Monday, September 30, 2019

Probable Probability; Rolling Dice

Statistics is based upon based upon common sense and logic, in a complex data. Probability is just one of the many topics in statistical mathematics. It is used in our daily life, all over the world. Even games, require taking a chance and using probability to determine the predicted outcomes. Probability is the measure of how often a particular event will happen if something is done repeatedly, (596 Webster’s Dictionary). You cannot determine any events that will happen in the future, because there is always a chance that something odd will happen, (Linn 39-40).Probability originally started for the purpose and attempt to analyze games of chance. Probability is also used in determining the outcomes of an experiment. Sample space is the collection of all results. Probability is a way to assign every event a value between zero and one. What is the probability of rolling a pair of dice, or a deck of cards, or a jar of marbles? What is the probability of conceiving a boy or a gir l? Many more are determined by the usage of the probability method.Probability is used to represent the likelihood that odds of winning a random drawing chance of rolling a seven when rolling two dice. When rolling a six-sided die there are six possible events that correspond to the six face of the die that contains either one, two, three, four, five, and six dots. Rolling a die and turning up an even number of dots would be one example, (2, 4, and 6). Probabilities are formally written as decimals in the range of 0-1. Meaning the event occurred. Meaning a certain event must occur.When rolling a die, getting a seven, eight, or nine or more dots is an impossible event. Two dots or fewer are a certain event. Probabilities can also be written informally in percentage for example 50-50-%. There is no negative probability chance. The probability of getting a face that has two dots on a die is 1/6(1. The probability of not getting the face containing three dots is 1/6, which is (1-1/6) = 5/6 or =. 833. Mutually exclusive means you cannot have two faces of one die at the same time. For example the probability of getting a face of two dots and a face of four dots is 1/3 or . 33, because the probability is the sum of the probability of rolling a two (1/6) and the probability of rolling a four is (1/6). This is a classical concept, because it is based upon prior knowledge of the process involved, in this case the rolling of a die. This approach of probability often predicts that all basic events are equally likely to occur. When this is true, the probability that a particular event will occur is defined by the number of ways the event can occur divided by the total number of elementary events. My chance of passing statistics class depends on probability.

Gender Roles In Primates Essay

Primate behavioral and biological research has resulted in a huge number of observations that has served as basis in understanding gender roles among their closest relatives, the humans. Earlier concepts of gender differences among primates only described that female primates influenced the organization structure of primate groups. After comprehensive analyses of primate behavior for several decades, it has now been determined that female primates serve as the foundation for primate social organization, acting as the prime individuals that shape the structure of the society, as well as mold the dynamics of primate groups (Gagneux et al. , 1999). More importantly, observations from kin selection among primates have facilitated the understanding of human sexual behavior. Primate behavioral studies have examined that the females of several primate species have diverse roles in their kin, as well as in the primate social groups. The significant increase in information associated with primate behavior has been observed in the past decade and the amount of information is massive that it has circumvented the previous knowledge on primate behavior and social roles in the past centuries. Another primate behavioral feature that has been of interest to primatologists and anthropologists is primate dominance. Earlier studies have described that male primates have an inherent characteristic of dominance, which thus can be translated to the dominant personalities among humans. However, a novel characteristic that was recently reported involved the behavior of female primates, wherein females were observed to be highly competitive among their groups, which explains the human aspect of competition among women over different issues in life. In addition, primate studies have also shown that female primates are very resourceful in finding ways in solving issues on daily living in the wild, including searching for food, a place to live and even finding worthwhile mates for offspring production (Pope, 2000). The female primates are also independent wherein they have the inherent ability of constructing contraptions and methods that would help in their survival in the wild. Such observation among female primates helps in the understanding of human females and their ability to easily adapt to different situations in life, better than their human male counterpart. Primate research has also reported that primate females are assertive in terms of sexual behavior. Primate females show the ability to control a situation when a primate male is present and they are the ones who will determine whether copulation will occur with a particular primate male. It is also interesting to know that female primates are more susceptible to promiscuity during stages of puberty than male primates. The social organization of primates is very interesting because these species also have hierarchies which determine which individual will have the right to choose his mate and this is mainly based on the level of aggressiveness of the male primate. The most aggressive male primate is thus given the first chance to pick his female primate of choice and the least aggressive male primate often ends up with lesser of a choice among the female primates. Such behavior is generally observed in human society wherein the most aggressive men often get to choose and pursue the most attractive woman and the shy and quiet men often end up with relationships with less attractive women. The female primates have also been observed to show prime responsibility over her offspring, just like the human female (Maestripieri, 1994). The primate males have also been determined to be responsible in finding food for his offspring, searching the forest for fruits and other plants that will be brought to their place of living to feed his young. The male primate has also been observed to protect their place of living from other predatory species as well as other aggressive and destructive male primates. Primate research has transformed our old concepts of human behavior and it is interesting to know that all primates follow the same behavior for specific situations. References Gagneux, P, Boesch, C. , and Woodruff, D. 1999. Female reproductive strategies, paternity, and community structure in wild West African chimpanzees. Anim. Behav. 57: 19-32. Maestripieri, D. 1994. Social structure, infant handling, and mother styles in group-living Old World monkeys. Int. J. Primatol. 15: 531-553. Pope, T. R. 2000. Reproductive success increases with degree of kinship in cooperative coalitions of female red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus). Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 48: 253-267.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Religion in Brazil

