The Impact of Editing: Would 'a rose by any other name smell as sweet'?

            Editors are hired by just about everyone, making their ability to perform for a wide spectrum of audiences, in a plethora of genres, pivotal.  Just think about it—your favorite Harry Potter book, this month’s edition of Sports Illustrated, the local news report, a descriptive restaurant menu that paints a picture of your impending meal, textbooks and academic essays, the advertisement for the latest and greatest iPhone that everyone will own within days of its release, or the little tag on the inside of your sweater that tells you to ‘wash on delicate cycle’—editors have been there, influencing just about every aspect of society.  While many see them as behind the scenes specialists of grammar, the alterations made by editors have a profound impact on the pieces they work with and society in general.  Though editing techniques have changed throughout the ages, at times, the contributions of editors are even more influential than those of the original author.

The Problem of Poor Data

The lights glare down on a sparkling stage, where several young women nervously face the judges. The year is 2007, and the future Ms. Teen USA is in this group. The judge proceeds down the aisle. Unknown to all present, a piece of YouTube comedy gold is about to be born. Turning to Ms. South Carolina, she asks her to explain the problem of political unawareness in the United States. In a moment, it becomes obvious that she is the queen of the unaware. Stammering, a cascade of disconnected words tumble from her mouth: "personally believe... and the maps... Iraq". The blended mess of buzzwords fades out and the audience claps uneasily. Besides the several data points evident on the internet, the world had a new reason to distrust teenage selfie-posters as a reliable source of information.

Chuckle at this story though we may, it underlines a serious issue that may be illustrated with a simple venn diagram.
The world we live in takes its financial advice from advertisers, accepts dieting tips from fashion magazines, and awards the camera to whoever represents an opinion in the most obnoxious way possible. The casual manner that we adopt while tossing around statistics is particularly disturbing. An old joke claims that 87 percent of statistics are made up on the spot, but the truth of the statement overshadows the humor. Statistics are supposed to be the gatekeeper of truth, but all too often, pundits and presidents misquote or mislead using these very tools. Although such data is invaluable, social integrity and decency both dictate that statistics should be regulated in a way that does not skew the truth.

The Effect of Ancient Greece on Modern Social Work Practice

           Every career path has a face, a legacy, and a story to tell.  Each has the potential to reshape a piece of the human experience.  Clinical social work is unique because the ability to change individuals' lives is not ancillary to its professional purpose but rather its very core.  In the therapy room perspectives of patient and clinician collide, creating a sense of relationship and situation that shifts and transforms over time.  While the therapist's perspective includes needed expertise that can, when communicated well, be effective in changing a person's long-standing habits, the philosophical predecessors to modern social work that subtly inform his practice can at times also threaten to undermine his patients' wellbeing.  No human-conceived methodology or way of thinking is perfect, and failing to acknowledge  that fact can be detrimental to the progress and general good of individuals and society.

Discussing Dance: Channeling Your Inner Critic

Entertainment vs. art. This is an age-old debate we continue to have in our society that may or may not ever really have a correct answer to it. What constitutes entertainment? What constitutes art? Can entertainment and art be the same thing, or are they supposed to be separate? Depending on how we view the two affects the way we communicate about a creative work, in any medium of performance. Although the art form of dance should inspire and evoke personal responses from audience members, when watching dance, viewers should strive for sophisticated communication that can separate subjective personal opinions from objective critical evaluation in order to give more effective feedback on work.

Communication and History are Critical in English Teaching

“A true teacher is one who, keeping the past alive,

is also able to understand the present.”

–Confucius

            If Confucius was right when he said that a true teacher utilizes the past as a guide to the present, then you, as an aspiring English teacher, must be able to do the same. As an English lover, you have an innate linguistic forte; as an aspiring teacher, you have a natural need to instruct your future students as effectively as you can. In order to develop a powerful pedagogy, you must explore two topics you won’t learn about in your college teacher-preparation curriculum: rhetoric (which is the art of communication) and history (in both ancient and recent times).

Education? Elementary, my dear Watson.

