...Different Languages in the US The United States has many different languages, but the most common by far is English, although other languages such as Spanish and French are also quite common. According to the CIA World Factbook, on a census taken in 2000: * 82.1% of Americans speak English * 10.7% of Americans speak Spanish * 3.8% of Americans speak another Indo-European language (www.cia.gov) These results can be slightly surprising since the assumption by many Americans would be that there are a higher percentage of people who speak English in the United States. Enrollment percentages in languages classes have also been on the rise, and since 1970 Spanish has been the most popular language that has been taken, followed by French. According to the U.S. Institutions of Higher Education: * 52.2% of students are enrolled in some sort of Spanish class * 13.1% of students are enrolled in some sort of French class (vistawide.com) The speakers of theses multiple languages can be found all over the United States, but languages like French and Spanish can be found in more concentrated in specific areas of the United States. English is by far the most commonly spoken language and can be found in high percentages in every populated area of the United States. According to the maps by the Modern Language Association or MLA, the Spanish language tends to be very highly concentrated in the American Southwest, Southern Texas, Southern Florida, and big diverse cities...
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...The English-Only Debate English as the national language has become one of the major issues facing citizens in the United States of America today. There have been many supporters in favor of English as the only recognized language spoken in America and there have also been many opponents. The debate has also driven many states to pass their own laws concerning the English language. There are many pros and cons to the debate, many states have passed their own laws regarding the education of English language learners, and I have my own views about the English-only debate. Supporters of the English-only movement feel very strongly about their views as English being the official language in America. While, opponents of the English-only movement feel just as strongly in their belief of America needing more than the English language. Supporters feel with English being the only language would unite us as a nation, clarifying that we are Americans. Supports also feel that making English the official language will give immigrants more opportunities to learn and speak the English language more fluently. Opponents of the debate feel that English-only would alienate immigrants that come to America by stifling communication within their daily life. Opponents also feel that school age children of immigrants will be at a disadvantage in school when learning academics if they cannot be taught in their native language. Also, a major issue within the debate is that non-English speaking...
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...Running head: ENGLISH-ONLY DEBATE PAPER English-Only Debate Paper Anne-Cecile Grundy Grand Canyon University ESL 523N September 26, 2010 Abstract English language learners are a very heterogeneous and complex group of children, with diverse gifts, educational needs, backgrounds, languages, and goals. They are the fastest growing section of the student population in schools and offer challenges and opportunities to the American education. In this study, the writer will explore the arguments of both sides of the English-only issue, which started decades ago and is still very active today. Emphasis will be placed on the comparison and contrast of the positions presented by advocates and opponents of the English-only debate and will be supported with state’ voter-driven initiatives and laws relating to English language learners. English-Only Debate Paper In the eighteen century, education in the United States was provided in different languages: German, Dutch, French or Swedish. After World War I, when German was a proscribed language, the American population started to think about an education solely in English. However, until 1968, the language policies were left to the discretion of the school, church, city, or state. At this time, the federal government dictated how the non-English-speaking students should be taught, and therefore, started a very controversial debate in the public education sector (Porter, 1998). “In September 1995, Representative John T. Doolittle...
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...PERCEPTION OF CSU STUDENTS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENGLISH ONLY POLICY IN ENGLISH CLASS A Research Paper Submitted to Ms. Vanessa Natulla A Faculty of College of Arts and Social Sciences Caraga State University Ampayon, Butuan City In partial fulfillment of the course requirement in English 2 (Writing in the Discipline) Second Semester, A.Y. 2014-2015 By Horlic Mae Masocol Airene Faye Anoda Ronie Casinginan Melody Antonida (Section B2, MTh 9:00-10:30AM) March 2015 I. Introduction A. Rationale English is a West Germanic language that was first spoken in early medieval England and is now a global lingua franca. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language). It may not be the most spoken language in the world but is it the official language in a large number of countries. English is the most dominant business language and it has become almost the necessity for people to speak English if they are to enter the world of business where communication is most often conducted in English. Of course not just business in alone, many books, top films, music and also in the internet are produced and published in English. To date, English will have more importance; let it be in Trade and Industry, Tourism, Politics, Jobs, Travels and most especially in Education. Knowing English will allow you to access huge amount of information needed which may not be otherwise available. Basically, the world needs a global language and that particularly in a...
