 1% of respondents considered mobile as their preferred banking method, compared to 25% for online banking, 21% for branches, and 17% for ATM.

PDP report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

PDP report - Essay Example In order to have clear idea of my skills and capabilities of performing different roles in my future employer organizations, I also took a Belbin Team Inventory test as well. This test is based on a theory that different individuals tend to be effective in varied roles in a team and these team roles are not equivalent to personality types. With the help of this test, it is examined how different person exhibit different characteristics of nine different team roles. It is possible that one person can express traits of more than one team role (Belbin, 1981). The feedback gathered from peers (both instructors and class mates) must also be in line with my self-assessment. After conducting the exercise, the three developmental goals identified are; It was found that I lack the necessary time management skills and whether it be homework or scheduled meet ups; I end up pushing myself to the 11th hours which creates stress and pressure on me, disappoints others and results in time wastage. It is important for me to develop this skill as it would help me both academically and professionally. In order to develop tis skill I first started to fulfill my commitments during the time I allocated to a certain task (Schwartz and McCarthy, 2007). I also plan to organize myself better using technological means and keeping a to-do list along with a schedule that helps me follow a strict routine. I keep on referring to my schedule and evaluate the shortcomings that I have exhibited in managing my time (Schwartz and McCarthy, 2007; Saunders, 2013). This evaluation of time management came from studying some management theories including Pareto Principle and the four quadrant theory of time management. According to Pareto, usual 80 percent of or ganizational efficiency is a result of 20 percent workforce’s efforts. Similarly, an individual’s efficiency is dependent on spending time in

The Perestroika Deception Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Perestroika Deception - Research Paper Example â€Å"It is also the world’s largest country in terms of area, described to be nearly twice the size of the United States. 1 It has also the biggest nuclear arsenals in the world. The Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Accident in 1986 is just one of its nuclear plants.2 â€Å"Its national language is Russian. Slavs account for the majority of the population.† 3 Russia is also one of those nations that had structural and ideological changes that affected the whole world. One of these radical changes is the what they call â€Å"Perestroika† from the derivative word Russian perestroika : pere-, around, again (from Old Russian) + stroika, construction (from stroit', to build , from Old Russian stroiti , from stroji, order)3 . Comes with Perestroika is the word â€Å" Glasnost† which means â€Å"openness†. 4 â€Å"In communist regimes crises are usually hidden from the outside world; because of the absence of democratic processes and the suppression of internal opposition, popular political, social, and economic discontents accumulate and threaten to develop into serious upheavals or revolts of the entire population against the system as a whole.† 5 There are lots of questions and debates which remain unanswered about Perestroika. For example, the â€Å"Perestroika Deception† is like an opened pandora’s box by Anatoliy Golitsyn who warns of an imminent threat from communist community which strategizes to bring all countries (communist and non-communist countries) into One-World Order of Communism? or is it just a political structural policy to shape domestic issues? Did Russia actually benefit from it or not? These are just some questions which this paper would like to try to gather and present some answers. 1 â€Å"Moscow-Rich in Russia- Facts & Stats†, Oct. 2003. Frontline World. Available from http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/moscow/facts.html 2 â€Å" Russian History Timeline. History Timelines. [da tabase online], n.d. http://www.history-timelines.org.uk/places-timelines/36-russian-history-timeline.htm 3 â€Å"Perestroika’s Root Word†, American Heritage Dictionary, http://www.answers.com/topic/perestroika ( accessed April 01,2011) 4 â€Å"Glasnost†, Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, http://www.answers.com/topic/glasnost (accessed April, 03, 2011) 5 Anatoliy Golitsyn, New Lies For Old:The Communist Strategy of Deception and Disinformation http://www.spiritoftruth.org/newlies4old.pdf (accessed April 03, 2011) Thesis Statement The centerpiece of this paper is â€Å"Perestroika†. However, Perestroika is being presented from two points of view. The first point of view would come from the point of view of a Western critic as he perceives it from what Mikhail Gorbachev would like people to perceive. The second point of view is a radical twist from what it is being showcased to the world as revealed by a high KGB official and defector in the person of Anatol iy Golitsyn. He claims that Perestroika is a huge deception of the communist bloc and is just part of a bigger grand strategy of the World Communist community intended to defeat existing countries with the ideologies of democracy. This paper seeks to present in a logical and chronological manner how events have build up from its roots up to how it was uncovered. This paper intends to present the following: one is, to reveal the real issues about Perestroika as showcased to the world against its part of deception; second, is to identify and

Communication Problems and Recommendations Case Study - 1

Communication Problems and Recommendations - Case Study Example It is evident that the employees within the company are not pleased with the tendency of Mr. XYZ to hire family members and friends. This has persisted because the employees have not been able to communicate their displeasure to the owner of the company. It is therefore recommended that the management of XYZ to establish a two-way communication process between the management so that the employees will be allowed to talk out their concerns. This would be achieved through forums and meetings where open discussions for improvement could be encouraged (Davis 278). It is through this that Mr. XYZ would be aware of the lateness of his son and the needs of the employees for the successful and efficient attainment of business goals and objectives. The behavior of Larry, Carlos, Juan, and Manny demonstrate a case where effective communication is disregarded by these four Spanish speaking individuals. This is revealed by the fact that they share jokes amongst themselves without involving the non-Spanish speaking individuals. It is evident that these individuals shut others away from communications. Moreover, they assume that other people would not understand what they are talking about. In this regard, it is true to assert that these individuals are barriers to effective communication. It is also possible that the Spanish speakers have not been told how important communication is in any social or professional setting. In the light of this case, it is recommended for those who get in contact with the Spanish speakers demonstrate to them the importance of communication so that they would not shut others from trying to initiate a conversation. Additionally, the cultural or ethnic element within an organization or social interactio n should be prevented from being a barrier to communication (Yi-Hui 334).

