Teaching ESL students to write in English

ESL students come from very different countries, from all walks of life. Some of them have been in America for a while already; others are fairly new to the country and its habits and culture. It’s important to acknowledge the fact they differ not only from â€Å"the† American but also from their classmates. Discussions in the group may run into a dead end street since not every student is used to speak his mind. Familiar topic When teaching them to write in English you might want to start with a topic they are very familiar with and that is not hard to write down. Topics like ‘what did you do this weekend?’, ‘describe the celebration of a birthday’ or ‘what did you watch on TV lately?’ are simple and don’t ask too much of the student in regard of composition. Tell your students to never ever first do their piece of writing in their own language and then ‘translate’ it into English. Emphasize they should think in English and therefore write in English. Once they get tangled up in translating from their native language into English, they are sliding down at top speed. Be positive When you give feedback it is best to keep that positive. Search for the good things in the piece to give your student some self-confidence. Then you can point out some faults but never sum up all of them. Concentrate on the major few; you can deal with the others at another time. One step at the time does the job. You want your students to come back to your next session, right? Also keep in mind your student might be in awe of you. You are the authority he has to listen to. That’s the way he was raised. This difference in culture does not have to be an obstacle. You gently point out your criticism; when you ask whether he has understood, use so-called open questions. A simple: do you see what I mean? can be answered with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ without you knowing whether he really understood. In many cultures is it not done to say ‘no’, especially to someone higher in hierarchy. A question like: please sum up what I just told you, will force the student into actually giving you an answer that tells you something. Keep it simple There are many more tips and tricks to teach ESL students to write a good piece, a cover letter or an essay in English. As a teacher you have to keep it simple and build from there, and you need to have a lot of patience. Your ESL students may not understand the simplest rules and may not be used to the American way of communicating. But once they have taken their first hurdles it is a rewarding experience for both you and the ESL students you teach.