Brazil, or  officially the  Federative Republic of Brazil is the largest country in both  South America  and the  Latin America  region. It is the world's fifth largest country, both bygeographical area  and  by population over 190 million people   It is the largest  Lusophone, or portugese-speaking,  country in the world, and the only one in the Americas. com/ways-religion-economics-influence-development-medieval-europe-japan/">Religion plays a major role in the lives of most of the people in this largest South American county. Here are some interesting Brazil facts: Around ninety percent of this population identifies with some sort of religion,   making it more religiously inclined than any other South American country.Only around 1% of its population do not believe in a God, or a supreme being in some form or another. The Brazilian Constitution of 1889 declared that there was no  official  religion in Brazil, so everyone was free to believe as they like d. That’s why, just like the USA, Brazil can practice freedom of religion according to the newest constitution that was adopted in 1988. Brazil’s religious make-up can be traced to the diverse groups of people who came in various forms – natives, invaders, immigrants, and slaves. In terms of Christian religions, the main churches in Brazil are: †¢ Catholic Protestant †¢ Methodist †¢ Episcopal †¢ Pentecostal †¢ Lutheran †¢ Baptist Its religious inclination is also extremely diverse, despite the fact that around three-quarters of the population claim to be Roman Catholics. In fact, there are more Catholics in Brazil than in any other country in the world. The Portuguese brought with them, not just the language (this  medical tourism  hub is the only  country  inSouth America  not dominated by Spanish), but also Roman Catholicism. Catholicism was introduced to Brazil when the European settlers arrived with the aim of ‘c ivilising’ the local native people.They built churches and brought religious leaders into the country to teach young and old alike the doctrines of Catholicism. During the 19th century, Catholicism was made the official religion of Brazil. This meant that Catholic priests were paid a salary by the government, including them in the political affairs of the country. As such, Catholicism became an integral part of the management and administration of Brazil and its people. Many of the Brazilian festivals are based on the Catholic religion. Protestantism is the second largest branch in Brazil religion.Those who are Christian but not Catholic are considered Protestant. Only about 15% of Brazilians claim to follow a Protestant faith of some kind. There are many branches of Christianity in Brazil. Among them the most popular are Baptist, Methodist, Neo-Pentecostalists, Old Pentecostalists, Presbyterian, Anglican and Episcopal Churches. Other Protestant beliefs and offshoots that mak e up smaller portions of â€Å"Christians† are Kardecist, Lutherans. The largest population of Protestants are found in North, Central-West and Southeast Brazil. The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  is the third largest Brazil religion.They boast a membership of over one million one hundred thousand with almost two thousand congregations and 309 family history centers. Five temples are stretched across Brazil. Jehovah's Witnesses  is the fourth largest religion in Brazil. They have over 700,000 members. Eastern Orthodox  makes up the fifth largest religion in the country with over 500,000 members that came over with their Armenian, Greek, Lebanese, Russian, Syrian and Ukrainian immigrants in the past one hundred years. When the Portuguese landed in Brazil, the  country  was populated by native  Indians who had their own traditional religious practices.In the regions just north of Bahia, indigenous tribes still practice the Catimbo religion; a sect that is heavily influenced by spirits, shamanism, and omens. When African slaves began to be imported into Brazil, they brought with them their religious practices, many of which involved invoking the gods through chants or dances. Over time, these Afro Brazilian religious practices began mingling with Catholic and Protestant influences to create synthetic religions. Some of the more  popular  exponents  include  Candomble, which has a huge following in urban centers like  Rio de Janeiro, and Umbanda.Spiritism is also one of the significant, although minor, religions in Brazil. Spiritistic practices are based largely on ancient Amerindian cultures as well as the influence of the African cultures and customs that were introduced centuries ago, when slaves were brought over to Brazil from the ‘Dark Continent’ of Africa. Such tribes and cultures were particularly inclined towards the worship of spirits since they had not been influenced by more structured notions of creation, which hailed from a reliance on the teachings of Bible.The religions or belief systems found in Brazil other than the ones above include: * Muslims * Methodists * Episcopalians * Buddhists * Ayahuasca * Afro-Brazilian religions – Xango, Batuque, Umbanda, Tambor de Mina * Hinduism * Islamists * Shinto believers * Judaists * Rastafarian * Brazil Religion Makes the Country Unique Every part of the country has been uniquely shaped by the religion practiced there. Celebrations, festivals, traditions, and customs are all practiced due to some religious or spiritual beginnings and purposes.For example, During the Holy Week before Easter, several Brazilian cities will celebrate Corpus Christi by artistically creating mosaics or carpets on the streets using mediums like flour, flower petals, shavings of wood, and coffee grounds. The results are stunning and a memorable way to celebrate this holy time of the year. The music, dancing, chanting, singing, or other activities all stem from one faith or another and make the people who they are. The entire culture of the Brazilian people is intertwined with religion or faith in some way. No wonder they're such an amazing, diverse, and wonderful people!

Friday, September 27, 2019

United states Today Economic Situation and its Credibility around the Essay

United states Today Economic Situation and its Credibility around the world - Essay Example However, while reading the comments section of every online news report, I realized that it was not just Americans who were keeping themselves informed of the latest developments on the matter but also foreigners as well. Aside from this, I also read several news reports in which officials from other countries also expressed views on the subject. As I encountered more of such articles, I began to realize that the highs and lows of the American economy do have profound impacts on other countries. Because of this, it is only expected that they have their own views of current economic conditions of the US. It is also apparent that while the US boasts of still being the most powerful nation on Earth, the cracks on its walls have shown and grown worse through the years as its economy continues to remain in deep crisis. This can be observed by the international community who could only express negative opinions on the matter. For more than a century, the US has long held the title as a dominant global superpower. The two most compelling factors regarding this matter are its economic superiority and military strength. In the 1900s, US dominance was ostensibly challenged by the Soviet Union. It was after World War II that the contest between the two superpowers became more intense. However, the Soviet economy was not match to that of the US. Apparently, while the Soviets continued to espouse a closed-door socialist economy, America was extending it market on a global scale. I find this action not as a reflection of the benevolence or generosity of the country’s big business but simply a result of the drive to accumulate more profits from less saturated markets abroad. To some extent, the economic superiority of the US then had managed to scale down the impression that it too was trying to domin ate the world with its military strength just as the Soviets did. From my point of view, this prompted the development of the concept that economic relations with America make other nations richer too even as it is also making infractions on the sovereignty of other countries through military intervention. When a superpower lavishes a poor country with imported products, it could hardly be considered as a bully by the people. This was definitely not the case with the Soviet Union, which only focused on asserting military superiority. The current economic crisis that the US is facing has proven to be disastrous not just to the average American citizens but also to many other countries in the world. This is naturally the result of several decades of dominance also of the country in the sphere of international trade and global economy, in general. Through all those years, especially after the World War II until recently, the US is a major trading partner of a good number of economicall y more backward countries. These had established relations with the US as their largest market of raw materials and, at the same time, supplier of capital goods and other high-value added finished products. With the crisis besetting the US economy though, it has become a less attractive market from the perspective of those countries that export their raw materials to it. Apparently, the crisis has also led to slower production of capital goods and finished products in the US, while countries like China and India are showing successes in coming up with commodities that are competing with those it had been manufacturing. If I were to be the an

