In Death of a Salesman and Oedipus Rex, pride plays an...

In Death of a Salesman and Oedipus Rex, pride plays an integral part to the development of the plot. In each play, the hamartia for both Willy and Oedipus is pride, along with other minor things. Willy’s and Oedipus’ sense of self-worth seems to come from their pride, however misguided it may seem. Pride is the hamarita which connects Willy and Oedipus, in which case pride causes them to live in their past and prevents them from seeing the present, resulting in their tragic ending. For Oedipus, pride causes him to search for the truth in his hidden past, inadvertently causing him to be the instrument of his own downfall. Willy’s pride causes him to live in an unrealistic past, preventing him from seeing what he currently has instead of†¦show more content†¦Even though he is given the truth about his past, he is unwilling to hear it because of his pride. Here, Oedipus is given the chance to stop and turn back this quest, because in the end the murderer he must face in the end is himself. Instead, he begins to have self doubts about himself, which damages his pride, and continues on his journey into his past to restore his hurt pride. His pride forces him not to believe the truth, and so it leads toward his own undoing. Oedipus pride pushes him forward, shedding some light on the grim truths of his dark past. Finally, when faced with his wife Jocasta, she begs him not to continue with this mad quest, knowing that there will be nothing good for them in the end. Jocasta states â€Å"For God’s love, let us have no more questioning! Is your life nothing to you? My own pain is enough to bear† (Sophocles 1003-1005), realizing that Oedipus may be the murderer of her husband Laius and that the prophecy that the oracle said many years ago may finally come to light and be true. Oedipus however refuses to listen to her insistent pleas, and so gives up the last chance for him to turn back. Oedipus could have easily stopped here and listened to Jocasta but as Arthur Miller states â€Å"The flaw, or crack in the characters, is really nothing-and need be nothing, but his inherent unwillingness to remain passive in theShow MoreRelatedDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pages1 PART I 1 2 3 PERSONAL SKILLS 44 Developing Self-Awareness 45 Managing Personal Stress 105 Solving Problems Analytically and Creatively 167 PART II 4 5 6 7 INTERPERSONAL SKILLS 232 233 Building Relationships by Communicating Supportively Gaining Power and Influence 279 Motivating Others 323 Managing Conflict 373 PART III GROUP SKILLS 438 8 Empowering and Delegating 439 9 Building Effective Teams and Teamwork 489 10 Leading Positive Change 533 PART IV

Violence on Television Essay - 1341 Words

Violence on Television Most people in our society generally have the opinion that violence on television increases aggression in children and adolescents. Does it ? Who is to say whether television has a positively direct effect or a positive correlation ? However, the majority of the people who have researched this topic have discovered that violence on television is indeed one of the prime factors contributing to the increase in violent and aggressive behavior among the youth in society. That is to say there has been a growth of strong evidence to suggest that television violence does play an important and contributory part in the learning of aggression. In other words, violence in the media helps promote and encourage†¦show more content†¦In the minds of young children, television is a source of entirely factual information regarding how the world works. For instance, as a child I could remember imitating violent acts after watching violent movies such as Superman, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Rocky. It felt fun to imitate these so called heroes because it seemed like the characters in the movies were invincible. Moreover, the main characters in the movies were always liked and respected. There are many other examples that confirm that people imitate violence scenes on television. For instance, the cartoon Beavis and Butthead on MTV in the United States was widely criticized for depicting the cartoon characters shaped like cigarettes. The cartoon also gained national attention when a young five year old fan from the United States set fire to his house after watching the show. This was due to the fact that in one of the episodes, Beavis and Butthead were going around setting fires to houses. Furthermore, in a resent incident in Norway, two children beat another child by jumping and kicking the child in the head and other parts of her body numerous times. As a result, the child died from being left out in the cold because she was not able to move due to her injuries. Later the officials had discovered that the barbaric incident was due to the fact that the children had watched the violent cartoon Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The children thought that the girl would later get up becauseShow MoreRelatedTelevision : Violence And Television1187 Words   |  5 Pages Violence and television We live in a society where violence is globalized through films and advertisements. The individual American is exposed to 200,000 advertisements in a day, where Hollywood films portray violence as entertainment and fun, films where bullies and gangs stand out as role models, on the other hand, Hollywood is the main reason kids think, violence is cool and fun. Growing up in a home where I was the youngest boy child in the family. I grew up watching television with myRead MoreTelevision Violence1499 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Who should be responsible for Television Violence? Composition II Who should be responsible for Television Violence? Can we afford to continue ignoring the connection between television violence and the increase in mass murders? The answer is no. We have to take a stance now and fight for stricter regulations by the government and the Federal Communications Committee (FCC). Television has been associated with influencing controversial acts since the beginning of its creationRead More Violence On Television Essay1023 Words   |  5 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The issue of television violence and its influence on children’s behavior troubles me. Television violence seems to be becoming abundant and violence seems to be increasing. This may be a dangerous form of entertainment, especially when young children become involved. The majority of television programs viewed by children contain large amounts of violence and inappropriate material. Children’s vulnerability poses as the main problem due to desensitization. Psychologists’Read MoreViolence And Sex On Television898 Words   |  4 Pages Violence and Sex on Television: Effects on the Younger Audience In today’s society, the media is used greatly for communication, advertisement, information, and for numerous other reasons. The world has evolved by technological advances as well as by the type of content that is put out on the internet, radio, and especially on television. In particular, violence and sex are two of the most controversial content types that have been recently used loosely in the present as compared to theRead MoreEssay Television Violence627 Words   |  3 PagesTelevision Violence Violence is one of the most primary and controversial issues in today’s society. And true that violence is on the rise. A major concern for many parents is the violence within television shows and movies, and the effect on children’s aggression. I particularly do not believe that violence in television affects children’s aggression, but who am I to say such a thing, for I am not a qualified psychologist. But I have many reasons for my accusation and references to back itRead MoreThe Portrayal Of Television Violence1040 Words   |  5 PagesQianrui Luo Dr. Jason Loviglio MCS 400 Project Outline The Portrayal of Television Violence in the U.S. Programs and Its Impact on Viewers Introduction Over the past one three decades, there have been cases of increased child violence as well as adult conflicts. Many theories have been developed to explain this growing trend in the society. Media violence has been one of the factors considered. There has been continuous research with regards to the relationship that exists between media violence’sRead More Television Violence Essay1326 Words   |  6 PagesTelevision Violence On April 20, 1999, a tragic event took place in an environment where children should feel safe. At Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, twelve students and one teacher were tragically gunned down by two boys, one seventeen years old, and one eighteen years old. Recently in Michigan, a first grader brought a gun to school and shot and killed a fellow classmate. These tragedies can be seen as a result of many different factors, such as violence in the home, accessRead More Violence on Television Essay1833 Words   |  8 Pages quot;There was murderers going around killing lots of people and stealing jewelry.quot; This quote comes from the mouth of an eight year old girl after watching the evening news on television. The eight year old girl claims that she is afraid quot;when there is a murder near because you never know if he could be in townquot; (Cullingford, 61). A recent report from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) pools evidence from over 2,500 studies within the last decade on over 100,000Read More Television Violence Essay3780 Words   |  16 Pages Television violence and its effects on viewers has been a controversial issue for many years. Some viewers believe that there is an increasingly large amount of violence on television and this widespread public concern has quot;led to calls for stricter controls on the depiction of violence in programmesquot; (Gunter and McAleer 1990:92). Exactly how much violence is there on television though? Many cultivation theorists have studied this, acquiring data in the form of content analysis. TheyRead MoreEssay on Violence in Television1916 Words   |  8 Pages When families sit down to watch television, they expect to watch family type of shows. Family type shows meaning rated PG or PG13, sitcoms and movies that do not include weapons, killing, foul language, and non-socially accepted actions. When children killing, they start to believe that it is accepted. Do children think that killing and hurting others and themselves have little meaning to the real life, children can become traumatized. Most killers or violators of the law blame their behavior on

