English as an Academic Language in the UAE Research Paper

English as an Academic Language in the UAE - Research Paper Example Language education in such states is largely governed by Anglo-American undergraduate academic structures and language books. The general term employed to refer to the teaching of English language as a foreign language is ELT or English Language Teaching. Since the 1950s, ELT has expanded exponentially in order to provide quality English language education not only in Europe but in Asian countries as well. Today, English is a ‘world language’ and therefore the primary concern of ELT professionalism is to not only concentrate on the provision of world class linguistic skills but also to promote other pedagogical aspects of English language. Unfortunately, ELT has a number of political, cultural and social ramifications, some of which pose serious obstacles in the continuation of English language education in some of the prominent Asian countries such as the United Arab Emirates. (Wodak, R., & Corson, D.1997). The research paper concentrates on some of the major political, social and cultural issues surrounding the teaching of English at undergraduate level. Development of ELT: ELT professionalism evolved on the basis of diverse sources. One such source was the development of educational programs focusing on adult foreign language learning throughout the European countries and UAE. Another valuable source in the development of ELT was the exponential growth of anthropological and structural linguistics in the United States of America. Moreover, the influence of anthropological and structural linguistics development has not only been limited to the territorial boundaries of the United States but has also permeated and influenced the educational system of United Arab Emirates. The third most important source in the development of ELT professionalism was the education in British colonial states. An important aspect of ELT development in colonial states was: first, the development was a perfect reflection of the events that happened in the metropolis, an d second, it simply failed to address the cultural, political and social educational needs of the inhabitants of the vast British Empire. Thus, the colonized people were more or less treated as puppets loyal to the British officials. However, certain factors posed obstacles in the development of ELT professionalism. One such factor was the development of other European languages such as French. (Wodak, R., & Corson, D.1997). During the time the cold war broke out, Americans used English as an efficient and non-armed way to spread their influence. The federal government allocated a substantial amount of funds to be utilized in the development of English education around the world. The extent of American involvement in the development of English education can be analyzed by the fact that by 1949, more than 40 American agencies were dedicated to spread English education worldwide. Furthermore, US Information Agency together with many foundations such as Ford and Rockefeller played a de cisive role in the establishment of TESOL worldwide and also to include diverse resources in the profession of ELT. By the mid 1960’s, Ford and Rockefeller were involved in more than 38 countries to incorporate TESOL as an academic discipline. ELT professionalism basically involves traditional classroom activities including curriculum development, testing methods and teacher training programs.(Wodak, R., & Cors

ART of Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ART of Architecture - Essay Example and provide a brief explanation about what makes this place appears to be quite special, â€Å"The Grand Army Plaza† located in Brooklyn, US has been taken into concern for discussion. â€Å"The Grand Army Plaza† can be apparently observed as a monument type, which was founded in the year 1916. It was a great experience to visit this monument and also the place wherein it is located, as these resemble uniform culture along with heritage including ethical considerations (New York Architecture, n.d.). The following pictorial illustration provides a brief idea about the aforesaid monument: Based on the above analysis, it can be affirmed that the factors including concreteness, specificity and definiteness play an imperative role in holding as well as arousing the attention of the viewers to visit a particular place or any historical place for gaining a brief knowledge about a specific subject matter. It is worth mentioning that apart from playing the above discussed role, the three constituents mentioned above also support in determining the effectiveness or the attractions of the historical places in the context of delivering quality works for the visitors with adequate understanding of different facts relating to conceptions and emotions among others. From a logical and future perspective, it can be apparently observed that the historical monument â€Å"The Grand Army Plaza† has been designed by taking into concern varied artifacts and geometries with the intention of attracting the viewers and most vitally to mark a sign of excellence as well as ethnicity am id the Americans and also the viewers worldwide. Thus, it will be vital to mention that better logical and most vitally appropriate incorporation of the above stated constituents will eradicate all complexities and help in delivering works with utmost quality (Strunk & White, 2014; New York Architecture, n.d.). Therefore, from the above analysis and discussion, it can be affirmed from a broader understanding