When I was 16, I visited Australia with my frined. We got lost and had to walk on a high way for an hour. Suddenly, an apple was thrown from a car and we were surprised. I thought what a dangerous country it is. However, it was a good trip and quite memorable for me. Yukiko

I have an interesting trip to Switzerland three years ago. It lasted for eight days and I used trains for transporting. I visited alpe mountains and it was the first time in my life to see and touch snow. I enjoyed sailing by boat in many lakes and sometimes enjoyed talking with people. However, the best journey was by using a boat to cross two lakes on the boaders between switerland and Germany with fabulous sceneries. Mohammed Almalki

An Amazing Journey

One of the most extraordinary journeys that I have ever made was in 1988, when I was 19 years old, and I travelled from Pakistan to China across the Karakorum Highway. The highway snakes up into the Karakorum mountain range from Gilgit in Pakistan, until it reaches the Khunjerab pass, a mountain pass at an altitude of 4,639 metres, which acts as the border between Pakistan and China.

I remember that when we crossed (I was travelling with an English lad who was even younger than me and a very strong-willed Canadian woman), there was no public transport and we had to get a lift with local traders who had joined together to hire a bus that would take them across the border.

The first town in China that I stayed in was Kashger. I was very curious about visiting China, because it had always seemed like a very distant and exotic place to me. I was very pleasently surprised. It was a beautiful town with wide, well maintained roads and footpaths covered by vines to shelter afternoon walkers from the sun. In fact, one of the things that impressed me most about China was the fabulous infrastructure. In New Delhi, a major city in India, phoning England was time consuming, laborious and the line was unreliable. In Kashgar, on the other hand, 2500 kilometres from the capital, Beijing, making an international call was no hassle at all and the line was perfect.

The thing I enjoyed most was sitting in the market and drinking tea. Mind you, it was impossible to be inconspicuous! The local Uyghurs didn't often see Europeans and so they tended to stare at me in fascination as I sat drinking my tea. How ironic that I had gone to that part of the world because it struck me as exotic, only to find that I was the exotic one!

Have you been on an interesting journey? Why not tell your classmates about it on this blog. And even better if it is accompanied by photographs!

Art Reflects Cultures

Hi,

In my opinion, Art is a way expressing our ideas, feelings and beliefs as well as sending messages, which sometimes we cannot reveal directly. Therefore, Art reflects, to some extent, the cultures and charactrizes a way of comunicating between different cultures and societies.

On the other hand, I think we can use Art to transcend the bounderies and break the polotical barriers and give people an opportunity to think about global and common issues.

Mohammed Almalki

Art and Design

One of the themes for this week is art and design. We thought it would be interesting to look at examples of art and design from different countries and think about some of the similarities and differences between them.

Look at the following examples of art and design from Kenya, France, Thailand, the UK, Japan, the USA, the Arabic world (one from Saudi Arabia, the other I'm not sure), China and Taiwan. Can you guess which country each work of art is from? How old do you think each work is? How can you tell if it is recently painted or old? Which ones do you like? What do you like about them? And finally, do you think making art is a universal impulse, and if you do, what makes it universal? If you don't think it is universal, is there anything that connects all the images below?

As usual leave your comments, and this time it would be particularly good if you could post an image of an art work or an example of design that you particularly like and tell us why you like it.

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peaceful communication

We are comfortable to know each other and communicate peacefully as global village . However, we have to protect own cultures and enhance the global understanding which will help us to avoide the misunderstanging and to be better.

On the other hand, we think that global monoculture is developing. Therefore, we should be aware of keep the local cultures, customs and traditional aspects in the communities.

As far as we can say that we do not totally agree that the global village cannot spread around the world but might some parts in the world take time to develop.

Carry,
Mohammed Almalki

Culture Shock in the Global Village?

Throughout human history land, territory and space have been incredibly important to human beings. Human beings have always made their homes and developed their cultures within a territory that was limited by borders.

