Teaching Philosophy :: Education Teachers Essays

Teaching Philosophy I was held back in fourth grade, because my teacher failed to realize that I was struggling. My parents tried everything from money incentives to grounding me until my work was done. Nothing seemed to work with me; I didn’t understand what I was supposed to be learning and no amount of pressuring, grounding, or incentives were going to help. The second time around, my teacher didn’t put as much pressure on me and made the class a little more interesting. The following year, my teacher Mr. Barger, told us on the first day that he’d â€Å"give [us] just enough rope to hang ourselves†. I often found myself in such a position. This teacher is the best teacher I have ever had, because he made the class fun. By the end of the year I was on the B honor roll. It wasn’t until my senior year in high school that I decided I wanted to be a teacher. I realized that I wanted to give something back to the students. I wanted to become the teacher that students would remember for making a difference in their life. I believe that the nature of knowledge is constructed and dependent upon person, place, or time. Knowledge depends upon the teacher’s teaching styles, foundations, and how much time the teacher can allow for certain subjects. With the student, it depends on his/her age, their learning process, and their learning environment. How well he/she does can depend on how much time the teacher spends on the subject. You could have a slow child in a class, but if you spend just a little longer on that math problem they just may get it. You may have a six-teen year old boy who chooses not to learn and goofs off, but if you keep trying to capture his interests he’ll probably come around. The nature of knowledge is relative; it just depends on how much the teacher and the student want to put into it. I believe that public education was established so that all people could get an education.

Planning And Decision Making Essay

Many organizations lack a better planning and decision making systems that usually leads to the failure of there operations, in this case planning refers to the overall integrated planning system within an organization which incorporates both strategic and corporate planning. An organization is a consciously coordinated social unit composed of two or more people that functions on a relatively continuous basis to achieve a common goal or set of goals. Therefore corporate planning can only be achieved through management functions; planning, which encompasses defining organization goals establishing an overall strategy for achieving those goals and developing a comprehensive hierarchy of plans to integrate and coordinate activities, organizing, which is the determination of what tasks have to be done, who does them how the tasks are to be grouped? Who reports to whom and where decisions are to be made. Controlling, this involves monitoring the organizations performance, leading, which involves managers motivating subordinates, directing the activities to be done, selecting the most appropriate channels of communication and resolving any conflicts among the employees Taking a look at Toyota Industries Corporation that was started in the year 1937 by Kiichirro Toyoda. It started off by manufacturing and selling automatic looms. Later on it extended by manufacturing automobiles including vehicles, car air conditioning compressors and engines. Toyota Company is widely known all over the world as an automobile manufacturer. It proudly owns the title of the world’s largest automaker company. It is known to be the largest then followed by General Motors Company. This company made sales worth 4. 72 million in the first half of the year 2007. It actually made a profit of $ 15. 09 billion. This paper is dealing with an evaluation of the success that this Company is having. This company is known to have production bases in Asia, Europe, Japan, India, China and North America. Toyoda, 2005) Orientation This company is reported to have a better management system that is referred to as the Toyota Production System which is made up of practices that are meant to organize the company’s logistics and its production; it is also found to encouraging a better communication between the company and its clients. Evaluation of Toyota Company shows tremendous success in the year 2007. This has actually ended the reign of the world best selling trademark of General Motors. An evaluation of the success of Toyota Company shows that it has really expanded various markets worldwide. This has enabled it to reach a very wide scope of customers. Evaluation on the success of Toyota Company shows that it has really opened up so many outlets all over the world including Africa. This has helped customers to easily access Toyota products unlike before. That is why this Company is really enjoying the booming success. (Dr. Shoichiro 2006) Planning is very important in any organization. This is because it helps the organization to easily replace personnel who get promotions or those who get transfers. This is because organizations nowadays carry out management development on all the leaders and managers in an organization. This helps an organization to have a pool of qualified personnel. It also helps an organization to carry out technological advancement. This is because the organization’s personnel are qualified and quite updated in the current technology. (www. onesixsigma. com) Key Processes  The system was founded between the years 1948 and