English language learning software Essay Example

English language learning software Essay English language learning software Name: Course: Date: We will write a custom essay sample on English language learning software specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on English language learning software specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on English language learning software specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer English language learning software Introduction The application of ICT in the learning process is a new phenomenon that has gained support from different regions in the world. Within academic and economic circles, it is ordinary to hear of meetings, conferences and conversations being conducted in English. In fact, English is so widely spoken and regularly taught that it would be difficult to engage in any substantial activity without understanding the language. English has been transformed into the customary language for businesspeople and academics. Therefore, verbalizing it effortlessly has numerous benefits. Technological firms have realized the issue of studying and teaching the English language in most educational institutions and have effectively come up with different products to counter this problem. By far, the biggest issue in learning English is the large numbers of students that makes it difficult to offer individual attention. The introduction of ICT into the learning system sought to bridge this gap by eliminating the issue of numbers, affordability and technicality of learning using new technology. ICT has also enriched the learning experience by making it more entertaining and informative. Vocabulary Generally, reading exposes people to a completely new world beyond themselves as it allows individuals to increase increases their vocabulary knowledge. Reading introduces students to new words, and in many cases, it allows the reader to infer their significance from the context in which they were written. Presumably, readers bear in mind most of the new meaning connections, particularly if they maintain reading and encounter the vocabulary words in a different context (Roberto, 2012). It is very reasonable to presuppose that learning new vocabulary through reading benefits readers whose first language is not English. Therefore, vocabulary is a fundamental feature in language, since it emerges in every skill of language from reading, listening, writing and speaking (Rank et al, 2011). Many individuals become conscious of the fact that they have limited vocabulary and that they cannot effectively express their ideas. English learning software has allocations for teaching vocabulary. These techniques are designed for different age groups from kindergarten to middle school. Popular applications such as Ultimate Vocabulary are interactive and flexible. They offer a broad series of easy-to-do examinations and exercises monitored by a special examination system that displays the student’s progress in a graphic representation (Rank et al, 2011). The software also provided all the correct spelling, the appropriate place to use each word and how the word would be used. These software systems therefore give users a better understanding of English words. Lastly, English vocabulary software has endless resources in the form of a thesaurus and dictionary that further elaborates on any word. The advantage of teaching using this method of vocabulary is that it overcomes any language barriers that the teacher may have. It also eliminates misunderstanding, senseless clarifications and exhaustion among the tutors (Roberto, 2012). Grammar Grammar software concentrates on comprehending grammar regulations and utilizing those rules in writing. These applications are developed for learners from primary school through university that have difficulty in grammar (Akinbode, 2008). The software was also developed with English teachers in mind who did not necessarily major in that subject as well as teachers who needed a substitute technique of teaching grammar. Software packages such as Grammar Key have about three levels of study for beginners, intermediate learner, and advanced students. These syllabi were integrated with the school textbooks from kindergarten to university. Grammar is systematic in nature and therefore it can be taught on a computer mainly because a computer cannot get weary while a tutor will need breaks to rest. The grammar software can say again any word or grammatical guide when instructed to do so. This repetition is important in that the grammar being taught will be internalized in the scholar’s mind. Having many students in one class at a go, a teacher may find it difficult to repeat the grammatical aspects to each child to a level that each child is satisfied. The installation of this software for each child eliminates these oversights and increases the efficiency of the teaching period. The grammar applications such as Grammar Key also show the relationship between clauses, punctuation and verbs thereby teaching the children other parts of English simultaneously (Adams Brindley, 2007). Other software learning systems such as Grammar Fitness have added features such as dynamic grammar exercises that seek to test whether the learner grasped the correct grammar. Like vocabulary software, grammar software also has a tracking system that can be customized to monitor the progress of each student separately. The results of each child’s performance are then presented in an easy-to-understand manner. A teacher may not have the time and organization levels to monitor the skill of each student. In such