Why Can’t We Be More Like Canada? :: Essays Papers

Why Can’t We Be More Like Canada? The National Rifle Association has gone too far in defending the right to bear arms because the safety of schools is in jeopardy. The tragic events that occurred at Columbine High School in early 1999 with the killing of 13, including 12 students and one teacher while wounding many more, put much greater focus and awareness on violence in schools. The upward trend of violence in schools beginning in the early 1990’s got national attention because of the shootings that took place just outside of Denver. The tragedy at Columbine seemed to be the last straw for anti-gun activists, politicians, the media, and parents of children in schools to take action to protect America’s young from death in a place where kids are supposed to be safe. The NRA is not stepping back from their fight to protect the second amendment, but changes need to be made to protect kids growing up in society today. School violence, especially school shootings, has kept pace in recent years since the Columbine shootings. According to the National School Safety and Security Services there have been 116 total deaths in the past 5 years that occurred in schools. Of the 116, 45 have been caused by shootings. Just within the past three months of this new school year, there have been 13 school shooting deaths (fig. 1 and 2). That is an average of nine deaths caused by guns per year for the last five years since Columbine startled society to this devastating problem. The obstacle is in front of all of American to have the incidents of shooting deaths in schools decrease to where they are non-existent. In the state of Colorado, where the world’s media attention was drawn due to Columbine and still is, they have some of the loosest guns laws in the nation. A fact sheet was released by the Violence Policy Center on the same day as the shooting at Columbine High School for some related background information. The press release shows that citizens of Colorado do not have licensing or registration requirements with firearm purchase or possession. There is no waiting period for the purchase of handguns, shotguns, or rifles. There are no age restrictions with the possession of rifles or shotguns, but no person under the age of 18 can have a handgun.

An Ethical View Essay

Moral and ethical viewpoints are often shaped and molded by your society; learning to respect others, tolerance, my family, church, co-workers, past and present life experiences has influenced my moral and ethical viewpoints. Knowing right from wrong and how to treat others has been the †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.in this process. I. Influences on My Moral and Ethical Development A. My family/environment (Moral development) 1. Tolerance 2. Forgiveness and being honest B. Ethical development (Church/work) 1. topic/idea for paper 2. topic/idea for paper II. Experiences that Contributed to My Personal and Professional Development A. Life and Death 1. Marriage at an early age 2. Life experiences/lessons (murder of my spouse, single parent, setbacks,) B. Professional Development 1. School/instructors 2. Co-workers 3. past employment experiences This paper will display a brief synopsis of the elements that has influenced my moral and ethical development as well as, discuss counseling issues and the ethical codes used to resolve the issues, and I will explain how I have changed because of my work in this class. I developed a true sense of right and wrong at an early age, as a kid I was very adventurous and would do things just to see how far my parents, grandparents, or aunts/ uncles would allow me to go before chastisement came into play. I remember one incident as if it was yesterday, when I was seven I would watch one of my eldest aunts obtain a cigarette from the package (Virginia Slims), her lighter, light her cigarette, and began to smoke it; she would make smoke rings for me. One day I decided that I would mimic my aunt’s actions and smoke a cigarette, my grandmother caught me smoking the cigarette. She did not spank me as I thought that would have been a fair form of disciplinary resolution for my actions, she wanted me to know just how unhealthy smoking cigarettes was for me so, she made me call my mother and father, aunts, uncles, and cousins and tell them what I had done. From that moment until now I have never touched another cigarette and that’s when the real less ons of what was right and wrong began. Being the eldest of five children born to a single parent mother I learned at an early age about charity and helping those in need; my mother taught me about sacrifice at an early age even though I did not understand it then I have a firm grasp on the concept of sacrifice in my adult life. Growing up in my grandparentsgrandparents’ home I did not understand what beingthe definition of poverty or what being poor really meant because my grandparents were always so eager to feed everyone in the community, it wasn’t until my mother decided that she did not want to live under my grandparents roof and abide by their rules was when the knowledge of poverty settled in; my grandparents were very active in their Christian faith, they believed that God blessed you so, you should be a blessing to others