Boston Beer HBS Case Free Essays

Disadvantages of an PIP The company will face underwriting costs associated with the PIP. A failed PIP could be costly both in financial assets and in firm reputation. Complying with regulatory reporting standards will create additional costs that are not present in a private company. We will write a custom essay sample on Boston Beer HBS Case or any similar topic only for you Order Now Incorporating the company may have negative tax implications for the current owners. Current shareholders who do not exit during the PIP will face severe dilution. Management control will decrease because of fiduciary duties to shareholders. This could conflict with the company’s product quality processes and result in a shift toward a short-term earnings focus. Conclusion Although their contract brewing model reduces expected capital expenditures, their labor and marketing intensive sales strategy will require substantial spending to expand into new markets. To meet projected growth, external funds will be needed. Raising these funds entirely from debt would create an unacceptable level of debt for a still growing company; thus equity funding is the preferred option. The company has reached a maturity point where equity can more easily and cheaply raised in public capital markets rather than through venture or private equity firms. Additionally, publicity room the PIP will help with brand recognition in new markets. Given the recent success of competitor Ipso and Boston Beer’s profit margin and growth potential, the risk of a failed PIP is minimal, and most current shareholders intend to sell shares in the PIP reducing dilution concerns. Boston Beer should proceed with the PIP. Question 3-5 (Exhibit 3)– – 1995 Pro Formal Net Sales: All pro formal sales rely upon the assumption that net sales as of September 30, 1 995 represent 75% of expected year-end revenue. Because the firm’s PIP will most likely have a more positive impact on Q sales than his estimate projects, if anything, the prices generated by our models are underestimated, not overestimated. Cost of Debt: BBC explains in its prospectus intent to extinguish outstanding debt carrying interest rates upwards of 1 1 . 5%. Based upon the firm’s low target leverage of 5%, low degree of operating leverage, and favorable credit history and financial outlook, the model assumes a cost of debt in line with AAA corporate debt at 7. 2%. This estimate seems reasonable and sensitivity analysis shows a 1% decrease in the forecasted share price requires at least a 2. % increase in the cost of debt. Risk Free Rate: The six-month and 30-year treasury rates given imply a fairly flat yield curve. Due to the relatively short forecast period and the short-term risk characteristics of this industry, the model uses the six- month rate as the risk free rate in calculating the cost of equity. 9 95 Net Working Capital Requirement: In order to calculate the change in NC over 1 996, the model assumes sass’s year-end NC is composed of the existing September 30, 1 995 balance plus Of fourth quarter net sales due to the firm’s rationalization strategy. CAP: Historical analysis shows an average 3. 3% capital intensity ratio. Based on a likely decrease in efficiency due to rapid expansion, the model forecasts a 3% capital intensity ratio–this includes restricted investments (Exhibit 1). Depreciation: Depreciation was not included in the calculation of free cash flows because net CAP was used. 1995 Value of Debt: Boston Beer’s debt is private, so the market value will be very similar to, if not exactly the same as, its book value. – –Question The underwriting prospectus for the PIP suggests a share price of $12. 50 per hare, which is the starting point for analyzing the different scenarios. In order to determine the scenario that was most realistic, we attempted to rule out the ones that were not and a summary of our analysis is found in Exhibit 4. 1) First we analyzed the information asymmetry in the PIP. The offering presents information about almost 1. 5 million shares offered in the PIP from current stockholders. It is unlikely that management are willing to offer shares at $12. 50 if the fair market value really is $29 per share, thus weakening the belief in the second scenario. 2) Analysts’ expectations and comparable metrics. Analys ts are generally very positive in regards to the Craft Brewing Segment, expecting continued growth in 1995. A conservative market share estimate of 5% of the total domestic beer market by 2000 compared to only 1. 4% in 1994. In addition, both Pet?s Brewing Company and Redbook Ale Brewery have recently completed successful Pip’s resulting in growing share prices. These factors both build up expectations for Bib’s upcoming PIP and are likely to be incorporated in Bib’s PIP price. This might mean that BBC will be trading at a slight expectation premium above what the fair value of the company is, thus strengthening the reliability of the first scenario with a stock price of $12. 3. In addition, by comparing PIE ratios of Pet’s Brewing Company, 1 00, and Redbook Ale Brewery, 36, with BBC for the three different scenarios weakens the third scenario because of an implied PIE ratio of 17. 9, which is below both of the two comparable companies. The first scenario giving an implied P/E ratio of 41. 9 and the second scenario showing an implied PIE ratio of 99. 9 are tooth around the two competitors’ PIE ratios, strengthening the plausibility of these scenarios when looking at the P/E ratio isolated. 3) We also used industry growth trends to compare the expected sales of BBC in 2000, considering a constant market share, to the 2000 sales forecasted in each scenario. The results allowed us to rule out the third scenario because the sales forecasted in 2000 are less than half of what we would expect with conservative assumptions of the craft industry growth. The other two scenarios were fairly close to the expected revenues in 2000. 4) The second scenario was ruled out when analyzing the growth trends of BBC in recent years. BBC has already undergone rapid growth and we expect that high growth phase to taper Off sooner rather than later. Ten more years Of high growth is unreasonable and unrealistic. Lastly, the second scenario can be ruled out again when looking at revenues projected for 2006. If the craft brewing industry grew to ten percent of the total domestic beer market by 2006, which is an aggressive assumption, then BBC would have to double its current percentage of market share in the craft industry. We also find that assumption fairly unreasonable due to the competitive nature of the craft industry now and into the future. How to cite Boston Beer HBS Case, Papers

