Essays on English Culture

Some of the greatest works of Victorian literature look at English culture in the 1800s through a critical or jaundiced eye; these works then find ways to expose the restrictive, oppressive and isolationist aspects of British culture that were characteristic of the empire at that time. This is particularly true of Bram Stoker’s Gothic novel Dracula, as it looks critically at race through the personification of Dracula as the feared Other from Eastern Europe, seeking to violate the women of England with his exotic sexuality and behavioral taboos. Looking at Dracula through the lens of race, it becomes ...

The opium war which took place in the 19th century was one of the first major defeats of the Chinese government. China had a tremendous amount of wealth which was mostly attributed to the tea trade in the country. Britain had a great demand for this tea, while the country had nothing to offer the Chinese government in return. China was also ignorant to the western revolution and considered the western culture barbaric. China was a traditional country which held strongly to its traditions and culture. While China hoped to keep its culture free of the western culture effect, ...

Introduction

Eva Hoffman’s Lost in Translation is a story of a young woman explaining her endeavors after migrating to Canada with her family at the age of 13. She then moves to the United States and later immigrates to London. Lost in Translation by Nicola Mones is a story of a young American woman who tries to fit in China as a translator. In Lost In Translation by Eva Hoffman and Lost In Translation by Nicole Mones, both Hoffman and Mones successfully cultivate our appreciation for cultural differences by exposing the reader to foreign languages and terms, by challenging ...

The spread of English around the world has both positive and negative effects on developing countries. Through the spread of English, communication between peoples of different countries has become easier. The ease in communication has made it easier for international commerce and cooperation (Lieberson & Dil, 1981, p.357). In spite of the advantages attributable to the spread of the English language, the fact remains that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. This paper takes the position that the spread of English language threatens the existence of indigenous languages, indigenous cultures, religions, identity, and indigenous political systems. In addition, the spread of ...

Textbooks usually provide the teachers with guidance on activity and course design hence assuring a measure of structure; logical progression and consistency in class. The textbooks are usually designed in a manner that ensures that the learner’s expectations or needs are met thus facilitates learning. People can learn a variety of foreign languages such as English through the use of textbooks. Teachers should, therefore, be able to determine the right materials to be incorporated while teaching a foreign language. The paper analyses Michael’s textbook “How to learn English quickly” and its importance in learning and teaching English as a foreign language.

Part I: Vocabulary & Grammar

The ...

Personal Political Views: Dynamics of Being a Conservative

In the United States of America, the two main political groupings are the Democrats and the Republicans. Whilst the Democratic Party adopts modernist views on issues and ideas, the Republicans support traditional ideas and promote the fundamental concept of the founding of the United States – property owning democracy and Capitalism. The two ideas come together to define political discourse and shape the fundamental basis of public policy and organization in the country. As an individual, I support the Conservative school of political thought. This paper will critically analyze the position of Conservative structures in government and political issues in ...

There is a broad chronological development of the world civilization across ages. Understanding the development of the concept of civilization requires that we explore the conditions that independently of holistically allow the sophistication of human developments. Several elements that are distinctively different need to combine before a community of human beings can be said to have developed to a sophistication level, basically referred to as civilization (Buckle 24). Initial stages involve the emergence of settlements in the form of towns or cities/marketing centers. Settlements can establish under circumstances of efficient food production among a large group of minority in the community especially when ...

Background

The paper is analysis of a second language learner. Chutimon is a 28 year old Thailand national. Her first language is Thai. Chutimon is fluent in her native language Thai. Her second language is English which she has studied in primary and secondary school. She has some profound knowledge in Japanese language which she studied for one and half years before abandoning the course. English language is the second language she is currently learning. She began her first experiences in learning English in secondary school where it was incorporated in the Thailand educational curriculum. Chutimon’s learning of English can ...

The Dead is an intriguing masterpiece written by James Joyce and bases his storyline in Ireland during Christmas. Joyce invites the reader into his plot by his artistic description of things and scenery in his book. The writer points out the snow on the ground as symbolic of a blanket that covers the bad and the good on the earth. Joyce writes that the snow covers both the dead and the living and unites them into a frozen paralysis (Joyce, 184). The story of the dead encapsulates Gabriel Conroy as viewing himself superior to others due to his intellectual capabilities as ...

Pitrik, 2013). On the other hand, in socio-cognitive teaching, teachers offer scenarios whereby the students enter into the kinds of social discourse situations and societies that they (students) would encounter outside the traditional classroom. For example, students connect to various contexts for social interaction through the internet. In these contexts, they (students) meet and interact with native English speakers (Strambi & Bouvet, 2003), which allow them (students) to learn the English culture, and therefore, learning the language becomes easier. Therefore, socio-cognitive teaching explains the role of social interaction in the creation of an environment to learn a language, learn about the ...

It’s Effect on a Third Generation Bilingual Arabic Family

Abstract

A lot of studies have been conducted on the nature of lives of people who speak more than one language and are foreigners in Australia. The experience of bilinguals living within Australia has been an area of interest among scholars. This paper attempts to analyze and describe the extent of influence that a family that is bilingual and foreign faces in Australia. The factors that determine the language usage in different domains is studied and preliminary data collected (Baker, 2011).

Introduction

A lot of research has gone into the study of the effect of bilingualism on different aspects of society ...

It’s Effect on a Third Generation Bilingual Arabic Family

Abstract

A lot of studies have been conducted on the nature of lives of people who speak more than one language and are foreigners in Australia. The experience of bilinguals living within Australia has been an area of interest among scholars. This paper attempts to analyze and describe the extent of influence that a family that is bilingual and foreign faces in Australia. The factors that determine the language usage in different domains is studied and preliminary data collected (Baker, 2011).

Introduction

A lot of research has gone into the study of ...

Introduction

During the visit to Virginia Jamestown settlement, a young white boy who was staring a pleasant bronze marking the ground entrance, the statue of the Pocahontas spat on it and said it was Indian. The parents remained silent and this amazed Robertson. That particular moment ignited his curiosity on the interaction between the English settlers, the development of the modern codes of class and race and the indigenous population. The interest of Robertson was provoked by the discovery of the fact that Pocahontas had witnessed the masque in the court of Jacobs. This offered the access possibility of the reaction of ...