Teaching Conversational Skills Tips and Strategies

Teaching conversational skills can be challenging as not only English skills are required. English students who excel in conversation tend to be those with self-motivated, outgoing personalities. However, students who feel they lack this skill are often shy when it comes to conversation. In other words, personality traits that dominate in everyday life tend to appear in the classroom as well. As English teachers, its our job to help students improve their conversational skills, but often teaching is not really the answer. The Challenge Generally speaking, most English learners feel that they need more conversation practice. Grammar, writing and other skills are all very important, but, for most students, conversation is the most important. Unfortunately, teaching conversational skills is much more challenging than teaching grammar  as the focus is not on accuracy, but on production. When employing role-plays, debates, topic discussions, etc., some students are often timid in expressing their viewpoints. This seems due to a number of reasons: Students dont have an opinion on the subject.Students have an opinion but are worried about what the other students might say or think.Students have an opinion but dont feel they can say exactly what they mean.Students begin giving their opinion but want to state it in the same eloquent manner that they are capable of in their native language.Other, more actively participating students, feel confident in their opinions and express them eloquently making the less confident students more timid. Pragmatically, conversation lessons and exercises should first focus on building skills by eliminating some of the barriers that might be in the way of production. Here are some suggestions to help free up students in conversation. Point out that its not necessary to always speak the truth in class. In fact, not worrying about exactly what happened can help free up students.Create lesson plans that focus on functional skills such as asking for permission, disagreeing, etc. rather than open-ended lessons that students might find vague.Set micro-tasks such as the use of specific verbs, idioms, etc. within overall speaking tasks.  Use tasks such as information gathering or problem-solving activities that encourage students to communicate in English in order to complete the tasks. Here is a closer look at some of these ideas: Focus on Function   Its important to help students become familiar with language functions rather than focusing on a grammar-based approach when developing lessons to help with conversational skills. Start off simple with functions such as: Asking permission, stating an opinion, ordering food in a restaurant, etc.   Explore grammar issues by asking what linguistic formulas should be used to achieve the desired results. For example, if you are comparing two sides of an argument which forms might be helpful (comparative, superlative, would rather, etc). Use formulas to encourage correct usage such as: How / What about Verb Ing for making suggestions - How about taking a trip to San Diego?Would you mind Verb Ing for making requests -  Would you mind giving me a hand?Would you rather Verb or Verb  for asking for preferences -  Would you rather take the train or drive? Expand this approach slowly by asking students to create short role plays using cue cards. Once students become comfortable with target structures and representing differing points of view, classes can move onto more elaborated exercises such as debates and group decision-making activities.   Assign Points of View Ask students to take on a specific viewpoint. Sometimes, its a good idea to ask students to try to state opinions that they dont necessarily share. Having been assigned roles, opinions, and points of view that they do not necessarily share, students are freed from having to express their own opinions. Therefore, they can focus on expressing themselves well in English. In this way, students tend to concentrate more on production skills, and less on factual content. They also are less likely to insist on literal translations from their mother tongue. This approach bears fruit especially when debating opposing points of view. By representing opposing points of view, students imaginations are activated by trying to focus on all the various points that an  opposing  stand on any given issue may take. As students inherently do not agree with the view they represent, they are freed from having to invest emotionally in the statements  they make. More importantly, from a pragmatic point of view, students tend to focus more on correct function and structure when they do not become too emotionally involved in what they are saying. Of course, this is not to say that students should not express their own opinions. After all, when students go out into the real world they will want to say what they mean. However, taking out the personal investment factor can help students first become more confident in using English. Once this confidence is gained, students - especially timid students - will be more self-assured when expressing their own points of view. Focus on Tasks Focusing on tasks is quite similar to focusing on function. In this case, students are given specific tasks they must complete in order to do well. Here are some suggestions on tasks that can help students practice their conversational skills: Create student surveys to gather information.Teamwork activities such as treasure hunts.Board games.Build something - group activities such as a science project or presentations allow everyone to join in the fun. Quick Review Decide whether the following statements are true or false. Its a good idea to have students report their experiences truthfully and in great detail.General conversational activities are best for more advanced students while beginner should focus on functions.Assigning a point of view helps students focus on linguistic accuracy rather than stating exactly what they believe.Problem-solving teamwork  tasks should be avoided as they are not realistic.Outgoing students tend to be better at conversational skills. Answers False - Students shouldnt have to worry about telling the exact truth because they might not have the vocabulary.True - Advanced students have the linguistic skills to deal with broader issues.True - Assigning a point of view can help free up students to focus on form rather than on content.  False - Problem solving requires teamwork and conversational ability.True - Motivated outgoing students tend to allow themselves to make mistakes and thus speak more freely.