the year 1975 which at the moment referred to as â€Å"Just in Time production† it was regarded as a house like design through which most of its workers once they are recruited they first of all get trained first before they start working in the company this actually shows how committed Toyota is in implementing a good performance oriented workforce, in this case we find that after an employee is trained and found to be successful then he is promoted with an ambition of meeting the expected company standards that are set. From the Toyota Production we find that the Managers can use this to identify the training goals. A manager needs to review his employee’s skills and the areas that they need to improve. These needs in the managerial skills will help in making goals. To find out this, the manager needs to asses the workforce and through this he can know what they are able to do and what they can’t do. Therefore the manager cannot just do this by himself. He needs assistance from other people. They can assist in reviewing his performance. Such people include the supervisors. These people can give invaluable information on the areas that need to be improved and give insight on the behaviors exhibited at work. During the planning the manager needs to consider the training programs that are being offered. The manager needs to carry out plan implementation. After that the manager needs to evaluate himself if he achieved his goals. The TPS also ensures that there is a minimal wastage of resources in the company, since the company regards wastage of resources as a result of de-motivation to its employees. Any organization that carries out management development usually experiences an increase in its productivity. When the personnel in an organization get skills in management there will be an increase in production. (www. onesixsigma. com) The founders of the Toyota production system had an ambition of eliminating the burdens which was referred to as the â€Å"muri†, also to curb the inconsistency referred to as the â€Å"mura† and the other reason for establishing the system is avoid wastage which was referred to as â€Å"muda† therefore we find that the company using the system has therefore discovered on how to reduce factors leading to wastage in the production of the firm. (www. onesixsigma. com) This has led to a better decision making in the firm whereby the system defines that better results are always founded on the right process of production whereby the companies are always urged to come up with a continuous flow of communication in order to indicate the threats of the company, we also find that the company encourages the use of the pull system which is directed towards the avoidance of overproduction, the other way that will enable a company to achieve its goals is to have a levelised workload whereby the employees are allowed to work at a lower speed in order to have better production results rather than working with a high speed to give poor results. In figure one, we find that the diagram has indicated that the company operates in two ways the Jidoka and the Just on Time processes whose goal is to enable a high quality production at a lower cost and within the shortest time limit. Here we find the company actually deals with the reduction of the cost of its products and also on the improvement of the quality of its products. Research indicates that Toyota is in a position of producing one vehicle in every six seconds which results into a total of six million vehicles per year, we also find that the company does not employ people who are given the responsibility but the members themselves report to be disciplined in a manner that they always clean their own offices, this policy has been found to be successful in ensuring that the workers report to their working areas with aim of improving their productivity. Key Learnings Management development is very beneficial to organizations. Many organizations that have embraced this usually have efficient and effective personnel. This improves the productivity hence leading to financial gains. The managers are skilled and will deal with issues that can cause losses efficiently. Figure two below indicating the ways Toyota puts together it production process, the company is reported to be successful as a result of encouraging its employees to work together as a team Whereby in terms of staffing, we find that the Toyota company actually employs more than 4,000 workers each day who are always provided with a number of two working shifts, in this company we find that the employees work in terms of teams, under which each team is made of a minimum of four to six employees, research also indicates that eight teams in the company make a whole group which is therefore provided with a team leader. Under the management in the organization we find that the company improves the performance of their workers through a better paying system which research indicates that every member in the team is paid at least ? 