Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Competition or co-operation?
Should children be raised to co-operate or to compete?
Should children be raised to compete or to co-operate? This is a universal conundrum and not one that is easy to answer. I think there are compelling reasons to support both sides of the argument.
In favour of raising children to be competitive is the fact that it is a natural human trait to want to achieve well both at school and at work and an obvious way to do this is to test oneself against one’s peers. If children and adults didn’t strive to better themselves and to achieve difficult goals there would be no human progress. This is true not only in areas such as scientific and medical advances, which bring important life-saving and life-enhancing benefits, but also in activities auch as sport,where the desire to compete against others is both natural and healthy.
On the other hand, it is equally important that children learn the virtues of co-operation and helpfulness towards others. Of course, it is a competitive world and we all need to survive, but equally we all need help at some point(s) in our lives, some more than others. It is important that children learn to be sympathetic and tolerant towards others who might not be as fortunate as themseves. Helping others, moreover, makes us feel better as human beings and raises our self-esteem. More practically, there is a need to work with others , not only at school,but also in the workplace. My students, for example, might often work in groups here at college and mutual co-operation is vital; similarly, as a teacher, I work in a team, and being able to do so effectively is an important professional requirement in most workplaces.
In an ideal world, therefore, we should raise our children to be aware of the importance of achieving a balance between being competitive and co-operative; both are vital in our lives.
286 words
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
A woman's role
Is a woman’s proper role in society to pursue a career or to be a mother and wife?
Traditionally a woman’s role has been as a mother and wife. However, more and more women worldwide are being educated to a high level and are pursuing careers. Does this pose a threat to the upbringing of young children and to social stability?
There are many reasons why a woman should be at home to look after her children. Children need their mother’s love and attention. A mother substitute, like a maid, however caring, cannot provide the same emotional support that a child needs. In addition, a maid may not speak the child’s language and there may well be cultural differences. A mother plays a crucial role in developing her child’s language and cultural awareness. Even worse, if there is no mother and no maid at home, children will feel neglected.
On the other hand, women have an important role to play in society. If intelligent women want to pursue careers, why should they not have the same opportunity to do so as men? Women have a lot to offer to society, which would be poorer if they couldn’t do so. In the West, it is generally accepted that women have the choice of whether to pursue a career or not. Of course there are more traditional societies where this is more difficult.
In an ideal world, a woman should be able to pursue a career and also have time to bring up a family, but it’s not an easy task to get the balance right.
264 words.
Traditionally a woman’s role has been as a mother and wife. However, more and more women worldwide are being educated to a high level and are pursuing careers. Does this pose a threat to the upbringing of young children and to social stability?
There are many reasons why a woman should be at home to look after her children. Children need their mother’s love and attention. A mother substitute, like a maid, however caring, cannot provide the same emotional support that a child needs. In addition, a maid may not speak the child’s language and there may well be cultural differences. A mother plays a crucial role in developing her child’s language and cultural awareness. Even worse, if there is no mother and no maid at home, children will feel neglected.
On the other hand, women have an important role to play in society. If intelligent women want to pursue careers, why should they not have the same opportunity to do so as men? Women have a lot to offer to society, which would be poorer if they couldn’t do so. In the West, it is generally accepted that women have the choice of whether to pursue a career or not. Of course there are more traditional societies where this is more difficult.
In an ideal world, a woman should be able to pursue a career and also have time to bring up a family, but it’s not an easy task to get the balance right.
264 words.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
World population
The line graph shows population growth in richer and poorer countries between 1750 and 2150. It is based on the United Nations World Population Prospects, the 1998 Revision, and estimates by the Population Reference Bureau.
In 1750 the total world population was less than one billion and the population of less developed countries was three or four times greater than that of more developed countries. By 2000 the total figure was 6.1 billion, but only about 1 billion were in the more developed countries. The estimate is that by 2150 the total world population will be well over 10 billion but the total for the more developed countries will remain at about one billion and may even fall slightly.
It is estimated that the total world population will increase dramatically over the next 150 years but that this growth will be entirely in the less developed countries .
153 words.
In 1750 the total world population was less than one billion and the population of less developed countries was three or four times greater than that of more developed countries. By 2000 the total figure was 6.1 billion, but only about 1 billion were in the more developed countries. The estimate is that by 2150 the total world population will be well over 10 billion but the total for the more developed countries will remain at about one billion and may even fall slightly.
It is estimated that the total world population will increase dramatically over the next 150 years but that this growth will be entirely in the less developed countries .
153 words.
US farms & farm workers 1910-2000
This line graph shows the number of farms and farm workers in the USA during the period 1910-2000.
Throughout the period, as we’d expect, the number of workers was always greater than the number of farms, but there was a significant closing of the gap as the century progressed. In 1910 there were over 6M farms but more than double this number of farm workers. The number of farms slightly increased over the next 20 years, whereas the number of workers fell slightly. Over the next 40 years, to 1970, the number of farms declined gradually by about a half but the number of workers plummeted dramatically from over 12M to just over 4M. After 1970, the numbers of both farms and farm workers declined steadily.
Over the whole period, the number of farms fell from over 6M to just over 2M. The decline in the number of workers was more rapid, from over 13M to just 3M.
158 words
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Countries & Nationalities
I have a house in England, I speak English, but my nationality is British. My passport says: the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.
I have been to Australia twice. Australians speak English. Well, sort of.