Death in Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe

Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe In the short story â€Å"Masque of the Red Death† By: Edgar Allen Poe he delivers the theme of age old inevitability of death and futility of trying to escape death, the setting of his story is based during a time when the bubonic â€Å"black† plague took over Europe. The black plague was a bacterium that survived in rats and rodents, human beings became infected when they got bitten by the fleas that lived on these rodents and rats; you knew you had gotten infected by several symptoms such as bleeding in the lungs, high fever and delirium but the most outstanding symptom was bubos. Now Bubos are painful lymph nodes that appear usually in the armpits, legs, neck or groin areas, if the infected†¦show more content†¦Shortly after their discovery each and every invited wealthy guest fell to their untimely death from becoming infected by the â€Å"red death†. Now the reason why the wealthy thousand died was because the â€Å"Red Death† infiltrat ed the whole castle by the unwelcomed guest that appeared earlier in the short story, in the end darkness, decay and the red death have at last triumphed. In conclusion death knows no difference between the wealthy persons and the less fortunate people to death we are all the same, when your time comes you cannot escape death by running, hiding, or confining yourself and your friends in a castle guarded by tall walls and iron gates Edgar Allan Poe born in 1809 to traveling actors from Boston, at the delicate age of one his mother died of tuberculosis, overwhelmed by such sorrow his father deserted him at the age of two left in abandonment he was adopted by a lovely couple Mr. and Mrs. John Allan. As time passed he only studied a brief time at the University of Virginia, his behavior and gambling habits kept him from becoming successful at UVA. In 1836 he married a young woman named Virginia who happen to be only fourteen years of age and his cousin, In 1846 he lost his wife to a long lifetime illness because of his loss he became addicted to more than just drinking he became addicted to drugs such as morphine and opium. The last twelve years of his life he worked as a journalist, editor and creative writer. Sadly in 1849 Edgar Allan Poe diedShow MoreRelatedThe Masque Of The Red Death By Edgar Allan Poe Essay1712 Words   |  7 PagesEdgar Allan Poe is a well known profound writer because of his great works of fiction through short stories and poetry. Often times inciting fear and suspense into readers by the use of tone and subject in a various literature ways. Evidently in stories such as The Masque of the Red Death, The Tale-Tell Heart, and The Raven being that they are all well known. Poe an unforgettable writer, because of his horror stories and writing style has created stories and poems that are classical and often spokenRead MoreThe Masque Of The Red Death By Edgar Allan Poe1769 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"isolation† is used, most people think of it as an action performed in solitude. It brings to mind an empty space in which one person resides, far from all others. However, isolation does not always occur in a singular sense. In â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† by Edgar Allan Poe, isolation is used by a large population as a means of safety. In â€Å"The Thing Around Your Neck† by Chimananda Ngozi Adichie, isolation occurs among crowds of people and even in the company of someone close to one’s heart. In bothRead MoreThe Masque Of The Red Death By Edgar Allan Poe2034 Words   |  9 Pagesatmosphere exudes a dream-like quality, which calls into question if the events are simply a product of one’s imagination. This situation is comparable to that of â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† by Edgar Allan Poe. Originally published in 1842, this narrative t ells the story of a wealthy noble, Prince Prospero. An extremely deadly plague, the Red Death, has devastated the land, and Prince Prospero invited a group of a thousand friends to one of his abbeys to hide away from the disease. Everything about the partyRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe s The Masque Of The Red Death1300 Words   |  6 Pagesmovement took action during the mid-eighteen hundreds in which Poe wrote his short story, Masque of the Red Death According to Edgar Allan Poe in his short story, â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† â€Å"No pestilence had ever been so fatal, or so hideous.