and they always welcomed the needy into their home to share our meals on a consistent basis. My family being my environment has taught me the basics about morals and values; Kohlber g’s Moral Development stages Stage 1 = infancy—the child’s only sense of right and wrong is what feels good or bad; Stage 2 = toddler years—the child learns â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† from what she or he is told by others; Stage 3 = preschool years—the child begins to internalize family values as his or her own, and begins to perceive the consequences of his or her behavior; Stage 4 = ages 7-10 years—the child begins to question the infallibility of parents, teachers, and other adults, and develops a strong sense of â€Å"should† and â€Å"should not† Stage 5 = preteen and teenage years—peers, rather than adults, become of ultimate importance to the child, who begins to try on different values systems to see which fits best; teens also become more aware of and concerned with the larger society, and begin to reason more abstractly about â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong.† Read more: Moral Development – STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT – Lawrence Kohlberg, Mean Example, Morality, and Social – JRank Articles http://psychology.jrank.org/pages/431/Moral-Development.html#ixzz2R8sxnA1w III. Experiences that Contributed to My Personal and Professional Development C. Life and Death 1. Marriage at an early age 2. Life experiences/lessons (murder of my spouse, single parent, setbacks,) D. Professional Development 1. School/instructors 2. Co-workers 3. Pastpast employment experiences For this application, you were asked to develop an outline for the final project. There were four topics that you were to consider, including influences on your moral and ethical development; experiences that contributed to your personal and professional development; legal and ethical issues in counseling; and reflection. Nice job giving thought to these areas. Looks like you have some thoughts for your final project. Looking forward to a little more detail on your next submission and looking forward to reading your final project! In order to understand clearly where you are headed, you must also evaluate where you have been and what has influenced you along the way. It is important to reflect critically upon your own values (and sense of personal/professional ethics) and how you developed these perspectives in order to develop an ethical framework. To help accomplish this goal, the Final Project for this course is an Ethical Autobiography in which you will explore various elements o f your life experiences that might influence your future ethical framework. As you reflect on your journey through this class, some of the course readings may have informed your Ethical Autobiography. You can also make use of outside resources, but much of the paper will be exploring what you bring to the profession and events that may have influenced your ethical lens. This reflective autobiography should have personal meaning to you and should help you understand what being an ethical practitioner means. In this sense, you are writing an intellectual and Ethical Autobiography, that is, who you are as virtue of what you believe, what you do, and what you have read. Think broadly—there are no wrong answers; you are exploring your own world Some examples of questions/issues that you can address: †¢ You may share how you developed a sense of right and wrong. †¢ Who/what influenced your moral and ethical development? †¢ What experiences contributed to your personal and professional beliefs? Are your personal and professional beliefs congruent? †¢ What is your idea of right and wrong? Are there absolutes or are there shades of gray? Do the same guidelines apply in all circumstances? †¢ What are some of your basic values that guide your work and your life? What experiences have potentially influenced your decision making? †¢ What aspects of your personality and work ethic are most compatible with the counseling field? Which aspects are the least compatible? †¢ Was there a time, in your personal or professional life, when you felt that your confidentiality was violated, that you were involved in a dual relationship in which you felt uncomfortable, or perhaps an issue resonated unexpectedly with you (e.g., transference)? Essential Elements (You m ust address the points outlined below in your Final Project.): †¢ Select four counseling issues, describe these issues, and explain potential ethical challenges for addressing these issues in your professional practice. †¢ Explain state or region laws or statutes that might apply to these ethical challenges. †¢ Reference specific codes of ethics that you ascribe to for your practice and how adhering to ethics and law present challenges for addressing these issues you selected. †¢ Explain why this Assignment is meaningful to you. †¢ Describe how adhering to ethics and law for professional counseling practice might influence social change. †¢ Finally, explain how you have changed because of your work in this class. Describe personal and ethical values you have reexamined because of your work in this course. You should present your Final Project as a 12- to 15-page (including cover page, abstract, and