PSAT vs SAT 6 Key Differences You Must Know

PSAT vs SAT 6 Key Differences You Must Know SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips There's the PSAT, there's the SAT. There are even a few other assessments, as it turns out. There's a lot of jargon out there when it comes to the tests offered by the College Board, so it's important to know exactly what you're signing up for- and how each test is different. The SAT suite of assessments is designed to work together. All tests are fundamentally similar, and you can use any one to prepare for any other. That being said, the PSAT vs SAT isn't a perfectly equal match-up. In reality, there are some differences- both major and minor- between them. We take a look at these below. The SAT Suite of Tests: Overview First things first, let's establish what College Board tests are actually out thereand what these tests' often confusing monikers actually mean. PSAT 8/9 This test is taken in 8th and/or 9th grade to indicate what areas need special attention before a student graduates high school. PSAT 10 This test is exactly identical to the PSAT/NMSQT (discussed below); however, it's only offered in the spring and is only open to students in the 10th grade. PSAT/NMSQT This test, taken in the fall of 10th and/or 11th grade,is another check-in point meant to point out any skills a student has yet to master. Notably, though, it also gives students a chance to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. SAT The college admission test we all know and love, the SATindicates your college readiness to any schools receiving your application. From here on out, we're going to zero in on the two tests that do most of the heavy lifting: the PSAT/NMSQT (hereafter referred to simply as the PSAT) and the SAT. There are similarities, and there are differences. PSAT vs SAT: What's the Same? The content and format of the SAT and PSAT are very similar, though not identical.Before we get into the key differences, let's talk about what doesn't change from one test to the other. #1: Content These two tests cover the same subjects. I mean, exactlythe same subjects- it's even a bit eerie. There's algebra on the PSAT; there's algebra on the SAT. There are vocab-in-context questions on the PSAT, and there are vocab-in-context questions on the SAT, too. You get the picture. #2: Basic Structure The style of the questions doesn't change much from one test to the other,either in terms of wording or the actual tasks. Also, the overall structureandglobal goal of testing remain the same. Both tests have two major components:Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW), and Math (the SAT also has an optional Essay component- more on that below). EBRW includes the Reading Test and theWriting and Language Test, whereas Math is made up of two subsections: one allows the use of a calculator, and the other one does not. On both the PSAT and the SAT, you'll getpassages on the Reading and Writing sections.On the Reading section you'll answer reading comprehension questions, and on the Writing section you'll answer questions about how to fix grammatical and stylistic weaknesses in the text. In addition, both the PSAT and SAT Math sections contain grid-in questions as well as multiple-choice questions.The grid-in questions come at the end of eachsection. #3: Subscores and Cross-Test Scores In addition to your final composite score, you'll always receivecross-test scores and subscores on the PSAT and SAT. However, there's a division between Math andEBRW,and there are a few other specifications, too. The two cross-test scores are Analysis in History/Social Studies and Analysis in Science.These scores refer to every question that tests critical thinking in the named areas, whetherappearing in a verbal section or the qualitative one. As for subscores, these differ for each of the three sections on the PSAT and SAT. The Reading section uses the following subscores: Command of Evidence Words in Context The Writing and Languagesection gives us these subscores: Expression of Ideas Standard English Conventions And finally, the Math section's subscores are as follows: Heart of Algebra Problem Solving and Data Analysis Passport to Advanced Math #4: No Guessing Penalty In the olden days, answering a question wrong meant having points literally deducted from your score.One-quarterpoint per question, to be exact. So if you missed eightquestions, not only would you not get those eightpoints, but you'd also lose an extra two points. Those two points would be subtracted from the points you'd already earned. Fortunately, those dark days are over.Today, if you miss eight questions on either the PSAT or SAT, all you lose is the opportunity to earn those eight points. Nothing gets subtracted from your score! Sometimes, on the SAT or PSAT, it's worth taking a gamble. PSAT vs SAT: What's Different? Now that we've covered the similarities between the two tests, let's dig into the differences. #1: Purpose The first major difference is the purpose of each test. Whereas the SAT isa common requirement for college admissions,the PSAT is an SAT practice test and the basis for the National Merit Scholarship Program.In other words, since the PSAT is essentially a precursor to the SAT, it is not as important as the SAT is. In regard to colleges, the PSAT has no impact on your admission chances, while the SAT typically does. Even a super low score on the PSAT would have no effect on your college applications. By contrast, a super low SAT score would likely significantly lower your admission chances. With National Merit, you can only enter the competition if you get in the top 1% of scorers on the PSAT (and are a high school junior). Thus, while a top 1% SAT score would no doubt give a boost to your college applications, it would not make you eligible for National Merit. #2: Score Range The PSAT is scored ona scale of 320-1520, while the SAT is scored ona scale of 400-1600. This means that the individual section score ranges differ as well. On the PSAT, EBRW and Math are each scored on a scale of 160-760.On the SAT, however, these sections are scored on a slightly bigger scale of200-800. Your PSAT score is meant to directly predict your SAT score.So if you get 1200 on the PSAT, you can expect to get roughly the same score if you took the SAT without further preparation. Why the different score ranges, though? Because the PSAT is a little less challenging (so as to accommodatea lower grade level),a perfect score on the PSAT falls a little short of a perfect score on the SAT. #3: Timing It's also important to notethat the amount of time and the number of questions for each section differ between the two tests. The SAT is slightly longer and has more questions,but the amount of time allottedper question is generally the same. The only exception is the Math No Calculator subsection, for which you get 13 seconds more per question on the PSAT than you do on the SAT. Here's an overview of the time and question differences between the PSAT and SAT: Test Section Time # of Questions Time per Question PSAT Reading 60 minutes 48 75 seconds Writing 35 minutes 44 48 seconds Math No Calc 25 minutes 17 88 seconds Math Calc 45 minutes 31 87 seconds Total 165 minutes 139 - SAT Reading 65 minutes 52 75 seconds Writing 35 minutes 44 48 seconds Math No Calc 25 minutes 20 75 seconds Math Calc 55 minutes 38 87 seconds Essay (optional) 50 minutes 1 50 minutes Total 180 minutes (230 minutes with essay) 154 (155 with essay) - If you skip the essay, the SAT is only 15 minutes longer.But if youdo take the essay- which is probably wise- you're in for an extra hour of testing.You'll want to train your endurance toward that goal. #4: The Essay You'll note that there was actually more than just a matter of timing implied in that last section. That's right: the PSAT has no essay. The SAT, on the other hand, does. It's optional, so you don't have to take it.But as your colleges might require or recommend it, you should be aware that this is one aspect of the SAT that the PSAT won't prepare you for. As a result,make sure you give the essay some attention before you dive into the SAT. Colleges tend to like having students write essays. #5:Level of Difficulty Throughout the College Board's suite of tests,things get a little bit harder.It's nothing huge; you just might find that the PSAT has more concrete, find-this-detail-in-the-text questions whilethe SAT has more abstract, what-purpose-did-this-detail-serve sorts of questions. #6: Logistics The final difference lies in the logistics of the PSAT and SAT, namely how each test is administered, how much each test costs, and where you can take each test. In terms of administration, the PSAT is held just once a year in October, while the SAT is offered seven times throughout the school year.(You can also take the SAT on adesignated school-day test day.) As you can see, you're typically expected to take the PSAT just once or twice in total. With the SAT, however, you have far more options to retake itand raise your score. Another big logistical difference is price. Though the PSAT is sometimes free for students whose schools cover the full cost of the test, the typical price is$16 a test.Comparatively, the SAT costs $46 without the Essay and $60 with the Essay. (Note that fee waivers are available for both the PSAT and SAT.) Finally, while the PSAT is alwaysadministered at schools,the SAT is administered at both schools and test centers. So if you're homeschooled or if your school doesn't offer the PSAT, you'll need to find another local school at which you can take it. PSAT vs SAT: Key Takeaways It's always a good idea to throw in a full-length, officialpractice PSAT before you take the real thing. If you're preparing for the PSAT using an SAT program, the good news is that you'll likely be overly prepared in terms of comfort with the content and your overall endurance. What you'll need to watch out for, though, is a probable tendency to overanalyzethe slightly simpler questions on the PSAT. Know that you will not be writing an essay on the PSAT, either. If you're preparing for the SAT using the PSAT, bear in mind that though it will get you most of the way there, you'll still need to supplement your study program with official practice SAT questions and at least a few cracks at the essay. What's Next? Prepare for the task ahead of you,whether it be the PSAT, the SAT, or both. It's important to be familiar with what you'll be doing on test day. And practice, as they say, makes perfect. Set some good goals- find out what it takes to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program, and learnwhat a good PSAT score looks like. That's actually not a simple question to answer, but reading up on the subject will get you feeling more comfortable with what you should aim for! If it's too early to think about the PSAT or the SAT, read some carefully considered advice about taking the PSAT 8/9. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Famous Japanese Fish Proverbs