7,000 including this is inclusive of shift and overtime premium, they are also provided with a private healthcare. (www. onesixsigma. com) Where also find that there exist the policies of continuous improvement which is the company terms it as Kaizen action meetings which are regarded as circles of quality whereby the member staffs are involved in the improvement of the performance of the employees. This is well encouraged where the company is found to be offering Kaizen prizes after every six months. in the meetings a manager managing a team of twenty five groups is given an opportunity of deciding which group manager is the best after which all the managers in the company decides which group manager is the best to win the presentation. Then the two of the managers are given a chance to travel to Japan for a kaizen conference and give the story about their performance. For all these reasons we find that this Kaizen is used a way of improving the employees performance in the Toyota company and therefore the other companies planning to be as successful as Toyota one needs to implement the same policy in his or her organization. (www. onesixsigma. com) When evaluating the success in this Company, one can’t fail to notice the improved marketing strategies that have been incorporated therein. The company carried out outsourcing of experts who carried out market research on the target customers of this nation. The Company was therefore in a position to strategize so that it could overthrow the previous automobile manufacturer-General Motors. Marketing strategies were put in place to target the affluent customers all over the world. This played a big role in the success of Toyota Company. These marketing strategies included participating in sports. Toyota Company vehicles were used in motor spots and this actually marketed the vehicles. The Super 2000 Corolla and Peugeot were won in motors spots that were carried out late in the year 2007. (Toyoda, 2005) Toyota Company has had various acquisitions which influenced its success. It acquired 8. 7% of Fuji Industries. This Company is the manufacturer of Subaru vehicles. Toyota Company also acquired 5. 9% of Isuzu Motors. These strategies highly influenced the success of Toyota Company in the year 2007. This made Toyota Company to overtake General Motors. Toyota Company really strategized and incorporated new technologies in its manufacturing system. These technologies include an advanced parking guidance system and automatic power buttons. This resulted in the manufacture of hybrid gas-electric vehicle. This was produced in very large numbers. This hybrid gas-electric vehicle is sold at one million all over the world. This played a big role in the entire success of Toyota Company. (Dr. Shoichiro 2006) Evaluation of the success of Toyota Company shows that one of the factors that influenced its overall success in the year 2007 is branding. This company manufactures a wide variety of brands. This gives customers a wide variety of vehicles to choose from this Company. These brands include Lexus GS, Toyota Camry, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Prius etc. This has also played a big role in the success of Toyota Company. Surveys carried out on Toyota Company products show a great improvement on the quality of its products. This influenced the general success of this Company until it overtook the previous world leader- General Motors Company. It brands are actually preferred by customers because of quality and durability. Toyota produced Lexus and Scion automobiles which ranked top in reliability and quality surveys. They also ranked best according to various consumer reports. According to the annual report of Toyota Company 2007, there was much incorporation of team work which greatly influenced the success of Toyota Company. This Company has a large market share in United States and Asia. (Wooly, 2006) Conclusion According to the annual report in Toyota Company, approximately 4. 72 million vehicles were sold by the first half of the year 2007. This ended seventy six year reign of General Motors Company. Evaluation of the success of Toyota Company’s success in the year 2007 shows that this company incorporated various strategies that played a big role in its success. These included outsourcing of experts, incorporation of new marketing strategies and opening up of very many outlets all over the world. Branding aspect in this Company was well used by the marketing experts and this is how Toyota Company managed to overthrow the previous world leading manufacturer – General Motors Company. The market share for Toyota Company in United States of America is enviable. This Company currently has the challenge of maintaining its leadership role in the automobile industry.

Science Explains Why Rotten Eggs Float

One of the ways to tell whether an egg is rotten or still good is to use the flotation test. To perform the test, you place the egg in a glass of water. Fresh eggs typically rest at the bottom of the glass. An egg that sinks but rests with the large end facing up may be a bit older but is still fine for cooking and eating. If the egg floats, its old and may be rotten. You can test this for yourself, although to be scientific about it, youll need to crack open the egg to observe its appearance and smell it to be certain eggs are good or bad (trust me, youll know the bad ones). Youll find the test is fairly accurate. So, you may be wondering why the bad eggs float. Why Bad Eggs Float Fresh eggs sink because the egg yolk, egg white, and gases have enough mass that the density of the egg is greater than the density of water. Density is the mass per unit of volume. Basically, a fresh egg is heavier than water. When an egg starts to go off decomposition occurs. Decomposition gives off gases. As more of the egg decomposes, more of its mass is converted to gases. A gas bubble forms inside the egg so an older egg floats on its end. However, eggs are porous, so some of the gas escapes through the eggshell and is lost to the atmosphere. Although gases are light, they