Narrative on a Special Place Essay Example for Free

Narrative on a Special Place Essay My love for Africa Hello everyone my name is Tulsi Amin and I attend South University at the West Palm Beach Campus in Florida. I have been to many different places in my life and in fact I have stayed in three different continents as of now. I was born in India moved to Kenya when I was two and final destination is America since the age of 10. Africa is where I consider my childhood where I learned to play with butterflies saw talking parrots and was visited by wild monkeys frequently in my courtyard. With my experiences with people in the Western world and their depiction of Africa being like the â€Å"Jungle Book† I wish I can take them all there to see the reality of this beautiful continent. I lived in Nairobi, Kenya the capital city of that country. There are no lions, tigers or giraffes on the street as I have heard many people ask me. We do have high rise buildings, malls, public transportation and homes built out of brick. Although I lived there from the age of two to eight I remember many things that are very special to me today. I remember having an aunt that lived in a town called Thompson Falls that was on the Equator and the weather was always perfect there. I used to go there many summers and go down waterfalls and see huge hippos basting in the river. I met the local tribes that are called Masais and learned to make tribal necklaces out of gemstones. Africa is a country that is full of culture and having been lived there has made me appreciate many things in life that are scarce resources that we take for granted elsewhere. When I moved to America in 1993 and started school in New Jersey I was so excited when I saw a few black students in my class. I went up to them and started speaking in Swahili and they looked at me and replied â€Å"I am sorry we are not Indian† So I told them no this is your language. All the students looked at me and said our language is English. That’s when I learned that African Americans do not speak Swahili the native language of Kenya. As I learned more about history and slavery and saw how many African Americans lost their roots to their homeland it was a rude awakening for me. I am glad that this is a rich part of my life and will always be a special place for me. Although many people got a colorful depiction of Africa and the safaris through Disney’s Lion King the real safari is even more exciting to see. I do remember traveling to other smaller towns that were on the outskirts on our way we would zebras grazing in this vast open green land. Many times we have seen giraffes, antelopes and elephants just enjoying their natural habitat. These memories and sightings are something that I will never forget. I love that country and am delighted that it is part of my life. I will love sharing these memories with my children and hoping to take them one day to see Kenya, Africa. Over the years I thought how I may make people appreciate other countries and their culture. America is known as the â€Å"melting pot† where many different cultures come to make a living yet are we so ignorant to learn about all these cultures. As a child when I attended school I was taught about all major religions and how to respect others and their beliefs. As they say education and manners are taught young and school is where this appreciation for other cultures should be taught. Modern day education needs to implement the positive aspects of the other countries such as teaching students about their culture, economy, what these countries are famous for. I learned about slavery which is a big part of part history but now it is time to teach and appreciate where the slaves came from. They left their roots so far behind that many of them do not know where they came from in Africa. We live in a modern day world where everyone around us comes from different backgrounds, values and beliefs. We all have special meaning for the places where we come from and I think we deserve for others to respect these places. There are problems everywhere but despite them when they place is special to any one of us we tend to overlook the problems. We need to have an open mind and room to explore and learn about other countries and cultures.

The Swing Behind My House :: Descriptive Essay About A Place

The Swing Behind My House Out behind my house, there is a row of fruit trees. At the end of the row, there is a small open building with a swing inside. Sitting in that swing, I can see off the top of the ridge on which my family lives. When I sit there, looking down past the rows of trees and far into the distance, I realize that the place is mine. It is important to me because it is associated with so many memories, it gives me a place to be alone, and it gives me a chance to be outside in nature. I have grown up living in the same house my whole life, and that swing has been there for as long as I can remember. I have so many memories of that place. Some of my best memories have been very recent. Before we were dating, my girlfriend and I would sit out there for long periods of time just talking. Now that place is full of memories of Karen. Even now it is comforting to sit there because it reminds me of those times. However, memories of my girlfriend are not the only memories that place holds. Growing up, I have spent time there with both friends and family. I even have memories of sitting there alone, contemplating my life's events. In fact, being alone is one of the reasons I go there so much. Having time alone is very important to me. It gives me a chance to think clearly without being interrupted. It seems as if there are now fewer and fewer places where that is possible. No one can bother me there. No one can yell at me, argue with me, or annoy me at all. I guess this place helps to keep me from going crazy. I think everyone needs some time alone. I know I do. Another wonderful quality about my spot on that swing is the fact that it is outside. It is out in the fresh air and natural light and away from technology. I never bring a cell phone or laptop there. I feel as if technology would somehow corrupt the natural beauty of the spot. I do not need to worry about telephones, cell phones, or e-mails in that spot. The beauty of nature is enough for me. It helps me to clear my mind and gives me time to reflect on what is really important in my life.