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...EDU 225 Instructional Technology Benchmark Assessment and Rubric Targeted Essential Learning Students study and utilize a variety of technologies such as computer software and hardware and will develop a personal technology philosophy and classroom technology plan designed to enhance and shape their teaching skills and knowledge to better utilize emerging technology. (APTS 3, INTASC 6) Assessment Tool Selected 1) Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan 2) Reflection Essay Specific Performance/Task(s) Select and implement appropriate technology and resources. (APTS 3.11) Select and use research-based strategies to engage learners. (APTS 3.12) Relevancy of Task to Teacher Candidate Demonstrate the effective use of technology to foster active inquiry, promote collaboration, and support interaction in the classroom. Assessment: Student Prompts/Teacher Directions Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan (e-Portfolio Assignment) In Modules 2-6 you will be drafting the component parts of a Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan for use in a 21st century classroom. The Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan will include the sections listed below. Drafts of these sections will be submitted throughout the course for instructor feedback and will be revised for inclusion in the Benchmark Assessment, due in Module 7. A Reflection Essay will also be prepared to accompany the plan. The plan is composed of the following components: * Section One: Mission and Vision...
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...I am going to be discussing multicultural education in general, but focusing more on the aspect of English only vs. bilingual education in today’s classrooms. This topic has become more and more evident in today’s education system. The topic is pretty self-explanatory, English only vs. bilingual education. Should students in America be taught only in English, regardless of the student’s first language or nationality, or should there be some influence of bilingual education? In the 1990’s, the U.S. English Only started campaigns to promote multiculturalism under one language, English (Arce, 1998) These campaigns also propose the notion that every single aspect of public education in America should be strictly in English. Under this theory, education would be given in English regardless of age, ethnicity, sex, and English competency. Those who support this theory also feel very strongly that English should be the nationally endorsed language of the United States of America (Crawford, 1998). This movement stretches even outside the classroom. The English Only movement proposes to take all other language almost completely out of society. These same supporters, as you can imagine, also strongly associate with anti-immigration theories fearing the costs that may come with an increase in people on unemployment and welfare programs (p. 8). The movement has grabbed momentum, as evidenced in California’s passing of Proposition 227 which is an initiative to eliminate bilingual...
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...#60 The English- Only Debate by Alejandro Portes • Immigration has brought a growth of foreign language → English language may lose predominance→ cultural unity may be undermined • High immigration rates give rise to nativist movements New Threats to English • 1990 census found that 92% of the US spoke only English • Survey shows 94% spoke English fluently by the age of 14 and the figure rose to 98% 3 years later • People preferred English over their native tongue Losing Mother Tongues • Few retain their parental tongues • If one defines fluency as the ability to speak, understand, read, and write well , no 2nd generation group was fluent in the mother tongue by the age of 17 • English-Spanish bilingualism was the most common, but 65% lost their parental language • 90% of children lacked fluency Is Complete Language Assimilation Desirable? • These trends raise the question of whether complete language assimilation (acquisition of fluent English and abandonment of native languages) is desirable • Madorah Smith declared bilingualism to be a hardship devoid of any advantage • Study did not distinguish between fluent bilinguals and limited bilinguals whose command of one language or the other was poor Are Bilingual Students Better? • Bilinguals outperformed their monolingual counterparts in almost all cognitive tests • Bilingualism at an early age influenced subsequent cognitive development • Bilinguals’ enhanced cognitive performance is explained by their having...
