Week 9 assignment paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Week 9 assignment paper - Essay Example The public image of the company is paramount in keeping its customers and retaining its value. People arrive at the decision to purchase goods and services based on personal values. If the company projects the image consistent with public values, then sales may be expected to go up, as well as revenues and profits. This leads to a more valuable company through increased ROI for investors. However, companies negatively perceived are shunned and sales suffer. One need only look at Nike and Gap when news broke out that they outsourced products from child labor and sweat shops in Asia (Thottam, 2005). St. Jude Medical, my organization, is perceived as a reliable provider of quality medical goods, with a solid reputation in corporate responsibility. An organization with a high employee retention rate keeps its trained and skilled workers for a long time. The organization gains the benefit of their long-term experience and expertise, and avoids the cost of having to train new employees frequently. A high turnover rate reduces profitability because of the time new hires go through their learning curves, and the disruptions in the production schedule because of vacancies. Besides, one must â€Å"employ the market† to best serve the market (RBC, 2012). At SJM, employee turnover rate is low, and retention high. Of course, positive news breaks about the company are always welcome, and in the case of negative news, SJM, a Fortune 500 company, has its crisis management team to pre-empt the worst effects. The key to the crisis management plan is prompt, transparent communication with the public. SJM does not rely on PR or window dressing. Instead, its 16,000 engaged employees worldwide become the company’s spokesmen and uphold its brand name, by their own testimony and endorsement. Finally, SJM counters bad news by its good quality products. Yes, D&I practices at SJM develop a sense of community. The organization

South Korea Travel and Tourism

South Korea Travel and Tourism Tourism is one of the worlds most important activities, involving millions of people, vast sums of money and generating employment in developing and industrial countries. The economies of Tourism presents new insight into the intricacies of tourism demand, firms and markets, their global interrelations and the fundamental contribution of environment to tourism activities, to offer an accessible, interdisciplinary analysis of the interwoven fields of tourism and economics. Today, tourism is one of the largest and dynamically developing sectors of external economic activities. Its high growth and development rates, considerable volumes of foreign currency inflows, infrastructure development, and introduction of new management and educational experience actively affect various sectors of economy, which positively contribute to the social and economic development of the country as a whole. Most highly developed western countries, such as Switzerland, Austria, and France have accumulated a big deal of their social and economic welfare on profits from tourism. According to recent statistics, tourism provides about 10% of the worlds income and employs almost one tenth of the worlds workforce. All considered, tourisms actual and potential economic impact is astounding. Many people emphasize the positive aspects of tourism as a source of foreign exchange, a way to balance foreign trade, an industry without chimney in short, manna from heaven. But there are also a number of other positive and negative factors of tourism on economy for local communities. Therefore in this essay the researcher will explain the impact on economy due to tourism to local communities. Relationship between Tourism and Economic Development Tourism is of great importance in any countrys economic growth and on conversely economic growth will initiate growth in tourism activities in any economy. The importance of economic development to tourism is widely accepted (Pearce, 1995). Tourism has been regarded as the main instrument for regional development as it stimulates new economic activities; it has a positive economic impact on the employment, foreign exchange earnings, production and gross income. However uncontrolled and unplanned tourism activities can lead to a negative impact on the society (Fossati and Panella, 2000). Positive Impact of Tourism on Economic Growth Tourism is classified as one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. It contributes extensive economic benefits on both sides, for the tourist home country as well as the visiting country. In less developed Countries tourism activities are regarded as resources which are expected to enhance economic growth. When tourists travel internationally apparently the host country earns foreign currency, hence the inflow of revenue creates government revenue, business turnover, household income and employment (Archer and Fletcher, 1991). Domestic tourism will have the same effects on the host country while international tourism