Explaining First Language Acquisition Essay

An essay explaining First Language Acquisition What is the most realistic theory that explains human being’s acquisition of their First Language? Considering the varying theories and perspective on how 1st language is learned, it is evident that no single theory can fully account for the complexity of the issue: How 1st language is learned. Based on the previous discussions and scholarly readings we had however, I am beginning to develop a conviction that Innatist theory holds the most realistic and consistent explanation among theories presented on how human beings acquire their â€Å"mother tongue†. The Innatist view also known as the Nativist pioneered by Noam Chomsky laid out an explanation that every child possesses innate knowledge of language structure (universals) to detect and reproduce his or her 1st language. (Lightbown & Spada, 2006, p. 16). According to Chomsky, we all possess Language Acquisition Device that has predestined people to use spoken language, and makes us the only beings that can use spoken language. I think this is generally true. No one can argue that human beings are the only species on earth that uses spoken language. Many researches in the past tried to incorporate and teach animals to use any kind and forms of human language but all attempts have failed. I also have observed that the rest of the perspectives (theories) offered in the module namely; connectivist, constructivist, developmentalist and cognitivist are just â€Å"rehash† or mixtures and modified versions of behaviorist and innatist view. Thus, the only two outstanding theories and have original ideas that main served as pillars in First Language acquisition are namely behaviorism and innatism. Although these two opposing theories offers great insights in learning L1, innatist’s perspective is much more comprehensive and consistent than that of the behaviorist. First, behaviorism is mechanical since neither conscious awareness nor intent is assumed to be operational in the learner. In contrast, innatism is realistic rather than mechanical since it does consider a child as an inert recipient. Furthermore, the behaviorist doesn’t include or advocate the critical period of learning, while innatism takes into account some of critical period hypotheses. Universal grammar is also true in most cases. People who didn’t undergo formal instructions or any forms of schooling still learn the complexity of their native language. Finally, I think Chomsky’s ideas explained the facts in a way that no other theories can. Acquiring language is not a normal mental problem. Everyone sees small children pick up language effortlessly. Few, however, notices what an amazing phenomenon this is. Rarely any one would expect a four-year-old to master calculus. Yet most people would not in be surprised when a four-year-old learns grammar, which is a difficult task. Children learn the rules of their native grammar by hearing a limited set of sample sentences. In addition, the limited information they receive is mathematically insufficient for them to determine grammatical principles, yet somehow they are still able to do so. Reference: Lightbown, P. M. , & Spada N. (2006). How Language are Learned: Oxford Handbooks for Language Teachers. (3rd ed. ) Oxford University Press