do have mass and affect the density of the egg. When enough gas is lost, the density of the egg is less than that of water and the egg floats. Its a common misconception that rotten eggs float because they contain more gas. If the inside of an egg rotted and the gas couldnt escape, the mass of the egg would be unchanged. Its density would also be unchanged because the volume of an egg is constant (i.e., eggs dont expand like balloons). Changing matter from the liquid state to the gas state doesnt change the amount of mass! The gas has to leave the egg for it to float. Gas With a Rotten Egg Smell If you crack open a rotten egg, the yolk may be discolored and the white may be cloudy rather than clear. More likely, you wont notice the color because the overwhelming stink of the egg will send you off to go throw up. The smell is from the gas hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The gas is heavier than air, flammable, and toxic.   Brown Eggs vs. White Eggs You may be wondering whether it matters if you try the flotation test on brown eggs versus white eggs. The results will be the same. There is no difference between brown eggs and white eggs except for their color, assuming the chickens were fed the same grain. Chickens with white feathers and white earlobes lay white eggs. Brown or red chickens that have red earlobes lay brown eggs. The egg color is controlled by a gene for eggshell color that does not affect the thickness of the shell. There are also chicken eggs with blue shells and some with speckled shells. Again, these are simple color differences that do not affect the structure of the eggshell or the result of the flotation test. Egg Expiration Dates The expiration date on a carton of eggs isnt always a good indicator of whether or not the eggs are still fresh. In the United States, the USDA requires egg expiration dates be no longer than 30 days from the packing date. Unrefrigerated eggs may not make it the full month before going off. Refrigerated eggs are more likely to dry up than go bad. The pores of egg shells are small enough bacteria arent going to enter the egg and start reproducing. However, some eggs naturally contain a small number of bacteria, which are more likely to grow in a warmer, more favorable environment. Its worth noting the rotten egg smell isnt just from bacterial decomposition of an egg. Over time, the egg yolk and egg white become more alkaline. This occurs because eggs contain carbon dioxide in the form of carbonic acid. Carbonic acid slowly escapes the egg as carbon dioxide gas that passes through the pores in the shell. As the egg becomes more alkaline, the sulfur in the egg becomes better able to react with hydrogen to form hydrogen sulfide gas. This chemical process occurs more rapidly at room temperature than at cooler temperatures. Another Way to Tell If an Egg Is Bad If you dont have a glass of water handy, you can test an egg for freshness by holding it up to your ear, shaking it, and listening. A fresh egg shouldnt make much sound. An older egg will slosh around more because the gas pocket is larger (giving it room to move) and the egg has lost some cohesion.

A Distant Future By George Orwell - 951 Words

In a Distant Future In a dystopian version of the future, Winston tries to escape the shackles within him brought upon by the Party and the constant fear of the Thought Police. Even in the darkness that is casted by the totalitarian government, George Orwell continues to encompass life and possibility for a better future in the novel. After being taken into Room 101, the flaws of the Party are shown thus giving light to a brighter future. In George Orwell’s, 1984, the glimpse of pure humanity is shown through the characters of proles, singing woman, and the fall of Winston to envision a safer, sustainable future which can only be meet by the means of a governmental take over. The concept of proles plays a huge part in Orwell’s novel especially in the area of having the ability to take over Big Brother. Winston mentions the power of the proles numerous times in his writing by the means of revolting with brute force. If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five per cent of the population of Oceania could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated. The Party could not be overthrown from within. (60) Big Brother drills the concept of fear to the Inner Party to where Winston feels as if there is not one person who could over come the brainwashing and lead the Brotherhood in a take over. With proles making up a large percentile that are not being watched 24/7 by the government, Winston hopes for aShow MoreRelatedThe Dystopian Society in George Orwells Novel 1984 Essay469 Words   |  2 PagesIGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.