Essay on Marxist Critique of Desirees Baby - 2096 Words

Michael A. Morales Professor Carol Froisy LITR 320 American Fiction June 10, 2012 A Marxist Critique of Desirà ©e’s Baby The Antebellum south, or merely the word plantation, conjures images of white, columned manses shaded by ancient oaks bowed beneath the weight of Spanish moss and centuries. Somehow these monuments of Greek revivalist architecture sparkle in their ivory-coated siding, even while the trunks of their aged arboreal neighbors hide under layer upon soggy layer of dense, green lichen. The white house is a reflection of the inhabitants, its cleanliness in the damp, soiled environment standing as a stark reminder of the hegemony governing the lives of those living not in the house, but hidden nearby. L’Abri, the plantation†¦show more content†¦If Desirà ©e were actually black in the Antebellum south, she would know these things from early childhood. Desirà ©e disappears â€Å"among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the bank of the deep sluggish bayou; and she did not come back again† (404). Desirà ©e’s disappearance is not only her physical departur e from L’Abri; it is the disappearance of the white woman that was Desirà ©e. And none of these circumstances is decided by biology, but by what Marxists refer to as a â€Å"struggle for power between different social classes† (Gardner 145). Chopin is delivering a message that power transcends race. What sets Desirà ©e apart in terms of her subjugation by Armand? It is not race, but the lack thereof. Desirà ©e is unable to hide anything about herself because her origins are unknown (Chopin 401). She is a willing captive to Armand as a result of her love and her marriage, but she is not an unwilling captive to race; she is an unwilling captive to her otherness. She does not have doubts about her race, but must live with the reality that â€Å"Armand has told me I am not white† (Chopin 404). Because her origins are unknown and she does not have a name, she must acquiesce to the whims of Armand, who had at first decided to be unconcerned about â€Å"the girl’s obscure origins† (Chopin 401). Armand is the power here. He makes all of the decisions regarding the lives of those within his circle of power, and he does so because he is allowed to do so. Madam

The Collection Of Necessary Data Essay - 1633 Words

Collection of Necessary Data To create an effective proposal, it is vital to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. Both forms of data contain pertinent information necessary in the development of a personalized and effective cultural intervention proposal. Obtaining quantitative data ensures that all information collected, is a complete representation of a complex system. While the collection of qualitative data will afford insight into the valuable quality and satisfaction ratings, with the ability to numerically track these ratings. It is imperative to address all aspects of culture, socialization, working conditions, management, workload, loyalty, value, teamwork, and production; when compiling an Interventional proposal. Collecting both quantitative and qualitative data via self-assessing surveys, with both opened and closed ended questions, in addition to individual interviews. The interviews will allow for professional observation of individuals, while the self-assess ing survey will provide valuable information on the continual improvement of the staff. Cultural Education When addressing the complexities of a diverse corporation need to re-educate their team, in order to remain culturally and fiscally viable, dynamic psychological theories will prove invaluable in compiling an effective plan. Cultural competence is defined as a functional culture that is based on respect, effective communication, and successful teamwork. In a global market it isShow MoreRelatedData Collection Is Necessary For Every Business991 Words   |  4 PagesData: Data collection is necessary for every business to run, and companies use many internal and external data sources to collect data and then convert this data into information and using it for the company’s benefit. The type of data used by domino’s pizza and some of the sources through which it collects data is given below: †¢ Forms: These are mostly used to collect data from new users as anybody who wants to enter a promotion or to register on their website needs to fill a registration formRead MoreUnited States Of America Safe From Foreign Threats Is Far From An Easy Task1461 Words   |  6 Pagescollects data. Emails, phone calls, and even our text messages have been surveilled under an NSA program known as â€Å"PRISM† (â€Å"Domestic Surveillance Techniques†). Everyday government organizations invade our privacy for the sake of national security in an attempt to defend us from domestic threats, but it seems they often take surveillance a step too far. United States citizens should understand legality of these actions, as well as the purpose this data collection serves. Collecting data off of individualRead MoreThe And Behavioral Outcomes After The Delivery Of Instruc Tion Is Made Via Digital Media Devices985 Words   |  4 Pagesunderway. Data Collection The primary data collection method of this study is observations. I intend to reflect on my own beliefs daily, in order to remain as objective as possible. Data collection conducted through observations alone can produce filtered results based on the perspective of the observer. That is one of the issues that I anticipate to arise when conducting data collection. That is why recon-naissance will be a necessary task before and after collecting observational data. With a concreteRead MoreData About Data And Information About Information1102 Words   |  5 Pagesused in 1969 is called ‘data about data’ or ‘information about information’. The term ‘meta’ derives from the Greek word denoting a nature of a ‘higher order’ or more ‘fundamental kind’ , or ‘above’, ‘beyond’, and ‘of something in a different context’ , metadata is data associated with objects which relieves their potential users of having to have full advance knowledge of their existence or characteristics. It helps in finding data and tells how to interpret and use data. Metadata gives descriptiveRead MoreThe Need For Classification Of Nursing Data1559 Words   |  7 PagesClassification of Nursing Data in EHRs In the healthcare industry, nursing is underrepresented in the development of healthcare policies. Current nursing practice depends on the use of standardized nursing terminology and documentation to accurately communicate and identify nursing diagnoses, nursing care provided, and interventions that were performed within healthcare disciplines process (Mennella Caple, 2016). The essential solution to making nursing more visible is having necessary data to adequatelyRead MoreEffective Approach Of Long Term Treatment1636 Words   |  7 Pagesconveyed that residential treatment is only one of the important components toward effective treatment. The prior study based the design protocol and the variable of diagnoses on limited data. Each of the represented modules of treatment integrated for the study were layered to improve the statistical collection of program performance. While CAC (Child and Adolescent Center) gave an in depth view of the study and the prototype of the program performance capabilities the outcome of effective measurementRead MoreResearch Methodology For The Research1255 Words   |  6 Pagesbe follow to answer all the questions in the research that want to be made. Quoted by Denzin and Lincoln (1994), methodology is a process that related with research objective and data. In the others word, it is early research planning that include the research scope, data collection method, data collection process and data analysis method. For Ranjit (2005), methodology is one of crucial part in research, in order to ensure the research can be done in the systematic way Overall, this chapter will discussRead MoreThe Invasion Of Privacy And Concern For Safety1624 Words   |  7 Pagesperson’s privacy or necessary to preserve national security. This is extremely useful in the research as it directly defines the lines between privacy and nat ional security. Allowing the research to show how it is viewed and understand other viewpoints and perspectives on the issue. Kirstie Ball’s paper discusses big data practices about the surveilled subject. This article provides insight into digitally mediated relationships and how we interpret proximity between subjects and big data surveillance;Read MoreMonitoring And Collection Of Phone Data1521 Words   |  7 PagesStates, a debate has arisen about the monitoring and collection of phone data. It is a matter of privacy versus security; in order for the country to be more secure against terrorism, the public must give up some privacy in the form of phone data. Phone data should only be collected when it comes to serious threats to national security using a warrant provided by the judicial system to collect a specific person’s or group of people’s phone data. 9/11 was the largest attack ever on U.S. soil and promptedRead MoreAn Analysis of the Strategic Industry Model: Emergent Technologies902 Words   |  4 PagesEmergent Technologies is about the company called Emergent Technologies which was considering venturing into the desktop computer market. Due to the fact that the market was already dominated by major brands from various parts of the world (), it was necessary to conduct a market research and analysis. The issue for the company was whether it would gain sufficient market share that would warrant it an entry into the global market as well as the optimal choice of strategy that it would employ. The main