references—therefore, approximately 10–12 pages of text), double-spaced, APA-formatted paper. Papers can be longeriflonger if the purpose of the paper is served, but the quality ofideasof ideas and conciseness of the writing should justify the extra length. Also, please proofread yourpapersyour papers to make sure that grammar, punctuation, and other mistakes do not hinder thecommunicationthe communication of your ideas. This paper will display a brief synopsis of the elements that has influenced my moral and ethical development as well as, discuss counseling issues and the ethical codes us ed to resolve the issues, and I will explain how I have changed because of my work in this class. I developed a true sense of right and wrong at an early age, as a kid I was very adventurous and would do things just to see how far my parents, grandparents, or aunts/ uncles would allow me to go before chastisement came into play. I remember one incident as if it was yesterday, when I was seven I would watch one of my eldest aunts obtain a cigarette from the package (Virginia Slims), her lighter, light her cigarette, and began to smoke it; she would make smoke rings for me. One day I decided that I would mimic my aunt’s actions and smoke a cigarette, my grandmother caught me smoking the cigarette. She did not spank me as I thought that would have been a fair form of disciplinary resolution for my actions, she wanted me to know just how unhealthy smoking cigarettes was for me so, she made me call my mother and father, aunts, uncles, and cousins and tell them what I had done. From that moment until now I have never touched another cigarette and that’s when the real less ons of what was right and wrong began. Being the eldest of five children born to a single parent mother I learned at an early age about charity and helping those in need; my mother taught me about sacrifice at an early age even though I did not understand it then I have a firm grasp on the concept of sacrifice in my adult life. Growing up in my grandparents’ home I did not understand the definition of poverty or what being poor really meant because my grandparents were always so eager to feed everyone in the community, it wasn’t until my mother decided that she did not want to live under my grandparents roof and abide by their rules was when the knowledge of poverty settled in; my grandparents were very active in their Christian faith, they believed that God blessed you so, you should be a blessing to others and they always welcomed the needy into their home to share our meals on a consistent basis. My family being my environment has taught me the basics about morals and values; Kohlberg’s Moral Devel opment stages Stage 1 = infancy—the child’s only sense of right and wrong is what feels good or bad; Stage 2 = toddler years—the child learns â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† from what she or he is told by others; Stage 3 = preschool years—the child begins to internalize family values as his or her own, and begins to perceive the consequences of his or her behavior; Stage 4 = ages 7-10 years—the child begins to question the infallibility of parents, teachers, and other adults, and develops a strong sense of â€Å"should† and â€Å"should not† Stage 5 = preteen and teenage years—peers, rather than adults, become of ultimate importance to the child, who begins to try on different values systems to see which fits best; teens also become more aware of and concerned with the larger society, and begin to reason more abstractly about â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong.† Read more: Moral Development – STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT – Lawrence Kohlberg, Mean Example, Morality, and Social – JRank Articles http://psychology.jrank.org/pages/431/Moral-Development.html#ixzz2R8sxnA1w Counseling Issues Duty to ‘Warn and Protect’ not in Texas is one counseling issue that I am concerned about; what concerns me the most about this statue is According to the Texas Laws mental health counselors do not have a duty to warn nor protect third parties or intended victims once a client has made specific threats to harm the individual. This law was designed to protect mental health counselors from being responsible for notifying anyone of intended harm. â€Å"The statue classifies communications between a mental health professional(s) and their client(s) as confidential and prohibits mental-health professionals from disclosing them to the third party unless an exception applies.† (FN17)(Texas Supreme Court, 1999). The exceptions to the law are: â€Å"reporting child abuse or neglect, reporting HIV status to a spouse, medical personnel, or law enforcement, and report imminent danger to police officer if the client poses a threat to him/herself or others.