Friday, November 29, 2019

Management 331 Essay Example

Management 331 Essay Name: Course: Institution: Date: We will write a custom essay sample on Management 331 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Management 331 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Management 331 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Management 331 Brazil is a country that is acknowledged for having a rich atmosphere for conducting business. The country hosts a large population of one hundred and ninety million people who possess different ethnicities including German, African and Spanish among many others (US Commercial Guide 2). Brazil also has an expanded economic industry that includes several market opportunities for small and big businesses for countries including the United States. However, the main businesses that make up Brazil’s industrious economy involve products like vehicles, petrol chemicals and computers among others. Focusing on personal computers, there are several ways in which an international business could be conducted. For example, the firm could export computers to the country, form a business partnership with a Brazil-based company or initiate a completely owned subsidiary. However, for the business to succeed, an evaluation of each of these methods is required in order to determine the best option. In this process, advantages and disadvantages of each method are identified in order to determine the best option that will be more effective to the business (US Commercial Guide 4). In the business strategy of exporting personal computers from the United States to Brazil, cost advantages are realized. For example, the cost of manufacturing computers in America appears to be more costly than when in Brazil. In addition, the costs involved are opportunity costs since the expenses for producing PCs replace the costs of the cars that could have been manufactured. For example, while in America, a business would require to give up the production of one hundred and fifty vehicles to manufacture a thousand PCs, a business venturing in Brazil would only require giving up one hundred cars. However, since Brazil’s major market is made of imports from the United States[1], it leads to a problem of congestion within the market space. For example, in such a scenario, there are probably American PC businesses that crowd the Brazilian market and hence it will be difficult for a business to establish itself due to increased competition. An emerging market is characterized by rapid economic progress and an increase in foreign business ventures. Brazil is one of the emerging markets in the world because of its rich possession of natural resources. Brazil has also become an established market for American IT technology[2]. U.S investors dealing with producing computer equipment are significantly required to incorporate the needs of the Brazilian population that speak languages including Portuguese (Jennifer 2011). For example, the American manufacturers could include a language translating function in the computer systems in order to meet the needs of the Brazilian population and hence become more profitable. The alternative of establishing a partnership with a Brazilian-based company has its advantages. For example, one of the progressing sectors in Brazil is the PC hardware based on referring to the overall revenues earned that have increased to billions of dollars. This could create a great opportunity for an American business partnership with Brazil because if the computer industry in Brazil is progressing profitably, the investment is likely to follow the same trend (Jennifer 2011). However, the success achieved from conducting business in Brazil is usually based on one’s persistence, experience and being highly acquainted with the country’s cultural and legal standards. This is because Brazil maintains a distinctive legal structure, which causes the problem of unfamiliarity among many foreign investors. Investing in the Brazilian partnership could lead to the emergence of more opportunities. For example, the partnership could take advantage of the situation, in which certain areas have population that is less acquainted with information technology by providing education services. On the final alternative of starting a sole PC business in an emerging economy such as Brazil, several advantages are realized. One advantage is that the company is likely to experience early attainment due to the progressive economic state and hence gain acknowledgement as a strong influential brand within the industry. As a result, this could develop a great opportunity for American businesses that are competing within the elite category of the market. This is because the business will be able to maintain stable connections with other local businesses, which would create a competitive advantage over the other competitive businesses. In emerging economies, capital is usually readily available and forming a connection to its accessibility helps businesses to contribute their resources for enabling domestic advancement. In addition, businesses that have lacked capital potential could be given an opportunity to reestablish themselves. Minimal firms are also given the