ESL Market Statistics How Many People Learn English

There are 1.5 billion English-language learners worldwide,  says British Council member John Knagg. The group is one of the largest providers of English language instruction in the world with more than 3,000 full-time English teachers globally. The number of English-language learners has led to a great demand for those who can teach the language, Knagg says, adding: The lack of qualified English language instructors presents one of the largest challenges to educators and citizens across the globe. EFL vs. ESL English-language learners worldwide are largely divided into two groups: The British Council says that there are 750 million English as a foreign language speakers and 375 million English as second language learners. The difference between the two groups is that EFL speakers generally are those using English occasionally for business or pleasure, while ESL students use English on a daily basis. It is a commonly held misconception that ESL students only need to know the language to communicate with native speakers because English is required for those living and working in English-speaking countries such as the U.K. and the U.S.  It is equally true, however, that English is used as the lingua franca between nations where English is not the primary language. These countries use English as a common tongue to make it more convenient to conduct business and cultural transactions. Continued Growth The number of English learners around the world is only expected to grow. English is currently spoken by 1.75 billion people worldwide, one out of every four people on the planet, according to the British Councils report, The English Effect. The group estimates that by 2020, 2 billion people will be using the language. Because of this growth, the demand for ESL and EFL teachers abroad has increased in recent years, with countries from India to Somalia calling for teachers to travel abroad and share their knowledge of English. As noted, there is an almost insatiable demand for qualified English-language instructors across the globe, particularly for native speakers, adds John Bentley, in his article, Report from TESOL 2014: 1.5 Billion English Learners Worldwide on the Teach English Abroad blog, which is published by the TEFL Academy. The group certifies more than 5,000 English-language teachers annually, most of whom then take jobs teaching English around the globe. This growth in those learning English globally is perhaps also due to the rising global business market where English is the most commonly accepted language. English in the European Union The European Union recognizes 24 official languages within the group as well as a number of other regional minority languages and languages of migrant populations like refugees. Because of the vast diversity of languages and cultures in the EU, there has recently been a push to accept one common language for dealing with foreign entities outside those of member states, but this creates an issue of representation when it comes to minority languages like Catalan in Spain or Gaelic in the United Kingdom. Still, workplaces within the EU operate with the 24 accepted primary  languages, including English, most of which are offered as courses in primary schools and other educational institutions. Learning English, specifically then, becomes a pursuit of keeping up with the rapid globalization of the rest of the world, but fortunately for the EU, many citizens in its member states speak English quite fluently already. With the UK expected to leave the EU through Brexit—short for British Exit—it remains to be seen if English will continue to be a primary language used by members of the organization.

Feminism A Feminist Perspective - 1965 Words

When people think of the words â€Å"feminist† or â€Å"feminism† it sometimes open the doors to a scrutinizing debate. People will go back and forth on their opinions of this delicate topic causing some people to change their minds where as others will just add more fuel to their own fire by making their beliefs even stronger for the next time they wish to defend their thoughts and ideas. Those people who stand by their strong supportive thoughts, ideas, and beliefs on the topic of feminism are known as a feminist’s. These feminists are strong believers for gender equality but most importantly empowering and celebrating women. Feminism dates as far back as to the 20th and 21st century when women were seen as inferior beings to the male population.†¦show more content†¦Throughout history there have been more than a few feminists who have paved the way for progressively more feminists to join in on the concept of change for women. A few well-known names a re Susan B. Anthony, Luce Irigaray, Julia Kristeva and Mary Wollstonecraft. Each of these feminists brought something different to the table of feminism thus creating a vast amount of theories for the subject. But one feminist that stands out as one of the most outstanding philosophers and writers of feminism, was no other than Simone de Beauvoir. What was so unique about Simone de Beauvoir was her notably diverse approach because instead of identifying herself as a philosopher, she instead identified herself as an author and feminist theorist. Some of her works include but are not limited to, â€Å"The Second Sex: Woman As Other†, â€Å"Coming of Age: The Other Again† and â€Å"All Men are Mortal, A Very Easy Death, Adieux: A Farewell to Sartre: Finitude, Passion, and the Body.† Beauvoir’s work with â€Å"The Second Sex: Woman as Other† is one piece of writing that is particularly inspiring as a young female and in which is totally relatable on s o many levels. â€Å"The Second Sex argues against the either/or frame of the woman question (either women and men are equal or they are different). It argues for women’s equality, while

