Our Experience as Teachers of ILEC Essay Example for Free

Our Experience as Teachers of ILEC Essay We are Mauricio Munoz (a teacher) and Adela Perez del Viso (a lawyer and trainee teacher), the two Legal English teachers at the Colegio de Abogados de San Luis, the San Luis (Argentina) Bar Association. My idea of teaching Legal English started in 1998 when I took a course at an Academy (located on Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, U. K. ). My teacher was, by then, Mr. Brian Catlow. The organizers made us visit different courtrooms in Cambridge and in London. It was fascinating. Afterwards, I got to know about the ILEC exam, which was a huge academic improvement: now we had a purpose for these studies, a method, a set of contents, a book (and now more than a book), etc. I sat for the Ilec exam in 2009, after two complete years of hard study. Now we organize these courses at the Bar Association, and we know that only some students will come and stay: those who have a very good command of the language, and at the same time those who are keen on the legal field. During this year we organized two â€Å"modules†: the first one, based on General Principles and Contracts. with all the units related to Contracts); the second module, devoted to Company Law (3 units) plus Labour/Employment Law. The decision to divide the whole course in 3 or 4 modules have allowed us to set some goals which seem to be not so far in time; at the same time, it allows other students (who have not started with the original group) to join us, for instance, at the 2nd module. We organize every class with the material presented by the Ilec book, along with videos taken from the internet, movies, trailers (in this sense, John Grisham? books, movies and trailers are quite good), some University classes that can be retrieved from the internet (for instance, some classes from American universities, related to Contracts), etc. Only when time presses, we work on the ILEC book alone, which is quite complete. Next year we are planning to acquire the new edition of the ILEC/ TRANSLEGAL/ C. U. P. book, with the hope that it will present new material to practice with our students. One thing that is quite important, as always when training for any international exam, is to teach strategies to cope with the requirements of the different papers. We explain every one of the papers, and rehearse them with the students, so as they do not feel out of place whenever they sit for the final exam, in the future. Our students are quite committed, even though most of them are lawyers and have a lot of work to do. One of our students comes every time from a place located 140 km from our centre. They have felt quite encouraged with the contents of the course, and some of them are dreaming to travel abroad, or perhaps to get any kind of scholarship and study a course in an English-speaking country. The only thing that our students sometimes ask us is to provide some information as regards criminal law. We sometimes take some elements from the other book related to Legal English, called Introduction to International legal E. and from â€Å"Profesional English in Use†. But we explain to them that these contents are not required for the ILEC exam so far. We think that the ILEC course, and the ILEC exam have really fulfilled the aim of setting an outstanding goal to Legal English students; establishing a future goal to those who like to study English hard, and to combine the experience with their own legal expertise.

Women Essay -- essays papers

Women There are several ways one can look at the status of women in any society. During the last decade at least three approaches, not necessarily mutually exclusive, were discernible. One was to examine the common demographic indicators that give an overall picture of women's relative standing vis-Ã  -vis men. According to the 1981 census, the se ratio stood at 933 females per 1000 males. The literacy rate was 46.89 per cent for males and 24.82 per cent for females. The life expectancy at birth for females was 50 years and for males it was 50.9 years. The average age at marriage for females was 18.32 years and for males it was 23.27 years. The female work participation rate was 13.99 percent and the male work participation rate was 51.62 percent. Figures regarding economic participation rate for women have very little meaning as the definition of a worker has changed from one census to other. (Rehana Ghadially 1988 p.5) As a study by Australian demographer John C. Caldwell powerfull y demonstrates, for both men and women in Ibo traditional society many children have been the surest and stronger source of prestige. In the Ibo society, remaining unmarried is an extreme social divergence. It was considered central to man's nature to beget, and women's to conceive and bear, children. For women, marriage traditionally brought a variety of economic responsibilities and often only one source of both honor and security: their children. According to the Ibo tradition the man had to pay the family of the bride a bride price to secure her marriage. The payment was given in exchange for the economic value of woman to her husband in her labor and her children. Hence, for the husband and wife marriage was as much as anything else an economic compact. (James L. Newman, 1995, p.122) Customs governing division of labor, rights to land and to children varied widely. However, while a woman was married her husband generally held her labor and its fruits firmly within its grasp. In addition, the brides usually went to live with her husband's kin, and she was dependent on this group in which she was a virtual outsider. (Jennifer Seymour Whitaker, 1990, p. 99) Once involved with her new household, an Ibo woman often lived a life quite separate economically from that of her husband, in which the basic unit was herself and her children. She was usually expected to cook... ...king the money to pay tax and to buy useful things as farming tools, wives and sisters were left with more work than before: in gardens, in the fields, in the home. Through all the long social crisis of the Great Depression and the Second World War, women had to bear the heaviest burdens of poverty and oppersion. These burdens, for example, are depicted in Emecheta's Joys of Motherhood. Gross inequalities between men and women have generally prevailed. However, some progress has been made against them, and continues to be made. Girls and young women found new educational opportunities, and adult women have also joined in the drive for education, attending literacy classes and various forms of vocational training, while a wider range of jobs has become available for women in towns. Beyond this, women, too, have begun to join to gether in self defence so as to claim, and sometimes, get a better status in society. Several African countries, by the 1980's, had vigorous organizations for the advancement of women, staffed and run by women, forming their own programs for the benefit of women. None of this had been possible during colonial times. ( Basil Davidson, 1994, p.186-191)