† Part 1,Chapter 1,pg. 6. These three principles were repeatedly emphasized throughout the book and helped lay the foundation of the dystopian society George Orwell imagined in his novel 1984. Fear, manipulation, and control were all encompassed throughout this dystopian society set in the distant future. The freedom to express ones thoughts was no longer acceptable and would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Humankind was rapidly transforming into a corrupt and evilRead MoreAnimal Farm by George Orwell is an Effect Social Commentary713 Words   |  3 Page spressing issue while at the same time appealing to people’s sense of justice. One way of accomplishing this is through a fable which is simply a short story in which animals are used to convey a moral lesson. George Orwell is a prime example of an author who can use a fable as a social commentary. Orwell makes a parody of Russian communism as demonstrated in the pigs attempt at totalitarian rule, there manipulation of the working class and the pigs evolution into the capitalists they initially opposed.Read MoreFahrenheit 451 By George Orwell1931 Words   |  8 Pageswere exploring a future when these specific fears came to pass. Related themes involving citizens losing certain freedoms were implemented into these novels which generated connections between these stories. In his novel, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury describes a distant world in which the idea of censorship was exaggerated to such an extent that it was illegal for any literature to exist, and if found books are burned by the firemen. Similar to Bradbury’s society, 1984 by George Orwell includes a corruptRead MoreComparing Orwells 1984 to Todays Government Essay1599 Words   |  7 Pages 1984 has come and gone. The cold war is over. The collapse of oppressive totalitarian regimes leads to the conclusion that these governments by their nature generate resistance and are doomed to failure. The fictional world of George Orwells novel, 1984, is best described as hopeless; a nightmarish dystopia where the omnipresent State enforces perfect conformity among members of a totalitarian Party through indoctrination, propaganda, fear, and ruthless punishment. 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Based off all of the works read the character’s fit into the dystopian lifestyle. The dystopian lifestyle practiced by the characters can also depict the way other people felt during time of the dystopian time period. Many of the people affect ed were not able to surviveRead MoreAnalysis Of Yevgeny Zamyatin s The Road For Future Dystopian Novels 1935 Words   |  8 Pages Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We is known as the first dystopian novel and has paved the road for future dystopian novels, like George Orwell’s 1984. Both We and 1984 are scarily relevant to the 21st century and act as warnings against the natural outcomes of totalitarianism. We’s protagonist is numbered D-503, a mathematician and the engineer behind the Integral. He lives under the careful watch of the Guardians and stays loyal to the authoritarian rule of the Benefactor. He lives in a city-state called theRead MoreReview Of Nineteen Eighty Four And The Film Adaptation 2282 Words   |  10 Pagesspecific examples with George Owell’s novel Nineteen Eighty Four and the film adaptation by Michael Radford, a detailed understanding can be formed in identifying if the screen adaptation can remain ‘faithful’ to its original no vel counterpart, or if the medium destroys or devalues the intended context of the story specifically in reference to the set text. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell was published in 1949 and is a satirical novel set in the dangerously real and close future of mankind. At firstRead MoreAn Operatic Retelling Of Orwell s Dystopian Masterpiece2095 Words   |  9 Pages 1984: An Operatic retelling of Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece. Kirstie Wooten Shepherd University Abstract This research looks at the Operatic work 1984 based on the 1949 George Orwell novel of the same name. The research centers on the synopsis of the story, inspirations of both author and composer, performers in the opera, as well as its premiere and review. 1984: An Operatic Retelling of Orwell’s Dystopian Masterpiece. As the history of Opera has progressedRead MoreCritical Review of Animal Farm2575 Words   |  11 Pagesâ€Å"Animal Farm† Bibliography: Orwell, George. â€Å"Animal Farm.† New York: Penguin Books Ltd, 1989 Introduction and Summary: Animal farm is an animal fable with a deliberate purpose. It is very realistic about society and its politics.  There are a number of conflicts in Animal Farm: the animals versus Mr. Jones, Snowball versus Napoleon, the common animals versus the pigs, Animal Farm versus the neighbouring humans, but all of them are expressions of the underlying tension between the oppressors

Why I Am My Writing - 957 Words

While I believed my writing to be concise, yet thorough in the beginning of the semester, it became clear to me that that was not the case. When entering EN3414, I had no knowledge of critical theories or how to use secondary sources to enhance my argument instead of carry it. I believed my heavy sentence phrasing to be an asset instead of a way to bury my argument beneath long thoughts. In EN3414, I was able to focus on taking my papers straight to my argument, to avoid useless sources or let them lead the paper instead of letting my argument carry the essay. And because I have learned to revise and rewrite my papers as many times as possible before they are due, I can no acknowledge the parts of my essay that are too heavy or that need to be expanded upon. As I finish this course I feel my writing is clear and concise, stating an idea and following that argument throughout the paper. Before taking Critical Writing and Research Literary Studies, my writing, while rather average, was enough to enable success in composition and survey courses; however, it was not advanced enough for this class. The writings for composition or survey classes were organized, but lacked a depth or clear argument. While the topics would be clear and covered, there would be little to no in-depth analysis and more of a skimming above the surface. Even