opportunity to develop in the emerging markets, a chance that was not available to them while they were in the domestic market. However, the disadvantage of establishing a business in an emerging economy is the issue of dealing with cultural jeopardy. Different cultural views on product utility may have requirements that differ from those identified by a business. For example, an American business may have certain cultural challenges while operating in Brazil due to being less acquainted with the business culture of that environment. After analyzing the three alternatives of how to operate the computer business, it is best to consider establishing a business within the country. This is because it will create the opportunities of transforming the business into a successful venture that gains acknowledgement and a strong influence over its competitors. Works Cited Blanke, Jennifer. â€Å"Global Competitiveness World Economic Forum 6 July 2004. December 16, 2011 . Doing Business in Brazil: Country Commercial Guide for U.s. Companies. Springfield, VA: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, 2005. Print. [1] Other imports include Canada and some other European countries.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Resume and job search trends that will dominate in 2018

Resume and job search trends that will dominate in 2018 In 2012, The Ladders published the results of a study that shocked job hunters: on an average, recruiters spend only 6 seconds reviewing a candidate’s resume. From there on, job applicants started trying to make their resumes clearer, cleaner, and shorter. They started paying more attention to the format, aiming to make the most important details easily visible. Those trends persist but are constantly being upgraded. What can we expect in 2018? What resume and job search trends should we follow?We’ll give you a list of trends that will dominate the job search market in 2018, supported by experts’ opinions.Professionally Prepared Resumes  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 2013, CareerBuilder surveyed thousands of hiring managers, human resource professionals, and workers across industries. 58% of the employers pointed out typos as the most common problem they saw in resumes. 36% of them said they were seeing resumes that were too generi c, and 32% of them identified â€Å"copying a large amount of wording from the job posting† as a problem.If you want to stand out, the resume has to be perfect.We contacted John Laurens, a   human resources manager from Resumes Planet. â€Å"Job applicants see typos the smallest problem. You can easily get rid of most of them if you use Grammarly or similar software. However, software won’t bring your resume to perfection. There are grammar and spelling mistakes that you can’t notice yourself,† – he says.Laurens is sure that professionally prepared resumes will be one of the biggest trends among job seekers in 2018: â€Å"When you’re not proficient in resume writing, you can rest assured that you’ll make a mistake. You’ll either write a generic resume or you’ll get into too many details. A professional writer is aware of the standards of different industries. Job applicants are finally realizing they can improve their chances of getting the interview call if they hire a writer to complete or improve their resume.†Personality Will Play an Even Greater RoleIn August 2017, the unemployment rate in the U.S. was similar to the trend we’ve been experiencing for years – 4.4%. This means that 7.1 million people are unemployed. What does this mean for a job hunter? Huge competition. What does it mean for a recruiter? Plenty of resumes to review.The hiring manager will look for the candidates with the core skills needed for the specific job. The personality traits, however, are just as important. Employers want people who would fit into their office culture. Your resume can convey your personality up to a certain point, but you’ll have to do something more: follow up.Laura Handrick, human resources staff writer at Fit Small Business, agrees. â€Å"Job search continues to be personal. People don’t hire form paper, they hire people they trust will do a great job in the rol e.† – she says.â€Å"So after you apply, follow up in any (and maybe every) way you can – contact the recruiter on Facebook, or look for someone you know who works there in your LinkedIn account. My last resume sent via Indeed was never found by the staffing agency. It was only when I sent an InMail to the recruitment firm owner that I was contacted, asked to resend it via email, contacted by the recruiter, scheduled for interviews, and hired. If you fail to follow up with a phone, email, postcard or other form of human contact, you may as well have placed your resume directly into the shredder.