Aspiring for competence in a multifaceted everyday life:A qualitative study of adult students’experiences of a blended learning master programme in Norway

Aim:To gain knowledge of how adult students experienced the first year of a blended learning master programme to better understand their learning process.Methods:A qualitative,exploratory,descriptive study based on data from two focus group interviews with students attending a blended learning Master programme.Qualitative content analysis based on Graneheim and Lundman’s procedures was applied.Findings:Our analyses revealed one main theme:aspiring for competence in a multifaceted everyday life and four main categories:acquiring professional competence,struggling to manage diverse forms of communication,demanding task juggling and confused student role.Conclusions:The participants experienced that the programme enabled them to acquire professional competence relevant to practice.Despite the challenges,the programme is recommended for prospective students who live in both urban and rural areas,who are working and also responsible for children and other family tasks.

Schema Theory and Business English Teaching

Schema Theory, which emphasizes on the effects of existing knowledge on language learning, has been applied into varied areas of language teaching. And BE （business English）, on the other hand, is drawn more and more attentions as a specialized usage of language. This paper will probe into the application of Schema Theory into BE teaching through discussing three types of schemata. In order to facilitate learning, BE teachers should help students modify their exiting schemata, such as teaching them the terminology used in BE, and the factual and socio-cultural knowledge of the business, and improve their ability to speak and listen English in business

On the Cultural Untranslatability in Chinese-English Literary Translation

The paper is intended to study the cultural untranslatability in Chinese-English literary translation and its compensation with a view to find some practical strategies in translation when untranslatabiltiy occurs. Based on Eugene A. Nida’s classification of language culture, the author analyzes causes of cultural untranslatability in terms of ecological culture, material culture, social culture, religious culture, and linguistic culture through specific examples. As the cultural untranslatability is conditioned, variable, and dynamic, some translation strategies are proposed for tranferring untranslatability to translatability.

Language and Culture in Foreign Language Teaching

Culture plays a very important role in language teaching. A deep study of the relationship between language and culture is not only necessary but also urgent in language teaching and learning. The paper briefly points out that in order to make teaching more effective, teachers should not only teach the language itself, but also teach the culture in the language while teaching the foreign language. It analyzes the differences of language customs reflecting in different cultures among different languages （between European languages such as English, Russian and Asian languages such as Kazakh, Chinese）. The analysis of diversity of different social cultures and different language customs of commtmication shows that the culture has a great influence upon the language. It includes the next components： （1） diversity of different geographies, natural environment, and customs, （2） differences of the history, religion, and belief, and （3） diversity of different thoughts of understanding objectivities. Further suggestions concerning how to use culture factors in the teaching procedure are also introduced in detail, such as： （1） the teacher＇s role; （2） the way of explanation, （3） the way of contrast; and （4） the way of practice. In order to conduct foreign language teaching well, teachers must take up the teaching of culture and the teaching of language at the same time. As long as the emphasis is laid both linguistic skills and communicative competence, the goals of language teaching will be achieved satisfactorily.

Theoretical Perspective of Social Entrepreneurship： A Study of Determinants of Social Entrepreneurship in the Context of Saudi Arabia

The present paper discusses the different theories on entrepreneurship in general and social entrepreneurship in particular to investigate the different determinants of social entrepreneurship in the context of Saudi Arabia. The present research is a conceptual study. The data were collected to analyze the entrepreneurship theories in Saudi Arabia＇s context. The data related to entrepreneurship spirit, perception of society towards entrepreneurship, and other macroeconomic indicators are collected from different research journals, websites of different corporate houses, and government sources to analyze the social entrepreneurship theories, such as failure thesis, interdependence theories, welfare state theory, supply-side theory, entrepreneurship education, etc.. The theoretical hypothesis of interdependence theory, entrepreneurship spirit, and general education and the theoretical analysis of this paper in light of Saudi Arabia are in line with the theory. But the hypothesis generated out of failure thesis theory, welfare state theory, entrepreneurship education, and individualistic and collective society culture is not in line with these theories.