Concept of Elder Abuse Samples for Students †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Concept of Elder Abuse. Nursing Introduction Elder abuse is a concept in old age care that has a wide scope. In the simplest terms, elder abuse may refer to the repeated act or action that hurts elder persons. As aforementioned, elder abuse is a broad concept that cuts across economic, social, psychological and physical mistreatment of the elderly person. For example, it is financial elderly abuse when one does not care about the financial needs of an elderly person in the family who has no ability to meet his/her financial needs. Notably, elderly abuse is committed by either a family member of a health professional. In the scenario at hand, the elderly abuse is in hospital settings. Description of the Event and My feeling The article presents a case study of an elderly man that dies while undergoing treatment at a health facility. Basically, from the chain of events, it is clear that the elderly many man died due to negligence exhibited by the health professionals at the facility. Well, this is how events unfolded. The issues all started when Zdenek, an elderly man of 88 years was admitted at Gold Coast nursing homewith minor pressure wounds (Lewis, 2016). A few days later, even after a health staff had given medication for the same, Zdeneks wounds get into a worse state as indicated by the foul smell felt by Yvonne, a family member who had visited him in the hospital. After realizing that Zdenek situation had taken a turn for the worse, they try to convince the health professional at the facility to have the patient transferred to another facility a request that was decline with claims that he would do better. Apart from not managing the wounds to the required standards, the patient was as well left in position, just put in a fallout chair, which would not allow ease blood circulation. It is conclusive that the death of Zdenek was largely contributed by 3 things. The first is lack of wound management skills for the Registered nurse, sheer negligence to the pa tient and poor or no coordination and escalation procedures. Generally, this made me both sad and sympathetic. The sad mood was contributed by the inappropriate conduct and actions of the registered nurse in addressing the patients case. First, I am agitated about the idea that the nurse lacked the necessary skills to give the elderly man the best medical care. This is against the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) professional standards of practice (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2006). According to the NMBA, each nurse that is allowed to practice ion the Australian health care must meet minimal professional requirements which includes training or simply put, competency standards. It is clear that the nurse did not have the competency regarding wound management and would not admit as early as possible to have the patient transferred to a specialist. The fact that the manager of the health facility admitted that in indeed the staff had little training on wound management confirms our doubt of her competency. The second thing that angered me regards the conduct of the nursing staff. The NMBA provided that any registered nursing working in Australia must always abide by the code of ethics the body stipulates. In this scenario, the nursing professional in questioned breached this provision of ethics by being dishonest. The nurse lied about the situation of the patient and also, was not ready to honestly admit that she could not manage the wound. Thirdly, I am angered by the fact that the nurse did not obey the provision of the NMBA that guides to professional boundaries. He/she nurse very well that the condition of the patient was beyond her professional but went ahead to attend to the patient. As regards sympathy, I must say that I am really compassionate bout the family of Zdenek for losing him. Comprehensive Analysis of Learning from the Event Basically, the event presented in the scenario is a clear case of professional misconduct and negligence. Apparently, these are the major contributors to the medical error that occurred and led to the death of Zdenek. Looking at professional misconduct, you find the registered nurse did not give the patient the needed attention as stipulated under NMBA. Also, the registered nurse lacked the clinical skills to manage the patients wound thus resulting to poor medical error and poor treatment. If only the nurse had the relevant skills to manage the condition, the patient would have survived through. In addressing this medical error, I would devise an action plan that would constitute having drug guides with me at all times, double checking procedures, considering teamwork and collaboration, providing Patient-Centered Care as well as revising the nursing profession practicing skills more often to get informed. In order to effectively to enact an action plan that aims at reducing the medical errors, I will need to learn some new knowledge. Firstly I will lean about the procedures of patient referral so that incases I have a case I cannot handle, I refer the patient to a specialist (Blais Hayes, 2011). Secondly, I will have to have on the appropriate procedures of escalation and communication of cases to the family members and workmates where need be to avoid unnecessary clashes (Craig, 2009). Thirdly I will need to learn about the available patient safety measures at the hospital (Blais Hayes, 2011). I will need to learn fundamental nursing best practices and skills (Marshall, Raynor, Maureen, Paul, 2010; Melnyk Fineout-Overholt, 2011). New knowledge about nursing leadership and management would be valuable tolerant to too (YODER-WISE, 2013). Conclusion It is saddening to learn that most of the deaths that occur in health care facilities, especially the Old Age Cares, are caused by sheer negligence of the nursing professionals and professional incompetency. Arguably, most countries across the world have specially formulated regulations that are meant to guide the operations of their health sectors, For example, in Australia; NMBA is a body that sets the standards that all nursing and midwifery practices are based on. However, the many nursing professional choose to breach these principles something that leads to medical errors and consequent loss of lives. As such, all medical professionals need to be sure to abide by minimal standard of practices to save lives. References Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council. (2006).National competency standards for the registered nurse. Dickson, ACT: Author. Blais,K., Hayes,J.S. (2011).Professional nursing practice: Concepts and perspectives. Boston: Pearson. Lewis,D. (2016, September 27). Elder abuse inquiry: Man dies in hospital after Gold Coast nursing home staff fail to properly treat wounds.ABC NEWS. Marshall, Jayne E. Raynor, Maureen D. Lewis, Paul. (2010).Advancing skills in midwifery practice. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. Melnyk,B.M., Fineout-Overholt,E. (2011).Evidence-based practice in nursing healthcare: A guide to best practice. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams Wilkins. YODER-WISE,P.A. (2013).Leading and managing in nursing. Place of publication not identified: Elsevier mosby.

To Kill a Mocking Bird Essay free essay sample

1. The novel is set in a neighborhood in Maycomb County, about twenty miles east of Finch’s Landing; a homestead on the banks of the Alabama River during the 1930’s. The author used this particular location because of the jurisdictional customs that the county comes with, which plays an important role in outcome of the Tom Robinson case. Atticus mentions in the book that rape is a capital offense in the state of Alabama, which is why Tom Robinson would be sent to the electric chair if he lost his appeal. If the author had chosen a different state for the novel to take place, this may have changed Tom Robinson’s punishment for the crime he was accused of. This is also part of the reason that this story could not have been written in a different setting, along with the fact that the time period in which this story takes place cannot be altered either. We will write a custom essay sample on To Kill a Mocking Bird essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This was a time of racial segregation and if the author claimed that these events occurred in modern day, it wouldn’t send the same message to readers. The author chose this particular neighborhood because of the Radley House, which was necessary to the plot of this story. This particular setting made the book more exciting in the scene where Jem and Scout rolled the tire into the Radley house. If the Finches didn’t live in a location near the Radley house and Boo Radley wasn’t part of the story, then this scene would become insignificant and boring to the reader. However, because this was the particular setting, the scene was given intensity and suspense. 2. One of the major conflicts in the novel is the controversy over Tom Robinson’s innocence. Tom Robinson was determined guilty by the court jury, which Atticus described to consist of average Maycomb County citizens. Even though nearly all the men that made up the jury were fair and average people, several others still believed Tom was innocent. The jury convicting Tom resolved this conflict publicly, however, other members of the county still believed Tom was an innocent man. Another major conflict of this story is the neighborhood’s impression of Boo Radley. For the main reason that Boo never went outside of his house, and was never seen by anyone, the neighborhood was given the impression that he was a deranged man. This conflict was resolved at the end of the story when Mr. Radley saves Scout’s brother, and she witnesses for herself that he is in deed a sane man. A minor conflict between Jem and Mrs. Dubose occurs when Jem decided he had enough of Mrs. Dubose’s rude comments towards him and his family, and ruins Mrs. Dubose’s flower beds. Jem then has to read to Mrs. Dubose for an hour each day, and little did he know that by reading to her, he helped her escape her drug addiction. This conflict was resolved in the death of Mrs. Dubose because she was able to die a â€Å"free woman†. 3. The parts of the novel concerning the mystery of the Radley House, as well as the part focusing on the Tom Robinson case, come together to play an important role in the outcome of the plot. In the final event of this story, Bob Ewell attempts to come at Jem and Scout with a knife, but is unsuccessful. Boo Radley saves the kids, but not before Jem managed a broken arm, and Mr. Ewell’s death. Later the sheriff tries to assure Atticus that Bob Ewell fell backwards on his own knife, but Atticus is not convinced. This ties the two parts of the story together because Bob Ewell’s motivation to harm innocent children was revenge on Atticus for accusing Bob of beating his daughter. Atticus made this accusation in the courtroom in defense of Tom. This shows that the Tom Robinson case gave Mr. Ewell motivation to cause this final event, and Boo coming out of his house and saving the kids brings it together with the mystery of Boo Radley, because he finally leaves his house to come to the rescue of Scout and her brother. 4. Character Sketch-Scout Scout is the youngest character of this book as well as the narrator. Scout’s personality is very unique compared to other girls her age, and so is her home situation. She grew up with her father and her brother. Her mother died when she was very young, and as a result, Scout doesn’t have much of a female role model in her life other than the family cook, Calpurina. This is why Scout gives off such a tomboy impression. She wore overalls and was always playing with her older brother Jem, and their friend Dill. Her personality matched her style of clothing as well. She climbed trees and played games and joined in with the boys when they tried to get Boo Radley to leave his house. Scout is introduced as an innocent, and honest kid who rarely gave her father trouble. In addition to this, Scout is also very intelligent; she knew how to read and write before she even began school. In fact, when she began attending school and realized that is was wrong to be caught reading or writing until she was in the third grade, she lost interest in school completely. She went from looking forward to class and walking with Jem, to not wanting to go at all, and even dreading it. She then regained interest when her father made her a deal. Throughout the story, however, she experiences many things that contribute to her change of personality. When Atticus accepts the Tom Robinson case, she has to tolerate other children at school, and even adults in the neighborhood insulting her family. In which case, a lot of times she simple doesn’t tolerate it, and gets very physical with the other children at school. Eventually, Scout’s aunt comes to live with Atticus and the kids. Then Scout had new expectations to uphold. For example, Scout was expected to change her clothing from boy’s overalls to pretty pink dresses. Scout had to chat with the ladies from the neighborhood if she came inside for a drink on a hot summer day, and even had to participate in a lady’s tea and make conversation with the guests. All these things contribute to Scout’s change in personality and appearance. 5. Throughout the novel, Scout changes in many ways. All the changes in this young character show her increase of maturity throughout the story. In the beginning of the book, her thoughts are easy going and childlike, such as her false engagement with Dill and their decision to have a baby. Scout also changes in the sense that she learns it is not always acceptable to so bluntly state the truth. For example, Scout already knew how to read and write when she started the first grade, but her teacher told her it was wrong. Scout then began to lose interest in school entirely. She and Atticus reached a compromise allowing her to both continue going to school, and to read when she got home. By doing this, Atticus taught her what it meant to compromise, and that it was important to her father that Scout continued her schooling. Scout also learns to control herself when her father accepts the Tom Robinson case and she is constantly hearing rude comments and insults about her father from others around town, even her own cousin Francis. Although Scout is still only a child at the end of the novel, all these events cause her personality and way of thinking to change and mature. 6. Stereotyping is a big part of this novel. Tom Robinson was one of the characters stereotyped due to his race. He was convicted of raping a white woman, not because he was guilty of the crime, but because it was a white man’s word against a black’s. This shows that during this time, black men were stereotyped as liars and also, perhaps, as promiscuous. I believe that one of the blacks in this novel to brake through this stereotype is Calpurina, because throughout the story, she has only good intentions for herself and the kids. The women in this novel were also stereotyped due to their gender. When the white women of the neighborhood were in Scout’s home, they lived up to the stereotype of being immoderately delicate by wearing hats, and sipping tea. In this specific scene, they also come off as superficial and self-centered. None of the characters broke this stereotype. The Cunnighams were stereotyped because of their social status: they were poor. In one scene at school, Walter Cunningham couldn’t afford his lunch, and Scout has to explain to the teacher that â€Å"They [the Cunninghams] never took anything off of nobody, they get along on what they have. † None of the characters broke this stereotype either. 7. Journal Entry Today was the day that my client, Tom Robinson was convicted. I knew I shouldn’t have let myself hope that this would turn out any different. I hope Tom knows that I did everything I could, everything in my power to make the jury realize that he is innocent. I suppose I knew deep down that it would never be enough, I knew that no matter what I said, and no matter how obvious his innocence, is race would always get the better of the jury. I sincerely hope Tom’s family the best, because now without Tom, Helen will have to work with no one to take care of the children. This is the last situation a Negro would want to find himself in, and an innocent Negro at that. I only feel ashamed that I couldn’t do more to help Tom with this trial today. There is nothing I dread more than to say goodbye to Tom for the final time before he will die of the electric chair. No man deserves to die that way. I pity Mayella Ewell, only because of her excuse of a father. I firmly believe it was him that gave her those bruises, and to blame an innocent Negro for your wrongdoings is one of the worst things a white man can do. Mayella broke an unspoken code, and Tom should not be blamed for that. The poor girl isn’t given any respect. I know this because when I called her â€Å"Miss† she accused me of mocking her. I was only trying to show respect and courtesy toward a witness in court, because I knew there would be no other way for her to offer honest answers. Scout is far too young to understand, but I know Jem was heartbroken by the conviction and I hope that I can teach him that life is not always fair. -Atticus 8. The author’s major theme in the novel is good vs. evil. Atticus, the father of Jem and Scout is represented as the good. He accepts a case knowing there is a very slim chance of winning it. Atticus is always displayed as being calm and fair, and is seen as a role model by Scout. Atticus also serves as a teacher because of all the things Scout and the town learns from him such as compromise, justice, education, maturity and respect. Bob Ewell is represented as the evil and is in direct opposition with Atticus. During the scene in the courtroom, Atticus accuses Bob Ewell of being the one to beat Mayella Ewell. Bob denying this on the witness stand is what causes the opposition between the two men. Bob then continues to do indecent things because of this accusation, such as following a woman through town, spitting in Atticus’s face, making threats to the Finch family, and attempting to harm Jem and Scout. This is when it is realized that Boo Radley is also the good that opposes the evil that is Bob Ewell, because he was the one to rescue the children. This event with Boo also helps the reader to realize that, in the author’s eyes, good usually prevails. 9. I did enjoy this book because I enjoy mysteries and even though this story was not a straightforward mystery, it was suspenseful and interesting. The ending especially, was very different than the ending I was expecting. I did not expect Boo Radley to ever come out of his home; I thought he would always be labeled as crazy in Scout’s eyes. Even in the scene in the courtroom, it was made very clear that a black man’s word is no comparison to that of a white man’s, however, I found myself hoping just as much as Jem, that the jury would see that Tom was innocent. This novel also had multiple subplot’s, such as the mad dog and Mrs. Dubose’s death, which kept the story interesting and meaningful.