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...China’s One Child Policy; Impacts on the Society, the Economy, and the People. By David Goheen Due: December 14, 2007 Executive Summary During the years before the implementation of the One Child Policy, the leaders of China were involved in wars, a great leap forward, and an industrial revolution. In the last twenty five years China’s One Child Policy has affected the country in every way one can imagine. This paper will attempt to explore the major ways the policy has affected the people of China socially, and how the economy has reacted with the change. A brief history on the traditional views of Chinese families, before the policy’s implementation, is outlined ahead of the policy’s background. This is to illustrate where the people of China are coming from, socially and culturally. I hope to convey that this policy has forcefully stolen the Chinese citizens’ basic human right to reproduce and has hurt them physically and emotionally. However, statistically and economically the policy has been a success up to this point. The early psychological status of China’s children with no siblings is looked at to try to understand their mental capabilities of dealing with the pressure of having to be successful. Major flaws that were overlooked could spell disaster for this aging population in the future. The policy has created prosperity for the country, but has also left its citizens suffering. China is now looked at as having a low birth rate, a low death...
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...MEMORANDUM To: All Staff and Lab Students From: Lorrian McMaster, Assistant Costume Designer Date: September 31, 2015 Subject: Advertising Shows It has come to my attention that The Ring Theater performances are not really advertised to the public and the entire student body to the best of our ability. It is so bad that only the students in the school of theater are the only ones who really know about our shows and maybe their families. We need to start having more full houses and try reaching out to everyone. Therefore, I am introducing a new policy that mandates that employees come up with a new way of advertising the show to the public every Wednesday, as it is our slowest day. Some ideas we could start with are making flyers for every school on campus as well as calendars, shirts that we would wear around campus or even pens that we could give out with the public with the information about the shows. If you do not work on Wednesdays, I suggest you still come up with ideas and submit them to Gema, the staff manager, on Tuesday before you leave and she will implement them on Wednesdays. I believe that if everyone that works in the shop presents a new idea and it is enforced as a team weekly, we definitely would have more sold out shows and this will also give our actors more opportunity to show case their talent to a larger crowd and potentially to recruiters. We work too hard not to be recognized! Thank you for your cooperation and I look forward to hearing...
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...personality, brilliance and various decisions in the personal growth process. This task, therefore, seeks to explain how the birth order in a family relates to an individual's personality growth and development, relationships, intelligence and social attitudes. A child's personality is well nurtured and cultured by his or her birth order in a family. For, instance the first-born kid is usually perceived to be excessively burdened with a responsibility which eventually molds him or her to be a charismatic leader, hardworking, perfectionist and loving. Types of birth order The different kinds of birth order are namely actual birth order; which entails the sequence in which an individual is brought into the world that is first child, the only child, second child or last child .Psychological order takes into details how an individual perceives his roles in the family which he or she comes from. Birth order is a mechanism that aids an individual in comprehending his or her roles in the family....
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...“Men lose their high aspirations as they lose their intellectual tastes, because they have no time or opportunity for indulging them; and they addict themselves to inferior pleasures, not because they deliberately prefer them, but because they are either the only ones to which they have access, or the only ones which they are any longer capable of enjoying.” This quote is especially important for understanding Mill’s defense of utilitarianism in front of critiques that suggest this doctrine to be one of immediate pleasure; a doctrine that will stop people from accelerating their development and enriching their character through knowledge. The critique addresses the focus of utilitarianism as a doctrine that emphasizes immediate and animalistic pleasures and turns them into the main reason for being. Mill’s response is trying to reconcile the idea of a dual man, one that enjoys animalistic pleasures as well as, what the author calls, superior pleasures that come with knowledge and experience. The argument proposes the idea of a bifocal man, capable of both superior and inferior pleasures. The explanation offered in this quote explains the subordination relationship between the two, and how man is capable of avoiding regression into his/hers animalistic instinct without giving up the non-refined pleasure of life. Mill’s hypothesis is that a person is always going to choose the elevated, educated pleasure over the inferior one, because once taste is acquired of the...