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Socrates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Socrates - Essay Example society must ensure the practice of religion should not endanger the lives of other individuals, including keeping peace and order among its inhabitant (Quinodoz 235). Likewise, Socrates adheres to Freud’s concept of man’s nature (Quinodoz 235). Man’s nature includes the primary desire to kill. Preventing the person from killing the enemy soldier during war will make the person very sad. The person is sad because a living enemy will have a chance to kill the person. With a dead enemy, the person has more chances for survival. However, society will not grant man the authority to kill anyone except for self defense reasons as law enforcers or soldiers. Sometimes, drivers want to kill another driver for bumping and damaging the car during busy traffic situations (Drassinower 156). Socrates’ inquiry method makes each inquisitive person understand why society is preventing man’s nature from being freely implemented. Further, Socrates adheres to the Freud’s concept of man’s nature primary desire to have sex. A person who has sex with another person, especially of the opposite gender, makes the person happy. Preventing such person from having sex will make the person unhappy. Socrates’ inquiry method makes each inquisitive person understand why society is preventing man’s normal desire to have sex (Quinodoz 235). Furthermore, Socrates will adhere to Freud’s espousing society institutes laws to prevent people from becoming happy. The states’ instituting laws that prevent the person from killing one’s enemies, the society is directly making the person unhappy. Society institutes laws in order to keep order in society. The laws institute a justice system. The law requires that all criminals shall be brought to justice. Consequently, justice courts will try the cases. Both accusers and the suspected criminals will present their evidences to the court jury and judge. The courts will decide whether the suspect is guilty of the crime of not. When

Business strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Business strategy - Essay Example Initially, Microsoft used a functional structure in which the workforce would be categorized into departments that suit individual professional specialization. As the company grew, the functional structure could no longer apply. In the current divisional structure, the company has diverse departments with each unit tasked with handling specific lines of operations. Corporate culture includes the shared beliefs, ideas, values, traditions and behavior patterns that give an entity a unique identity. Microsoft Corporation was founded on values and principles held dearly by its pioneer, Bill Gates. Gates believed that starting up a computer company that would enlighten the world and avail technology to everyone was a noble idea. Currently, the company subscribes to market culture in which immense focus is placed on customers. The company seeks to efficiently and diligently carry out its tasks to meet the demands of its global customer base (King and Lawley, 98). One of the major reasons Microsoft has grown steadily in the information technology industry is the marketing strategies it has employed over the years. The company has utilized platforms such as the internet, retail outlets and other resellers to meet the targeted global market. Microsoft also has a highly experienced legal team; an aspect that has worked to its advantage. For example, the Enterprise Agreement Direct Advisors (EDA) is one of those that have significantly improved Microsoft’s marketing outcomes. Consequently, the stable financial situation at Microsoft is the cornerstone of its developmental process. Recently, the company announced revenue of over USD26 billion. There are periods when these figures shoot up to USD70 billion. It also prioritizes on its investments, and this has rightfully earned the company huge revenues. The nature of competition evident in the IT industry requires constant research and

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Labor Supply and Demand Scenario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Labor Supply and Demand Scenario - Essay Example The latter sector constituted by men and women without reference to age and educational attainment, as long as they possess high quality of English proficiency and/or other foreign languages, depending on the destination countries. This happens due to the decision of industrialized countries to concentrate on advanced technologies and thereby setting aside the communications side of their companies. Since the latter eats up much of the investment of companies, and considering further that citizens of these countries demand high salaries, international companies opted to shift this demand for labor to countries where salaries are relatively lower. Since outsourcing requires a fixed cost for communications, it is on salaries that companies limit on the cost. If the communication cost is below than the critical level, outsourcing would increase the aggregate output of business service. Trade in business services increases the productivity of semi-skilled labor in the consumer service if the number of business partners is greater than the percentage increase on the fixed cost. This scenario led to the increase of salary scale of the semi-sk

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Online Application Ning - the Platform Allowing Users to Create and Cl Coursework

Online Application Ning - the Platform Allowing Users to Create and Close Their Own Social Network - Coursework Example This critical analysis functions to examine the role of social networking with a variety of diverse populations, arguing that the widespread social adoption of this technology has not simply been a tool to achieve greater efficiency, but is in actuality reshaping and formatting the nature of human culture and consciousness.A television program recently had a comedic skit where the internet went out in a home and the residents had to resort to a box-labeled ‘pre-internet’ – inside the box were a rubber duck, a barbell, and a fake plastic tree. While most of us recognize that there was a lot more going on in pre-internet times than a box full of trinkets, the absurdity of the skit draws one's attention to the fact that one of the great divides of culture, arguably on the scale of the Protestant Reformation, the Industrial Revolution, or even the Renaissance, is the contemporary occurrence of what has been deemed the Digital Age. Having died in 1980 Marshall McLuhan had only glimpsed its genesis when he proclaimed, â€Å"In this electronic age we see ourselves being translated more and more into the form of information, moving toward the technological extension of consciousness (McLuhan 1967).†With the explosion of Web 2.0 software and the use of social networking sites (SNS), it was certain that professional environments would begin to incorporate the technology. While previous conceptions of computer-mediated communication – video gaming, Facebook use, YouTube – have been characterized as detrimental, the technology is now being reconsidered for its functional value. Many varied corporations have implemented collaborative technology, including Google whose employees hold daily meetings with associates spread throughout the world. One of the most widespread uses of collaborative technology has occurred in education environments. Indeed, certain researchers even argue that this technology is expanding the very nature of the classroom room outside institutional walls.     

