Whole Language Or Phonics Approach English Language Essay

Whole Language Or Phonics Approach English Language Essay Critically analyse and discuss the benefits and shortcomings in teaching reading through a phonics approach in comparison to a whole language methodology. What are your views about each approach? Support your arguments with references from related literature. Teaching students to read is a vital educational aim. Reading gives opportunities and opens up new worlds. Learning to read, will enable students gain new knowledge, enjoy texts, and do everyday life things. The phonics and the whole language approaches are two main methods to reading, a debate that still rages among educators, parents, and experts. Which approach to teaching reading works best? Whole language approach Teachers using the whole language approach are expected to provide rich environment texts for students combined with speaking, listening, reading and writing. This approach emphasise the meaning of texts over the sounds of letter and phonics instruction. Krammer and Holland found out that the whole language approach is considered a top down approach meaning the reader use his prior knowledge to interpret and construct his personal meaning of the text he is reading. In my opinion I think that this approach provides a better understanding of the text and a more interesting and creative approach to reading but it may come at the expense of accuracy and correctness. Phonics approach The phonics approach has five key elements to teaching. These are: Learning the letter sounds Learning letter formation Blending Identifying sounds in words Spelling the tricky words (Jolly Phonics: Lloyd, S.) Kelly believes that good phonic skills will help students become better readers. It provides a secure grasp of the essential sound and spelling patterns that words are composed of. There are 44 key phonemes in the English language. Some of these are single alphabet sounds such as s-a-t-p-i-n, but others may be combinations of letters like sh, ck or ie. (Kelly, 2009) Now, I will discuss the benefits and drawbacks in teaching reading through a phonics approach in comparison to a whole language methodology. Benefits in teaching reading through a phonics approach Using the phonics approach to reading helps the reader to build better the pronunciation and word recognition (Krammer and Holland). When an individual starts to pronounce words correctly, it also starts to build confidence to speak up more often (English for Life, 2008). Improved decoding success creates a secure reader. Facility and ease in identifying polysyllabic words, and in inferring their meanings from a knowledge of prefixes, suffixes, and roots, help students with comprehension (Chall, J. Popp, H.). Teaching phonics can help students develop the skills to read smoothly and accurately. When faced with a new word, a student will have an arsenal of tools with which to puzzle it out and call it by namerecognizing familiar letter combinations and accessing their recollection of similar words. Students who are secure in their ability to figure out unfamiliar words are more eager to read new and longer texts. (Matthews, 2010) Readers cannot rely only on the use of context and picture clues. Wiley Blevins stated that students need to have a repertoire of strategies to draw on to become skilled, fluent readers. Phonics approach helps with the spelling far more than the memorisation and guess work of the whole language approach (Krammer and Holland). A person will be able to pronounce and spell correctly when he hears words. For this reason, phonics will help him improve his reading and writing skills (English for Life, 2008). Drawbacks in teaching reading through a phonics approach Although the phonics approach might work for some students, it may not work equally well for others. This is due to diverse individual learning abilities. For example: Students with hearing challenges may find it difficult to connect sounds and letter groups. Students with dyslexia often reverse groups of letters, causing confusion with phonetic learning. Besides that, some children learn to read more easily using other methods. For instance, the whole language approach teaches children to recognise entire words, rather than individual sounds (Enne, V.). I agree with Krammer and Holland that when it comes to reading using the phonics approach a child may have difficulty understanding the full meaning of a text, due to the constant breaking down of words into parts. This will also bring boredom; children would not be able to enjoy the text contrary to the whole language approach. Fleury declares that phonics does not connect the children with literature, as the whole language approach does. The connection to literature helps to make reading more interesting. It is true that phonics helps children to sound out many different words but there are other words that do not follow simple phonetic rules. These