The Internet And Social Media

The Internet And Social Media Self-esteem is all about how a person views themselves. When a person has a healthy sense of self, they respect themselves and they possess the courage to try different experiences even if it means that they might fail. A positive sense of self is driven to make healthy decisions and does not search for negative influences to pattern after. Low self-esteem is the complete opposite; it entails feelings of loneliness and self-hate. Low self-esteem is a serious problem for many young people; they often feel that they are undesirable and not worthy of having long lasting friendships or love interest. These feelings are a normal part of adolescence but, children who have low self-esteem find that negative thoughts and feelings of self-loathing dont seem to disappear. A child who has a normal and healthy sense of self has the ability to overcome these feelings or find ways to cope with them. Children with low self-esteem often cant summons the energy to channel positive thoughts and feelin gs. To combat this problem, teens will search for things that will make them feel complete. According to (Bessie`re, Seay, Kiesler, 2007; Wan Chiou, 2006), feelings of inadequacy and meekness often leads young people to prolonged use of the Internet. Children with low self-esteem also feel that the important adults in their lives, constantly judge them on their performances in school and in other social situations. They feel a need for acceptance and love from their parents, peers and community. The Internet and Social media sites also provide children the opportunity to fill the void of despair by choosing negative and harmful role models to pattern themselves after. These role models become important to them, they feel a need to nurture them and allow them to grow. Many times, these characters are more important than actual face to face communication with peers and family. Internet addiction in this case is characterized as a child or young adult spending excessive amounts of time and energy on the internet or on social media sites. The child will often find himself visiting sites; posting pictures and communicating all day long, while neglecting their daily responsibilities and routines. Instead of having normal peer relationships and interactions, the child seeks; people to chat with on-line. Greenfield (1999) found that young people, who use chat-rooms in a marked degree, make up a large group of compulsive Internet users. For these participators, chat rooms and Social media sites become their primary outlet for interactions; relationship building and the fulfillment of social needs. These children often miss the opportunity to make friends in the real world because they start to believe that the people they meet on line can be trusted with personal information. Polls taken on students found that Seventy-two percent of school age range youth has adm itted to using internet chat rooms in excess on a daily basis. Young (1997) found that children lose out on peer interactions and academic opportunities due to compulsive internet use. Egger (1996), found eight prevalent indications of Internet addiction: 1. the child seems to overlook time spent when on line, 2. the child gets angry when he is asked to end Internet time. 3. The child steals time on the internet without parental permission, 4. The child exhibits a loss of interest in daily activities or relationships, 5. Child seems depressed and despondent when they are not on-line, 6. Child checks e-mails and Social Media accounts constantly, 7. The child seeks out friends on-line and forms new relationships and 8. The child uses chat identification names while off-line. A child can also find themselves developing addictive patterns like; checking media sites or entering chat rooms. On the Internet; a child who is normally shy and reserved, can create a whole new image and personality by joining on-line chat rooms. In a groundbreaking article, Rheingold (1996) argued that internet chat rooms and Social media sites are places that a child can act out a part in a role of their choosing. The child can create their own reality, while hiding behind a computer terminal. In these social media rooms, the child feels the freedom to re-create himself into the person he wishes to be. This gives the child the power to control his state of being. Instead of feeling powerless and non-existent, the child has the confidence that he never had before. On-line friendships in Social media sites become more important than actual relationships with family members and peers. This is why it is so easy for the child to become addicted to Social media; they seem to be a safe harbor for anyone who feels lonely and powerless. There are many popular sites that children use in order to chat with others; many times these sites condone sexually explicit behavior and messages. These sites have a large adolescent following; they offer the chance to chat with peers and create web pages that can be suggestive and inappropriate. Many children often feel free enough to explore their sexuality and desires without anyone knowing who they are. Arisoy and Davis (2009, 2001) states that despite the fact that overuse of Social media and Internet sites are seen as productive and gratifying to the user; it is actually an unhealthy way of coping with feelings of inadequacy. Facebook and MySpace are very popular Social media sites that teens with low self-esteem frequent. These sites are among the most popular social networking sites that children frequent today; with millions of teen followers (most under the age of 15). These sites allow the users to update their status as many times as they would like without fear of being reprimanded for inappropriate language or content. Lampe (2006) argued that the dominant reason why Social media sites exist is to bridge friends and family together; in spite of distance and time constraints. But what happens when these sites are abused by teens? These sites then become addictive and harmful to the user and can ultimately cause the child to perform poorly in school and in life. The allure to these sites seems to be the fact that children can create the self-image they always wanted to have. They can create an identity that mirrors the self-image they wish to have; while inviting the same peers who tease them to be friends with them. The child feels that the friends made on line are true and loyal. The child feels a sense of excitement and joy when their peers desire to view their page; this is seen as acceptance-even if the child is being deceptive. Children with self-image issues are given the platform to voice concerns and maybe turn the tables on awkward situations. Many children will hide behind Social media sites in order to empower themselves-sometimes in negative ways. Another effect that the internet has on self-esteem is cyber bullying. Cyber bullying entails using the internet or other electronic devises to harass or intimidate another person. Cyber bullying occurs when a child or group of children flood the internet or other electronic devises with negative images; slurs or rumors about fellow classmates of peers. Analysis establishes that cyber bullying causes both boys and girls feelings of exasperation, sadness, and desperation. Girls tend to respond with discontent but boys are preoccupied with feelings of possible revenge and score settling by the bully. This negative behavior has become a national problem; it is among the leading cause of teen suicide and school violence. Cyber bullies have many excuses as to why they harass their peers. Some say that they do it to get back at them for some wrong doing; another cyber bully says they did it because the class mate dressed and acted differently from other students. Children who have low self -esteem and are bullied feel unsafe in their surroundings. They feel that wherever they are, they can be touched by vicious and unfounded rumors on the Internet or physically harmed by the people who started the rumors. Children in this situation may feel too intimidated to tell a parent, family member or community leader. There is an unspoken rule that children in schools across the country follow; the no snitching or tattling rule. It often does not matter if the child is threatened or harmed in front of hundreds of their peers, that child feels that they cant tell. If they are brave enough to tell, the child will most certainly face retaliation and social humiliation by not only the bully but their friends also. These feelings of helplessness and confusion often lead the victim to either take their own life or the lives of the bully or other innocent people. Kessel (2012) stated that many victims of cyber bullying dealt with feelings of emotional distress; these feelings lead to depression, self-mutilation and or suicide. Pedophilia and predatory stalkers are also contributors to self-esteem and the Internet. In this case, children are preyed on while on certain Social media sites with the assumption that they are reaching out to young people their own age; but police reports and news articles paint a different picture. In the last few years; reports have invaded the news about the dangers of frequenting sites that have a large youth following. Pedophiles and stalkers prey on the young and naÃÆ'Â ¯ve; they use and contact children through their social media pages with false identities and backgrounds. The perpetrator is only chatting with the child in order to gain their trust and to acquire their personal information. After the offender gains that childs trust; they offer to meet them face to face with the promise of sex, drugs or some type of adventure. Often; these children are found sexually abused, psychologically scared or even worse- deceased. According to Melody (2007), in standard, there ar e three elements of staking: 1. there has to be a continuous sequence