Impact on second language learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Impact on second language learning - Essay Example rs: an innate capacity for acquiring language or Language Acquisition Device, containing the "universal" features found in all languages and the â€Å"critical or optimal age hypothesis.† Non- linguistic factors which are considered when talking about language acquisition are motivation, opportunity; and language learning ability. (Fantini & Reagan, 1992) According to recent studies (Dornyei, 2005) L2 motivational self system is the equation of the motivational dimension of "integrativeness/integrative motivation" with the "ideal L2 self which is person’s hopes, aspirations, desires or other desired attributes. If ideal self is interested in the mastery of an L2, then one has "integrative" disposition (according to Gardners (1985) terminology). (Csizer & Dornyei, 2005a) "Integrative" disposition supposes sincere interest in the L2-speaking community and its life, culture and routines. Integrativeness reflects a positive outlook on the L2 and its culture which makes learners desire to integrate themselves into the L2 culture and L2 speakers’ community. (Csizer & Dornyei, 2005) If the L2 community has no respect among learners – it is associated with negative characteristics such as poverty or crime - it provides less motivation for students to learn the language of this community. The researcher of attitudinal basis of language attainment Spolsky (1969) arrived at the conclusion: â€Å"One of the most important attitudinal factors is the attitude of the learner to the language and to its speakers" (p. 274 in Csizer & Dornyei, 2005) The attitude to community contains some constituents: attitudes toward having direct contact with L2 speaker or opportunity to travel to the country of origin and on the other hand cultural interest or appreciation of cultural products related to particular L2 and spread by the media - movies, music, magazines and books which provide indirect contact with L2 community. L2 cultural products play an important role in acquiring

Marx Misses the Point Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marx Misses the Point - Essay Example Precisely so: that is just what we intend" (Marx 337). For the purposes of this paper, Marx misses the point on three levels. His reduction of complex economic relationships into two broad categories is an oversimplification that is as inaccurate as his proposed solution is feckless. His assertion that free trade is tantamount to exploitation is misguided and has no basis in fact. Finally, the presentation of communism as the panacea for all the ills of industrial society is nave; in fact, once Marx's scheme is brought from ideology into practice the result is that communism and the state simply become a replacement of one type of repression for another. Communism, when applied to the lives of real people, ironically becomes his decried bourgeoisie in a different cloak. Through oversimplification, inaccuracy, and flawed methodology, Marx misses the point; individual freedom. Marx frames his initial assertion for the two class distinctions in terms of time. He avers that "[o]ur epoch, the epoch of the bourgeoisie, possesses, however, this distinctive feature; it has simplified the class antagonisms" (322). Had he had the ability to project forward in time, beyond his epoch, he would see the colossal failures within the practical application of his ideas. That sort of time projection being impossible for him, however, let's examine his initial, basic assertion: "Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat" (Marx 322). Anytime broad generalizations are used to describe complex situations, inaccuracy is the result; particularly with subjects as convoluted as economy and politics. For Marx, there is a ruling class of people and institutions who have capital and power. This group, in his mind, is exercising exploitation and control over the masses . On the other side of his equation, lie the disenfranchised workers who are the grist for the industrial mill. For Marx, these two are diametrically opposed to each other and are hostile. The problem with his approach, like any person who thinks in terms of black vs. white, is that it is too simplistic. There are shades of grey within the groups that his dual class approach does not accommodate. An organized, funded, and complete "bourgeoisies" does not exist; nor does a suppressed, victimized, and grouped "proletariat." There certainly are capitalized entities that take advantage of laborers. That fact notwithstanding, there are also many industrial operations that function in partnership with labor to harmoniously provide goods and services to society while maintaining a happy and healthy workforce. These are symbiotic relationships where no hostility exists. It is within the context of individual freedom that these beneficial relationships exist. Marx, however, takes issue with that freedom, turning it into something evil. In practical application, the term bourgeoisie simply becomes a label applied to a person or company that displeases the labeler. Exploitation Marx's propensity for negative labeling does not stop with grouped classes, but also extends to the commercial activity of society. He sees