              Imagine you are in a room filled with twenty second graders.  They look up at you with admiration and expectation in their eyes.  You look back with seeing in each child his potential to become someone who will change the community, other’s lives and the future.  You look back with hope and love and even a little fear.  How can one individual know enough to inspire each one of these twenty expecting souls?  It seems impossible, but I can reassure you that is possible because you are exactly the individual who has enough love to help these children.  While practice and study are important, there are some other insights that I have learned from my own experience, study and through the experiences of other professionals in this field. 

                In my life I have had teachers that have inspired me to the point where I thought I could do anything and be anything and I have had teachers that make me feel like lying in bed all day and never going back to school again.  You may ask yourself what it was that made such a strong difference in my feelings and the answer is simple – communication.  If a teacher does not effectively communicate with students, parents and faculty, then there can be dire consequences.  But if a teacher effectively communicates, then he will be successful in inspiring and motivating students.  Through knowing how to address certain audiences, understanding the various form of communication that a teacher uses, and forming one’s own philosophy about education and communication, a teacher can be the catalyst for a love of learning in children’s lives.

Keys to Communication

An elementary teacher has the privilege to communicate on many levels.  A teacher is given instructions and guidelines from political leaders and administrators, must communicate the needs of individual students, discuss the best ways to teach the necessary curriculum, help children to understand basic concepts and assist parents in the teaching of their children.  Believe it or not persuasion has everything to do with teaching.  Most communication is done face to face but emails can be passed on and phone calls to parents are common.

A teacher must be able to analyze his audience and adapt to effectively communicate.  When speaking in the community or with administrators the needs of the children should be the focus and how to improve on what is already being done in the classroom.  Colloquial language should be avoided.  When communicating with a child the teacher must take great care in teaching in a way that is comprehensible to every child in the classroom.  The children’s interests and backgrounds should be taken into consideration to provide better understanding.  When communicating with parents the teacher must show love for their child and his specific needs.  One must show sincere concern for each child and his home life. 

Most communication in the field of education is deliberative or in other words that usually there is a goal of changing something in education and promoting action.  This is seen in community forums with the politics of education, in teams of teachers for the best way to teach and even in parent-teacher conferences to encourage the progress of the student.  Teachers want to encourage children to progress, want to change how the community views education, and want to inspire parents to help their children better learn. 

Political and Community Speaking

A few examples of communication with different audiences in mind will be given to provide further understanding into this skill that is so important in order to help these children who depend so much on you.  First an example will be given of how a teacher could appropriately address an audience at a community forum to encourage members of the community to donate since classroom sizes are so high and it is becoming more difficult to attend to the needs of each individual child. 

Speaking in a community forum a teacher or group of teachers may try to address the need for smaller class sizes to benefit the learning of the individual students and help funding for this to occur. A teacher could say something of the following:

"We are here to discuss the future of our children, our community and our country.  Have you ever been in a large group and something had been discussed that you didn't quite understand but because of the size of the group you felt your voice had been lost?  Children today are getting lost in these large class sizes.  They are entering a different community with different rules and often they get lost and left behind.  Isn't this contradictory with the No Child Left Behind Policy?  Your children and community need your help.  It is possible to make a difference in our community by donating and helping to fund the schools so that class sizes can be smaller and your children can have their voice heard and their needs met.  This is how real learning will occur.  The benefits are enormous for not only your family, but also our community and country.  Please stop and think of the future and make a difference today."

How was this address different than talking with a student or one on one with a parent?  When trying to persuade others to see the necessity of helping these children, a teacher needs to help those listening to feel for each child as the teacher feels and to show how unrealistic learning can be in the current situations.  It is important to connect to your audience by talking about how these children are the future of the community.  Those listening need to feel that acting on this will make a difference in their lives, because when it all comes down to it, humans as a race are egotistical. 

