Language Teaching And Language Policy English Language Essay

Language Teaching And Language Policy English Language Essay Relationships among language, culture and identity have become a favourite topic in social science for decades. In his book Primitive Culture, Edward Tylorà ¿(1871) defines culture that as complex whole which includes knowledge, morals, beliefs, art, law, technology  and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of  the society Being human being communicative, interestingly, language reveals much more what we actually speak out, not only a means of communication. The Sapir Whorf hypothesis states that the structure of a language influences the ways in which its speakers conceptualize their world or otherwise affects their cognitive processes. The cultural worldview of a man is presented by the language and reflected through his responses in a specific period of time. Cultures are maintained from generation to generation and affected by geographical location and history of that nation as well as the interaction of that people over time. Simultaneously, language also develops to meet the need of communication of people. Therefore, it can be stated that  your language can reveal many things about your identity. It can disclose your nationality, culture, religion, age, gender, level of education, socio-economic class or your profession. Mendoza-Denton (2002:475) defines identity to mean the active negotiation of an individuals relationship with larger social constructs. This is reflected in the language we use, our word choices in identifying ourselves as well as in the words we choose not to use. Language is part of ones identity Understanding the nature of the relationship between language and culture is central to the process of learning another language.It  is also a chance for language learners to discover or re-discover and more appreciate his or her identiy. With my limited understanding about socialinguistic and my eagerness to more learning about a useful subject that enriches me a language teacher the knowledge of languages role in soceity as well as the implications for language teaching and language policy, I would like to discuss the following contents: A. Discuss the relationship between language, culture and identity The Sapir Whorf hypothesis Intercultural communication Language as a core value and indentity B. What are the implications for language teaching and language policy? 1. Language policy 2. Language and power CONTENT A. The relationship between language, culture and identity 1. The Sapir Whorf Hypothesis In linguistics, the Sapir Whorf Hypothesis states that each language holds an own way to present its meaning that can not understood by those who belong to another language. Native languages are concerned to strongly affect peoples thinking. Whofianism is another popular name for this hypothesis and is often defined as having two versions: The strong version linguistic determinism  that states that the language you speak determines the way that you will interpret the world around you. In this case, interlocutors think much of how to speak to best express their ideas and how to avoid misunderstanding caused by spoken words. For example, in Vietnamese culture, when visiting a newborn baby, we usually say that she/ he is very ugly to mean that the baby is so cute. Vietnamese do not use direct saying to compliment a newborn baby. In Western culture, questions about ages or marriage status are considered impolite. The weak version  that linguistic categories (part of speech) and usage influence thought and certain kinds of non-linguistic behaviour. Noam Chomskys theory: language is governed by a set of highly abstract principles that provide parameters which are given particular settings in different languages. It means that the human brain contains a limited set of rules for organizing language. In turn, there is an assumption that all languages have a common structural basis. This set of rules is known as universal grammar. Articles in Englis such as a/an, the or gender of language in French maybe appropriate examples for this part. Intercultural communication Intercultural   communication generally refers to face to face interactions among people of  diverse cultures. If the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis states that there are certain thoughts of an individual in one language that cannot be understood by those who live in another language, intercultural communication, according to Samovar and Porter (1991)., occurs when a member of one culture understands a message produced by another whose culture is different from him. The Western cultures of America, New Zealand and Australia are informal when addressing a business associate and will usually use her first name. More formal cultures such as those found in parts of Europe use titles such as Mr., Mrs. or Dr., along with with a family name. It is considered disrespectful to use a first name without permission. In speaking with an associate of a different culture, to avoid offending her, it is best to assume a high level of formality unless you are asked to use her first name. In Japanese culture, long pauses in a conversation are normal, especially after a question. They need time to think over it. However, in other cultures, it is comfortable if interlocutors keep silence in a dialouge, there will be someone to speake to end the silence. To work together without problems, people need to understand their differences. People belonging to diverse culture are still able to understand their language each other, however, there are the potential misunderstanding and disagreement. Learning about intercultural communication is a very good idea to reduce this risk. And a language teacher as a language messenger must realize this. Language as a core value and identity Mendoza-Denton (2002:475) defines identity to mean the active negotiation of an individuals relationship with larger social constructs. These social constructs have been understood as comprising gender, ethnicity, and