† (The Family Code, section 261.101(a-c) (Texas Supreme Court, 1999). In the case Thapar v. Zezulka, rendered by the Texas Supreme Court in 1999, stipulated that mental health providers do not incur a duty to warn and protect (Dalrymple, 1999; Grinfeld, 1999; Texas Supreme Court, 1999). Specifically, the opinion written for a unanimous court by Justice Craig T. Enoch stated that, â€Å"we refrain from imposing on mental health professionals a duty to warn third parties of a patient’s threats† (FN1) (Texas Supreme Court, 1999). By implementing several of the Ethical Decision Models (Rational Model, Collaborative Model, and Integrative Model), I believe a peaceful resolution can be accomplished when a counselor is faced with t he ethical decision of whether to inform a third party that intended harm has been conveyed. Although the law in Texas states, â€Å"we as counselors are not obligated to warn nor protect a third party,† we can always defer to The Code of Ethics (2005) which states, â€Å"A.1.a. Primary Responsibility: The primary responsibility of counselors is to respect the dignity and to promote the welfare of clients. B.1.c. Respect for Confidentiality: Counselors do not share confidential information without client consent or without sound legal or ethical justification. B.2.a. Danger and Legal Requirements: The general requirement that counselors keep information confidential does not apply when disclosure is required to protect clients or identified others from serious harm.† (ACA Code of Ethics, 2005). Implementing an EDM, making reference to the ACA code of ethics, and consulting with a supervisor/colleagues will help the make a sound and ethical decision whether to warn or p rotect. Although the law in Texas states, â€Å"we as counselors are not obligated to warn nor protect a third party,† we can always defer to The Code of Ethics (2005) which states, â€Å"A.1.a. Primary Responsibility: The primary responsibility of counselors is to respect the dignity and to promote the welfare of clients. B.1.c. Respect for Confidentiality: Counselors do not share confidential information without client consent or without sound legal or ethical justification. B.2.a. Danger and Legal Requirements: The general requirement that counselors keep information confidential does not apply when disclosure is required to protect clients or identified others from serious harm.† (ACA Code of Ethics, 2005). Implementing an EDM, making reference to the ACA code of ethics, and consulting with a supervisor/colleagues will help the make a sound and ethical decision whether to warn or protect. Client confidentiality is another issue that I think would pose a problem for me as a counselor, upon reading the landmark case â€Å"United States of America, Plaintiff v. Robert Allen Romo (2005).† â€Å"This case arises out of a confession Romo made during a meeting with Donald LaPlante, the Program Director at the Dawson County Adult Correction and Detention Facility where Romo was incarcerated.   LaPlante is a licensed professional counselor whose job included providing inmates with psychological counseling and a host of other duties, ranging from arranging social events to providing classes and acting as a case manager.   Before the meeting that sparked the chain of events leading to Romo’s conviction, LaPlante had provided Romo with mental health treatment during voluntary counseling sessions.† (United States of America, Plaintiff v. Robert Allen Romo (2005) I realized that it does matter to clients if you discuss with them informed consent a nd confidentiality they can still file some sort of legal litigation against the counselor if they felt like the counselor violated any of their rights. Non-sexual relationship is one boundary issue I can foresee (providing counseling services to family members), pg 210. Counseling minors One ethical and legal challenge I think would be an issue for me is confidentiality; â€Å"knowing when and with whom to share the information the minor has shared in the counseling session.† Once you have built a rapport with the client you do not want to betray the trust of the client. The second issue would be parental rights and making sure the counselors has the client’s best interest at hand; when counseling minor clients it is best to make sure everything is explained on the first visit and that both the parent/legal guardian and client understands the details of the informed consent form. Since the laws vary from state to state, I know it would be beneficial for me as a counselor to use the following ACA Codes of Ethics to handle such issues: B.5.b.(Responsibility to Parents and Legal Guardians) states, â€Å" Counselors inform parents and legal guardians about the role of counselors and the confidential nature of the counseling relationship. Counselors are sensitive to the cultural diversity of families and respect the inherent rights and responsibilities of parents and guardians over the welfare of their children/charges according to the law. Counselors work to establish, as appropriate, collaborative relationships with parents/guardians to best serve the client.† (ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, 2006, p.35) B.5.c. (Release of Confidential Information) â€Å"When counseling minor clients counselors seek permission from an appropriate third party to disclose information. In such instances, counselors inform clients consistent with their level of understanding and take culturally appropriate measures to safeguard client confidentiality.† (ACA Ethical Standards Casebook, 2006, p.35) View as multi-pages