Famous Japanese Fish Proverbs Japan is an island nation, therefore seafood has been essential to the Japanese diet since ancient times. Although meat and dairy products are as common as fish today, fish is still the main source of protein for the Japanese. Fish can be prepared grilled, boiled, and steamed, or eaten raw as sashimi (thin slices of raw fish) and sushi. There are quite a few expressions and proverbs including fish in Japanese. I wonder if this is because fish are so closely related to Japanese culture. Tai (Sea bream) Since tai rhymes with the word medetai (auspicious), it is regarded as a good luck fish in Japan. Also, the Japanese consider red (aka) as an auspicious color, therefore it is often served at weddings and other happy occasions as well as another auspicious dish, sekihan (red rice). On festive occasions, the preferred method for cooking tai is to boil it and serve it whole (okashira-tsuki). It is said that eating tai in its full and perfect shape is to be blessed with good fortune. The eyes of tai are especially rich in vitamin B1. Tai is also considered as the king of fish because of their beautiful shape and color. Tai is only available in Japan, and the fish that most people associate with tai is porgy or red snapper. Porgy is closely related to sea bream, while red snapper is only similar in taste. Kusatte mo tai (è… Ã£  £Ã£  ¦Ã£â€šâ€šÃ© ¯â€º, Even a rotten tai is worthwhile) is a saying to indicate that a great person retains some of their worth no matter how his/her status or situation changes. This expression shows the high regard the Japanese have for tai. Ebi de tai o tsuru (æ µ ·Ã¨â‚¬ Ã£  §Ã© ¯â€ºÃ£â€šâ€™Ã©â€¡ £Ã£â€šâ€¹, Catch a sea bream with a shrimp) means, To get a big profit for a small effort or price. It is sometimes abbreviated as Ebi-tai. It is similar to the English expressions To throw a sprat to catch a mackerel or To give a pea for a bean. Unagi (Eel) Unagi is a delicacy in Japan. A traditional eel dish is called kabayaki (grilled eel) and is usually served over a bed of rice. People often sprinkle sansho (a powdered aromatic Japanese pepper) over it. Although eel is rather costly, it has been very popular and people enjoy eating it very much. In the traditional lunar calendar, the 18 days before the beginning of each season is called doyo. The first day of doyo in midsummer and midwinter is called ushi no hi. It is the day of the ox, as in the 12 signs of the Japanese zodiac. In the old days, the zodiac cycle was also used to tell time and directions. It is customary to eat eel on the day of the ox in summer (doyo no ushi no hi, sometime in late July). This is because eel is nutritious and rich in vitamin A, and provides strength and vitality to fight against the extremely hot and humid summer of Japan. Unagi no nedoko (é ° »Ã£  ®Ã¥ ¯ Ã¥ ºÅ , an eels bed) indicates a long, narrow house or place. Neko no hitai (çÅ' «Ã£  ®Ã© ¡ , a cats forehead) is another expression that describes a tiny space. Unaginobori é ° »Ã§â„¢ »Ã£â€šÅ  means, something that rises rapidly or skyrockets. This expression came from the image of an eel that rises straight up in the water. Koi (Carp) Koi is a symbol of the strength, courage, and patience. According to Chinese legend, a carp which courageously climbed up waterfalls was turned into a dragon. Koi no takinobori (é ¯â€°Ã£  ®Ã¦ » Ã§â„¢ »Ã£â€šÅ , Kois waterfall climbing) means, to succeed vigorously in life. On Childrens Day (May 5th), families with boys fly koinobori (carp streamers) outside and wish for boys to grow strong and brave like carp. Manaita no ue no koi (㠁 ¾Ã£  ªÃ¦  ¿Ã£  ®Ã¤ ¸Å Ã£  ®Ã© ¯â€°, A carp on the cutting board) refers to the situation that is doomed, or to be left to ones fate. Saba (Mackerel) Saba o yomu é ¯â€"ã‚’è ª ­Ã£â€šâ‚¬ literally means, to read the mackerel. Since mackerel are a common fish of relatively low value, and also rot quickly when fishermen offer them for sale they often inflate their estimate of the number of fish. This is why this expression has come to mean, to manipulate the figures to ones advantage or to offer false numbers intentionally.​