Shylock is a victim or a villain Essay Example For Students

Shylock is a victim or a villain Essay In the play `The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, the character Shylock has two sides to his personality. These two sides, victim and villain of the play, present themselves frequently in the play. Although many Christians see him as a great evil, the audience is forced to feel some sort of sympathy towards him, due to the amount of prejudice shown towards him because of his Jewish religion. Throughout the play we are shown the two sides of Shylocks character. The Merchant of Venice is also a play which contains several linked stories. It is full of contrasting characters. There are high, witty characters that are aristocratic such as Bassanio and low comic characters such as Lorenzo and Gobbo. It has an enchanted princess in Belmont who is Portia and a bond plot set in Venices busy, financial world. It contains a trial, an elopement, a trick involving rings and women disguised as men. Into the middle of this light, romantic comedy, Shakespeare has planted a tragic villain. Shylock is unique in Shakespeares comedies. He is a figure of fun, and a sad, isolated human being. We first meet Shylock at the end of Act I. From the start, we see that only money matters to him. He is very good at his business, which is lending money to people, then charging very high interest on it. He knows all about Antonios financial affairs. He also realises that all of Antonios wealth is out at sea, and is quite likely to be lost. All of the research he has done on Antonio gives the impression that he has his plans well organised. Shylock reveals in his first long soliloquy, his deep and venomous hatred for Antonio. We learn that he has been waiting for a long time to gain his revenge for when Antonio had previously spat on him because Shylock was a Jew. At this point, the audience are making their minds up about Shylock, and from his first entrance, many of the people in the audience have already made their decisions. Shylock now pretends that he wants to be friends with Antonio and to let bygones be bygones. Instead of charging interest on his loan to Antonio as he usually does, Shylock suggests as a merry jest that if the loan is not paid on the day named, then he may have a pound of Antonios flesh. Antonio readily agrees to this because he is a very trusting person and is certain that his ships will return safely home. One of Shylocks most obvious faults is his love of money over people. He is obsessed with money, He has no moral standards and he judges people by their financial status, so he describes Antonio as a good man, he doesnt mean Antonio is morally good, he means that Antonio is well off. More evidence about this is when Shylock reacts to Jessicas elopement and theft is that avarice squashes all fatherly feelings. He only wants to see his daughter dead at his feet with the ducats in her coffin. This confirms that he only cares for gold, ducats and precious stones. Shylock is a miser and hates rejoicing, rather like Scrooge, but Shylock is worse because he has no humour. Portia and Antonio are the most generous people in the play. Shylock is a contrast to them because he is not even willing to share his fortune with his own daughter, Jessica. For both Portia and Antonio, money is to be used, not hoarded and used for friendship. They use money to help their friends; they want no extra payment for it. He who is well paid that is well satisfied. Shylock on the other hand, would never refuse payment. Nothings Changed and 2 scavengers EssayShylock has undeniable cause for complaint. Thou calldst me dog before thou hadst a cause, but since I am a dog, beware of my fangs. He says this to Antonio. It is a very strong message, almost as if he is admitting to being the bitter and twisted man that everybody thinks he is. But it isnt only Antonio who has taunted the Jew. Gratiano also exhibits a vicious side; this is particularly seen during the trial towards Shylock. He reminds us of Shylocks own words. Gratiano is very like Shylock as he has no quality of mercy and thoroughly enjoys the final judgement. His praise of Portia echoes Shylock. O learned judge-mark Jew-a learned judge. A second Daniel, a Daniel Jew. Now infidel I have you on the hip. This echoes Shylocks words about Antonio and shows the disturbing similarity between Gratiano and Shylock, between a Christian and a Jew. If Shakespeare has any message for us regarding Shylock, it must be that evil treatment breeds evil behaviour and before self righteously condemn others, we should examine ourselves first. As always, with Shakespeare, we leave the theatre well entertained, but with lingering thoughts. Shylock is upset when he discovers Jessica has left him but this quickly disappears because of the sheer anger he feels when he finds out that she has taken his fortune. His greed takes over any fatherly feelings which he may have had. The question of whether Shakespeare intended Shylock to be a victim or a villain has long been a subject of debate; evidence indicates that he is a bloodthirsty villain whenever money is involved. But possibly, he has a bit of both in his very complex character. I think that Shylock is portrayed as both a victim and a villain in the play, and I also think that Shakespeare did this deliberately in order to give people their own opinion, but I am unsure as to which I think he is. Although Shylock is very greedy and thinks of nothing but money, he hasnt known any better throughout his whole life. On the other hand, Shylock does not make any attempt to love or show any human emotions to anybody, not even Jessica, his own daughter. In conclusion, I would say that Shylock is both a victim and a villain , heendured a lot of hard times and painful events. Discrimination was always openly shown towards him, especially from Antonio which is the reason he wanted revenge. Anyone subjected to the same treatment as he was is certain to become bitter and angry. He was forced into becoming what he is through the injuries and wickedness inflicted upon his own emotions. Although it may not be apparent, through this study of Shylock, I have become aware that The Merchant of Venice conveys a powerful message. The way we treat others may conjure up emotions of which we are unaware. We must not forget that by the closing stages of the play Shylock had nothing.

Are Colleges Worth the Price of Admissions free essay sample

Are colleges giving students a good value for their investment? What are individuals gaining from higher education? (179) These are some of the questions that authors Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus, college professors, posed in an excerpt from their book, Higher Education? How Colleges Are Wasting Our Money and Failing Our Kids-and What We Can Do About It. Unfortunately, their findings are grim. They feel that colleges have lost track of their basic mission to challenge the minds of young people. The authors make nine proposals that colleges may want to consider, beginning corrective action on delivering a better valued education. The proposal , make students use their minds, resonated with me the most. Hacker and Dreifus felt that students should become more thoughtful and interesting people while attending college. They go on to outline in this proposal that colleges should persuade students to choose impractical studies as a way to receive a better return on their investment. We will write a custom essay sample on Are Colleges Worth the Price of Admissions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page That Liberal Arts programs produce more thoughtful and interesting people is a point well taken; but that it equates education with better value has not been substantiated. The value of anything is solely determined by the recipient. Redirecting students away from, and downgrading Vocational Programs does not ensure a good education. Most students would agree that the reason they are attending college is to prepare for a career. The statistic Hacker and Dreifus cite, that 64 percent of undergraduates are enrolled in vocational majors (180), supports this reasoning. It is without question that impractical studies will challenge the mind, and foster creativity in students. However, to charge colleges with the mission to persuade students that the path to a valuable education is through impractical studies is presumptuous when it comes to value. Vocational studies do have value and should be treated with the same respect as Liberal studies. If the authors’ research had gone beyond assumption and interviewed recent graduates of the two programs in  question and then presented those results, more stock could be taken in swaying students towards impractical studies. By the time students have reached the end of their undergraduate studies, they know that repaying the accumulated debt is priority. Aligning ones studies, whether impractical or vocational, with a career would result in a favorable disposition regarding value of the education one has received. This value motivates students to go in the first place. Hacker and Dreifus say that students should become more thoughtful and interesting people while at college (180). For most, these two traits are innate. Only requiring development by parents during primary stages of life. The quest to become an interesting person is not learned in the classroom. If ones primary goal in college is to become more interesting, they are wasting their money. Hacker and Dreifus ask what should happen to students at college. Simple, they should be gaining knowledge to help them become self-supported adults, productive members of society. According to Hacker and Dreifus, the undergraduate years are an interlude that will never come again (180). However, there is not an optimal time to attain a college education. The best education is received by the person who wants it; age is irrelevant. While Hacker and Dreifus claim that the offspring of professional parents are the only ones seizing the opportunity of a valuable education, blue collar workers and the working poor will repudiate the idea that they are not rearing college bound students ready to answer the call of higher education. There are many examples where the children of non-professional parents have succeeded in college. Being classified as poor or lower class is the very element that propels them to college to do better than their own parents. The upshot of all this is that the value of a college education is truly determined by the person who has acquired it, not by the amount of debts incurred to attain it, nor by what they chose to study.