creates an inflow of foreign currency while on the other hand domestic tourism creates spatial redistribution of local currency within the boundary of the country (Archer et al., 1998). Negative Impact of Tourism on Economic Growth Most Less Developed Countries (LDCs) depends on foreign aid from the developed world to stimulate its economic growth as well as to cover budget deficits in social services and infrastructure activities. In this context therefore, tourism growth creates an illusion to the aid provider to limit and cut their financial aid as a result many countries that depend on financial assistance are affected, which leads them remaining poor. For a different perspective the enormous inflow of tourists may lead to price increase of many goods and services in the tourist destinations by which in turn the societies around are affected as they have to follow the price pattern. Further more tourists are interested in very narrow range of products such as beauty products, gifts, sports equipments clothes, meals and special products like chocolates, which the local residents are not always in need of, and this leads them to change their buying behaviour and shift to other points of sale. On other hand it is assumed that mass tourism increases land price, it also creates additional demand for land whereby potential buyer compete hence a higher price. The local people are required to pay more for their homes. Generally, mass tourism leads to higher land value, more jobs and wealth. Conversely, in a situation when tourism demands are very high inflationary tensions in tourism spill over the economy at large and contribute to a large inflation (Wall and Mathieson, 2006). Travel and Tourism in South Korea The Republic of Korea (South Korea) is located about 500km off the coast of mainland China, and forms the entire southern half of the Korean peninsula. There are many hundreds of small islands to the south, most of them uninhabited. The territory is mixed in character, with considerable mountainous areas. Consequently, most of the largest settlements are on the southern and eastern coasts, the capital city of Seoul being the notable exception. The present capital is Seoul. Economy and Tourism of South Korea South Korea is Asias fourth-largest economy and slowed to 2.2% in 2008, after several years of strong growth. In 2009, GDP reduced by 0.8%, due to the global economic downturn. Given this countrys reliance on exports, the recovery would depend on the rebound of global demand. An economic recovery was expected in 2010 with a 3.7% growth in GDP, while further improvement is forecasted in 2011, with a 4.6% increase in GDP; Private consumption registered a moderate year-over-year increase of 0.9% in 2008 and is forecasted decline by 0.4% in 2009, before rebounding to 2.7% in 2010. In 2011, private consumption is expected to gain momentum and improve by 3.8%; The unemployment rate rose to 4.0% in 2009, which was due to the global economic slump as a result of demand from the export dependent country. The ensuing slowdown in employment has been the countries worst since the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. As South Koreas economy emerged out of the 2009 recession, unemployment is forecasted at 4.1% in 2011, as employers remain cautious in hiring new employees; South Koreas consumer prices grew at their fastest pace with a 4.7% growth in 2008, which was caused by high oil and other commodity prices. Rising inflation has affected the countrys economic growth and has impacted the countrys ability to pull out of the recession in 2009. Inflation fell to 2.7% in 2009 and 2.1% in 2010; The Korean Won weakened greatly in 2008 and depreciated further in 2009. The Won is forecasted to appreciate in 2010 and improve by in 2011. Impact of the Global Recession The South Korean economy posted negative quarter-on-quarter growth of 6% in the fourth quarter of 2008 in the wake of the economic turmoil triggered by the global financial crisis. This was the first time since the financial crisis in 2007 that negative growth was recorded. This was followed by positive growth of well below 1% in the first quarter of 2009 and 2% in the second quarter. In 2008, as the economy began to spiral downwards, the South Korean job market became unstable, and, as a result, unemployment rose to 4% in early 2009 from the average of 3.5% seen over the review period. More worryingly the unemployment rate amongst South Koreans in their 20s stood at nearly 9% in 2009. Furthermore, disposable income shrank in the majority of households. Meanwhile, during the first quarter of 2009, the lowest 20% of South Korean taxpayers saw a 5% decline in their average income. As the job market deteriorated, the government promoted a job sharing campaign, whereby annual pay increases were frozen or annual salaries reduced to enable the employment of more people. Increased job sharing is another factor contributing to the countrys declining disposable income levels. Current Impact As the economy continued to struggle, consumers reduced spending on clothing, leisure