† Even though plagues had been common throughout the years, none of them had been as hideous as society was during the Movement. In his short story â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death†, Edgar Allan Poe demonstrates that people are naturally born evil, during the Anti-TranscendentalismRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe s The Masque Of The Red Death1225 Words   |  5 Pagesstories of tribes, to colonial poems, to the twisted mind of Edgar Allan Poe, there is a connection. Poe’s â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† may not seem to portray the ideas of religion but through close examination, the association will become less cloudy. Poe’s use of symbolism, narrator, word choice, helps readers unmask the idea of religion. Poe’s use of symbolism is very evident throughout the story of â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death†. Much has been made about the meaning of the rooms that fillRead MoreThe Masque Of The Red Death By Edgar Allan Poe And Shirley Jackson1219 Words   |  5 Pagesa writer masterfully orchestrates their piece of literature to capture and intrigue an audience, the author utilizes a certain depth in the piece, where their vernacular elicits emotions. The short stories written by Edgar Allan Poe and Shirley Jackson, â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† and â€Å"The Summer People†, produce an unexpected ending. The key to creating feelings of tension and suspense lies within their command of literary elements. Each of these aspects contribute toward the bigger pictureRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Edgar Allan Poe s The Masque Of The Red Death1409 Words   |  6 PagesA Literary Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† Edgar Allan Poe is popularly known as a Gothic short story writer. He has produced many gruesome stories, including the short story â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death†. In this short tale, Prince Prospero decides to lock himself and his friends of the court into a magnificently decorated abbey to escape becoming ill of a disease which has caused half the people in his land to perish. The Prince provides indulgences and throws partiesRead MoreMasque Of The Red Death By Edgar Allan Poe Analysis758 Words   |  4 PagesEdgar Allen Poe is famous for his distinct style of writing. Authors use stylistic elements to create an effect on their writing that develops a voice. Factors such as Edgars past has influenced his writing and has contributed to his style. In his literary works, Poe uses figures of speech such as irony, similar point of views, and allegory to establish his voice as an author. Figures of speech such as irony are used by Poe to create his style. In Masque of the Red Death it states, No pestilenceRead MoreComparative Essay- Rachel Orbach In â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† by Edgar Allan Poe, and â€Å"To900 Words   |  4 Pages Comparative Essay- Rachel Orbach In â€Å"The Masque of the Red Death† by Edgar Allan Poe, and â€Å"To Build a Fire† by Jack London, both authors use similar protagonists who unwillingly have to face their death. Prince Prospero, in â€Å"The Masque of Red Death†, is avoiding a deadly plague by hiding in his castle with his kinsmen, and the man in â€Å"To Build a Fire† is traveling in the freezing weather trying to abstain from hypothermia and death. Prince Prospero and the man, while different from one anotherRead MoreCompare And Contrast The Style Of Edgar Allan Poe And The Masque Of The Red Death1018 Words   |  5 Pagesjust by reading it once. Edgar Allen Poe has a very distinct style one will see. Through themes, symbolism and tone, Poe is easily distinguished from other writers by having a style that is very dark, and suspenseful. Poe uses recurring themes that set him apart and emphasize the dark suspenseful style. One of the most common themes he uses is death, found in almost all of Poes works. In A Cask of Amantillado, it is centered around Montressor killing Fortunato, death being the only thought he

Behavior and Environment Human Decision Processes

Question: Discuss about the Behavior and Environment Human Decision Processes. Answer: Introduction: There are many problems related with the problem of littering and making the park dirty that includes blocking of drains, high cost expense for cleaning of the park, and polluting the parks environment (Stern, 2000). It is important for keeping the environment clean and green of the Sydney Olympic Park. However, there has been growth of the littering and it has been continuously rising with the passage of time. Targeted elements for the problem The Littering is the process of throwing away and leaving the waste rubbish in a state of lying around at public places (Bateson et al., 2013). The waste materials include cigarette butts, plastic bags, and other paper items. The main cause for the problem of littering is the human habit of throwing away of the garbage and waste materials anywhere. The laziness