Importance and Role of Biodiversity and Tropical Forests in the Cultural, Socio-Economic and Religious Life of African Black People： Case of Benin

Biodiversity and tropical forests play a fundamental role in the life of the black people of Africa. In Benin, while some aspects of this role are well-documented, others are barely known. Moreover, these information remains so far very scattered through the literature which does not allow to have a global view on the contribution of biodiversity and forests to the life of people. In this work, it is presented the role of forests and biological diversity in the main vital areas of life of populations in south of Benin. The methodology used was based, with regard to the field, on bibliographical research, observation and/or field stakeholder survey. Investigations are more particularly focused on hardwood lumber uses and the species that are significantly used. The results highlight the uses that are made of vegetal elements of biological diversity and timber as forest products in south of Benin. The main areas explored are animist or traditional religion and traditional medicine, as well as socio-cultural and economic life. In this latter area, the most used timber species and their uses are identified; these include furniture, light carpentry, sculpture, formwork, canoe construction, drums and mortar making.

Teaching Writing to EFL/ESP Arab Learners： A Socioculturally Based Approach

Teaching writing to Arab EFL learners in general, and to students who have never been exposed to an Anglo-Saxon foreign language in particular in institutions of higher education, through incorporating culturally meaningful learning materials, can actually be enjoyable and fruitful. However, it can also be very challenging given the sociocultural and linguistic background of the learners as well as other factors related to the nature of the imported teaching materials from overseas. The challenge then is identifying and selecting materials for each particular class, as well as how to get students motivated and successfully engaged in the process of writing. This paper enlightens educators and language programs managers and planners about the mechanism of the writing process while incorporating the cultural components relevant to the learner, as well as drawing their attention to the benefits of engaging students in the actual process of writing and boosting their motivation via a meaningful socioculturally based approach.

Analysis on the Teaching Model of Physical Education in Colleges based on Interactive Teaching Method and Participatory Teaching Method

In this paper, we conduct research on the teaching model of physical education in colleges based on interactive teaching method and participatory teaching method. Campus sports culture is a combination of basic social culture and sports culture in the campus group products, with cultural characteristics. System science is to provide the comprehensive approach for us, whether it is system engineering or operations research, whether the system analysis and network planning, the system provides the scientific research methods are first in the whole system of standing height above, students through the independent thinking, listening carefully, hands-on operation, active speech and other explicit behavior, and while constantly internalized teaching content and enrich their knowledge structure. Under this basis, this paper proposes the new idea of the teaching model of the physical education in colleges based on interactive teaching method and participatory teaching. The effect will be evaluated in the future research.

The Model of Open and Distance Learning for Teaching Indonesian Through Socio-Cultural Approach and Psychological Aspects to Students of Indonesian for Foreign

This study aims to find out the effect of the model of ODL （Open and Distance Learning） for teaching Indonesian for foreign and whether this model of ODL implements socio-cultural and psychological approaches. The students＇ learning of Indonesian for foreign is in so many aspects that it must be considered from both psychological aspects of students＇ language and cultural aspects. The research was carried out on foreign students＇ studying Indonesian language. The research method used action research. ODL model developed this concerning how the students are anxious in foreign language learning and language use in accordance with Indonesian culture. The model of ODL for teaching foreign Indonesian uses the Internet facilities such as email, Skype, VolP, Google Talk, circulating document with comments, chat, forum, CD, audio-video, stream media player, and e-learning system. Based on the results of this study which is that students study the model ODL for teaching Indonesian through socio-cultural approach and psychological aspects and students of Indonesian for foreign improve their ability to use the Indonesian language, students are able to converse fluently in Indonesian in accordance with Indonesian culture

Analysis on Humanistic Education of Medical Students

Medical students are the major force of future medical scientific research and clinical work, and itis of great necessity for medical students to have humanistic education, which is also an inevitable way of improving medical students＇ clinical practice quality. Social progress demands that medical students should not only have excellent professional skills, but also be able to think about problems from medical,social, moral and ethics perspectives, establishing the people-oriented patient-centered noble medical ethics, having a good ability to communicate with people.