†Social Media Will Get More ImportantA recent survey showed that 70% of employers are screening candidates via social media before hiring them. 54% have decided not to hire a candidate after screening their social media profiles, and 57% are less likely to consider someone for an interview if they can’t find them online.That’s how serious social media reputation is in the hiring process. The trend is going to get even bigger during 2018. Scott Wesper, hiring manager for Arch Resources Group, agrees:â€Å"As 2018 draws closer, social media will play an even bigger role in job search trends. When you compare the number of users overall, Facebook wins in a landslide victory over LinkedIn. Facebook has 1.86 billion users, while competitor LinkedIn has only 433 million members. Most Facebook profiles are filled with important demographic information like age, past job titles, employer information, educational background, and even interests. This will be key for employers as they target their job ads in order to reach the candidates with the proper credentials.Digital Resumes and PortfoliosIn 2015, the Pew Research center conducted a survey called Searching for Work in the Digital Era. The results showed that 54% of U.S. adults were looking for job information online, and 45% had applied for a job online.The Internet is the most impor tant resource during the job hunting process. You don’t use it just to search for a job. It’s also a medium that presents you as an ideal candidate. That’s why you’ll have to work on your digital resume and portfolio, since more employers will be interested in that factor in 2018.Alec Sears, human resources manager from Frontier Communications, says: â€Å"In 2018 you will see a shift towards digital resumes and portfolios. The format of the resume itself won’t change much; it is simple and succinct and there’s a reason that it’s stood the test of time. But sites like Indeed and Glassdoor make it easier than ever to take that resume and send it out to dozens of potential employers at once. Wise job-seekers will utilize personal websites, online portfolios and even LinkedIn connections to stand out.†Did you hear that? Wise job seekers will have personal websites. They will also have an impressive online reputation that’s visible through social media. They will be getting professionally-written resumes and they will make an effort to show their personality after submitting them. As a wise job hunter, those are the trends you should be aware of.About the authorMicheal Gilmore is an entrepreneur and HR expert from Dallas, TX.   His mission is helping people achieve perfection in anything they do.   His life is fully dedicated to the people. Micheal is also a passionate career advisor

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Art of Graffiti Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Art of Graffiti - Essay Example . . . To them to get busted is like a Purple Heart. Nobody really slams the doors on those thugs. These graffiti vandals are causing people pain and grief. They think they're artists and have some right like free speech to express their individualism or artistry. If they want to be an artist they should go to work for a record company and do hip-hop CD covers. Graffiti might look good to them and their buddies, but the majority of the people don't want to look at that crap every day"2. As a matter of fact "any type of cultural or artistic production forces change on an environment. Most of the time, people abide by well-established rules for culture-producing activities. They do it through consuming certain products in certain ways or by creating symbols of their identity within the scope of what is legal for the entire society. In general, people who write graffiti produce culture in a different manner. No matter what it says, the manner in which graffiti is produced defines the writer's position as an outsider and alienates that person from the rest of society"3. Although there are hundreds of individual styles of graffiti, there are only seven basic forms in which it appears. These forms, the names of which are known to all graffiti writers, can be distinguished generally by their size, location, complexity of design, or the materials used to create them4. Bubble is a style, in which all similar to each other letters are rounded, joined with each other, and looks as though exaggerated, similar to bubbles bursting at the seams. More often it is used just few colors, basically two or three. This is one of the most popular styles of beginners. Wild Style differs from all the other styles, first of all, by the complexity of letters, which most often are non readable. They are so mazy that sometimes even people who know what's what in graffiti and write it, are not capable to puzzle out an inscription, let alone everymen. And only those, who draw in such style, without can easily read the text of the image. The point is that a writer adds additional elements to the letters, which distract attention from letters.FX (or 3D style) differs in absolute volume of letters. To think up such figure is very difficult. It is necessary to possess not ordinary imagination and uncommon thinking to draw a word in volume. Thus, it is necessary that all letters were combined with each other, and it was clear enough what is written. Far not every writer is capable to do it. Moreover a writer needs many years of trainings to write graffiti in this style.Messiah Style. Originality of this style is that letters look like written on separate she ets and imposed on each other. This style has been invented by the inhabitant of New York Vulcan, which works are characterized by original color scale. Charater is a style, in which the characters from the style of comics are used. Sometimes there is a framework of speech, in which can be present the signature of the writer (autograph), or speech of the character. On background often there is an inscription executed in other style. At