The Potential of London for the EURO 2012 Tournament

The Potential of London for the EURO 2012 Tournament Introduction This report covers a mega international sporting event, which is the EURO 2012 tournament. The purpose of this report is to convince the European football Association; UEFA that London is the best host destination for the EURO 2012 tournament. The report will examine the potential that London has in hosting the event.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Potential of London for the EURO 2012 Tournament specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It examines why London is the most suitable city to host the 2012 tournament. The report focuses on the major aspects that are included in the Association’s requirements which include the infrastructure, transport, local broadcasting, marketing and hospitality. London seems to be in a position to handle this event than other countries. Ever since its inception, the EURO tournament has been an event that attracts funs across the globe traveling to the host nation and cities so as to witness the thrilling event in person. The intension of the event is to bring together European soccer teams for competition so as to determine the best teams in the region (Allen 2005:45). England has been a country that identifies with football and it has produces numerous stars in the sport. The country has hosted other major international events like the Olympics before. It therefore has the experience in handling such a huge event. The 2012 tournament is bound to attract more funs than before owing to the fact that the popularity of the sport has been growing steadily in the recent past. The report looks at the aspects of the hospitality industry in London that make it qualify as the best host city for the event. The city has well equipped ultra modern hotels that can cater for people from all walks of life and social backgrounds. The report has also covered the security measures that have been put in place so as to make such an event to be successful. The chall enges that the country faces in its bid to host the tournament have also been high lighted. The report uses the PESTEL model to analyze the intern and external factors that are likely to affect decision making during the preparation of this Mega event. The city faces a lot of competition from cities in other countries like New Kiev and Kharkiv in Ukraine and Warsaw in Poland in the bidding process. The report however highlights the major strengths of London that makes it the most suitable host city for the tournament (Bowdin 2006:32). Methodology Various methods have been used so as to get the relevant information concerning the state of London and its level of preparedness in hosting the event. The method used in collecting the information includes the use of secondary data. Various books, journals articles and online sources on the state of London City and its capability to host the event were consulted. PESTEL analysis has been used in the analysis of the findings (Campbell 2004: 47).Advertising Looking for report on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Secondary Data Secondary data was reviewed in the collection of the relevant data. Books, journals, newsletters, reports and internet documents were reviewed so as to find the capability and the level of preparedness that the city has reached in its quest to host the event. From these sources it was quite evident that the country had the capability to host the event considering the fact that it has hosted other mega world events before like the world Olympics. Online Sources Online research was carried out. This was made possible by browsing a number of websites that are associated with the event and the state of London in comparison to other cities. The UEFA official website was particularly very significant in this research as it provided most of the information on the UEFA requirements for the host cities. A number of online book s, periodicals and magazines from management officials of the various facilities were consulted to determine their level of readiness in hosting the event. Official websites for various hotels were also visited to determine their level of preparedness in handling the influx in the number of clients that would be experienced during the event. Some of the questions to be answered during the research required the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ answers while others required a little explanation. Some of the questions included; Is London prepared to host the 2012 EURO cup event? What are some of the measures that they have put in place to tackle an influx in the number of funs that would come to watch the sport? Is there any work in progress in an attempt to refurbish the stadiums that would be used during the event? The website for the Hilton hotels in London was also visited so as to determine the level of preparedness in the hospitality industry particularly the hotels. So me of the questions to be answered included; What preparations have hotels made in anticipation for the event? Is proximity to the stadiums hosting the event of any effect to the number of clients that would visit them? Do they have ultra modern facilities that would ensure customer satisfaction? Books In an effort to determine the level of preparedness of the city to host the event, books concerning the event were also consulted. Various questions about the cities security and infrastructure were to be answered during the study. Some of the questions asked include the following; What security measures have been put in place to ensure security during the event? Would the help from other quarters be needed so as to beef up the security? Is the infrastructure around the country especially in London well developed to handle an influx in the number of road users? Journals and Reports The other sources of information included reports and journal articles. Various journals and reports were consulted in the effort to get the information on the preparation of the city concerning the matters of the EURO 2012 tournament. Information from the marketing was sought concerning the strategies that had been put in place so as to ensure that the event is well advertised. Some of the questions to be answered included; What strategies have been put in place so as to ensure that the event is well advertised? What are some of the internal and external challenges that the event is likely to encounter? What other countries and cities are likely to give competition to London when it comes to the issue of hosting this great event? Information from these methods was used in the evaluation of the strategic management theory. The findings have been used to evaluate the countries readiness to host the event (Coulter 2008:78).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Potential of London for the EURO 2012 Tournament specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Findings According to the findings, it is quite clear that the country had put measures in place that would enable London as a city to host the event without any difficulty. Before making any approval of a country’s bid to host such a mega event, UEFA has set some benchmarks to be used. For instance, a country is supposed to have at least 12 well developed high capacity stadiums, high-tech transport infrastructure, a well developed security system, ultra-modern accommodation facilities, effective drainage systems and the ability to effectively promote and market the event. Another requirement is for the country to have a well established national football team (David 2003:67). Stadium and Transport Infrastructure Information from online sources proved that the country has been doing its best in making sure that it is ready to host such a mega event. All the football stadiums are being refurbished and the repairs made. Expansions are being made so a s to enable some stadiums to accommodate more people than usual. Roads that lead to the various stadiums are being repaired so as to enable easy movement to and from the venues. It is quite evident that preparations of these stadiums are being speeded up so as to ensure that they are ready by the time the tournament begins. The government has allocated money from its budget towards the preparation of this mega event. Most qualified construction experts have been hired so as to make the expansions and preparations a success. The country is doing all it can to reach its full potential in terms of preparedness and success. London has been found to be one of the best host cities for this event as it can host the event successfully. Construction, repair and preparation are being carried out effectively across all the host cities (Evans 2002:33). Hosting the tournament will not just be beneficial to the football fraternity in the country but will be beneficial to the whole country at larg e. The country is meant to benefit from the infrastructure especially in the host cities like London. The country has been developing the transport infrastructure so as to accommodate an influx in the number of road users during the event. Currently, city planners have been hired so as to redesign and recommend the best transport models in London so as to ensure that the city hosts the event without experiencing transport problems (Fitzroy 2005:22).Advertising Looking for report on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A lot of infrastructure projects have been put on the drawing board. Some have already been implemented and completed; others are still under implementation while others are awaiting implementation. 50 transport projects have been suggested, some of which have already been completed. 5 airports are supposed to undergo renovation and three of them have already started the work. In London, most of the preparation work has already been finished and some projects are still underway. It is one of the cities that have witnessed most of the implementation work. Plans are underway to construct another passenger terminus in the city’s international airport so as to accommodate the many passengers that will be flying in (Goldblatt 2002:38). In an effort to improve the transport sector, plans are underway to build a high-speed railway system across the city. This would ensure faster movement of people from one point of the city to the other. The road system connecting different parts of the city is being renovated so as to enable easier transportation from one point to the other. The construction and renovation is being done with the first priority being given to the most important projects. The government has channeled more than $11 billion in all these projects. In the long run, the benefits of hosting the event would be much more. The country is for instance expected to add more than $100 billion to its gross domestic income as a result of the event. More than 70000 jobs will be created. The tourism sector is expects to increase its total earnings due to the increase in the number of people visiting the country and from local tourist. Strategic management techniques are therefore being used to ensure that the event is a success (Grant 2002:25). The Hospitality Industry The hospitality industry has put the necessary measures in place so as to effectively handle the influx in the number of clients from all walks of life. According to the information from the Hilt on hotels website, it is quite evident that the hospitality industry is doing its best in making the event a success. Most hotels have acquired ultra-modern facilities so as to carter for the needs of the various customers. Most of them have embraced modern technology so as to ensure effective service delivery. Some of the hotels like the Hilton have developed their websites so as to allow for online booking and reservation. This has made it easier for the clients who do not have to travel to the place so as to make reservations. Most of them have installed touch screen tables to enhance service delivery. A customer does not have to speak to the waiter to make an order as he/she is able to click on the appropriate icon to make an order. This has made work easier and convenient. The hotels have high speed internet connections which are meant to serve internet users who are accommodated in these facilities. Satellite dishes have been installed so as to enable the customers to watch so me of the matches at the comforts of their rooms (Haberberg 2001:34). Some of the investors have taken it upon themselves to construct ultra-modern hotel facilities in the city so as to accommodate the many clients that would visit the country during the tournament. Some of the hotels have subsidized group bookings. Those customers who make bulk reservation are likely to get them at a lower price than those who were making the bookings individually. Some of the