The Conformity of University Accounting Education Curriculum to the Needs of the Labor Market in Romania

This study represents empirical research that aims to investigate how the labor market for the financial-accounting segment in Romania requires professional and personal skills developed within the accounting education curriculum in the Romanian universities of this profile, or these produce young practitioners inappropriate from the curricular point of view to the employers＇ demands. The study develops a statistical analysis of frequencies, aiming to find an importance stratification of the professional and personal characteristics in the employers＇ demands. The study groups the job advertisements into three categories： for financial accounting, managerial accounting and audit, and seeks to identify specific curriculum descriptors for these categories of professional development. At the same time, the study does a frequency analysis of curriculum descriptors and job execution, comparatively to the management jobs, attempting to do a hierarchy of professional and personal skills, depending on the wording of notices by employers. The conclusions of the report attempts to be a synthesis of the study assumptions results that lead to the idea that the curricular programs of the universities of this profile, though responding in terms of theoretical knowledge, should be extended in practice, but particularly in the personal skills development, which are defining in a competitive selection process.

Diverse Universe： The Law of Equity

Peaceful living has become increasingly difficult to attain in today’s world of globalization, modernization, mechanization, and competition for existing resources on all levels. Conflicts and violence are intensified due to population explosion, food insecurity, climate change, ecological and economic disaster, political and religious differences, and wars over territories and scarce resources. Additionally, health concerns are increasing, which can be partially linked to our current chemical-oriented agricultural and industrial practices. Furthermore, diverse life species are endangered from habitat loss, urbanization, and farming. By losing natural land and native species, we are losing ecosystem diversity. In an era when our planetary existence is threatened, what are the world’s communities doing to save our collective existence？ This paper, based on India’s intellectual traditions, proposes a conceptual model or a system of philosophy of three related categories-diversity, ethics, and peace-for understanding diversity and differences at all levels of existence, individual （biological）, collective （socio-cultural）, and planetary （cosmological）. The main purpose is to make this interdisciplinary study part of an educational philosophy for the creation of civilized societies that will value all lives on the basis of equitability, and recognize ethics of dignity, respect, liberty, justice, and peace.

Emergence of Temple Centered Society in Early Bihar： Mundesvari Inscription a Case in Point

In the early medieval economic and social circumstances religious centers developed in Bihar, which further led to the construction of temples by the rulers as well as by the locally powerful communities. It must be noted that these temples were not as gigantic or of great artistic value either as compared to the Buddhist monasteries of contemporary Bihar. The reason behind this was probably the fact that the Buddhist monasteries were built by the state or supported directly by them as well as patronized by the rich business community. On the contrary, few of the Brahamanical structures were getting these advantages and they were having support of the local followers. From the various excavation and exploration reports by archaeologists, temple structures of this period have been reported very often. But the ancient historiography of Bihar obsessed with the Buddhist, Jaina and other heterodox monuments, has tended to just ignore it. The question why such a large number of temples came up during this period, which is spread over the whole of modem Bihar, particularly near the important Buddhist sites, was never posed. Moreover, the question why the Pala rulers who were known for their Buddhist inclination later extended critical support to Brahmans has also remained unaddressed.

Interculturality and Socio-Linguistic Identity in the Learning of English and Spanish in Mexico

In the current field of action of the pedagogy of languages, efficient, inclusive and dynamic teaching methods are needed; just this work will present the intercultural method through didactic evidences （pedagogical sequences） that have proved their functionality in the teaching rooms of the English in a Spanish-speaking context, as is Mexico. Without forgetting that interculturality is defined according to Cassany （2016） as an ideological current that is that each language of the world is a representative tool at the service of a culture and that said culture in a society is a mental and attitudinal representation to the world where a certain society is based. Then interculturality seeks to develop intercultural skills in the users of languages （Anglo-Hispanic）.

