The Benefits Of Bilingualism Toward Career Advancement English Language Essay

The Benefits Of Bilingualism Toward Career Advancement English Language Essay Being fluent in more than one language has not been popular until this past decade. Since the Internet has made our world smaller, more and more businesses have become global and have a lot of branches all over the world. They hire both local and international personals. When the demand of bilingual workers is higher, being able to communicate more than one language has become a better choice for students and adults. Nowadays, there are many skills that can make your job application and resume stand out from other competitions. The ability to communicate a foreign language is very valuable in many career fields, such as teachers, government officials, or social workers. Bilingualism attracts international employers, helps to better understand diverse customers, and has more financial perks. First of all, being bilingual attracts international employers. Since more and more businesses become interconnected, with companies establishing branches abroad and hiring from local people, it is important that employees in the states increase their marketability. In Foreign Language Needs of US Businesses, William Kordsmeier, Joe Arn, and Betty Rogers explore how US multicultural firms are in need of foreign language speakers. The authors study which language is the most in demand language by the US businesses, and how the firms prefer an applicant with two or more fluency in foreign languages. They also show that foreign language fluency is the initial reason to hire someone for a multicultural firm (169-71). Similarly, in Cultural and Linguistic Ambidexterity, Peter Galuszka explains that employers in a global economy look to hire bilingual and multilingual students as soon as they graduate from the University of Texas at El Paso, also known as UTEP. Galuszka shows that UTEP is situated near the US-Mexico border, and it has economic appeal in itself. Plus, the students who attend UTEP are from both the US and Mexico, so most of them speak both English and Spanish (29-31). Both articles foreground the idea of international firms are interested in hiring more bilingual or multilingual candidates. To emphasize that more businesses look to hire more bilingual personals, Kordsmeier, Arn, and Rogers cites Inman who states Proficiency in a foreign language is highly desirable in the marketplace. Whereas many fields seek employees, who possess foreign language proficiency in addition to expertise in the particular disciplines, the field of business places the greatest emphasis on both foreign language capability and knowledge of a specific subject area. (169) The authors are suggesting that more businesses prefer employees who are able to communicate in another language, in addition to other skills that those employees already possess. Similarly, Galuszka cites Michael Hissam, a Delphis regional director for communications in Mexico, who says work starts at 5 a.m. so specialists can be in touch with other Delphi teammates across the world, from Asia to Europe, to the United States (30). This means that Delphi is an international business and has divisions all over the world. Because of how they have to communicate with every part of the world, they need staff that can at least speak two or more languages. As you can see that both articles emphasize how important it is for a global business to have efficient bilingual or multilingual personals. Secondly, being bilingual can help the company to better understand the need of diverse customers. If the company is in an area with a diverse population, being bilingual has a big advantage. In Cultural and Linguistic Ambidexterity, Galuszka states it might sound like a no-brainer that being bilingual or multilingual helps students planning a career Whats more, being able to go beyond mere language ability and understand cultural distinctions are extra advantages (29). This shows that not only understanding the language is important, but to have deeply knowledge of the culture of the spoken language is also even more significant. Similarly, in Fluency in a foreign language can translate into a world of professional possibilities, Sonja Brown Stokely writes about an experience of an African-American man named Edward Harley, who teaches English in Japan. In order for Harley to be able to teach English, he is required to be fluent in Japanese and understand Japanese culture. Harley is currently working in New York City as a copy editor. He handles all clients from Japan for the company and makes sure that everything goes smoothly with no misunderstanding between cultures (126). As you can see that both articles emphasize that bilingual can help the company to better understand the need of diverse customers, it opens the connections between the firm and the customer. Understanding the culture is also a factor of earning customers loyalty to the business. Lastly, bilingualism has more financial perks. As a bilingual employee, you have the benefit of being able to negotiate a higher salary because