of unwanted behavior displayed by the stalker to the victim; 2. The stalker has to have made a threat toward the victim; 3. The victim has to have experienced a sense of uneasiness or danger as a result of the stalker. Recently, Facebook and other sites have promised to clean up its content by going in and deleting the member pages that contain explicit and suggestive language and content. They also vowed to delete the pages of children who post personal information such as; phone numbers, addresses and names of schools. Facebook and other sites only agreed to do this after a group of angry parents and educators called attention to the threat against our youth. Spitzberg and Hoobler (2002) argued that with the influx of Social media sites and other forms of technology, stalkers and pedophiles have better access to their victims. It is imperative that parents become active participants in spreading the word about the dangers of excessive internet use. Another link to self-esteem and internet use is negative body image. Teens are often ambushed with some type of media which includes circulars, videos, radio and Internet sites. Many young people and teens spend large amounts of time searching on fashion sites for the latest trend and fad diet. Children can spend hours in their rooms on various sites researching pictures of the perfect nose; eyes; stomach and behind. Many times these images are photo shopped and doctored to be flawless; the children feel that these images are real and should be aspired to. Young people with low self-esteem feel that their bodies are ugly and flawed so they are in search of what will make them feel whole. Many young women find themselves eager to have reconstructive surgeries done on their bodies due to these feelings. The Internet fuels these feelings of self-hate by encouraging young women and sometimes boys to fixate on images and celebrities body parts that they deem as attainable. The more these images are downloaded; more time consuming it becomes for the adolescent; this causes them to loose themselves in a world of unhealthy and detrimental thoughts. This time could be better spent interacting with peers and forming; lasting relationships outside of the home. Park (2005) suggests that the issues teens face with body image has taken an upturn with the surge in popularity of the Internet and Social media sites. There are many strategies parents can use in order to build higher self-esteem in children: parents need to create an open dialogue with children about their feelings and social interactions. Children who are disheartened feel that they have little chance to be successful in life. By opening the lines of communication; the child can express emotions and work out any aggression they might feel. This also gives the parent a better understanding on how to help the child through difficult times. Adults should show genuine care and concern toward the child and their particular issues; this will break down the wall of uncertainty and lack of trust between parent and child. Children can feel betrayed and angry when they sense that the parent is humoring them or being condescending; these feelings might lead the child to mistrust the parent and shut down. These assumptions could also lead the child to feel that their parents dont have their best interest at heart. To ensure that the child is not made to feel embarrassed or shunned, parents should think before they engage in an open dialogue. It is a good idea that parents establish an environment of optimism and concern about life and its ups and downs; be honest enough to tell them that we all face disappointments and hardships but stress the importance of not giving up. Have faith in the child/young person and display it- let the child know that they make a difference in the world. Dispense praise and positive assessment; chil dren feel their self-worth is contingent on how their peers view of them. To help reassure the child a parent can acknowledge when they attempt a hard task then, praise them for having had the courage to try. Learn to acknowledge what a child is feeling by asking them to identify their feelings. Parents of young children can even have a feelings chart hung in sight; with the proper title under each emotion. When the young child cant express their emotion in words, they can point to an emotion that best describes them. This will give the child the assurance that they are heard and understood by the parent while the parent teaches the names of the emotions and the best ways child how to handle them. Parents should also try to focus on the positive actions of the child instead of the negative ones so the child will feel confident and empowered instead of degraded and singled-out. Children love to imitate or follow after adults so it is important to allow children to see you take chances and step outside the norm. This action sends a clear message to the child; If I am brave enough to try, you can do it also. Encourage your child to use the creativity they possess; if they like to draw or paint, enroll them in an art class and participate. Lastly; trust that your child can handle making their own decisions; start with small issues then work up to large ones but keep the lines of communicati on open. For example; allow the child to choose their wardrobe for school. If there are questionable choices made, use that situation to positively discuss it. As time goes on, both sides will learn to compromise and talk out larger issues. Parents can also get children involved in activities away from home and the computer. Engaging in physical activity helps to stimulate the mind; build muscles and allows opportunities for positive social interactions. There are many strategies parents can use in order to combat excessive Internet usage in children. 1. Parents need to inform themselves about the internet and chat rooms; parents are not aware that their children are addicted to the internet because they know so little about it. Parents should ask their children to help them navigate through some of the social media sites. Allow them to assume the role of teacher while the parent praises them of their knowledge and understanding of the sites. This will make the child feel easier about sharing this information and create an opening for questions and answers. 2. Take a computer literacy class. If parents are not comfortable with asking their child to show them how to navigate the web, they can sign up for free classes. Places like the public library and community centers offer free or reduced priced classes that will teach the basics of computer usage. 3. Computers should reside in an open space in the home. This way; the child will not lock himself away in a room or spend enormous hours surfing unknown and unsafe sites. If the entire family has access to the computer, the child does not have the privacy to sneak away and use the computer inappropriately. 4. Adults also need to monitor childrens use of the internet. The child should not spend more than two hours a day on the Internet with each hour broken into half an hour intervals. By allowing children to use the internet in intervals, we give them an opportunity to explore other talents and interests that might not be utilized while on-line. 5. Parents should become detectives. Parents can log on and create their own page in a site that a child frequents; this way the parent will find out the types of conversations that takes place. Some may find this as intrusive but in some cases; it has to be done to save a childs life. 6. When choosing data plans for cell phones or other devises, limit the time and sites that the child can visit. There are many applications that can be downloaded on the phone to ensure the safety of youth and teens. Technology can be wonderful and beneficial if we learn to use it properly. In an effort to combat cyber bullying and online harassment it is a good idea to get teachers and school administrators involved. Some students are more comfortable confiding in teachers or counselors about cyber bullying rather than talking to their parents. They may feel that the teacher has a better understanding of these issues because they understand teens better. While in school, teachers should: 1. Discuss Internet safety and proper usage of cell phones and other devises. 2. Facilitate open dialogues in class about the dangers and warning signs if cyber bullying. 3. Give students the strategies to combat cyber bullying like; reporting it right away and keep personal business and information off the Internet. 4. Lastly, make an effort to let the student know that you are available to assist them with the issue. Parents can also turn to churches for seminars and small group discussions about self-esteem and internet use. Parents can play a role in self-esteem building by treating the child with respect and love, seriously listening to their views and opinions. Most importantly, parents have to remember that self-esteem is paramount in every childs development. When the child sees that this issue is important to you; they will take notice and start talk about their concerns. Now that we have identified the link between internet addiction and self-esteem, parents must be proactive and get involved with their children and their activities. Parents have to be able to recognize the signs of low self-esteem and be ready to help the child cope with their feelings. Parents have to be the childs first resource when their feelings and emotions seem to go awry. In order to be this resource, they have to become familiar with various strategies and plans that will aid the child. Parents should be prepared to notice the signs of low self-esteem and be willing to seek outside help. The Internet and other technologies have indeed changed our lives in meaningful and substantial ways; this why we have to help our children understand and assume the responsibilities of it.