Art History – Civil War

Two of the decade's biggest stories came early on with the New York Times' reporting of the Pentagon Papers in 1971 and the Washington Post's coverage of Watergate scandal twine 1972 and 1976. 1 The ass's displayed a trend of younger Journalists with higher ideals. Instead of simply covering the news on the government with blind-eye objectivity, Journalists began actively seeking ways to analyze and expose any type of dishonesty in its actions. 2 The Pentagon Papers scandal turned the American public against the Vietnam War and exposed the U. S.Government for its lies and false promises over the past decade. 3 Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein reporting of the Watergate scandal is considered one of the high points in American investigative journalism. By using a variety of sources and interrogating U. S. Government officials inside the White House and the FBI, Woodward and Bernstein published numerous stories showing proof of am illegal presidential cover-up and â€Å"dirty trick† politics. 4 The Watergate scandal demonstrated how new technology began to aid the delivery of the news in the sass's.Television, for example, began to take off, as people were now able to easily see and believe the news in a timely fashion, rather than simply reading about it. On August 8, 1974, President Richard Nixon formally reigned from the office of President in a televised broadcast. It was a defining moment in American history, as Nixon became the first president to willingly give up his position. The televised address confirmed that Americans were beginning to view television as a primary source of information. Nightly news broadcasts also expanded upon their success from the sass's.Each of the three major television networks had their own recognizable and respected Journalists helping their newscasts. For example, Walter Coronate, who was hailed as â€Å"The Most Trusted Man in America,† anchored CBS. Nab's team of John Chancellor and David Brinkley were a strong second, while BBC had a seacoast helped by Howard K. Smith. 6 Of course, the increased reliance on television in turn slightly decreased the importance of radio in the daily lives of Americans. Television and newspapers firmly became the leading news outlets during this time.Thus, because there was not as wide a variety of viable news sources (online, cable television, etc. ), audiences were not as fragmented as they are today in finding the news. 7 The ass's also brought forth economic and social changes in the lives of American citizens, which made obtaining the news even more relevant during the time. Major trends included greater cynicism of government, advancement in civil rights, increased influence of the women's movement, and environmental awareness. 8 During the course of the Vietnam War, Americans suffered through a slight depression.The news, in television and paper, became a way to constantly stay aware of national and international proceedings. 9 The war led to a heigh tened interest in daily-televised news. In turn, the Vietnam War became commonly known as the â€Å"Living Room† War, as families were able to see the violence occurring overseas. 10 In addition, the Watergate scandal, Roe v. Wade in 1973, the Fall of Saigon in 1975, among other major news stories, were all landmark historical moments-?thus making the news more culturally relevant than ever at the time.A new â€Å"norm† in Journalism also appeared during the sass's decade known as â€Å"New Journalism,† or â€Å"literary Journalism. â€Å"al The works in the new genre were characterized by adding novelistic twists to reportage. Usual standards of accuracy were usually nonexistent and were often dependent on the mood of a place or event. 12 Writers such as Truman Capote, Tom Wolfe, Hunter S. Thompson and others reared a form of Journalism in which writers became more artistic and created â€Å"nonfiction novels. † The accuracy and reporting in these stor ies became the subject of controversy and caused mistrust in Journalistic integrity. 3 Traditional Journalists argued that the professional Journalistic norms of accuracy and factual verifiability discouraged the use of techniques such as inner monologue and excessive, over-the- top detail. However, the controversy of fact-and-fiction reporting in the sass's led to more established rules and guidelines for Journalists. Many major Journalistic organizations and individual news organizations established codes and standards to limit the involvement of their Journalists in activities that could potentially â€Å"embarrass their organizations. 14 Thus, while much of the ass's reflected a â€Å"crusading-yet-objective† style of Journalism, sensationalism and exaggeration were both still very much present. The relationship between the government and the media remained ever changing throughout the decade. In 1970, President Nixon created the Office of Telecommunications Policy in or der to stress the rising importance of media in new formats. 5 During this time, news coverage of the Vietnam War via television showed Americans the horrors of war overseas and public sentiment towards Nixon and the war turned sour.The Top's criticism of public broadcastings coverage of the Nixon administration, however, undermined congressional support for public broadcasting. 16 Another major development in 1970 was the creation of National Public Radio. NP began producing and distributing a variety of news programs and specials, funded by the government's Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CAB). 17 Ata time when television was gaining momentum, a variety of different government actions inhibited further progression of public broadcasting.For example, in 1975 the Public Broadcasting Financing Act was signed, forcing the CAB to apply to Congress for funding every year. Furthermore, the he Public Telecommunications Financing Act restricted the Cab's managerial and financial freed om. 18 Newspapers and magazines, however, still received a majority of their funding from advertising. However, since television began to steal more of the national audience, print magazines and papers began to move towards a more socialized advertising model. This idea became fully realized in the following decade. 9 Ultimately, the sass's brought forth a major interest in Journalism. From government mistrust to civil rights, Journalism and getting the news was a priority for a vast majority of the American public. Thousands of Baby Boomers from World War II swelled enrollment in U. S. Journalism college programs, creating a generation of journalists that would not be changed until the birth and rise of the Internet in the 21st century. 20 Works Cited Miller, Mary and Teresa Crude. A 20th Century Timeline: Classroom Use of Instructional Film, Radio, and Television.

