Psychological Factors of Bilingualism

Psychological Factors of Bilingualism Table of Contents (Jump to) Introduction Psychological factors of bilingualism – Cognitive, Executive and Perception Based Challenges towards adopting bilingual learning in UAE and Recommendations Conclusion References Introduction Bilingualism is primarily concerned with use of twin languages in a country. This paper discusses the use of English and Arabic languages in UAE and how it related to the individual identity and psychology of people in UAE. This paper analyses the impact of bilingual habits and identity of an individual and the psychological adjustments that a person must make to a-fit himself or herself in a bicultural environment. In an environment where individuals have to adjust to more than one cultures and deal in more than one language, it has a very positive implication on the psychology of an individual leading to benefits such as multiple group loyalties, bilingual competence learning to impressive personalities and beneficial outcomes at work or career places through better mingling (Appel, 1987). Psychological factors of bilingualism – Cognitive, Executive and Perception Based In a study conducted by Worall, children of age groups between four-six and six-nine were studied have monolingual and bilingual backgrounds of learning for their choices of phonetic and semantic words. It was observed during the study that the children, who had a bilingual approach, had a better understanding of semantic words in comparison to children who had a single language approach. The children with bilingual background reached at a semantic language learning advantage at least 2-3 years early than then singular language counterparts. This clearly states that bilingualism enhances language developmental aspects in an individual’s personality. It has also been established by Ellen and Hatuka in their study that the individuals who have a bilingual approach have a better thinking pattern and can think and work on more than one direction than the people who speak and understand only one language. So, the people in UAE who can understand and think in both languages, English and Arabic have a stronger chance of excelling as individuals in their own fields rather than people who can speak only Arabic. These people are able to control their mind better and work according to the grammatical as well as syntax requirements of the languages – English and Arabic. This better understanding of languages leads to better awareness and increased power to control structures in an individual. Such people can better understand and control uncertainty and arbitrary aspects of objects (Hakuta, 1985). The people of UAE who observe the immersion and study of both languages – English and Arabic – from an early stage, are better able to think and act according to instructions in both languages and have a higher degree of cognitive development than their counterparts who have studied only in native language i.e. Arabic. Such individuals have a better understanding of concepts as a part of their personality and are able to better map the words and labels towards the concepts of life (Bialystok, 1987). These individuals also have a better functioning and understanding of executive functions and skills such a problem solving capabilities, mentally flex and control the individual attention, enhances inhibitory control and effectively switching between the tasks. The individuals who can also control their language power while dealing in English, besides the native language, Arabic have better cognitive and executive functions understanding. Not only they have an understanding of executive functions, but also prevent the decline of cognitive functions when the old age arrives. Bilingual factors also influence the perception based psychological factors. This includes the creative power and psychological flex to assume situations. The individuals who have an ability to perceive and understand both English and Arabic languages, have a better conceptualization and imaginary power leading to a psychology pertaining to better understanding of life situations. They are able to better manipulate the life and work situations to work in accordance with expectations and favorable situations. This advantage is of extreme importance in comparison to their colleagues who have a monolingual approach towards work and life situations (Emmorey, 2008). Also it has been noticed that bilingual individuals have a better understanding of mathematical concepts that even immerse into real life challenges and calculations – thus, leading to beneficial and profitable situations and decision making power. They have a better understanding of mathematical concepts, say, for example, logically placing the objectives and issues in accordance with profit making or loss based studies. Such perception based advantage also percolate into non mathematical situations, for example, understanding a problem based upon depiction through pictures. Thus, it can be established that individuals have a better understanding of life and work concepts as well as cognitive, executive and perception based problem solving psychological factors if they are bilinguals, over their monolingual counterparts (MacSwan, 2008). Challenges towards adopting bilingual learning in UAE and Recommendations The poor quality of education pertaining to Arabic language learning is the major challenge in UAE. Both in private and public schools, the language which is the native of UAE, does not observe adequate teaching skills or learning resources, as there must be. This is in no match to the global English language learning resources. The teachers fail to match the global standards of learning. It is highly recommended that the educational authorities realize the benefits of bilingual teaching and develop resources for Emiratis for adopting both English and Arabic language that matches the global aspects of learning. Specific focus must be laid on bringing Arabic language at par of English standard. Also, Arabic and English languages must be immersed with each other in learning at a very early level for appropriate development of cognitive and executive functions of individuals. It is thus recommended that the English and Arabic languages must be immersed at a very early level. Conclusion It is very important to introduce and continue bilingual approach for the corporate, government and educational institutions of UAE. English language must be introduced and Arabic language must be preserved. It is important to consider that bilingual approach can be challenging for the psychology of individuals due to the differences in language basics and the ambiguity that is associated with adopting these languages at all levels such as schooling, corporate etcNeedless to mention, that before the emphasis can be laid on learning of English language and finding places for this foreign language in the lives and identity of UAE people, prominence has to be given to Arabic language learning from a very early stage. A bilingual language approach for Emiratis means higher degree of cognitive, perception and executive skills development in students as well corporate people. References Appel, R. Muysken, P. (1987). Language contact and bilingualism. London: Edward Arnold. Hakuta K., Diaz R. M. (1985). The relationship between degree of bilingualism and cognitive ability: a critical discussion and some new longitudinal data.. In Nelson K. E. Childrens Language, vol.5. Erlbaum. pp. 320–344. Bialystok E. (1987). Influences of bilingualism on metalinguistic development. Second Language Research 3: 154–166. Emmorey K., Luk G., Pyers J. E., Bialystok E. (2008). The Source of Enhanced Cognitive Control in Bilinguals: Evidence From Bimodal Bilinguals. MacSwan, J. (February, 2000). The threshold hypothesis, semilingualism, and other contributions to a deficit view of linguistic minorities. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Science, 22(1), 3-45. Newspaper Resource: http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/editorial/solid-bilingual-system-would-bolster-arabic-in-the-uae