The Socio-cultural Impact of Media Freedom in Pakistan and Its Term Paper

The Socio-cultural Impact of Media Freedom in Pakistan and Its Implications for Public Expression and Information Accessibility - Term Paper Example e then allowed to participate in proper elections this time in 1988 but the transition to democracy has been a continuous struggle between the military and civilian organisations. In short, where some democratic practices have been permitted, they have usually been partial, controlled and incomplete under the rule of the military (Zaidi, N.d.) or else manipulated under the occasional civilian rule. The pattern that emerges from this brief historical overview is that the degree of democracy has been generally (though not steadily) increasing in Pakistan over the past few decades. It has been a difficult process of political development however, as Pakistan has had to struggle with all the associated problems since its independence from British rule in 1947, such as â€Å"identity, legitimacy, integration, penetration, participation and distribution† (Bahadur, 1998: 14). Still, one essential element for implementing a true democratic framework only came about at the start of the present 21st century. That element is media freedom. Previous transitions to democracy lacked the degree of freedom of the media that is present today The importance of media freedom Media freedom allows the citizens to be better informed and therefore become involved in important issues or even challenge the government when necessary in order to ensure a healthy democracy. With the increasing complexity of modern society, it is necessary more than ever for ordinary citizens to be able to express themselves on public matters and access information that concerns them and which they have a right to know about. As Dahr Jamail (2006) said, â€Å"Since an informed citizenry is the basis for a healthy democracy, independent, non-corporate media are more crucial today than ever before†. Although these... From the report it is clear that media freedom allows the citizens to be better informed and therefore become involved in important issues or even challenge the government when necessary in order to ensure a healthy democracy. With the increasing complexity of modern society, it is necessary more than ever for ordinary citizens to be able to express themselves on public matters and access information that concerns them and which they have a right to know about. As the essay stresses media freedom is a recent phenomenon in Pakistan’s history. With the freeing of the media in Pakistan, the media landscape is very different now compared to how it was in the past. Previously, in the 1990s there were only a limited number of private operators, i.e. in addition to the state media. The power wielded by the state controlled media was evident, for example, when General Zia-ul-Haqq mandated a massive media campaign to discredit the popular civilian leader Zulfiiqar Ali Bhutto who was later executed. During Zia’s era, the power of the judiciary too was restricted. The media has had to struggle to maintain its freedom. There have been a number of both verbal and physical attacks on some private media offices and personnel by the government. There have also been periods of intense political pressure and during which bans have been imposed discussed further on. The vulnerability of the media in creating â€Å"an opportunity for the systema tic, sustained, and nationwide use of new media platforms† showed during this time.

Analyse and research of area related to criminology (based on Essay

Analyse and research of area related to criminology (based on article)) - Essay Example The purpose of this research is to examine the use of the internet as a tool for sexual predation, particularly by women. Following a literature review on the topic, 50 participants from the North-East of England to examine how much of a danger female sex offenders are perceived to be in the context of cyber-crime. Martellozzo, Nehring & Taylor (2010) established that females do indeed use the internet to target children as part of a sex offence. However, the area has not received much attention, and therefore there can be a taboo about female sex offenders and it can be difficult for criminal investigations to come to a solid conclusion, as the area is poorly understood. Martellozzo, Nehring & Taylor (2010) describe the use of the internet by female sex offenders as an ‘emerging problem’ (p1) which needs to be addressed in a criminological manner to fully understand the consequences and significance of the problem. It is perhaps important to define what constitutes child abuse in an electronic manner to fully understand the context of the article. Child sexual abuse in a cybercrime context can include (but is not limited to) sharing and downloading of sexual photography of underage individuals, the use of explicit language in chat rooms and through other online media, and the approaching of minors with the aim of starting a sexual relationship in the ‘real world’ (Martellozzo, Nehring & Taylor, 2010, p2). The internet allows these activities to be conducted with a degree of secrecy, which means that children are often more at risk of these activities online than they are in the ‘real world’, although the effects may be just as damaging. The research involved in the work of Martellozzo, Nehring & Taylor (2010) consisted of an exploratory method involving collection of qualitative data from open interviews with 15 female sex offenders post-arrest. These

Communication Problems and Recommendations Case Study - 1

Communication Problems and Recommendations - Case Study Example It is evident that the employees within the company are not pleased with the tendency of Mr. XYZ to hire family members and friends. This has persisted because the employees have not been able to communicate their displeasure to the owner of the company. It is therefore recommended that the management of XYZ to establish a two-way communication process between the management so that the employees will be allowed to talk out their concerns. This would be achieved through forums and meetings where open discussions for improvement could be encouraged (Davis 278). It is through this that Mr. XYZ would be aware of the lateness of his son and the needs of the employees for the successful and efficient attainment of business goals and objectives. The behavior of Larry, Carlos, Juan, and Manny demonstrate a case where effective communication is disregarded by these four Spanish speaking individuals. This is revealed by the fact that they share jokes amongst themselves without involving the non-Spanish speaking individuals. It is evident that these individuals shut others away from communications. Moreover, they assume that other people would not understand what they are talking about. In this regard, it is true to assert that these individuals are barriers to effective communication. It is also possible that the Spanish speakers have not been told how important communication is in any social or professional setting. In the light of this case, it is recommended for those who get in contact with the Spanish speakers demonstrate to them the importance of communication so that they would not shut others from trying to initiate a conversation. Additionally, the cultural or ethnic element within an organization or social interactio n should be prevented from being a barrier to communication (Yi-Hui 334).

Analyse and research of area related to criminology (based on Essay

Analyse and research of area related to criminology (based on article)) - Essay Example The purpose of this research is to examine the use of the internet as a tool for sexual predation, particularly by women. Following a literature review on the topic, 50 participants from the North-East of England to examine how much of a danger female sex offenders are perceived to be in the context of cyber-crime. Martellozzo, Nehring & Taylor (2010) established that females do indeed use the internet to target children as part of a sex offence. However, the area has not received much attention, and therefore there can be a taboo about female sex offenders and it can be difficult for criminal investigations to come to a solid conclusion, as the area is poorly understood. Martellozzo, Nehring & Taylor (2010) describe the use of the internet by female sex offenders as an ‘emerging problem’ (p1) which needs to be addressed in a criminological manner to fully understand the consequences and significance of the problem. It is perhaps important to define what constitutes child abuse in an electronic manner to fully understand the context of the article. Child sexual abuse in a cybercrime context can include (but is not limited to) sharing and downloading of sexual photography of underage individuals, the use of explicit language in chat rooms and through other online media, and the approaching of minors with the aim of starting a sexual relationship in the ‘real world’ (Martellozzo, Nehring & Taylor, 2010, p2). The internet allows these activities to be conducted with a degree of secrecy, which means that children are often more at risk of these activities online than they are in the ‘real world’, although the effects may be just as damaging. The research involved in the work of Martellozzo, Nehring & Taylor (2010) consisted of an exploratory method involving collection of qualitative data from open interviews with 15 female sex offenders post-arrest. These