The Effects of World War One on French Theatre Essay

The Effects of World War One on French Theatre At the turn of the century Paris was one of the capitals of culture and art to the outside world. However, the truth of the matter was that this taboo-ridden society was being run by an aristocracy that was repressing the arts. Naturally, when World War 1 broke out, the suppressed French society finally had a release and a rebellion against order arose. WWI specifically affected the theatre of French and it’s aftermath. From the ashes of war the avant-garde theatre grew and styles such as Dadaism and Surrealism were born. It was both the climate of culture before the war and the devastation of the war that lead to the outbreak of avant-garde theatre in France. Beginning around 1890, France†¦show more content†¦In reference to Ubu Roi one historian notes that, â€Å"things are of more significance for what they lead to than for what they are.† (Hobson, p.1) On June 28th, 1914, the Belle Époque came to a halting ending when the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo. Because of the new technological advances such as tanks, aircrafts, and submarines, WWI was unlike any other. However, one of the greatest weapons of war Europe had created was nationalism (Shevin-Coetzee, p.98). Nationalism is the concept where one feels that their country is superior to others, it is taking patriotism to another level, and it was fostered during the Belle Époque. In France, this patriotism was centered on the Church, so much so that the denominations banded together to enhance the patriotism. In The Great War and the French People Jean-Jacques Becker states, â€Å"We have ceased dividing ourselves into Catholics, Protest ants, Socialists and Jews. Suddenly something more basic has emerged, something all of us share: we are Frenchmen†(Shevin-Coetzee p.105). While this seems like a sentimental moment for the people of France, this was a weapon of war in the development of WWI because every country held some sort of nationalism and that was the fuel that kept the fire burning. The Great War was mainly fought through trench warfare, a brutal and retrospectivelyShow MoreRelatedCharacteristics of Drama1660 Words   |  7 PagesRestoration of the monarchy in England (1660) were intended primarily to serve the needs of a socially, politically, and aesthetically homogeneous class. At first they relied on the pre-Civil War repertoire; before long, however, they felt called upon to bring these plays into line with their more refined, French-influenced sensibilities. The themes, language, and dramaturgy of Shakespeares plays were now considered out of date, so that during the next two centuries the works of Englands greatestRead MoreSummary Of The Room And Waiting For Godot 952 Words   |  4 PagesBeckett and Harold Pinter Absurd Influences in Theatre There are a wide variety of theatrical movements that have occurred over time. One of these includes the theatre of the absurd. Theater of the absurd refers to the literary movement in drama popular throughout European countries from the 1940s to approximately 1989. A definition of the term absurdism is referred to a literary and philosophical movement that flourished after the Second World War and bears a close relationship to ExistentialismRead MoreA Closer Look At The Period Between 1930 And 19411370 Words   |  6 Pagesline of the text to find any concept or phrase that may be offensive to: †¢ Religious beliefs †¢ Public Policy †¢ Morals †¢ Monarchy Afterwards texts should go under double check in security service and each page had to be stamped to show its clearance. One of the reasons that plays did not pass censorship was that the personal opinion of the censor agent played a major role in the decision to allow performance. Usually three criteria were applied: (i)artistic value, (ii) moral value, and (iii) appropriatenessRead MoreThe Great Depression And World War II1280 Words   |  6 Pagescaptures the world as it is around him. There are also artists that create fiction to give the world and escape from reality. The medium of art that will be discussed in this essay will be film. Since the invention of Thomas Jefferson kinecto graph and the Lumiere brothers cinemtograph, films have continued to be the most popular entertainment methods in France and America. Since historical events have somewhat of an impact on the content in film, this essay will take a look at the effects of films yearsRead MoreA Brief History of the Fi lm Industry1268 Words   |  5 Pagespictures that moving in a certain way to look like a movie. The French Lumiere Brothers are the first hand of making the new modern film industry. In the beginning the films were with no technology, its lack of sound and colors, and it’s only for seconds. Then in the beginning of 1900c the narratives came to the movies and it developed to be recorded onto plastic film and shown by a movie projector on a large screen in a place called theatre or cinema. With the coming of the narratives in movies ThomasRead MoreMurder in The Cathedral1097 Words   |  4 PagesMurder in the Cathedral was one of the first successful religious plays of the 20th Century (Weintraub). This play, and many others in the time period, shows the effects of World War II and the rising political power in Germany. Murder in the Cathedral shows the struggle of one man’s obligation to religion and defying the many temptations of a political leader. Murder in the C athedral was influenced by the increasing political ideas in the time period. During this time period in Europe, the risingRead MoreThe Impact Of Technology On The Allied Victory During World War Two1693 Words   |  7 PagesHow did the development of new technology aid in the allied victory during World War Two? The Second World War (WWII) was a devastating global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, causing struggle and suffering across much of the world’s nations. During this period, technological developments increased significantly and advancements in every field of war were emerging quickly and leaving huge impressions. New inventions and scientific principles emerged during WWII in fields such as weaponry, communicationsRead MoreAnalysis Of Samuel Beckett s Waiting For Godot Essay1767 Words   |  8 Pages Theatre is a complex art that attempts to weave stories of varying degrees of intricacies with the hope that feelings will be elicited from the audience. Samuel Beckett’s most famous work in the theatre world, however, is Waiting for Godot, the play in which, according to well-known Irish critic Vivian Mercier, â€Å"nothing happens, twice.† Beckett pioneered many different levels of groundbreaking and avant-garde theatre and had a large influence on the section of the modern idea of presentational theatreRead MoreEffects Of World War One On Europe2073 Words   |  9 PagesELA IV 4th Hour May 2, 2016 The Effects of World War One on Europe In the early twentieth century, the most powerful nations in the world were preparing for war with a heightened sense of national pride. Germany, eager to go to war, created arguably the greatest military in the world at the time. This heightened militarism in Germany had two major reactions from other world powers. The first was to build up their respective militaries in order to prepare for a war if it became necessary. The secondRead MoreViolation Of The Maxims Of Cooperative Principle7912 Words   |  32 Pagespragmatics deal with the study of meaning. The differences between the two are that semantics studies the literal meaning of the word, phrases, sentences, whereas pragmatics deals with contextual meaning. Pragmatics, which studies language in use, can be one of the most effective tools to study literature. There is a sustainable relationship between literature and pragmatics, as the former is context bound and the latter studies the language in context. Thus for the ove rall enjoyment of a literary text