House On Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Sandra Cisneros Mango Street is a alone narrative about a deprived immature Chicana miss, Esperanza, who grows up in a hapless vicinity where she feels she does non belong. She does non wish what she experiences, and invariably hunts for a new hereafter. As Esperanza grows and alterations throughout the book, she realizes that adult females in her civilization are treated below the belt, and makes a witting pick non to fall into the same trap as the adult females around her. The adult females in Esperanza ‘s vicinity are held surety within their ain credence of an unfair cultural destiny. For illustration, Minerva who is merely small spot older than Esperanza is largely found praying for better fortune and a happier life. While praying for happier life she stills lets her hubby take advantage of her, and this sets an unhappy and atrocious life. Minerva knows that her hubby is non truly sorry but she still forgives him. For illustration, there is a twenty-four hours when Minerva had sufficiency of her hubby so out the door he goes but subsequently through the twenty-four hours he is regretful for his action and every bit much as Minerva is forgiving, she lets her hubby back in the house accepting his apology cognizing it will go on once more. She thought matrimony was traveling to be a manner out from unwanted life but alternatively it has the same features. Without contending for a satisfactory life she settles with the manus she is dealt. In this novel there is another character name Sally. She is an guiltless friend of Esperanza. Sally tries to get away her male parent ‘s barbarous whippings through matrimony, but her fortunes do non alter. Sally hubby still treats her as her male parent treated her in yesteryear. For illustration, he wo n't allow her speak on the phone, he does non allow her look out the window and he does non like her friends. Sally friends can non see her unless her hubby is at work. First, Sally ‘s male parent controlled her and now it is her hubby. She thinks that she is get awaying when in world she is merely giving the tether to person else. Sally chose the easiest manner out of her life which she thought was matrimony, without thought of her hereafter. In this novel there are mistreatments which lead some of the characters into another life of the letdown and their unhappy effects, believing that there is no way-out. Esperanza will non accept and is determined to get the better of the unjust destiny instructed on the adult females in her household, such as her great grandma. Esperanza references in the novel that she does non like her name that was given after her grandma and she would baptise herself to acquire a different name that would stand for a existent her and no 1 else. Harmonizing to Hispanic household the names are passed down the coevals without pick. Esperanza negotiations about â€Å" I have inherited her name, but I do n't desire to inherit her topographic point by the window † ( Cisneros Pg.11 ) . Esperanza does non desire to populate a life of unhappiness. Esperanza knows that she does non desire to stop up like her great grandma. Esperanza grandma had no pick but to get married without her being able to do determination for it. She was trapped by a adult male who â€Å" threw a poke over her caput and carried her off † ( Cisneros Pg. 11 ) . After this incident her great grandma looked out the window her whole life like so many adult females sit their unhappiness on their cubitus. Esperanza admirations if her grandma made the best of what she got or was she sorry because she could non be all the things she wanted to be. She searches for a way that would take her out of the rhythm that has captured her great grandma and so many adult females around her. In â€Å" Boys & A ; Girls † chapter it talks about how in Esperanza ‘s vicinity male childs and misss can non socialise with each other because it is known that male childs and misss are from different universes. For illustration, Esperanza could speak to her brothers at place but outside place they can non be seen speaking to each other. In add-on, towards the terminal of the book, Esperanza feels a demand to come b ack and help those who are unable to go forth, because she is positive that her destiny will alter. â€Å" One twenty-four hours I will state adieu to Mango. I am excessively strong for her to maintain me here everlastingly. One twenty-four hours I will travel off. They will non cognize I have gone off to come back. For the 1s, I left behind. For the 1s who can non acquire out † ( Cisneros Pg. 110 ) . In decision, Esperanza experiences the suffering faces of the adult females around her, she is certain that traveling through this life experience and acquisition procedure will take her life to a positive result. She believes the lone manner out of her vicinity and unjust intervention in the Hispanic community would be by educating and composing. Esperanza does non merely take the right way of willingness to contend for a nicer life but she adapts to her milieus and builds her ain assurance so that she can assist the other adult females around her bash good. Esperanza is a really strong and determined adult female in herself and she is able to carry through her dream of a better hereafter. Esperanza ends are non to bury and accomplish the freedom together. Esperanza wants the adult females in her civilization to go stronger, independent and she is determined to make so.

