Trust versus mistrust

Trust versus mistrust Introduction Erik Erikson’s model of psychosocial development is one of the approaches that are supposed to describe a person’s behavior across the lifespan. This model includes several important concepts that can be used for explaining the way in which an individual’s identity is shaped. In particular, one can speak about the stage, when a child learns to trust and mistrust.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Trust versus mistrust specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This development stage can influence values, attitudes, and perceptions of a person. This is one the main aspects that should be distinguished. In turn, this paper is aimed at discussing these notions from biophysical, psychological, and social dimensions since they are important for the evaluation of a person’s development. These are the main questions that should be examined more closely. On the whole, it is possible to argue that the choice between trust and mistrust has profound implications for the behavior of a person and his attitude toward other people. Additionally, parents and social workers should make sure that an infant is not exposed to significant hazards during this psychosocial stage. This task is critical for promoting the socialization of a child, his/her self-esteem, and subjective well-being. This is the main argument that can be put forward. Erik Erikson’s notions of trust and mistrust According to Erik Erikson’s model, during the first fifteen months, a child should establish a â€Å"balance between trust and mistrust† (Ashford LeCroy, 2010, p. 91). Provided that caregivers are responsive and consistent, an infant will be more like to treat the world as something secure or friendly (Sneed, Whitbourne, Culang, 2006). Moreover, in the future, a child will be more willing to trust other people. This is one of the possible scenarios that can be identified. I n contrast, if a child’s needs are not met by parents, he/she will find it difficult to trust others. Moreover, such a person may often feel insecure. In the long term, this person will adopt a pessimistic attitude toward others. These are some of the details that can be distinguished. At present, researchers carry out various studies that can verify the main premises of Erik Erikson’s model. It is necessary to identify the independent variables that can be used as the predictors of a person’s long-term development, and very often, this task is very challenging (Roisman Fraley, 2013).Advertising Looking for critical writing on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nevertheless, Erikson’s model can be useful for explaining the legacies of early childhood experiences on the identity of a person and his/her perception of the world. This is one of the arguments that can be advanced . Biophysical perspective Erikson’s notions of trust and mistrust can be illustrated from various viewpoints. In particular, it is possible to the biophysical dimensions of this question. This approach implies that one should clearly evaluate the impact of biological factors on the development of an individual (Ashford LeCroy, 2010, p. 50). These factors can manifest themselves during pre-natal and post-natal stages of a person’s life. In many cases, researchers focus on the impact of genes on human behavior. However, in order to examine the relevance of Erikson’s theory, one should also look at biophysical processes that can be explained by external events. In particular, researchers note that during infancy, a person is particularly vulnerable to various biophysical hazards such as falls, burns, or even poisoning (Ashford LeCroy, 2010, p. 242). Ericson’s model implies that physical injuries sustained at an early can significantly increase a child†™s sense of insecurity in the future. Such a person will think primarily about dangers or threats while facing various unfamiliar situations. Thus, parents should make sure that the risks of such events are eliminated or reduced to the minimum. It should be kept in mind that at this age, a child acts as an explorer who wants to examine the properties of the surrounding world. This is one of the aspects that should be considered by caregivers. Overall, neglect is the main pitfall that they should avoid. Among the main consequences of neglect, one can distinguish low-level of self-esteem, extreme risk aversion, and unwillingness to find creative solutions to difficult situations (Hildyard Wolfe, 2002, p. 679). This is why this risk should not be overlooked by social workers. Moreover, such experiences as hunger can also prompt a child to mistrust other people. On the whole, social workers should evaluate parents’ ability to meet the physiological needs of child because it is critical for long-term development of a child and his/her worldviews. This assessment is critical for the identification and prevention of possible hazards such as mental; disorders.