Monday, September 23, 2019

Has Affirmative Action had any positive results Should the policy be Essay

Has Affirmative Action had any positive results Should the policy be abandoned - Essay Example In the real sense, Bacchi (1996) indicates that the women and other marginalized groups are the most affected by discriminatory practices in organizations. It is in this light, as a result, that there is need to make sure that a proper rationale is effected to ensure that all persons in the workplace are handled as equally essential, and that all are represented well in the workplace. In addition, Crosby et al. (2006) are of the thought that, affirmative action allows for provision of equal opportunity of all persons, especially in terms of employment, promotion, and access to opportunities of attaining higher education. However, Fairclouch (2001) and Martin (2001) warn that it is vital to assess to what extent discrimination and bias prevails in an organization, and if promotion of equality is workable for all institutions. This is to mean that policy makers must be wary of this fact, and apply a proper guideline in the quest to provide equal treatment of all. This paper shall attem pt to assess if affirmative action has yielded any positive results, and if not, whether it would be advised to abandon the policy. Positives of the affirmative action With an increase in the groups championing for the rights of the minority groups, notable the girl-child and the persons with special needs, it is evident that though the world has not created a leveled playing ground for all the interested parties, the cases of discrimination have reduced greatly (Pincus, 2003). In the world today, the women for instance have been extremely vocal when it comes to them fighting for their rights in the law courts, government, and the social world amongst others. It is at this point of argument that we would argue that there has been a great change from the naive, apprehensive and misguided woman to the modern day woman. A good example is Tyra of the Tyra Banks Show. This is to mean that the women are slowly gaining a prestigious position in the society that was once overshadowed by the prowess of the men. From the work of Bacchi (1996), the ‘new’ woman can be accredited as a product of affirmative action in the society. Through this action, the women have been given opportunities in the government; they have also been consulted prior to making any form of decisions that touch on the society amongst other leadership roles. Despite the numerous debates on the move by women groups to claim position in the society; that they are indeed poor decision makers and are only fit for ‘odd’ jobs, it is evident through the women leaders that there is a great likelihood that women might completely take over in the society. In the argument of Rabe (2001), though affirmative action has been questioned on its ability to reduce discrimination among the races, a huge difference can be seen as compared to the earlier years. In fact, Rabe (2001) insists that affirmative action should not be abandoned on the basis of it not being able to shun all forms of dis crimination in the society. In the event that the affirmative action allows the black race improve their economic ability through leveling the employment protocols, it is possible that in the long run, the blacks will be accepted in the society (Rabe, 2001; Collins, 1993; Sitkoff, 1981). In his work, Rabe (2001) continues to argue that in the case of admission to universities, the affirmative a

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Pay It Forward Essay Example for Free

Pay It Forward Essay Pay It Forward An act of kindness can develop values for both the person receiving the aid and the person offering the support as well as community development. In this summary key points are discussed on altruism. The summary stems from an act of kindness, which was conducted by the author as a student of Capstone Course in Psychology/Psy 490. I presented money to a person who needed money for his or her next meal, without expecting anything in return. A person does not realize the degree of emotions involved in experiencing need nor true concern until he or she begins to offer support with no desire of reward. Altruism, Personal and Professional Social Responsibility, and Codependency Altruism is the act of aiding another without thought of self or reward. Altruism is also the moral obligation to help others (Myers, 2008). These are selfless acts, which grant something to someone else; the ego also desires to develop a responsible identity of self. People also need to identify with personal and professional social responsibility to become mature individuals. According to Chickering and Braskamp (2009), â€Å"a civic and moral identity and sense of obligation to society are more apt to behave in ways, which fulfill individual and social responsibilities† (p. 27). When we cannot fulfill our desires of responsibility codependency can become a reactionary problem where individuals react to problems, pains, lives, and behaviors of themselves and others instead of acting in ways, which are adaptive (Morgan, 1991, p. 724). Applying Altruism to Psychology or Psychological Principles Psychological principles are designed to follow the Code of Conduct and its principles. Psychology practices ethical and humane practices within research as well as promoting mental health. The Code of Conduct is followed strictly by professionals of psychology to uphold the rights of consumers, and to offer help to many of life’s problems. Although psychological approaches are not always acts of giving with no reward, many consumers view psychological interventions as acts of moral obligation. Professionals possess personal and social responsibilities to those in need in the communities. Altruism as it Improves the Human Condition Helping others with no desire for reward is beneficial for the human condition. Performing the act of kindness of providing money for food to someone in need helped to build moral character for both parties involved. The person in need, perhaps has gained knowledge he or she is not alone and others do care about what happens to him or her. The person receiving the gift may reciprocate the act by searching for jobs or applying for social support. The person giving the gift has become responsible to help others; this act can lead to bigger acts in the community of aid to others. Many people in the community practicing altruism can be beneficial in teaching social responsibility to others. In such efforts to promote altruism limits exist in persuading others to become responsible in the plight. Personal and Professional Responsibilities Related to Altruism Altruism is a moral obligation or duty to help others. Responsible individuals are obligated to help those in need, and help provide the direction so he or she may learn independence and responsibility. Psychological professions must uphold a moral character for the reputation of psychology whereas always striving to help clients and patients with social problems. The Future of Psychology in Contemporary Society Society will become more responsible because of psychological interventions. Those individuals who have developed personal and social responsibilities will help others to learn to help themselves. Human society is full of problems, societies’ members cannot expect others not to receive help for their problems. Psychology will play the role of meeting these problems with professional attitudes and awareness. New interventions to promote stronger individual experiences will come from psychology. Altruism will help to mold a society, which eventually will be self-sufficient. Conclusion In conclusion, altruism is a selflessness motive to help others, which can promote betterment for society and lead to personal and social responsibility. Human identity formation must be enriched by experiences, knowledge, and insight or reactionary problems such as codependency can occur. Personal and professional responsibilities to altruism should be conducted without obligation and with awareness of respect and competence. The benefits of altruism to the human condition are immense. Trust and integrity can be learned from acts of kindness. Persons and professionals should always engage altruistic acts for the betterment of social avenues. Psychology’s concepts of preserving future experiences will rely on altruistic codes to promote a healthy future for each member of communities. References Chickering, A., Braskamp, L. A. (2009). Developing a global perspective for personal and social responsibility. Peer Review, 11(4), 27-30. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/216586612?accountid=458 Morgan, J. (1991). What is codependency? Journal of Clinical Psychology, 47(5), 720-729. Myers, D. G. (2008). Social psychology. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