hotels are offering more than one service of simply offering the accommodation. Some of the extra services included; deep-sea tours, fishing for fun, surfing, and travelling services to various tourism sites. The transport system to these hotels has been upgraded so as to enable easy transportation (Johnson 2008:56). Security According to the findings, it is quite evident that the government is doing its best in enhancing security during the tournament. The government has put in place an effective security plan for the event. The countries Justice Minister has given assurance that his ministry is doing all it can to ensure that the event becomes a success. The police department intents to use the facial recognition software in effort to note and root out trouble makers before they can cause any security problem. The software is linked to the Robocop-style glasses that are able to identify individuals that are likely to be a danger to the security of the funs. The glasses are fitted with small cameras that are able to record people’s faces which are then sent to a central database for analysis (Mintzberg 1998:77). There is a public safety plan underway which would boost security of the funs. The number of security personnel to be deployed to the host cities will be increased for security purposes. CCTV cameras have already been fitted in the stadiums and other public places so as to help in detecting any security concerns especially during the event. The government has emphasized that the security personnel within the country is well equipped to handle any security threats although the minister said that his ministry was willing to collaborate with any other security force that would offer new ideas on enhancing the security of the people (Tarlow 2002:57). The government has promised to acquire more sophisticated devices that would be issued to the traffic police so as to enable them detect any explosive devises at a distance. The funs would be thoroughly inspected before getting into the respective stadiums so as to eliminate any security threats. All these measures would go a long way in making the event secure for the funs as well as the players. Promotion and Advertisement of the Event The country has put in place measures to enhance the advertisement and promotion of this great event. The country has linked up with associate companies like the Coca-Cola Company, Adidas, Sony, Ford, and Master Card among others. These are partners that have been very instrumental in spon soring the event in the past years. Measures have been put in place so as to carry out international marketing and promotions for the event. The ‘EURO 2012 London’ project has been started with the intention of showcasing London as the best host for the 2012 Euro cup tournament. The project is aimed at portraying the scenic beauty of the city and tourist destinations of the country and particularly in London. The security aspects and comforts of the various hotels and motels within the country have been highlighted. The art and culture of the English has been portrayed as superior and attractive. The country is has officially launched the ‘EURO 2012 London’ project so as to promote the event (Shone 2004:39). Efforts are being made both within and outside the country so as to enhance the promotional activities. The government has already negotiated with the local television and radio networks so as to give more time towards promoting the mega event. Online p romotions are also be used so as to market the event globally. The government is ready to establish a taskforce that would ensure that England teams up with other countries in promoting the event across the globe. London has ultra-modern facilities that would be vital for the funs who would visit during the event. The government has also shown commitment in renovating those facilities that are already won out and even acquire or construct new ones.(Menon 2010:47). Challenges Some of the greatest competitors in the EURO 2012 tournament bid are Ukraine and Poland. This are countries together with their capital cities have well developed football infrastructure like football stadiums, high class transport systems, well developed surveillance techniques and security systems. The countries have good hotel and accommodation facilities. The Poland for instance has numerous ultra modern accommodation facilities. The hotels are well furnished and have embraced the current technology in servi ce delivery. These countries have well established football clubs that have made them shine in the sport. They therefore pose a very big challenge to Londonin its bid to host the event. In the recent past, the world has been experiencing high inflation rates which have resulted in a slowdown in the economic growth in the nations across the globe. England has not been spared. The preparation and renovation activities are likely to over burden the tax payers. With the world economy still experiencing some fluctuations, it is likely that the quoted figures for the preparation might increase hence destabilizing the whole budget for the event. PESTEL Analysis There are various factors that would affect the decision making processes. The PESTEL analysis technique has been used in an effort to analyze some of these factors. The PESTEL model usually covers the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors that are likely to influence the decision making process es while planning for an event some of these factors might result in various changes being made in the planning process (Wheelen 2004:85). Political Factors The government has put much effort in making sure that the country and London city in particular wins the bid for the EURO 2012 Cup tournament. The treasury has for instance set aside around $11 billion so as to cater for the preparation and renovation cost. The justice minister had made it clear that the government is also willing to step up the security measures so as to ensure that the event is carried out in a safe and secure environment. More security personnel will be deployed to the host city and more security equipment are being acquired for the purpose of the event. The renovation activities within the stadiums in London have already started and they will to be ready by the time of the event. The government has also made it clear that it would pay for extra promotion and advertisement activities in the local media. Econ omic Factors The world economy has been witnessing instability in the recent past. The inflation rates have been constantly rising across many nations. This has posed a challenge to the country in its quest to host the event. The quoted figure of $11 billion is likely to go up owing to such inflation. The construction material has become expensive and the workers are likely to demand for an increase in their pay. Even with such inflation, the country has been experiencing some small margin growth and it is bound to succeed in making the event a great success (Wiiliamson 2004). Social Factors The popularity of football has been growing at a very high rate across the globe especially among the young and middle aged population. Given that the world has very many young and middle age people, the event is likely to become a great success as more people would be willing to go and watch the game in person ( Menon 2010: 47). Technological Factors London as a city has generally embraced tech nological advancements in almost every sectors. This has been advantageous as technology has made it to be among the best hosts of such an event. In the hospitality industry for instance, hotel bookings have been made easier and less expensive as they can be done online. Most of them have ultra-modern facilities like touch screen tables, high speed internet connections and satellite dishes. All these have made service delivery effective, convenient and even entertaining. The security department has also employed the use of current technology in beefing up security in the country for the event. CCTV cameras, weapon detectors and the Robocop style glasses would all be used to screen people during security check ups. it is quite clear a high speed railway is to be constructed across London and this will make the movement of funs from one point of the city to he other easier and faster. Environmental Factors London is in the country that experience the four different seasons that is; sp ring, autumn, winter and summer. It is therefore upon the management to make sure that the event lies on a season that won’t be difficult for the players and funs to cope with. It might for instance be unwise if the event shall be scheduled for winter when it is too cold and the snow is falling. This would inconvenience the funs and players and it might not witness a higher turn out as expected. Legal Factors On the legal front, laws have been enacted to enhance environmental conservation and minimize pollution activities. Transport firms are for instance being encouraged to use electric vehicles and avoid vehicles that use fuel in an effort to conserve the environment and minimize global warming. This implies that more electric buses and cars have to be purchased for the purpose of transporting people within and across the towns and cities of England during the event. (Yeoman 2003:32). Conclusion The EURO 2012 tournament is a mega event that has to be hosted in a country th at has such capability. There have been many countries that have come forth to present their bid for hosting the EURO 2012 Cup tournament. It is however quite evident that London is well placed to host this event considering the fact that it has hosted major world events like the Olympic Games. The city has supportive infrastructure that would ensure that the event becomes a great success. The city has a well developed transport systems, modern telecommunication facilities as well as security infrastructure. The stadiums can hold high capacities and some of them are already undergoing renovation. The Hospitality industry has ultra modern facilities that put it at a better position to cater for the numerous clients from different parts of the globe. The government had set aside around $11 billion to facilitate in the renovation and preparation activities across the country especially in the host city. It is quite obvious that London is well placed to host the event (Gimpel 2008:33). Various challenges have however emerged and they might be hindering factors. For instance, the city faces much competition from other countries and cities like Kharkiv in Ukrraine and, Warsaw in Poland. These countries have the relevant infrastructure with strong national football teams. They have therefore posed a challenge to London’s bid. The other challenge has been the world economic crunch which has let to high inflation rates. This implies that most projects would turn out to be more expensive than the earlier predictions. All in all, the country is well placed to host the event as it has met all the UEFA requirements ( Wyludda 2009:22). List of References Allen, J. (2005) Festival and Special Event Management. Brisbane: Wiley Bowdin, G (2006) Events Management. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann Campbell, D. (2004) Business strategy: An Introduction. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinmann Coulter, M. (2008) Strategic Management in action. New Jersey: PearsonPrenticeHall. David, F.R. (2003) Strategic Management and Concepts. New Jersey: PearsonPrenticeHall Evans, N. et al (2002) Strategic Management for Travel and Tourism. New York: Butterworth-Heinemann Fitzroy, P. and Hulbert, J. (2005) Strategic Management. Creating Value in Turbulent Times. New York: Wiley. Goldblatt, J. (2002) Special Events – Global Event management in the 21st Century.  New York: Wiley Gimpel H. (2008) Negotiation, auctions, and market engineering: international seminar  New York: Springer Grant, R. (2002) Contemporary Strategic Analysis. New York: Blackwell. Haberberg, A. (2001) The Strategic Management of Organisations. Harlow: FTPrentice- Hall Johnson, G. (2008) Exploring Corporate Strategy. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Menon, B. (2010) Fifa World Cup Marine Sports. Publishing Division 3, (4) 34-45 Mintzberg, H. et al (1998) The Strategy Process. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Shone, A. (2004) Successful Event Management. London: Continuum Tarlow, P. (2002) Event Risk Management an d Safety. New York: Wiley Wyludda, A. (2009) The Impact of a Mega Sports Event for a Nation. Berlin: GRIN Verlag Wheelen, T. (2004) Strategic Management and Business Policy. Harvard: Addison Wesley. Wiiliamson, D. (2004) Strategic Management and Business  Analysis. Oxford:Butterworth-Heinemann Yeoman, I. (2003) Festival and Events Management: An international arts and culture  perspective. Amsterdam: Elsevier