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Trust versus mistrust specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Psychological perspective Apart from that, this issue can be examined from a psychological perspective. A child, who is only 15 months old, only forms his/her impressions about the world. Parents should attach much importance to the infants’ psychological needs. For example, they should be comforted, if they are frightened by something. However, parents can fail to do it; as a result, infants learn to distrust other people. Furthermore, they may struggle with such problems as low self-esteem, continuous feeling of uncertainty in the future. Moreover, this individual may eventually develop a very pessimistic perception of the world. There are several factors which can make a child to be mistrustful. For example, researchers point out that the exposure to parental conflicts can adversely affect the cognitive development of a person (Pendry Adam, 2013, p. 502). This is one of the details that should be considered by parents as well as social workers. These professionals should pay attention to several criteria, the possibility of attachment failure or the way in which the child responds to his/her parents. In this way, they will be able to identify potential problems at an early stage. These are the main strategies that can be adopted. Social dimension Social perspective is also important for understanding the formation of trust or mistrust. Infancy and childhood have not been closely examined by sociologists (King, 2007). Nevertheless, the ability to establish social ties is critical for the long-term development of a person. It should be noted an infant seeks to find a person who he/she can rely on. This role should be played by played by parents. Much attention should be paid to their responsiveness. In this context, this term can be defined as the willingness or ability of parents to interact with children. Unfortunately, many children are deprived of this opportunity. For instance, one can mention that the children raised by drug-addicted, often feel alienated from their peers (Steinhausen et al., 2004). Additionally, this problem can be attributed to the failure of caregivers to interact with their children during infancy. For example, researchers focus on mother-toddler relations because they can shape emotional development of a child and his/her socialization (Bocknek, 2012). According to Erikson, the problems, which can occur during the first fifteen months, can impair a person’s ability to establish social relations. In contrast, an infant, who learns to trust caregivers, has a better capacity to interact with other people.Advertising Looking for critical writing on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is one of the distinctions that can be singled out. Hence, social workers and educators should focus on the ability of parents to ensure the socialization of an infant. It should be borne in mind that the social threats to development often manifest themselves when a child grows older (Laucht, Esser, Schmidt 1997). One should not suppose they always become evidence during infancy. This is one of one of the tasks that should be considered by educators when they evaluate the development of a child. Moreover, it is possible to say that Erikson’s model can be a valuable tool for understanding the way in which a person’s identity can be constructed through various external forces. Scenario It is possible to construct a scenario that can illustrate the relevance of Erikson’s model. In particular, one should focus on a situation which illustrates a child’s choice between trust and mistrust. For example, one can look at an infant who is breastfed by the mot her. In this case, one should first speak about the biophysical needs of a child, for example, nutrition. If these needs are consistently met, an infant will be more likely to trust other people and have a more positive attitude toward the external environment. In the future, this attitude can become a part of his identity. In turn, he/she can become mistrustful, if the behavior of the mother is unpredictable, and she does not feed the infant regularly. Apart from that, the interaction with parents is critical for developing attachments. Provided that parents regularly play with the child, he/she will be more willing to take part in social relations. Yet, he/she can become reticent if parents become irritant or emotionally distant. Thus, parents should remember that their display of emotions can have significant for the child’s later development. Apart from that, an infant can easily be frightened by sudden sounds or visual images. In this case, parents should comfort the chi ld, and if they fail to do it, he/she can become susceptible to various problems such as anxiety. This scenario is important because it illustrates the application of Erikson’s theory. Moreover, it throws light on various effects of this choice between trust and mistrust. Conclusion Overall, this discussion suggests that such concepts as trust and mistrust are critical for explaining various peculiarities of a person’s behavior. Certainly, at this point, Erik Erikson’s model still requires empirical validation, and it is necessary to carry out various studies that can highlight the strengths and weaknesses of this model. However, its major premises can be important for explaining how the values or attitudes of a person are formed. According to this approach, an infant attempts to evaluate the world in terms of its friendliness, predictability, or physical comfort. The main task of parents is to make sure that the child is safeguarded against various risks at thi s stage of development. It is critical to focus on biophysical, psychological, and social aspects because each of them can influence a child’s choice between trust and mistrust. These are the main points that can be made. Reference List Ashford, J., LeCroy, C. (2010). Human behavior in the social environment: a  multidimensional perspective. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. Bocknek, E. (2012). Maternal Psychological Absence and Toddlers Social-Emotional Development: Interpretations From the Perspective of Boundary Ambiguity Theory. Family Process, 51(4), 527-541. Hildyard, K. L., Wolfe, D. A. (2002). Child neglect: developmental issues and outcomes. Child Abuse Neglect, 26, 679-695. King, M. (2007). The sociology of childhood as scientific communication – Observations from a social systems perspective. Childhood A Global Journal Of Child Research, 14(2), 193-213. Laucht, M., Esser, G., Schmidt, M. H. (1997). Developmental outcome of infants born with b iological and psychosocial risks. Child Psychology Psychiatry Allied Disciplines, 38(7), 843-853. Pendry, P., Adam, E. (2013). Child-Related Interparental Conflict in Infancy Predicts Child Cognitive Functioning in a Nationally Representative Sample. Journal Of Child Family Studies, 22(4), 502-515. Roisman, G. I., Fraley, R. (2013). Developmental Mechanisms Underlying the Legacy of Childhood Experiences. Child Development Perspectives, 7(3), 149-154. Sneed, J., Whitbourne, S., Culang, M. (2006). Trust, identity, and ego integrity: Modeling Eriksons core stages over 34 years. Journal Of Adult Development, 13(3-4), 148-157. Steinhausen, H., Mas, S., Ledermann, C., Metzke, C. (2006). Risk factors for the development of emotional and behavioural problems in children born to drug-dependent mothers. European Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 15(8), 460-466.

Speak of the Devil!

Speak of the Devil! Speak of the Devil! Speak of the Devil! By Maeve Maddox One of my favorite sayings is God is in the details. It makes me think of patient medieval manuscript illuminators who might spend days on the meticulous execution of one initial letter. Their work was a form of prayer. Every detail deserved the utmost attention because the work was being offered to the glory of God. Nowadays the expression has morphed into the Devil is in the details The necessity of paying close attention to details is still the focus of the saying, but now the admonition warns against ignoring details for fear of law suits or time delays. A FEW OTHER DEVIL EXPRESSIONS between the devil and the deep blue sea trapped in a difficult situation with no easy way out. (between a rock and a hard place) therell be the devil to pay there will be severe consequences devilled eggs hard-cooked eggs in which the yolks have been flavored with hot spices; devilled grilled with hot condiments (also spelled deviled) devils food cake a rich moist, airy layer cake made with cocoa. Probably named to contrast it with angel food cake, which is white and fluffy. devil-may-care attitude a wildly reckless attitude that laughs at caution a devil of a question a question that has no easy answer, or, perhaps, a question considered impertinent by the person being asked it. dust devil sand spout or dust storm printers devil a printers apprentice devilry, deviltry, devilment all words referring to devilish behavior, either in the sense of wicked behavior or of roguery. speak of the devil nowadays this expression is used when one has been speaking of a person just before the person arrives. Or perhaps one has been speaking of rain just before a downpour. Full-length versions of the proverb: Speak of the devil and he will appear; Speak of the devil and hell be at your elbow. The expression originated with the belief that one should not mention the devils name for fear of attracting his attention. Devils advocate from Latin. advocatus diaboli, one whose job it is to urge against the canonization of a candidate for sainthood. little devil little rascal; playful use for clever rogue devilish behavior wicked behavior OTHER NAMES FOR THE DEVIL Old Nick Old Scratch Lucifer Beelzebub The Tempter The Lord of Darkness The Deceiver The Lord of the Flies Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Examples of Passive Voice (And How To Fix Them)8 Types of Parenthetical Phrases50 Musical Terms Used in Nonmusical Senses

Surrealism in Fashion Elsa Schiaparelli and Yang Du Essay

Surrealism in Fashion Elsa Schiaparelli and Yang Du - Essay Example The essay "Surrealism in Fashion Elsa Schiaparelli and Yang Du" analyzes fashion and surrealism. The paper looks at the shift from the manifestation of the ‘future’ in the historical past to near subsequent dream world of Surrealist response, whereby the future as depicted in Salvador Dalà ­Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s distorted timepieces in Persistence of Memory, removes the logic of ‘progress’ prior Modernist movements toward an organic incorporation of technology, rather than mere orchestration of the future. Influenced by both conventions of Italian Futurism and French Surrealist aesthetics, Elsa Schiaparelli’s designs in speak to this moment of transition in Inter-War History. The second half of the essay is an examination of current theoretical debates on the cumulative, and necessarily disjunctive quality of cultural productions, or the so-called â€Å"crisis of representation.