The Obstinate Toy Soldier in Mere Christianity Essay example -- C.S. L

In C.S. Lewis' book Mere Christianity, The Obstinate Toy Soldier is a chapter with good points. Lewis takes his reader step by step through this chapter. In paragraph one he talks about how humans are consumed with the here and now, so people do not really think about what would have happened if humans never fell. Paragraph two is about how natural life and spiritual life are not just separate, but opposing sides. Lewis says this because people are born one way and God wants them another way. If these two sides, natural and spiritual life, combined then the way people normally do things would be destroyed in the process. It is like the analogy about the people who were brought up dirty and are afraid to take a bath. Lewis states in paragraph three that if we were to try and make a toy soldier human, that the toy would not see it as helping it, but as trying to destroy it. In some ways people see God this way even though he is trying to save our souls. Paragraphs four and five shed so me light on who Jesus was. According to C.S. Lewis he was a real man of particular attributes and ever...

History of French Cuisine from Conventional to Extraordinary Essay

Derived from the French language, bon appetit has been a familiar saying known around the world. Meaning good appetite or enjoy your meal, bon appetit exemplifies the French culture. The French have been known for centuries of elegant and exquisite cuisine especially gourmet desserts. Located in Western Europe between Italy and Spain, France has been a hotspot of enriched ancient culture. France flourished into a tourist location which ignited a change in France’s commercial kitchens. Chefs were obliged to create dishes that appealed to a growing audience. French cuisine has evolved extensively over the centuries. However, centuries of bliss and creativity was dampened with years of anguish and turmoil, when Germany occupied France during the Second World War. France’s once plentiful food supply quickly turned scarce. This forced cooks to utilize new substitutions for ingredients and start practical meal planning. The hardships the French cuisine faced during 1940-1944 simultaneously changed the French lifestyle. Modern French food now embodies simplicity yet class; rustic yet modern. Once having everything then being stripped away to nothing, France needed to rebuild a cuisine embracing the past, present, and future. Therefore beginning from World War II to modern day, French cuisine has experienced many changes whereby impacting French culture. An adversary of Germany, France sustained a significant setback when Germany took control. Prior to the German occupation, French food was known has haute or grande cuisine. Traditional haute cuisine is highly noted all around the world. The food is well known due to the immense amount of preparation and presentation that goes into each dish. Precision plays a crucial role in creating an exquisite haute meal (Franklin). However, haute cuisine ceased to exist under German occupation and subsequent food shortages. Lines were long in front of French shops as people hoped to purchase depleted foods and staple products. Burdened with these difficulties, the French government instituted food charts and tickets which were to be exchanged for French staples. Items such as butter, bread, and meat were being rationed. Traditional cuisine then became obsolete due to citizens skimping on spices and decorations. Although the government tried to provide food subsidies, hunger still existed affecting the youth in urban areas. With the absence of standard foods normally seen in their diet, the French people searched for new European dietary substitutes (Beaufort). They ate unusual vegetables, such as Swedish turnip and Jerusalem artichoke. Products such as sugar were replaced by alternatives such as saccharin. In lieu of coffee, toasted barley mixed with chicory became the beverage of choice (â€Å"French Classics†). Scams and trickery got the best of people who were desperate for a meal during this time. Some people utilized the black market. There people could sell food without government tickets. Resulting in the prices being extremely high. Counterfeit food tickets were also in circulation. Along with the black market there was also direct buying from farmers in the countryside. The above activities carried the risk of fines and punishments as they were strictly prohibited by the government. In remote country villages vegetable gardens, the availability of milk products, and illicit animal slaughtering provided better survival for the people verses those living in the large cities (Beaufort). Wine played