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Thin film deposition techniques and substrate cleaning in cleanroom Essay

Thin film deposition techniques and substrate cleaning in cleanroom - Essay Example Any unwanted particles in the environment, such as organic and inorganic substances, dust, micro organisms, human skin, or vapours are regarded as contaminants. Humidity and temperature control is also maintained in a clean room. Contamination in a clean room can also occur from unclean surfaces. Walls, ceilings, or even materials used during experiments or fabrication in a clean room can be a source. It is therefore important that all material and substrates to be used are cleaned prior to their use. There are several ways to clean substrates depending on the material and the type of contamination to be removed. Larger particles, such as glass fragments, can be cleaned through washing. Gentle application of chemicals such as Decon 90 can also used to release any larger particles like dust and grease stuck on the surface. Then, to remove relatively smaller particles, the slides can be placed in an ultrasonic bath with a 20% solution of Decon90 in ultra pure water. Subsequently, 20% solution of Ethanolamine in ultra pure water is used to reactively clean the substrate by removing dirt which is chemically bonded to it. Once this is completed, the substrates are submerged in pure ethanol to get rid of water itself from the surface which is replaced by ethanol. The substrate is then dried on a hot plate or through hot air and to be used within minutes before it absorbs any moisture f rom air. The process described above is just one way of cleaning the substrate. As mentioned earlier, there are several methods available which can be used to suit the material and contaminant. For example, Martinez-Duarte et al (2010: p. 195) mention a host of possibilities. Among wet immersion techniques, diluted hydrofluoric acid, RCA, a process that uses ammonium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, water, hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acid, or supercritical cleaning can be used followed by rinsing in a solvent depending on application (Martinez-Duarte et al, 2010: p. 195).

Monday, November 18, 2019

Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Education - Research Paper Example However, there exist some issues or problems related to this field which need to be resolved in order to end all concerns about education. Benefits of Education Education brings both personal and professional benefits for a person. Some of the most considerable benefits that education brings for a person include development of increase in self-confidence, development of a good personality, development of peer relationships, increased awareness of various social and political issues, and increased awareness of different professional fields of life. Along with these benefits, some professional benefits of education include increased number of job opportunities, career evolution, attractive salary package, increased opportunities to excel in professional life, and improved ability to raise knowledge-based. Current Issues in Education Education is a vast field related to family and consumer science. It gives light to a number of issues that need a proper resolution. Authorities related t o the field of education need to examine both sides of those issues in order to find proper solutions. Some of the current issues related to education include discipline and security, single language or bilingual education, use of technology to enhance students’ learning, use of social networking websites, race and equality, religion based studies, use of zero tolerance policy for students, private versus public education, teasing and bullying, and use of standardized testing system in education. Moreover, use of effective teaching strategies is also one of the key educational issues. Concept learning can be used in combination with deep learning to promote effective learning (Buntting, 2006). Education of undocumented immigrants is also becoming a major issue for most of the developed countries (Connor, 2011). Although all of the above-mentioned issues are of critical importance from the educational perspective, but some of them are a little more significant and need a quick resolution. Those issues include use of technology to enhance students’ learning, need for bilingual educations systems because of increasing cultural diversity, and private vs. public educational systems. Future Research Areas in Education Apart from current issues, there are some educational issues that need advanced research. Some of those issues include evolution of online educational system, use of proper grading mechanisms to assess special students’ performances, and allowing or restricting sex education for young students. Online Educational System As the world has become a global village, education