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...Fortune and Misfortune of “Little Emperors”— Employment Only Hope: Coming of Age under China’s One-Child Policy provides a fascinating look at the social world of China’s singletons – the first generation to grow up after the one-child policy was instated, showing a whole picture of the consequences of the world’s first state-mandated fertility transition. China’s one-child policy was designed to create a generation of ambitious, well-educated children that would lead China into the First World. The policy was bred to adapt to the changes demanded by the cultural model of modernization. Through the study, Vanessa L. Fong shows us the social consequences and implications on the singletons resulting from this policy. In a word, the strategy has succeeded, but at a price. Singletons enjoy high living standards, educational opportunities and more concentrated love in the family than before. However, they are also facing intense parental pressure and competition for elite status in the educational system and the job market, as well as the accusation that they were spoiled since they have unrealistically high expectations. I highly enjoyed reading the book Only Hope. During reading, I found a phenomenon that singletons were eager to find a good job and it was of great importance to them. There are underlying socioeconomic reasons related to the one-child policy. Therefore, in this reaction paper, I am going to discuss about the employment problem of the singletons, which is becoming...
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...have a lot of energy and they love to invest it in areas thatthey are passionate about.The older you get, the more you learn to see what you’ve been taught to see.When you’re a kid, you see what’s there. They are able to see better than anyone the problems and issues of our modern society.The idealism of the youth is like no other. They hope at a new world, at the perfect society so everybody can have a happy life. Young people are visionary. They usetheir creativity when dealing with problems so they create new solutions to old and new problems.The fresh approach that youngsters have is not the only advantage that they possess. They are fast learners, capable of learning new skills in no time. They are alsogood with technology, especially this new generation also called ‘digital natives’. Andthat’s no easy thing for older ones.Young people have a lot of qualities, but they are not the only ones who have the power of change. It’s not always about the next generation.Maybe that’s what we shouldall learn, that youth has no age...Maybe this is the wisdom of...
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...child in some families. Demographers, however, do not expect a major baby boom. A woman and a child in Beijing. The Chinese government announced last week that it would ease the one-child policy to allow couples in which either partner is an only child to have a second baby. (Ng Han Guan / Associated Press / November 20, 2013) BEIJING — At soon as Luo Yuannan heard about the change in China's one-child law, she began to calculate when it would be best for her 2 1/2-year-old son to get a baby sister, because, like many modern Chinese women, Luo is pining for a girl. "I was amazed," said Luo, 31, who lives in the southern city of Shenzhen. "I always wanted to have a second child and now I will get the chance." If things go as planned, a second child for Luo could be part of a baby boomlet for China. The Chinese Communist Partyannounced Friday that, as part of a reform package approved at the third party plenum, it would ease the one-child policy to allow couples in which either partner is an only child to have a second baby. Demographers believe the change — previously, exceptions were made if both parents were only children — will benefit about 10 million couples, including Luo and her husband. She is an only child, but he has a sibling. Certainly the stock markets are anticipating the pitter-patter of little consumer feet. On Monday, the first trading day since the announcement Friday night, shares of toy, milk powder and baby goods manufacturers were up...
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...Tourism Context and Culture ----- Essay Name: Yu Huang ID code: 111356 Class: 2ITMC-02 Date: 05/16/2013 Lecturer: Jeroen Hol Table of contents Introduction 3 What is One-Child policy? 3 Positive impact of One-Child policy 4 Negative impacts of One-Child policy 4 Ageing problem 4 Sex ration imbalance 5 Human rights violation 6 Little Emperor behavior and Heavy Burden 6 Conclusion 7 Reference: 8 Appendix: 9 Introduction Today, China is comforted the largest country in the world. The population of China is 1,354,040,000, which is confirmed by Chinese government in January 2013. China as the most populous country in the world has formulated a great national policy for population for population controlling, which is called One-Child policy, in 1970s last century. This great population policy has made big efforts on controlling Chinese population. Undoubtedly, One-Child policy has made historical contribution on the development of China in 34 years. Although Chinese One-Child policy controls the population growth effectively and contributes to Chinese economic development at the initial periods of implementing this policy, the One-Child policy still generates more and more negative impacts on current development in China. What is One-Child policy? During the administration of Chairman Mao Zedong...
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