Global Trade Imbalance Ensuring Proper Development of the Humanity

Global Trade Imbalance Ensuring Proper Development of the Humanity Recent financial crises and social turmoil in many countries suggest that the economic models used nowadays are inappropriate. Each country is struggling specific financial issues. However, it is important to remember that people have entered the era of global cooperation and integration and this means all the countries are affected by global trends.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Global Trade Imbalance: Ensuring Proper Development of the Humanity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Financial constraints of one country transfer to the rest of the world. The situation is worsen by the fact that different states have different capacity and more developed countries often take advantage of less industrialized states. Thus, global trade imbalance can be regarded as one of the most burning issues to be solved in the nearest future. The present paper dwells upon this issue and contains a brief analysis of the most ef fective solution to the problem. In the first place, it is necessary to understand that global trade imbalance is a real issue which can have deteriorating effects on the development of all countries. Pettis (2013) claims that states used to have numerous financial constraints but the issues never expanded to other countries. Nonetheless, in the twenty-first century, countries’ economies have close ties and any financial imbalance within one country is quickly transferred to other states (Pettis, 2013). Developing countries are especially vulnerable to financial constraints. Admittedly, deteriorating economy is associated with crime and social instability. Recent revolutions and military conflicts can be regarded as illustrations of negative effects of economic issues. Cleary, to avoid military conflicts involving many countries, it is crucial to address the global trade imbalance. Adams and Park (2009) claim that the global imbalance has been increasing for the past two deca des and now the rate of the imbalance is rather alarming. To provide an effective solution to the problem, it is necessary to consider the roots of the issue and its nature. Rodrik (2011) notes that global trade imbalance is often associated with different groups’ interests. Historically, countries tried to gain more benefits for themselves while trading with other states. One of the brightest illustrations of such policy is the mercantilists’ view on the society’s development.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, mercantilists thought it was effective to buy raw materials (or simply take them from colonies) and manufacture goods inside the country so that the domain could accumulate wealth (Rodrik, 2011). Admittedly, this approach cannot be applicable in the 21st century. Nonetheless, it is clear that countries pursue their national interests rather than try to focus on the good of all. This cause of the problem lies within the terrain of macroeconomic factors. Sinn, Buchen and Wollmershauser (2011, p. 47) state that the major reason for the present trade imbalance is bursting of â€Å"debt bubbles†. In other words, developed countries (e.g. the USA) have borrowed a lot to solve certain issues, but the GDP growth was much lower than it had been expected and the countries faced severe financial constraints when they had to pay back. Lane (2013) partially agrees with such a viewpoint and adds that the recent imbalance has not necessarily been caused by corrupted governments or banks. The author focuses on the crisis of 2008 and claims that banks as well as Americans thought the market would never fall. Nonetheless, this crisis transferred to the rest of the world and affected all countries, to different extent. This can be regarded as a microeconomic root of the present global trade imbalance. Clearly, the re are micro- and macroeconomic roots of the problem. Therefore, it is possible to note that stakeholders can also be found at the two levels. First, the major stakeholders are countries and international organizations, which are regulating bodies. Multinational businesses should also be regarded as a significant force, which can affect the global trade imbalance. At the same time, citizens of countries should be seen as stakeholders as citizens often affect their country’s policies.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Global Trade Imbalance: Ensuring Proper Development of the Humanity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Admittedly, people have always struggled financial constraints in different countries. Nonetheless, the crises become more and more severe while more and more countries are involved. Potentially, this could have deteriorating effects on the development of humanity. It is possible to think o f numerous scenarios. One of these scenarios is a global war (trade war or a global military conflict). Another possible scenario is the increased gap between developed and developing countries. This imbalance can also result in numerous conflicts. Both scenarios are destructive and, hence, it is essential to diminish the global trade imbalance. It is possible to consider a number of solutions to come up with the most effective one. At this point, it is necessary to note that the WTO can play the central role in each of possible solutions. Thus, it can be tempting to employ the strategic theory. Governments can try to affect some interactions between multinationals which control this or that industry. The case of the US anti-dumping policies on shrimp from Viet Nam can be regarded as a good example of this approach. The US government restricted import of certain shrimp from Viet Nam (United States, 2011). The country tried to ensure domestic companies could get more profits. Admitte dly, the increased profitability of some US companies was achieved at the expense of losses of Vietnamese firms, in this case. The approach has certain benefits. First of all, it can affect global trade. Thus, if a country faces severe economic constraints other countries can affect certain multinationals to help the country cope with the issues. At present, the vast majority of industries and markets are controlled by huge companies. Remarkably, lots of countries have a big business which has certain influence on the global scale. Therefore, it is possible to reach certain balance by controlling huge companies. However, the major downside of the approach is that countries tend to pursue their national interests. Countries are likely to try to gain benefits at the expense of others. This drawback makes the approach absolutely ineffective even though it is possible to introduce certain controlling body to make countries ready to strive for the good of all. There was need for an inter national organization to regulate such relations long ago. The WTO is the contemporary international regulator. It was created in 1995 and it has tried to achieve global trade balance since then (World Trade Organization, 2009). For example, Viet Nam addressed the organization when the USA had started the anti-dumping policies.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Remarkably, the USA had to admit that the measures had been inconsistent with the country’s obligations in terms of the WTO participation. The conflict was solved but it took quite a lot of time and Viet Nam still lost a lot. Therefore, even in this particular case, the balance was not totally achieved. This suggests that the use of this approach will not be effective. Theory of hegemonic stability is another approach which can be exploited to diminish global trade imbalances. This approach consists in the hegemony of a country, which controls global trade. This approach could be effective, but it has a serious downside. First of all, it is necessary to state that the approach was in the twentieth century. The USA was the hegemony which set certain conventions and regulations (Gilpin, 2011). The country spread certain economic patterns as well as such concepts as democracy and liberalism. Admittedly, this approach has certain strengths. For instance, it ensures that there is one dominant agent controlling interactions of other agents. The dominant agent ensures order and has the entire picture to be able to achieve global trade balance. Remarkably, the dominant agent is the country with strong economy, which is exemplary for other countries. According to the theory of hegemonic stability, the dominant country is an inspirational leader and other countries are eager to follow it. This ensures compliance with regulations set. It seems that there is a win-win situation as one country dictates rules to achieve global trade balance while other states eagerly follow. Nonetheless, the approach has a serious downside as the dominant country often tends to pursue national interests and declines, sooner or later. Thus, Gilpin (2011) articulates the ideas that the hegemon often strives for the good of all when it is consistent with hegemon’s national interests, while the dominant state often tries to achieve certain goals at the expense of other countries. Admittedly, to diminish such negative effects, it is possible to create an organization (e.g. the WTO), which will control the activity of the hegemon. Though, in practice the co-existence of the hegemon and a controlling organization is impossible as the domain would be reluctant to follow other people’s rules. The anti-dumping policies launched by the USA are exemplary in this respect. Although the USA had to comply with the regulations provided, the country asked for â€Å"a reasonable period of time† (United States, 2011, n.p.). Thus, the hegemon had an opportunity to continue certain policies for the necessary period of time. It is possible to note that the dominant country strives for global trade balance which is beneficial for the country and is often reached at the expense of the developing countries. As has been mentioned above, the USA can be regarded as a modern illustration of the approach and its drawbacks. Clearly, at certain stage of the world’s development, the USA supported non-Communist countries and they all benefited, though the hegemon still got more. However, the decline of the hegemon led to the severe financial crisis, which affected lots of countries. Therefore, this approach has proved to be ineffective as it failed to achieve the global trade balance. More so, the approach is short-lived as the hegemony of the USA is coming to an end while other countries gain more power in the world. For instance, Kharroubi (2011) states that China is becoming a powerful agent in the world arena and can become the next hegemon. Of course, China’s hegemony can also finish within decades. Institutionalism is another approach which can be employed to achieve global trade balance. This approach consists in the belief that international relations as well as macroeconomic activities should be controlled by an international institution (or institutions) striving for global balance (Gilpin, 2011). Clearly, this approach also has both benefits and drawbacks. One of the major benefits of the approach is its comprehensiveness. Thus, international institutions are constituted by representatives from many countries. Potentially, such an organization can include all countries in the world. Thus, all countries’ interests can be taken into account. This comprehensiveness can ensure that countries will not take advantage of a state. Besides, such organizations (ideally) ensure availability of comprehensive data which can help come to the right conclusions. For instance, members of the organization can report about their problems or issues they foresee. This approach can be effective and can help countries achieve global trade balance. However, there are a number of drawbacks. The members of the international institution are still likely to pursue their national interests. The discussion of the most burning issues is always associated with a lot of debate. Sometimes countries spend a lot of time discussing an d still fail to come up with efficient solutions as each country tries to pursue certain goals. This can be detrimental as even though some decisions can be made, the discussion takes up too much time while some issues need immediate actions and decisions. Apart from this, countries can distort data provided to get some support or get profit. It is difficult to ensure that the data provided are adequate. Admittedly, decisions made on the basis of the distorted data are often erroneous. This undermines effectiveness of the approach. Nevertheless, institutionalism is the most appropriate approach, which can help diminish global trade imbalance. The other two approaches mentioned above are far less efficient. It is possible to compare the three approaches in terms of a number of aspects. When it comes to fairness and transparency, strategic theory and theory of hegemonic stability are less effective. Thus, Rodrik (2011) claims that in free trade there is always the winner and the loser , i.e. there are always stakeholder who gain profit at the expense of other stakeholders. The two approaches are characterized by existence of a single ruling force (a country or coalition of several countries or a hegemon). These two approaches lead to global trade imbalance as the country (or countries) in power focus on their aims rather than the good for all. At the same time, institutionalism ensures that interests of all countries will be taken into account. Importantly, developed and developing countries have the same rights and can affect the decisions made. When it comes to collecting and analyzing data all approaches are quite similar. Countries always try to pursue their national interests and can provide inadequate data to promote their nations. Though, it is necessary to add that the latter approach (i.e. institutionalism) is more vulnerable to this kind of problem as countries can affect the decision made and are more interested in creating certain image of their state s. It is also quite difficult to get all the necessary data for an international organization using own resources. Finally, it is possible to consider such aspect as the pace of decision making. Admittedly, the contemporary business world often needs quick and correct decisions. Hesitation often leads to losses or even financial crises. It is possible to state that the theory of hegemonic stability can be regarded as the most efficient in terms of the flexibility and decision making ‘speed’. The dominant country does not have to discuss decisions and can implement changes at once. As far as strategic theory is concerned, there can be certain amount of debate, but the agents are not numerous and they can be quite flexible as well. However, institutionalism is associated with a great deal of debate which makes decision-making process quite lasting. At that, irrespective of certain downsides, institutionalism can be effective in addressing issues related to global trade im balance. It can ensure fairness and transparency. All stakeholders involved can participate in the decision making. Nevertheless, this approach can be effective if people understand the importance of cooperation. Countries should provide adequate data to make the international organization able to develop proper strategies. People should also understand that sometimes they have to waive some privileges and refrain from deriving advantages to enable other countries to benefit. Countries should learn how to cooperate effectively. In conclusion, it is possible to state that global trade imbalance is one of the most burning issues as it has already led to numerous financial crises. It is also associated with military conflicts in developing countries. There are numerous ways to address the issue. For instance, it is possible to employ strategic theory, theory of hegemonic stability or institutionalism. The third approach is the most efficient as it ensures fairness and transparency. How ever, to make the approach truly effective, people should start cooperating. It is time to understand that cooperation is the key to global trade balance, which, in its turn, it crucial for proper development of nations. Reference List Adams, C., Park, D. (2009). Causes and consequences of global imbalances: Perspective from developing Asia. Asian Development Review, 26(1), 19-47. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.177.2404rep=rep1type=pdf Gilpin, R. (2011). Global political economy: Understanding the international economic order. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Kharroubi, E. (2011). The trade balance and the real exchange rate. BIS Quarterly Review, 33-42. Retrieved from bis.org/publ/qtrpdf/r_qt1109e.pdf Lane, C. (2013, November 19). Banks aren’t the bad guys. The Washington Post. Retrieved from washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-lane-banks-arent-the-bad-guys/2013/11/18/fa1c7b1a-5073-11e3-a7f0-b790929232e1_story.html Pettis, M. (2013). The great rebalancing: Trade, conflict, and the perilous ahead for the world economy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Rodrik, D. (2011). The globalization paradox: Democracy and the future of the world economy. New York, NY: W.W. Norton. Sinn, H.W., Buchen, T., Wollmershauser, T. (2011). Trade imbalances – Causes, consequences and policy measures: IFO’s statement for the Camdessus commission. CESifo Forum, 1, 47-58. Retrieved from cesifo-group.de/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/1201880.PDF United States – Anti-dumping measures on certain shrimp from Viet Nam. (2011). Retrieved from wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds404_e.htm World Trade Organization. (2009). Retrieved from wto.org/english/res_e/doload_e/inbr_e.pdf