† Following Walter Benjamin’s notions of ‘Ur’ history, whe re things of the past leave their traces for further reproduction in the future, I will draw on the visual technologies of advertising imagery of Europe’s inter-war regime(s) to access fundamental links between capital, political ideology, technology and the bodies of fashionistas. Thierry Mugler’s work is a candid and cheeky derivative of this history; making fun of fascism whilst promoting its aesthetic as impenetrable, yet sexy. In both of these fashion designers’ work, inscription of power on ‘the body’ through haute fashion culture, serves as a historical trace. ... The emergence of Surrealism within fashion, for instance, was marked by the birth of parallel aesthetic cultures in commercial advertising, and especially the incorporation of art photography. The first coherent movement dedicated to aesthetic pastiche, Surrealism set the tone for later movements like Deconstruction. The first half of the paper looks at the shift from the manifestation of the 'future' in the historical past to near subsequent dream world of Surrealist response, whereby the future as depicted in Salvador Dal's distorted timepieces in Persistence of Memory, removes the logic of 'progress' prior Modernist movements toward an organic incorporation of technology, rather than mere orchestration of the future. Influenced by both conventions of Italian Futurism and French Surrealist aesthetics, Elsa Schiaparelli's designs in speak to this moment of transition in Inter-War History. The second half of the essay is an examination of current theoretical debates on the cumulative, and necessarily disjunctive quality of cultural productions, or the so-called "crisis of representation." Following Walter Benjamin's notions of 'Ur' history, where things of the past leave their traces for further reproduction in the future, I will draw on the visual technologies of advertising imagery of Europe's inter-war regime(s) to access fundamental links between capital, political ideology, technology and the bodies of fashionistas. Thierry Mugler's work is a candid and cheeky derivative of this history; making fun of fascism whilst promoting its aesthetic as impenetrable, yet sexy. In both of these fashion designers' work, inscription of power on 'the body' through haute fashion culture, serves as a historical trace intended to transcribe the collection of next season's

Ibsen, An Enemy of the People analytical Assignment

Ibsen, An Enemy of the People analytical - Assignment Example in the playas the author portrays the negative side of small town politics and warns against political leaders who are solely rooted, having only a myopic visions for example Mayor Peter stockmann,when Dr Stockmann discovers the pollution in the Baths ,the Mayor instead doesnt want it publicized, he say that the report must not reach the people as he is threatened that they might questioned his work,( it was his idea to lay the pipes where they are) and may cost him for his improper leadership, an assertion that portrays his political role of bad governance. Bad leadership portrayed by Peter Stockmann made him disrupt Dr Stockmanns meeting and sway people not to give him a chance to read his report about the dangers of the Baths, the Mayor is interested in maintaining his position, while people like Hovstad are supportive as they want to have the report for their own selfish gain. Corruption which is an element of bad leadership is clearly outlined by the author in relation to Peter Stockmann political role in the play,as a political leader who is only interested in achieving his ambitions,Peter Stockmann ,want the medical officer of the Baths,Dr Stockmann to withdraw the report concerning the contamination of the public utility,what is obviously amounting to corrupt deeds.he forces him to write another report from further"investigation" that will resort the matter not as dangerous as imagined. Peter Stockmann, depicted an element of misuse of power when he refuses to implement,the report and the recommendations.Ibsen(1997) wrote that,Dr Stockmann is aware that Peter hates the idea of someone doing any service to the town except for himself ( p. 21) further more Catherine stockmann also doesnt want bad blood between the brothers and suggested that the Doctor should swallow his prides and agree that the Mayor was involved in the finding,she says" couldnt drop a hint that it was he who set you on the scent of this discovery"( Inbsen ,1977,p.21) this was to silence

Media Analysis and Engagement Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Media Analysis and Engagement Plan - Essay Example The product was able to win over many fans and boost sales due to its innovative features such as a large HD touch screen, rounded design, eye movement recognition and pop-up play features (Samsung Electronics, 2013). The successful release of the upgraded flagship product across the world prompted Samsung to create an even better version, the Samsung Galaxy S-IV, which is to be released sometime in 2013. However, speculations as to the product’s specifications and release date were already starting to creep up in the web, despite the South Korean company not fully disclosing about the product just yet. In order to curb the hype as well as to properly inform the public and the product’s targeted audience, a social media and traditional media engagement plan would be designed to create a smooth and problem-free product release for the Samsung Galaxy S-IV. Identified Target Audiences (Online and Offline) High-end