Free Essays on Political Momentum

Political Momentum "Only YOU can prevent forest fires". This famous quote, by Smokey the Bear, is a statement that essentially defines momentum. Momentum, in the case of forest fires, is detrimental momentum. We've all seen the commercial, the bright red Ferrari driving down the road, flicking a cigarette out the window. It rolls onto a pile of dry leaves, and suddenly, the leaf is smoking! Oh no! The leaves have caught fire and it is spreading to a nearby tree! Soon, nearby trees have caught fire, and thus the momentum that results in a forest fire of gigantic proportions begins from a single spark. Such is the case with recent interest in campaign finance reform. Only the momentum it has gained in recent months is anything but detrimental! So, to answer the question, "WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF MEANINGFUL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IN THIS SESSION OF CONGRESS?" My answer is that the chances of this are slim to none, however, this answer is somewhat incomplete. Allow me to expand upon this by first, citing past evidence of questionable campaign fund raisers. Second, I will use the examples to explain WHY we need a reform. And finally, I will describe how the recent take off on this large issue has ensured its eventual resolution. First, allow me to cite examples of corrupt campaign financing. The campaiging 'business' is not a cheap enterprise. The money that is required to publish and distribute phamplets, hire campaign workers, and buy airtime from the media is enourmous! It has always been a concern of candidates of major elections. More recently however has such a controversy surfaces. Allow me to use this as an example: According to the Sep. 29th 1997 issure of Time, in 1995 and 1996, videotapes were made of presedential coffees with Asian executives, personal donors, and business owners. A total of 103 coffees for the Democrats equals 27 million dollars for their fund raisers. There are more recent events. Accroding to the Oct. ... Free Essays on Political Momentum Free Essays on Political Momentum Political Momentum "Only YOU can prevent forest fires". This famous quote, by Smokey the Bear, is a statement that essentially defines momentum. Momentum, in the case of forest fires, is detrimental momentum. We've all seen the commercial, the bright red Ferrari driving down the road, flicking a cigarette out the window. It rolls onto a pile of dry leaves, and suddenly, the leaf is smoking! Oh no! The leaves have caught fire and it is spreading to a nearby tree! Soon, nearby trees have caught fire, and thus the momentum that results in a forest fire of gigantic proportions begins from a single spark. Such is the case with recent interest in campaign finance reform. Only the momentum it has gained in recent months is anything but detrimental! So, to answer the question, "WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF MEANINGFUL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IN THIS SESSION OF CONGRESS?" My answer is that the chances of this are slim to none, however, this answer is somewhat incomplete. Allow me to expand upon this by first, citing past evidence of questionable campaign fund raisers. Second, I will use the examples to explain WHY we need a reform. And finally, I will describe how the recent take off on this large issue has ensured its eventual resolution. First, allow me to cite examples of corrupt campaign financing. The campaiging 'business' is not a cheap enterprise. The money that is required to publish and distribute phamplets, hire campaign workers, and buy airtime from the media is enourmous! It has always been a concern of candidates of major elections. More recently however has such a controversy surfaces. Allow me to use this as an example: According to the Sep. 29th 1997 issure of Time, in 1995 and 1996, videotapes were made of presedential coffees with Asian executives, personal donors, and business owners. A total of 103 coffees for the Democrats equals 27 million dollars for their fund raisers. There are more recent events. Accroding to the Oct. ...