has also become accessible to people at their doorsteps. An online learning environment is one in which there is a distance between teachers and students and they interact with each other mainly through the internet. In a dissertation, Ivankova (2002) found that distance education has become a possible alternative to the traditional form of higher education in many parts of the world. However, online education also gives rise to some complex issues, such as, less interaction between teachers and students and difficulty in understanding the concepts. In a dissertation, Gallogly (2005) found that online students usually do not feel satisfied with the timeliness of instructional feedback as compared to traditional classroom students. Grading Mechanisms for Assessing Special Students’

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Symbolic Mediation Internalization Learning Process And Zpd Education Essay

Symbolic Mediation Internalization Learning Process And Zpd Education Essay Second language acquisition (SLA) is a relatively new field, which was seen as an adjunct of language teaching pedagogy before 1960s (Myles, 2010). Ellis (1994) defined three aspects that are responsible for L2 acquisition: external factors (social factors, input and interactions); internal factors (learners existing knowledge and internal mechanisms) and individual learner factors (P. 193). The social factors was investigated under heavy influence from Vygotskys Zone of Proximal Developments (ZPD). In this paper, major focus would be around the notion and application of ZPD, including: defining ZPD and key concepts of Vygotskys theory relating to ZPD: symbolic mediation, internalization,learning process, the role of interlocutor and learner; comparing Vygotskys social cultural theory (SCT) with Piagets cognitive theory; comparing Vygotskys Zone of Proximal Developments with Krashens notion of i+1 hypothesis Symbolic mediation, internalization , learning process and ZPD The social-cultural theory, stemmed from Vygotskys thoughts claims that the language learning process is socially mediated (Lantolf, 2000). Lantolf (1994) stressed that from Vygotskian perspective, the higher forms of human mental activity are always, and everywhere, mediated by symbolic means (P. 418) The symbolic mediation refers to the external process via symbolic signs or tools in social context through which learner can control mental process after internalization (Lightbown Spada, 2006). Lantolf (2000) regards language, among all the symbolic tools, as the most powerful psychological tool (P. 81). Through the mediation of language, the child or learner learns how to perform a task or solve a problem with the help from a more skilled individual (Mitchell Myles, 2004). In other words, the learning process starts as an inter-mental activity, by the more skilled individual sharing through talk, and ends as an intra-mental activity, with the shared knowledge taken in by the unski lled individual. Thus, according to Vygotsky, learning includes two stages: shared understanding in social context through symbolic mediation (mainly in the form of dialogue) and internalization of the shared knowledge by individual. The learning process from a Vygotskyan perspective is described as new concepts continue to be acquired through social/interactional means (Mitchell Myles, 2004, P. 147). Vygotsky defines the concept of zone of proximal development (ZPD), as the distance between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers (Vygotsky, 1978, p. 86). In other words, the role of more advanced interlocutor is stressed by assisting individual crossing the gap between actual level (what the learner can do alone) and potential level (what the learner can achieve with help). The learner is cognitively prepared for solving more complex problems if supported by an interlocutor. More importance has been attached to social interaction between learner and interlocutor, which is regarded as a causative force in acquisition (Saville-Troike, 2006, P. 111). Vygotsky versus Piaget Zuengler and Miller (2006) reviewed the ongoing debates on whether a separation should be made between second language acquisition and second language use and the debates on the commensurability of theories from different schools. It may be interesting to notice that the differences between sociocultural theory and cognitive theory bear relationship with their origins -Vygotsky, the father of socioculture theory and Piaget, the father of cognitive theory. Piaget and Vygotsky are among the earliest proponents to link childrens language development with their cognitive development (Lightbown Spada, 2006). For Piaget, the cognitive development for children is realized through interaction with things around them and is presented by language which is not different from Vygotskys view. They share the view of learner as a social human being who are learning through interaction with environment and of learning and development as a contextually embedded process of interactions (Vianna Stetsenko, 2006, P. 85). However, the dissimilar emphasis that they place on social interaction leads to three major differences. For Piaget, children learn and develop in the