Another important feature of human civilisations is that they have often tried to extend those borders. The most obvious way this has been done is through war and colonisation, but it has also been done in other ways such as trade or religious conversion.

So the Romans, who originally occupied a small territory in what we now call Italy, expanded their territory, until they occupied most of Europe and all the land surrounding the Mediterranean. The Islamic religion extended the territory in which Islam was the main religion until it occupied an area that stretched from India in the East to Spain in the west and the Aztecs originated in the centre of what we now call Mexico to occupy all the surrounding land, from the east coast to the west coast.

In the past, territorial expansion has always been limited by the level of technological development of the civilisation in question. Until the British empire was established, no civilisation had had the technology to maintain a territory that was global. The British Empire, like all empires before it, didn't last. However, the technologies that allowed it to be global have continued to develop, forcing cultures that had previously existed exclusively within a relatively small territory to recognise that they actually share a much larger territory, the Earth, with a multitude of other, quite different, cultures. Indeed, the idea of the Earth, that is so familiar to us, is relatively new, no more than a few hundred years old. Before that humans had no idea that, in fact, they all shared the same territory- a small planet suspended in the enormity of Space.

Now, not only do we know that we share a common territory, but our technologies have made it possible for us to travel from one side of that territory to the other in a matter of hours and to communicate across that territory in an instant. Fashions spread quickly around the world, overcoming cultural barriers. Products that can be bought in Leeds can also be bought in Riyadh, Shanghai, Tokyo or New York. We live in a globalised world- or what the thinker Marshall McLuhan called, "The Global Village".

How do you feel about the emergence of this Global Village?

Do you think that a 'global monoculture' is developing? If you do, do you think this is to be welcomed or is it a threat to the richness of local cultures and traditions?

Do you think there really is a global village, or do you agree with those people who say that we cannot talk about a global village when so many people on the planet have no access to the technologies that would allow them to participate in the life of this village (for example, according to some estimates, a third of the world's population has never even used a telephone!).

If the global village is a reality, do you think it's going to be possible for people to put aside their differences and co-habit peacefully or are we going to see an increase in the number of wars.

And finally, do you think there is a genuine dialogue taking place in the global village, or do you think that this process of globalisation is being driven and shaped by commercial and business interests?

Please tell us what you think- leave a message with your point of view. It can be long or short, serious or lighthearted. You can even leave a photograph, if you think it's relevant.

Equality in the Workplace

The government recently announced that it was going to abolish the compulsory retirement age of 65 in the UK. This means that, while people can retire at 65 if they want to, they do not have to retire if they want to carry on working. Many people thought that forcing people to retire at 65, when they are perfectly healthy and capable of doing their jobs, was an example of "ageism", or discrimination against older employees in the workplace.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/1170047.stm

The last 50 years has seen a lot of legislation in the UK intended to force employers to treat their workers, and prospective workers, equally. For example, it is now illegal to pay an employee less because she is a woman. Also, when firms interview applicants for a job, they can not discriminate against a prospective employee on the grounds that they are a woman, or disabled, or gay, or anything else that is not directly connected with how capable they are of doing the job.

What's more, a lot of pressure has been put on employers to get rid of the "glass ceiling" whereby there is an invisible limit on how high in the organisation an employee can rise, if they are from one of the aforementioned groups.

Another target of legislation has been nepotism, a practice whereby the family members of high ranking employees are given jobs within the organisation, not because they are qualified to do the work, but simply because they are family members.

Successive governments in Britain have set themselves the target of turning Britain into a meritocracy- in other words a society in which people progress and do well not because they belong to a particular group or class, but though their own hard work and ability. How well they have succeeded is open to question, but the importance of creating a meritocracy has been widely accepted.

What do you think? Is a meritocracy the best way to organise the workplace, or are there sometimes other considerations? Perhaps you believe that a private company has the right to employ whoever they want? What is the situation in your country? Is it a meritocracy? Does it try to be, or is this not considered so important?