Life Changing Essay Example for Free

Life Changing Essay In life, we all know something that has changed the way we perceive people and events. Most meaningful events that have changed our perception can be our experience that we have gone through and learned from. Life-changing experiences play an important role on our development. Whether adults or children, we are affected by our experience which could impact us immensely. Personally speaking, my previous experience have affected me significantly. One is my first job experience, the other is my first-time experience of living in a brand-new country. Firstly, my first job experience greatly affected me. I remember that I was working at a Taiwanese restaurant. It was a really busy restaurant with five to eight employees. My manager told me that being a good waiter, it is important to smile and have a good attitude. I was not doing a great job on my first day of work. I was not really happy, because I made a lot of mistake, including messing up customer’s orders, no smiling, and a bad service attitude. I was judged by my manager. However, I believed that practice would lead to improvement and I never gave up, keep learning and practicing the working skills. After that, I became a mature and efficient waiter. In addition to above experience, communication and co-operation are also what I learned on my job. For example, when I served my customers for the first time, I was too shy to talk. But the most important thing for a waiter to know about is customers’ needs and expectations. Lack of communication with customers will not achieve this. After working for one month, I learned how to communicate with my customers. Furthermore, co-operation between co-workers is also important. I learned how to work with other waitresses/waiters and understood more about teamwork. For instance, my manager would allocate the tasks to us and every waitress/waiter needs to be aware of his/her responsibilities. The most difficult moment of co-operation is during the business hours, because employees need to be more understanding of each other. Secondly, living in a new country is my other significant experience. I lived in England for two years. When I first arrived in England, I lived with a host family in Oxford. Language and unfamiliarity with the city are the biggest problems that I faced. My most unforgettable moment is my first day of going to school in Oxford. I could not speak English and I felt lost in a new area. At that moment, body language was my only tool to help me find my school. I still remember that I was thinking about taking a bus  school, but I didn’t know where the bus station was. I tried to use my body language to ask a passer-by. It was fortunate that a gentleman understood my body language and my school address. After that, he brought me to the school. My first experience in England positively affected me. Looking back, my first job experience made me grow up and come outgoing. It also taught me about work co-operation. Before my first job, I did not like talking, I was shy when I was talking to people. But now, I am never shy of talking. Moreover I can say that right now I understand more about how to co-operate with my people, because I learned on my first job. The advantage of my England’s experience is that I learned a new language, I became independent and my adaptability became stronger. Previously, I could not speak English, but now I can fundamentally communicate with people in English. Also, â€Å"living by yourself, supporting yourself, paying your bills, and having total freedom over your domain is truly life-changing. It changes your perspective on solitude — it’s nothing to be afraid of, and can be pretty great — and shows you that you are capable of managing things by yourself if the need ever arises.† ( from THOUGHT CATALOG, 7 life-changing experiences every girl deserves to have, BY SOPHIE MARTIN, Mar.11, 2014 ). I believe that when you travel to new country and live by yourself, it will definitely make you become independent. Lastly, my adaptability became stronger since I lived in England. A strong adaptability make me more easily integrate into a new environment. In conclusion, life changing experiences are really important to us. In my case, my first job experience and my first-time experience of living in a brand-new country are what led to change in my life. Co-operation skills, independence, adaptability and language skills are what I learned. Obviously, people can definitely learn something through their life experience. These experiences are our life lessons that lead to our future.