Motivation children and our selves to learn Essay

Motivation children and our selves to learn - Essay Example Therefore, motivation plays a very vital role from a very early age since it determines the future. Research has revealed that motivation makes the children do well at schools. Similarly, motivation also enables the individuals working at organizations perform well. This is because they feel that they have to be the best, and therefore, they try for the best. Motivation is the driving force that makes an individual achieve the desired goals in an effective manner. In the past years a lot of research work has been done on the topic of motivation, and this is because only if a person is willing to perform any task, he will be motivated to do it. As depicted by the saying that one â€Å"can take his horse to the water but cannot force him to drink it unless he wants to.† Such is the phenomenon of motivation (Wells, 1999). In order to boost learning, one must expect the children and the individuals to succeed, because this belief greatly improves the success of improvement. Children are aware of the way in which their parents see them because they tailor their actions with regards to the views of their parents. Therefore, parents and teachers must have high expectations from the children because this boosts learning. However, it is also essential to communicate the expectations to the children but during this, it should be ensured that the expectations are designed with regards to the strengths and the weaknesses of every child and individual. Re-evaluation should also be done especially of the children because the habits change quiet frequently (Lonka, et.al., 2001). The goals of learning that are defined turn expectations into reality. Therefore, the children and we should know what is expected in order to accomplish goals. Some ways that can be opted to set meaningful goals include the following. 1. Writing down goals – Research has shown that the goals which are written have a higher probability to be achieved which will enable learning to take place.

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Review Of The Ielts Speaking Task English Language Essay