Business Writing

Why every applicant must submit a personal statement: Your personal statement is an important part of your application for admission. It provides you with the opportunity to discuss aspects of your life that may not be apparent from information provided on your application, transcripts, or the Writing Skills Assessment. Please answer all of the topics that pertain to you. If only part of a topic pertains to you, answer that part. The topics are in four numbered sections. Similarly, your statement should be organized into sections, with each section numbered.Such presentation makes it easier for the reviewers to read and assess your statement. Tips †¢Be specific. †¢Don't spend your time telling us such things as â€Å"I've always wanted to attend the Foster School because I want a business degree. † It is a legitimate comment but does not tell us anything distinctive about you. †¢You define what â€Å"experience† means to you: something insignificant to ot hers may have had particular significance for you. †¢Be aware that many applicants write about similar topics so consider how yours is unique. †¢Long does not mean better and there is no need to embellish.We do not expect to read something earth shattering in every personal statement. †¢When you address the cultural awareness question, we want to know what has affected your perspective and what awareness you would bring to the Foster School community. We are interested in the depth of your perceptions and experiences. †¢Proofread, proofread, and proofread. †¢Extra spacing counts towards your alloted word count. Describe any personal or economic hardships or barriers you have had to overcome and explain how they affected your education. Be specific about when you encountered these hardships and how long they lasted.1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement. You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. In the cont ext of your life experience, describe your understanding of cultural differences, how this awareness was acquired, and how it affected you. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement. You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. Write about any experience you have had that demonstrates your leadership skills. Examples could be taken from: employment, community service, student organizations, or similar situations.Be specific about when you had these experience(s) and how long they lasted. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement. You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. How has the educational background of your parents/legal guardians influenced your own education, especially your decision to go to college? What kind of support did you receive in making and pursuing the decision to go to college? Please tell us if you are among the first generation in your family to go to college. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. Petition Fill out an explanation (430 words max. ) as to why a degree in Business is necessary to your educational/career pursuits. 430 words left of 430 for degree plan petition. You must enter a petition with your degree plan and it can't be more than 430 words total. My life at Harvard summer school was quite different from that in China. Pressure from the schoolwork and cultural difference make me feel overwhelmed during the first week. In my literature lecture, I strongly realize the distinctive writing styles based on the cultural difference.Before I did not follow the American linear pattern of placing a thesis statement and expressed my main idea at the end of my essay. Sometimes I would get lost and fail to establish the whole structure for my essay. After realizing this blind point, I went to the Widener library every night for materials on how to develop essay-writing skills. In order to adjust myself to high –college writing quality, I visited the Harvard college writing center every week and worked with my tutor Jennifer to revise my paper repeatedly. Her constructive feedback for correction inspires me to work harder for my Literature class.Every time she let me read the whole essay out loud, then pointed mistakes I made in order to help me with the most effective way of revising. Moreover, the small size of my lecture means everyone has the opportunity to get involved in class discussion and group work. Professor Elizabeth encourages critical thinking and cultivates an open and exciting atmosphere for which I can express my ideas freely. Thus I participated a lot in class, since I am able to get instant and helpful feedback from our professor and my classmates. Gradually, I have achieved great improvement on my writing ad a college student Personal StatementWhy every applicant must submit a personal statement: Your personal statement is an important part of your application for admission. It provides you with the opportunity to discuss aspects of your life that may not be apparent from information provided on your application, transcripts, or the Writing Skills Assessment. Please answer all of the topics that pertain to you. If only part of a topic pertains to you, answer that part. The topics are in four numbered sections. Similarly, your statement should be organized into sections, with each section numbered.Such presentation makes it easier for the reviewers to read and assess your statement. Tips †¢Be specific. †¢Don't spend your time telling us such things as â€Å"I've always wanted to attend the Foster School because I want a business degree. † It is a legitimate comment but does not tell us anything distinctive about you. †¢You define what â€Å"experience† means to you: something insignificant to others may have had particular significance for you. â € ¢Be aware that many applicants write about similar topics so consider how yours is unique. †¢Long does not mean better and there is no need to embellish.We do not expect to read something earth shattering in every personal statement. †¢When you address the cultural awareness question, we want to know what has affected your perspective and what awareness you would bring to the Foster School community. We are interested in the depth of your perceptions and experiences. †¢Proofread, proofread, and proofread. †¢Extra spacing counts towards your alloted word count. Describe any personal or economic hardships or barriers you have had to overcome and explain how they affected your education. Be specific about when you encountered these hardships and how long they lasted.1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement. You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. In the context of your life experience, describe your understand ing of cultural differences, how this awareness was acquired, and how it affected you. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement. You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. Write about any experience you have had that demonstrates your leadership skills. Examples could be taken from: employment, community service, student organizations, or similar situations.Be specific about when you had these experience(s) and how long they lasted. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement. You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. How has the educational background of your parents/legal guardians influenced your own education, especially your decision to go to college? What kind of support did you receive in making and pursuing the decision to go to college? Please tell us if you are among the first generation in your family to go to college. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total. Petition Fill out an explanation (430 words max. ) as to why a degree in Business is necessary to your educational/career pursuits. 