American Lion (Panthera Leo Atrox) Facts and Figures

American Lion (Panthera Leo Atrox) Facts and Figures Name: American Lion; also known as Panthera leo atrox Habitat: Plains of North America Historical Period: Pleistocene-Modern (two million-10,000 years ago) Size and Weight: Up to 13 feet long and 1,000 pounds Diet: Meat Distinguishing Characteristics: Large size; lithe build; thick coat of fur About the American Lion (Panthera leo atrox) Contrary to popular belief, the saber-toothed tiger  (more accurately referred to by its genus name, Smilodon) wasnt the only feline apex predator of Pleistocene North America: there was also the American Lion, Panthera leo atrox. If this plus-sized cat was, in fact, a true lion- some paleontologists speculate that it may have been a species of jaguar or tiger- it was the largest of its kind that ever lived, outweighing its contemporary African relatives by hundreds of pounds. Even still, the American lion was no match for Smilodon, a more heavily built predator (only distantly related to the Panthera genus) that employed an entirely different hunting style. On the other hand, the American lion may have been smarter than Smilodon; before the advent of human civilization, thousands of saber-toothed tigers became mired in the La Brea Tar Pits in search of prey, but only a few dozen individuals of Panthera leo atrox met such a fate. Intelligence would have been a valuable trait in the competitive landscape of Pleistocene North America, where the American lion had to out-hunt not only Smilodon but also the dire wolf (Canis dirus) and the giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus), among other megafauna mammals. Unfortunately, by the end of the last Ice Age, all of these vicious carnivores occupied the same dismal playing field, hunted to extinction by early humans at the same time as climate change and a reduction in their usual prey thinned out their populations. How was the American lion related to another famous big cat of Pleistocene North America, the cave lion? According to a recent analysis of mitochondrial DNA (which is passed on only by females, thus allowing for detailed genealogical studies), the American lion diverged from an isolated family of cave lions, cut off from the rest of the population by glacial activity, about 340,000 years ago. From that point on, the American lion and the cave lion coexisted in different North American territories, pursuing different hunting strategies.

Skill Acquisition Worksheet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Skill Acquisition Worksheet - Essay Example Therefore, perfect coordination of footwork is very essential to reach the target. Gross body coordination: the body is in continuous motion during the play. Therefore, the movement of hand, eye, foot and back should be coordinated to hit the stroke at the right place and the right time. Stamina: undoubtedly, tennis is the sport that requires the greatest stamina. Therefore in order to sustain the energy level, breathing and cardiovascular effort is very important in addition to physical fitness. The information-processing theory basically tells about the cognitive development of an individual. The leaning of new things by the human mind is analyzed in this theory, which states that the sensory preceptors of the human mind receives information, which is then encoded and analyzed based on the perceptions and past experiences. This information is then stored in short term or long term memory depending on the nature of information. Whenever, a person learns new things, first he retrieves the previous information on the basis of which, he/she constructs new strategy to learn new things. a. ANTICIPATION: the information-processing theory helps an individual to take responsive action in course of particular situation. This response/decision is made on the basis of anticipation. Anticipation can be classified into two types: acceptor anticipation and receptor anticipation. Acceptor anticipation tells how much time an individual will take to coordinate the movement of his/her limbs. While receptor anticipation estimates the time required by a particular event to happen. The ability to anticipate the time and motion correctly is heavily dependent on past experiences and training. Human mind processes information/stimuli stored in short term and long term memory which is used to anticipate the information present in the environment on the basis of which the interceptor actions/responses are