Engelse taal in Nederland

Engelse taal in Nederland INHOUDSOPGAVE VOORWOORD Voor u ligt het profielwerkstuk waar wij dit schooljaar aan hebben gewerkt. Wij willen en . Bedanken voor hun hulp bij het maken van dit document We hopen duidelijkheid te geven in.. en Wij moeten in havo 5 een profielwerkstuk maken over een vak die je in je profiel heb. Wij hebben allebei het profiel Economie Maatschappij met vele vakken daarin. Waarom hebben wij het vak Engels gekozen? Je hebt vele keuzes in vakken binnen je profiel. Beide zijn wij redelijk goed in de Engelse taal en hebben dan ook geen moeite om te spreken of te verstaan. In tegenstelling tot onze ouders spreken wij de Engelse taal stukken beter en wij vroegen ons af hoe dat nou kan. De Engelse taal heeft wereldwijd een grote invloed op iedereen. In het dagelijks leven komen steeds meer Engelse leenwoorden voor. Dit is zo normaal geworden dat je het bijna niet meer opmerkt maar het komt zeer vaak voor. Waarom hebben wij als begeleidster Mevrouw Slesarenko gekozen? Bij het vak Engels waren een aantal leraren/leraressen beschikbaar. We hebben Mevrouw Slesarenko gekozen omdat ze naar onze mening eerlijke en duidelijk beoordeeld. Ze kan makkelijk uitleggen waar dingen verandert moet worden en waar eventueel nog meer informatie bij kan. We zijn blij met deze keuze omdat Mevrouw Slesarenko ons goed heeft begeleid tijdens het profielwerkstuk. INLEIDING Aanleiding Inleiding: Wij hebben dit onderwerp gekozen omdat wij Engels zien als de taal van de toekomst, wat een belangrijke factor van onze keuze is dat wij allebei zonder al te veel problemen deze taal spreken. Engels komt elke dag voor in het dagelijks leven veel reclame en media gebruikt Engels omdat het veel mensen aanspreekt. De vraag is waarom? Waarom spreekt Engels zoveel mensen aan en waarom kunnen de meeste mensen Engels spreken, maar Duits, Frans of Spaans wordt over het algemeen door niet heel veel mensen beheerst. Het is ons doel om goed uit te leggen wat de Engelse taal eigenlijk is en waarom het zo veel word gebruikt door landen die niet als moedertaal Engels spreken. Hieronder staan de onderwerpen waarin wij proberen uit te leggen waarom het Engels zo een belangrijke taal is in onze samenleving. Hoofdstukindeling Geschiedenis van de Engelse taal. In deze paragraaf gaan we de opkomst van het Engels bespreken. Hoe komt het dat Engels zo een belangrijke taal is geworden door de eeuwen heen? Hoe is de Engelse taal in Nederland ontstaan? We gaan vertellen hoe het komt dat de Engelse taal zo belangrijk is geworden in Nederland en waarom we niet meer zonder kunnen. Wat houd het Europees referentiekader in? Het referentiekader is vrij nieuw in Europa. Het Gemeenschappelijk Europees referentiekader voor talen: Leren, onderwijzen, evaluatie is een richtlijn om de vorderingen van leerlingen te beschrijven in Europa. Omdat het ook binnenkort in Nederland ingevoerd zal worden, willen wij dit graag goed uitleggen. Engels als wereldtaal. We gaan bespreken hoe het komt dat de Engelse taal onmisbaar is in de wereld en waarom het zo een grote invloed heeft op de wereld. Engels tegenover andere wereldtalen in Europa. We willen hier bespreken waarom Engels zo een belangrijke taal is vergeleken met andere wereldtalen zoals Spaans, Frans of Duits. Hoe komt het dat Nederlanders zo goed Engels spreken? We willen vertellen hoe het komt dat Nederlanders de Engelse taal zo goed beheersen in vergelijking met andere landen. GESCHIEDENIS ENGELSE TAAL Ontstaan Engelse taal Geschiedenis Oorspronkelijk is het Engels ontstaan uit vele dialecten, die naar Engeland werden overgebracht door kolonisten, aan het begin van de 5e eeuw. De taal werd sterk benvloed door de Oud-Noorse taal van de Vikingen. Door invloed van de Normandiers na de veroverring van Engeland in 1066, veranderde het Oudenengels in het Middenengels. De veranderingen komen grotendeels door het grote gebruik van leenwoorden uit de Normandische woordenschat en het toepassen van de Normandische spellingsregels. Het Engels dat we nu kennen, ontwikkelde zich daarvandaan en ging door met het opnemen van buitenlandse woorden, met name uit het Latijn en Grieks. Het Engels vindt zijn oorsprong in de Germaanse talen die in Groot-Brittannià « gesproken werden..Het is sterk benvloed door het Oudnoords (dankzij de vele Vikingen die er zich vestigden tussen 800-1000), en ook het Frans (na de verovering door de Normandià «rs in 1066) heeft een grote invloed gehad. De grammaticale structuur van het Engels is dus nog steeds overwegend Germaans met nog enkele zinconstructies na die ontleent zijn aan de Romaanse taal. Echter is wel 60% van de totale woordenschat uit van het Engels, ontleent uit het Frans en Latijn. Men noemt het Engels daarom soms ook wel een brugtaal tussen de wereld van de Germaanse en die van de Romaanse talen. Hier nog even de ontwikkelingen binnen het Engels op een rijtje door de eeuwen heen: Oudengels, 7e en 8e eeuw (ook bekend als Angelsaksisch) Middelengels, 12e-15e eeuw, invloed vanuit het Normandisch (een Frans dialect) Nieuw-Engels, 16e eeuw tot heden Opkomst Engels nogwat conclusie of zo ONTSTAAN ENGELSE TAAL IN NEDERLAND Nederlandse taal vroeger. Vroeger sprak iedereen Nederlands. Alleen de rijkere laag van de bevolking sprak Engels doordat ze vaak handels contacten hadden met het buitenland. Nederland is altijd al een handelsland geweest. Mensen gingen naar andere landen omdat daar handel te drijven. Ze namen dan vaak stukjes taal mee terug naar het eigen land. Waarom is Engels een wereldtaal en Nederlands niet? De grammatica van Engels komt uit het Germaans, veel woorden in het Engels komen uit het Romaans. Engels wordt daarom ook wel een brugtaal genoemd tussen de Romaanse en Germaanse talen. De Engelse taal is vanaf de 20e eeuw de grootste en invloedrijkste taal ter wereld. Dit komt door dat Groot-Brittannià « vroeger de baas was in veel gebiedenover de helewereld.Hierdoor ishet Engels in veel voormalige kolonià «n nog steeds de voornaamste gesproken taal. Groot-Brittannià « heeft in die tijd veel kleine eilandjes en landen ingenomen. Maar Engels is ook de belangrijkste taal door de Verenigende Staten, wat vroeger ook een kolonie was, waar heel veel mensen wonen die allemaal Engels spreken. Engels is dus een van de meest gesproken talen ter wereld. Veel minder mensenspreken Nederlands. Nederland had vroeger ook wel Kolonià «n zoals Suriname en Indonesià «. In Suriname wordt nog wel voor een groot deel Nederlands gesproken maar in de andere voormalige kolonià «n helaas niet meer. Groot-Brittannià « had vroeger ook veel kolonià «n over de hele wereld dan Nederland. Vandaar dat Engels een wereldtaal is en Nederlands niet. opkomst Engels in Nederland Nederland is na de Tweede Wereldoorlog bevrijd door voornamelijk Engels sprekende soldaten denk maar aan de Amerikanen, Britten en Canadezen. Dit had een erg positieve invloed op het aanleren van de Engelse taal in Nederland. Veel ontwikkelingen uit het Engelse taalgebied komen ook naar het Nederlandse taalgebied, ontwikkelingen zoals de computer spelen een grote rol. Hierdoor worden veel Engelse begrippen waarvoor (nog) geen Nederlands woord bestaat in de taal opgenomen. Veel Engelse woorden blijven dan ook onvertaald en blijvend gebruikt in de Nederlandse taal. Factoren Belangrijke factoren die er voor hebben gezorgd dat Engels erg belang werd in Nederland