the business with bilingual staff can also attract more diverse customers. Therefore, the more bilingual acquaintances, the more money you earn. To support this claim, in Fluency in a foreign language can translate into a world of professional possibilities, Stokely says In some careers in the US, the ability to speak and write languages such as Spanish, French, or German is looked upon as having a specialized skill. And employers are willing to pay for that skill. For example, in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, California, police officers and fire fighters can make an extra 5% to 10% on their salaries if they are fluent in Spanish (126). Stokely is suggesting that being fluent in another language can help you earn more in your career. Her article is full of examples of a few people who succeed because of being a bilingual. Another support for the claim is about a sales position, which is also where the second language skills are in high demand. A sales person is able to speak Spanish and he earns from commission. He is the only salesman who can speak Spanish at that company, therefore he handles all the Spanish customers. So, he is the only one that earns the highest commission (128). Similarly, in rewarding workplace bilingualism, Amado M. Padilla explores the economic gain of being bilingual. He asks a series of questions to different fields of business. The overall result is that bilingual gets paid more than their peers. To support the claim, he writes A hotel manager or a customer-service representative who knows English and Spanish or English and Korean may look much better at promotion time than one who knows only English (21). This shows that being bilingual adds a chance to being considered to get promoted and advance further in your career. Both articles foreground the idea that being bilingual has more financial perks and adds a chance to get promoted easily. In conclusion, being bilingual or multilingual has benefits toward career advancement. It helps your application or resume stand out when you apply for a job at a global company that has many divisions around the world. Being bilingual can also help you reach further for customers in a diverse society, as you understand more of their cultures. This leads to gaining more clients for the company and therefore earning more salaries and promotions toward you.

Essay on Names in The Odyssey and The Bible -- comparison compare cont

Importance of Names in The Odyssey and The Bible      Ã‚   Two of the most widely studied ancient works are Homer’s Odyssey and the book of Genesis from the Bible.   Each of these texts provides a unique viewpoint of an early civilization.   In both of the texts, one can learn not only stories about great heroes, but also about the way that these peoples lived and what they believed.   Many interesting parallels can be drawn between the two developing societies shown in the Odyssey and the book of Genesis.   One parallel is the importance placed on names by each culture. Although viewed as important in different ways, the value placed on a name shows a striking similarity between the evolving cultures of both the Greeks and the Hebrews.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the Odyssey, Homer’s characters frequently allude to the importance of names.   For these ancient Greeks, a name symbolizes one’s identity, ancestry, and honor.   It is the one thing a man always owns, even if he possesses nothing else.   This is clearly shown through the hero, Odysseus.   While traveling home from the Trojan War, Odysseus, in effect, loses his title, land, and power for twenty years.   He remains with nothing but his name to speak for his character and person.   As he himself says at the beginning of Book IX when beginning to tell his story to the Phaiacians, â€Å"First of all I will tell you my name, and then you may count me one of your friends if I live to reach my home, although that is far away.   I am Odysseus Laertiades, a name well known in the world as one who is ready for any event.†Ã‚   Although away from his home and all things that could speak well of him, Odysseus is still in possession of his nam e, which clearly shows his good character.   This speech of Odysseus also show... ... to be carefully guarded, for if everything else is lost, it remains forever.   Thus, there is nothing more precious to a man than to have a name that carries intrinsic honor and meaning throughout his whole life.   A man is defined by who he is, and that is shown best through his name.   As clearly shown in the texts, to have a good name and to be remembered by it ought to be the main goal for any and every man.    Works Cited and Consulted Bloom, Harold ,   Homer's Odyssey: Edited and with an Introduction, NY, Chelsea House 1988 Heubeck, Alfred, J.B. Hainsworth, et al. A commentary on Homer's Odyssey. 3 Vols. Oxford PA4167 .H4813 1988 Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Vintage Books, 1989. Tracy, Stephen V. ,The Story of the Odyssey Princeton UP 1990 The Holy Bible. New Revised Standard Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1989.