430 words left of 430 for degree plan petition. You must enter a petition with your degree plan and it can't be more than 430 words total. My life at Harvard summer school was quite different from that in China. Pressure from the schoolwork and cultural difference make me feel overwhelmed during the first week. In my literature lecture, I strongly realize the distinctive writing styles based on the cultural difference.Before I did not follow the American linear pattern of placing a thesis statement and expressed my main idea at the end of my essay. Sometimes I would get lost and fail to establish the whole structure for my essay. After realizing this blind point, I went to the Widener library every night for materials on how to develop essay-writing skills. In order to adjust m yself to high –college writing quality, I visited the Harvard college writing center every week and worked with my tutor Jennifer to revise my paper repeatedly. Her constructive feedback for correction inspires me to work harder for my Literature class.Every time she let me read the whole essay out loud, then pointed mistakes I made in order to help me with the most effective way of revising. Moreover, the small size of my lecture means everyone has the opportunity to get involved in class discussion and group work. Professor Elizabeth encourages critical thinking and cultivates an open and exciting atmosphere for which I can express my ideas freely. Thus I participated a lot in class, since I am able to get instant and helpful feedback from our professor and my classmates. Gradually, I have achieved great improvement on my writing ad a college student Business Writing Personal StatementWhy every applicant must submit a personal statement: Your personal statement is an important part of your application for admission. It provides you with the opportunity to discuss aspects of your life that may not be apparent from information provided on your application, transcripts, or the Writing Skills Assessment.Please answer all of the topics that pertain to you. If only part of a topic pertains to you, answer that part. The topics are in four numbered sections. Similarly, your statement should be organized into sections, with each section numbered. Such presentation makes it easier for the reviewers to read and assess your statement.Tips†¢Be specific. †¢Don't spend your time telling us such things as â€Å"I've always wanted to attend the Foster School because I want a business degree.† It is a legitimate comment but does not tell us anything distinctive about you. †¢You define what â€Å"experience† means to you: something insi gnificant to others may have had particular significance for you. †¢Be aware that many applicants write about similar topics so consider how yours is unique. †¢Long does not mean better and there is no need to embellish. We do not expect to read something earth shattering in every personal statement. †¢When you address the cultural awareness question, we want to know what has affected your perspective and what awareness you would bring to the Foster School community. We are interested in the depth of your perceptions and experiences. †¢Proofread, proofread, and proofread.†¢Extra spacing counts towards your alloted word count.Describe any personal or economic hardships or barriers you have had to overcome and explain how they affected your education. Be specific about when you encountered these hardships and how long they lasted. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words tota l.In the context of your life experience, describe your understanding of cultural differences, how this awareness was acquired, and how it affected you. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.Write about any experience you have had that demonstrates your leadership skills. Examples could be taken from: employment, community service, student organizations, or similar situations. Be specific about when you had these experience(s) and how long they lasted. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.How has the educational background of your parents/legal guardians influenced your own education, especially your decision to go to college? What kind of support did you receive in making and pursuing the decision to go to college? Please tell us if you are among the first generation in your family to go to col lege. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.Petition Fill out an explanation (430 words max.) as to why a degree in Business is necessary to your educational/career pursuits. 430 words left of 430 for degree plan petition.You must enter a petition with your degree plan and it can't be more than 430 words total. My life at Harvard summer school was quite different from that in China. Pressure from the schoolwork and cultural difference make me feel overwhelmed during the first week. In my literature lecture, I strongly  realize the distinctive writing styles based on the cultural difference. Before I did not follow the American linear pattern of placing a thesis statement and expressed my main idea at the end of my essay. Sometimes I would get lost and fail to establish the whole structure for my essay. After realizing this blind point, I went to the Widener library every night for materi als on how to develop essay-writing skills.In order to adjust myself to high –college writing quality, I visited the Harvard college writing center every week and worked with my tutor Jennifer to revise my paper repeatedly. Her constructive feedback for correction inspires me to work harder for my Literature class. Every time she let me read the whole essay out loud, then pointed mistakes I made in order to help me with the most effective way of revising.Moreover, the small size of my lecture means everyone has the opportunity to get involved in class discussion and group work. Professor Elizabeth encourages critical thinking and cultivates an open and exciting atmosphere for which I can express my ideas freely. Thus I participated a lot in class, since I am able to get instant and helpful feedback from our professor and my classmates. Gradually, I have achieved great improvement on my writing ad a college student Personal StatementWhy every applicant must submit a personal s tatement: Your personal statement is an important part of your application for admission. It provides you with the opportunity to discuss aspects of your life that may not be apparent from information provided on your application, transcripts, or the Writing Skills Assessment.Please answer all of the topics that pertain to you. If only part of a topic pertains to you, answer that part. The topics are in four numbered sections. Similarly, your statement should be organized into sections, with each section numbered. Such presentation makes it easier for the reviewers to read and assess your statement.Tips †¢Be specific. †¢Don't spend your time telling us such things as â€Å"I've always wanted to attend the Foster School because I want a business degree.† It is a legitimate comment but does not tell us anything distinctive about you. †¢You define what â€Å"experience† means to you: something insignificant to others may have had particular significance for you. †¢Be aware that many applicants write about similar topics so consider how yours is unique. †¢Long does not mean better and there is no need to embellish. We do not expect to read something earth shattering in every personal statement. †¢When you address the cultural awareness question, we want to know what has affected your perspective and what awareness you would bring to the Foster School community. We are interested in the depth of your perceptions and experiences. †¢Proofread, proofread, and proofread.†¢Extra spacing counts towards your alloted word count. Describe any personal or economic hardships or barriers you have had to overcome and explain how they affected your education. Be specific about when you encountered these hardships and how long they lasted. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.In the context of your life experience, describe your und erstanding of cultural differences, how this awareness was acquired, and how it affected you. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.Write about any experience you have had that demonstrates your leadership skills. Examples could be taken from: employment, community service, student organizations, or similar situations. Be specific about when you had these experience(s) and how long they lasted. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement.You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.How has the educational background of your parents/legal guardians influenced your own education, especially your decision to go to college? What kind of support did you receive in making and pursuing the decision to go to college? Please tell us if you are among the first generation in your family to go to college. 1000 words left of 1000 for entire personal statement .You must enter a personal statement and it can't be more than 1000 words total.PetitionFill out an explanation (430 words max.) as to why a degree in Business is necessary to your educational/career pursuits. 