pursuits and dining out, according to a survey conducted by the South Korea Chamber of Commerce. Outbound tourism, which saw annual double digit volume growth over the first three years of the review period, saw negative growth of 7% in 2008, followed by a further decline of 18% in 2009. However, domestic tourism saw growth of 9% in 2009, as South Koreans continued to struggle as a result of the ongoing fallout of the global economic crisis. Furthermore, in line with this tendency of pursuing cost-effective domestic holidays, increased consumer preference for mid- and low-priced accommodation was evident. Outbound Tourism of South Korea Departures saw a turn down in 2008 after seeing double digit growth in each of the first three years of the review period. 2009 saw departures decline further as negative growth of 18% was recorded, largely due to economic uncertainty and the H1N1 pandemic. Compared with 2008, travel abroad became more affordable for Korean tourists following a strengthening of the won in the second half of 2009. However, the expected resultant increase in outbound tourism never materialised due to the global outbreak of the H1N1 virus. Outbound golf tourism decreased in popularity in 2008 and yet further in 2009. This was largely as a result of the ongoing impact which the global financial crisis had on the country, related to the increased price competitiveness of local golf courses. Outgoing tourists have became far more price-conscious since 2008, and the former reliance on package tours declined yet further in 2009 as a result of price increases driven by rising oil prices and a weakening of the South Korean won during the first half of 2009. Destinations Koreans Visit China, being a relatively inexpensive destination due to its proximity, is the most popular destination for South Korean tourists, particularly first-time travellers. Departures to China declined in both 2008 and 2009. Despite the decline seen in 2008 and 2009, China remained the most popular outbound destination, in accounting for 29% of all departures in 2009. Japan, the second most popular destination, accounted for 15% of all departures. Japan is a popular destination amongst South Koreans of all age groups because of the countrys wide variety of attractions, as well as its proximity. However, Japans high consumer prices and strength of the Japanese yen make it an unaffordable destination for many South Koreans. Departures by Country of Origin 000 people 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Australia 172.3 197.4 213.2 201.5 179.3 153.8 Canada 133.8 139.2 146.8 153.4 138.6 124.2 China 2534.8 3156.8 3512.8 4004.3 3520.4 2856.4 France 79.9 95.2 107.8 121 114 100.7 Germany 141.8 141.3 124 140.9 125.9 111.6 Hong Kong, China 86.4 105.6 98.2 106.7 109.1 107.4 India 305.4 403.3 512.6 636.7 684.7 571.6 Indonesia 228.4 252 280.5 327.8 369.1 356.8 Japan 1569.2 1734.8 1917.9 2345.8 2167.2 1463.8 Malaysia 91.2 158.2 189.4 224.9 267.5 234.5 Philippines 90.7 91.8 97.8 83.3 68.2 54.8 Russia 337.2 452 569 654 611 567.5 Singapore 52.9 54.7 47.5 56.1 51.9 47.3 Taiwan 190 269.1 368 396.6 363 325.6 Thailand 134.6 171.9 176.5 201.8 222.3 183.2 United Kingdom 754.1 781.3 898.8 881.2 759.6 613 USA 111.8 116 120.1 129.9 110.3 93.1 Vietnam 627.6 658.1 687.7 724.9 686.2 626.9 Other Countries of Origin 1118 1189.7 1008.7 889.7 870.7 789.4 Total 8760.1 10168.4 11077.3 12280.5 11419 9381.6 (Source: Euromonitor International) Leisure Outbound The decline in outbound tourism witnessed in 2009 was mainly due to a decline in leisure departures. Leisure departures saw a decline of 20%, or close to 2 million people, in 2009 mainly as a result of the ongoing effects of the global financial crisis and the negative impact of the H1N1 virus. Organised tour groups departures saw decline of 23% in 2009 as Koreans avoided expensive package holiday products. The proportion of total departures accounted for by organised tour groups saw a steady decline over the review period from 52% in 2005 to 40% in 2009. While organised tour groups showed a downwards trend, the number of free independent travellers (FITs) saw growth over the review period, although a decline was witnessed in 2009. Business Outbound Business departures at 2 million in 2009 comprised 22% of total outbound tourists in 2009. MICE tourists accounted for 86% of total business departures in 2009. The consistent flow of both leisure and particularly business tourists to the US left the country as the third largest destination for South Korean tourists in 2009. Despite the fact that the H1N1 virus became widespread in the US following its initial outbreak, departures to the US only saw a decline of 9% in 2009, compared to the 18% decline seen in departures as a whole. Inbound Tourism of South Korea Following the strong arrivals growth of 8% witnessed in 2008, inbound tourism was further boosted by the declining value of the South Korean won against the US dollar and Japanese yen in 2009, leading to arrivals growth of 15%. Furthermore, inbound tourist receipts saw growth of 10% in 2009. As the