Parent - Teacher Communication

Now we will examine the communication between a teacher and a student that was struggling in her classroom as this teacher has a meeting with this student’s mother.  Mrs. Reggiani is a first grade teacher and has the privilege to help children become literate in reading and writing.  She lives in an area in the United States where there are many Spanish speakers and has some students in her class that are struggling because they are learning basic academics in a second language.  Because of this she has to communicate with the parents and guardians of students to help these children progress in their education.  She has attempted multiple times to communicate over the telephone without much success.  Mrs. Reggiani has scheduled to meet with the mother of one Spanish speaking student in her class, Maria who is from Chile.

She dresses in dress pants and a blouse but nothing too overdone as to appear more personable.  Before the meeting she has made a list of words in Spanish that she thinks will apply to their conversation.  Maria comes with her mother to help translate if needed.  Maria and her mother sit down with Mrs. Reggiani and she introduces herself.  She smiles and hugs Maria’s mother as is custom in Chile.  Mrs. Reggiani uses lots of gestures and pays attention to Maria’s mother when she speaks to help her to feel more comfortable.  The style is low as Mrs. Reggiani is trying to communicate Maria’s need in the classroom and show that she truly cares about her education and their family.  The delivery is clear and she enunciates as she speaks and speaks slowly.  Mrs. Reggiani frequently pauses to ask if she has been understood and listens as Maria’s mother explains what she has understood.  Some comparison is used to help her understand better but Mrs. Reggiani mostly avoids figurative language so as to avoid confusion.  She uses cause and effect to explain how the support of Maria’s family will help her in her academics.  They decide to meet regularly to increase Maria’s progression in the classroom.  Mrs. Reggiani was successful through her low and friendly style showing concern for Maria and respect for her family while explaining the situation clearly and with the help of her preparation in understanding better Maria’s cultural background.

We can see that this conversation between Maria’s mother and Mrs. Reggiani is very different than that of the teacher addressing the community forum.  But if you use the skill discussed earlier and focus on really connecting to those that you communicate with, then you won’t have to worry.  Remember that above anything else your focus should be on the needs of your students.  If you really care about your students, then communication will be done with love and will be effective.

Lessons from the Past

We can learn a lot from the past in how teachers have communicated and how that communication has changed recently.  Then it is each teacher’s responsibility to make a decision in what has been done previously and if that will be applied in the classroom. 

Ancient History

In ancient Greece, children started their elementary education around seven years of age.  It was divided between formal and informal education.  Formal education was for those families who had the money to pay for a pedagogue, or a private instructor, to teach their children.  The pedagogue would teach in the family’s home and would teach basic skills like reading, writing, and basic morals (Sienkewicz).  We can see that although our education system has evolved it is quite similar to this.  Here the communication was tailored more to the individual student and there was more time for each student to work with the teacher.

Recent History

There have been recent changes in the world that have affected the education system.  I talked to Lucelia Albernaz, a retired Elementary School principal, to learn more about these changes.  She said that the major factor in the recent history of education has been the technological development that has occurred.  I remember going to the computer lab during the school week in Elementary School and having to practice typing.  Now technology has become an even bigger part in the education of our children.  It is how grades are given, communication between the teacher and parent is done and now there are even classes that are flipped or use blended learning where the students watch video lectures at home and then problems and homework is done in the classroom with the help and guidance of the teacher.  This helps children to work at their own pace and to have more individualized time with the teacher in the classroom.  Writing is now done through technology so there is no more use for a stylus and wax board.  There has been a recent change from chalk boards to white boards and now to over-head projectors.  

So with all these changes is our children’s education improving?  It is up to you to make the decision of what type of communication is best for you and your students.  They need you and depend on you.  If one applies these principles, then children will have wonderful experiences in the classroom and teachers will feel more accomplished and happy in their work with these children.  The future leaders of the world can be in your classroom and through your effective communication you will change lives and the future.

Works Cited

Albernaz, Lucelia, Personal Interview, December 3, 2014.

Ed. Sienkewicz, “Education and Training,” Ancient Greece (New Jersey: Salem Press, Inc., 2007), 245.