devices such as smartphones are known to appeal to two majo r age groups which are known to be tech-savvy among most of the general public: the 15-34 age group and the 35+ age group, also known as the Generation Y’s (We Are Apps, 2013). This is explainable by the fact that both age groups grew up with a full knowledge about rapid technological advancements and are not shy from using them, aside from having the income to buy such devices. They are also the age group that mostly frequent online, and they are able to passively advertise products and services either by blogging about them or uploading the photos of products or logos. They are also receptive to offline advertisements such as traditional mass media approaches due to familiarity or frequent use at home, thus these other forms of media would work on them as well. As these two age groups use their preferred media, people around them or those that they know well also get easily informed since they are able to use all forms of communication, and would be able to relay informatio n to friends, families, co-workers, and other people within their network. This creates additional target audiences through passively advertising about products by telling others about their experiences (Benkler, 2006). Thus using both online and offline strategies could easily create a wider coverage not just of the two targeted age groups but also to other age groups by catching their interest, both by online networking strategies and the use of print, television, and radio ads. Proposed Story Angle for Target Audiences and Media Anticipating a fun and relaxing summer is the chosen theme for the media engagement plan, and an image of positivity, various new experiences and uplift would be most applicable. Whereas the previous smartphone had variable story angles due to an increased focus in the product’s innovative features, it would be better to create an atmosphere for the new product since it would mostly be sharing some similar features with its predecessor. By introduc ing the product as a great way to experience and capture summer, people would more likely recall light and positive experiences, which could draw them in to the product much further. To keep the interest of the public and the target audience, in using traditional visual media short advertisements that are serial in nature (e.g. open-ended) can be used, aside from just showing the product’s features plainly. Showing experiences that most can relate to would not only make the company seem much more in tune with

Analysis Of Engineering Students Problems In Speaking English Language Essay

Analysis Of Engineering Students Problems In Speaking English Language Essay The objective of the study was to investigate the English language problems in terms of speaking and writing skills of engineering students at a technical university in Malaysia based on the perceptions of students and English language lecturers. The study was conducted within the framework of needs analysis as part of the larger curriculum review exercise in the effort to redesign English language courses that meet the needs of the stakeholders. A 15-item questionnaire was formulated and distributed to 612 engineering students and 36 English language lecturers of the technical university. The findings of the survey indicated that there is a difference between students and lecturers perceptions of students problems in speaking and writing. Based on the findings of the study relevant recommendations were made to assist in the decision making process of the curriculum review exercise. KEYWORDS Language problems, Speaking, Writing, Curriculum review, English for Specific Purposes, Needs analysis INTRODUCTION One of the recommendations mentioned consistently in research projects commissioned by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education is the need for a comprehensive review of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) programmes of Malaysian universities (Morshidi et al., 2008; Isarji et al., 2008). The recommendation is in direct response to the nations concern for the declining standard of English among Malaysian university students and graduates and the need to meet the expectations of the stakeholders. The research project reported that based on scores in the English Proficiency Test (EPT) and perceptions of business leaders, government officials and academic staff, Malaysian university students, in general, were considered limited users of English in the productive skills; namely, writing and speaking (Isarji et al., 2008). The literature on ESP, college graduates, and employability reveals a list of problems faced by university students in terms of writing and speaking such as writing reports, memos, proposals, formal letters, instructions, manuals, summaries, technical jargons, and using grammatically correct sentences, participating in discussions, communicating with people, telephone conversations, everyday conversation, oral presentation, and negotiations (Horowitz, 1986; Basturkmen and Al-Huneidi, 1996; Ferris and Tagg, 1996; Hyland, 1997; Sullivan and Girginer, 2002; Abdul Aziz, 2004; Siti Hanim and Ismie Roha, 2005; Isarji et al., 2008); and Ostler et al., 2008). This study was conducted within the framework of needs assessment as part of the larger curriculum review exercise in the effort to redesign English language courses, especially in terms of speaking and writing skills of engineering students that meet the needs of the stakeholders. The research questions were as follows: 1. What are the problems of engineering students in writing and speaking? 