words, called outlaw words, will still need to be memorised. Nearly 50 percent of all English words are outlaw words. (Available from: http://www.ehow.com/list_6856037_drawbacks-teaching-phonics_.html) Should you categorise students and push one teaching method? In my opinion I think that I balanced approach should be used in teaching reading. The National Reading Panel determined that phonics instruction is only one part of a complete reading program for beginning readers. Effective beginning reading programs should also emphasize reading fluency, vocabulary development, and text comprehension. (Available from: www.univo.edu.sv:8081/tesis/019961/019961_Cap2.pdf) In 1996, Honig, stated that a balanced approach is needed to teach reading. He described it as an approach that combines the language and literature-rich activities associated with whole language activities aimed at enhancing meaning, understanding, and the love of language with explicit teaching skills as needed to develop fluency associated with proficient readers. In the article Curriculum: Whole Language and Phonics: Can They Work Together? written by Cromwell, S. (1997) says that Supporters of the whole language approach think childrens literature, writing activities, and communication activities can be used across the curriculum to teach reading; backers of phonics instruction insist that a direct, sequential mode of teaching enables students to master reading in an organised way. There is an ongoing debate on which is the best way to teach a child how to read. Phonics helps children to pronounce better and recognise the words. It helps them far more than memory and guess work used in the whole language approach. Formulas learned in phonics can be applied repeatedly. On the other hand, using the whole language approach helps children to understand better different types of texts. It is much more interesting and creative to reading rather than the phonics approach. Whole language approach emphasises on meaning and comprehension. Children memorise large numbers of sight words and learn to read by reading. I do not have enough experience but I can speak from my 3 years of teaching practice. I believe that both approaches must be used hence using a balanced reading approach. Most children learn through an amalgamation of skills. Each method offers different strategies. One has to remove the idea of one size fits all and keep in mind that every child is different. There is no one best method to teach children. Educationworld.com says that Many combinations and permutations are necessary to provide an optimal learning environment for an entire class of readers A teacher must be careful when teaching reading keeping in mind the different abilities of his students and focusing on literature and fun. After all, it is the teacher who makes the difference in the learning process. I believe that a teacher should provide time to read to his students often, choral read with them and also give them time to read both alone and in pairs. I remember that when I used to teach phonics through word games, to year 2 students, it used to work. Students where learning by having fun. Spending only a brief time each day on phonics and doing no more than one worksheet daily I eliminated boredom. It is important to try other reading approaches for students who are not able to learn phonics easily. Through research, I found out that recorded books or story writing might help. I make it a point that in my classroom I have a library. Unfortunately I have been in some schools where school libraries are not available. Students who have social problems how can they be exposed to literacy? It is highly important to expose children to books. It is important to have books in classroom so that students can browse, read and discuss them. Krammer and Holland state that when using a balanced reading approach, a teacher should provide as much structure as possible and some step-by-step skill work, especially for analytic students, while emphasising literature and fun. Also, a teacher should provide sufficient tools for decoding words, using small amounts of direct instruction in phonics for auditory and analytic learners. Tape-recording phonics lessons will help students to work independently to improve their skills. Visual learners tend to benefit from the whole language approach while auditory learners rely more on phonics since they hear the sound of letters and identify words. A balanced reading approach will probably be most beneficial! Finally I conclude using a balanced approach to teach reading will probably be most beneficial. IAE (2003) discovered that both research and classroom practices support the use of a balanced approach in instruction. The motive for this is because reading depends on efficient word recognition and comprehension. I agree that therefore instruction should develop reading skills and strategies, as well as build on the learners knowledge through the use of authentic texts. (Bernhardt, 1991; Bernhardt, 2000; Hulstijn, 1991; Kamil, Mosenthal Pearson, 2000; Snow Burns Griffin, 1998)