Stereotypes in a Foreign Language Classroom --Modifying Negative Attitudes to Enhance Foreign Language Learning

The aim of the paper is to present various aspects of the phenomenon of stereotyping in the context of FL （foreign language） learning and teaching and to discuss practical solutions to be used in a FL classroom to teach the worm about the worm by questioning the stereotypes learners have of other nations and languages. This paper is an attempt to present some ideas of FL teachers＇ role in developing students＇ socio-cultural competence with the aim of raising their cross-cultural awareness and questioning the stereotypes students bring into a FL classroom. The methodology used was an analysis of fragment of tape scripts from listening comprehension activities from a course book preparing Polish secondary students for the school leaving exam. The topics discussed concern opinions about attitudes towards and judgments of various cultural aspects, be it drinking tea or discussing the weather, impressions people have about other nations, or languages people speak.

Resisting the Violences of ＂Market Normalisation＂： The Importance of Critical Pedagogies for Critical Criminology

The neo-liberal re-positioning of the educational-explorative realm to a vocational market-confinement has already impacted quite heavily on the educational sector in England and Wales and is now being imposed on a European wide scale. However, global as well as European students＇ protests illustrate that resistance to this ideology is gathering pace, and not only involves students and academics but also reaches wider parts of societies. This paper seeks to demonstrate the need for critical pedagogical practices that seek to sensitise students to the modes of current ＂conditions of domination＂. It further suggests critical criminologists to foster and engage in a process of public, intellectual, and intercultural exchange of ideas about education and educational institutions away from merely rationalistic, one-dimensional and profit-orientated ambitions toward a multitude of exchanges about meanings and purposes of such important socio-cultural and political institutions and processes that shape ＂subjectivities＂, inter-subjectivities and thus entire socio-cultural and political spheres. Such processes and active engagements are crucial to the agenda of critical criminologists, and perhaps most importantly, vital to the continued existence of a critical criminology that understands itself as proper ideology critique.

Discussion on the Modern Moral Education Function of the Traditional ＂Five Human Relationships＂

Chinese culture puts much emphasis upon ethics, by which people are bound to pay respect to their superiors, fathers or husbands, hence a realization of social harmony and the utmost of the moral unification of heavens and human beings. The story as a means of significance in transmission of traditional culture explains vividly the connotation of traditional morals and plays a role of importance in moral education of ancient times as well. This thesis shall analyze the essence of moral ideas in those stories, through which to be aware of and taste the ethical tenderness in traditional moralities, thus a perfection of the application of traditional stories to modern moral education.

Teaching Chinese to Ethnic Minority Students in Hong Kong:A Systematic Review

This paper presents a systematic review of research on Chinese as a Second Language(CSL)education for ethnic minority students in Hong Kong SAR.Using three databases and screening with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria,the study selected 38 empirical studies published in English-language peer-reviewed journals.We find that there has been a surge of publications in Hong Kong in the past decade(2010–2020),and they are mostly authored by scholars from three universities in Hong Kong.Most of the research took a phenomenological approach,using interviews as the main data collection method and focusing on underprivileged South Asian students in secondary schools.The thematic analysis showed that Hong Kong’s CSL adopted a poststructuralist paradigm for understanding and revealing social inequalities surrounding Chinese language education for ethnic minority students.The study concludes that Hong Kong must decolonise its education system to genuinely support ethnic minority students to achieve educational equality and social justice.

Evaluation of the Suitability of International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRSs） for Application in Emerging North African Countries： A Literature Review and a Research Agenda

Despite the progress of international accounting harmonization, there remain a number of countries which have not adopted International Financial Reporting Standards （IFRSs） but continue to adhere to their own accounting laws or standards, including Libya and some surrounding countries. This paper examines the arguments surrounding the appropriateness of accounting harmonization and the obstacles to achieve it and seeks to apply these arguments in the case of Libya. The conclusion is that although harmonization with IFRSs is not precluded by any cultural considerations, historical factors and accounting education deficiencies may make the adoption of IFRSs more difficult, while the absence of an active stock market may make it less desirable.