How children develop their interpersonal skills Essay

How children develop their interpersonal skills - Essay Example Infants may cry to communicate their needs to their parents; they learn that when they cry they are fed and thus carry on with this routine. Eventually, with the correct training and assistance, children will learn that making use of words or expressions to communicate their needs could be their most effective technique (Hersen, 2011). This essay discusses how children develop their interpersonal skills and how digital technologies or electronic devices can be used to enhance children’s learning experience. Nevertheless, interpersonal skills are not confined with social tact like being courteous and well-mannered. Children’s social and interpersonal skills develop as they acquire communication skills. Numerous parents are anxious that their children are deficient in interpersonal or social skills, but this is a misperception in most instances. The essentials of social behavior originate from the emotional area of the brain, which is a vital determinant of morality, compassion, and fellow feeling (Hersen, 2011). Babies usually fret when they hear another baby screaming, for they know that someone is disgruntled. Hence several antecedents of interpersonal skills are perhaps wired to the brain, but experiences also affect the ability of children to recognize, understand, and react to others’ needs (Hersen, 2011). Focusing jointly on something is an early sign of interpersonal skills. Babies who often draw people’s attention to fascinating objects at nine months are more probable to be classified as socially capable at roughly two years. By their first year babies want or prefer people who support or give comfort to other people (Mathieson, 2004). Genuine fellow feeling, the capacity to understand and reflect on the feelings of others, is manifested by age five. In this young age, children exhibit remarkable improvements in self-discipline. Children who have greater self-discipline also manifest greater fellow feeling and more advanced sense of right and

The Learning Sciences Design Committee Essay Example for Free

The Learning Sciences Design Committee Essay PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Learning Sciences Design Committee at a local college is researching different factors that affect the design of a new student study lounge. Before making recommendations, members will present brief reports. As a member of the committee, your research is about the role music can play in various campus environments. You fine-tune your report in Word. GETTING STARTED Download the following file from the SAM website: IL_Word2013_UD_P1a_FirstLastName_1.docx Open the file you just downloaded and save it with the name: IL_Word2013_UD_P1a_FirstLastName_2. docx Hint: If you do not see the .docx file extension in the Save file dialog box, do not type it. Word will add the file extension for you automatically. With the file IL_Word2013_UD_P1a_FirstLastName_2.docx still open, ensure that your first and last name is displayed in the footer. If the footer does not display your name, delete the file and download a new copy from the SAM website. PROJECT STEPS 1. Change the document margins to Moderate. 2. Change the Citation Bibliography Style to MLA Seventh Edition. 3. Add a header to the document using the Blank format. Insert the text Music Behavior, insert a space, then insert a page number using the Plain Number format (1st option in the Current Position gallery). 4. Move the insertion point before the word â€Å"Retailers† in the paragraph that begins â€Å"Retailers, health care professionals, and educational institutions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , then insert a continuous section break. 5. Format the section below the heading â€Å"How music affects behavior† into two columns. (Hint: The section containing the columns should end before the â€Å"Perception of Time Spent Shopping† heading at the top of the second page.) 6. At the top of the second column of text, move the insertion point after  the period in the sentence It is worth emphasizing that†¦could prove problematic., then insert the citation shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 1: Web Citation 7. Edit the citation to add the page number 2. 8. Move the insertion point after the period in the sentence â€Å"As the following table demonstratesin a variety of settings.†, then insert a footnote with the following text: 500 students surveyed. 9. Format the table beginning with â€Å"While cooking†¦Ã¢â‚¬  using the Grid Table 6 Colorful – Accent 6 table style. 10. Select the first column in the table and center-align the text. 11. Select the table and resize it using the AutoFit Window option. 12. On page two, move the insertion point to the blank line below the heading â€Å"Perception of Time Spent Shopping†. Insert a table with 3 columns and 5 rows. 13. Type the data from Table 1 below into the table you just created. Table 1: Perception of Time Spent Shopping 14. Format the table using the Grid Table 4 – Accent 6 table style. 15. Move the insertion point to the blank line below the table on page two and insert a page break to create a new page three. 16. Move the insertion point to the top of the new page three and insert a Bibliography using the built-in Works Cited style from the Bibliography gallery. 17. Check the Spelling Grammar in the document to identify and correct any spelling errors. (Hint: You should find and correct at least 1 spelling error.) Your document should look like the Final Figure on the following pages. Save your changes, close the document, and exit Word. Follow the directions on the SAM website to submit your completed project.

Internet Pornography Censorship vs Free Speech -- Internet Pornography

The Internet is a worldwide network of computers and databases that has evolved rapidly in recent years. Tremendous amounts of information are transmitted and are fairly easy to obtain. Although in the past the information available was for the most part educational and business oriented, in recent years it has become much more diverse and questions have been raised as to the appropriateness of the content being viewed and consumed. Another issue is whether or not the government should take an active role in censoring it, especially when it comes to pornography, or cyberporn, as it is more commonly referred to when it is displayed on the Internet. Should cyberporn be censored? If so, who is responsible, parents or the government? Is Internet censorship the solution, or a violation of the first amendment? The citizens of a democracy must make these kinds of decisions while simultaneously maintaining freedom and responsibility on the Internet. BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM Pornography on the Internet and the ease at which it can be accessed has been a very controversial issue, especially in the last ten years. The Internet was largely unregulated until 1996 when the Communication Decency Act, a portion of the Telecommunications act, was proposed. The Communication Decency Act, or the CDA, made it illegal to make or solicit any image or message that was â€Å"obscene† or â€Å"indecent†. (Wekesser 106), But how do we define terms with an ambiguity such as these. The Court in Miller-constructed the modern definition of â€Å"obscene†: The basic guidelines of the trier of fact must be must be: (a) whether â€Å"the average person, applying contemporary community standards† would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient... ... a democracy must achieve a happy medium. I agree that much of the cyberporn that is attainable is inappropriate, especially when it involves children in even a remotely sexual manner. However, censorship is not the answer. We must find a way to practice freedom of expression while maintaining decency and assuming responsibility, as individuals, for our children. Bibliography: Works Cited Elmer-Dewitt, Philip (1995) â€Å"On A Screen Near You: Cyberporn.† Time, July 1995 Ford, Marrin, Esposito, Witmeyer & Gleser, Can Congress Censor The Internet? L.L.P., 1996 Simon, Glenn E. (1998), â€Å"Cyberporn and censorship: constitutional barriers to preventing access to Internet pornography by minors.† Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, v88 n3 p1015-1048. Wekesser, Carol. (1997). Pornography: opposing viewpoints. California: Greenhaven Press, Inc.

The Four Types of Essay Organization

* The four types of essay organization that was discussed in the course readings were topic, time order, space order, and informative process. The characteristic that makes these essays expository for topic expository develops by topic systematically organizes information about topic in the most logical fashion. Time order developed by time order involves the sequential or chronological organization of information form one period to another. This types of expository developed arranges information according to date or specific time, for instance, from the earliest to the most recent or vice versa.Space order an expository essay developed by space order involves the spatial organization of idea. This arrangement refers to information that deals with location of people, places, or things. Finally, the informative process developed by informative process may best be described as how essay, or demonstration. * How to distinguish space organization from time organization or informative pro cess organization is that space organization arranges deals with people, places or things.And informative just involves step-by-step process, with arranged in their natural order, for example, â€Å"How to Write an Expository Essay†. * The organization of each essay can help the reader understand the subject matter because it helps defines and understand of each type of expository essays. * The essay I read that had the most effective organization was â€Å"A Soul as Free as the Air: About Lacy Stone†; because the essay explained everything about Lacy Stone by giving examples and details about her life.It also was developed in the four basic expository essay format with the topic giving the information about the whole essay, and with the time order it basically arranged everything and order that happened in her life, space order it stated how she lived her life in different place, and also the time she spent, and as for informative process the essay was basically writt en step by step giving details about the whole essay. * The type of essay organization that is suitable for my essay topic is topic because it would contain systematically organize information about a topic in the most logical fashion.

“Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou

1. The speaker takes on the stance that she is fearless against common fears in life. 2. She deals with her fears in an imaginary sort of way.   She faces them with a â€Å"magic charm† that she â€Å"keep[s] up [her] sleeve†, not in a realistic way by marching up to them and facing them with courage, for example. 3.The author denies that she actually has any fears.   â€Å"[M]agic†, the way she deals with her fears, is not real; therefore I believe she is in denial of her fears. 4. I don’t think the author is afraid of what anything in the actual poem.   I think that she has probably already faced and conquered these particular fears or been subjected to them at some point already in her life.   This is why she does not fear them because they are not unknown. 5. The author should not be afraid of these fears because they are mostly childhood fears. 6. I think she strongly refused to be afraid of them because they are childish fears. 7. If the author was actually afraid of shadows, noises, ghosts, dogs, being alone, strangers, and boys, I’d take it that she was very childish in her manners and had not been exposed to much in her life.   While most children fear these things initially, they grow up and overcome those fears as they face life.   I think that if the writer were to be afraid of these, she may possibly be classified in a stereotypical manner of a young girl, but certainly not a woman, especially in the twenty first century where â€Å"woman† suggest strength and power almost equal to that of â€Å"man†.   However, â€Å"girl† still holds the stereotype of weaker, frailer, and in need of being protected (from things such as fears). 8. I do not find it interesting at all that none of these things frighten the speaker.   I think the speaker is trying to be convey strength, but it is such an immature strength, that it is a very weak argument. 9.   According to the fifth stanza, the speaker seems to be saying that boys are nasty brutes who pick on the girls who appear to be extremely girly.   The speaker probably fits in physically and stereotypically with the children, but mentally, emotionally, and intellectually she is older since she can detach herself from life.   She is more artistic and free in that sense than her peers. 10.   Other indicators that the speaker is fearless is how she makes the ghosts go away â€Å"I go boo Make them shoo† and her sense that anything is possible â€Å"I can walk the ocean floor And never have to breathe.† 11.   Strangers in the dark frighten me slightly as do panthers, but only if they are loose! 12.   I think, again, that the things that are mentioned are more childhood fears by both sexes.   I think females have deeper fears than this and it is a maturity issue.   I don’t think this is a poem about being a strong woman.   I think it is more a poem about being able to be oneself and not fearing what others think.