Project Report on Bisleri Pvt. Ltd. Essay

Mineral Water under the name ‘Bisleri’ was first introduced in Mumbai in glass bottles in two varieties – bubbly & still in 1965 by Bisleri Ltd. , a company of Italian origin. This company was started by Signor Felice Bisleri who first brought the idea of selling bottled water in India. Parle bought over Bisleri (India) Ltd. In 1969 & started bottling Mineral water in glass bottles under the brand name ‘Bisleri’. Later Parle switched over to PVC non-returnable bottles & finally advanced to PET containers. Since 1995 Mr. Ramesh J. Chauhan has started expanding Bisleri operations substantially and the turn over has multiplied more than 20 times over a period of 10 years and the average growth rate has been around 40% over this period. Presently we have 8 plants & 11 franchisees all over India. We have our presence covering the entire span of India. In our future ventures we look to put up four more plants in 06-07. We command a 60% market share of the organized market. Overwhelming popularity of ‘Bisleri’ & the fact that we pioneered bottled water in India, has made us synonymous to Mineral water & a household name. When you think of bottled water, you think Bisleri. We at Bisleri value our customers & therefore have developed 8 unique pack sizes to suit the need of every individual. We are present in 250ml cups, 250ml bottles, 500ml, 1L, 1. 5L, 2L which are the non-returnable packs & 5L, 20L which are the returnable packs. Till date the Indian consumer has been offered Bisleri water, however in our effort to bring to you something refreshingly new, we have introduced Bisleri Natural Mountain Water – water brought to you from the foothills of the mountains situated in Himachal Pradesh. Hence our product range now comprises of two variants : Bisleri with added minerals & Bisleri Mountain Water. It is our commitment to offer every Indian pure & clean drinking water. Bisleri Water is put through multiple stages of purification, ozonised & finally packed for consumption. . Rigorous R&D & stringent quality controls has made us a market leader in the bottled water segment. Strict hygiene conditions are maintained in all plants. In our endeavour to maintain strict quality controls each unit purchases performs & caps only from approved vendors. We produce our own bottles in-house. We have recently procured the latest world class state of the art machineries that puts us at par with International standards. This has not only helped us improve packaging quality but has also reduced raw material wastage & doubled production capacity. You can be rest assured that you are drinking safe & pure water when you consume Bisleri. Bisleri is free of impurities & 100% safe. Enjoy the Sweet taste of Purity ! ORIGIN The name that epitomizes mineral water today was first introduced in Mumbai in the early 60’s. In 1965 Signor Felice Bisleri an Italian by origin, came up with the idea of selling bottled water in India. His company Bisleri Ltd. offered mineral water in two variants – bubbly and still. In 1969 Parle bought over Bisleri (India) Ltd. and started bottling Mineral water in glass bottles under the brand name ‘Bisleri’. In due course Parle switched over to PVC non-returnable bottles and finally advanced to PET containers. Expansion Under the leadership and vision of Mr. Ramesh J. Chauhan, Bisleri has undergone significant expansion in their operations.

College Admission Essay

IntroductionI am writing this admission essay with the hope that I can a secure a place as a student in Bates College. Knowing that Bates College has been ranked as one of the best liberal art colleges nationally prompts me to send my admission letter to your institution. Besides its national accolade, learning of Bates' unique timetable that allows students to take advantage of abroad programs and its expansive offering of courses, equipped with the latest facilities and resources drew me to enroll to this college to help me accomplish my academic goals.Life ExperienceGrowing up in a small community, I had an inherent sense of unity in connection with my neighborhood collective. I lived in a society where neither skin color nor religious choice mattered. This sentiment among the community members did not last forever, though. Some residents formed a small religious group which incited other members of the society against a certain religion. They claimed that a particular religion wa s more superior to the other and urged everyone in the town to convert to that religion – a failure to covert would result in being chased away and even killed. This installed fear in our small society but neither religion was willing to negotiate, for each believed theirs was the correct spiritual path. What seemed to be a mere conflict transformed into a outright war. My