South Korean economy began to recover over the course of the year, the won strengthened and, as a result inbound tourism began to taper off from June 2009. While incoming tourist receipts increased by 10% in 2009, arrivals saw growth of 15%, as average spend per visitor declined. While Hallyu, a term referring to the popularity of South Korean culture, artists and media content, particularly television dramas, still motivates Asian tourists to visit the country, the national tourist office increased its efforts to boost inbound tourism in the wake of the strengthening of the South Korean won. The Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) issued coupon books for independent tourists travelling from Asia. These contained coupons issued by nearly 20 entities, including retailers, theatres, theme parks, restaurants and skin care shops, and offered discounts ranging from 5% to 50%. The coupon books were distributed through consulates and KTOs English-language website. Country of Origin Arrivals from Japan saw growth of 28% in 2009 to reach 3 million, 45% of total arrivals. The strengthened value of the Japanese yen revived outbound tourism in Japan, and South Korea saw a surge in Japanese tourists in 2008. The Japanese tourist inflow increased further during the first four months of 2009, but slowed thereafter, as the Korean won began to strengthen against the Japanese yen. Furthermore the Japanese government recommend travel restrictions in light of the H1N1 virus outbreak. Despite these setbacks the arrivals growth of 28% seen in 2009 represented a significant improvement on the 6% recorded in 2008. China was South Koreas second largest source of inbound tourists in 2009 in accounting for 15% of total arrivals during the year. Arrivals from China saw growth of 10% in 2009, down from the 15% witnessed in 2008. According to the Korea Tourism Organisation, this decline was due to the failure of organised tour groups to attract sufficient tourist numbers in June and July. The majority of Chinese tourists to South Korea come in organised tours due to the incentives on offer from travel agents in collaboration with many related parties, including local government agencies eager to attract Chinese tourists. Arrivals by Country of Origin 000 people 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Australia 75.2 82.7 87.6 89 100.3 98.2 Canada 93 121.4 130 118.9 125.7 130.7 China 410.3 494.1 626.2 814.8 939.7 1031 France 35.2 38 40.6 46.6 52.3 52.6 Germany 59.7 66.4 67.2 74.1 78.2 83.8 Hong Kong, China 147 157 134.7 131.2 151.2 198.6 India 33.4 34.3 36.7 41 42.9 39.6 Indonesia 34.9 35.4 35.8 38.7 48.9 46.2 Japan 2409.9 2406.6 2310.4 2204.6 2345.6 2994.1 Malaysia 73 75 74.3 65.7 66.9 61.2 Philippines 60.3 62.9 69.3 70.3 75.2 74.4 Russia 76.7 62 61.3 62.9 66.2 66.9 Singapore 74.6 71.6 70.9 75.3 77 77.5 Taiwan 305.5 352.1 328.1 326.1 315 342.7 Thailand 70.1 77 88.6 99.5 116.9 134.3 United Kingdom 64.5 70.8 73.5 74.6 81.9 84.7 USA 535.8 556.1 637.3 659.6 674.8 661.3 Vietnam 20.3 27.3 28.9 37.8 51.6 60.8 Other Countries of Origin 319.1 329.3 339.9 364.3 389.3 420.3 Total 4898.5 5120 5241.3 5395 5799.6 6658.9 (Source: Euromonitor International) City Arrivals South Koreas capital, Seoul remained the most popular destination for arrivals in 2009, as more than 2.5 million inbound tourists visited the city. Inchon, Busan, Jeju, Daegu and Daejeon were the next most popular destinations. Seoul offers a variety of attractions, including cultural treasures such as museums and palaces, as well as huge marketplaces, theme/amusement parks and beauty shops. Myongdong downtown area is host to a variety of activities, including shopping, dining out, skin care, and entertainment. The large number of inbound tourists visiting traditional marketplaces in 2008 and 2009 compensated for the reduction in local shoppers seen as a result of the economic downturn. According to a national tourist office survey, shopping remains one of the most popular activities amongst inbound tourists visiting South Korea. The city of Incheon has seen arrivals growth in recent years not only because of its proximity to Koreas largest international airport, but also due to the promotion of the new business centre located there. A business hub, which uses Dubai as a benchmark, is being developed in Songdo on 1,500 acres of reclaimed land. With the planned city slowly taking shape, Incheon Metropolitan Government has been actively promoting Songdo globally as a venue for international events. Leisure Inbound Leisure arrivals, which saw growth of 17%, accounted for some 95% of total arrivals in 2009. The increase in leisure arrivals in the midst of the fallout from the global economic crisis was largely attributable to the weakening of the South Korean won. Organised tour groups accounted for 35% of total arrivals in 2009. Organised tour groups remain the most popular way to travel to South Korea due to the language barrier involved for the majority of arrivals. Business Inbound Business arrivals saw a decline of 8% from 382,509 in 2008 to 349,211 in 2009. This decline was