Review Of The Ielts Speaking Task English Language Essay Currently, the most popular language assessment such as Cambridge certificate exam, IELTS (The International English Language Testing System), TOEFL (The Test of English as a Foreign Language ) and GRE (Graduate Record Examination ) are widely considered as a reliable means of assessing the language ability of test takers who need to study, work or immigrate where English is the language of communication. Take the IELTS exam for example, it is not only for the people who are ready to enter the university of instruction in English as the leading national education system designed for language testing, but also for testing English level of people who prepare to settle this countries. IELTS is one of the most widely used in various countries like study abroad: the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, the United States, etc; Immigration: Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It is widely used large-scale ESL tests and played a pivotal role for peoples lives such as use for making critical dec isions about the candidates for their admission to university or immigration to foreign countries and so forth (Uysal, n.d.). It is owned by three partners which are the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP, Education Australia (Cambridge University, 2007). This language test involves four aspects: listening, speaking, reading and writing which can detection the test takers English proficiency as the applicants certification compliance. As for the test takers, the IELTS preparation course is to improve the process of English, most of Chinese people have the weak link are writing and speaking. Speaking is the very basic and more difficult skill to access. If the test takers want to grasp this skill, they should take more time and energy to accumulate in daily life. As a result, this report aims to analysis the IELTS speaking test, notice the assessment of speaking, and evaluate the limitation of the speaking test. There are some advantages of IELTS exam built on the history of English language testing and assessment over this several years. It established a good reputation, its rating is impartiality and credibility, and is widely used in language testing institutions in many countries. According to IELTS Organization website, IELTS test takers and the organizations are depend on the IELTS test results benefit from IELTS continuing investment in quality assurance, to make sure the test remains orderly and relevant ( IELTS Organization, n.d.). At the beginning, the English Language Testing Service (ELTS) made the first test appearance in 1980 when it substituted for the English Proficiency Test Battery (EPTB), a traditional largely multiple choice test battery which had been used by the British Council in its students from overseas recruitment and employment since the mid 1960s for the objective of international applicants to universities and colleges in the UK (IELTS Organization, n.d ) This n ew model test use an innovative format which can influence the changes in language learning and development of language testing and assessment. IELTS is traditional as a pencil and paper test, it different from TOEFL which is as a computer-based test, and the IELTS speaking test is used one to one interview method to assess. It focuses on the communication from the test takers and through their performance to assess them in academic contexts and the fluency of language use. According to the official data, during the 1980s the test numbers were quite low (4000 in 1981 rising to 10,000 by 1985), it obviously shows that there were difficulties with the administration of the test which relates to the test items and time taken to complete the test (IELTS Organization, n.d ). From 1989 IELTS test candidates took two non-sepcialised models, listening and speaking, and two specialized model which are reading and writing. The non-specialised models are focus on test general English and the s pecialised models are used to test language skills in particular areas. Further modifications to the IELTS test were implemented in April 1995 with keeping with the commitment of the Partners to development in applying linguistic, teaching practice and measurement. There are three aspects of change: the original models are replaced by an academic reading module and an academic writing module; the difference in terms of the context and content between the Academic and General Training Modules; to ensure fairness relating to the test takers during the test (IELTS Organization, n.d). Discussion: The IELTS speaking test: General background information IELTS is different from TOEFL test, and its candidates faced questions not already recorded good specifications, but to directly face to the examiners which belongs to one on one interview and take between 11 and 15 minutes.. This is why the IELTS is more and more recognized by many people. IELTS consist of two major types which according to whether a candidate takes the academic or General Training version of the test. This speaking module assesses whether candidates can communicate effectively in English speaking. IELTS oral test is a system with a pattern, and the scoring with fairness and credibility. This module is divided three parts: part 1 is introduction and interview which the examiner introduces him/herself and confirms candidates identity, and the examiner interviews the test takers using oral questions selected from familiar topic frames with 4 5 minutes, the examiners will ask some basic questions to alleviate the tense mood of candidates; part 2 is individual long tur n in 3 4 minutes, including 1 min preparation time. This part is about examiner asks test takers to speak for 1 2 minutes on a particular topic based on written input in the form of general instruction and content prompts (Cambridge University, 2007). This stage is often more difficult to grasp for many candidates, and examiner invites candidates to participate in discussion of a more abstract concept such as issues and topic based on the oral questions thematically linked to part two. This part will last 4 5 minutes. The whole oral test tends to daily life, and more colloquial. In the IELTS speaking section, the examiner is also a commentary by the four analytical subscales at the nine bands: fluency and coherence; lexical resource; grammatical rang and accuracy; pronunciation (Cambridge University, 2007). These four criteria are equally weight. IELTS speaking test is the weak link to many test takers, and a considerable number of test takers is difficult to obtain high score. The test takers need to look at the IELTS speaking module score standards to overcome this difficulty at the beginning. The examiner has a set of criteria by which he or she assesses the test takers communication skills in these three parts. However, in the examination process, candidates manners and other personal factors will influence on the examiner score, this is not be ignored. 2.2 Reliability issues IELTS test is significant not only for study and immigration, currently more and more foreign enterprises are recognized by foreign companies as an objective, fully reflect the standard of English level for the candidates, especially in China. These IELTS test takers with this certificate apply for the job opportunity, especially for foreign commonwealth countries, they often have a greater competitive advantage. In recent years, as authorized IELTS score of countries and institutions increased, there are many people are concerned about this test. All the colleges and universities in commonwealth countries accredited IELTS score, and this test also recognized as the only English test in Australia. There are more people interested in rater reliability, this is because rater reliability is not possible to achieve as there is great variation even when standardization procedures to improve reliability have been undertaken. The second generalization from the discussion was that participan ts were in effect talking about that standardization procedures to make raters more reliable were stricter generally'(Langley, n.d.). Uysal (n.d.) points out IELTS test claims that the use of analytic scales is helpful for higher reliability as impressionistic rating and norm referencing are discouraged, and greater discrimination across bands is achieved. In the second place, raters tented to adhere to the assessment scale step by step, beginning with task achievement then moving on to the next criterion. It is understood that, scoring rules is to facilitate foreign institutions, embassies, and other employers have received IELTS students, staff test the effectiveness of the organization have a more intuitive understanding, so that they can recognize the scientific nature of the IELTS test and the reliability of the test result. The publication score of standard rules is also significant for the test takers, they can use the benefits of this rules. The test takers can be targeted for information through the detailed score standard, and the rating published rules in favor of analysis the scores for the test takers, and reduce the errors. At the same time, the strict processes used to produce the test materials ensure that every version of the test is of a comparable level of difficulty, so that they can ensure the fairness for the candidates and the results of the test takers are consistent wherever and whenever they take the test (IELTS Organization, n.d.). During the speaking test, t he main task type is interaction of test takers with examiner, in the first part, the candidates talk to the examiner like free conversation, it is easy to help the candidates to access to main topic. According to the view of Luoma (2004), he considers that speaking skills can be grouped for three points: routine skills which involving interaction with the examiner and get the useful information; improvisation skills contain negotiation of meaning and management of interaction; the last is microlinguistic elements, which is belongs to phonology, grammar and lexis. These are main aspects for examiners to test the English level for the test takers. The aim of the test and practical circumstances in which it will be settled set the general guidelines. However the most important point when designing tasks is the construct-related information that the scores must deliver, or the score users need to know about the examinees speaking skill (Luoma, 2004). validity issues During the IELTS speaking test, there are many different dimensions to validity. Cohen (1994) maintains that validity is generally considered the most significant aspect of assessment. In its simplest definition, validity refers to whether the assessment instrument actually measures what it purports to measure.Tests are validated by systematically collecting the data to support the correct form and intend to use of the assessment. And the assessment should be used to classify English language proficiency during the test. In the construct validity which is refers to the extent to the scores from the assessment instrument, it can measure the ability of the test takers in English (study guide, 2006). IELTS results are reported on a nine band scale, this score for all language ability which is fair for each test takers. The examiners based on the performance to judge the language ability. In the consequential validity, it relates to the social impact of the test (study guide, 2006). It h as positive effect for the society. IELTS test is increasingly accepted by academic institutions in European where English is used for study, immigration and employment. At last, the most important is face validity which refers to whether the test is acceptable to the candidates and other stakeholder like university admissions officers (study guide, 2006). And during the whole oral test, face validity will influence the performance of attitudes towards to the test for the test takers and also impact on the results of the test. The IELTS speaking task is to assess the test takers oral language skills, there is a range of topics is covered from common daily life such as family, lifestyle, transport, etc, and there are some challenging topics like technology, education, society and some of science knowledge involving weather, pollution, environment and so forth. During the process of test, the examiners will record the conversation with the test takers and get the feedback from the can didates as soon as possible and then give the evaluation correctly. During these several decades, the assessment of IELTS test become more perfect, through the collection of evidence made by candidates, and due to the development of the society, this test will change with the English standard of the whole world. 2.4 limitations IELTS test is as the point of internationalization to start, which contains western culture, geography, history and customs of other knowledge to the majority in Australia and the United Kingdom. It applies the traditional written and oral method to have the exam, which can express the content for people, but it also has a lot of its own shortages in the examination, such as the examiners subjective meaning of the test and some man-made factors. Firstly, IELTS speaking test does not change in recent years. IELTS exam in reading, writing and listening comprehension made some changes, but the oral part has not change, many test takers mentions that the oral test are not new, the topics are old-fashioned, and there are many books are for the IELTS exam to help the candidates to get high marks. There is more common situation that during the oral test, the test takers talk about the content basically similar for the same topic, it is so boring for the examiners. As the reason of the old questions, many candidates in the exam preparation should be collected more formal questions before, therefore, IELTS speaking does not only detect language ability of students, but also inspect the preparation before the work is complete. They also noted that preparing the answer to be informative and simple on the structure, not answer too complex and lengthy. Sometimes some candidates do not even play out their true level of English. Secondly, during the IELTS speaking test, it is obviously exit the differences in the thinking of western culture. Some IELTS speaking assessors have too much to do and they are not reliable. According to the study guide, it maintains that methods for designing a rating scale may be intuitive or empirical. Intuitive methods use expert judgment about what to include in the scale, and these scales are often based on existing rating scales, or a need analysis and use a native speaker ideal. Empirical methods may be data-based or empirical (study guide, 2006). In addition, some examiner exist some subjective meaning of the test, it is not fair for the test takers. So some non-native speakers cannot get high score is related to some private reasons. And even some examiners have prejudice for some students, and even the first impression will impact the mood of the examiners. Moreover, there are many differences in the model of thinking between western and the other countries, especially Ch inese test takers. When they communicate with foreigners, they would know the western countries culture to talk with them and seize the key point to increase the interest to them, in contrast, at the beginning of the oral test, they cause the examiner do not interested in what they said and want to over the conversation immediately. As a result, it is more important of the examiners to mark criteria which are as clear as possible, so that the score reliability is more significant for every test takers, they need correct evaluation in the oral test. It is more preferable to have the record for the test taker, which is a effective evidence that will lead to reliable scoring. At last, the examiners sometimes will also affect the mood of the candidates, because of the need for a long time to test the candidates, they often feel tired which can impact on the results of the test takers. These artificial factors are inevitable, so that it also can influence the fairness of the examination. Finally, English speaking test can sometime give the candidates some errors which can mislead the test takers, they simply think that this is an oral exam, they as long as use the basic language of daily life during the free conversation. However, IELTS speaking test focus on the formal expression not idioms or slang. Take the Chinese people for example, when foreigners communicate with Chinese people, they often use formal English, rarely use idiom which is conventional terms, its true meaning is different from the composition of words. And they use less slang which is informal idiom, different occupations and areas have different meanings (Wikipedia). For most Chinese candidates, IELTS test is one of the most sensitive. As the reason of the backward of English teaching, many candidates have less time to contact with foreigners. This also key point of the influence low score for the test takers. Conclusion In conclusion, IELTS speaking test is a comprehensive English language ability of candidates to the examination. The oral test has been modified as a result of many subjects which can help them to improve understanding of the test and task design for assessing the oral test ability. They also hope that the new test format, strict training and monitoring of the examiners performance will result in a oral test which can lead to fair and reliable for the test taker, which can help the them to improve English level. IELTS exam is the comprehensive exam in English for the test takers ability assessment in the same difficulty of the highest level of English proficiency test. IELTS score are accredited by all colleges and universities in the commonwealth countries. many people who wants to study abroad, as long as get the requirements of IELTS scores to the universities, they do not take part in other types of language tests any longer. In the other hand, English proficiency is the recruitm ent of the Chinese employees in foreign companies is one important criterion, and this test is considered as an objective, comprehensive response to the standard of English for the candidates. It can fully improve the ability of English for the test takers in four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Oral test plays an important role of the whole examination, because of the proceeding from the actual level and increasing verbal communication. If the candidates want to get a good mark, the most effective strategy is understand fully and practice speaking test to achieve a high score. As for the test takers they should calculate more useful information in the daily life, and learn more authentic culture, try to communicate with foreigner which can make more confident during the test. In addition, the IELTS training institutions should be responsible for each candidate, try to be fair and reliable for the test takers and make the error is reduced to a minimum.