community members began killing each other, women were raped, and others   were forced to flee to other towns for protection. These incidents lead to trauma: the people in our community that fled have been living in the fear of another attack and the terrible memories are still fresh in their minds. This experience inspired me to major in psychology to help erase these painful memories from  their minds and also bring a way forward for my community. I feel that attending Bates College would help me accomplish my goals.What I Look Forward To If AcceptedBates College is known for excellence in teaching as well as in learning. It offers state-of-the-art facilities, resources and programs which will be of great assistance to my psychology program – and in turn, my community. Resources such the library, imaging and computing center, as well as archives and special collection will make my learning easier. I al so read that the college offers funding for research, which will be of aid to my endeavors in finding a solution my communities' dilemma, if I can receive such assistance. If I am given a chance to join the ranks of Bates College, I will make the best out of the opportunity. My research assures me that the college has a Diversity and Inclusion Office of Intercultural Education. I would engage myself with learning how this office operates so as to intermingle with people from different cultures, religions and places, enabling me to learn how to connect with people from various life-circumstances. This educational experience will directly reflect on my career aspirations involving my communities' maladies. Bates College also allows students to take advantage of abroad programs. This program would especially be of great help to me, as I believe traveling to different places will supply me with a more comprehensive understanding of my studies.ConclusionI see this opportunity to join a prestigious college like Bates not only as a pathway to personal success, but as an educational endeavor that will provide me with a tool-set that will be able to handle the trauma of reality: the catastrophes that have occurred in my community. I am sincerely dedicated to the cause of my  fellow townsmen, and believe their recovery is assured if given the chance. Though you may consider my case special in terms of personal history, I would argue that every student's education is not solely for themselves, but rather for the greater good.

The Fall Of The House Of Usher, By Edgar Allen Poe

Although it is commonly associated with the Science Fiction and Horror genres, E.T.A Hoffman’s â€Å"The Sandman† is, in fact, a work of Gothic prose as it identifies with all of the classic literary elements of this genre and the epistolary form only aids in these elements. Gothic Literature embodies the elements of the grotesque, the unknown, death/decay, liminal spaces, and romance, â€Å"The Sandman† has many common elements throughout in likeness with other great works of Gothic fiction, including Edgar Allen Poe’s â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† and Mary Shelly’s â€Å"Frankenstein,† and so many others, which justifies this observance. The Sandman, or Coppelius, is described as a horrific and grotesque monster. Nathanel describes the Sandman luridly throughout the story’s entirety, â€Å"His wry mouth was often twisted into a malicious laugh, when a couple of large red spots appeared upon his cheeks, and a strange hissing sound was heard through his gritted teeth† (Hoffman 3). The Sandman is described as â€Å"hideous and repulsive† with knuckles clenched into fists and blue, deathly lips (Hoffman 3). This description of a character is similar to Mary Shelly’s monster in â€Å"Frankenstein,† which is described as, â€Å"A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on him while unfinished; Potts 2 he was ugly then, but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived† (Shelly 5). BothShow MoreRelatedThe Fall Of The House Of Usher By Edgar Allen Poe Essay853 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† by Edgar Allen Poe is described as a gothic tale. A gothic tale or gothic novel is â€Å"a genre of fiction characterized by mystery and supernatural horror, often set in a dark castle or other medieval setting†Ã‚ ¹. Like many of Poe’s short stories, â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† is a dark tale filled with madness, isolation, fear, and supernatural horrors. Edgar Allen Poe didn’t give a specific time period of â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† . But after readingRead MoreEssay on The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe1628 Words   |  7 PagesThe Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe Symbols and imagery of horror and death in a story touch the reader like a fingertip against a chord and can make the heart resonate with fear and woe as the suspended lute with tone. The verbal illustration that is used in the opening