cases, instructors may employ the use of such applications to help them easily find out the weak students. Speaking In the present world, the significance of English cannot be refuted or ignored as English is spoken in almost all of the countries in the world. The advent of improved technology, English plays a key function in many sectors for example engineering, medicine and education. Of the three, education is the most important sector that requires proper English speakers. For students having career dreams, English appears as the first criteria whether they apply for a post when they seek admission in a reputed institution. Companies embrace candidates that can speak fluent English apart from having the relevant qualifications. There are various applications and programs established that teach people how to speak proper English. Within the school environment, applications such as Eye Speak have been introduced to help students who have difficulties in speaking proper English. These applications provide audiences where users can get professionals to have conversations in proper English. While this is also possible with the help of a tutor, the issue of numbers makes it difficult for one instructor to teach each child individually. The applications use either pre-recorded English audio sets or a real-time English speaker to translate and pronounce words for the learners. The advantage of the applications is that hey can be accessed by students all over the world through the internet. This helps in maintaining a high level of spoken English. Common features of English speaking software are the basic English pronunciation exercises and exceptional speech recognition feature that together work to improve the lev el of a students’ skill until thy can satisfactorily and smoothly speak English (Adams Brindley, 2007). Listening When studying English, most instructors tend to neglect teaching the learners the skill of listening is. Instead, they emphasize on teaching children grammar rules. However, listening is the most vital part of learning the English language. Speaking may be the overall goal but it is a byproduct of listening and reading. The usage of technological methods to teach children how to listen to English words and sentences mainly depends on audio channels (Akinbode, 2008). Again, teachers may require such software because of certain language barriers that may surface when the English teacher has a foreign accent. Normally, children are intrigued by audio methods of learning and therefore, this approach is quite effective when used occasionally in the classroom setting. The teacher can present the particular listening exercise using a stereo system for all the students to hear specific words and their sound. If stressed repeatedly, learners notice how the sound is supposed to be pronounced. Listening software is best effective when accompanied with flash cards or poster showing the word being spoken. Repetition is vital in these exercises to allow the children mull over the words. There are also listening websites such as Pod casts in English and Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab that offer different categories of pre-recorded audio clips for learners to listen and understand (Adams Brindley, 2007). Pronunciation Pronouncing English words in a wrong way may puzzle people even if the user had spoken advanced English words. A person can speak basic words and uncomplicated grammar structures that can be understood easily by many people but there is nothing like simple pronunciation (Roberto, 2012). For example, you will switch the channel when a reporter covering the news lacks a good pronunciation of English words because it feels confused. Pronunciation software aim to bridge this gap and eliminate the challenges of saying one thing and meaning another by applying different methods. Pronunciation software contains the correct words and their proper pronunciation. Apart from this, they also have different dialects and the common errors that each dialect is most likely to face in pronouncing the word. In short, students from different language backgrounds can select their dialect, find out their flaws, and fix them. Pronunciation software also makes use of the fact that children learn better by speaking rather than studying a language. Therefore, they usually have simple songs such as rhymes and lullabies that can be sung by children during breaks on a regular basis. The Sky Software House is a company that is highly reputed for producing quality language software such as Sky Pronunciation (Roberto, 2012). This application has customized learning capabilities that enable a learner to get a course that is tailor-made for their needs. A tutor can use the Sky Pronunciation software to create an exercise for children at the elementary level. The application has pre-defined templates and individual aspects that are both useful to instructors. News houses such as BBC –UK have also taken up the initiative to teach people on the importance of pronunciation when speaking English. Reading Students in whatever level of education should be very concerned with reading because according to Akinbode (2008), educational researchers have discovered that there exists a solid relationship between academic success and reading. Consequently, good readers in school are more likely to perform well in their examinations and do well than students who rarely read any book. Avid readers can comprehend the single sentences and the organizational structure of a work of literature. They can understand thoughts and arguments, and notice the consequences of different actions. They are