zijn: Computers, daarbij moet je vooral denken aan het internet en vele Amerikaanse computerspellen. Immigranten Engelstalige films en boeken Reizen over de wereld werd gemakkelijker. Engels is een vrij makkelijke taal om aan te leren voor veel mensen. De VS en zijn belangrijke invloed over de hele wereld. De invloed van het Engels in Nederland is dan ook erg groot, in Nederland spreken veel mensen Engels als tweede taal. Engelstalig onderwijs in Nederland In het voortgezet onderwijs is Engels een verplicht vak. Voor veel mensen in Nederland is het ook hun tweede taal. Het aantal Engelstaligen in Amsterdam ligt tussen de 50.000 en 100.000 personen en dit aantal groeit sterk. Er leven in de Benelux veel expats die (op hun werk) Engels spreken en vaak hun kinderen ook naar Engelstalig onderwijs sturen. Het Engelstalig onderwijs in Nederland maakt een stormachtige groei door. Op een aantal basisscholen, niet op alle, wordt Engelse les gegeven, voornamelijk aan de hoogste klassen (groep 7 en 8). Het is een vast onderdeel van veel vormen van voortgezet onderwijs. Op sommige scholen wordt Versterkt Engels gegeven. Op een kleine 100 scholen in Nederland wordt tweetalig onderwijs in het Engels en het Nederlands gegeven. Er zijn internationale scholen waar volledig in het Engels les wordt gegeven. Op universiteiten zijn er veel masteropleidingen die Engelstalig zijn. Ook komen er steeds meer Engelstalige bachelor opleidingen. Bij veel opleidingen wordt gebruik gemaakt van Engelstalig lesmateriaal en Engelse namen. Engelstalige televisie in Nederland Door de revolutie in de communicatie is het aantal televisiezenders toegenomen tot meer dan 100 in Nederland. Een groot gedeelte daarvan is ook in het Engels. Bekende Engelstalige televisiezenders in Nederland zijn de British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) en CNN. Daarnaast wordt er ook veel Engelstalig materiaal uitgezonden met Nederlandse ondertiteling. Anglofobie In Nederland ontstaat er bij sommigen een sterk gevoel van anglofobie (ook wel anti-anglicisme genoemd).[bron?] Dit komt vooral doordat mensen de indruk krijgen dat Engelstaligen zichzelf goed vinden, dat ze een dominante plek innemen of dat ze denken dat ze overal terecht kunnen met hun taal en zelf geen vreemde talen hoeven te leren. Naar de mening van anglofoben wordt er vaak onzorgvuldig omgegaan met het Nederlands. De media bijvoorbeeld gebruiken in hun ogen veel Engelse woorden of vaktermen die lang niet altijd nodig zijn. Dat leidt vaak tot irritaties. Zeker remigranten of immigranten die in Nederland aankomen, ergeren zich vaak aan het taalbeleid van Schiphol, waar borden als trefpunt vervangen zijn door meeting point of reclames in het Engels. Wat vaak ook irritaties oplevert, is dat Engelse beschrijvingen vaak bovenaan vermeld worden terwijl Nederlands de officià «le voertaal is. EUROPEES REFERENTIEKADER betekenis Wat betekent het Gemeenschappelijk Europees referentiekader nou precies? Het Gemeenschappelijk Europees referentiekader voor talen: Leren, onderwijzen en evaluatie is een richtlijn om de vorderingen van leerlingen te beschrijven in Europa. Het is door de Raad van Europa samengesteld als deel van het project Language Learning for European Citizenship tussen 1989 en 1996. Hieronder zullen wij dit nog verder uitleggen. Het Gemeenschappelijk Europees Referentiekader zorgt voor een basis die internationaal gebruikt kan worden voor de uitwerking van lesprogrammas, examens, leerboeken en dergelijke in heel Europa. Het beschrijft wat studenten moeten leren om een taal te kunnen gebruiken voor communicatie en welke kennis en vaardigheden zij moeten hebben om duidelijk te kunnen handelen in een vreemde taal. Verder bevat het referentiekader ook vaardigheidniveaus waarmee de voortgang van studenten levenslang kan worden gemeten. Het Gemeenschappelijk Europees Referentiekader is bedoeld om misverstanden te voorkomen uit de verschillen tussen de onderwijsstelsels in Europa. Door een gemeenschappelijke basis te bieden voor de beschrijving van doelstellingen, inhoud en lesmethoden, vergroot het referentiekader de internationale samenwerking op het gebied van de taal die we vandaag spreken. Het Referentiekader beschrijft ook deelkwalificaties. Deze kunnen worden gebruikt wanneer een beperktere taalkennis is vereist (bijvoorbeeld meer luister- dan spreekvaardigheid) of wanneer er weinig tijd beschikbaar is voor het leren van een derde of vierde taal en wellicht betere resultaten haalbaar zijn door bijvoorbeeld meer te mikken op herkenning dan op onthouden. Algemene maatregelen voor het goed verlopen van het Europees Referentiekader. Voor zover mogelijk zekerstellen dat alle groepen binnen de bevolking toegang hebben tot de middelen om kennis te verkrijgen van de talen uit andere landen en vaardigheden in het gebruik van die talen aan te leren waarmee zij in hun communicatiebehoefte kunnen voorzien. Het niveau van docenten, leerkrachten en studenten op alle niveaus bevorderen, aanmoedigen en ondersteunen om in hun eigen situatie goed en duidelijk de vreemde taal te spreken en te kunnen verstaan. Onderzoeks- en ontwikkelingsprogrammas maken die ertoe leiden dat op alle onderwijsniveaus methoden en materialen worden ingevoerd die geschikt zijn om alle niveaus van onderwijs in staat te stellen voldoende vaardigheden aan te leren zodat ze de vreemde taal goed kunnen beoefenen. Hier zijn een aantal belangrijke factoren die de maatregelen ondersteunen. Je moet: kunnen omgaan met alledaagse zaken in een ander land, en buitenlanders die in hun land verblijven kunnen helpen dat ook te doen; informatie en ideeà «n kunnen uitwisselen met jonge mensen en volwassenen die een andere taal spreken en hun gedachten en gevoelens aan hen kunnen overbrengen; een breder en dieper inzicht kunnen krijgen in de leefwijze en gedachtewereld van andere volken en het begrijpen van de bijhorende cultuur. Het beste is een vreemde taal aan te leren is door: het onderwijzen en leren van taal te baseren op de behoeften, motivaties, kenmerken en bronnen van studenten; zinvolle en realistische doelen zo goed mogelijk tot realiteit te brengen. gepaste methoden en materialen te ontwikkelen; Bij de opleiding Engels maak je beter kennis met het grote aanbod van dialecten in talen, culturen, en literaturen, zoals die nu is en zoals die in de loop van de geschiedenis is gegroeid. Ook leer je om je in correct Engels uit te drukken, zowel schriftelijk als mondeling, en een groot aantal dialecten te verstaan. Hieronder staan de 6 niveaus van het Referentiekader. A Basisgebruiker A1 Doorbraak A2 Tussenstap B Onafhankelijke gebruiker B1 Drempel B2 Uitzicht C Vaardige gebruiker C1 Effectieve operationele vaardigheid C2 Beheersing Voor elk niveau zijn er deze 3 onderwerpen. Begrijpen Luisteren Lezen Spreken Gesproken interactie Gesproken reproductie Schrijven Referentiekader in Nederland Dit Gemeenschappelijk Europees Referentiekader wordt ook gebruikt in de nieuwe Wet Inburgering die in Nederland sinds 1 januari 2007 geldt. Inburgeringsplichtigen moeten sindsdien zorgen dat ze Nederlands leren spreken, lezen, schrijven en verstaan op A2-niveau. Waarom bestaat dit? K Invoeren in NL De rede hiervan is.. WERELDTAAL Engels als wereldtaal Engels vs. Nederlands Conclusie De belangrijkste rede is dus dat Engels wel een wereldtaal is, omdat .. en Nederland is/heeft dat