largely as a result of the global economic downturn, as companies reduced their spending on business travel. The share of total business arrivals accounted for by Meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) increased from 91% in 2008 to 93% in 2009. MICE arrivals were less affected than other types of business arrivals, as KTO has actively sought to attract them through its subsidiary, Korea Convention Bureau (KCB) since 1979. Furthermore, an increased number of large scale MICE events, such as the 2009 Herbalife Asia Pacific Extravaganza which attracted 20,000 attendees, were held in Seoul in 2009. The national tourist office claims that South Korea is the twelfth-ranked country in terms of hosting international meetings. South Korea held 293 international meetings in 2008, up from 268 meetings recorded in 2007. Efforts Made To Uplift Tourism Domestic Tourism Sees Healthy Volume Growth In the recent years South Koreans have turned to domestic travel, as outbound tourism became unaffordable for them, in the dire economic climate. Jeju Island, South Koreas most popular domestic holiday destination, due to its exotic subtropical climate and well established resorts, saw a record number of visitors in 2009. Furthermore there were a number of people who visited national parks as large percentage of population choose a relatively inexpensive holiday due to the recession. The number of domestic tourists visiting campsites also grew significantly, partly due to the increased number of auto-campsites available, but also due to a growing consumer desire to save money. Low Cost Carriers Achieve Higher Penetration Low cost carriers contributed to the growth seen in domestic tourism by providing affordable flights. The role of low cost carriers remains insignificant on international routes due to the limited number of routes covered. But low cost flights to domestic holiday destinations became increasingly popular in 2009, which helped South Koreas four low cost carriers improve their position in domestic air travel. In general, air travel is not a popular mode of transportation for domestic travel, due to South Koreas relatively limited size. However, it is the preferred mode for tourists looking to visit Jeju Island. The use of low cost carriers for the 30 minute flight to Jeju Island became commonplace amongst domestic tourists in 2009. Medical Tourism as a Tourism Growth Driver The South Korean medical sector was subject to strict advertising restrictions under previous legislation. However, the government is now supporting its liberalisation in the hope of increasing competition. Hospitals will be allowed to advertise their services through television for the first time. The liberalisation of South Koreas medical sector is expected to promote the growth of medical tourism in the country. South Koreas advanced medical resources and competitive prices are expected to see the country become an increasingly important medical tourist destination. Some travel retailers have already taken steps to establish themselves as leaders in this emerging field. In 2007, 6.4 million foreign tourists visited South Korea, making it the 36th most visited country in the world and this number is expected to exceed 8.5 million in 2010. Most non Korean tourists come from Japan, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The recent popularity of popular culture in these countries has increased tourist arrivals. Seoul is the principal tourist destination for visitors; popular tourist destinations outside of Seoul include Seorak-san national park, the historic city of Gyeongju and semi-tropical Jeju Island. Traveling to North Korea is not normally possible without a special permission, but in recent years organized group tours have allowed groups of South Korean citizens to visit Kumgang-san. The Positive and Negative Social and Environmental Impacts of Tourism Socially tourism has a great influence on the host societies. Tourism can be both a source of international amity, peace and understanding and a destroyer and corrupter of indigenous cultures, a source of ecological destruction, an assault of peoples privacy, dignity, and authenticity. Here are possible positive effects of tourism: Developing positive attitudes towards each other Learning about each others culture and customs Reducing negative perceptions and stereotypes Developing friendships Developing pride, appreciation, understanding, respect, and tolerance for each others culture Increasing self-esteem of hosts and tourists Psychological satisfaction with interaction So, social contacts between tourists and local people may result in mutual appreciation, understanding, tolerance, awareness, learning, family bonding respect, and liking. Residents are educated about the outside world without leaving their homes, while their visitors significantly learn about a distinctive culture. Local communities are benefited through contribution by tourism to the improvement of the social infrastructure like schools, libraries, health care institutions, internet cafes, and so on. Besides, if