in longer papers, the depth of my argument was never really deep enough, and while it was enough for the beginning courses, it clearly became aShow MoreRelatedHow Do You Typically Go About Preparing For A Writing Assignment Essay980 Words   |  4 Pages1. How do you typically go about preparing for a writing assignment? Describe the steps you take, including rereading the assignment, asking questions about it, talking to instructors or friends, jotting down ideas, gathering information, and so on. How far in advance of the due date do you usually begin working on the assignment? Typically, I look at the assignment as soon as I can before the due date in order to begin the brainstorming process. This could be three months or two days prior toRead MoreMy Writing As A Writer1700 Words   |  7 PagesWhat kind of writer am I? That’s a trick question for which there is not a satisfactory answer. My experience with writing has never been my favorite. In fact, English has always been my least favorite subject. Studying math and science is what I enjoy; these have come rather easy for me. English, for some reason I will never understand, has always required extra effort for me actually to do well. Sure, there have been plenty of times that I have been required to write a few research papers, severalRead MoreThe Reasons Why Writing Is a Part of Me Essay728 Words   |  3 Pagesseveral ways I feel open when it comes to writing. First, I have been writing since I was a little girl. 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In high school, I use to waitRead MoreWriting A Literary Essay - Original Writing861 Words   |  4 PagesWriting has always been alien to me, I have always struggled putting my thoughts down on paper. While my childhood friends had diaries, I could not fathom why anyone would need one. The idea of putting your thoughts down on a piece of paper did not resonate with me, although I have always had a passion for reading, and found reading when I was a child a great way to get away without going anywhere. I have always been jealous of those that can put pen to paper and write as if it was second natureRead More Expository Writing Essay1148 Words   |  5 PagesExpository Writing I really dont have any idea on where to start this paper, where it should go, and how it should end. It seems that Im having a slight problem grasping the idea of expository writing. Its like when you were a kid trying to make it all the way across the monkey bars. 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Stop trying too hard because the result will always be the same despite of the effort I put in. I have tried to wheedle myself believing that I can do better, but so far there is no change in the outcome. Time is running out and hopes of making a change are dying and I am tempted to simply throw in the towel, and succumb to the defeat. It feels like am trying to catch the wind. Why is this so hard difficult for me? All I want is to make a step in En glish. To prove that I too

My Name Free Essays

As per the Chinese tradition, I was named by my grandfather after the Princess of Wales, Lady Diana Spencer, who was well known for her grace, beauty, and generosity of spirit.   I was born in America, although my origin is Chinese.   My grandfather felt that it was necessary for him to give me a name that sounds American (or European) in origin. We will write a custom essay sample on My Name or any similar topic only for you Order Now    The name, Diana, felt appropriate also because it is a popular name among the Chinese (â€Å"Chinese Culture†). This name was derived from an old Indo-European root with the meaning, heavenly or divine (â€Å"Diana†).   Perhaps this is the reason why I am never offended when my friends often call me â€Å"Dee† or â€Å"Di.†Ã‚   I know that Lady Diana Spencer, too, was often referred to as Lady Di.   All the same, it is perhaps the sacredness of the meaning of my name, Diana, that saves me from feeling insulted when I am called, â€Å"Di† (pronounced as â€Å"Die†). In short, I have never had a problem identifying with my first name.   It is only my last name, Ng, that has given me some trouble, seeing that it is almost impossible for a person with American (or European) origin to read it correctly, unless of course he or she has conducted some research on the pronunciation of Chinese names.   Hence, unfortunately, there are few people I know outside my family that pronounce my last name correctly. Chinese last names are patrilineal.   In other words, they are passed from fathers to their children.   Chinese women are also typically known to retain their birth surnames after marriage (â€Å"Chinese Surname†).   Although I may or may not retain my last name after marriage, the mere fact that the last name is traditionally known to be significant enough to be used throughout one’s lifetime, gives me the reason to respect my own last name unconditionally.   This is despite  the fact that many people mispronounce my last name, Ng, as â€Å"Nig† or simply call me Miss N- G.   People have additionally made fun of my last name by remarking that NG stands for either â€Å"no good† or â€Å"not given.†Ã‚   Even so, I continue to honor my traditions and my family name. I understand that Ng is an unusual last name in America, and difficult to pronounce because it lacks a vowel.   Moreover, I have felt annoyed at people’s mispronunciation of my last name, and their mockery of it.   Ng was translated from Cantonese, and in Mandarin it is Wu.   