430 words left of 430 for degree plan petition.You must enter a petition with your degree plan and it can't be more than 430 words total. My life at Harvard summer school was quite different from that in China. Pressure from the schoolwork and cultural difference make me feel overwhelmed during the first week. In my literature lecture, I strongly realize the distinctive writing styles based on the cultural difference. Before I did not follow the American linear pattern of placing a thesis statement and expressed my main idea at the end of my essay. Sometimes I would get lost and fail to establish the whole structure for my essay. After realizing this blind point, I went to the Widener library every night for materials on how to develop essay-writing skills.In order to adjust m yself to high –college writing quality, I visited the Harvard college writing center every week and worked with my tutor Jennifer to revise my paper repeatedly. Her constructive feedback for correction inspires me to work harder for my Literature class. Every time she let me read the whole essay out loud, then pointed mistakes I made in order to help me with the most effective way of revising.Moreover, the small size of my lecture means everyone has the opportunity to get involved in class discussion and group work. Professor Elizabeth encourages critical thinking  and cultivates an open and exciting atmosphere for which I can express my ideas freely. Thus I participated a lot in class, since I am able to get instant and helpful feedback from our professor and my classmates. Gradually, I have achieved great improvement on my writing ad a college student

Incredible Facts About Toefl Ibt Essay Topics

Incredible Facts About Toefl Ibt Essay Topics Students first read a concise text on a general or academic subject, and after that listen to a part of a lecture on that exact same topic. Questions are multiple alternative. You will then have to answer questions on what you've heard. Where to Find Toefl Ibt Essay Topics Besides a score, you're also extended a proficiency level. It is possible to order extra score reports of TOEFL results 2018 once your scores are available on the internet, approximately 10 days following the test date you've appeared for. Additionally, there are a few different cases where you wish to aim higher than the minimal TOEFL score. A. Your entire score is 96. There is additionally a percentile rank given. All test takers receive an internet score report and might request a paper copy during registration. Yes, often, the minimal TOEFL score is sufficient. That means you can re-take the test and enhance your scores. Fortunately, it's also much less common. The test cannot be taken more often than once every 12 days. All the scheduled dates may not be available for all of the test centres across cities. If you've already registered on a distinct TOEFL test date, you can't register for a different test within the span of 12 days of your present test date. Always try to finish your essay within 1517 minutes, so that you are able to tweak your essay in the long run. In the speaking section, you can hear two tasks that might have speech with accents. The very first part is General background information regarding the essay topic. The speaking and writing sections are the sole ones that don't consist of multiple-choice questions. St udents in ESL programs could possibly be asked to take such tests after they've advanced to a particular level in ESL. The test helps students demonstrate they have the English skills necessary for success. If your program only requires an 80, then you most likely don't will need to spend the test again. If you enter their conditional acceptance program with a TOEFL that's in the top 70s, you are likely able to get into your routine degree courses in under a year. The TOEFL isn't the only test run by ETS. For more thorough info, you may read the official manual to Understanding TOEFL Scores. The TOEFL Test is currently predominately an iBT, although the paper-based may continue to be available in some regions. The TOEFL Test is just one factor that colleges use in their admissions processes, but nevertheless, it may be an important factor so you ought to prepare and strive to succeed on the test. Moreover, there are various recommendations that can be followed to generate the best of your TOEFL preparation. At length, you will get valuable insider ideas that will help you do your best on the TOEFL test so that you can apply to the university or job that you dream about. These tips may also be used for GRE AWA. One of the most difficult sections to prep for on the TOEFL may be the essay. Finally, you should research the precise TOEFL expectations at your school. TOEFL prep books are also a good source of practice tests. A superb prep book can be absolutely the most important study tool you use, and we've got information on all the ideal TOEFL prep books you need to consider. The most important criteria employed by graders to rate essays are development, organization, and language usage. Instead, you've got to think of your own subject from an enormous pool of possibilities. Use particular reasons and examples to back up your answer. Use reasons and specific examples to back up your answer. The Ultimate Toefl Ibt Essay Topics Trick Choosing our service, you are going to see that studying can be simple if you gain from the aid of capable experts. You may be requested to compose an essay about technology, education, media, family members, or another subject. There are two or three u nique means by which you might structure an essay like, but the simplest one might be the very best. Luckily, there are numerous comprehensive study guides readily available online.

A Guide to French Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are a special kind of French pronoun which can only be used with pronominal verbs. These verbs need a reflexive pronoun in addition to a subject pronoun because the subject(s) performing the action of the verb are the same as the object(s) being acted upon. These are the French reflexive pronouns:  Ã‚  Ã‚  me / m  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  me, myself  Ã‚  Ã‚  te / t / toi  Ã‚  Ã‚  you, yourself  Ã‚  Ã‚  se / s  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  him(self), her(self), it(self), them(selves)  Ã‚  Ã‚  nous  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  us, ourselves  Ã‚  Ã‚  vous  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  you, yourself, yourselvesMe, te, and se change to m, t, and s, respectively, in front of a vowel or mute H. Te changes to toi in the imperative.Like object pronouns, reflexive pronouns are placed directly in front of the verb in nearly all tenses and moods:* Nous nous parlons. Were talking to each other.Ils ne shabillent pas. They arent getting dressed. *In the imperative, the reflexive pronoun is attached to the end of the verb with a hyphen. Là ¨ve-toi  !  Get up!Aidons-nous. Lets help each other Reflexive pronouns always have to agree with their subjects, in all tenses and moods — including the infinitive and the present participle. Je me là ¨verai.   I will get up.Nous nous sommes couchà ©s. We went to bed.Vas-tu te raser  ?  Are you going to shave?En me levant, jai vu... While getting up, I saw... Be careful not to mix up the third person singular reflexive pronoun se with the direct object le. Se - French Reflexive Pronoun Se, the third person singular and plural reflexive pronoun, is one of the most often misused  French pronouns.  It can only be used in two kinds of constructions:1.  With a  pronominal verb: Elle  se  lave. Shes washing up (shes washing  herself).Ils  se  sont  habillà ©s. They got dressed (they dressed  themselves).Elles  se  parlent. Theyre talking to each other. 2.  In a  passive impersonal construction: Cela  ne  se  dit pas.  That isnt said.Lalcool  ne  se  vend pas  ici. Alcohol isnt sold here. French learners sometimes get confused about whether to use  se  or the direct object  le. They are not interchangeable - compare the following: Elle  se  rase.  - Shes shaving (herself).   Se  is the reflexive pronounElle le  rase.  - Shes shaving it (e.g., the cat).  Le  is the direct objectIl  se  lave.  - Hes washing (himself).  Se  is the  reflexive pronounIl le  lave.  - Hes washing it (e.g., the dog or the knife).  Le  is the direct objectSe  lave-t-il le  visage  ?  - Oui, il  se  le  lave.  - Is he washing his face? Yes, hes washing it.  Se  and  le  work together Note that  se  may be the direct or  indirect object  of a French sentence. Ils  se  voient.  - They see each other.  Se  means each other and is a direct object.Il  se  lave  le visage.  - Hes washing his face. (Literally, Hes washing the face of himself)  Se  means of himself and is an indirect object. (  Visage  is the direct object)

The World of Cyberspace and its Effects on Social...