local culture is the base for attracting tourists to the region, it helps to preserve the local traditions and handicrafts which maybe were on the link of the extinction. On the other side tourism can increase tension, hostility, and suspicion. Claims of tourism as a vital force for peace are exaggerated. Indeed there is little evidence that tourism is drawing the world together (Robinson 1999). In this context economic and social impacts on the local community depend on how much of the incomes generated by tourists go to the host communities. In most all-inclusive package tours more than 80% of travellers fees go to the airlines, hotels and other international companies, not to local businessmen and workers. On the other hand large hotel chain restaurants often import food to satisfy foreign visitors and rarely employ local staff for senior management positions, preventing local farmers and workers from reaping the benefit of their presence. Tourism has the power to affect cultural change. Successful development of a resource can lead to numerous negative impacts. Among these are overdevelopment, assimilation, conflict, and artificial reconstruction. While presenting a culture to tourists may help preserve the culture, it can also dilute or even destroy it. The point is to promote tourism in the region so that it would both give incomes and create respect for the local tradition and culture. There are also both negative and positive impacts of tourism on the local ecology. Tourism often grows into mass-tourism. It leads to the over consumption, pollution, and lack of resources.

Lots Wife, Akhmatovas Version Essay -- essays research papers

“Lot’s Wife'; depicts the fate of a woman following her husband Lot on his departure of their native town Sodom. Sodom was a town that God destroyed, yet he granted Lot and his wife permission to flee the town before this occurrence. Wislawa Szymborska and Anna Akhmatova offer different versions and perspectives on the same story. Each of the authors use different elements of poetry to create two very unique poems that have several similarities as well as many obvious differences. These two different poems are mainly different because of the point of view differs in each poem. Another thing that makes an important difference is how each of the poems begin, each one begins with a different situation, as the speaker is also different. The structure also is different, which affects the fluidity of the poem and how it is read, almost working with or reinforcing the tone. It is ironic how similar tone is in these two poems, yet the structure in each varies significantly. There are different connotations in each of these poems also, making them different. Each of these pieces imply different things to different extents. Akhmatova’s version leaves an abundant amount of information to figure out for ourselves while Szymborska’s uses connotation in a manner which gives us more detail as to what is going on. Although there are many differences in the two different versions of the same poem, several things contribute to the similarities among them. One of the most noticeable similarities is of course the general theme the story line, and tone. All of the elements of poetry are prevalent in both pieces. They bring the reader through different emotions taking them to different endings of the same story, yet they leave the reader with almost iden tical impressions of what occurred. The poem’s structure influences how it is read. Structure affects all of the other elements of poetry either directly or indirectly. Akhmatova’s version of this piece is organized into four stanzas. Akhmatova’s version includes line breaks ( hence the four stanzas ) that emphasize different portions of the poem, while Szymborska’s line breaks seem random because they do not structurally affect the poem. Szymborska’s poem is very fluid because she doesn’t separate the lines into stanzas as Akhmat... ...veral similarities between the two poems. Both versions contain immense irony concerning why the woman looks back. The reasoning in both Akhmatova’s and Szymborska’s poems contradict themselves. As mentioned several times earlier the same impression is left upon the reader for the most part, although each version could be interpreted by the reader several different ways, just as they could be explicated differently in comparison to each other. The title is interestingly identical for both poems, despite the immense differences otherwise. Tone is also a prevalent similarity, as when looked at side by side the same tone exists, even though there are many other factors that effect this element. In conclusion, “Lot’s Wife'; is a poem that contains many messages, as achieved differently by different authors. The elements of poetry work hand in hand and are all contingent upon one another to achieve the desired result. Each of the versions of “Lot’s Wife'; that have been examined are evidence of this. These pieces are incomparable in quality, because they each have their own unique characteristics and make their own statements.