class following Gumprez (1982) in some of the earliest work on and identity Ones identity was understood as whom you were, and who we are or how we are seen by others may involve differing identities. According to Zimmerman (1998), there are three types of identity: (1) Discourse identity which is revealed through particular discourse and presented by speakers, hearersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. (2) Situational identity which is revealed through the specific situation. For example, a person who is half Italian half French may want to identify with a particular ethnicity in some social situation. (e.g., attending a soccer game). This choice may even be crucial for his personal security. (3) Transportable identity which applies across situations and discourse and includes such constructs as ethnic, gender, and age. A mans identity can be revealed through his language use. It can disclose his nationality, culture, age, profession and socio economic class. In my real teaching, my students are usually given the difference from phonetic transcribtion between British English and American English because there are some English words having the same writing with disimilar pronunciation. The difference in writing is also explained sometimes when needed. British English American English Vocabulary block apartment   call box   phone booth pavement sidewalk yard   garden   holiday   vacation   postman   mailman   Pronunciation tomato /tÉâ„ ¢mÉ‘:tÉâ„ ¢ÃƒÅ Ã…  / /tÉâ„ ¢mÉÅ ¾itÃŽÂ ¿ÃƒÅ Ã…  / photo /à ¡Ã‚ ¸Ã… ¸Ãƒâ€°Ã¢â€ž ¢ÃƒÅ Ã…  tÉâ„ ¢ÃƒÅ Ã…  / /ˈfoÊÅ  toÊÅ  / psychology /sÉ‘É ªÃƒâ€¹Ã‹â€ kÉ’lÉâ„ ¢dÊ’i/ /sÉ‘É ªÃƒâ€¹Ã‹â€ kÉ‘Ë lÉâ„ ¢dÊ’É ª/ important /É ªmˈpɆ:tnt/ /É ªmˈpɆ:rnt/ vase /vÉ‘Ë z/ /veÉ ªz/ /veÉ ªs/ Our pronunciation of the words, our grammartical structure usage, and our utterance reveal how we view ourselves linguistically. Our language choice reflects more than the way we view ourselves. That is the way how we are viewd by soceity as well. According to Rembo (2004: 33-34), A persons social identity comes from an individuals knowledge of himself as an individual in relationship to others. It can be stated that we construct our identity by how we perceive ourselves in the eyes of others. Language is not only a means of communication but also self-identification. In a globalization communication, learning other languages as a second language positively promotes intercultural understanding across languages and cultures. In addition, personally, this is also an ideal way, especially for the youth of every country become aware of how our behaviours and social attitudes have been shaped by the languages and cultures we experience. The implications for language teaching and policy Learning and teaching another language will be more interested once we discover the beauty of language and successfully convey to learners. It should be exploited effectively for a better teaching; therefore, a motivated learning might be obtained. Learning a new language means accessing a new culture. Teaching students how to internalize selectively is also a leading concern a language teacher should pay much attention to besides conveying the beauty of that second language. Being a language teacher, I assum that we should realize deeply Language and Power as well as Language Policy to have an appropriate thinking to do teaching in the classroom. Language and Power During the period of domination in some countries, whether colonizers governed directly or indirectly, the political and cultural of those were greatly affected. The peoples wealth was the colonizers real aim. However, economic and political control can never be obtained without mental control. It means that once language, which is part of culture, the tool of self-definition in relationship to other nations is under controlled, that people will be truly colonized. Well understanding power of language will help students more motivated to learn the standard language as well as to selectively uncover what they take for granted and internalize as personal failure. Language Policy Language Policy is what a government does either officially through legislation, court decisions or policy to determine how languages are used cultivate language skills needed to meet national priorities or to establish the rights of individuals or groups to use and maintain languages (Wikipedia). In terms of this definition, an overview about the status of reality of teaching and learning English language in Viet Nam would be best to support this part of my writing. Since its open door policy in the mid 1980s, Viet Nam has welcomed many foreign organizations to invest and establish their business. As a result, the demand for English increased greatly in all aspects. The Government of Vietnam is devoted to developing English language skills on a long-term strategic basis to compete more effectively in international markets and thereby achieve sustainable economic growth. One of the biggest reflections to push this strategy is a project whose title is Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages in the National Education System, Period 2008-2020 by the Ministry of Education which was approved by the Prime Minister. The authority promotes this project to obtain a result that, by 2020, the majority of young Vietnamese will be able to use English to communicate confidently and be able to study and work in a multi-lingual and multi-cultural environment; thus the industrialisation and modernisation of the country will be contributed by the more dynamic and better integrated young Vietnamese people. Common knowledge in many other fields at school is a background and English as a secon language is a key to get success for the youth and the development of the country as well. In this setting, The implications for language teaching and policy therefore vast and far reaching. As a teacher of language, one must be culturally aware target language culture as well as the students, teacher`s, and administrative persons` culture thus avoiding any cultural misinterpretations.