phrase in Edgar Allen Poes The Fall of the House of Usher is as strong as the imagery of dismay utilized throughout the rest of the story, like the dark and gloomy house. The vivid colors and visuals in theRead MoreSetting in The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe881 Words   |  4 Pages Setting in The Fall of the House of Usher Dark Romanticism was very popular in 19th century America. It is literary genre that emerged from Romanticism and Transcendentalism. Tenets of Transcendentalism included finding God in nature, and seeing beyond the physical world. Dark romanticism examines the conflict between good and evil and the psychological effect of sin and guilt in the human mind. One very famous Dark Romantic writer is Edgar Allen Poe. Poe is very well known for his many poemsRead MoreInner Turmoil in The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe492 Words   |  2 PagesInner Turmoil in The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe Art can reflect the internal psychological processes of the human mind. Specifically, Edgar Allen Poe uses the atmosphere of The Fall of the House of Usher to portray Rodericks inner turmoil. The tumultuous gloom besetting the house is equal to the doom of the Usher family. The narrators description of the house sets the tone of the story. The house is downtrodden and borders a stagnant tarn. Similarly, Roderick becomesRead MoreThe Use of Language in The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe625 Words   |  3 PagesEdgar Allan Poe became an author that has grasped the importance of language in his short stories to form the perfect mood and the ability to affect his readers emotionally. In the short story, The Fall of the House of Usher, a man decides to go on a trip to reunite with a friend from his childhood, who suffers from an unknown illness. During the visit, bizarre events occur while staying in his friend’s home. This short story allows Poe to use hints o f horror and gothic prose to drive the protagonistsRead MoreAnti-Transcendentalism in Nathaniel Hawthorne ´s Dr. Heideggers Experiment and Edgar Allen Poe ´s The Fall of the House of Usher569 Words   |  2 Pagesauthors have made a name for themselves through Anti-Transcendentalism, including Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe.Both writers used their stories as a platform to expose the reality of human nature. Hawthorne discuss the foolishness found in youth in Dr. Heideggers Experiment while Poe writes about the tragedy of not being able to escape your fate in The Fall of the House of the Usher. So essentially, each writer effortlessly demonstrates the traits of Anti-Transcendentalism. InRead More Edgar Allen Poes The Fall of the House of Usher Essay1678 Words   |  7 PagesEdgar Allen Poes The Fall of the House of Usher Death is defined as, The termination or extinction of something (American Heritage Dictionary). Edgar Allen Poe uses this description in The Fall of the House of Usher in different ways. Poes intention when writing The Fall of the House of Usher was not to present a moral, lesson, or truth to the reader; he was simply trying to bring forth a sense of terror to the reader. Poes mind works this way, and critics believe this statementRead More A Comparison of House of Usher, Bierces Beyond the Wall, The Black Cat, John Mortonsons Funeral1742 Words   |  7 PagesParallels in Poes House of Usher and Bierces Beyond the Wall, Poe’s The Black Cat and Bierces John Mortonsons Funeral, and in M.S. Found in a Bottle by Poe and Three and One are One by Bierce.      Ã‚  Ã‚   When one decides to become an author, one can not help being influenced by his predecessors, causing some of ones work to reflect and echo the predecessors. Such is the case between Ambrose Bierce and his predecessor, Edgar Allen Poe. Excluding the obvious fact that both Poes and BiercesRead MoreA Critical Analysis of The Fall of the House of Usher Essay914 Words   |  4 Pagesof The Fall of the House of Usher There are three significant characters in this story: the narrator, whose name is never given, Roderick and Madeline Usher. The narrator is a boyhood friend of Roderick Usher. He has not seen Roderick since they were children; however, because of an urgent letter that the narrator has received from Roderick which was requesting his assistance in alleviating his malady, the narrator makes the long journey to the House of Usher. Read MoreEssay about Edgar Allen Poes Gothicism695 Words   |  3 PagesEdgar Allen Poe Gothicism When the name Edgar Allen Poe is mentioned the thoughts of horror, shock, and terror come to the common readers mind. Some though, think more powerful words such as revolutionary, intellectual, or gothic. Poe’s works such as Pit And The Pendulum, The Tell-Tale Heart, Hop-Frog, and The Fall of the House of Usher are considered to be staple works of the 19th century gothic genre. Elements of gothic writing include the number seven, madness, and ironic twists.