a key role during World War II as well. Wine is commonly consumed during festive occasions it has been utilized during war as well. Over the years, wine has made an unusual appearance on the battlefield. Commanders have allowed their troops to consume wine on the front lines hoping for an increase in performance and moral. During World War II, the combination of wine and war played out in a heartfelt way. The French army did everything in their power to keep their wine and their national identity out of the hands of the invading German forces (â€Å"Saving†). Although, the German forces did invade France, the consumption of wine on the frontline gave hope to the French soldiers that traditional French culture was being preserved during and after the war. The liberation of France began on June 6th, 1944. The Allied forces put forth into to action their plan, D-Day which was the invasion of France. After World War II, tourism signaled a new beginning for French cuisine. Tourism introduced the demand for haute cuisine at a reasonable price. Japanese, Middle Easterners, British, Americans, and even French travelers were yearning for new food experiences. French chefs were now determined to start a new style of cooking, one that would keep some traditional recipes but implement new ones. New cuisine was a counteraction to the classic haute cuisine (Franklin). New cuisine or Nouvelle was the answer that chefs from all parts of the world were looking for. Nouvelle cuisine had several characteristics. For example it was important that high quality and fresh products were utilized for cooking. The chefs would travel to markets every morning and look for the freshest products. These new and improved cooks would not fathom the idea of using any product that was not absolutely fresh or needed preservatives. Chefs simplified menu cards deleting a long list of dishes. Smaller quantities and choices meant no leftovers guaranteeing freshness. Chefs were looking for quality and became more attracted by unfamiliar products. Foreign influences prevailed and chefs began to use exotic products from Asia, North Africa and Italy (â€Å"Nouvelle Cuisine†). In new cuisine recipes, fewer ingredients were used to enhance purity and light sauces substituted creamy, thick ones. Flexible preparation methods and more experimentation with non-traditional flavors allowed new cuisine to become popular (Franklin). Fortunately, this new cooking style is said to be less fattening. Chefs used limited meat in new recipes which stems from the shortage of meat during World War II. It is perfect for those seeking a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, the new cuisine was prepared with lighter ingredients such as herbs, quality butter, lemon juice, and vinegar. This flexible and less expensive cuisine mainstreamed into restaurants and other eateries (Beaufort). One byproduct of the new cuisine is the menu de degustation or tasting menu that was offered in many restaurants. Achieving notoriety, diners were eager to sample all of the dishes of the new cuisine. Each member in a group had the opportunity to order a different appetizer, main course, and dessert. Tasting menus gave the diners the convenience to experience many varieties. Another byproduct of new cuisine is the choice of a la carte. It is a menu in which the patron makes individual selections from various menu categories and each item is priced separately. Serving single portions was seen as a rare new talent to chefs (Olver). The French culture was launched and savored by people around the world. World War II impacted French living for the better by reevaluating French values and introducing new French cuisine ideas. French cuisine influenced other cultures as well and many countries adapted new French cooking methods. Throughout the centuries, France was noted for its grandiose and eccentric lifestyle. Rich foods and lavish feasts were an integral part of the France culture. Chefs prepared French cuisine with the finest ingredients. Wine was served and enjoyed at every meal. Food was plentiful for all. All of this changed rapidly with the German Invasion in 1940. A ravaged and war torn country left the French people forced to explore new and less expensive ways to provide meals solely for survival. Yet, despite the devastation and hardship the French citizens endured, they utilized these cost effective measures and the importation of ingredients into the development of the nouvelle cuisine. Tasting menus and ala carte menus, not to mention exquisite appetizers and desserts, created the ultimate dining experience enjoyed by patrons. Thus emerged the world renowned and delectable French cuisine that is so popular today.