Write a comment or a new posting and tell us what you think.

Be ready for the future

Hi every body,

I would like to share you my opinion about this interesting topic. I think that technology might bring some worry aspects. However, it could bring solutions.

It is not easy predicting the future as well as we cannot stop the pace of technology, which has become a main factor in our daily lives. Therefore, being realistic would help to find out the correct analysis and logic predictions.

As sequence, I am really optimistic that the future will carry wonderful surprising in many aspects in our lives. Surely, it would be some considers which are normal things would come with any changes. So, we have to be ready for those difficulties to deal with any situations.


Mohammed Almalki

The Future

We live in a particularly unpredictable and unstable world.

It's not surprising when you consider the extraordinary changes that have taken place over the last few hundred years. 500 years ago, different cultures were quite separate from each other, but the process of globalisation means we are suddenly living on top of each other in a "global village".

What's more, the accelerating speed of technological development is making the world a smaller place. What happens in another part of the world can have an immediate influence on us and vice versa.

All of which makes the future particularly uncertain. In the past, the future was quite predictable- it would be broadly similar to the present or the past. People lived according to the changing seasons and the rules of their religions, and, except for the occasional bad harvest or drought, life was fairly similar from one year to the next.

Nowadays, every year is different and no one can predict what the future will be like. That doesn't stop some people from trying, like Ray Kurzwiel- famous futurologist and inventor. He predicts that the speed of technological change will become so fast in the next 40 years, that humans will have to revolutionise their way of thinking in order to understand the new world in which we will find ourselves. He calls this a technological singularity. He is also convinced that computers will be used to re-design human beings, creating a new species of human/computer hybrids.

What about you- are you optimistic about the future? Do you think that technology will solve the major problems that humanity currently faces and we will enjoy a future of global harmony? Or do you see a dystopian future of ethnic violence, environmental degradation and diminishing resources?

Do you think we can influence the future or do we just have to wait passively and see what happens?

Please leave a comment, either long or short, to say what you think. Alternatively leave a video or picture or link. It can be something thought-provoking, funny, serious, jokey, as long as it is connected to this week’s theme of the future.

Topic for Week 4

The Blog topic for week 4 is:

CCTV Cameras: is Britain becoming a surveillance society?

Have a look at the news stories about CCTV cameras in Britain by clicking on the links below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6108496.stm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1205607/Shock-figures-reveal-Britain-CCTV-camera-14-people--China.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/may/06/ukcrime1

How do you feel about the idea of being caught on camera an average of 300 times daily, according to the Mail Online? If, as the police say, CCTV cameras have failed to slash crime, what are they for?

Post your comments here on the Blog and let us know.

Gadgets or homework? Am I old-fashioned??

One of the problems with gadgets (mobile phones, iPods, blackberries) is that we can't leave them alone! As a mum, I was often concerned about how my children could focus on their studies when they were, at the same time, listening to their iPod, responding to the ringtone of the next text coming in, or every 3 minutes checking Messenger or Facebook to see if a friend had contacted them. I used to ask them 'How can you concentrate on writing an essay when you interrupt yourself every minute to respond to someone else? How can you focus on your work when you're listening to loud rock music?' They told me I was old-fashioned, and that it was easy - hadn't I heard of 'multi-tasking' ? 'Oh yes,' I would reply. 'I do it all the time with practical jobs, but not when I'm studying or reading!'

What do you think? Does studying needs full concentration? Or do gadgets help? Let us know your ideas!

hi everyone,

Technological developments have transformed our daily life and the form of communication. It is hard to say that technology is not inherently good or bad in our society. On the one hand, it is convenience for people to face-to-face communication and talk over the phone by new technology. On the other hand, the times of visiting relatives and friends are gradually decreasing owing to using of technology such as msn and facebook. In my opinion, it is no doubt that new technology play a important role in our life, but heavy reliance on technology is not an advisable action.

