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The current study seeks to investigate teachers and students perceptions on the cultural dimension of language teaching and l
Critical Analysis of Research
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The current study seeks to investigate teachers and students perceptions on the cultural dimension of language teaching and learning and some of the classroom practices present. The research approach is shaped by constructivism, which mainly asserts that reality is socially constructed. The research focuses on the way culture shapes the different aspects of teaching language in the classroom.
The epistemology of the study takes an objectivist approach with the analyzing and provision of data, which is tabulated in tables. The study assumes that culture affects or influences the perceptions of classroom practices by teachers and affects the priorities and views of the EFL students. Experimentation is evident as data is collected through various data collection methods such as questionnaires and interviews. Reliability in the study is ensured using a systematic observation scheme, which relies on a certain criteria that included goals, input, tasks, student role teacher role and kind of task. From a student’s perspective, different students can have different notions of epistemologies based on their different cultures. Similar, teachers may have different perceptive on the influence and need to incorporate culture in language classrooms.
Results from the study seem to be in line with some facts from previous studies; for instance, teachers view on preferring language teaching to culture teaching is evident. However, based on culture aspect touching on constructivism, basing culture teaching to a facts-based approach ignores that culture is a social construct.
The author notes that effective teaching depends on the ability of the teacher to be able to build and maintain human relationships rather than the approach or method of teaching. In cultural teaching, based on the study the teacher does not have to become a cultural expert rather he or she needs to be a mediator to enhance the students understanding. Thus, the idea that native speakers are in a better position to teach effectively needs to be somehow disregarded and reevaluated. Non-native speakers have been shown to be more effective than the native speakers are. The non-native teachers do not have a cultural barrier and can be able to relate different cultures in their learning to prove the student with a better understanding of the critical concepts.
The study indicates that the findings of the study are hard to generalize because of the limited number of participants. However, the authors claim that the study offers new insights into the teacher and student perceptions in the classroom. For most of the Vietnamese EFL teachers and students, culture teaching is inferior in the classroom as their cultural dimension of language teaching and learning already socially constructs most of their perceptions.
Implications for EFL education include the need to include culture in the goals of every lesson. Additionally, it is important to reduce language barriers. This may be done by approaching and incorporating culture in a simple way approach that involves things such as language use in daily life in the form of greetings and normal conversation. Then once they become accustomed to the normal form of English communications; they can be introduced to more complex and higher levels of language proficiency.
The study was done by Ho Si Thang Kiet, PhD Candidate in Applied linguistics, in the School of linguistics and Applied Language studies at the University of Wellington.
Funny Money By Mark Singer
‘Funny Money’ By Mark Singer
Introduction
Mark Singer’s ‘Funny Money’ gives the reader an impression that he is taking a stroll in Oklahoma City during the late1970’s. In the book, Mark provides an interesting outlook in identifying the individuals who fed from the boom emanating from the gas and oil exploration. “He elaborates how the local bankers made it possible to finance anything that proved able to move and make more money,” says Susan (1985). He talks of the people who spent huge amounts of money without caring much since they knew they would go borrow again from the big city banks.
Discussion
The book focuses on the Penn Bank, a bank modestly situated in a shopping center, but performing an immodest way in the finance sector, a sector with many risks involved. Lee (1985) asserts that, “Penn Square brought together individuals who kept the economy running, the wealthy individuals in the society, those who leased or owned mineral rights and the investors who possessed huge amounts of funds to get the gas and oil from the ground.” In as much as this was not a new event or practice, the way, Penn Bank conducted it was very crude.
Mark explains how Penn Bank organized loans related to energy and assessed them in terms of the risks involved in its drilling and the degree of soundness of the security. After thorough assessment of these loans, they sold them to premier banks in America. Singer (2004) adds that “Penn Square received huge fees for this service that they provided.” This is a traditional practice for most banks and Penn State was not an exception. They copied this from many banks buying and selling loans in regard to funds availability and the desire to diversify portfolios.