niet. Wereldtaal Engels is al zon twee eeuwen lang de grootste wereldtaal. Er zijn dan ook een groot aantal verschillende varianten aan literatuur in het Engels verschenen. Niet alleen in Engeland zelf, maar ook in de andere onderdelen van het Verenigd Koninkrijk, in Ierland, en in voormalige kolonià «n zoals de Verenigde Staten, Canada, Australià «, Nieuw Zeeland, India, Zuid-Afrika, en het Caribisch gebied. Ook wordt er in al deze gebieden weer een andere variant van het Engels gesproken. Een wereldtaal is een verspreide taal met een aanzienlijk aantal sprekers die internationaal veel wordt gebruikt. Er zijn verschillende definities van een wereldtaal. Ook zijn er verschillende meningen over welke talen er nu eigenlijk bij horen. Algemeen gesproken gaat het om Arabisch, Engels, Frans en Spaans. Het Mandarijn (Chinees) is de meest gesproken taal, maar is eigenlijk alleen bekend in China. Talen als Italiaans, Russisch en Duits zijn twijfelgevallen. Het Nederlands wordt soms de kleinste wereldtaal genoemd, wellicht niet zozeer vanwege het aantal sprekers maar omdat het Nederlands in historisch opzicht bepaalde rollen van een wereldtaal heeft vervuld. Internationaal Engels (ook wel Wereldwijd Engels of Standaard Engels) is het idee dat Engels de wereldtaal voor communicatie is of zal worden, in plaats van de vele verschillende talen die de wereld kent. Eà ©n wereldtaal zou communicatie vereenvoudigen omdat er geen tolken meer nodig zouden zijn. Engels als wereldtaal kan ook de wetenschap ten goede komen, als iedereen Engels spreekt kan er gemakkelijker onderzoek gedaan worden. De inheemse bevolking van oerwouden zou wetenschappers bijvoorbeeld duidelijker uitleg kunnen geven over de natuur. De reden waarom Engels als een wereldtaal wordt beschouwd is simpel. Het is een taal die makkelijk te leren is en die werelwijd door honderden miljoenen mensen als eerste of tweede taal wordt gesproken. Engels is een taal waar men vaak mee te maken krijgt en die overal voorkomt, zoals in games en op televisie (voornamelijk in Nederland). De keuze voor Engels lijkt dus voor de hand liggend, maar er moet wel de bereidheid bestaan om vreemde tale n te leren en deze is vaak niet aanwezig. Alles bij elkaar blijft het Engels toch een taal die op internationaal vlak heel belangrijk is en die in de komende jaren nog belangrijker kan worden. In plaats van Engels zouden ook Spaans en Mandarijn de enkele wereldtaal kunnen worden, alhoewel deze minder kans maken dan Engels omdat ze moeilijker zijn (Mandarijn) of minder verspreid (Spaans). Betekenis Modern Engels, soms beschreven als de eerste wereldwijde lingua franca, is de belangrijkste internationale taal voor communicatie, wetenschap, luchtvaart, entertainment, toerisme , radio, diplomatie en in de zakenwereld. De uitbreiding van de taal vanaf de Britse eilanden over de hele wereld begon tegelijk met de groei van het Britse Rijk, en aan het eind van de negentiende eeuw was de taal werkelijk wereldwijd verspreid. De taal is dominant in de Verenigde Staten en door zijn groeiende economische en culturele invloed en status als wereldmacht sinds de Tweede Wereldoorlog is de positie van de taal wereldwijd versterkt. Een goede kennis van het Engels is een vereiste in een aantal werkgebieden en beroepen zoals geneeskunde en informatica; ten gevolge daarvan spreken ten minste à ©Ãƒ ©n miljard mensen de beginselen van het Engels. Het is ook een van de zes officià «le talen van de Verenigde Naties. Taalkundigen als David Crystal herkennen dat een van de gevolgen van de groei van het Engels (net als andere wereldwijd gesproken talen) is dat de taalkundige diversiteit op veel plekken ter wereld verloren gaat, met name in Australazià « en Noord-Amerika Internationaal Engels Uit Wikipedia, de vrije encyclopedie Ga naar: navigatie, zoeken Internationaal Engels (ook wel Wereldwijd Engels of Standaard Engels) is het idee dat Engels de wereldtaal voor communicatie is of zal worden, in plaats van de vele verschillende talen die de wereld kent. Eà ©n wereldtaal zou communicatie vereenvoudigen omdat er geen tolken meer nodig zouden zijn. Engels als wereldtaal kan ook de wetenschap ten goede komen, als iedereen Engels spreekt kan er gemakkelijker onderzoek gedaan worden. De inheemse bevolking van oerwouden zou wetenschappers bijvoorbeeld duidelijker uitleg kunnen geven over de natuur. De reden waarom Engels als een wereldtaal wordt beschouwd is simpel. Het is een taal die makkelijk te leren is en die wereldwijd door honderden miljoenen mensen als eerste of tweede taal wordt gesproken. Engels is een taal waar men vaak mee te maken krijgt en die overal voorkomt, zoals in games en op televisie (voornamelijk in Nederland). De keuze voor Engels lijkt dus voor de hand liggend, maar er moet wel de bereidheid bestaan om vreemde tal en te leren en deze is vaak niet aanwezig. Alles bij elkaar blijft het Engels toch een taal die op internationaal vlak heel belangrijk is en die in de komende jaren nog belangrijker kan worden. In plaats van Engels zouden ook Spaans en Mandarijn de enkele wereldtaal kunnen worden, alhoewel deze minder kans maken dan Engels omdat ze moeilijker zijn (Mandarijn) of minder verspreid (Spaans). Engels is tegenwoordig de meest gebruikte taal in internationale betrekkingen. Het is ook van alle talen de meest aangeleerde als tweede taal. Maar is dit zo vanzelfsprekend? Engels de wereldtaal Momenteel kunnen we er niet naast kijken. Engels is dà © wereldtaal. Elk kind van 10 jaar kan naast zijn moedertaal een mondjevol Engels meepraten en passief aardig wat Engels begrijpen. Hoe is deze situatie ontstaan? Het gevolg niet voor de oorzaak nemen Natuurlijk kunnen we zeggen dat het engels ons langs alle kanten overvalt, via liedjes, film, computerspelletjes, computerterminologie, luchthaventaal, enz. Dit is echter niet de reden waarom Engels de wereldtaal geworden is, maar het gevolg. Wat is dan de reden. Eigenlijk kunnen we beter spreken van oorzaak dan van reden. Oorzaak zegt hoe iets er gekomen is, terwijl reden zegt waarom men iets gedaan heeft. Keuze of toeval De eerste vraag die bij ons zal opkomen, is of het Engels de wereldtaal geworden is door keuze of door toeval. We gaan even de mogelijkheden afgaan. Redenen om Engels als wereldtaal te kiezen Gemakkelijk te leren? Uitgebreide woordenschat? Fonetiek? Gemakkelijk te leren? Een zeer rudimentaire kennis van het Engels is gemakkelijk te leren. De spraakkunst is immers zeer eenvoudig. De problemen beginnen pas als je er echt mee bezig bent. De Engelse spraakkunst is inderdaad eenvoudig, maar er is meer uitzondering dan regel. Het Engels is namelijk een heel idiomatische taal. Dat wil zeggen: een taal die niet veel logica hanteert, doch eerder gewoonterecht. Voor iemand die in die taal is geboren, kan dat niet veel problemen opleveren. Wij merken ook niet veel van de onlogische trekjes in het Nederlands. Alleen zijn die in het Nederlands niet zo talrijk als in het Engels. Kortom Engels is gemakkelijk te leren als eerste taal, maar erg moeilijk als tweede of derde taal, tenzij je het natuurlijk niet zo nauw neemt met de exactheid van wat je zegt. Uitgebreide woordenschat? Het Engels heeft een van de grootste verzamelingen woorden van alle talen. Op zich zou dat een voordeel kunnen zijn, omdat dit ruimte geeft voor nuance. Jammer genoeg is de uitgebreide Engelse woordenschat weinig etymologisch