buy custom Oil essay

buy custom Oil essay The price of oil in the 1960s and early 1970s was very low and relatively stable at about $0.015 per liter. However, this price started rising sharply from 1973 ($0.08 per liter). This price stabilized for around five years. It rose again sharply peaking in 1980 at around $0.23 per liter (Figure 2). The price of oil began to fall steadily from this peak for about five years before falling sharply in 1986 to around $0.09 per liter. For the next fourteen years, the price remained relatively low and stable, fluctuating between $0.08-0.14. The price again started to rise from the year 2000 (around$0.18) surpassing the $0.23 mark in 2004. It rose steadily until for four years before rising sharply in 2008, peaking at around $0.62 per liter. It again fell sharply the next year to about $0.39 per liter. The price of oil in 2010 was around $0.5 per liter. The rise in 2008 was distinct because, in just one year, the rise in oil price was the sharpest since the 1960s and it was the highest ever price. The rise in petrol was more than it had in the past seven years (AA, 2007; 2008). The rise in oil prices can be attributed to the normal phenomenon where prices tend to rise over time due to inflation, especially as the value of currencies fall. The demand for oil has been increasing due to many factors. For example, the average incomes of the peoples have been rising over the years (Scheuble, 2011). Hence, the people travel more, consume more products, buy more electrical appliances, use air conditioners, install heaters in their homes and other stuff that use oil. Therefore, they tend to demand for more oil. Additionally, there are not many adequate substitutes for oil in the market today. Yes, the price of oil has been increasing, but also the price of substitutes like natural gas has also been rising (Trading Economics). People find no alternatives hence they just have to use more oil. The price of oil has been rising but the price of oil complementary products has been falling. For example, there are many energy efficient cars being brought into the market which tend to be cheaper, hence many people buy them. Therefore, the demand for petrol, hence oil increases. Lastly, the advancing technology in the world today has made possible the efficient and economic use of oil (BP, 2011). This is effect makes people to use more oil increasing its demand even more. How the Increase in Oil Price Affects Demand How the quantity of oil demanded reacts to the changes in the price of oil (sensitivity) is estimated using its own price elasticity of demand for oil. This is measured as a fraction of the percentage change in the quantity of oil demanded to the percentage change in the price of oil with the assumption that this demand will only be affected by the change in price (Mind Tools). By applying the law of demand and supply, the own price elasticity of demand of oil is always negative. A relatively high price elasticity demand in the short term means that the increase in oil will not affect the quantity demanded very much, in the short term. However, the change in quantity demanded will be significant in the long term if the situation is maintained (Drum, 2011). For example, the price elasticity of demand for the UK is about -0.08% in the short term and -0.64% in the long term (Gateley Huntington, 2002, p.51). If, lets assume, the price of oil rose by even 50%, the demand will fall by 4% in the short term but by 32% in the long term. This supports the fact that a relatively high price elasticity will be felt more in the long term. Effect of Price on Demand When the price of oil increases considerably, people are forced to find alternative sources of energy such as natural gas, coal, wind power and solar energy. People will also be forced to do more walking, cycling, use public transport or make use of bio-fuels. However, such a switch will need time to take effect as new power stations and windmills will have to be built first. Installation of solar energy power stations will also need time. Therefore, the change (negative) demand for oil will not be felt in the short term but on the long term once all these alternatives are put in place. If the income levels remained the same yet the oil price increased, the demand for oil will diminish as people wil deem too expensive and take up a big portion of their income(). As a result, they will be forced to take cost cutting measures like reducing their travels and lowering thermostats in winter. This will reduce the demand for oil. Additionally, when the price of oil increases, people can switch to more efficient means of using oil like fuel efficient cars, insulation in their places of work and homes which will in turn reduce their usage, hence demand, for oil. Such measures will affect the demand for oil in the long term. Production Trends of Oil The production of oil has been rising steadily over the years. The total production of oil has largely been contributed by both the OPEC block of countries and those that are not members. In the mid 1960s, the total oil production was about 1600 million tonnes. There was a steady increase in the total production until about 1973 where it stabilized at about 2800 million tonnes. There was a slight decrease in production, reaching about 2650 million tonnes in 1975. The production then picked up for the next four years, reaching around 3200 million tonnes in 1979. For about the next three years, the total production went down steadily reaching around 2700 million tons in 1982. The total production remained relatively stable for about three years. Ever since 1986, the total world production has been increasing steadily over the years. By the year 2000, total production had exceeded 3500 million tons. However, the production has somewhat stabilized at about 3900 million tons from the year 2004 to date. Relationship between oil price and production The total production was lowest in 1965, this also happened to be the lowest price of oil. However, the total oil production increased in the increased steadily for about eight years. On the contrary, the price of oil remained relatively low and stable during the same period. This was not to be in around 1973, when the prices shot up sharply. This was also the time that the total world production remained stable and even decreased. This can be attributed to the decreased production of the OPEC block of countries. The price of oil remained stable for about five years. During this time, the total production had also picked up and was steadily increasing. This scenario was not to be in late 1970s when the price again rose sharply, peaking in 1980. At this period, the production was steady in its increase. However, at around 1980, the total production started to decrease steadily for about four years. Again, this decrease was caused by the reduced production of OPEC countries. The price also fell steadily although it fell sharply from 1984-1985. From then on, it fluctuated, but not wide margin changes although it decreased generally from the year 1990 reaching a relatively low, less than $0.02 per liter (1960 prices). It rose sharply in 2000 before rising steadily for seven years. The price of oil rose sharply in 2008, its highest ever before it fell down the next year, again sharply. It rose in 2010. However, while the price has been fluctuating since the mid 1980s, the total oil production was increasing steadily until around 2004 where it has quite stabilized. From the description of the relationship between oil production and the corresponding prices over the years, theres no clear pattern between the two as expected and as defined by the law of demand and supply (Ramcharan, 2002). This may be due to the expected oil prices in the future. In general, it is expected that the prices will be high in the future. These expectations make the oil producing countries reluctant to exploit their reserves at the moment as theres greater incentive in producing in the future. Therefore, current prices wont affect this resolve. Secondly, the cost of oil production is a limiting factor. The fixed cost in exploiting and producing oil is expensive, but the there are many constraints in varying the production on the short term once the pumping from the field has started. Additionally, expansion of this exploration becomes more expensive and limited due to increasingly smaller oil fields. These two factors make the production of oil relatively steady and qu ite unresponsive to current price. Most oil producing countries are politically unstable. These regular bouts of fighting affects the oil production in the countries hence the total production. TTherefore, the price changes wont affect the production that much. The fear of depletion of the oil reserves has also affected the production more than the price (Hubbert, 1956). Speculation of oil by countries where either a country can buy and store oil expecting future price increase or buying oil future so that the country is guaranteed oil in the future also has affected current production of oil (Lombardi and Robays, 2011). In all these cases, the price plays a limited role in the total production of oil. Why the price of Oil was so high in 2008 The price of oil was at its peak in 2008. This was partly due to the weak US dollar at the time. This is because most oil transactions are done in dollars hence the oil producers will peg their respective currencies to the dollar. Therefore, when the dollar weakens, their revenues decline but costs increase. To offset this imbalance, the OPEC countries raised their prices to preserve their profit margins (Amadeo, 2011). The year 2008 was also the year the US and the world experienced an economic crisis due to falling stocks and a declining real estate industry. As a result, most investors, fearing the worst, ditched the stock markets and instead bought oil futures which created a speculative bubble. The consequence of this was an unprecedented surge in the oil prices (Amadeo, 2011). Another factor that contributed to the surge in prices was the instability in Nigeria and Venezuela, which is the ninth largest oil producer in the world (Tristam, 2011). Additionally, there was a real threat of a US/Israeli attack on Iran (Roberts, 2008). These two factors increased the demand for oil as countries built their stocks, fearing disruption. This sudden increase in demand caused the sharp of oil prices. Why the Price of Oil Fell after July 2008 The escalating oil prices were felt in almost all sectors of the economy. However, the scenario was arrested quickly. The main factor in the fall of the prices was Saudi Arabias well timed increase in its production. As a result, there was more oil fuel pumped into the market which helped to reduce the price (Amadeo, 2011). The recession in 2008 hit the worlds largest economies; The USA and Europe very hard. The economic crisis showed no signs of slowing down (Leigh). Therefore, many of the people in these countries were wary of their spending. The weakening of the dollar also reduced the purchasing power of many Americans (Goldman, 2008). Many took cost cutting measures like driving less. All these factors led to a low demand for oil. This in effect contributed to the falling of the oil prices. Will the Price of Oil Remain High? The price of fuel has been relatively high ever since the brief drop in mid June 2008 to early 2009. It has remained high ever since and this scenario will continue to be (Rhodes). This is because political instabilities still persist in the major producers, especially in the Middle East where terrorist activities are still rife. Iraq is not yet peaceful since it was invaded by The USA. The Iran-US relations have yet to cool down and the threat of attacks and counter attacks are still real. The situation in Nigeria has yet to be solved. One of the major oil producers, Libya is going through political turmoil. All these suggest that oil production will continue to be hampered in the near future (Leigh). Therefore, the price will be high unless theres relative peace in these countries. Although the demand for oil dropped in 2008, it was mainly due to the recession at the time. Once the economies pick up, people will be more liberalized in their spending hence the demand for oil will continue to be high. This simply means that the price will continue to be high. The production of oil is largely influenced by OPEC. This block always tends to influence the prices of oil so that its countries generate more revenues. This means that as long as this trend continues, the prices will be high. Technology has been advancing in terms of fuel production. However, the world is yet to witness an adequate substitute for oil that will make it decrease its reliance on oil as its primary fuel. Therefore, until and when such an alternative is found, the price of oil will just continue to be high. Buy custom Oil essay