Batesvile Casket Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Batesvile Casket Company - Essay Example They held the opinion that handling their customer’s needs was the path to success. They placed the utmost importance on customer satisfaction and consistently introduced improvement in their processes through technological innovation to provide speedy and better service to their customers. How New Technology Can Build Competitive Position The revolution in information technology is causing significant reduction in the cost of getting, processing and transmitting information. Information technology involves not just computers but encompasses the entire information that is used and created in a business, and the interlinked and convergent technologies that carry out processing of the information. The company faces a wide array of questions, namely how the technology can help them gain competitive advantage, what strategies can be used to obtain the maximum benefit of the technology and out of many options investment in which technology would yield the maximum benefit. The revol ution in information system has changed the structure of the industry and impacted competition. It has shown ways to companies to outperform their rivals; it creates the opportunity for businesses to realize the scope of new businesses from their existing ones (Porter & Miller, 1985). The implementation of new technology helps an organization to achieve competitive advantage over their competitors. James J. Kuisel, the MIS Director of Batesville Casket Company believed that the implementation of new technology would help them to gain leadership in the market. They were able to achieve remarkable cost reduction through the use of client/server network at the PC of the customer service center rather than the mainframe computer. The data was transferred from the client server to the mainframe. They were the pioneers in adopting a new PC development tool known as Knowledge-Man in the 1980s which helped them to reduce the cycle time. It was implemented by them faster than their competito rs. The MIS and the logistics department worked in conjunction and were able to reduce paperwork and thus serve customers faster. They did this at a time when competitors were still using paper based system. Initially, in 1990 the hardware that was used for customer service center was an early IBM PC. The system was obsolete and needed to be replaced. The software was required to be upgraded to the latest version of Knowledge –Man. The logistic department expected upgrade of the distribution and manufacturing system. Bar coding of the model number of each casket helped in automated tracking and identification of caskets. A bar code reader was placed at the loading dock of the customer service center that was connected via radio frequency link to the PC of the customer service center. A system for maintaining records of orders, maintaining inventory based on model number was established to serve customers better. Batesville continuously upgraded their technology to provide bet ter service to customers. They replaced their hardware, decided on operating systems and revised their software. They introduced IBM PS/2 Model A16 which had a memory of 4 megabytes, colored monitor, math coprocessor, mouse and hard disc of 160 megabyte. They installed Epson LQ1170 and Hayes 9600 Ultra external modem.

Consensual Relationship Agreements Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Consensual Relationship Agreements - Case Study Example This discussion stresses that there might be emails, instant messages, phone chats etc. while two people are in a workplace relationship. These things will affect the performance of the employees. Still, these might be controlled if the boss makes it clear that these things will not be appreciated in workplace but then again, there might be rebellious behavior from them. The worst nightmare, however, can be when these people breakup and end their relationship on a bad note. This might affect their performance to great extremes. For example, if one is superior in rank than the other he/she might become biased, judgmental and the other might be discriminated against. Bad words might be exchanged and gossips about them might start which will eventually affect their work. There is also a chance that sometimes on e party might claim that he/she was pressured to be in the relationship. This can bring extreme results which will immediately affect company’s rapport and performance. From this paper it is clear that in such circumstances, the company cannot just tell the employees that there will be no workplace relationships as this will cause rebellion which might bring aggressive responses and attitudes from employees which is even worse. Moreover, more people will do it just to show their adventurous and thrilling side. Also, this can cause frustration among employees. In order to avoid all of the above, an approach might be taken which is called Consensual Relationship Agreements (CRA) which is a written contract signed by two people who are involved in a romantic relationship in an organization. In such a contract, both the parties agree to certain things that mainly cover that both of them are involved in the relationship willingly, with their full consent and are not under any pressure.