2. What are the problems of engineering students in writing and speaking from the lecturers point of view? 3. Is there a difference between the perceptions of students and lecturers? METHODOLOGY This study utilized a survey based on a four-point Likert scale. The items in the survey were developed based on sub-skills in the productive skills. Six items were included in the survey in order to capture the perceptions of students writing sub-skills while ten items were to capture the perceptions of students speaking sub-skills. The survey was distributed to engineering students and English language lecturers of a technical university in Malaysia. A total of 612 students and 36 English language lecturers responded to the survey. Responses to the survey were subjected to descriptive analysis using the SPSS software version 12. In the analysis, the responses based on Agree and Strongly Agree categories were combined in order to capture the agreement to each statement. FINDINGS The findings are presented based on the three research questions. A summary of the findings based on students and lecturers performance are reported separately for both skills (speaking and writing skills). The summary of results is based on percentages of responses according to agreement to the statements in the questionnaires. The first research question is as follows: RQ1: What are the problems of engineering students in writing and speaking? According to Figure 1, on the average, more than half of the students reported that they had difficulties in writing. The most problematic writing sub-skill was writing grammatically correct sentences (71%), followed by choosing suitable words (66%), as well as developing and organizing their writing (56.5%). The writing sub-skill with the least problem as reported by the students was linking sentences in a paragraph (46.8%), followed by spelling correctly (47.7%), and combining paragraphs in an essay (47.7%). Figure 1: Engineering students perceptions of their problems in writing Figure 2: Engineering students perceptions of their problems in speaking In terms of engineering students perceptions of their problems in speaking, the data tabulated in Figure 2 shows that they had problems using grammatically correct language (73.3%), speaking fluently (72%), using varied vocabulary and expressions (67.8%) as well as speaking confidently in English (60.5%). The students, on the other hand, perceived to have fewer problems with participating in discussion (44.3%). communicating with people (44.6%), making suggestions and supporting their views (49.5), and speaking clearly and loudly (49.8%). The second research question asked, RQ2: What are the problems of engineering students in writing and speaking from the lecturers point of view? Figure 3: Lecturers perceptions of engineering students problems in writing Figure 4: Lecturers perceptions of engineering students problems in speaking The lecturers reported that the students had problems with all the sub-skills of speaking (Figure 3). The biggest problem was choosing suitable words (94.5%), followed by writing grammatically correct sentences (94.4%), and combining paragraphs in an essay (80.6%). As far as speaking is concerned, the lecturers reported that the students had problems with all speaking sub-skills (Figure 4). The top three problems reported were using grammatically correct language (94.4%), using varied vocabulary and expressions (91.6%) and speaking fluently (86.1%). The third research question is as follows: RQ3: Is there a difference between the perceptions of students and lecturers? The independent sample t-test conducted indicates that there is a significant difference (p≠¤0.05) between the perceptions of students and lecturers of students problems in writing and speaking in all the items (see Appendix 1). This shows that overall, the way the students perceive their problems in writing and speaking differ from the way their English language lecturers perceive the students problems. The results also show that the mean of the lecturers ratings on all the items were consistently higher than of the students ratings of their own speaking and writing problems. In a separate analysis, on the average, 56.2% of the students perceived writing as a problem as compared to the views of the lecturers on the same issue, which is 82.4%. Similarly, 58% of the students perceived speaking as a problem in contrast to the views of the lecturers, which is 80.2%. DISCUSSIONS This study is a small component of a larger curriculum review exercise. The findings of the study, in general, suggest that both students and English language lecturers were in agreement that the students had: problems in writing and speaking; specific writing problems in choosing suitable words and writing grammatically correct sentences; and specific speaking problems in using grammatically correct language, using varied vocabulary and expressions, and speaking fluently. Not only that both lecturers and students concurred that students had problems in writing and speaking, there is a significant difference between how students and lecturers perceived students problems. The lecturers tended to be more critical of the