acquainted with most of the words in the books and they can discern the denotation of many strange words from the context in which they were used. If this fails, they even resort to a dictionary. Reading software for English learners is also categorized according to the level of education. Companies such as Merit Software offer inclusive packages for readers that include products such as Reading Comprehension Booster and Reading Skill Builder. Other independent applications include PIE Transformer that includes diacritics to English sentences to simplify their pronunciations. These applications are useful in the case where the teacher cannot cater to many children simultaneously or physical conditions cannot allow children to attend school. Most of the learners that benefit from reading software are enrolled in home schooling programs. Either way, reading software use interactive texts and comprehension strategies to teach children how to recognize words and how to read them. Conclusion In the selection of suitable English learning software, various aspects should be considered. The application should present numerous realistic teaching features like pictures, entertainment, recording options, playback and a dictionary. The software should also be able to teach all the basics of English as mentioned above. Even though there are numerous advantages toward working with ICT to enhance the learning process, there are drawbacks such as infrastructure, inefficient software and computer-related complications that make the software an inferior technique (Akinbode, 2008). These ICT companies focused on easing the study and teaching of the English language produce specialized, interactive and accessible multimedia software that are administered through the internet. The focus of such products is to allow English students having fundamental computer expertise to utilize and successfully benefit from English learning software. In all the aspects of learning English, it is evident that the issue of having large numbers of students in a classroom greatly increases the burden for the instructor to teach English. It also means that the efficiency of teaching the language will be low as no one student can get individual attention. The introduction of ICT into the education system has created more learning opportunities for learners who could not access school facilities or were not able to afford them. ICT has also enriched the learning experience by making it more entertaining and informative. References Adams, A., Brindley, S. (2007). Teaching secondary English with ICT. Maidenhead, England: Open University Press. Akinbode. J O (2008). The Impacts of Information Communication Technology (ICT) on the Teaching and Learning of English as a Second Language in Nigerian Secondary Schools. African Research Review. Vol 1, No 3. African Research Review Rank, T., Warren, C., Millum, T. (2011). Teaching English using ICT: A practical guide for secondary school teachers. London: Continuum Roberto Martinez Mateo. (2012). An Experience on the Integration of ICT into a Teaching-learning Methodology of English as a Foreign Language. ACADEMY PUBLISHER

Intersectionality - Definition and Discussion

Intersectionality - Definition and Discussion Intersectionality refers to the simultaneous experience of categorical and hierarchical classifications including but not limited to race, class, gender, sexuality, and nationality. It also refers to the fact that what is often perceived as disparate forms of oppression, like racism, classism, sexism, and xenophobia, are actually mutually dependent and intersecting in nature, and together they compose a unified system of oppression. Thus, the privileges we enjoy and  the discrimination we face  are a product of our unique positioning in society as determined by these social classifiers. The Intersectional Approach Sociologist Patricia Hill Collins developed and explained the concept of intersectionality in her groundbreaking book, Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment, published in 1990. Today intersectionality is a mainstay concept of critical race studies, feminist studies, queer studies, the sociology of globalization, and a critical sociological approach, generally speaking. In addition to race, class, gender, sexuality, and nationality, many of todays sociologists also include categories like age, religion, culture, ethnicity, ability, body type, and even looks in their intersectional approach. Crenshaw on Race and Gender in the Legal System The term â€Å"intersectionality† was first popularized in 1989 by critical legal and race scholar  Kimberlà © Williams Crenshaw  in a paper titled, â€Å"Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrines, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics,† published in The University of Chicago Legal Forum. In this paper, Crenshaw reviewed  legal proceedings to illustrate how it is the intersection of race and gender that shapes how black men and women experience the legal system. She found, for example, that when cases brought by black women failed to match the circumstances of those brought by white women or by black men, that their claims were not taken seriously because they didnt fit perceived normative experiences of race or gender. Thus, Crenshaw concluded that black women were disproportionately marginalized due to the simultaneous, intersecting nature of how they are read by others as both raced and gender ed subjects. Collins and a â€Å"Matrix of Domination While Crenshaw’s discussion of intersectionality centered on what she has referred to as â€Å"the double bind of race and gender,† Patricia Hill Collins broadened the concept in her book Black Feminist Thought. Trained as a sociologist, Collins saw the importance of folding class and sexuality into this critical analytic tool, and later in her career, nationality too. Collins deserves credit for theorizing a much more robust understanding of intersectionality, and for explaining  how the intersecting forces of race, gender, class, sexuality, and nationality manifest in a â€Å"matrix of domination.