Technology and our lives

Hi every class mate

It is widely believed that devices decrease distances between people and the world now become as a small village. I totally agree that are more advantages than disadvantages.

There appear to be two principle reasons for using technology . Firstly, communication become easier than tow decade or more. For example, one from Brazilian student in the UK can see and hear his family in Brazil very clearly.

The second main issue is that documents, files and pictures are sending over the world during seconds. Whereas in the past they took long time.

However, is has not all been positive , it changes our daily lives. For instance, people completely depend on that technology. As a result, most of them forget hand skills such as writing . In addition, technology dose not only affect on skills but impact for the relationship between young people and old . this means the considerable numbers of users these devices spend long time lonely.


DHAFER

Social aspect and our thinking

Hi my friends,

I would like to add some points concern caution that was mentioned by Helen. It is true that technological devices have impact on some traditional skills. They also could change how our brains work which i would talk about. Therefor, I will try to explain how our using for technological items could affect us socially and our mind.

According to some researches there is growing evidence that the constant using for personal technology such as mobile phone, computer and video games could lead to lose of the ability to focus properly on some task as reading book. Furthermore, using technology may affect our senses such listening as a result of using headphone for a long time, in particular, loud sound. Moreover, scientific evidences show that our brains have a limited capacity for processing information which increases relatively if we use our brains frequently, on other word, keep it active. As consequently, if we activate our brains, they will keep on running and active state. However, active brain capable of focusing fully on the present moment and keeping in touch with what is happening around us.

Additionally, we cannot ignore how using technology affect us regarding to social cohesion, we can analyze this issue in two views. Firstly, which is positive, using technology contributes to increase our social relations because we can contact with our parents, friends and relatives at any time. Pressing icon or sending email connects me to my job, old friend and my neighbor. Secondly, which is negative, using technology cause kind of cold feelings in our social lives as a result of the easy connections because we lost a warm moments that we were living in when we waiting our treasures and our relatives. I have remembered haw i feel when I receive much letters from my brother or my mam when i leave them a few months. I save some samples of those letters which take me back to that time with warm feeling, i think we missed such feelings which may do not back forever.


My respect,
Mohammed Almalki

caution needed..

I would agree that advances in technology have largely improved our lives and have shaped our culture as a result. However there are many people, in third world countries for example, who do not benefit, or profit, from these developments.

I am also concerned that certain traditional skills are being lost at the expense of these developments, such as interpersonal and communication skills, at least those which require face-to-face contact.

On a personal level, I still prefer hand-written letters to emails, board games to electronic games and photographs to digital images. But I am old-fashioned, and no doubt in the minority! What do you think?

Helen

Technology for helping humanity

Hi every body,

In my opinion, i think that technological device had invented to serve us and to make our lives easier. As a result, nowadays we rely entirely on these appliances which is hard to give up using them.

Additionally, we cannot ignore a huge change in our lives that emerged after inventing sorts of communications that contribute to increase our opportunities to meet and exchange our ideas and extend human knowledge about human being and the world surrounding. When human being had found a chance to communicate with each other we found this revolution for every things in our lives.

On the other hand, we cannot forget some negative impacts for using technology which i think is normal because every thing has some advantages and disadvantage. Therefor, i totally believe that technological innovations provide us with items of technology that would ensure better future for us and for the coming generations.



Mohammed Almalki

TOPIC FOR WEEK 3

The topic for this week is:

"21st century technology is destroying society."

Do you thing that computers, blackberries, iPods, iPads and other technological gadgets are having a harmful or a beneficial effect on society? Why?

Please contribute your ideas now!

A woman at home?

Hi

Before answer this question I would say something ,first of all we should be remember the different opinions in fact made us humans and the difference minds create a new issues and solutions !

Actually I agree with often points my friends "Tian, Dhafer and Mohammed",the man should be working outside a home to spend money for his family because this the normal since the world beginning " Adam and Eve story".