Multiple Intelligences in the ESL Classroom

Multiple Intelligences in the ESL Classroom The theory of multiple intelligences was developed in 1983 by Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University. Here is a discussion of the eight different intelligences Dr. Gardner proposes and their relationship to the ESL / EFL classroom. Each explanation is followed by lesson plans or exercises which can be used in class. Verbal / Linguistic Explanation and understanding through the use of words. This is the most common means of teaching. In the most traditional sense, the teacher teaches and the students learn. However, this can also be turned around and students can help each other understand concepts. While teaching to other types of intelligences is extremely important, this type of teaching focuses on using language and will continue to play the primary role in learning English. Example Lesson Plans (re)Introducing Phrasal Verbs to ESL StudentsComparative and Superlative FormsCountable and Uncountable Nouns - Noun QuantifiersReading - Using Context Visual / Spatial Explanation and comprehension through the use of pictures, graphs, maps, etc. This type of learning gives students visual clues to help them remember language. In my opinion, the use of visual, spatial and situational clues is probably the reason learning a language in an English speaking country (Canada, USA, England, etc.) is the most effective way to learn English. Example Lesson Plans Drawing in the Classroom - ExpressionsVocabulary Charts Body / Kinesthetic Ability to use the body to express ideas, accomplish tasks, create moods, etc. This type of learning combines physical actions with linguistic responses and are very helpful for tying language to actions. In other words, repeating Id like to pay by credit card. in a dialogue is much less effective than having a student act out a role-play in which he pulls out his wallet and says, Id like to pay by credit card. Example Lesson Plans Lego Building BlocksYoung Learners Games for ESL Classes - Simon SaysTelephone English Interpersonal Ability to get along with others, work with others to accomplish tasks. Group learning is based on interpersonal skills. Not only do students learn while speaking to others in an authentic setting, they develop English speaking skills while reacting to others. Obviously, not all learners have excellent interpersonal skills. For this reason, group work needs to balanced with other activities. Example Lesson Plans Conversation Lesson: Multinationals - Help or Hindrance?Creating a New SocietyGuilty - Fun Classroom Conversation GameLets Do Tourism Logical / Mathematical Use of logic and mathematical models to represent and work with ideas. Grammar analysis falls into this type of learning style. Many teachers feel that English teaching syllabi are too loaded towards grammar analysis which has little to do with communicative ability. Nonetheless, using a balanced approach, grammar analysis has its place in the classroom. Unfortunately, because of certain standardized teaching practices, this type of teaching sometimes tends to dominate the classroom. Example Lesson Plans Match-up!English Grammar ReviewDifferent Uses of LikeConditional Statements - Reviewing the First and Second Conditional Musical Ability to recognize and communicate using melody, rhythm, and harmony. This type of learning is sometimes underestimated in ESL classrooms. If you keep in mind that English is a very rhythmic language because of its tendency to accent only certain words, youll recognize that music plays a role in the classroom as well. Example Lesson Plans Grammar ChantsMusic in the ClassroomPracticing Stress and IntonationTongue Twisters Intrapersonal Learning through self-knowledge leading to understanding of motives, goals, strengths and weaknesses. This intelligence is essential for long-term English learning. Students who are aware of these types of issues will be able to deal with underlying issues that can improve or hamper English usage. Example Lesson Plans Setting ESL ObjectivesEnglish Learning Goals Quiz Environmental Ability to recognize elements of and learn from the natural world around us. Similar to visual and spatial skills, Environmental intelligence will help students master English required to interact with their environment. Example Lesson Plan Global English

A QA Interview With Film and TV Critic Troy Patterson

A QA Interview With Film and TV Critic Troy Patterson Troy Patterson wears many hats, though hed hate that cliche. Hes a book critic for NP, TV critic at Slate.com and the film critic at Spin magazine. He also written for a host of other publications including The New York Times Book Review, Mens Vogue, Wired, and Entertainment Weekly. Patterson, who calls Brooklyn home, is a wickedly funny and nimble writer who crafts sentences like this one about Jon and Kate Gosselin, the feuding couple at the center of Jon Kate Plus 8: She is a moaning 34-year-old harpy with highlights as wide as mountain-bike tires sporting an asymmetrical haircut suggestive of a wounded stork. He is a sullen 32-year-old layabout whose skate-punk sideburns and gelled forelocks signal boring bad news. And, on the show, both struggle