What Is Sea Level and How Is It Measured

We often hear reports that sea level is rising due to global warming but what is sea level and how is sea level measured?  When it is stated that sea level is rising, this usually refers to mean sea level, which is the average sea level around the earth based on numerous measurements over a long period of time.  The elevation of mountain peaks are measured as the height of the peak of the mountain above mean sea level. Local Sea Level Varies However, just like the surface of the land on our planet Earth, the surface of the oceans is not level either.  The sea level on the West Coast of North America is usually about 8 inches higher than the sea level on the East Coast of North America.  The surface of the ocean and its seas varies from place to place and from minute to minute based on many different factors.  Local sea level can fluctuate because of high or low air pressure, storms, high and low tides, and snowmelt, rainfall and river flow into the oceans as part of the ongoing hydrologic cycle.   Mean Sea Level The standard mean sea level around the world is usually based on 19 years of data that average out hourly readings of the sea level around the world.  Because mean sea level is averaged around the world, using a GPS even near the ocean can result in confusing elevation data (i.e. you might be on a beach but your GPS or mapping app indicates an elevation of 100 feet or more).  Again, the height of the local ocean can vary from the global average.   Changing Sea Levels There are three primary reasons why sea level changes:   The first is the sinking or uplift of landmasses.  Islands and continents can rise and fall due to tectonics or due to the melting or growing of glaciers and ice sheets.  The second is the increase or decrease in the total amount of water in the oceans.  This is primarily caused by the increase or decrease in the quantity of global ice on the Earths landmasses.  During the biggest Pleistocene glaciations about 20,000 years ago, mean sea level was about 400 feet (120 meters) lower than mean sea level today.  If all of the Earths ice sheets and glaciers were to melt, sea level could be up to 265 feet (80 meters) above current mean sea level.Temperature causes water to expand or contract, thus increasing or decreasing the volume of the ocean.   Impacts of Sea Level Rise and Fall When sea level rises, river valleys become inundated with seawater and become estuaries or bays.  Low-lying plains and islands are flooded and disappear under the sea.  These are the primary concerns about climate change and rising mean sea level, which appears to be rising by about one-tenth of an inch  (2 mm) each year.  If climate change results in higher global temperatures, then glaciers and ice sheets (especially in Antarctica and Greenland) could melt, dramatically increasing sea levels. With warmer temperatures, there would be the expansion of the water in the ocean, further contributing to a rise in mean sea level.  Sea level rise is also known as submergence since land above current mean sea level is drowned or submerged. When the Earth enters a period of glaciation and sea levels drop, bays, gulfs, and estuaries dry up and become low-lying land.  This is known as emergence when new land appears and the coastline is increased.