Linguistics for Elementary Teachers Essay

After reading the first and second chapters, in How Linguistics are Learned, I am interested by what Lightbown and Spada (2006) argued. The authors claimed that â€Å"The development of bilingual or second language learning is of enormous importance† (p. 25). They argued also that acquisition of more than one language in our new global world is rewarding for bilingual individuals socially and economically. The authors stated that most children nowadays are exposed to more than one language during their early childhood and schooling time. Some may learn two languages at the same time ‘simultaneous bilinguals’ while others may learn the other language later ‘sequential bilinguals’. There are situations where children are cut off their family language while they are very young. They may stop speaking their family language. This might represent a reason for concern. Researchers have recently devoted a considerable amount of their time and energy to investigate children’s abilities to learn more than one language at early age. The goal is to help students to learn a second language at early age and facilitate that for teachers and educators. This subject matter is interesting and challenging to me personally because it is connected to my experiences as a teacher and principal of multicultural schools environment with language learning /acquisition and education. My first language is Arabic; English is my second language. I started learning English while I was at Middle school; I was 12 years old. I have been all my life in education. I worked a teacher and principal. I worked in Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Canada and the US. I have worked with students from different countries speaking different languages in multicultural schools environment. My current school is Annoor Islamic School (AIS) in Wichita, KS. It is a private school, Pre-K through 8th grade. Students enrolled are 157 from 20 countries and 90 % of them are bilingual or trilingual. Students speak more than five different languages at their homes in addition to English. Due to the fact that our school is an Islamic school all our students are Muslims. AIS provides higher quality of education for students. They learn, in addition to public schools’ curriculum: Al-Quran al-Kareem, Islamic Studies and Arabic Language. Teaching Arabic for the non-native Arabic speaking makes them trilingual. It may look difficult for students, but in reality they want to be able to read Al-Quran. Al-Ksareem. They are highly motivated to learn more about their religion and read Al-Quran Al-Kareem in the Arabic Language. Based on my experience and observations all these years as a teacher and principal, I found that my bilingual students have higher academic results compared to their non-bilingual counterparts. The same conclusion was confirmed by developmental psychologists’ research as Lightbown and Spada (2006) stated. I also found that bilingual students’ skills are transferrable. The skills and knowledge that bilingual students know through their first language are transferrable. They can present these skills knowledge in their new second language easily. At my current school AIS, students startlearning anther language at age 3-4 years old. I found it is important to start young students learning a language other than their own from at an early age. That’s when they pick up a language the fastest. It is important because we need to know more about other nations’ cultures and history to improve world relations.

Evaluate the Significance of Imperfect Competition Models for Essay

Evaluate the Significance of Imperfect Competition Models for Explaining the Pattern of International Trade - Essay Example This type of market does not operate under the rules of perfect competition. In this type of market structure, a firm has the ability to affect the prices. In spite of being close substitutes, the products can be differentiated and advertising and branding plays a major role in this type of market. A large number of sellers exist in the market. The market structure is characterized by freedom of entry and exit. Monopolistic competition and oligopoly constitute the structure of imperfect competition. Firms that are imperfectly competitive offer many products. The products are offered at administered prices. The price changes are costly and slower. The prime prediction of the theory of monopolistic competition is that firms will produce at the level where marginal cost equals marginal revenue in the short run. However in the long run, the firms will operate at zero profit levels and the demand curve will be tangential to the average total cost curve. Intra Industry Trade Situation wher e there is exchange of similar products between similar industries is referred to as intra industry trade. This is a very common term in international trade where imports and exports of similar product take place. The three types of intra industry trade include trade between goods that are homogeneous, trade between horizontally and vertically differentiated goods. Consider the Krugman’s model of monopolistic competition. This model helps to explain intra industry trade by using economies of scale as experienced by production, products that can be differentiated and heterogeneous preferences between and within countries. The sum of fixed cost and variable cost is the total cost of the firm. Therefore, C= F+cX, where F is the fixed cost, c is the constant marginal cost and cx is the variable cost. So, average cost, AC= F/X+c The demand curve faced by the monopolistically competitive firms is downward sloping. Profit is maximized at the level where marginal revenue equals margi nal cost. The equation of the demand curve faced by a monopolistically competitive firm is X= S[1/n-b(P-Pavg)] Where X= sales of the firm, S= total sales of the industry, n= number of firms participating in the industry, P=price charged by each firm, Pavg=average price charged by each firm, b=parameter of MR. A typical firm that charges the price greater than Pavg, is likely to enjoy smaller share of the market. Another assumption is that S is not affected by P. This refers to the situation where competition in price will simply redistribute the share of the market without increasing the total sales. To determine the market equilibrium, firms are assumed to be symmetric. The demand and cost functions are the same for all firms. An upward sloping relationship is said to exist between the number of firms and average cost of any firm. A downward sloping relationship is said to exist between the number of firms and price charged by each firm. In equilibrium, P=Pavg as all firms are assu med to be symmetric. The demand curve is X=S/n, and AC=nF/S+c. The demand curve can be rewritten as X=(S/n+SbPavg)-SbP where the bracketed term is the intercept and Sb is the slope. Then the marginal revenue is P-X/Sb. MR=MC, therefore, P-X/Sb=c or, P=c+X/Sb. But each firm charges the same price, then, P=v+1/bn. (Cashel, n.d., p. 1). The long run equilibrium takes place where P=AC. This model can be used now to derive the implications of international trade. International trade is

Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Finance - Essay Example These open ended funds are still hailing the demanding curse of present age. Using the mutual fund scheme was more beneficial for the investors and was less fruitful for the manager or the body managing and investing the funds. Therefore to make more money from limited funds a newer system was stemmed into the fabric of trade. That system was to engage poor into this business by investing money in the form of blocks. This trick helped the managing body to withdraw more money out of the flow in the form of commission. On the contrary it involved less investment share which was easy to contribute by an average investors. Hence it had the characteristics of close ended mutual fund accompanied by replication of index. This system was easy to manipulate and friendly to the traders. In a nut shell the trade of funds took place in exchange of securities. It was a simple game that could be played without time limit. It had small shares than mutual funds, was more idealized and encouraged by majority of traders and investors. This scheme of investing the funds was given the name of exchange trade funds. It is the combination of index fund and close ended fund. Exchange trade system is more efficient than mutual fund system because it is easy to trade on fewer expanses and trade does not have time limits, buying and selling can be performed in same day. â€Å"ETFs have very low expense ratios, are traded intraday and are purchased from the secondary market through a broker who receives a commission†. (Rogers 108) The idea of joint or combined investment is centuries old even when there was no concept of currency. This fashion of mutual investment was started by the merchants particularly in Europe. While peeping into the past, the merchants of 17th century practiced to take their goods to the far areas where they were able to earn a handsome interest on their investment. But the urge to gain more profit forced their minds to seek some new

How Families Deal with a Loved One Who Has Alzheimer's Research Paper - 1

How Families Deal with a Loved One Who Has Alzheimer's - Research Paper Example Mild cognitive impairment is viewed as a form of forgetfulness attributed to aging. While this disorder is a symptom of the AD it is not a must for people who suffer from mild cognitive impairment, to contract AD. The well-known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is old age, mostly when people hit the age of sixty years. It is not considered normal for aging people to suffer from the disease. It is also easier for one to have the disease if a close relative such as your sister or mother had suffered from the disease. One can also contract the disease if you happen to have certain genes that are linked to the disease. Other susceptible factors include suffering from blood pressure; however, this is yet to be proved. The disease is classified into two types which include the late and early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Late AD disease affects people who are at the age of 60 and above (â€Å"Coping with Alzheimers Disease†). The early onset of Alzheimer's disease is k nown to affect people before they attain the age of sixty. This type of disease has a fast rate of getting worse. The role of genes in this type of disease has already been established that is why it is prevalent among family members.The common symptoms of the disease are associated with the functioning of the brain. One of the symptoms of this disease includes the individual’s inability to communicate properly. The patient will forget how to read or write or even talk. They also are emotional, increasingly aggressive and paranoia. This is as a result of increased memory loss. When the disease has progressed Alzheimer's patients require assistance in almost all tasks which includes bathing and dressing. They will often forget their relatives’ names and forget occurrences that take place. Their judgments and thinking capacity reduces to a substantial level and will not realize they are in danger when something arises (â€Å"Alzheimers Disease & Dementia Alzheimers Asso ciation†).

The Luton Bank Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Luton Bank Case - Essay Example In 1996 the bank appointed receivers in relation to the properties which were then sold over an 18 month period. The mortgagors complained that the properties had been sold at an undervalue and claimed that: 1) in some cases a far better price would have been obtained had the receivers or mortgagees first obtained planning permission for development. Planning permission had previously been sought but the receivers decided not to wait for it to be granted before selling; 2) in other cases a better price would have been obtained had possible leases of the vacant properties been completed before sale. (see MacKenzie and Phillips, 2008, pg 477). In deciding the case the Court of Appeal considered the duties owed by mortgagees in these circumstances. Several duties were highlighted, which will now be considered in turn. Firstly, a mortgagee in possession must take reasonable care of the premises (Downsview Nominees Ltd v First City Corporation Ltd (No.1) [1993] AC 295). Secondly, it must be remembered that a mortgagee is not a trustee of his powers. This means that the mortgagee may sell whenever he chooses and does not have to have regard to whether a different time may be more beneficial to the mortgagor (Raja v Austin Gray (a firm) [2002] EWCA Civ 1965). In this case, therefore, the bank does not need to wait until the property market has recovered before they can sell the property (Gray and Gray, 2007, pg 534. The mortgagee is also under no duty to improve the position of the property before selling, but may instead sell it ‘as is’.