4 Reasons to Major in a Foreign Language (and 3 Not To)

4 Reasons to Major in a Foreign Language (and 3 Not To) SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Gaikokugo ga suki desu ka?That’s Japanese for â€Å"Do you like foreign languages?† If your answer is a resounding yes, then a foreign language major might be for you. In 2013, I graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree in Japanese. Though I sometimes doubted whether I should major in Japanese, I ultimately knew it was the right choice because being able to understand and use Japanese was a skill I wanted to have for the rest of my life. Moreover, I didn't just enjoy learning Japanese but also loved getting to know Japanese culture. These are the reasons I chose to major in Japanese. That said,a language major isn’t for everyone. So should you major in a foreign language? What are the reasons you should? And what are the reasons you shouldn't? In this guide, I give you four reasons to major in a foreign language and three reasons not to. I also go over what questions to ask yourself before deciding whether to pursue a language major. But first, what exactly is a foreign language major? What Is a Foreign Language Major? Before I go into the reasons you should and should not major in a foreign language, let me explain what I mean by majoring in a foreign language. Many US colleges offer undergraduatemajors that focus on a specific language and the main region/culture it's spoken in. In other words, you’re not simply majoring in a language but rather a language and where it’s most commonly used. So if your major is French, you’ll likely learn about France. Similarly, If you’re studying Mandarin Chinese, you’ll likely learn about Chinese culture. Colleges offering foreign language majors typically house them inhumanities departments or at colleges of letters, arts, and sciences (or something equivalent). Although most foreign language majors combine language and cultural studies, many are named after the language only. For example, if you’re studying Spanish (in addition to Latin American or Spanish culture), your major is most likely called Spanish instead of something like Spanish culture or Spanish language and culture. However, some schools use slightly broader names for their foreign language majors.My alma mater, USC, for example, offers an East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) major, which lets you study Japanese, Chinese, or Korean (as well as the language's respective area). As a result, students mainly studying Japanese might say they’re majoring in Japanese when in actuality they’re majoring in EALC with an emphasis in Japanese (as in my case). Some schools also offer foreign language majors that let youstudy more than one language at a time.One example is the University of Michigan's Romance Languages and Literatures major. For this program, students can study two Romance languages (out of Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and French) at the same time. Finally, some majors have college language requirements but are not specifically focused on the language (or area) itself.Examples include comparative literature majors and linguistics majors. For the former, you must typically learn at least one foreign language so that you can compare texts in their original languages. For the latter, you must know a foreign language so that you can effectively analyze its linguistic properties. Though these two majors clearly involve language study, they're not the same as language majors in that they don't focus on area/cultural studiesas well. Overall, it’s arguably more accurate to call language majors "foreign culture majors" or "foreign language and culture majors," since these majors almost always combine the study of language and culture. Learning culture is just as important as learning language. My Story: I Majored in Japanese Now that you understand what a foreign language major is, let’s get down to business: who am I, and why am I writing this article? As I briefly mentioned at the beginning, I majored in a foreign language (and in English- what can I say? I love languages!). My language of choice was Japanese. Why did I choose this language? Well, I’d been studying it since junior high school, absolutely loved learning it (even though it was really, really hard at times- and still is), and envisioned myself eventually using Japanese in my career. Because I knew I wanted to major in Japanese before I even started college, I looked specifically for colleges that offered a major in Japanese. Eventually, I enrolled at USC where I declared a major in East Asian Languages and Cultures with an emphasis in Japanese. For this major, I had to take mostly Japanese-language classes as well as classes on topics relating to Japanese and East Asian studies, such as literature, art, and history. Since graduating from USC, I’ve worked as an English teacher for the JET Program (a government-sponsored program that pays you to teach English in Japan) and am now enrolled in a Japanese Studies Master of Arts program at the University of Michigan. Here are the primary reasons you can trust my advice in this article: I have firsthand experience with learning and majoring in a language:I know what kinds of classes you’ll likely need to take and understand how tough it can be to keep up your language skills (especially over those long summer breaks!). I have worked in a job that uses my target language: Obviously, what kinds of job options you'll have after majoring in a foreign language will depend on several factors, but know that I, too, have gone through the process and will try my best to lend you a (relevant) hand. I majored in what I loved: Ultimately, I chose to major in Japanese because it was something I found interesting, useful for my career goals, and downright fun. Now that we've covered all the basics, let’s take a look at the main reasons you should (and should not) major in a foreign language. 4 Reasons to Major in a Foreign Language We’ll start with the positive points. What are the benefits of majoring in a foreign language, and what are the main reasons you should consider doing it? #1: You’re Passionate About the Language and Want to Use It in Your Career This is rule #1 in my book. You should only be majoring in a foreign language if you’re absolutely passionate about it. The reason passion is so important is that learning a foreign language is really hard work and takes years of practice to become fluent. Majoring in a language is also a smart idea if you plan to use the language in your career.If you want to be a translator/interpreter, for instance, majoring in the language you want to translate is a 100% practical decision and will give you the background necessary for doing well in your job. But a foreign language major won't make you a lot of money, right? Not necessarily. Although liberal arts degrees have a reportedly harder time landing well-paying jobs, recent reports show that many liberal arts majors earn about as much as, if not more than, STEM majors do. #2: You’ll Learn a Practical and Lifelong Skill Although many people don’t think a foreign language major is practical, knowing another language is an excellent lifelong skill to have and can come in handy in a variety of situations, particularly if you want to travel abroad or work in a global industry. You've probably heard thatthere are tons of mental benefits of being bilingual, such as improved memory and better multi-tasking skills. But there are also broader benefitsof knowing a foreign language that apply to your career and lifestyle. Here's whatan article posted on Trinity Washington University’s websitehas to say about knowing multiple languages: "The ability to communicate in multiple languages is becoming more and more important in the increasingly integrated global business community.*Communicating directly with new clients and companies in their native language is one of the first steps to founding a lasting, stable international business relationship." *Emphasis mine Clearly, majoring in a foreign language not only teaches you how to speak a language but also how to communicate effectively with people (and potentially business partners!) from different cultures and language backgrounds. This is an excellent attribute to have in the workplace and might even result in higher pay in the long run. It’s also a great skill to have when applying for jobs since your ability to speak another language will help you stand out from other applicants. An article on Penn State's websiteagrees, claiming that multilingualism increases your desirability in the job market: "In our globalized world, it has become even more essential in the job market to know another language. Companies and businesses have a natural desire to expand their existing networks. Having fluency in another language gives an edge on any resume by showing employers potential to converse with an entirely different group of people."* *Emphasis mine As you can see, there are some great occupational benefits to majoring in a foreign language and being familiar with another culture! #3: You Want to Work in a Foreign Country If one of your goals is to work and live in another country- in particular, an area where your target language is spoken- a major in that language is a logical choice. Such a major proves that you are familiar with both the language and culture. For some jobs based in your target country, knowing the local language might be expected. Even if it’s not required, though, your knowing the local language couldgive a boost to your resume,as it implies you’ll require less help adjusting to your new environment. #4: You Like the Idea of Double Majoring Majoring in a foreign language can be useful for your career goals if you plan to double major. This way, you’ll have a different skill or field you can apply your language knowledge to. You’ll be most appealing as a job candidate if you pair a foreign language major with a major in an entirely different field,such as business, international relations, political science, economics, STEM, or education. This kind of double major will give you a vast range of skills you can apply to a variety of careers and fields, from business to PR to teaching. Hoping to earn a lot of money? Then pair your language major with a STEM major. According to a report by The Conversation, this combination offers the biggest potential for high earnings. (Note, however, that a dual STEM degree typically brings in the most cash.) There are even programs that encourage students to double major in STEM and a foreign language. If you’re like me and can’t get enough of the humanities, it's OK to double major in a language and another liberal arts major. Just know thatyour potential for high wages will be lower than if you combined your language major with a major in a technical- or business-oriented field. This doesn’t mean that you will for sure earn a small salary- just that your job options might be more limited. 3 Reasons Not to Major in a Foreign Language Now that we’ve gone over the good side, it's time to head on over to the dark side. What are some reasons you shouldn’t major in a foreign language? I introduce my top three below. #1: You’re Not Passionate About the Language You’re Learning This is a pretty obvious reason, but if you're not passionate about the language you’re learning and don’t intend to use it after college, don’t major in it. Learning a language is tough- sometimes it feels impossible. So if you’re majoring in one, you need to have the patience and diligence to study it for the long term. A language major means you'll be learning the language the rest of your life. This is what you must doto keep up your communicative skills and be able to use the language consistently in both your career and social life.If you’re not ready for this lifelong process or aren’t sure whether this is something you can commit to, don’t major in a foreign language. Don't know what you want? Take a class or two in your desired language of study and then decide whether this is something you can see yourself studying (and enjoying!) for a long, long time. If you enjoy learning a foreign language but are more interested in other fields, consider minoring in the language. This way, you’ll still be able to use the language fairly effectively but more so as a supplementary skill- meaning that it won’t be the main skill set you graduate with but will still be an important one. #2: You're Expecting to Be Fluent by the Time You Graduate Unfortunately, even if you study a foreign language for four years straight in college, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll graduate with full fluency in it. The reality is that many foreign language majors won't actually attain fluency by the end of college. It’s not that these students are bad at the language or that their schools are bad at teaching it- it’s simply that students typically need more time and language practice than what college offers. So if you're not ready to dedicate your personal life as well as your academic life to this language, it's probably not in your best interest to major in it. While it's possible to attainsome level of fluency by the time you graduate, what skill level