History Of Why Learn Japanese English Language Essay

History Of Why Learn Japanese English Language Essay In todays world where so many activities, both national and personal, occur on a global scale, the study of a language in school and beyond develops the students intercultural competence. It enables them to enter into a challenging intercultural exchange to broaden their perspective, to deepen their capacity to understand and ultimately to deal with the unfamiliar and the unexpected. With over 130 million native speakers and a growing number of non-native speakers, Japanese is the 10th most spoken. Many believe that mastering the Japanese language is the key to engaging with the country. For students who have never been exposed to non-Western cultures, the study of Japanese opens the door to Asia. For students, it is a venue in which to understand their cultural heritage. Japan has the 2nd largest economy in the world. Just by learning Japanese can bring you many business opportunities. A key in winning their business might be being able to communicate with potential customers in their own language. Understanding the Japanese work ethic, their business etiquette, and knowing which cultural faux pas to avoid can often make or break an important business deal. Also to get a better understanding of the Asian market. In addition, when learning Japanese, you become not only proficient in the language but also gain an insider view of the culture. There is an explosion of the many cultural exports that can be found in Japan. From anime to food, karaoke to kimonos, Japanese culture is rich with both contemporary and traditional cultural ways. This unique culture determines the way they interact, react and behave in their daily lives. A knowledge of the language will give you direct access to Japanese film, animations, and comic books, give you insight into the special terminology used in your favourite martial art, and develop your ability to order sashimi like a native at your favourite Japanese restaurant! In addition to what they learn of the language and culture, they will also acquire basic language learning strategies, higher thinking skills, and broader perspectives from their Japanese studies. The benefits for students of learning Japanese can be considered in both the short term and the long term. In the short term, students can look forward to unique activities relating to a completely different culture from their own. They can enjoy fun activities in class, or even hosting a Japanese exchange student. There is always the motivation and pleasure of learning something new and different in Japanese. Furthermore, learning any foreign language, especially Japanese, teaches a student new learning skills, such as ways to increase concentration, memorization, and listening. Studies have shown that these new cognitive skills often improve students performance in other subjects as well. Finally, learning such a unique and special language often gives children a sense of self-confidence and pride they may not have had before. In the long term, a student learns many other important things through the study of Japanese. The value of persistence and respect for other cultures are two of the most important long-term benefits. Learning any foreign language, especially one as different from English as Japanese, helps one to look more critically at ones native language and understand it at a deeper level. Similarly, because it leads to the acquisition of critical communication skills, learning one foreign language is often a jumping-off point for people to learn other languages within their lifetime. Opportunity is possibly the most important long-term benefit of learning Japanese. A child can make lifelong friends and increase his or her opportunity to see Japan in a way most others cannot. In the global community we now live in, having the ability to speak Japanese not only opens doors in higher education and in employment in Japan-related fields, but shows employers that one is intelligent, unique, and globally conscious. The newest opportunity that has arisen for students of Japanese is, of course, a chance to get ahead in college through AP Japanese. In todays competitive collegiate environment, having taken AP courses and passed AP Exams can be a big help in getting into a better college or university. Most colleges and universities treat having passed an AP Exam as college credit, a policy that lightens students course loads and allows them to concentrate on other courses, earn double majors, or simply graduate in less time. Studying Japanese means learning a language that is so different from English that it will make you rethink your most basic assumptions about the way language works. It means learning to conjugate your verbs according not just to tense but also to politeness. It means getting used to the idea that adjectives can have a past tense. It means doing without plurals, choosing among dozens of different words for I, and learning to wait for the verb until the very end of the sentence. Japanese is difficult in ways that European languages are not, but it is also surprisingly easy in ways that they can be difficult. There is no subjunctive mood to worry about, no grammatical gender, no definite or indefinite articles, and no complex conjugations according to person. It is also extremely easy to pronounce Japanese. The Japanese language has a number of dialects, some of which are mutually unintelligible. Thanks to the development of mass communications and the governments directive to establish a common language, however, most people now speak a common tongue. Learning Japanese can and will open many door for you in the future. You just have try your best and have a goal and strive towards it.