Many studies have been conducted on the various features of cyberspace, its connection to social media, and how it influences professional, intimate, and cordial relationships. Although many spectators are convinced that society’s frequent use of cyberspace has taken a turn down the wrong path, cyberspace has opened up many opportunities for professional relationships to establish, such as the relationship between Facebook usage and an increase in work values in Taiwan (Lin, Le, Khalil, Cheng, 2012). However, contradictory results suggest that heavy use of the internet by people may be a factor of producing negative social well-being (Merkle Richardson, 2000). In order to fully understand how social cyberspace affects everyday†¦show more content†¦Everyday usage of cyberspace can affect the social well-being of all who use it as it hinders real world communication among individuals. Relevant Research Internet The usage of the Internet, one well known aspect of cyberspace, has received very mixed reviews since it became a dominant source of information in society. The rapid growth of the internet has allowed for people to increase their circle of friends and associates and maintain contact with people all across the world. Internet usage, in relation to social media sites has allowed for interpersonal, professional, and familial relationships to develop and sustain over time. While in college, many students conduct their work online and use the internet to interact with their peers and professors. Social interactions among students at large, diverse campuses occur almost immediately as students become grouped based on society’s perception of them. Tynes, Rose, Markoe (2013) conducted a study that evaluated online racial climate and how it is perceived by African American and European American students at a university in the United States. Campus racial climate is described as beh aviors, attitudes, perceptions, and expectations surrounding the race and ethnicity of members at the university (Tynes, Rose, Markoe, 2013). African American students are more likely toShow MoreRelated Internet - How Real is Cyberspace? Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesHow Real is Cyberspace? The term ‘Cyberspace’ was first coined by William Gibson and defined as â€Å"a consensual hallucination experienced daily by billions of legitimate operators† (Gibson 1984, 67). 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Role of the Learning Mentor Free Essays

string(116) " 2020 Review presenting a vision to provide pupils with personalised learning offering a more adaptable curriculum\." A 2, 500 word assignment which examines the role of the learning mentor and analyses the strategies used in supporting science, evaluating the impact on pupils’ learning. This essay will explore and evaluate the role, the responsibilities and the purpose of the learning mentor. It will highlight and review strategies used in schools today to support children’s education, assisting them to develop skills and achieve their full potential. We will write a custom essay sample on Role of the Learning Mentor or any similar topic only for you Order Now The learning mentor has a large range of duties which require the ability to encourage social inclusion, collaborate with external agencies for specialist support and expand care to families and carers. Responsibilities also include the contribution to the assessment of pupils, the transition and pastoral care of vulnerable students and to identify and remove barriers to learning that some young people are faced with during their time in education. All of these areas will be considered and analysed. I will thoroughly examine current practice, theory and reflect upon my own development. Whilst examining the role of the learning mentor, I will be specifically looking at science and how it is taught and supported in schools today. My aim is to highlight the importance of the learning mentor and the impact they have on a child’s achievement and success. It will also indicate how the learning mentor’s holistic approach builds self confidence, a sense of emotional belonging and overall creates the best conditions for students to flourish academically as well as personally. Consequently, this will allow me to develop and improve my own practice and professional progression in the future. Education has not always recognised the holistic needs and development of children. However, over the years, the education system has seen a considerable amount of changes. It has been revolutionalised, transforming teaching from learning by rote to a multisensory, child centred, personalised education. This is due to many factors such as the development of technology, changes in society, values and attitudes, the recognition of children with additional needs and the implementation of learning mentors and support staff. So, when were learning mentors first introduced into schools and why? In 1999, as an out come from the 1997 White Paper, the Excellence in Cities (EiC) initiative was launched by the government to raise standards of attainment and was first piloted in disadvantaged, inner-city schools. As stated in Excellence in Cities: The National Evaluation of a Policy to Raise Standards in Urban Schools 2000-2003 (2005), Britain was in need of ‘inclusive schooling that recognises the different talents of all children and delivers excellence for everyone’. To achieve this objective, EiC implemented a gifted and talented programme, to provide extra support for 5-10 per cent of pupils in each school. Learning Support Units (LSU’s) were also introduced to provide intervention teaching and support programmes for difficult or vulnerable students and learning mentors were created to help students overcome educational or behaviour problems, ensuring that schools were inclusive of all. As highlighted by M. K Smith (1999) schools were able to utilise Learning Mentors for different matters according to their individuality, however the government did set out for the leaning mentor, four main objectives. These core beliefs from EiC are explained in Good Practice Guidelines for Learning Mentors (DFES 2001). Firstly, the learning mentor should have high expectations for every pupil, meeting the needs of all and taking an individualised approach to teaching and learning, ensuring barriers are removed so children can aspire regardless of the difficulties they may come up against. Barriers to opportunities could include family problems, bullying, low self esteem and poor social skills. The learning mentor must also establish good working relationships with pupils, parents, the community and other outside agencies. By creating a network, schools are able to work collaboratively to promote diversity, share good teaching practice and enhance performance throughout the area. The role of the learning mentor was not only introduced to improve the progress of low ability students, following a report by J. Freeman in 1998 which investigated research on the teaching and learning of high ability children, the government recognised that ‘provision for the highly able was not satisfactory’ and that children who are gifted and talented ‘have as much of an entitlement to have their needs addressed’ OFSTED (2001). Therefore, learning mentors provide extended learning opportunities to pupils to assure the prevention of a ‘glass ceiling’ that could potentially restrict performance. Besides from the objectives set out by the government, the role of the learning mentor is complex and extensive. Good Practice Guidelines for Learning Mentors (DFES 2001) makes clear that they are disciplinarians, nor classroom assistants. They are an active listener, a role model, a guide who negotiates targets and supports pupils, carers and parents whilst remaining reliable, non judgemental and realistic. R. Rose and M Doveston (2008:145) defines mentoring as ‘learning within a social context’ with learning mentors recognising ‘the necessity to ensure that students feel both comfortable with and in control of the learning process. ’ This social collaboration is clearly influenced by Vygotsky (1962) and his theory of social constructivism. A key point of Vygotskys theory is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). As explain by Oakley (2004), the ZPD is the gap between a child’s actual level and the level of which the child could achieve with the guidance from an experienced adult, in this case, the learning mentor. This adult intervention can also be linked to the idea that Bruner put forward, labelling this type of assistance as ‘scaffolding’. A concept where a more able person provides guidance and support until the learner becomes independent. When evaluating the helping relationship, G. Egan’s theory takes a holistic, person centred approach, resulting in the ability to ‘develop more options in their lives’, Egan (1990:7). The changes brought about by EiC have shaped the way education system is today, with teachers and learning mentors taking on a child centred, holistic, inclusive and personalised approach. In 2006, the Department for Education and Skills published the 2020 vision: report of the Teaching and Learning in 2020 Review presenting a vision to provide pupils with personalised learning offering a more adaptable curriculum. You read "Role of the Learning Mentor" in category "Essay examples" The 2020 vision: report of the Teaching and Learning in 2020 Review (2006:3) points out that ‘When taken as a whole across the education system, in all schools, for all pupils, we think personalising learning has the potential to transform education. ’ The Assessment for Learning Strategy 