Obviously, there is a question and answer everyone knows، Why Women are competent to pregnancy and childbearing?

Physically there are different between the woman and man as the uterus, reproductive tract..etc

Psychologically, the women can be More patient with her children than the nursery!

becuase she have emotion to this little angels came from her body!

Finally, I would say thinks for any person share this thought, I mean create or open this blog or designed and I can not forget google team :)

women's work

Hellow everybody
Firstly, there are a differnce in ablity between men and women.Also Women are more emotional and sensetive than men.Thus children especialy under 2 years need their mother stay with them. Unreasonable kids spent at least seven or eight hour without thier mum because that children need breastfeeding.
In my view, the happiness is Upbringing children with thir mums, and i think men is responsible for out door and women in door.
Dhafer

Disagree to some extent

Hi all,

First of all, I would like to express my respect for housewife.

This is a controversial issue forever.I think the answer is to see what you are looking for a husband or is your attitude to life.

As far as I am concerned,I do not support working mothers.Family is a part of life, but not all.If you spend a lot of energy at home,you will lose a lot of things.

As a modern woman, you should be to maintain communication with the community and have their own means, so that it can not be eliminated by the community, there are too many examples given us a lesson.Many women for family, to give up their careers, made a full-time wife, cut off contact with the outside world, was found with her husband less and less common topics, and her husband need a helping hand not only the chores, more needs is a spiritual partner.

From another perspective.Stay at home long time,it will affect their dealings with others and communication skills,Make some more friends, expand their circle of communication to reduce the boredom of the time,conducive to the progress of thought.

So,this is my personal view.

zheling-Tian

O(∩_∩)O

Normal Family

Hi my friends,

I think there is no need to be angry if you hear a dfifferent view.
I would like to say that there are a difference between man and woman duties.
If we just concentrate on our real responsibilities we will find it would be injustice if we ask women to go every day to look for money and leave her real duty toword her family. I think there is no a great deal regarding to women's work before getting married but i think it would be properly if they stay at home and look after there children, in particular, very young children as Jeremy said.

On the other hand, I think we will affect our children nigatively if we rely on childminder because they will lose there mother's passion which no body better in the world can give them honest passion than their mother.

So, let's us on the beginning agree on our roles toward each other.


with my respect
Mohammed Almalki

Age

By the way, in response to Anne's comment, i think that we have to consider the age of the child in question. In my experience very young children- say from 0 to 3- should spend a lot of time with their mother and/ or father. After school age, it may be different.

New Posts

Hi Everyone, I'm having trouble setting the blog up to receive comments. The best option, therefore, is to create a New Post (top right-hand of the screen) to respond to Anne's comment or any other comment. Good luck!

A Woman's Place is in the Home

Hello Everyone!
I really disagree with this statement. It makes me very angry when people say that a woman should not go out to work but should spend all her time at home with the children.

Kids don't need their Mum at home. They have more fun if they go to a childminder, meet other kids and get more stimulation from other company. They play with different toys and learn to play different games. Their language benefits because they have more opportunities to communicate with other people than if they were stuck at home just with their Mum. There are so many advantages that I could go on for hours about them!

Anyone who disagrees just doesn't understand kids.
Well, that's what I think, anyway!

Have a nice day!

Anne

This is the page where we hope students will post ideas about weekly topics of interest which the teachers will set.

These ideas will contribute to the Topc Studies sessions which will take place on Thursday afternoons during the course.

In order to set up the blog i will need your gmail addresses. If you don't have a gmail account, it would be useful if you could set one up. Please email me your gmail addresses at d.j.bradford@leeds.ac.uk

Great Weather

It's the 22 of June today- the day after the longest day of the year in the UK. The weather is fantastic today. Someone called it 'beach weather'- or something like that. Stew

Welcome to the Summer Course

Welcome to the Summer Course at the University of Leeds Language Centre. I hope that this blog will allow all of us- students and staff- to share some thoughts (words/ pictures/ videos) about our time on the course.