Super Size My Life : the Mcdonaldization of Society

Loni Bauer Date: 04-10-2013 Sociology Assignment W2-2 Super-Size my WorldMcDonaldization Of Society Growing up I have always lived in a very small town, just to the north of our beloved city Chicago. It was a huge city full of hustle and bustle. Whenever I would visit the city I would feel so rushed, and crowded. Now that I’m older I am used to a fast paced life. I always drive to school, I am always on a busy campus, and I always am being pulled in so many directions it makes my head spin! I can see the highs and lows in the whole MDoS (McDonaldization of Society).It truly is something that a lot of us have grown accustomed to. Whether it be a fast food restaurant or a store, these small shops has grown into large conglomerates to supply us with two things. Convenience and low prices. But unfortunately, when it comes to most places you can’t always find quality with quantity. Because even though it tastes good (sometimes) McDonalds is not good for anyone who eats it. I have fallen victim to the sirens call of their new spicy chicken sandwich they’re only a dollar so I don’t have to pay much money to get more than one to fill myself.In a society that caves to good deals because of how expensive and time consuming everything is. People have no time to actually sit down and eat at the table with their families, or even cook the meals to start. What I’m trying to get at is, that we really brought this upon ourselves whether we like it or not. It’s not something that will easily go away, and to be honest I don’t think it ever will. MDoS consists of these four things. Efficiency: This is Optimal Method for completing a task. When a company is geared towards minimizing your time.In McDonalds case it’s the fastest way to go from hungry to full in a short amount of time (Ritzer, 2000)While sometimes this is a great thing, I personally don’t like food. I don’t really enjoy eating food, so I want to sp end as much time not doing it as possible. So the fact that I can actually get my food, and eat it quickly is a great thing to me. When it comes to say a grocery store, they have a standard in service to uphold, where you get quick and efficient service while you’re in their store, from their baggers and Cashiers.What person really likes grocery shopping? I have never seen anyone get excited to go buy food for the week. So from what I’ve seen, people would most likely want to get in, buy their food and get out as soon as possible so they can get on with their day. Calculability:This Rule in simple terms judges those by how fast they work not the quality of their service. In a way this is true for a lot of things these days. However it doesn’t really apply to all businesses. Once again using McDonalds as an example.In my town (which is the worst place to live in the world if you ask me) People here are very lazy and most likely don’t understand English. Wh en you visit the McDonalds in my town you are most likely to get very fast and very bad service. The food is old, gross and tastes horrid. When you try to tell them how much you hate it, the people can barely understand you. However, when I go to the McDonalds by my school it’s a very different experience. The people are nice, they speak English, and the food looks fresh and tastes fresh. While the service is quick and accurate without any mistakes.So in reality sometimes it really just depends on the neighborhood, and the people working there. Just like any business. When I go to the Jewel Osco in my town once again I repeat what I say above, the service is slow and un-pleasant. When I visit the next town over, completely the opposite. So I am convinced my town is cursed haha. Predictability: No matter where you go you will receive the same service. The workers jobs are repetitive, highly routine, and predictable. While this is true I ask you to revisit the statement above.W hile I’m on this subject I will also touch upon something else. When you visit a KFC, or Popeye’s Chicken, Wendy’s, Burger King, or any other chain fast food place you will usually get the same recipe for that burger no matter where you go. Usually it will taste the same no matter what part of the world you actually purchase it from. Most of the time this is true, with few exceptions. There is absolutely no creative freedom for a grill operator at these places, if the cook wanted to create a â€Å"special† there’s no way that would happen.If you work at one of these places you are a slave to your position without creative liberties to stray from the beaten path. If you find something wrong with your burger or chicken and you make a fuss about it. They always give you a new one, and then send you coupons! Is that a bad thing? No, free food is always welcomed to the average person. But, maybe I would like a heartfelt apology for messing up my meal, o r perhaps a joke or two from the manager about how embarrassed he/she is. That human element that makes a place special is basically lost at these establishments, Which leads me in to the final issue.Control: Standardized and Uniformed Employees, While also including the replacement of human workers with Machines. This is a bit scary to me to be honest. Even though I don’t fully enjoy food, there are some people that truly treasure culinary arts and truly believe there’s nothing better than a home cooked meal Shared with family. I believe this too. When these people visit a restaurant they want to feel comforted like they’re in their mom’s kitchen. When you take the heart out of cooking, we might as well be eating nourishment pills.In case you've noticed, as I have been writing this paper for the past hour my opinions have changed as I sat here thinking, and writing. I was thinking about re-writing this paper, but I wanted you see how this subject changes people. I went from not caring about food, to actually thinking about the heart of it, just because I thought about these four elements. There’s a lot wrong with the way society is now it’s very impersonal and de-humanized. Why, on this TV my strange addiction this man was basically Married to a sex doll. She couldn't talk, or give him Human compassion. That’s crazy right?Maybe it’s not as crazy as we think in this new society. Human beings strive for perfection, for that plane of godliness. We all want to be perfect. But it’s those little imperfections that make us perfect. It’s the chef trying new things, adding a little more cheese to the pasta sauce, the designer raising a picture and tilting it slightly, the Painter who adds pink to her clouds, and the Interior Designer angling a couch slightly off so that it’s not straight. These small details make us imperfect, makes our lives imperfect, but to be Honest, that’s perfect ly fine with me. |