Brahms Symphony N0. 2 1st Movement Research Paper

Brahms Symphony N0. 2 1st Movement - Research Paper Example On the other hand, the existing of social classes during the period could have also played a critical role in his desire to be a composer as opposed to a performer. As a composer, Brahms particularly wrote a number of symphonies, piano works and choral compositions among other pieces. However, his greatest pieces were primarily those based on symphonic and sonata styles. Brahms’s second Symphony was one of the most successful pieces of Brahms’ compositions. Compared to the nearly fifteen years it took Brahms to do his fist symphony, the composition of the second symphony was relatively brief since it only took one year to be completed (Frisch 68). The first movement sonata form which is also known as â€Å"allegro non troppo† begins with double bases and cellos. Without any introduction, the first movement opens just with a Basic motive. The Basic motive generally assumes diverse rhythmic shapes and is gradually shifted to the other measures in order to effective ly pervade the movement. In the Allegro non troppo, the double bases art and the cellos begin the initial movement in a sonata form. Although the composition has no separate tempo designation, the opening movement initializes with a slow introductory section those thematic composition keeps on repeating itself frequently. The tranquil mood is overtaken by introduction of the horns as the standard theme. After around every 50bars the lively main theme that is particularly marked to be played gently and sweetly (dolce) is slowly introduced with the first violin sounds followed by marked cantando in the cellos. Johannes preserved almost every aspect of the structural principles based on the classical masterpiece. In this musical composition the two lively external movements frame slows while the second movement is overtaken by a slightly shorter scherzo. A number of musical frame works in the concerto No. 2 1st movement makes this musical flow fabulous. For instance, Brahms bases most of his movements in this concerto on a melody he had formerly tranquil for the Wiegedlied Op.49 often referred to as the â€Å"Brahms’s lullaby†. In the symphony No.2 1st movement, Brahms’s tune introduces an 82 bar and is continually brought back into existence, re-shaped and restructured both harmonically and rhythmically. In addition, Brahms has also effectively developed the section in a more unique instrumental join that gradually progresses into a full bodied forte in between bar 57 and 58. Much like was in his first symphony, Brahms ha a primarily used simple unifying motive in the first movement of his second symphony. For example the two main unifying motives in the first movement include a half note that is followed with a quarter note and an interval above or below the 1st and 3rd notes (MacDonald 98). As the first movement gradually progresses, the two motives increasingly become more altered, embellished and enterwined. However, these modifications are carefully juxtaposed against the original motives in order to provide a sense of continuity and preserve the fluidity of the piece. For example, in some cases, the second motive occasionally undergoes tonal mutation and transforms into a series of flowing octaves. This is particularly evident in measures between 21 and 28. On second Codetta in the first move

Analyse the considerations that regulate when an athlete returns to play after an injury Essay Example for Free

Analyse the considerations that regulate when an athlete returns to play after an injury Essay The considerations that regulate when an athlete is able to return to play after an injury includes indicators or readiness to return to play, monitoring progress, psychological readiness, specific warm up procedures, return to play policies and procedures as well as ethical considerations. It is imperative that an athlete’s injury has recovered, their fitness and skills are close to pre-injury levels and also that their confidence in their injury is 100%. Training pain free and having full mobility return to the injured site are clear indicators of readiness for return to play. In order to measure an athlete’s readiness after returning from an injury they must go through various physical tests to test their fitness and basic skills needed to perform in their sport. For example, a netballer returning from an injured ankle would be tested on her agility through drills including side stepping and dogging. Her match fitness could be tested in a practice game situation at training provided she is pain free and has complete mobility. Monitoring progress through both pre-tests and post-tests is essential to an athletes recovery in order to determine if they have or have not gained the necessary fitness and skills after injury. Ongoing tests, discussions between athlete and physio, visual observations of the athlete and video footage are all means which may be used to appropriately measure the athlete’s progress. Thus, appropriate pre and post tests can significantly help trainers to evaluate and develop particular training programs that will help to athlete return to play quicker after an injury. E.g A swimmer could monitor their progress of an injured arm by measuring the range of movement pre and post training. An athlete’s psychological can be effectively measured by discussions between the athlete, coach and sports psychologist, visual observations and anxiety levels. An athlete returning to sport before they’re psychologically ready can lead to fear, anxiety, re-injury, depression and a decrease in performance. For example, a 100m sprinter who tore his hamstring from jumping out of the blocks may find it psychologically tough to reach their maximum force produced pre-injury. An injured athlete may need to go through a more specific warm up and stretching routine in order to achieve maximum recovery and minimise the chance or re-injury. Thus, extra care and time at the injured site is crucial to ensuring that adequate blood flow, increased flexibility and readiness to perform occur. E.g A soccer player may need to do their own specific warm up program set by their physio separate to the team. Return to play policies and procedures vary with sports, as they may be determined by overall governing bodies or by individual sporting clubs. However, coaches, sports administrators and sports medicine practitioners play a vital role in establishing guidelines for when an injured athlete can return or wether they can play with the injury. For example, a water polo player may need to get their pectoral injury cleared by their team physio in order play. Ethical considerations play a vital role in determining when an athlete returns to play. Athletes ask themselves, ‘When is the right time to play?’ Unfortunately, there are internal and external pressures such as temptation, fear of losing their position on the team, pressure from sponsors and media as well as boredom, sometimes luring them into returning to play before they’re ready. Thus, this could easily lead to an athlete using painkillers or similar drugs from rapid advances in drug technology, in order to continue playing.