students problems in writing and speaking than the students themselves. One may not be far fetch to conjecture that the reason for the perceptions to be significantly different perhaps is due to the tenacity of most English language lecturers to accentuate the importance of attaining a minimum threshold level in order to succeed in an English medium university in contrast to the lackadaisical attitude of many Malaysian students towards English. The findings of this study are consistent with the literature on the perceptions Malaysian university lecturers and students of students attitudes towards English in general (Isarji et al., 2008). The findings of the study also provide realistic recommendations pertaining to curriculum review exercise. Firstly, in addition to the teaching of listening, speaking, reading and writing, there is a need to include grammar as an important core competence of language learning. The grammar component, however, needs to be taught in context instead of in isolation not only to ensure that language learning activities relate to the real world but also to enhance students motivation. It needs to be emphasized; however, for English language teaching and learning to solely focus on grammar is to ignore the importance of communicative competence as the ultimate goal. Secondly, students need to be provided with more opportunities to be involved in activities that promote rich vocabulary acquisition. Finally, in a curriculum review exercise, it is imperative to include the opinions of the stakeholders particularly the students and teaching staff. The fact that both students and lecturers acknow ledged the same language problems, even though there is a significant difference between their perceptions make it less demanding for the programme provider to design a language programme that meets the needs of the stakeholders including the students and university. CONCLUSION Even though Malaysian university students have the benefit of at least 11 years of exposure to English language learning as a subject in a school setting, the findings of the study indicate that both students and lecturers perceived grammar and vocabulary to be problematic to students. On this account, 3 hours of exposure to English a week for 14 weeks, which is a normal duration of an English course in a university will not produce a miracle. Notwithstanding, with a proper needs analysis, the programme provider will be able to formulate appropriate learning outcomes, adapt, adopt or develop relevant materials and design suitable learning activities to ensure university students are better prepared not only to undertake rigorous credit bearing faculty courses in English but also to enter the employment world.

American Freedom - No Greater Gift Essay -- Exploratory Essays Researc

American Freedom - No Greater Gift Silently they stand, tall, strong pillars of memory in a seemingly long since forgotten world. Rows upon rows of white marble glisten in the first rays of the rising sun. The shimmer of morning frost still graces their elegant arches as the brisk air begins to take on a slightly warmer tone. In this quiet hour, not quite night, yet still not day, one lone man stands respectfully next to a small, almost insignificant grave stone. His head hangs slightly bowed, and except for the small hunch in his back, he stands at perfect attention. Unnoticed by the swirling city around him, he slowly removes his cap and looks out across the hill before him. His gaze sweeps over the expansive garden of marble and granite. Millions of white headstones grace the green hillsides, most of them appearing small and humble. Every so often, however, the man sees a taller, more significant looking headstone. He knows these stones were meant to be impressive and eye catching; but to him, there is nothing more touching than the stone which stands before him. Only the rank of a private, a name and two dates grace the stone's face. Some might say this is rather insignificant compared to the graves containing generals or captains. Others might take the time to note how young the man was when he died at the age of twenty-one, and think he still had his whole life left to live. This lone man, though, views the grave stone entirely differently. To him, Private Michaels was more than just a name carved into a head stone, more than a private, more than just a twenty-one year old boy. Private Michaels had been his best friend. In Arlington Cemetery, there are hundreds upon hundreds of heroic men lying silently, their sto... ...rice of our freedom. Many have stepped back and taken a good look at the struggles our founding fathers went through to plant our country on a firm foundation based on freedom. As the old man stood silently surrounded by the stillness of the morning, he thought back to the days of his youth. Private Michaels and he had grown up together, and were thought to be closer than any two brothers. Where one went, the other was sure to follow, even to the extent of entering the Second World War. Together, they fought side by side, defending their country as well as the lives of many innocent people. Michaels gave his own life over to enemy fire, shortly before the end of the war, so his best friend could live. Standing there with rays of warmth caressing his back, the old man realized there truly was no greater love than the gift his friend had given him, and his country.