Friday, September 20, 2019

The Effects Of Globalisation On Education

The Effects Of Globalisation On Education In this modern era, the term Globalisation is used, accepted and treated famously in most part of the world. Even though the word may not be a particularly sophisticated or attractive word, but there are massive numbers of debates happening around the world relating to the globalisation issue. According to Giddens (1999, p. 7), I have not been to a single country recently where globalisation is not being intensively discussed. Referring to his comment on the popularity of the term globalisation that is made in 1999, I think I could imagine and assume logically of how famous the term would be now. Hence, in this essay, I will discuss the effects of globalisation on education in which specifically focusing on the question whether globalisation really helps to improve education or it actually hinders the true meaning of education. To answer this question, this essay will be divided into a few sections starting from a brief explanation of globalisations and educations background follow b y the effects of education and conclusion. In this essay I will first point out the effects of globalisation on education both positively and negatively not only for industrialised countries but also for underdeveloped countries around the world. This essay also will show the variation of my point of view as I have different perceptions for each aspect. 1. What is globalisation and education? Globalisation has actually existed since long time ago. Based on the Human Development Reports 1990 2000 by Peace Child International, globalisation has existed since the sixteenth century when Britain, France, Spain and the Netherlands started to colonise other countries around the world by conquering, occupying and exploiting them in order to gain profit for themselves (2002, p. 42). However, even when those colonial empires broke down during the twentieth century, the inequality and injustice of colonialism have set the stage for the on-going disparities in the world today. The globalisation that is happening today is actually interrelated with the colonisation that happened before. Some people also said that globalisation is the incarnation of colonisation. The globalisation happening now is very different from the colonial era because, as HDR 1999 explains, it is shaped by new actors, new rules, new markets and new tools each of which creates opportunities but also new challenges (Peace Child International, 2002, p. 42). As the new globalisation is one of the most debated issues nowadays, it is mentioned and discussed everywhere by nations leaders, educators, bloggers, businessman, reporters and even by blue collar workers and any people on the streets. Remarkably, for being so widely used, it is hardly to find a precisely agreed definition. Globalisation as defined in Collins English Dictionary is a trend towards the existence of a single world market dominated by multinational companies (2008). Another brief definition of globalisation that brings similar meaning suggests by Porter (1999, in Mortimore, 2001, p. 230), which is the process by which the peoples and nations of the world are increasingly drawn together into a single entity. Both definitions mentioned above show that globalisation is something that attracts people and nations towards something that is new and in trend. However, these two are among the sources that define globalisation as positive and as general as they are. In fact, ther e are still a lot more definitions of globalisation being discussed around the world. This is because different definitions would come from different point of views. As being mentioned before of how famous the term is, it would not be a surprise if the meaning of the term is hardly to be determined (Giddens, 1999). Fortunately, apart from the general definitions mentioned previously, there is one definition of globalisation that attracts me and helps me to understand the term better. The definition is taken from Waks (2006, as cited in Parjanadze, 2009, p. 84). Waks defines globalisation as: The process whereby market exchange relationships and multimedia telecommunications capabilities spread from the core of economically and technologically developed nations to other regions of the world, facilitating the flow of goods, services, and people across national borders, this process being stimulated by, while in turn reinforcing, an image of the world as a unified whole and humanity, despite its cultural diversity and continuing differentiation, as a single global society, while also generating resistance and violent opposition from those excluded from this imagined global society (2006, as cited in Parjanadze, 2009, p. 84). On the other hand, according to Collins English Dictionary, education is defined as the way of gaining knowledge and understanding which is through the process of learning (2008). Collins English Dictionary also defines education as the system of teaching people at school or university (2008). In general, when we hear or come to think of the word education, automatically it reminds us of our school, teachers, friends and other memories that happened and related to our learning phase. Globalisation: Threats or Opportunities for education? As mentioned before, the term globalisation has been defined to a variety of interpretations by different people. Similarly, the judgement of the effects of globalisation has been made differently too. Some people may think that globalisation is like a new wave of modernisation that helps everyone to live a better life. On the other hand, there are also people who aware that not everything from globalisation will benefit them. Though globalisation may simply mean global interconnectedness, but it includes a number of intertwined and complex technological, economic, environmental, cultural and political processes. Hence, there is no definite agreement about the nature of the phenomenon because the perceptions on the effects of globalisation may vary from person to person depending on their worldview and personal experience. According to Parjanadze (2009, p. 79), The concepts of globalisation, nation state and education are closely intertwined. Hence, both globalisation and education will actually affecting each other whether be it positively or negatively. So, I have come to a good question, Does globalisation really helps to improve education or it actually hinders the true meaning of education? The effects of globalisation on education: Smaller globe of education Throughout the globalisation era, globalisation has somehow helped to change the whole worlds perceptions of education. Once, it was not only difficult to get an opportunity to study abroad, but it was close to impossible for one to get out from their village to learn something out of their communitys and societys norm. Our great ancestors, they were educated at home where they learned basic living skills as a preparation for them to live their life well. Years after years, as the world has transformed dynamically, schools and other learning centres are built in order to cater for a better education purpose. Now, not only there are massive numbers of education centres, but also we have been exposed to a lot easier and conducive ways to learn something whether be it new or old knowledge. If once, it was close to impossible for one to earn knowledge because of lack of exposure and location, fortunately now globalisation has helped to reverse the situation. Now everyone can learn is one of my teacher famous phrases when he would like to lift our spirit in learning something new. He used to use that phrase repeatedly to show how everyone will get the opportunity to earn knowledge easily, to appreciate the chances that we have nowadays compare to our parents and ancestors times. To explain this further, the aspects that will be enlightened in order to show the effect of globalisation on education are in term of the revolution of technology as well as the shortcut of education. I chose to emphasis on these two aspects as I find both are important aspects and they are closely related to each other in defining globalisation as well as in presenting of how they have affected education. 4.1 The revolution of technology As the result of globalisation, the world nowadays has faced the dramatic revolution of technology. In the shortest amount of time, lots of high technology or also known as high tech stuff and services are being invented and developed. High tech means the most  advanced technology currently obtainable, the technology that is at the cutting edge. The introduction of computers, television, internets, radios, notebooks, e-books, email and a lot more high tech stuff has made learning process more convenient. The invention and evolvement of the high tech stuff and services are especially useful for educators. It is easier for the educators to teach, transfer and share the knowledge with their learners not only in their specific classroom, but with any learners in the world. The emergence of this leads to the smaller globe of education where everyone from any part of the world could access the knowledge provided from another part of the world easily. Based on Giddens who points out that instantaneous electronic communication is not just a way in which news or information is conveyed more quickly (1999, p. 11). Giddens further adds that the existence of the electronic communication modifies and gives a lot of impacts to both rich and poor peoples life. As result of instantaneous communication, education is now can be easily accessible and transferrable as the famous saying goes education is now at the tips of everyones fingers. This is supported by Abdul Razak (2011, p. 62) in which he mentions that The emergence of technology-mediated learning has revolutionised the teaching and learning process. According to him, the technology-mediated learning by using the high tech stuff has helped in the distribution of information and knowledge to millions around the world (2011). On the other hand, although Abdul Razak agrees that with the help of technology has enhanced the learning processes, he also disagrees as he feels that when people rely too much on technology throughout their learning process, the downside of it is that the person will eventually lose the true essence of learning which is via interactive communication with the knowledge source as well as with other learners. This is because, when learning via technology medium such as websites, emails or any virtual learning system, the interaction between people/society/community will be cut off as the learning process will be more personalised between the learners and the technology medium only. The idea of how lack of interaction can be a downside for a person has been anticipated long time ago by a well-known psychologist named Fromm (Abdul Razak, 2011, p.62). The idea is: Modern man is alienated from himself, from his fellow men, and from nature. He has been transformed into a commodity, experiences his life forces as an investment in which must bring him the maximum profit obtainable under existing market conditions (Fromm, 1995, as cited in Abdul Razak, 2011, p. 62). Referring to Abdul Razak disagreements point and Fromms idea on modern mans alienation, I admit that their points are true. With tremendous developments in network access worldwide and progress in communication and information technologies generally, to learn from distance is like a current phenomenon being practised around the world. Programmes that support students to learn from far are becoming one of the main ways to offer educational opportunities to students. In my opinion, this kind of learning programme would be great for adult learners who would like to work and study at the same time. However, if it were to use by younger students, it would affect their social skills as it reduce their opportunity to mix and interact with the real society rather than just being a technologys kingdom citizen. This kind of people who love to spend time on internet has been labelled as netizen which means an active participant in the online community of the Internet (http://www.merriam-webster .com/dictionary/netizen). 