environment. For Vygotsky, children not only learn and develop in the environment but also change it through interaction. Therefore, for Vygotsky, language is seen as a more powerful symbolic mediation (Lightbown Spada, 2006). The second difference is adaption versus transformation (Vianna Stetsenko, 2006, P. 87). For Piaget, human develop by assimilation and accommodation to adapt to the environment, whereas for Vygotsky, human develop by actively changing the environment. The third difference lies in their view of the priority between learning and cognitive development. For Piaget, children need to be cognitively prepared to a certain stage before learning, while for Vygotsky, precedence is given to learning instead of development. Therefore, Vygotsky argue for teaching or learning within ZPD, where learners could do more with scaf folding from interlocutors than their independent performance (Zuengler Miller, 2006). ZPD versus i+1 Second language scholars have suggested the feasibility of integrating Krashens i+1 with Vygotskys zone of proximal development (ZPD) based on their similarities. Dunn and Lantolf (1998) have stated the incommensurability of these two concepts not only because they are unrelated but also because they are based on incommensurable theoretical discourses (P. 411) In Krashens view, humans acquire language in only one way-by understanding messages, or by receiving comprehensible input . . . that contains structures at our next stage- structures that are a bit beyond our current level of competence (Krashen, 1985, p. 2). More specifically, three factors contribute to language learning learners internalized grammar,namely the i, input containing linguistic structure a bit beyond learners current level, namely the i+1 and learners internal language processing mechanism (LAD) For Vygotsky, as mentioned above, ZPD is defined as those functions that have not yet matured but are in the process of maturation (1978, p. 86). A more holistic picture has been drawn with respect to language learning learner, interlocutor, their social cultural backgrounds, their goals and motives and all the resources available (Dunn Lantolf, 1998). Learning and development occur in both situations, where learner will surpass their current level either with assistance from a more advanced interlocutor within learners ZPD or with acquisition of linguistic structure i+1, which may contribute largely to their seemingly similarities. However, it would be cautious to notice as well that the development occur with a comparison of learners current level, that is learner himself. Therefore, it would be less justifiable to view the development in Krashens term as an equivalent to that in Vygotskys theory. Also it would be more reasonable to notice that the construct of ZPD and i+1 cannot stand without considering the theocratical frame that they root in respectively. Therefore, a comparison would be made between theories that have incubated these two constructs with respect to the relationship between learning and development, the consequence of learning, the role of language, learner and interlocutor and the role of social interaction. The fundamental difference between Krashens theory with Vygotskys theory is their diverse view on the relationship between instruction learning and cognitive development. Krashen hold the view as a separatist, who perceive learning under instruction and cognitive development as two independent process (Dunn Lantolf, 1998, P. 491). Therefore, Krashen intentionally draw a line between learning and acquisition, arguing that only though subconscious acquisition can comprehensible input be acquired, and learners cognition be developed. Conversely, Vygotsky presented a dualistic quality to development, that is whether learning consciously or not, a mutual influence exists between learning and development ( Dunn Lantolf, 1998, P. 491). Thus, learners are learning and developing at the same time, and the site where learning and development meet is called ZPD. Secondly, Krashen and Vygotsky differ in their view of the consequence of learning, based on their divergent view on learning and development. For Krashen, the outcome of learning is the linguistic structure that is a bit beyond learners current level, and with the acquisition of this feature, learner has developed cognitively, ready to obtain the next i +1. Whereas for Vygotsky, learners are developing along the whole learning process, which means that not only the immediate future, but also the maturing process account for development (Dunn Lantolf, 1998, P. 422). Therefore, it is the variability between acquisition and Internalization (Kinginger, 2002, P. 418). Thirdly, the roles of language, learner and interlocutor are interpreted differently. From Krashens point, language is conceived as a container of linguistic features with comprehensible input and learner as a container with Language Acquisition Device (LAD), the individual process mechanism built inside minds, and the assistance from interlocutor is not necessary (Dunn Lantolf, 1998, P. 418). In contrast, from Vygotskys perspective, language is one of the the most powerful psychological tool of semiotic mediation system (Lightbown Spada, 2006, P. 