† Privileges and Forms of Oppression The point of understanding intersectionality is to understand the variety of privileges and/or forms of oppression  that one may experience simultaneously at any given time.  For instance, when examining the social world through an intersectional lens, one can see that a wealthy, white, heterosexual man who is a citizen of the United States experiences the world from the apex of privilege. He is in the higher strata of economic class, he is at the top of the racial hierarchy of U.S. society, his gender places him in a position of power within a patriarchal society, his sexuality marks him as â€Å"normal,† and his nationality bestows upon him a wealth of privilege and power in global context. The Ideas and Assumptions Encoded in Race By contrast, consider the everyday experiences of a poor, undocumented Latina living in the U.S. Her skin color and phenotype mark her as â€Å"foreign† and â€Å"other† compared with the perceived normality of whiteness. The ideas and assumptions encoded in her race suggest to many that she is not deserving of the same rights and resources as others who live in the U.S. Some may even assume that she is on welfare, manipulating the health care system, and is, overall, a burden to society. Her gender, especially in combination with her race, marks her as submissive and vulnerable, and as a target to those who may wish to exploit her labor and pay her criminally low wages, whether in a factory, on a farm, or for household labor. Her sexuality too and that of the men who may be in positions of power over her is an axis of power and oppression, as it can be used to coerce her through the threat of sexual violence. Further, her nationality, say, Guatemalan, and her undocumen ted status as an immigrant in the U.S., also functions as an axis of power and oppression, which might prevent her from seeking health care when needed, from speaking out against oppressive and dangerous work conditions, or from reporting crimes committed against her due to fear of deportation. The Analytic Lens of Intersectionality The analytic lens of  intersectionality  is valuable here because it allows us to consider a variety of social forces simultaneously, whereas a class-conflict analysis, or a gender or racial analysis, would limit our ability to see and understand the way privilege, power, and oppression operate in interlocking ways. However, intersectionality is not just useful for understanding how different forms of privilege and oppression exist simultaneously in shaping our experiences in the social world. Importantly, it also helps us to see that what is perceived as disparate forces are actually mutually dependent and co-constitutive. The forms of power and oppression present in the life of the undocumented Latina described above are particular not just to her race, gender, or citizenship status, but are reliant on common stereotypes of Latinas in particular, because of how their gender is understood in the context of their race, as submissive and compliant. Because of its power as an analytic tool, intersectionality is one of the most important and widely used concepts in sociology today.

Public Opinion & Public Policy - [400 Level Political Science Course] Research Paper

Public Opinion & Public Policy - [400 Level Political Science Course] - Research Paper Example The public then evaluates the agenda, based on the values and beliefs, as well as the preferences, and then give their opinion regarding the same. However, most significant of this concept, is the framing of the agenda and the ideas sought by the media. This is because, based on the way a certain agenda is articulated, the same individual can give diverse opinions (Jopkke, 251). Therefore, framing of the public opinion agenda should be done consistently with the actual target information that the agenda is to gather. Social desirability is yet the other consideration that should be made while preparing for a public opinion. The medium that is used to collect public opinion highly determines the response that is obtained (Guimond, 645). This way, the same issue can fetch different responses based on the medium applied. Thus, it is vital to use a medium that is socially desirable to all. This will assure getting the right response on the target issue. The study of public opinion is important. From the beginning of the concept of public opinion, the views obtained from the opinions given by the public regarding a certain issue, have not only been used to give public views regarding the issue, but also to shape and determine the destiny of such an issue (Hugh, 69). A public opinion indicates the attitude, the feelings, the approval or the disapproval of a certain issue by the public. This being the case, it is important to study public opinion, since it helps to understand the real feelings and attitudes that the public holds towards a certain issue (Guimond, 644). Failure to study public opinion would mean that certain decisions are reached on the basis of what certain individuals feel or think, devoid of incorporating the feelings of the public, which is the most affected entity by any social, economic or political