Alternatives to Incarceration free essay sample

Provision of sustainable security in the society should be a collaborative endeavor between the government and social institutions which form the community. The government has a legal authority to mitigate crime activities through the criminal justice system, a factor that leads to incarceration. On the other hand, social institutions such as the family, church, and learning institutions play the ultimate role of instill reliable character and behaviors to members of the community as a tool for promoting social acceptable conduct in the society (Reisig, Cole, Clear, 2008). According to psychologists, the development of character traits on the young generation is mainly based on the surrounding environment. This is because the young engage in copying and adopting the behaviors of other in the community. Nevertheless, social institutions have failed in ensuring an environment that can promote reliable character among members. Such has been blamed for inhibiting the process of effectively fighting crime in the community. The author seeks to give a discussion on the question; why should we expect the correctional system to be able to accomplish so much when so many other social institutions have failed? When family, school, and churches are unable to inculcate law-abiding behavior. Why should we be surprised if the correctional also system fails? Possible solutions to the problems affecting the effectiveness of American correctional system will also be given. The American correctional system effectiveness The American correctional system has been blamed for its failure in ensuring sustainable reforming of criminals to reflective compatible character and behavior in the society. According to its mandate, the correctional system is marked with the responsibility of incarcerating crime offenders as a mechanism for instilling behavioral change from crime activities. Nevertheless, numerous research findings have evidently shown a high rate of recidivism into criminal behavior by criminals upon release from correctional facilities (Conis, DeLisi, 2009). Indeed, such findings indicate that victims from correctional facilities are more likely to engage in more serious criminal activities than before their incarceration. Numerous factors have been closely attributed with this failure of the American correctional system. First, the system is faced with the problem of addressing individual needs of criminals as a potential drive to committing crime in the society (Western, Weiman, Pattillo, 2004). As an example, the criminal justice system of American has received for failing to appreciate the psychological requirements of drug related crime offenders as well as mentally impaired criminals. According to psychological evidence, imposing punishment on drug abusers and mentally impaired victims serves no more than torture. This is because these individuals have their reasoning and judgmental capability compromised. This has the implication that crime offenders who have mental or drug abuse history can only be effectively corrected by engaging them in resolving their psychological problems first. This has nevertheless, been a major failure in the American correctional system. True from available statistical evidence, drug related crime activities are the leading source of prison population in the American community (Conis, DeLisi, 2009). In fact, this statistics indicate that an estimated over 40 percent of prison population in US is comprised of convicts of drug related crimes. Despite this fact, the correctional system has invested limited resources in establishing rehabilitation rather than incarceration facilities. Another factor which has been associated with the failure of the American correctional system is poor influence among inmates in the correctional facilities. The Federal Bureau of Prisons as the federal agency responsible for administering prisons has been quite efficient in appreciating the need to categorize prisoners depending on their crime. Based on this reasoning, the agency currently operates five security levels of correctional facilities in the nation which accommodate victims depending on the level of security needed (Western, Weiman, Pattillo, 2004). Such facilities range from low security prison camps with weak or no fenced perimeters to high secure prison marked with wall reinforced double-fenced perimeters and high prison guard to inmate ratio. On the contrary, it is commonly asserted that conviction and sentencing of criminals remains the decision of the criminal law courts. Just to be appreciated here is the fact that court trails in the nation are based on the due process procedure clause of the constitution. On the other hand, this constitutional provision bases its decisions on facts presented and the strength of defense given by the defendant in the case (Western, Weiman, Pattillo, 2004). This has the implication that such decisions are subject to error. Indeed, available information has claimed of numerous incidences of unequal conviction for priority criminals. This is because these criminals have been through the system several time and effectively identified the numerous escape loopholes in the system. Based on the above reasoning, the process of categorizing criminals in the correctional facilities based on court judgments remains a major setback to qualify security needs and mitigate poor influence among convicted crime offenders (Conis, DeLisi, 2009). This is because the process leads to accommodating of various levels of criminals in the same, a factor which promotes crime behavioral influence to first time offenders. Such is the reason behind the claim that victims of imprisonment potentially engage in more serious crime upon release from prison. Therefore, the failure of American correctional system can be closely attributed to lack of an efficient mechanism for identifying and group criminals depending on their crime gravity and required correction strategies. Over the passed three decades, the America correctional system has witnessed a high rate of increase in the number of prisoners held in its correctional facilities. This has no doubt been the source for numerous social and political concerns on the problem of overcrowding in the prisons (Meares, 2007). On the other side, overcrowding is to be blamed for increasing facility strain, thus leading to poor living conditions for inmates. According to psychological principles, character is build through persistent instilling of ideas in an individuals subconscious mind. This means that given long-term inhuman conditions imposed by prisoners, they are only bound top develop an attitude of less value for life and others in the society. In addition, numerous research findings have identified a close link between prisoner and prison guard behavior based on correctional facility conditions. It is no doubt that correctional facilities are marked with sense of authority from the prison guards forcing inmates to feel powerless and depersonalized (Wilson, 1993). On the other side, pushed against the wall, human beings are bound to fight back. This implies that the harsh condition imposed on prisoners in correctional facility is a potential cause for law defiance mentality among prisoners. Such attitudes are bound to be transfer to the community level by inmates upon their release, an element that negates their ability to respect law and order in the community. Social institutions as failures in inculcating law-abiding behavior   Sustainable behavior among the young generation is based on the influence brought to them by underlying social institutions in the society. This is based on the fact that at birth a child is purely innocent, only to development attitude and character with time. It is due to this reason why most criminal behaviors in the community are blamed to poor family influence on the young members of the community (Reisig, Cole, Clear, 2008). Family violence in the society is one of the numerous reasons for the failure by parents in promoting law abiding behavior among children. This is because such practices leave parents with limited time to monitor and address behavioral issues of their children.