to act half their age. Or read his take on The X Factor: People like to talk about how reality TV attracts exhibitionists. This was literalized last night when a pervert at the Seattle audition dropped his pants, inspiring Paula Abdul to discreetly vomit. If we set him aside, the most memorable rejectees were the geriatric husband-and-wife team of Dan and Venita. They warbled off key through Unchained Melody, wore clothes too transfixingly tacky to rate as vintage, and were mildly lobotomized in manner. If this were a tryout for a dinner-theater adaptation of a David Lynch film, they would have definitely gotten a callback. Heres a QA with Patterson. Q: Tell me a little about your background: A: As a kid and teenager in Richmond, Virginia, I was a big reader Twain, Poe, Hemingway, Vonnegut, Salinger, Judy Blume, detective novels, out-of-town newspapers, Cheerios boxes, whatever. I got hooked on magazines by way of Tom Wolfe and Spy. I went to college at Princeton, where I majored in English Lit and edited the campus weekly. After graduating, I lived in Santa Cruz, California, for a little while, working in a coffee shop and freelancing for the local alt-weekly. Those were the clips I used when I applied for a magazines jobs in New York. I worked at Entertainment Weekly for seven years, where I started as an assistant and later became a book critic and staff writer, and I left EW on my 30th birthday to freelance and to fool around writing fiction. In 2006, I went to Slate, where Im on contract, and subsequently picked up regular gigs reviewing movies for Spin and books for NPR. Q: Where did you learn to write? A: I think that all writers educate themselves through practice, practice, practice. It helps to have good instructors along the way (mine include nursery-school teachers to Toni Morrison) and to hunker down with the usual guidebooks (Strunk White, William Zinsser, etc). Q: Whats a typical workday like for you? A: I dont have a typical workday. Sometimes I write all day, sometimes I write for 90 minutes. Sometimes its all reading and reporting and research. Some days Im running around watching movies or recording podcasts or schmoozing with editors. Then theres keeping up with the news, fending off publicists, replying to hate mail, and staring at the ceiling trying to come up with ideas. Q: What do you most like/dislike about what you do? A: May I quote Dorothy Parker? I hate writing; I love having written. Q: Is it hard being a freelancer? A: You betcha. And success, though dependent on hard work, is also contingent upon pure luck to a ridiculous degree. Q: Any advice to aspiring writers/critics? A: Forget it; go to law school. But if youve got too much passion to resist becoming an arts journalist, then try to learn something about a broad range of history and cultureShakespeare, horror flicks, fashion, philosophy, politics, everything. And dont worry about developing your voice; if you study your elders closely and try to write naturally, itll develop itself.

The Matrix Trilogy by Wachowski Brothers Movie Review

The Matrix Trilogy by Wachowski Brothers - Movie Review Example Alexandra Lazar states that the idea of â€Å"formlessness of chaos† can be found in: â€Å"Chinese and the Babylonian creation stories† (Lazar, 2004). She illustrates that â€Å"the dragon represents the principle of order, which emerges from chaos. In Babylonian myth, the Goddess Tiamat together with other early gods embodied the various faces of chaos† (Lazar, 2004). In general, every universal religion has such binary oppositions: good-evil, chaos-order, hell-paradise, etc. Probably, the fact that Matrix is based on binary opposition helps to explain why it is so successful in our society. Everything around us is based on this concept: love-hate; truth-lie, etc. On the other hand, the Matrix retrieved great knowledge which most of people fail to see. We live in a structured world, which becomes a Matrix for us, and we unable to change it (or at least see â€Å"the reality†). The structure of state, government, bureaucratic system creates a Matrix like its movie prototype. â€Å"The Matrix trilogy† is so popular because our generation feels like robots or machines who â€Å"conquered† by bureaucratic system of the world order and â€Å"in order to break free from this ominous and quantifying 'real' we would need to ask further questions about defining links that 'divide and conquer† (Lazar, 2004). In the article, Lazar underlines that: â€Å"power in itself is deceptive as it is based on a paradox: it allows the taste of truth/knowledge but causes its own end (and arguably the end of truth/knowledge)† (Lazar, 2004). This philosophical idea can be found in stoicism, and corresponds with the notion of â€Å"aporia† and dialectical exercise. For instance, â€Å"in â€Å"Parmenides† the aporia means the form that the sensible and intelligible worlds are incorrigibly separated and also are not separated, in that each side has the other in it† (Doull, n.d.). This idea runs through the Matrix trying to uncover the truth of reality, but the heroes rewrite this knowledge showing that 'there is no spoon†, so what? Again, the views are faced with the binary opposition which creates â€Å"quasi-myth† of reality.