Everything your American history textbook got wrong Essay

During my period of time that I had to read this very persuasive book into believing that you’re casual every day period of History class is basically nothing but a waste of time if not taught in the correct context. Which would include the good, the bad, and the all in between of the subject of that person or situation in history that would be important enough for generations to come to know and remember about in all its entirety. This book also includes how Americans have lost their touch with their history, and in this thought-stimulating book, James Loewen shows just why. After surveying twelve leading high school American history texts, he has concluded that not one of them does a decent or even good enough job of making history interesting or memorable. Flawed by an embarrassing combination of blind patriotism, mindless hopefulness, upright misinformation, and outright lies, these books leave out almost all the uncertainty, passion, conflict, and drama from our past. In ten powerful chapters, Loewen reveals that: Surely textbooks should include some people based on not only what they achieved but also on the distance they traversed to achieve it, as written in page 9 of chapter 1. Also in chapter one mainly in page 17, Woodrow Wilson, known as a progressive leader, was in fact a white supremacist who personally vetoed a clause on racial equality in the Covenant of the League of Nations. James also had written that â€Å"Woodrow Wilson’s administration was openly hostile to black people†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Wilson was not only anti-black†. To the history in chapter 4 page 116, about the truth of native Americans, â€Å" Six of the twelve histories I studies avoid this clichà © of Indian naitives about land ownership†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦several of them even point out that the problem lay in whites not abiding by accepting concepts of land ownership.† From the truth about Columbus’s historical voyages to an honest evaluation of our national leaders in chapter 8 page 230, Loewen revives our history, restoring to it the vitality and relevance it truly possesses. In the book, Loewen covers: faulty heroic personification of false heroes vs. th e lowering worth of America’s real heroes; the need to reference primary sources; our country’s forward moving belief which tends to ignore historical foreshadowing; the importance of students to think for themselves and question important events in history; and the ruin that the textbook industry has turned into. As you can see, there is a lot covered here, and this isn’t any of the lies. As I said, there is a lot explained in this book about why each historic lie was established. There is a point in the book where Loewen refers to a passage from 1984. In 1984, George Orwell says, â€Å"†¦he who controls the present controls the past.† When Loewen refers to this quote, he is referring to the upper class and whites controlling the educational system and textbook publishing. I believe there could’ve been a better use for this quote. While it may be true that most history textbooks bend or throw shade history in favor of the upper class or whites, I am deciding to use this particular quote in another fashion. â€Å"Who controls the present controls the past.† That, my friends, should be a charge; a mission directed at all those in the history teaching profession. Take control of the knowledge dispersed in your classrooms (the present) and teach the correct past. Discard the provided textbooks (not really ofcourse) and teach what you know should be taught. Allow yourself to step out of your teaching comfort zone. I have a teacher (not going to say anyone’s name) that likes to grill his students to push their knowledge on all that pertaining to the subject that we speak on, that teacher was never afraid to put his neck out to stir up discussion in the classroom. Worst case scenario, a question would arise that the teacher did not know the answer to and he would simply say, â€Å"I will look into it.† He wasn’t afraid to show he wasn’t all-knowing. Loewen’s book has a great underlying theme: that children should be taught that history is not restricted, and that possibilities should be discussed to further rational skills and to promote an understanding of our nation’s history. But I wish he had gone the extra step and challenged history teachers. I would recommend this book to anyone who like to read history and more on going in dept. While an appreciation for history would certainly make this book more enjoyable, it is an optional read either way. For real this book criticizes the way history is presented in current textbooks, and suggests a fresh and more accurate approach to teaching American history. This is a real eye-opener to anyone who thinks they learned about U.S. history in high school. Loewen spent eleven years reviewing the 12 most commonly-used U.S. history textbooks and found all to be seriously wanting. Textbook publishers want to avoid controversy (so, apparently, do many school systems), so they feed students a white-washed, non- controversial, over-simplified version of this country’s history and its most