4.2 The shortcut for education In spite of the disadvantages mentioned above, I would personally prefer to look at how globalisation has revolved the technology which then leads to a few more steps in helping us to earn more knowledge conveniently. It is true that we cannot neglect or abandon the fact that globalisation is mostly benefited the rich or industrialised countries only. This is because there is a famous Malay old saying that is not to always critic the lacks but to appreciate the goodness we have in the racks. Looking at the bright side, there are still noble steps that has been done with the help of technology that comes as the result of globalisation. One of the noble steps that I would like to emphasis is something that I personally symbolises it as the shortcut of education. It is basically about how globalisation eases the journey of education. With the advancement of technology, as being mentioned before, it has helped people around the world to study conveniently. As the world has become smaller and almost borderless, apart from being able to learn from distance and to be able to communicate with the person from other places, globalisation has also helped to ease the journey of the education. Globalisation is like a shortcut towards the finding of ways to education or knowledge. It is said as to ease the journey of education because nowadays it is easier for educators as well as for students to go to anywhere in order to share and to search for education. A lot of foreign universities are offering more interesting and skilful courses locally and internationally. According to Abdul Razak (2011, p. 63), Along with the wave of globalisation, western universities realised that a great opportunity was available in the third world countries, particularly in Asia and Africa, which were once the colonies of the west, to open campuses there. Referring to his point, it is true that in most third world countries, especially Asian countries, there are a lot of universities being established as the branches of some big universities from the western countries. Vice versa, there are also branches of Asian universities being opened in western countries. For instance, the Lim Kok Wing University in Cyberjaya in Malaysia has opened its branch located in London, in the United Kingdom. Abdul Razak further adds that a lot of foreign universities and colleges sell and promote their education, their degrees as well as diplomas to the third world countries local students. This is because by doing that, they are generating huge amount of profit for their educational enterprise (2011, p. 63). As the western universities offer courses to generate profit, the charge for each course is tremendously high. This causes students who are from the lower income family, especially in third world countries suffer and find it difficult to get a tertiary education. 5 The effects of globalisation on education: Education as a tool of commodity As globalisation has helped the enhancement of technology for communications throughout the whole world, it has eventually altered and changed the way educators educate. Paralleling with the technology enhancement and economic revolution, educations nowadays serve more for preparation for work rather than for individual holistic values. Hence, schools, colleges and universities have started to work hard in promoting the courses that are needed for the current job demands. For example in Britain and Northern Ireland, courses and programs were restructured and more new courses are introduced in order to upsurge the marketing for courses such as MBAs and distance learning programme (Smith, 2002). The distance learning programme are being promoted to target those who already in work but would like to further study usually for the upgrading of salary or position purposes. On top of that, the current demand in the labour market has raised the awareness of how important a degree would be in order to confirm them a safe position in their work field. This is because, the perception that people have on the current economy plays a major impact on how they view the effect of globalization on education. Regardless of the higher costs that they have to pay, students still find that it is necessary to stay in school and to further study in higher education in order to gain as many accreditation as they can before entering the job market. As mentions by Wolf (2002, in Smith, 2002), At a certain point in what had been a steady, slow expansion, large numbers of people started to feel they really had better get a degree, because not doing so would be such a bad move. The first wave set off another and so on. Looking at this phenomenon, it is assumed that in the next coming years, the enrolment numbers to higher education will increase as they believe that not having a degree in current economical demands will be an obstacle to their success (Smith, 2002). Another form of how education has been change into commodification is the privatisation and corporatisation of schools and national policies. Nowadays, education field has become an arena where corporations and universities from around the world compete with each other for students in order to sustain and extend their funding (Smith, 2002). Students and parents are acknowledged and treated as customers when they are given choices to choose which school has promoted their qualities the best and which learning experiences brands sounds more promising. This kind of promotion is related to the labour market demands mentioned previously too. As parents and students both want to get the best educations to promise a better job future, they seem not to be bothered by this kind of selling the learning experience trend. The real danger is that unthinking adoption of the private sector model prevents the development of an approach to management in the public services in general or to the social services in particular based on their distinctive purposes, conditions and tasks (Stewart, 1992, as cited in Smith, 2002). Referring to Stewarts comment, he believes that by implementing such business strategies on promoting education has come to resemble a private, rather than for public good. This is because, by adopting standardised teaching models and striving for specified outcomes achievement, less emphasis is put on community and equity. More emphasis is put on individual enhancement and the need to fulfil influential customers as well as to satisfy customers (Smith, 2002). Hence, in this case, does commodification help education or does it hinder education? In my opinion, it is true that it does not look noble when we see the current phenomenon of selling education. However, I believe that to survive in this revolutionary world, we have to keep moving forward as this is the only that we can do in order to make sure that we are not being left behind. I view this as if we are running on the treadmill. Once the button start is pushed, we need to keep on running whether be it to run slowly or to keep with the pace set to keep us from falling down. It is true too that after a while, we will feel tired and that is when we started to feel to stop running or to just walk on the treadmill. Same goes with globalisation and especially towards the idea of commodification. To look at the bright side, when education is changed into commodification, at least it raises the awareness among youngsters that they need to keep moving, to keep catching the opportunities in order to achieve their aims. As the effect of globalisation too that it triggers them to be more competitive in their study as well as in their working field in future. Thus, I think, despite the negative impacts of commodification mentioned around, we can still gain something beneficial from them. 6 The effects of globalisation on education: English as a dominant language, English as a lingua franca According to Kelly (2004) through globalisation, English has achieved the status to be declared as a lingua franca. Based on the British Councils report (as cited in Kelly, 2004), The speakers of English as a second language probably outnumber those who speak it as a first language, and around 750 million people are believed to speak English as a foreign language. English has been declared as a dominant language, as a lingua franca, for it has about two billion people in at least 75 countries who speaks in it .Furthermore, English is the most common language to be used as a medium of communication for scientific, technological, and academic field as well as for international trade information.   On top of that, the establishment of foreign universities and the revolution of technology have helped the people in developing and underdeveloped countries to learn and master the English language effectively. The trend of learning and mastering of English has been an inevitable thing in most of the non-English-spoken countries. For example, from my point of view as a Malaysian student, I could see that Malaysian has been benefited a lot as the result of globalisation as well as colonisation. Malaysia, as a developing country, was once being labelled as underdeveloped. However, after being colonialized by a few countries, the education system in Malaysia has undergone a lot of changes. Like in any places, some changes are effectively implemented while some are not. The most obvious example of positive effect that Malaysian has gained is the exposure and opportunity to learn English as our second language. In 2003, in order to meet the challenges of globalisation, the government has taken a brilliant step in introducing the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English. Unfortunately, even though the programme has been implemented successfully, the Malaysian government decided to revert to the teaching by using Bahasa Melayu again by the year 2012. This is because the programme had been criticized by the Malay linguist and political activist (Abdul Razak, 2011, p. 63). Besides the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English programme, I think the decision of teaching English as a second language in the curriculum alone has made a big impact on Malaysia educations future. As English is a dominant language in the world, by acquiring and mastering it proficiently would be a great point that could elevate a persons educational level higher from others. This will help them to portray a good professional image when applying for a job. Conclusion In analysing the impact of globalization on education, I find that globalisation seems to be a pretty beneficial movement in terms of education, although there are still several obstacles in its way. Looking at how to find the origin and the definition of the term globalisation as well as to identify the effects of globalisation on education, it is undeniable that globalisation is a challenging concept to perceive. As Parjanadze (2009, p. 86) says that globalisation is difficult to perceive because globalisation is based on notions of time and space and a shift in the dimensions cause reinterpretation and re-structuring of the reality around us. As previously I have mentioned how I see commodification as something like treadmill, it is the same with the whole idea of globalisation. Despite the valid points made regarding how the advancement of technology and the commodification of education hinder the true essence of education, we should not totally reject the globalisation of the wo rld. This is because in my opinion, it is apparent that the revolution of technology has given and still giving us a lot of conveniences especially in term of communication, transportation and entertainment. Technology has particularly help to create a smaller globe of education which then leads to a lot more advantages. Thus, it is essential for each of us to understand that throughout the process of globalisation, we need to be able to accept, to adapt and keep on track with the current pace of the revolution in order to make sure that we will be left behind.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Real World or the Fake World :: Literature Science Fiction Books Papers