Persuasive memo Essay

My name is Darrell Pace and I am requesting to continue research for the implementation of a Spanish curriculum in the Professional Academy Day School. The proposed research will greatly impact our students, parents, and faculty because the world is becoming increasingly interconnected. Parents are turning to language immersion programs for their toddlers and preschoolers. Some are motivated by the desire to preserve family heritage and culture. Others see early language instruction as a way to provide their children with the academic and cognitive advantages. It is very important for the Professional Academy Day School to accommodate the interest of our parents who entrust their children to us, to teach them skills that are beneficial now and in the future. When we offer the children in our day school the very best curriculum, it enhances our credibility among our competition and the community. According to the article by Stephanie Meade, â€Å"7 benefits of Raising Bilingual Kids†, it shows that bilingual children have the following advantages over that of monolingual students: Bilingual children have a better ability to focus and ignore distractions in the environment Bilingual kids can switch from one activity to another faster and are better at multitasking. Bilinguals have increased mental flexibility and creativity. Bilingual children in dual-immersion schools have been shown in one study to score higher on both verbal and math standardized test conducted in English Bilingual children display stronger logic skills and are better equipped at solving mental puzzles Being bilingual carries over throughout life as it alters brain chemistry and starving off the onset of Alzheimer’s. After learning two languages, it makes it more apt for learning a third language The advantages of a child being immersed into a school that offers dual languages cannot be ignored nor taken lightly when the demographics toward Spanish speaking cultures have more than doubled over the last ten years here in our state of Texas. Our school will be behind the curve if we don’t react now and research the necessary curriculum that will be the most effective among our students in the classroom. In the article, â€Å"Preschool Curriculum: What’s in it for Children and Teachers† written by The Albert Shanker Institute, children learn language when it is presented in meaningful contexts. A strong curriculum teaches vocabulary during studies of interesting content. This strategy which we have found through our research provides repeated exposure to new words and teaches children the words they need to represent the new ideas and concepts that they are learning. Our research will prove that the proper Spanish curriculum produces success in math, science, literacy, social studies and the arts. Language is the foundation for children’s learning, and the pre-k years are a crucial time for Spanish language development. The research on Spanish curriculum in Pre-k and kindergarten classes is timely and it is of substantial importance to the future of learning at the Professional Academy Day School.