important historical parts. To make his point, Loewen emphasizes the â€Å"dark side† of U.S. history, because that’s the part that’s missing from our education system. So, for example, we never learned that Woodrow Wilson ran one of the most racist administrations in history and helped to set back progress in race relations that had begun after the Civil War. Helen Keller’s socialist leanings and political views are over-looked and we only learn that she overcame blindness and deafness. John Brown is portrayed as a wild-eyed nut who ran amok until he was caught and hanged, rather than an eloquent and dedicated abolitionist who uttered many of the same words and thoughts that Lincoln later expressed. Loewen’s book vividly illustrates the maxim that â€Å"those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.† Ignorance of our real history also renders us incapable of fully understanding the present and coming to grips with the issues of our time. For example, from the Civil War until around 1890, real racial progress was underway in the United States and civil rights laws were Federally enforced in the South. The military was integrated and former slaves had the right to vote, serve on juries and as witnesses in trials, own property and operate businesses. They also received mandatory public education, which was automatically extended to white children for the first time in the south. But, between 1890 and 1920, the Feds gradually disengaged and allowed southern racist governments to strip these rights from blacks and relegate them to virtual non-citizenship. Only within the last half-century has that policy been gradually reversed, again through Federal intervention. This history casts current racial attitudes and issues in a different light than most of our high school students are likely to see unless they are taught the complete history of their country. It is clear that Loewen is not out to bash the United States or offer up an equally one-sided, negative version of its history. He gives a balanced account of many of the figures whose weaknesses he exposes. Thus, we learn that, although Columbus was an unimaginative fortune hunter, a racist tyrant and slave trader, he (and Spain) were not much different than most people at the time. He points out that all societies, including Native Americans and Africans, kept slaves and that it is unfair to single out Columbus as singularly evil. The problem is that kids never learn both sides of these stories, so history becomes a bland repetition of non-opposing â€Å"events† that appear to have or had no vague causes. Historical events are not related to issues that people disputed or serious conflicts that placed them at irreversible odds with one another, the very stuff that drives history. No wonder kids are bored and uninterested. They are left with the distorted impression that, down deep, the United States always means well and, in the end, is always â€Å"right.† Loewen has presented fair accounts of key events in our history and indicated why our high school students know and care so little about it. He also suggests ways to correct this serious shortcoming that every American should give a round of applause to.

Capital Punishment Should Be Allowed - 955 Words

Capital punishment is execution, which can furthermore be identified as the death penalty, has been a hot topic in the public eye for a while. The question on lots of minds is whether it is acceptable for the state to terminate one’s life for the crime they have committed. A significant question that we will address is whether or not capital punishment should be allowed. By inquiring more information about this topic people should be able to formulate their own opinions on this debate. As I began to research further into this issue, I became aware that plenty of people agree with the idea of capital punishment being endorsed; however, I believe in order for the public to recognize all the factors that apply to this debate, asking this question will not only be the key to finally finding closure, but it will help them articulate their own views. Why is it essential to find closure? Why does our justice system to seek capital punishment? When does the system realize if one should receive the death penalty? How will they be sure that all the evidence is there? Is capital punishment ethical? Are there different types of execution methods? Does this punishment violate the U.S Constitution? Executing an innocent; what happens then? Addressing these questions will guide the public to thoroughly understand this punishment. What happens when mistakes are made? When executing a person for the crimes they didn’t commit there is no turning back from that point. That decision isShow MoreRelatedCapital Punishment Should Be Allowed Or Not?927 Words   |  4 PagesIn the United States of America, the issue of capital punishment is one of the major controversial topics which is being debated over and over due to different ideologies of people. Many support the use of death penalty but other oppose the use of this form of punishment because they think it’s barbaric. There are numerous reasons why some individuals believe that capital punishment should be allowed or not. Most of these individual’s