The Real World or the Fake World Real World or Fake World? Science Fiction not only deals with science in todays world, but also with science in the future. In the futuristic novel Snow Crash, by Neal Stevenson, and in the movie The Matrix computers become a huge part of the future society. Even though technology advances so much in futuristic societies, these futuristic societies still share some of the same aspects of todays world. Snow Crash and The Matrix express what life in the future might become. Both the novel and the movie have similarities and differences. Snow Crash is a novel dealing with the near future. Even though the characters live on the west coast of the Americas, the whole world has been destroyed by humans. In this book the main characters and any other human are able to freely choose between two worlds. The Matrix also takes place in the future. The Matrix is a futuristic time when the world has become dark and gloomy from the result of machines that were built by humans taking over and controlling their creators. Already there are similarities between these two works. Slowly the humans destroy their own civilizations over time in one way or the other. One aspect the future holds in these works is the idea of having two different worlds. In the film the two different worlds are the realistic world in which machines use humans as energy sources, and the matrix. In the matrix humans are unaware they are in a fake world unless they are freed and detached from the system which controls them. Until they are detached or if they are never detached, humans have no idea of what the real world is. In the novel the characters are totally aware when they go into the fake world which is referred to in the novel as the metaverse. In the novel the real world is so destroyed that the metaverse is a way for society to get away from it and be who they want to be instead of who they are. Humans are able to choose who their avatar, or what their character is, in the metaverse. They are free to be who they want to be with only a few limitations. For example, they are not allowed to be any size they want to be because if they decided to be a large avatar there would be a metaverse filled with giants overwhelming the other avatars.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Florida International University Essay -- Environment, Waste, Green Pr

Florida International University (FIU) is not only a standard in quality education as it is also a innovator in best practices especially those that have to do with the environment. The University’s commitment to ensuring that its community contributes to the preservation and protection of the environment has led it to pioneer innovations in solid waste management, in particular, in recycling; because the University clearly understands that recycling is more beneficial compared to waste disposal, it has established its own reputation in the proper and efficient management of solid waste. Florida International University recognizes its contribution to the accumulation of waste considering that it produces about seven million pounds of waste each year (Figueroa, 2010). Unlike other universities that still remain adamant in investing on green practices, FIU has, â€Å"governed by the State of Florida under Florida Statute 403.714 and The Florida Solid Waste Management Act of 1988† (FIU, 2011), established its own internal ‘green machine’ or solid waste and environmental protection system via the FIU Custodial Services Office. The university’s efforts in ensuring efficient solid waste management even â€Å"far exceeds the minimum standards† (FIU, 2011) required by law. What makes the solid waste management efforts of the university one-of-a kind is the establishment of a â€Å"single stream recycling program which means that all recyclable items can be placed into one bin and do not have to be sorted† (FIU, 2011). Nevertheles s, despite the use of single recycle bins, proper labeling has to accompany each bin to ensure that only materials that are recyclable are placed in the bins. There are also different sized of bins which are placed stra... ...g, however, costs only $35 per ton. The school also makes $10 for every ton of paper it recycles† (Figueroa, 2009). This means that apart from saving the environment, the university also earns and is able to cut down on expenses for certain things because of the use of recycled materials. Of course, the most important aspect of recycling in the university is awareness and with students who are currently seriously considering the way they manage their solid waste, the campaign and program becomes even more successful. To do this, the university has also joined the national FIU Recyclemania for two years now and had placed exceptionally well (FIU, 2011). It is very important in any environmental effort that the stakeholders are made aware of the benefits of the efforts so that the program earns propriety and becomes a culture instead of just an obligation.