2008 explains the importance of assessment in education. It aims to ensure every child is aware of their performance and how to improve allowing them to become independent initiators of their own learning and by informing parents and carers of assessment outcomes, children are also supported at home. In schools, assessment for learning happens constantly by teachers, learning mentors, teaching assistant and peers. Examples of formative assessment are precise learning objectives, peer and self assessment and immediate verbal or written feedback. Summative assessment gives a broader view of improvement and uses standardised tests. Assessment is essential for schools to plan the next steps for pupils in order to close the gap in attainment and is vital to effective personalised teaching and learning. In 2008, OFSTED evaluated the impact of assessment for learning on inclusion identifying that it is beneficial to pupils with special educational needs (SEN), providing pupils with the opportunity to discuss, question, explore and review ‘builds an understanding of what success looks like and how to apply skills’ OFSTED (2008:21). Assessment for learning therefore clearly goes hand in hand with personalised learning allowing children, teachers, learning mentors and parents to reflect, evaluate and advance. Subsequently, as indicated by Capel and Gervis (2009: 135) when feedback is given in conjunction with praise, pupils are more motivated to continue to make effort with a positive approach to the activity. Maslow (1970) made this very argument with his hierarchy of needs theory explaining that in order to feel the need to fulfil one’s potential, other needs such as self esteem or love and belonging must be met first. Aspects of Maslow’s theory can also be seen in government frameworks used in schools. Although currently under review, Every Child Matters (2003) has five outcomes, areas which are central to the learning mentors work. For example for children to ‘be healthy’, the learning mentor may be involved with setting up breakfast clubs, arrange sporting activities or promote hea lthy dinners. As for ‘staying safe’ they might organise police visits, implement a listening room or create an anti bullying initiative. For children to ‘enjoy and achieve’ they may perhaps provide one to one intervention to support achievement, have homework clubs and offer assistance for transition. The learning mentor could also arrange community work, school council groups and circle time, giving pupils the opportunity to ‘make a positive contribution’. And to allow children to achieve economic well-being, the learning mentor may possibly organise work experience, seek career advice and work with parents and other outside agencies. As a teaching assistant, my role differs from that of the learning mentor. The responsibitlies of the teaching assistant, although still aim to support pupils to reach their full potential are not as broad at the support offered by a learning mentor and is approached from a somewhat different angle. This is highlighted in a video at teachermedia. co. uk 2 outlining the differences between these two roles. From my experience, teaching assistants are usually classroom based; however work together with teachers and learning mentors to ensure the best type of individual support can be provided for all. With experience of supporting and teaching the national curriculum in year 3, I have observed the learning and development of many children. One subject which always usually requires a range of support strategies is science. Science is not just the teaching of facts and theories. As stated in the report, Primary Science (2003), teaching science equips pupils with indispensable skills that are transferable throughout different parts of the curriculum. The report explains how the main aim of primary science is to ‘stimulate pupil’s curiosity in the world around them and encourage critical and creative thinking’ (2003:1). The National Curriculum (1999) sets out the statutory programme of study for science, the four main areas of teaching are, life processes and living things, physical processes, materials and their properties and scientific enquiry. For pupils to achieve in science there is a balance needed between teaching factual knowledge and the skills of scientific enquiry. For example, students must be given the opportunity to address questions scientifically, plan and carrying out experiments, build on previous knowledge and interests, evaluate and discuss ideas. The teaching of science is essential as it promotes learning across the curriculum including spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, key skills, thinking skills, communication, application of number, working with others and information technology. ‘Successful Science’, a report by OFSTED (2011) found that the impact of good teaching could be seen when more practical science lessons were taught, when pupils were involved in peer and self-evaluation and when the pupils were given the opportunity to develop the skills of scientific enquiry by taking part in decision-making, discussion and research. Teaching was seen to be more engaging when the science that they were learning about had relevance to their lives and experiences. When I was asked to plan and teach block of lessons on magnets to a group of middle ability year 3 children, it was important to take into account many factors. How much science motivates children? What teaching strategies and theories to use? Would it need to be differentiated and how could I ensure progress had been made? The plan involved a range of multisensory activities such as testing magnetic materials around the school, finding the strongest magnet, watching videos, labelling the irections of force. Such activities were tailored for multiple intelligences, Gardner (1983) and also exercised both right and left brain skills ensuring the engagement and motivation of both boys and girls, Cheminais (2008). The lessons had clear, precise learning objectives as research shows that this works as classical conditioning, the action of providing a lesson ob jective will result in the learner’s response in knowing what to expect to learn, Gange and Medker (1996). Theories that influenced the teaching strategies used include both constructivists and social constructivist teaching. For example, for the pupils to develop their scientific enquiry skills, the activities were designed to allow them to construct their own learning through experiences. This meant that by planning and carrying out an experiment to find the strongest magnets, the students gained the knowledge that the strongest magnet is not always the largest magnet. Alfrey (2003) explains that Piaget thought that children have to assemble their own comprehension and ‘assimilate’ from such experiences, creating mental structures called ‘schemas’. Piagetian theory views the role of the adult as someone who is to provide a rich, stimulating environment for children to naturally discover, explore and actively build their own schemas through stage appropriate activities and tasks that will eventually support assimilation and accommodation. Some aspects of social constructivist teaching methods were used in the lesson, for instance the pupils were collaboratively seeking answers, and they shared their ideas, had group discussion and developed their listening skills. During the session the children asked lots of questions, this again showed just how involved the children were and how they were actively seeking answers and explanations. Talking Science Pedagogy (2008) summarises five teaching models used in science. Direct interactive teaching was used in the lessons when the magnets were first introduced to the children. Scientific vocabulary was taught such as north and south pole, magnetic field, attracts and repel. When the children learnt that opposites attract and the same repel, we used girls and boys to create an analogy in order to help them to picture it. During the lesson some issues did arise that could have potentially affect learning. The children had their own presumptions about magnets which lead to misconceptions. To identify these, the students were asked to discuss what they already knew about magnets, and then create a mind map with the findings. These included, ‘they stick to stuff’, ‘they stick to anything metal’ and ‘big magnets are strongest’. . How to cite Role of the Learning Mentor, Essay examples

Contemporary Social Issues free essay sample