beliefs are influenced by religion, the Constitution, and deterrenceRead MoreShould Capital Punishment Be Allowed?1376 Words   |  6 Pagesforty-years, 1,421 executions have been conducted by thirty-one states and the federal government under the capital punishment sentence (â€Å"Facts About t he Death Penalty†). Throughout those years however, controversial opinions have aroused on whether the capital punishment should be permitted, its success on reflecting a deterrent effect, and even its morality. Although it is often argued that Capital punishment is appropriate when the crime reaches an egregious extent, the revocation of constitutional securitiesRead MoreExamine the Ethical Issue on Capital Punishment and Discuss the Extent Which It Should Be Allowed.1867 Words   |  8 PagesQuestion: Examine the ethical issue on capital punishment and discuss the extent to which it should be allowed. We live in a society where killing is deemed and known as unethical and immoral, and this is because of society’s condemnation of death. We are bounded by a set of guidelines, a social contract, and these common guidelines create boundaries – boundaries that determine how the law is formed, what is wrong and what is right, benefitting the majority of the society. By having this socialRead MoreChristianity and Allowing Capital Punishment Essay1051 Words   |  5 PagesChristianity and Allowing Capital Punishment The question of whether Christians should allow capital punishment is controversial and is often argued between many Christians. This question can be answered by using the bible to help them understand their morale and ways of life. The Christians believe that Christians should allow capital punishment and they argue this by using the bible in Exodus 21 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot thisRead MoreCapital Punishment and its Controversies 1434 Words   |  6 PagesCapital punishment uses death penalty as a form of punishment in many states and countries. It is a practice that has raised endless questions all over the world. Capital punishment or death penalty policy has changed in many countries overtime. Countries such as, New Australia, Zealand and 15 states in the US do not have capital punishment. One of the major concerns arising with capital punishment is because it causes ending of a human life. People and organizations of different backgrounds areRead More The Need for Capital Punishment in America Essay1151 Words   |  5 PagesIt is the firm belief and position here that committing such a crime as murder is punishable by death. Americans should take a position for anyone on death row, to be executed sooner rather than later. The moral reality in an argument for capital punishment is that they know the difference between the death penalty and what happens when it is actually put into place from the court of law. In the United States there are more people sitting in prison on death row than actually being executed atRead MorePersuasive Essay On Capital Punishment921 Words   |  4 PagesCapital punishment is a controversial debate in the United States. Many Americans believe that the death penalty is immoral because of its ethical complications. Still others believe that capital punishment is a cheaper and quicker way for justice to be served. When the government houses inmates, vast amounts of money are spent on food, medication, and clothing for inmates to survive in prison. Yet, the majority of America still allows for the practice of capital punishment in several manners suchRead MoreCapital Punishment And The Death Penalty1017 Words   |  5 PagesPosition Paper Country: Saudi Arabia Name: Lucas Falley Topic: Capital Punishment Background: Capital punishment, or the death penalty, has existed for thousands of years. For as long as there has been organized society, the death penalty has existed in numerous cultures and civilizations. Throughout the years the methods have changed, but the use of capital punishment is becoming a pressing matter. Amnesty International reports that there are 140 countries worldwide that have abolished the deathRead MoreLiterature Review on Death Penalty1028 Words   |  5 Pagespaper is going to be over â€Å"Do you agree with the death penalty?†. I gathered information by asking a series of questions of other individuals. Some of the questions I asked was, â€Å"Do you think the death penalty is a deterrent from a crime?†, and â€Å"How should the death penalty be administered?† My goal is to find out how many people agree or disagree with the death penalty, and why. This will be a good opportunity to view this topic from many different aspects, considering each p erson will have theirRead MoreCapital Punishment And The Death Penalty1031 Words   |  5 PagesCapital punishment has been a part of the U.S criminal justice system for centuries. The death penalty has been the most controversial aspect. The death penalty is legal in 33 states but the rest of the 19 states abolished it. There are over half of Americans that support the death penalty while the rest of them believe that it is unacceptable. People who support the death penalty believe that capital punishment lowers future crime rates, but people who are against it believe that it is a cruel