Qualitative Research Definition and Methods

Qualitative research is a type of social science research that collects and works with non-numerical data and that seeks to interpret meaning from these data that help understand social life through the study of targeted populations or places. People often frame it in opposition to quantitative research, which uses numerical data to identify large-scale trends and employs statistical operations to determine causal and correlative relationships between variables. Within sociology, qualitative research is typically focused on the micro-level of social interaction that composes everyday life, whereas quantitative research typically focuses on macro-level trends and phenomena. Key Takeaways Methods of qualitative research include:observation and immersioninterviewsopen-ended surveysfocus groupscontent analysis of visual and textual materialsoral history Purpose Qualitative research has a long history in sociology and has been used within it for as long as the field has existed. This type of research has long appealed to social scientists because it allows the researchers to investigate the meanings people attribute to their behavior, actions, and interactions with others. While quantitative research is useful for identifying relationships between variables, like, for example, the connection between poverty and racial hate, it is qualitative research that can illuminate why this connection exists by going directly to the source—the people themselves. Qualitative research is designed to reveal the meaning that informs the action or outcomes that are typically measured by quantitative research. So qualitative researchers investigate  meanings, interpretations, symbols, and the  processes and relations of social life. What this type of research produces is descriptive data that the researcher must then interpret using rigorous and systematic methods of transcribing, coding, and analysis of trends and themes. Because its focus is everyday life and peoples experiences, qualitative research lends itself well to creating new theories using the inductive method, which can then be tested with further research. Methods Qualitative researchers  use their own eyes, ears, and intelligence to collect in-depth perceptions and descriptions of targeted populations, places, and events. Their findings are collected through a variety of methods, and often a researcher will use at least two or several of the following while conducting a qualitative study: Direct observation:  With direct observation, a researcher studies people as they go about their daily lives without participating or interfering. This type of research is often unknown to those under study, and as such, must be conducted in public settings where people do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. For example, a researcher might observe the ways in which strangers interact in public as they gather to watch a street performer.Open-ended surveys: While many surveys are designed to generate quantitative data, many are also designed with open-ended questions that allow for the generation and analysis of qualitative data. For example, a survey might be used to investigate not just which political candidates voters chose, but why they chose them, in their own words.Focus group: In a focus group, a researcher engages a small group of participants in a conversation designed to generate data relevant to the research question. Focus groups can contain anywhere from 5 to 15 participants. Social scientists often use them  in studies that examine an event or trend that occurs within a specific community. They are common in market research, too.In-depth interviews: Researchers conduct in-depth interviews by speaking with participants in a one-on-one setting. Sometimes a researcher approaches the interview with a predetermined list of questions or topics for discussion but allows the conversation to evolve based on how the participant responds. Other times, the researcher has identified certain topics of interest but does not have a formal guide for the conversation, but allows the participant to guide it.Oral history: The oral history method is used to create a historical account of an event, group, or community, and typically involves a series of in-depth interviews conducted with one or multiple participants over an extended period.Participant observation:  This method is similar to observation, however with this one, the researcher also particip ates in the action or events to not only observe others but to gain the first-hand experience in the setting.Ethnographic observation:  Ethnographic observation is the most intensive and in-depth observational method. Originating in anthropology, with this method, a researcher fully immerses themselves into the research setting and lives among the participants as one of them for anywhere from months to years.  By doing this, the researcher attempts to experience day-to-day existence from the viewpoints of those studied to develop in-depth and long-term accounts of the community, events, or trends under observation.Content analysis:  This method is used by sociologists to analyze social life by interpreting words and images from documents, film, art, music, and other cultural products and media. The researchers look at how the words and images are used, and the context in which they are used to draw inferences about the underlying culture. Content analysis of digital material, especially that generated by social media users, has become a popular technique within the social sciences. While much of the data generated by qualitative research is coded and analyzed using just the researchers eyes and brain, the use of computer software to do these processes is increasingly popular within the social sciences. Such software analysis works well when the data is too large for humans to handle, though the lack of a human interpreter is a common criticism of the use of computer software. Pros and Cons Qualitative research has both benefits and drawbacks. On the plus side, it creates an in-depth understanding of the attitudes, behaviors, interactions, events, and social processes that comprise everyday life. In doing so, it helps social scientists understand how everyday life is influenced by society-wide things like social structure, social order, and all kinds of social forces. This set of methods also has the benefit of being flexible and easily adaptable to changes in the research environment and can be conducted with minimal cost in many cases. Among the downsides of qualitative research is that its scope is fairly limited so its findings are not always widely able to be generalized. Researchers also have to use caution with these methods to ensure that they do not influence the data in ways that significantly change it and that they do not bring undue personal bias to their interpretation of the findings. Fortunately, qualitative researchers receive rigorous training designed to eliminate or reduce these types of research bias.