onderbouwd. Alvast veel minder dan in het Nederlands, Frans, Duits, Spaans, enz. Dit geeft dus hetzelfde probleem als hierboven: wie het Engels als moedertaal heeft of er de hele dag mee omgaat, zal na verloop van tijd een hele brok van die woordenschat onder de knie krijgen. Wie deze taal echter als tweede of derde taal moet leren en ze niet dagelijks gebruikt, kan zich maar beperkt uitdrukken en wat veel erger is niet alles begrijpen wat de ander zegt of wat hij leest. Fonetiek? Met fonetiek bedoel ik in deze context de relatie tussen wat je schrijft en wat je uitspreekt. De fonetiek is een van de zwakste punten van het Engels. Buiten het Tibetaans, (dit is niet als grap bedoeld) zullen er niet veel talen zijn die zo inconsequent worden geschreven als het Engels. Zelfs voor de native speakers een probleem Als we een Duitse, Nederlandse, Spaanse of Franse tekst op band opnemen, zal iedereen die die taal spreekt hetzelfde horen wanneer de band afgespeeld wordt. Er zijn in dit verband experimenten gedaan met het Engels, die onthutsende resultaten opleveren! Een tekst werd in het Engels op een band opgenomen en dan in stukken geknipt. Fragmenten werden dan afgespeeld voor native speakers en tot de grote ontsteltenis van de onderzoekers hoorden alle luisteraars iets verschillend. Minder dan de helft van de poefpersonen kon exact opschrijven wat de spreker had gezegd. En dit waren dus allemaal mensen die het Engels als moedertaal hadden. Wat zou het resultaat dan geweest zijn, bij mensen die het Engels slechts als tweede taal hadden? De 90/10 verhouding Studies hebben uitgemaakt dat 90% van de Engelse woorden consequent worden gespeld en 10% inconsequent. Het probleem is dat van de frequent gebruikte woorden net omgekeerd 10% consequent wordt gespeld en 90% inconsequent. Dit heeft natuurlijk zijn oorzaak. In vele talen is het zo dat de meest gebruikte woorden een eigen leven gaan leiden en zich vaak onregelmatig gaan gedragen, terwijl de zuinig gebruikte woorden heel gedisciplineerd blijven. Toevalsfactoren bij de opmars van het Engels Factoren die een grote rol hebben gespeeld bij de verheffing van het Engels tot de wereldtaal zijn onder meer: De uitgestrektheid van het voormalig Brits imperium De economische suprematie van de Verenigde Staten van Amerika in de twintigste eeuw Hoe Engeland aan zijn taal komt, weten we wel, maar hoe zit dat met Amerika? De Verenigde Staten zijn uiteindelijk gegroeid uit kolonisten van een aantal landen: De Nederlanden (waaronder ik dus ook het huidige Belgià « reken) Spanje Engeland Ierland Duitsland Scandinavià «, enz. De inheemse volkeren De Afrikaans-Amerikanen Toen het Amerikaanse Congres de officià «le taal voor het nieuwe land ging kiezen, werd er gestemd. De meerderheid stemde voor het Engels. Wat veel mensen niet weten, is dat het maar 1 stem verschil uitmaakte, of het was Duits geweest. Er wordt in sommige publicaties zelfs beweerd, dat dit verschil van 1 stem te maken had met een zieke die zijn stem niet had kunnen uitbrengen. Nu nog is het zo dat als alle Amerikanen hun stamboom maken tot aan hun Europese voorouders, de van afkomst Duitsers de grootste groep uitmaken. Conclusie Samenvattend kunnen we zeggen dat het Engels de wereldtaal is geworden, niet door een beslissing van de wereldbevolking, doch door een samenloop van omstandigheden. De twee belangrijkste factoren hierin zijn de vroegere overheersing van de Britten in alle werelddelen en het feit dat het land dat een groot deel van de twintigste eeuw de sterkste economie van de wereld zou worden, met een voorsprong van 1 stem toevallig het Engels als officià «le taal had gekozen. Even verder denken Als alles anders was gelopen en bijvoorbeeld de Verenigde Naties een onderzoekscommissie zouden inrichten om de wereldtaal te bepalen, zouden andere talen wellicht een belangrijkere rol gespeeld hebben. Gehanteerde criteria zouden wellicht geweest zijn De duidelijkheid van de taal De moeilijkheidsgraad om aan te leren, enz. Welke taal zou het dan geworden zijn? http://kunst-en-cultuur.infonu.nl/taal/15498-engels-de-wereldtaal.html ENGELS TEGENOVER ANDERE WERELDTALEN Andere wereldtalen Ff wat informatie erover.. in welke landen spreken ze vooral spaans bijv. Waarom is Engels dan zo belangrijk en machtig? NEDERLANDS EN ENGELS Taalbeheersing Waarom spreken Nederlanders zo goed Engels.. En in vergelijking met andere landen? Zijn ze beter gemiddeld of slecht? Drukt het Engels het Nederlands weg? Waarom zouden we nog moeite doen om correct Nederlands te gebruiken? Het Engels rukt op en eist overal zijn plaats op. Tickets zijn in presale, pc-games zijn cool en spammen is not done. Bovendien kan je, door Engels te spreken, vaak beter bijblijven in je vakgebied. Spreken we straks nog alleen nog Nederlands in de kroeg? Taalschrift legt deskundigen acht withete stellingen voor. Het Engels sluipt soms heel zichtbaar het Nederlands binnen. Stelling 1: We moeten stoppen met zeuren over de achteruitgang van het Nederlands. Het is niet de eerste keer dat het Nederlands bedreigd wordt, zegt prof. dr. Piet van de Craen. Hij is psychosociolingust aan de Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). In 1788 klaagde Jacobus Verlooy over het feit dat mensen geen goed Nederlands praatten en dat daardoor de hele taal bedreigd werd. Tussen de twee wereldoorlogen ziet men in ons taalgebied het Duits als een bedreiging. En nu maakt men zich zorgen dat het Nederlands dreigt te worden weggedrukt door het Engels Onzin! Het Nederlands is een levende taal. Ze socialiseert kinderen, ze gebruiken die als moedertaal. Het Nederlands fungeert als onderwijstaal. En er wordt in onze taal literatuur geproduceerd. Verder is Nederlands in twee Europese landen een bestuurstaal en een officià «le taal. Bovendien is het Nederlandse de grootste van de kleine talen in Europa en staat ze veertigste op de wereldranglijst van 6 000 talen. Met die bedreiging valt het dus best mee. Stelling 2: Inwonersvan het Nederlandse taalgebied moeten zo vroeg mogelijk eerst Engels leren. Scholen moeten ten minste tweetalig of meertalig onderwijs aanbieden. Piet van de Craen: Ik vind het ontzettend belangrijk om eerst de taal van je buren te leren. Als Nederlandstalige in Brussel is de officià «le taal van de buren het Frans. Het getuigt van culturele ethiek om de taal van je buur te kennen. Wij streven er wel naar meertalig te worden en zelfs zo vroeg mogelijk vreemde talen te leren. Toch kopen wij in Brussel nog geen brood in het Engels. Piet van de Craen: Vlamingen en Nederlanders gaan heel sloppy om met hun moedertaal. In het Sint-Lodewijkscollege van Brugge is Engels de instructietaal voor de vakken chemie, biologie en fysica in de derde graad van het algemeen secundair/voortgezet onderwijs. We hebben daar twee bedoelingen mee, zegt projectcoà ¶rdinator Ingrid Depuyt. Leerlingen de kans geven om vaardiger te worden in het Engels en ze voorbereiden op hoger onderwijs. Vooral voor wetenschap, fysica en informatica groeit het belang van Engels. De tijdschriftartikelen en het vakjargon zijn vaak in die taal opgesteld. Universiteiten en ook hogescholen gebruiken geregeld een Engelstalige cursus. Studenten moeten er dus het Engels machtig zijn. Andere studenten willen tijdens een Erasmusjaar naar het buitenland. Engels is er meestal de instructietaal. Stelling 3: Meer nog dan het oprukkende Engels is het regiol