Porter Five Forces Starbucks Essay

Starbucks, a cofee stores chain, serving million of coffee lovers worldwide every week, highlights ‘humanistic approach in doing business, value system of the company’ for its huge success. The company featuring ‘one of the best 100 companies to work for’ in Fortune Magazine several times speaks on its own about the satisfaction of the employees contributing towards its all time success. Providing a great work environment and treating every employee equally with self respect and dignity will take care of employee motivation according to Friedrick Herzberg’s Two factor theory, a content theory of Motivation, where ‘Hygiene’ and ‘Motivator’ factors are kept intact for employee to work and focus upon. By creating a culture of challenging employees to do their best, the company encourages employees in participating in setting goals, where as difficult goals extracting best performance at times, and specific goals extracting guara nteed performance according to ’ Goal setting Theory’ by Edwin A. Locke, a process theory of Motivation. The company’s motivational program for its employees consists of â€Å"a special blend of employee benefits† and a work / personal life program that focuses on the physical, emotional, mental and creative aspects of each individual which covers the salient features of Motivation theories by Abraham Maslow – Hierarchy of Needs of different levels as well as by Clayton Alderfer’s ERG theory (explaining about needs for existence, relatedness and growth). The company always seeks from its employees what they want individually, and attempts to give work / life solutions and this upholds Motivation process theories Vroom’s expectancy theory and J.Stanley Adams Equity theory as employees put effort as per expectations and objectives and for clear and quantified material benefits. Starbucks trusts all employees, gives freedom of expression, openness, participation and contribution towards the goals of self as well as for company realising the positive aspec ts of Motivational theory by Mc Greg or – Theory x & Theory Y – which ultimately aims at delight of internal customers, i.e., employees (called as partners) and keeps going and growing.

The Effects Of Mass Media Coverage On Society - 2341 Words

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