Rating Shakespeares Othello :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Rating Othello  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Is this Shakespearean tragedy Othello at the top of the rating chart, or is it just near the top? This essay intends to examine various aspects of this subject, along with critical opinion.    The Bard’s presentation of emotions, character, of good and evil actions that are down-to-earth – these are sometimes seen as the main reasons for the high ranking of Othello. Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar in â€Å"The Engaging Qualities of Othello† maintain that the popularity of this play has been consistent for about 400 years and they tell why:    Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello has enjoyed popularity on the stage from the author’s time to our own. It has remained a living drama over the centuries because it treats emotions that are universal and persistent in human nature. Its characters do not exist on a plane far removed from ordinary life; we are not asked to witness the conflict of kings and conspirators beyond the experience of everyday people; we are not involved in the consequences of disasters on a cosmic scale; what we witness is a struggle between good and evil, the demonstration of love, tenderness, jealousy, and hate in terms that are humanly plausible. (126)    The realistic aspect of the play presents a full range of characters, a full range of emotions, a full range of motivations, a full range of actions – just as are present in real society. The down-to-earth consideration is very important to Othello’s enduring popularity.    Francis Ferguson in â€Å"Two Worldviews Echo Each Other† ranks the play Othello quite high among the Bard’s tragedies:    Othello, written in 1604, is one of the masterpieces of Shakespeare’s â€Å"tragic period.† In splendor of language, and in the sheer power of the story, it belongs with the greatest. But some of its admirers find it too savage. . . .(131)    The play is so quotable; consider Desdemona’s opening lines before the Council of Venice: â€Å"My noble father, / I do perceive here a divided duty,† or Othello’s last words: â€Å"Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.† Could the continuing reputation of Othello be attributed to the quotable â€Å"ultimate form† in which the Bard of Avon expressed his ideas? Robert B. Heilman says in â€Å"The Role We Give Shakespeare†:    If we use the word â€Å"support,† however, we do name a way in which Shakespeare serves.