of people to throw away the trash in the dustbin had resulted in causing the problem of littering. Hence, it is important for making them realize the importance of keeping the park clean. The Government had spent around $300 million for cleaning the littering and garbage that has been lying in the city all over (Steg Vlek, 2009). The garbage or waste that should be targeted for removal from the park includes cigarettes, wrappers, and plastic bags. These items when get into the drain, blocks the pipeline overflowing the drain water. It would help in maintaining the clean surroundings of the Sydney Olympic Park. Change implementation for Littering The use of information intervention would be helpful for dealing with the issue of littering. The information intervention is useful for providing information, facts, and significance to people with the aid of comprehensive instructions (Heyduck Glattacker, 2013). The people who are daily visitors of Sydney Olympic Park should be targeted for the intervention and be provided with instructions on how to keep their surroundings clean. The intervention would help in assisting people for getting accustomed to the process of keeping their surrounding clean by making them aware of the problems of littering and their bad affects on the environment. The following sections would help in forming and intervention strategy for dealing with the problems of the littering of waste all around Sydney Olympic Park to keep the park clean and green. Hence, an intervention should be made for making people aware of the growing problems due to the littering so that they could develop a habitat for keeping their surrounding clean. Explanation of Intervention Strategy The intervention process used for dealing with the issue of littering at Sydney Olympic Park would be Information Intervention that has been targeted for youngsters (group intervention). The following sections have highlighted the intended achievements from the intervention for littering problems and the process involved in dealing with those problems. Achievements from intervention strategy The intervention strategy had been made for developing ways for dealing with the littering problems (issue in drainage system and polluting the environment of the park). These strategies (making people aware about bad effects of littering and making proper waste disposal system) would be helpful for dealing with the problems of littering of waste materials around the Sydney Olympic Park. The littering of the park is a result of isolated behavior from people in terms of physical and social context (Bamberg, 2013). The intervention would result in sustaining the parks quality and environment. Basically youngsters are targeted for intervention strategy as they are amongst the largest polluters of the Sydney Olympic Park. The type of intervention used is Information intervention and the procedure followed is based on the littering behavior of the targeted groups. Processes involved in the group intervention for littering The processes involved in the group intervention on the issues of littering and finding of the solutions for those issues at Sydney Olympic Park is based on the Theory of Planned Behavior and it includes the following processes- Use of Social Norm: The primary method for making youngsters aware about the problems of littering is by focusing on peer groups in place of individuals (Shaw et al., 2014). Influencing the most significant individual from the group would also help in diverting the whole group towards the aim of the intervention. Group norms and commitments are more likely to be followed by group members than an individual norm or commitment. Influence their attitude: The use of clear and short messages would help in attracting more youngsters for getting acquainted with the goals and norms of the intervention (Neelakantan et al., 2013). It is important for exposing the youngsters about the problems and issues of the littering. The biodegradability of the litters should be made aware to them so that they focus more on keeping the park clean and green. Behavior Control: The proper waste disposal methods and techniques should be made aware to the youngsters. The empty dustbins and recycling bins must be present in the park for facilitating the proper disposals of waste and trashes. Justification of the Intervention Strategy The intervention strategy has been developed for targeting the youngsters and making them understand about the problems of the littering for the Sydney Olympic Park. The Theory of Planned Behavior would be helpful for supporting the process for intervention of littering (Werner et al., 2012). The primary reason behind the solution for the issue of littering is the peer influence on people. However, some other influences