you're at will ultimately depend on many factors, including how well you did in your language classes, whether you studied abroad (trust me, it helps!), and how often you used (and continue to use) the language outside of class. Part of fluency also depends on the language you're studying and what your native tongue is.Data released by the Foreign Service Institute of the US Department of Stateshows thatit takes native English speakersfar less time to reach proficiency in Spanish, French, or Italian than it does to reach proficiency in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, or Arabic. In my case, I spent the equivalent of four years studying Japanese in college. I even studied abroad in Tokyo for a semester. But would I say I was fluent by the time I graduated? Far from it. Though I loved the Japanese language and certainly felt I was at an advanced level, I still struggled to speak and understand it. Some of this was due to laziness- I didn’t make much of an effort to integrate Japanese into my daily life, which I strongly regret- and some of this was due to a lack of confidence in my abilities (I always got shy whenever I tried to speak Japanese with people). However, once I moved to Japan after college and began living in a small town where virtually no one spoke English, my Japanese rapidly improved. Basically, what I’m trying to get at is that you shouldn’t expect to be a totally fluent speaker in a language simply because you majored in it. In reality, you’re likely going to need to spend time outside of and after school practicing the language and really making it part of your life until you can honestly say you've reached a comfortable level of fluency. In short, a foreign language major takes a lot of additional effort to make it worth it. #3: There’s a Higher Chance of Unemployment and Low Pay I’ve already touched on this a little above, but it can be difficult for language majors to find a well-paying job (especially if you majored inonly a language and didn't double major). Let’s start by looking at unemployment rates.According to Forbes, non-technical majors have higher unemployment rates than STEM, business, and health care majors do. Moreover, recent graduates with liberal arts degreesface an unemployment rate of 9.2%. But what about salary?A 2015 study conducted by Georgetown’s Center on Education and the Workforce found that the median salary for those who majored in a foreign language was about $52,000. While this salary might not sound too bad to you, by comparing it with the median salaries of other common majors, you'll see that salaries for foreign language majors don't rank that high: General engineering: $81,000 Economics: $76,000 Architecture: $67,000 Nursing: $66,000 Public policy: $65,000 Biology: $56,000 Journalism: $56,000 History: $54,000 Foreign languages: $52,000 Commercial art and graphic design: $51,000 Psychology: $49,000 Secondary teacher education: $48,000 Overall, majoring in a foreign language is a somewhat risky business. Not only might you have more trouble finding a job, but you’re also likely to have a lower starting salary. Should You Major in a Foreign Language? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself So far we’ve looked at some of the reasons you should and should not major in a foreign language. In the end, though, should you do it? Here are three questions to ask yourself before making your final decision. #1: What Kind of Career Do You Want (or Think You Want)? Although you don’t technically have to use your major in your career, it’s a good idea to try to find a way to apply the skills you acquired in college (in this case, mastery of a foreign language) to your professional life. But what kinds of jobs will a language major prepare you for? Two of the most popular fields for language majors aretranslation and interpretation. However, there's both good and bad with this. The bad news is that these two jobs typically don't pay a ton. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for translators and interpreters in May 2016 was $46,120. Wages can vary a lot, though.While the lowest 10% of translators made less than $25,370 in 2016, the highest 10% made more than $83,010. That’s a difference of almost $58,000! This variation in pay depends on a number of factors, including whether you’re a self-employed or in-house worker, where you live, and what languages you know. So what’s the good news? Translation/interpretation jobs are on the rise. According to the BLS, the projected growth rate for interpreters and translators from 2016 to 2026 is 18%- that’s % faster than the growth rate for all jobs in the US! But what if you’re not interested in becoming a translator or interpreter? That’s fine! Not everyone who studies a language wants to sit around all day translating business manuals or interpreting at conferences. Here are some examplesof other jobs can you do with a foreign language major: International relations specialist Teacher/professor Consultant Advertiser Foreign service officer Attorney Public relations For more examples of jobs for language majors, check out these excellent lists by Southeastern Louisiana University and Georgetown University. #2: How Fluent Do You Want to Become? If you’re expecting absolute fluency in your target language by the end of undergrad, know that this might not happen.(Again, this really depends on multiple factors, including what language you're learning, whether you study a lot on your own time, etc.) Although you can learn a lot with four years of college-level language instruction, it’s generally not enough to make you truly fluent in a language. This is why I suggestlooking at your bachelor’s degree as a starting point. I know, this probably sounds horrible- you spend four years learning a language and I'm calling that a starting point. But the reality is that language learning is a lifelong process. And if you expect to use your language in your future career, you’ll need to spend time after college studying and practicing it as well. Here are six ways you can further improve your language skills after college (note that you can do most of these tips during college, too!). Tip 1: Visit and/or Live in a Country That Uses Your Target Language Although easier said than done, immersion is one of the best ways to get a language down fast. If you're in college, study abroad. Already graduated? Try to apply for jobs in your target country. One "easy" way to gain access to a country is to teach English.If you’re studying Japanese as I did, you could apply for the JET Program. If you’re studying Korean or Spanish, you could apply for the EPIK program in Koreaor the Auxiliar de Conversacià ³n Program in Spain. Tip 2: Study on Your Own Time This tip is crucial (and really hard to do when you’re no longer in school!). Finding time to study on your own is what will ultimately help you keep up your language skills and stay sharp. I suggest buying some textbooks and keeping the ones you used in college so you can review what you've learned. Your goal here is to continuously work on improving your vocabulary and grammar knowledge. Flashcards are an excellent way to jog your memory. If you're like me and hate making flashcards, try using Anki or Memriseto make and download digital flashcards instead. Tip 3: Join a Local Language Group When I felt that my spoken Japanese was getting worse, I decided to look for a language group in my area using the website Meetup. Through the Japanese-language group I found, I was able to converse in Japanese with both native Japanese speakers and other language learners. The group wasn’t just great for practice but was also extremely fun! I recommend using Meetup if you ever want to look for (or make) a language group. Tip 4: Hire a Tutor or Online Language Partner If you want to practice speaking and listening but can’t find anyone to do this with in person, try looking for a language partner or tutor online. Tons of companies offer language lessons over Skype and other video chat programs. Some of the best includeVerbal Planet, italki, and Live Lingua. Tip 5: Attend a Language School If you're hoping to improve your language skills and prefer doing so in an academic environment, consider applying to a language school. While tuition can be high, the experience and vast set of skills you acquire often make it worth the price. For example, many people I know attended aMiddlebury Language School over the summer- and all of them loved it! Tip 6: Go to Graduate School If you not only want to become fluent in a language but also want to be able to use it effectively in both professional and academic settings, grad school might be a good option for you. However, as you probably know, graduate programs (particularly master's programs) in the US can get pretty expensive, soI recommend applying for as many fellowships as possible. One of the best-funded scholarships for language learners is theForeign Languages and Area Studies (FLAS) program, which typically covers full tuition and offers a yearly stipend of $15,000 for grad students ($5,000 for undergrads). #3: What Language Are You Interested In? It’s important to understand that if you plan to use your foreign language major in a career, then your job/salary prospective will depend, in part, on which language you choose to study. For those of you thinking about becoming translators/interpreters, here’s what theBLS has to say about the types of languages that will be most in demand: "Demand will likely remain strong for translators of frequently translated languages, such as French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.Demand also should be strong for translators of Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages;for the principal Asian languages including Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, and Korean;and for the indigenous languages from Mexico and Central America such as Mixtec, Zapotec, and Mayan languages."* *All bold emphasis mine If you want to work for the US government, your best bet will be to major in a critical language. But what is a critical language exactly? According to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), critical languages are languages that are "less commonly taught in US schools, but are essential to America’s positive engagement with the world." At present, there are 14 critical languages: Arabic Azerbaijani Bangla Chinese Hindi Indonesian Japanese Korean Persian Punjabi Russian Swahili Turkish Urdu Note that thisdoesn’t mean you won’t be able to find a job if you studied a language not on this list, such as Spanish, French, or Portuguese. Rather, all this indicates is that if you’re planning to work for the US government in particular, you might have a slightly harder time getting a job, as there is a smaller need for your language than there is for the ones listed above. Conclusion: When to Pursue a Foreign Language Major Overall, there are both advantages and disadvantages to majoring in a foreign language. I chose to major in Japanese because I knew it was the right path for me- and one I really,really wanted to take, despite the challenges I'd inevitably face. If you're thinking of pursuing a language major, make sure you're doing so for the right reasons. Once again, here are the four best reasons to major in a foreign language: You’re head over heels in love with the languageand want to make a career out of it You’ll learn skills you can apply to a variety of careers and situations You’ll be more likely to secure a job abroad should you want to work outside the US You’re interested in double majoring, which will give a professional boost to your foreign language major by equipping you with more skills you can use in the future That said, majoring in a foreign language isn't for everyone. Here are the top reasons you should not major in a foreign language: You’re not passionate about the language you’re studying You're expecting to be totally fluent by the time you graduate (while not impossible, this usually requires you to spend a lot of extra time studying and practicing your language) You’ll face a higher risk of unemployment and a lower starting salary If you're still on the fence about pursuing a language major, ask yourself the following questions to help you determine whether this major is the right decision for you: What kind of career do you want? How fluent do you want to become? What language do you want to study? In the end, whether you decide to major in a foreign language is your choice and yours alone. Just make sure you have a good reason to do so and have considered all possible pros and cons before committing to a language major! What’s Next? Not sure what to major in? Get expert advice in our guide to choosing a college major, and learn the five main factors to consider before you declare a major. Foreign language majors can be lots of fun- but they're not typically the most lucrative. Our guide tells you which college majors are likely to bring in the most cash, and offers tips on whether you should pursue one. What are the worst majors for college students? If, after graduation, you want to have an easier time finding a job with ahigh salary, consider avoiding these 26 majors. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.