Theoretical Framework free essay sample

Theoretical Framework Theoretical Framework Through the course material as well as the knowledge gleaned through research of gap analysis in reflective nursing practice, it is clear that reflective practice is widely accepted in literature and by educators as utilitarian in promoting a high-level of nursing performance. However, bridging the gap between academia and the world of clinical practice continues to be problematic, as the orientation of academia continues to lack empirical verification from clinical practice (Bastable, 2008). Schon (as cited in Bastable, 2008) proposed in the 1980s that reflective practice, which focuses on applying concepts gleaned from scientific perspectives, would result not only in producing immediate improvement in patient care practices but also offer nurses insight into applications for future practice (Bastable, 2008). However, as shown in the gap analysis, there is a gap in the literature that indicates empirical verification of Schons assumption. Therefore, the aim of this paper, proposes a component of a theoretical framework designed to address this discrepancy by showing how the proposed theoretical component can be used to increase the utilization of reflective practice within professional nursing. We will write a custom essay sample on Theoretical Framework or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This theoretical framework draws upon the work of nursing theorist Rosemary Rizzo Parses Theory of Human Becoming. An Overview of Parses Theory Rosemarie Rizzo Parses Theory of Human Becoming focuses on the human-universe-health process that Parse regard as the principal phenomenon of concern for the discipline of nursing (Fawcett, 2005, p. 72). The purpose of Parses theory is to offer a comprehensive nursing model that provides an alternative to the medical model, but also focusing on themes that Parse believes should be the focus of nursing, such as the themes of rhythm and transcendence. Parse categorizes nursing theories into two principal categories: those that follow the simultaneity paradigm and those that follow the totality paradigm (McKenna, 1997). The totality paradigm has its roots in both Newtonian and Cartesian science and corresponds well with the medical model (Wilson-Thomas, 1995). Parse argues that this has been the leading paradigm in nursing, giving rise to a variety of theories, which focus on aiding patients adaptation to the environment (McKenna, 1997). However, in contrast to Martha Rogers in 1970, Parse in 1981 elaborates on the difference between the simultaneity paradigm, and the totality paradigm in three significant dimensions (Fawcett, 2005). The totality paradigm dimensions incorporate assumptions about the person and health in relation to the goal of nursing; and in the implications for research and practice (McKenna, 1997, p. 01). The simultaneity paradigm views the person as a unitary being who is in continuous mutual and simultaneous interaction with the environment (McKenna, 1997, pp. 101-102). In this viewpoint, health is understood as a â€Å"process of becoming,† and as a set of value priorities (McKenna, 1997, p. 102). Parses theory incorporates four assumptions concerning human behavior and four assumptions relating to the process of becoming. The assumptions about human beings follows: The human is coexisting while co-constituting rhythmical patterns with the universe The human is open, freely choosing meaning in situation, bearing responsibility for decisions The human is [indivisible], continuously co-constituting patterns of relating The human is transcending multi-dimensionally with the possible (Fawcett, 2005, p. 474). Component of a Theoretical Framework       Human behavior relies on the day- to- day experiences while drawing on training to make decisions. A great deal of nursing training often focuses on the medical aspects of patient