Causes of World War 1

The Causes of World War I World War I is essentially much more complicated and complex than a simple list of causes. While there was a series of events that directly led to the fighting, the actual origin causes are much deeper and a part of continual debate and discussion. Ultimately, countries all over Europe made joint defense agreements that would pull them into battle. Therefore, if one country was attacked, allied countries were bound to defend them. Before World War 1, the following alliances existed: * Russia and Serbia. * Germany and Austria-Hungary. France and Russia. * Britain and France and Belgium. * Japan and Britain. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, in which Russia got involved in to defend Serbia. Germany, seeing Russia rallying, declared war on Russia. France was then drawn in against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Germany attacked France through Belgium, pulling Britain into war. Then Japan entered the war. Afterwards, Italy and the United States would enter on the side of the allies. Imperialism is when a country boosts their power and wealth by bringing additional territories under their control.Before World War I, Africa and parts of Asia were points of controversy amongst the European countries. This was particularly true because of the raw resources these areas could provide. The growing competition and want for greater empires led to an increase in disagreement that helped press on the world into World War I. As the world got into the 20th century, an arms race had begun. By 1914, Germany had the greatest increase in military buildup. Great Britain and Germany both greatly increased their navies in this time period.Further, in Germany and Russia particularly, the military establishment began to have a greater influence on public policy. This increase in militarism helped push the countries involved to war. Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Au stria-Hungary, but instead be part of Serbia. In this way, nationalism led directly to the War. But in a more general way, the nationalism of the various countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension of the war in Europe. Each country tried to prove their dominance and power.The instantaneous cause of World War I that made all the aforementioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism) was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In June 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated him and his wife while they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia which was part of Austria-Hungary. This was in objection to Austria-Hungary having control of this region. Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assassination led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to gather together due to its alliance with Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia.Thus began the expansion of the war to inc lude all those involved in the mutual defense alliances. Works Cited: * Beck, Roger B. World History: Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2005. Print. * Duffy, Michael. â€Å"Firstworldwar. com. †Ã‚  First World War. com. 22 Aug. 2009. Web. 22 May 2012. . * â€Å"World War One – Causes. †Ã‚  Causes of World War One. Historyonthenet. Web. 22 May 2012. . * â€Å"What Really Caused World War 1? †Ã‚  WW1. Web. 22 May 2012. . Causes of World War 1 The Causes of World War I World War I is essentially much more complicated and complex than a simple list of causes. While there was a series of events that directly led to the fighting, the actual origin causes are much deeper and a part of continual debate and discussion. Ultimately, countries all over Europe made joint defense agreements that would pull them into battle. Therefore, if one country was attacked, allied countries were bound to defend them. Before World War 1, the following alliances existed: * Russia and Serbia. * Germany and Austria-Hungary. France and Russia. * Britain and France and Belgium. * Japan and Britain. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, in which Russia got involved in to defend Serbia. Germany, seeing Russia rallying, declared war on Russia. France was then drawn in against Germany and Austria-Hungary. Germany attacked France through Belgium, pulling Britain into war. Then Japan entered the war. Afterwards, Italy and the United States would enter on the side of the allies. Imperialism is when a country boosts their power and wealth by bringing additional territories under their control.Before World War I, Africa and parts of Asia were points of controversy amongst the European countries. This was particularly true because of the raw resources these areas could provide. The growing competition and want for greater empires led to an increase in disagreement that helped press on the world into World War I. As the world got into the 20th century, an arms race had begun. By 1914, Germany had the greatest increase in military buildup. Great Britain and Germany both greatly increased their navies in this time period.Further, in Germany and Russia particularly, the military establishment began to have a greater influence on public policy. This increase in militarism helped push the countries involved to war. Much of the origin of the war was based on the desire of the Slavic peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina to no longer be part of Au stria-Hungary, but instead be part of Serbia. In this way, nationalism led directly to the War. But in a more general way, the nationalism of the various countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension of the war in Europe. Each country tried to prove their dominance and power.The instantaneous cause of World War I that made all the aforementioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism) was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In June 1914, a Serbian nationalist assassinated him and his wife while they were in Sarajevo, Bosnia which was part of Austria-Hungary. This was in objection to Austria-Hungary having control of this region. Serbia wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina. This assassination led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. When Russia began to gather together due to its alliance with Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia.Thus began the expansion of the war to inc lude all those involved in the mutual defense alliances. Works Cited: * Beck, Roger B. World History: Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2005. Print. * Duffy, Michael. â€Å"Firstworldwar. com. †Ã‚  First World War. com. 22 Aug. 2009. Web. 22 May 2012. . * â€Å"World War One – Causes. †Ã‚  Causes of World War One. Historyonthenet. Web. 22 May 2012. . * â€Å"What Really Caused World War 1? †Ã‚  WW1. Web. 22 May 2012. .