Mark also brought to light the untraditional things that Penn Square bank was involved in. Before it went bankrupt in the year 1982, its assets had increased more than fifteen times to five hundred and twenty five million dollars and its deposits had expanded from twenty nine million dollars to over four hundred and fifty million dollars. It had unique cavalier techniques of handling its business. Singer (2004) asserts that, “Penn Square generated and passed many loans that were not credit-worthy and were not properly collateralized.” It had insufficient capital to effective run its operations and allowed most of its top partners and directors to over borrow.
After buying Penn Square in 1974, Bill P. Jennings started an oil and gas loan department after two years and hired Bill Patterson to head the department in 1977. Patterson was not the banking type of person and often dressed in awkward manner while going to work. Singer (2004) explains how, “He also drank lots of beer and engaged in beer fights in expensive restaurants.” Singer explains how a small bank like Penn Square worked its way into portfolios of big banks such as Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company. However, Penn Square didn’t last in the market. The 1981-82 economic recessions and the collapse of the boom in energy in 1982 led to its collapse.
Mark Singer’s book has brought to light various ethics that should be upheld by anyone venturing into the business world. The first thing that owners of big companies and enterprises should embrace is consultation and consideration of all the stakeholders’ interest in any action. This is a very important tool in any business and it help give room for novel ideas that would benefit the business. In comparison with Funny Money, we can say that Jennings lacked this ethic and it did cost him Penn Square Bank. Before introducing the oil and gas loan department in the bank, he should have consulted with the top officials of the bank on the way forward. He just told them his new idea and didn’t ask for other people’s opinions, and so when everything was crumbling down, he was all to blame.
Singer’s book gives the need for the federal government to step in and ensure businesses follow the laid down business ethics and laws. Penn Square was not operating within the law in the manner in which it sold loans to the Continental Illinois. It didn’t care much in the way it handled the processing of loans. Allowing its top officials to borrow huge amounts of money was against business ethics since they were given loans yet their financial status was not up to speed. Singer confirms to us that Penn Square woes were caused the top officials who felt that business ethics and laws are not important in the running of a business.
In explaining business ethics, Lee, Jere, Peter &Marisa (2005) asserts that, “in as much as a business is geared towards making profit, it should ensure that it follows the law and does not infringe any one’s rights.” Funny Money has brought to light how the few rich individuals engulfed by the greed to make more money from the booming oil and gas sector borrowed huge funds from the bank without caring about the others who had small savings accounts with the bank. “It was very unethical for them to indulge in such acts since they made those individuals running accounts with little money incur losses with the collapse of the bank” asserts Max (2004). In this case the Bank’s chairman Jennings, the oil and gas lender Patterson, visionary geologist Hefner and borrowers Carl Swan and Allen were unethical in the way they conducted their business.
According to Lee et al. (2005), “business ethics require individuals to operate within the law while conducting business.” Patterson together with John Lytle, the Continental Illinois Bank Company vice president, was sentenced to having forged a loan officer’s name. They were sentenced to imprisonment with Paterson serving two years while John serving three and half years. They had gone against business ethics and had to be responsible for their actions.
Having read the book, I have understood the importance of business ethics in the business world. In as much as all businesses are geared towards making profits, business ethics and law should be followed to the latter. Velasquez (2006) argues that “consultations with various stakeholders should be done to ensure that everyone’s needs and interests are catered for.” These help a great deal since varied ideas and better implementation methods are brought on the table making the business a success. Adhering to business ethics makes an organization and its leaders have a good reputation. A good name is important for any future business deals for the individuals and the organization. Swan, one of the key players in the Penn Bank found it difficult to make deals in his new business after the collapse of the Penn Square Bank. Everyone he tried to make business dealings with associated him the collapsed bank.