care; therefore, there is a tendency to focus solely on these aspects of patient care. However, it is also true that the medical side of patient care, the physical needs of the individual who is the focus of care, does not address the differentiating factors specific to nursing, such as holistic care that considers the psychological, spiritual, emotional and social needs of the patient. Therefore, the first concept in the proposed component is that knowledge of a grand nursing theory, such as Parses, can have a beneficial effect on patient care, and a holistic effect for describing the definitions of superlative nursing care. A phrase well known about the role of concepts in theory building is that concepts are the â€Å"building blocks of theory' (Rodgers, 2000, p. 9). In her book on concept care mapping, Schuster (2008), points out the utility of concepts, as these are the ideas that practicing nurses use to guide, facilitate and implement practice behaviors. As the above description indicates, Parses theory provides the theoretical framework that the first component addresses. The second concept is the premise that incorporating Parses principles into nursing practice requires reflection for nurses engaged in clinical practice. In adding to the discussions on theory development theory Meleis ( 2007), addresses the following four major strategies for addressing theory development: Theory to practice to theory; practice to theory; research to theory; and theory to research to theory ( p. 191). The theory to practice to theory strategy refers to when the theorist selects a theory to apply to practice and uses this experience to refine the theory still further (Meleis, 2007). A pivotal assumption in this strategy is that the main precepts of the theory are congruent with the assumptions that guide nursing (Meleis, 2007, p. 191). This statement is certainly applicable to Parses orientation, which provides a nursing alternative to the medical model. Frisch (2009), argues that nursing is holistic in nature, as nursing, as a profession, has never had its focus only on the physical body or the disease entity, but has because its inception, also focused on the clients experience of the condition (Frisch, 2009, p. 113). The definition of nursing theory offered by Frisch encompasses reflective practice, as she indicates â€Å"nursing theory is a framework from which professional nurses can think about their work (Frisch, 2009, p. 114). In other words, by requiring nurses to be knowledgeable about a theory, Parses theory is used as an example, and then stipulating that nurses reflect on ways that Parses theoretical principles can be applied to practice, the components defined above influence the incidence and implementation of reflective practice. How a Theoretical Framework Reflects Meta-paradigms of Nursing Theoretical nursing models are composed of the theorists conceptualization of the major paradigm concepts found within nursing, e. g. , person, environment, health and nursing, as well as those concepts unique to that model (Fitzpatrick Whall, 2005, p. 17). The concept of person, the recipient of care, whether a single individual, a family, a small group or a community, is central to the formulation of the theory with the model often focusing on the interrelationships between person and additional concepts (Fitzpatrick Whall, 2005, p. 17). The way in which theorists define environment is another significant area for determining the theorists perspective. Environments can be directional, linear, open or closed, and related to the way in which the other meta-paradigm concepts are addressed (Fitzpatrick Whall, 2005, p. 17). Concerning the meta-paradigms of nursing, the perspective of Parses theory focuses on the theoretical foundation for the proposed theory components described above. However, in developing her theory, Parse synthesizes Rogers theory, i. e. , the Science of Unitary Human Beings.