like realization of bad effects of littering, personal norms, amount/proximity of dustbins, and sense of community can be used for implementing the solutions for the littering in Sydney Olympic Park. The main reasons behind the use of group intervention strategy using Theory of Planned Behavior are In the social age, youngsters are more easily influenced from the trends and hence, peer influence would be more effective than individual influence The use of information about the bad effects of the littering would be helpful for making them aware about the necessity for keeping the environment clean and green Presence of proximate garbage disposal system (dustbins and recycle bins) would be helpful in tending people to use them instead of throwing garbage here and there (littering) The barriers to the intervention strategy and their mitigation processes are listed in the table below- Barriers and Risk Factors Mitigation Strategies Lack of Information on the Littering Review of a number of literature and interviews of experts for getting prior and complete information on the effects of littering Unable to influence youngsters Implementing reward system and competition for keeping the park clean and it would attract more youngsters for keeping the park clean Absence of dust bins and recycling system Get support from the local communities for developing waste disposal system at the park Table 1: Barriers for Littering Intervention and their Mitigation Strategy (Source: Cognis et al., 2014, pp-405) References Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179-211. Bamberg, S. (2013). Applying the stage model of self-regulated behavioral change in a car use reduction intervention.Journal of Environmental Psychology,33, 68-75. Bateson, M., Callow, L., Holmes, J. R., Roche, M. L. R., Nettle, D. (2013). Do images of watching eyes induce behaviour that is more pro-social or more normative? A field experiment on littering.PloS one,8(12), e82055. Cornish, M. A., Thys, A., Vogel, D. L., Wade, N. G. (2014). Post-deployment difficulties and help seeking barriers among military veterans: Insights and intervention strategies.Professional Psychology: Research and Practice,45(6), 405. Heyduck, K., Glattacker, M. (2013, July). Review of a Common Sense Model-based patient information intervention in the context of rehabilitation. In27th Conference of the European Health Psychology Society(Vol. 19). Neelakantan, P., Gerrard, G., Lucas, C., Milojkovic, D., May, P., Wang, L., ... O'Brien, S. (2013). Combining BCR-ABL1 transcript levels at 3 and 6 months in chronic myeloid leukemia: implications for early intervention strategies.Blood,121(14), 2739-2742. Shaw, W. S., Besen, E., Pransky, G., Boot, C. R., Nicholas, M. K., McLellan, R. K., Tveito, T. H. (2014). Manage at work: a randomized, controlled trial of a self-management group intervention to overcome workplace challenges associated with chronic physical health conditions.BMC public health,14(1), 1. Steg, L., Vlek, C. (2009). Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: An integrative review and research agenda. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29, 309-317. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2008.10.004 Stern, P. (2000). Toward a coherent theory of environmentally significant behaviour. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 407-24. Werner, C. M., Cook, S., Colby, J., Lim, H-J. (2012). Lights out in university classrooms: Brief group discussion can change behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 32, 418426. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2012.07.001

Blacks Struggle To Reach American Dream Essay free essay sample

, Research Paper Struggle for the American Dream The American Dream is what Americans want out of life. It consists of people # 8217 ; s household programs, calling programs, and the type of life style they want to populate. Lorraine Hansberry wrote the drama, A Raisin in the Sun, in 1958. A Raisin in the Sun provides many good illustrations of inkinesss fighting to accomplish their American Dreams. The drama Tells of a household, the Youngers, who want the American Dream. The characters Mama, Ruth, Walter, and Beneatha all show how they attempt to carry through their single dreams ; they struggle through racism, differing positions, and money jobs ( severally ) . Mama and Ruth both had dreams of traveling out of the ghetto and traveling to a better vicinity. Mama truly wanted to travel out so her household could be happier. She was driven to utilize the insurance money from Big Walter # 8217 ; s decease to purchase a house, alternatively of puting it into spirits like Walter wanted to. This is shown in Mama # 8217 ; s Act I statement, # 8220 ; Well-whether they drinks it or non ain # 8217 ; t