The name has various other dialect variants such as Wone, Wong, Bong, Huynh, Hoang, Hwang, Oei, Oi, Ooi, Uy, Wee, and Ong (â€Å"Family Name: Wong†). Unsurprisingly, all of the dialectical variants are transliterated and pronounced differently.   Furthermore, because of the different pronunciations and romanizations, it is generally easy for the people of Chinese origins to tell whether a person using a different dialectical variant of a last name is from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Southeast Asia including Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia (â€Å"Chinese Surname†). Many of my cousins in America have changed the last name to Eng in order to make it easier for others to pronounce.   I do not change it because I am quite attached to the idea of preserving good old family traditions.   According to Scott Edward Harrison, Chinese names in the original script are relatively problem free only for those who are familiar with the written language. But when those names are transliterated based on established standards of transliteration, some intelligibility may be lost.   This is certainly true with my last name.   So, even though my last name is often mocked or mispronounced, I do not overreact to the insult because I have perfect understanding of the nature of the problem. Had Chinese writing been popular in America, nobody would have had a problem saying my last name.   What is more, I have firm trust in the  fact that Americans do not mean to harm or humiliate me by saying my last name incorrectly, or using it inappropriately.   I do believe that the people I know respect and honor me as an individual.   Fortunately, in America one’s personal strengths are more important than one’s origins or name.   Hence, I have never really felt like a misfit, or suffered maladjustment in any way. One variant of my last name, Wong or Huang, is known as the seventh most common last name in China (â€Å"List of Common Chinese Surnames†).   The name is also used by many people in Vietnam, and almost one million in Korea.   Moreover, approximately two million Chinese people settled overseas are known to be using at least one dialect variant of my last name (â€Å"Family Name: Wong†).   According a 1987 study, there are more than four hundred and fifty surnames in use in Beijing (â€Å"Chinese Surname†).   Knowing that my last name, including its dialectic variants, is among the most popular Chinese names, makes it even easier for me to feel at ease with respect to my last name. Works Cited 1Chinese Culture. â€Å"Diana.† Retrieved from http://chineseculture.about.com/library/name/female/blna_diana.htm. (14 February 2007). 2.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Chinese Surname.† Wikipedia (2007, February). Retrieved http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_surname. (14 February 2007). 3.â€Å"Diana.† Behind the Name: The Etymology and History of First Names (1996). Retrieved from http://www.behindthename.com/. (14 February 2007). 4.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Family Name: Wong.† Retrieved from http://www.generasian.ca/roots_wong.html. (14 February 2007). 5. Harrison, Scott Edward. â€Å"Chinese Names in English.† Cataloging Classification Quarterly, Volume 15, Issue 4 (1993, February). â€Å"List of Common Chinese Surnames.† Wikipedia (2007, February). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_Chinese_surnames. (14 February 20 How to cite My Name, Essay examples

Weddings in Malaysia free essay sample

The representative of the groom, typically a male relative, is usually accompanied by a small entourage bearing trays of gifts including, among others, a betelnut leaves arrangement, an engagement ring and sweets. On the morning of the wedding day the bride and groom will perform a special ablution bath as required in Islam. The focus of a traditional Malay wedding is the akad nikah or marriage vow, which is overseen by the imam in front of witnesses. The imam then will confirm with the witnesses if the vow was clearly heard and once they confirm this, he will lead the congregation with a doa to conclude the ceremony and ask for blessings from God. In some respect, the traditional Malay wedding ceremony bears similarity to the Indian wedding ceremony. Before the advent of Islam, Hindu was the most prolific religion in this region and this has been attributed to these similarities, which include, among others, the mandi lulur. We will write a custom essay sample on Weddings in Malaysia or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Like the Indians, a day before the wedding, traditional Malay bride and groom would often partake in a mandi lulur – a special bath scrub whose ingredients includes turmeric powder – in their respective homes. The majlis berinai – whereby the bride will have henna applied onto her hands and feet – is also reminiscent of the mehndi ceremony in an Indian wedding. The bersanding ceremony, highly similar to the use of mandapa in Indian weddings, is also an important aspect of a traditional Malay wedding. This is when the couple becomes a ‘King for the Day’. While the akad nikah might take a half hour at the most, the bersanding ceremony may take longer, depending on the number of guests and family members who wish to partake in the tepung tawar or blessing, anointing the couple’s upturned palms with scented water, pandan potpurri and rice. Similarly, Thursday evenings are considered by both the Malays and the Indians as an auspicious day to hold a wedding. The Indian wedding ceremony is perhaps the most