Tha capital of Canada is Ottawa. Many Canadians are bi-lingual, speaking both English and French.
I have been to Australia twice. Australians speak English. Well, sort of.
Tha capital of Canada is Ottawa. Many Canadians are bi-lingual, speaking both English and French.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Mobiles in the classroom
Should mobile phones be banned in the classroom?
Twenty years ago, the use of mobile phones in classrooms was unknown. Nowadays, however, all students here at ADMC have a laptop and at least one mobile phone with them in class every day.
Mobiles are a feature of modern life and banning them from the classroom is probably neither necessary nor practical. Students need to be in touch with friends and families, particularly if anyone is ill or in trouble. Furthermore, many students have jobs or run businesses and need to be in regular touch with employers and employees. In addition, more advanced phones have functions which are educationally useful.
On the other hand, mobiles in the classroom can undoubtedly distract students from their studies. The noise of sending and receiving calls and messages will distract not only the individual student but the whole class, and this is clearly a nuisance. Using mobiles while the teacher is talking is, moreover, highly disrespectful to the teacher. Finally, of course, ADMC has notices in all classrooms strictly prohibiting the use of mobile phones, as well as the consumption of food and drink.
In summary, it is probably not practical to prevent students bringing mobile phones to class. What the teacher can do is switch his own phone to silent at the beginning of the lesson and encourage students to do the same. Incoming calls and messages may still be a distraction but students should be persuaded to wait until the end of the lesson before answering.
253 words.
Twenty years ago, the use of mobile phones in classrooms was unknown. Nowadays, however, all students here at ADMC have a laptop and at least one mobile phone with them in class every day.
Mobiles are a feature of modern life and banning them from the classroom is probably neither necessary nor practical. Students need to be in touch with friends and families, particularly if anyone is ill or in trouble. Furthermore, many students have jobs or run businesses and need to be in regular touch with employers and employees. In addition, more advanced phones have functions which are educationally useful.
On the other hand, mobiles in the classroom can undoubtedly distract students from their studies. The noise of sending and receiving calls and messages will distract not only the individual student but the whole class, and this is clearly a nuisance. Using mobiles while the teacher is talking is, moreover, highly disrespectful to the teacher. Finally, of course, ADMC has notices in all classrooms strictly prohibiting the use of mobile phones, as well as the consumption of food and drink.
In summary, it is probably not practical to prevent students bringing mobile phones to class. What the teacher can do is switch his own phone to silent at the beginning of the lesson and encourage students to do the same. Incoming calls and messages may still be a distraction but students should be persuaded to wait until the end of the lesson before answering.
253 words.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Traffic congestion & parking problems
Problem & solution essay.
Traffic congestion and parking problems are faced by most large cities around the world, and Abu Dhabi is no exception.
The main overall reason for these problems in Abu Dhabi is the rapidly expanding population. More people means more drivers and thus more cars on the roads. Many of these drivers are young and inexperienced which means more accidents and more hold-ups. Another factor is Abu Dhabi's rapid economic development over the past few decades. More industrialisation means more business and so more commercial vehicles, many of them large and slow-moving. There are now many more new, high-rise buildings but they haven't all been constructed with adequate parking space and this has led to massive parking problems in the business district. The fact that Abu Dhabi is an island with limited space for transport development has further added to the problem.
One obvious solution is to improve the existing road network by constructing more bridges, overpasses and underpasses to ease traffic flow. Another possible solution is to improve public transport, with better bus services and a new rail network, as in Dubai with its new metro. Yet another possibility is for the authorities, as in Singapore, to make motoring more expensive, through higher registration fees, restrictions on where and when motorists may use their cars, etc.
The first solution is already underway, an example being the recently opened underpass on Salam Street, near Khalifa Park. Similarly, public bus services have been much improved recently. The problem with regard to greater restrictions on motorists is that many people will see them as an attack on individual liberty and no doubt they would prove unpopular, at least to begin with. With regard to solving parking problems, the existing rules regarding new buildings having adequate parking space, preferably underground, must be strictly enforced.
300 words.
Traffic congestion and parking problems are faced by most large cities around the world, and Abu Dhabi is no exception.
The main overall reason for these problems in Abu Dhabi is the rapidly expanding population. More people means more drivers and thus more cars on the roads. Many of these drivers are young and inexperienced which means more accidents and more hold-ups. Another factor is Abu Dhabi's rapid economic development over the past few decades. More industrialisation means more business and so more commercial vehicles, many of them large and slow-moving. There are now many more new, high-rise buildings but they haven't all been constructed with adequate parking space and this has led to massive parking problems in the business district. The fact that Abu Dhabi is an island with limited space for transport development has further added to the problem.
One obvious solution is to improve the existing road network by constructing more bridges, overpasses and underpasses to ease traffic flow. Another possible solution is to improve public transport, with better bus services and a new rail network, as in Dubai with its new metro. Yet another possibility is for the authorities, as in Singapore, to make motoring more expensive, through higher registration fees, restrictions on where and when motorists may use their cars, etc.
The first solution is already underway, an example being the recently opened underpass on Salam Street, near Khalifa Park. Similarly, public bus services have been much improved recently. The problem with regard to greater restrictions on motorists is that many people will see them as an attack on individual liberty and no doubt they would prove unpopular, at least to begin with. With regard to solving parking problems, the existing rules regarding new buildings having adequate parking space, preferably underground, must be strictly enforced.
300 words.
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