Decline of Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desi

The Unnecessary Decline of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚   Upon reviewing the drama, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, it would appear that the character of Blanche DuBois is worthy of closer inspection.   With her previous occupation as a teacher of American literature and her former social status being that of a well-bred woman of the very traditional Old South, Blanche could be any human being transferring from one culture to another with customs far different from the ones being left behind.   Even today it could happen that someone is suddenly confronted with a totally new and different value system with which he must learn to cope in order to be accepted into his new environment.   That is the situation in which Blanche finds herself.   After close inspection of the plot of A Streetcar Named Desire, it appears that the course of the play could quite easily have been turned from decline and tragedy to rescue and triumph for Blanche DuBois with only a few minor adjustments. A streetcar named Desire brought Blanche to the last station of her decline.   â€Å"Blanche's spine or leitmotif is `find Protection'; the tradition of the Old South says that it must be through another person... her problem has to do with her tradition... the thing about the tradition in the 19th century was that it worked then â€Å"(Donahue 30).   But today Blanche can't feel safe within the bounds of the Old South traditions anymore. On the contrary â€Å"...it [tradition] makes Blanche feel alone, outside of her society.   Left out, insecure, shaky† (Donahue 32). In the exposition of the play, Blanche arrives in her new environment and does not feel the least bit comfortable when she sees how her sister lives.   Blanche p... ...n mind and body because a community is only as strong as its weakest link.   Williams knew this and had a great desire to help those less fortunate than he.   He tried to do this through his works, by calling attention to the problems that many people faced on a daily basis, thereby forcing his audiences to choose to either ignore the problems or to do something to bring about change.    Works Cited Bloom, Herald (ed.).   Tennessee Williams.   New York: Chelsea House, 1987. Donahue, Francis.   The Dramatic World of Tennessee Williams.   New York: Frederic Ungar Publishing Co., 1964. Hirsch, Foster.   A Portrait of the Artist-The Plays of Tennessee Williams.   London: Kennikat Press, 1979. Londre, F.H.   Tennessee Williams.   New York: Frederic Ungar Publishing Co., 1979. Williams, Tennessee.   A Streetcar Named Desire.   Stuttgart: Phillip Reclam, 1988.