How to Protect the Environment Essay Example for Free

How to Protect the Environment Essay Character is a pattern of behavior, thoughts and feelings based on universal principles, moral strength, and integrity – plus the guts to live by those principles every day. Character is evidenced by your life’s virtues and the â€Å"line you never cross.† Character is the most valuable thing you have, and nobody can ever take it away. Why Character is Important Character in life is what makes people believe in you and is essential both for individual success and for our society to function successfully. Each individual must do his or her part every day by living a life of integrity. Integrity is adhering to a moral code of honesty, courage, strength and truthfulness – being true to your word. When you don’t exhibit integrity, other people get hurt. But you hurt yourself even more. When you cheat, your â€Å"success† is false. When you break a promise, you are showing that your word is meaningless. When you lie, you deceive others and lose their respect. All of those examples destroy your reputation and break the trust others have in you. Without your good reputation and trustworthiness, your relationships fail. Relationships and Success Relationships are the foundation for success in life. For example, when you destroy the relationships with your friends, you will have no friends. You will be isolated and alone. If a student promises not to cheat, but does, he is taking unfair advantage to put himself ahead of others without deserving it. He can ruin his reputation, his academic record and his job prospects forever. When a businessman makes a promise to customers and doesn’t deliver, he destroys his relationships with his customers. His customers go elsewhere and his business fails. By breaking your relationships, you break the foundation for success in your life. What is true success? For example, who is more successful? Someone who is famous and makes a great deal of money, or someone who has no fame, makes little money, but is a great parent? Today, in school, is too much emphasis being placed on â€Å"good grades† and â€Å"high test scores† – so much so that are these things, rather than good character, how we define success? Conclusion Your good character is the most important asset you have. It takes a lifetime to build but can be lost in an instant. Once lost, it is difficult to regain. Your true character is revealed when no one else is looking. Often, people decide to act based on short term gain, or an easy fix to a problem and end up doing the wrong thing. The old adage â€Å"you are what you do† is true. Failure to consider the long term consequences of your acts can be disastrous. By study and focusing on the importance of character, you will be guided by principles, moral strength, and integrity to do the right thing. Nothing is more important for true success in your life.

Discussing the Theory Modernization as a Cause of Secularization Essay

Today, most people think that something has happened regarding the importance of religiosity in everyday life, but nobody is quite sure how to generalize it, or even if it can be generalized. As industrialization and modernity has increased, religion has lost some of its social significance. This has been especially troubling for sociologists. Is it simply, as the "classic theorists" of secularization said a century ago, that when a society becomes modern it becomes secular too? Does modernity necessarily imply secularity? Secularization is a process of change as a society slowly migrates from close identification with the local institutions of religion to a more clearly separated relationship with general actions. It is a controversial term because the whole idea of secularization can be confused with secularism, a philosophical and political movement that promotes the idea that society benefits by being less religious, whereas the opposing view is that the values and beliefs understood in religions support a more moral and, therefore, better society. As stated by sociologists, secularization has many levels of meaning, both as a theory and a historical process. Theoreticians such as Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Max Weber, and Émile Durkheim, postulated that the modernization of society would see a decline in levels of religiosity. The study of the process seeks to determine the manner in which, or extent to which religious doctrines, practices and institutions are losing their social significance. B oth rely on the concept of a secular state: one that separates governmental and religious institutions, and bases its authority on man-made law, not in religious-doctrine. The ‘Secularization of Religion Debate’ is a conversation ... ...e life and times of secularization theory will be turned over to historians, who might just see it as yet another example of the glaring flaw of the social sciences. Furthermore, the secularization theory emerged at roughly the same time as the field of sociology, which was, at root, preoccupied with the meaning of modernization and fashion the theory of modernization. Along with bureaucratization, rationalization, and urbanization, secularization constituted a basic part of what it meant to be modern. Is it too far fetched to think that sociology, modernity, and secularization all need each other to survive? If secularization is tossed aside as an unreliable component of what it means to be modern, what might fall away next? And if rationalization, bureaucratization, and urbanization prove unreliable what will happen? It is still ongoing, so let’s wait and see.