The definition of health differs from one layman to another. These differences in definition could be attributed to age, culture, gender, parental upbringing and other influences on ones’ perception of health. The United States perception of health is influence by the biomedical model of health. This biomedical health and diseases views disease as being a result of a specific, identifiable cause originating inside the body (Matsumoto amp; Juang, 2004). These causes are commonly called pathogens which could be anything from vital to bacterial influences as well as others. Treatment of disease under this model is then dealing with the pathogens that are the root of the problem. Therefore, according to this model, a person is considered healthy if he or she is free from disease. In many Asian cultures, a good balance between self and nature is viewed as an important part of health. Many of these cultures’ definitions of health differs from biomedical model as they subscribe to the belief that good health is not only due to the absence of negative states but is based on the principles of ‘yin’ (negative energies) and ‘yang’ (positive energies). A balance between these energies results in good health and an imbalance will cause otherwise. However, this concept of balance creating good health is increasingly being accepted by Americans and elsewhere in the west as the lack of positive health states in the biomedical model deems it incomplete or insufficient in these modern times. In Malaysia’s population which is made up of many different cultures such as the Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures, a similar pattern of balance between the self and the environment is key in the definition of health. More than 50 years ago, the World Health Organization, representing 61 countries at an International Health Conference, developed a definition of health as †a state of complete physical, mental and social well being, and nt merely the absence of disease or infirmity†. (World Health Organization, 1948). This definition is generally accepted in many countries until today. According to the World Health Organization (2010), the life expectancy at birth for Malaysian males or females in 2010 is 69/74 years old. This show an increase since 2003 where the life expectancy for males/females was 62/65 years old. In comparison, it seems the overall health, if measured by life expectancy, is becoming better. There are few factors which could affect health in Malaysia. One of the major factors is the lifestyle and behavior of the people. This consists f diet, exercise or activity levels, health related behaviours such as smoking and alcohol use and als the stress that comes with everyday life. The health system in Malaysia on an community level focuses more on prevention which mainly means changes in lifestyle and behaviours. For instance the ‘Tak Nak’ campaign is an anti-smoking campaign organized recently by The Ministry of Health in Malaysia. This campaign aims to prevent increasing prevalence in smoking in the community, especially amongst the youth. According to Info shat (n. d. ), the information portal website for the Ministry of Health Malaysia, almost 30% of all teenage boys in Malaysia between the ages of 12 and 18 have picked up smoking . Amongst teenage girls smoking prevalence was 4% in the year 2000 and has increased to 8% by the year 2004. This in turn must contribute to the increase in certain chronic disease such as the 17% increase in prevalence per year in lung cancer. A boy influence in life style and behavior differences is culture itself. For example the more the culture condones the behavior of smoking; the more likely people are to pick the habit. Similarly the more a culture condones or rather, prefers women to be overweight, it is more likely the women in that community will be overweight. These preferences of curse stem from a deeper belief or stereotype in these communities that the wealthier one o\is, the larger they are. In other cultures however, the exact opposite would be the truth. The wealthier one is, they tend to become thinner. In a study conducted by Cogan, Bhalla and Seta-Dedeh and Rothblum (1996) as cited in Matsumoto and Juang (2204), university students from Ghana and the United States were asked to complete a questionnaire about their weight, frequency of dieting, social activities, perception of ideal bodies, disordered eating and stereotypes of thin and heavy people. They found that Ghanians were more ikely to rate larger body sizes as ideals and Americans, especially females were more likely to have dieted. This shows that differences in culture causes Massive differences in lifestyle and behaviours, in this case, eating behavior, overweight or having an eating disorder is detrimental to one’s health, in the above example. Another factor that effects that affects health is attitudes and beliefs on health by the community. These include definitions of health, attributions about disease casually, treatment compliance, help seeking behaviours and others. We would speculate then that the acculturation process brought about by modernization in Malaysia has affected the health system positively and in turn contributed to the increased age in life expectancy from 2003 to 2010. This may include better medical facilities, more programs, that not only reach out to those in urban areas but also to those in rural areas such as awareness campaign, immunization and basic health information, such as effective hand washing. Even the dissemination of the small piece of information, such as how to effectively wash hands, if applied well, can have visibly major impacts on the reduction of spread of diseases. As I have described in the first few paragraphs, different cultures have different definitions of health. That being said, it would be logical to think that attributions to disease causality and treatment compliance would also differ from culture to culture. What maybe accepted as a disease caused by pathogens by western medicine, might be viewed as an imbalance of energies within oneself or the effects of spirits on one’s body in another culture. According to Al-Krenawi and Graham (2000) as cited in Matsumoto and Juang (2004), a study done by Arab Americans found that utilizing mental health services maybe stigmatizing especially for women which could then damage their marriage ability or increase likely hood of separation or divorce. According to Pania Gua (1998) as cited in Matsumoto and Juang (2004), the cause of mental disturbances attributed to evil spirit and the cur lies within the chrch and not by seeking mental health professional’s help in Latino communities. For this reason, health and medical health is different. Countries also assimilated in modern medicine. Some types of indigenous healings are Ayurweda, Reike, Acupuncture and so on. This is widely accepted as a culturally sensitive way to approach treatment for different cultures. This also increases the people’s belief in treatment, increasing treatment compliance. In Malaysia, according to Azhar and Vamra (2000), religion is incorporated into psychotherapy. His is done by integrating prayers and versus from the â€Å"Koran† into techniques of psychotherapy, making it more relevant to the culture. That is how attitudes and beliefs of different cultures can sffect their health. The next factor that deserves attention for affecting health care systems. In Malaysia, the halth care system is mainly under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health Malaysia. It consists of two branches that co-exist; the government health care system and the private healthcare system. The government hospitals are partly subsidized by the government making visiting the doctor, getting medication and treatment as well as surgical operations cheaper than it is in the private centers. However, this also means lower pay for the doctors working in these hospitals compared to those working in private sectors. Measures to ensure there are enough medical staffs for the government hospitals are taken by making it compulsory that all Malaysian who wish to practice medicine in Malaysia after their studies must first undergo 3 years of working in the public sector before they can practice in Malaysia freely. However, statistics from Nation Master (2010) show that in the year 2000, the ratio of physicians to the population is 0. 7 per 1000 people. That shows a shortage in the medical workforce. Medical doctors from foreign countries are brought to fill the positions. As far as government aided hospitals go, there is some form of inequality in who gets the priority. Government servants are given top priority, especially those of higher rank, by getting free treatment and being attented to first before the other patients. In terms of being prepared for threats of influences diseases, Malaysia has been through quite a bit, enough t makes sure they are prepared to handle the next one coming. Ever since the Nipah virus swept the country, the Ministry of Health has patched up and created a better, more efficient system which was able to handle the ‘SARS’ situation as well as the ‘H1N1’ bird flu and currently still in progress eradicating the H1N1 virus. One major issue that Malaysia as well as other countries would to be able to cater to the baby boomer generation as they age. These baby boomers, when older would make up the Golden Boomers. The Golden Boomers era would begin in 2011. This mean hat there would be a lot more old age adults than is in a normal proportion of the population. The country would then need to increase the availability of facilities for the elderly, which would include the medical facilities because with age comes the deterioration of health. Malaysia and other countries need to gear towards having the capacity and the ability to handle to size of geriatric population and the health issues that come along with the situation comes. Health then releases on an interplay between these factors, lifestyles and behaviours, attitudes and beliefs, the medical health care system and also other factors such as the environment. Global warming and unpredictable changes in weather, with extreme hot and cold weather can cause damage to the body systems as well as change the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Many different types of bacteria and viruses flourish in hot weather causing new waves of infectious diseases to be spreading vastly across the continents. With natural disasters become more savage, unpredictable and frequent than before, many diseases spread like wild fire in the aftermath especially through water reserves. Health issues are changing so rapidly that countries need to elaborate with each other and put in much more effort in making sure the health of the people are taken care of.