81), and thus representing the mediated forms of cognition (Dunn Lantolf, 1998, P. 426). Both learner and interlocutor are portrayed as a social human being, with motivation and social cultural identity, instead of a loner with an innate ability to process (Kinginger, 2001, P. 419). Moreover, unbalanced attention is given to social interaction in the frame developed by Krashen and Vygotsky. Krashen assigned relatively little importance to social interaction due to the existence of LAD, despite his support for a weak form of interaction: meaning negotiating proposed by Long (1996). In other words, Krashen argues that the strong form of interaction such as scaffolding or peer collaboration as well as learner output bear no direct relevance to SLA (Dunn Lantolf, 1998). In contrast, social interaction is viewed as the medium and the result of development by Vygotskian scholars (Kinginger, 2001, P. 422). Thus in order to maximize learners acquisition, interlocutor should scaffold the learner along ZPD and learners comprehensible output is as important as comprehensible input. Conclusion Over the past decade, there has been an increasing number of SLA researches conducted under the influence of socioculture theory (SCT) based on the work of Vygotsky (Ableeva Lantolf, 2011; Brooks Swain et al., 2010; Kinginger, 2002; Knouzi Swain et al., 2010; Lantolf, 2007; Foster Ohta, 2005; Swain Deters, 2007; Swain Lapkin et al, 2009). This theory differs from other theory describing the SLA in the stance that social environment is not only a learning context but rather a significant contributor to language acquisition (Swain Deters, 2007). Thus the concept built in SCT framework such as ZPD, cannot be viewed separately away from its origin, which implies that it would be best for any future comparison or commensuration of concepts from unlike theories be made with their roots considered. Also the incommensurability precisely add the value to the theory building in SLA field, not only for the sake of the this particular school itself but also for a helpful reflection for ot her schools.It is with this sharp comparison between different perspectives, a more holistic picture can be draw for L2 acquisition, despite the criticisms been made and the debates ongoing (Zuengler Miller, 2006). Lantolf (1996) have shown his welcome for a future of letting all the flowers bloom in SLA theory building and I simply cannot agree more with him (P.713-49).

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The spread and localization of Buddhism and Islam into Southeast Asia E

The spread of religion first began through contact with neighbouring countries which gradually expand throughout the years. Buddhism and Islam are one of the most widespread religions across Southeast Asian countries like Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Trade merchants and imperial support of the religion played as major factors which facilitated and localised the spread of Buddhism and Islam within various countries. However, there were limitations present which hindered the development of each religion in Southeast Asia as introduction of newer religions and changes within imperial power which would have affected their progression to become fully localised pre-1800s. After the death of Buddha around the 5th century, divisions within the religion began to grow due to differences in the interpretation of Buddha’s teaching thus resulted in Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism (Bowker 2007, 140-141). Till this day, Theravada Buddhism persists predominant in Southeast Asia. Theravada Buddhism focuses their beliefs on the personal liberation whilst Mahayana Buddhism regards itself on the teaching of compassion for every living being (Berzin 2010). The spread of Buddhism, mainly Theravada, first began around early 3rd century BCE when Buddhist emissaries were sent to Indonesia and Burma by Indian emperor Asoka (Gosling 2002, 84-85). During and after his reign, his constant advocacy had sustained the faith’s position throughout Southeast Asia, influencing his children to introduce Buddhism into Sri Lanka during the first and second century CE (Gosling 2002, 82) which spread across to Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam (Swearer 1997, 90). This was further developed due to the mass influx of Indian merc... ...ry CE when Muslim merchants, accompanied by missionary Sufis, from India and Arabia arrived through the Indian Ocean trade route for business (Johnston 2002, 291). However, it wasn’t until the 13th century when Islam began to spread across Southeast Asia from Sumatra through to Java until reaching Borneo and Philippines in the 16th century (Houben 2003, 153). Trade was not the only purpose indicated from Muslim merchants as Sufis brought about the localization of Islamic organisations for Islamic teachings which would appeal to locals and their rulers for valuable networks (Johnston 2002, 291). This presence of Islam was recorded by Moroccan traveller Marco Polo in the late 13th century which indicated the advancement of Islam localisation where citizens of Perlak, Sumatra and the Pasai king, Sultan Al-Malikus Saleh were already converted as Muslims (Mutalib 2008).