“Business ethics should be based on moral sound judgment and respect for others. In regard to this, business executives should be people of high integrity and should have the courage to do what they think is right,” says Velasquez (2006). Since they are the light of the company and determine the company’s direction, they are not expected to be unscrupulous or hypocritical. Mark Singer has showed to us that Swan failed to meet the set standards of a business executive. When he collaborated with Patterson to forge the signature of his junior loan officer, he failed a great deal as a business executive. Velasquez (2006) explains that, “individuals are expected to behave and have morals that are specific to their line of business.” In trying to understand Manuel’s assertion, Patterson comes to our minds. Despite being a banker, he did not dress or behave like one. He often put on a Nazi trooper helmet and a Batman hat. Furthermore, he was known for drinking lots of alcohol and always got involved in food fights in expensive restaurants.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, Mark Singer’s book ‘Funny Money’ has successfully explained what really led to the collapse of Penn Square Bank. In doing so, he has interestingly commented on the Oklahoma culture, some histories and facts relating to the oil business. The book comes in handy for anyone interested in the banking industry since it gives one an insight of the business ethics and what is expected of him and what can befall him in case he goes against them. Despite the fact that the book was written during the 1980’s, the subject matter it handled is still relevant to the current real estate and energy markets. The kind of corporate corruption that characterized Penn Square Bank and Continental Illinois is still evident in today’s corporates, its like people never learn. Singer’s book emphasizes the need for business organizations to work in ensuring that they follow business ethics and law to the latter.
References
Manuel, Velasquez (2006). “Business Ethics, A Teaching and Learning Classroom Edition:
Concepts and Cases, 6/E. New York: Pearson Publishers. p. 80
Mark, Singer (2004). “Funny Money.” New York: Mariner Books Publishers. p.23
Nichols, Max. (2004). “Commentary: Taking a second look at Funny Money.” The Journal
Record. Retrieved on 3rd Nov from HYPERLINK “http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_20040719/ai_n10162138/” http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_20040719/ai_n10162138/
Lee, R., Peter, J., Jere, M. &Marisa, P. (2005). “The Legal and Regulatory Environment of
Business.” Illinois: Burr Ridge Publishers. p. 60
Susan, Lee (1985). “Mickey Mouse in Oklahoma.” New York Times, Published on 23rd June
1985. Retrieved on 3rd Nov 2011 from HYPERLINK “http://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/23/books/mickey-mouse-in-oklahoma.html” http://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/23/books/mickey-mouse-in-oklahoma.html
Polygraphs and deception
Polygraphs and deception
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Polygraphs as a means of lie detection basis itself on the premise that when a person lies, the process induces conscious conflict, which leads to anxiety and fear, and that physiological changes that can be measured and interpreted accompany these emotions. Much as it can accurately detect these changes, the detector only becomes effective in ideal candidates, i.e. candidates who believe in the lie detector. It has been proven that innocent subjects can fail the test since it is not only lying that can induce anxiety and fear but other factors such as the matter under investigation, the interviewers themselves, the environment of investigation and the character of both the interviewer and the subject. That polygraphs have been termed as effective tools of social control is an incriminating observation. This control arises from the fact that the strapping of the subject into a make believe lie detector increases the effectiveness of the interrogator and as such leads to coercion of the subject. Evidence obtained through coercion is not admissible. On the other hand, when used objectively, the polygraph can be used in effectively screening subjects like happens in interviews for jobs. This depends on the line of questioning done and the environment of application. All in all, use of the polygraph elicits mixed reactions on ethics. Thus, the use of these machines should be discouraged since; first because it’s over falsified accuracy allows a high degree of coercion by non-violence and second because it is easy for seasoned nonreactors to beat its system.
Deception in an admission seeking interview can be legally used. This is done through the use of certain tactics that border on misrepresentation of facts, but that are within the legal confines of the suspect and also within the stipulates of the Miranda rules. A most commonly used lie is where the interviewers downplay the seriousness of the offence or entice the suspects with the use of promises that are either vague or indefinite. In other times, the interrogator can inform the suspects that they are free to go and by such circumvent the requirements of the Miranda rules by insinuating that the interview is non-custodial. As far as the tools of deception do not involve the creation of false evidence or coercion, the investigator is legally permitted to use them. The issue that is contestable is the ethical implications of the deception used. These tactics rely heavily on the integrity of the interrogator and were the subject to discover the deception and call the investigators bluff, the investigator will find it harder to elicit a confession or even make progress in their investigation. With this in mind, it is believed that the argument still rages out on the issue of deception in admission seeking interviews and its merits and demerits should be evaluated on a case to case basis.
Reference
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Albrecht, S. W., Albrecht, C. C., Albrecht, C. O., & Zimbelman, M. F. (2009). Fraud examination. Mason (OH: South-Western.
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