elaborate. Strict wedding customs require that the bride and the groom (and at times, their immediate family members) keep to a strictly vegetarian diet several days before the wedding. This is in respect to the Hindu religion practised by the majority of Indians in Malaysia. Before the wedding, the mehndi or henna is applied onto to the bride’s hands and feet to ward off evil. The bride then dons the sari and jewellery, gifts from her future husband on the day of their engagement, and makes her way to the temple. Bright hues of yellow, red, orange, peacock blue and green are favoured as they are believed to bring good luck and blessing to the occasion, while white and black – considered to be mourning colours – are generally avoided. Steeped in ancient Vedic customs, a traditional Hindu wedding involves extensive prayers and ceremonial acts. Elaborate in rituals and prayers the actual wedding ceremony itself comprises some ten rites. But the central part of the Hindu wedding is the agni parinaya. Agni parinaya is the circumambulation of fire – which symbolises divine witness to the marriage while all the time reciting a Vedic chant. The completion of this agni parinaya is concluded with a prayer that the marriage is indissoluble and the groom ends the ceremony with the tying of the thali on his bride’s neck, an act greeted with loud traditional music, clapping and congratulations from the guests. The bridesmaid plays and important role in an Indian wedding, thus she is one of the individuals to receive a gift from the groom’s party. The priest is given a gift of a dhoti (a traditional suit for men) and fresh vegetables by way of thanks for his service. A unique aspect of Hindu wedding is the post-wedding games engaged by the bride and her new family to break the ice and make her feel belonged with her new family. Auspicious days for weddings are during the period of the waxing moon particularly during the Ponggal festival (harvest festival). Like the mandi lulur preceding a Malay wedding, the bride and groom in an Indian wedding partake in their own ablution ritual in the morning of the wedding, in their respective homes. A ritual bath is accompanied by anointment of scented oils, turmeric and sandalwood paste, which not only serves to exfoliate and soften the skin but also lends it a pleasant fragrance. Traditional Chinese weddings encompass the three letters (betrothal letter, gift letter and wedding letter) and six etiquette (proposal, divination of birth dates, confirmation, presentation of gifts, choosing of wedding date, and acceptance of marriage) between the two families. The matchmaker plays a pivotal role, acting as the main go-between for the two families. Red – a colour symbolising prosperity to the Chinese – fills the house of the bride. The central act in a Chinese aside from the wedding act itself, is the tea ceremony. This is a ritual that places the parents, above all else. The ceremony is also a symbol of respect. Before the arrival of the groom, the bride offers tea to both her parents in way of thanks for having raised her. This is done on her own without her groom or the bridesmaid. Once this ceremony is completed, the groom will arrive and with the help of his best man, plead, pay, haggle, sweet-talk their way into the bride’s house with much merriment and teasing from relatives and friends – a light-hearted moment shared in a traditional Malay wedding. This is followed by the wedding ceremony itself, which is a relatively simple affair with the bride and groom paying homage to Heaven and Earth, the Kitchen God and family ancestors, asking for blessings for the union. Unlike the Malay or Hindu wedding, a traditional Chinese wedding does not normally involve a priest. This is followed by a tea ceremony between the newlyweds and the groom’s parents, which basically completes the wedding. Three days after the wedding, it is customary for the newlyweds to pay a visit to the bride’s parents where she will be received and treated as a guest. In Malaysia, though at a glance, the ceremony and content of each ethnic traditional marriage is different, there exist similarities and parallels between them. Both the Indian and Malay wedding guests receive a token gift for attending the wedding. While the Malays traditionally give away the practical gift of bunga telur (basically a boiled egg) to their guests symbolising a fertile union, those at an Indian wedding receives sweets reflecting and reaffirming the sweetness of the occasion. Haggling for passage to get to his bride is a light-hearted rite shared by the Malay and Chinese weddings. Both the Malay and Chinese wedding announces the arrival of the groom with loud accompaniment of the kompang and firecrackers respectively. Although traditional marriages across the three ethnic groups can still be found, more and more of the younger generation is opting for a simpler wedding with minimum fuss, in hand with an increasingly hectic lifestyle. The application of mehndi, believed to ward off evil, is slowly being edged aside by the more eye-catching body-art designs. Tempered by the call for moderation in Islam, the Malay weddings of late are moderate affairs whereby more and more of the younger Malay couples opt to not have the bersanding ceremony, while the token gifts for guests have changed from the traditional bunga telur to chocolates, sweets and potpourri. The divination of the birth dates for the bride and groom is as important to the Chinese as it is to the Indians, but is a process slowly being swallowed by time.