none of my concern. But whether I go into concern selling it to # 8216 ; em is, and I don # 8217 ; t want that on my leger this late in life # 8221 ; ( p.42 ) . Ruth was split between desiring to travel out or to put the money like Walter wanted to. She was really happy though when Mama announced that she had bought a house. Ruth was really unfastened in denoting her felicity excessively, # 8220 ; Well-well! -All I can state is-if this is my clip in life-MY TIME-to say adieu so I say it loud and good, HALLELUJAH! AND GOOD-BYE MISERY I DON # 8217 ; T NEVER WANT TO See YOUR UGLY FACE AGAIN! # 8221 ; ( p.94 ) . Ruth truly wants to acquire out of the ghetto because it has merely provided her with wretchedness and sadness, she thinks now is her clip to be happy. Mama and Ruth besides had to defy attempts from Mr. Linder to maintain inkinesss from traveling into Clybourne Park. Linder and the people of Clybourne Park were racist and afraid of inkinesss traveling into and polluting their vicinity. After hearing what Linder has to state, the household is even more content on traveling into Clybourne Park to demo that they aren # 8217 ; T afraid. Then there is Walter and his struggle with Mama and Ruth about what to make with the money. Walter Younger # 8217 ; s American Dream is to be rich and live an excessive life like the people for which he chauffeurs. He wants to utilize the insurance money from his pa # 8217 ; s decease to put in a spirits shop in Springfield. Willy Harris, Bobo, and Walter all program on puting 10 thousand dollars each into the shop. Walter and Mama have differing positions about what to make with the money because he wants to put in liquor alternatively of purchasing the house. Mama is dead set against the whole spirits shop thought. This is shown in Act II when she says, # 8221 ; there ain # 8217 ; t gon na be no investme nt in N o spirits stores† ( p.70 ) . This leaves Walter really unhappy because his dreams have been crushed, â€Å"So you butchered up a dream of mine-you-who ever speaking ’bout your children’s dreams † ( p.95 ) . Mama refused to even listen to Walter’s thought, she wouldn’t have him speaking about puting in spirits in her â€Å"house† . After they buy the house for 35 hundred dollars, Mama trusts Walter to take the remainder to the bank for him and Beneatha to divide. She talks to him one dark about how he’s the adult male of the house and should hold more say in how things are done. She tells him to take the staying 65 hundred to the bank and set it in separate histories for him and Beneatha. Alternatively of traveling to the bank like he was supposed to, Walter used the staying 65 hundred dollars to put in the shop. He finds out subsequently that Willy ran off with all the money, and there is none left. Beneatha is dumb when she find s out all their money is gone. Mama is really huffy at him, particularly since he broke her trust. This causes the household to rethink the thought of purchasing a house because they don’t have any other money now that Walter lost it. Beneatha # 8217 ; s American Dream is to travel to school and go a physician after college. When she was younger, she and her friends used to travel sleighing down the ice-covered rock stairss of people # 8217 ; s houses. One twenty-four hours her friend, Rufus, split his face open on the pavement and had to travel to the infirmary. The following twenty-four hours the physicians had fixed him all up. This event is what inspired Beneatha to go a physician when she grew up. This is shown in an Act II conversation with Agasai, # 8220 ; I ever thought it was the one concrete thing in the universe that a human being could make. Repair up the ill # 8221 ; ( p. 133 ) . After Willy Harris bargains their money, she begins to halt lovingness. Beneatha starts believing that her dream wasn # 8217 ; t deep plenty and that it was a kid # 8217 ; s manner of seeing life. The drama, A Raisin in the Sun, is a good beginning of illustrations of inkinesss non carry throughing their dreams. In the drama, the Younger household struggles to accomplish the American Dream. Mama and Ruth fight off racism from the people of Clybourne Park although they do finally carry through their dream of traveling into a house. Walter and Bennie struggled with their dreams, but they didn # 8217 ; t carry through them. Because of Willy Harris running off with the money, Beneatha didn # 8217 ; Ts have money to inscribe into medical school and prosecute a calling in the medical field. It has now been 40 old ages since the clip of the drama and most African Americans are still fighting to accomplish the American Dreams of freedom and equality. Unfortunately, there are still people like Mr. Linder that are racist and that think they are superior to inkinesss because they are white.