Consulting Business Consultants: Come Know the Caveats

           It has been said that, “Hindsight is always twenty-twenty” and that is correct. In today’s world, people would be willing to pay billions to have twenty-twenty vision of the future or even the present. I do not have the answer to gain that perfect vision of the future but I do hold valuable knowledge as to how to see the present situation in twenty-twenty vision. The principles taught within can be applied to all situations but what will we be looking at exactly? Business consulting and how to find success therein. For those now preparing to enter into the field of business consulting there are some essential skills and knowledge that are often overlooked. I assure you, earning straight A’s across your business strategy college  courses will not be sufficient to truly be competitive in such a competitive field. Among the most  important influences of the success of a businessman is that of his ability to communicate clearly, respect surroundings appropriately, and create a powerful “perceived status” in the eyes of others. We will go deep into many of the vital, hidden principles of business consulting (that you won’t learn in your business classes) in order to satisfy the “unspoken rules” of successful business; addressing the key points learned through history, and communication to more fully grasp this important topic.

           This article does not contain the solution to every situation in order to find success but it does contain sufficient perspective and information as to allow one entering the business consulting field to recognize areas (beyond their studies) in which he or she must become expert to be successful.

Get It Right The First Time

                You consider yourself an influential, bright young individual ready to rock the boat in the world of business consulting. Rocking the boat can be powerful when deliberate but disastrous when not.  To avoid sinking the ship is as simple as understanding the following idea; when was the last time you went to some sort of event only to instantly realize that you were underdressed? Or maybe overdressed? Take a moment and recall what you felt; the embarrassment, the awkward feeling, the frustration and maybe in extreme cases even shame. A simple example to illustrate an important point; there is an accepted way to act, to communicate, and to appear for every situation and every context. It is no different in the world of business consulting.  Within business consulting there are no two days alike. Each day brings new situations and even newer relationships. To succeed in business consulting one must understand and be able to adapt to these situations and relationships. 

                Now, let’s imagine entering your first job interview only to come to find out that the company asked its’ applicants to dress in blue, pinstripe collared shirts with brown slacks and brown shoes. You sit down amidst the twelve other applicants who did not miss the memo. What are the chances of you getting the job? What are the chances of even being taken seriously before you open your mouth to answer the first question? That is a rhetorical question; you know the answer.  Just as there is a proper way to dress for certain situations, so too are there proper ways to speak and to act. Know the situation and what the situation calls for.

Matching the Communication with  the Situation

                Suppose you did obtain the job (because you went home quickly and changed your outfit to match the situation of course). Think, for a moment, of the many different ways in which you speak. You speak with friends, with family, with the opposite sex, with fellow coworkers, your manager, the list goes on. Each relationship calls for a different approach in communication. Understanding appropriate communication for the given situation is essential for you to keep that newly obtained job. One must learn to match the vocabulary, the body language, the tone of your voice with the nature of the relationship. For example; in sitting down with your first potential client think of how you would communicate. What vocabulary would be used? “Dude,” or maybe “bud” or “amigo?” If you are looking to lose your first not-customer this is a perfect way to do so. With your friends these words are just fine yet with this potential customer they will fail you. This may seem basic and implied knowledge but I assure you that those who are good; really, really good, stand tall above the competition. Learn this trade. It is not taught in your major studies.

Success Through Perception

                In the example of the interview, there is another element essential for success; “being taken seriously.” You have the ability and responsibility to create the type of character that you desire others to perceive. History illustrates this point exceptionally well. In Rome antiquity there was a group of people that organized the first Roman cavalry. These were called Equestrians. Equestrians were among the most noble, determined, and brave leaders. They were brilliant in their stratagem and execution.  Due to their status, Equestrians became powerful influences in the business world and one could argue, consultants in business. Others perception of the Equestrians allowed them to be influential leaders. Let us review. What is your perception of the Equestrians right now? Is it good or bad? My very words influenced your perception of the Equestrians. It only took three sentences. Now, a more important question.

                Why did you believe that the Equestrians were who I claimed they were? Over no great amount of time I have created a trustworthy, reliable source in your perception of who I am. One’s ability to find success in business consulting weighs heavily upon how he or she is perceived by others; or his perceived “status.” Every moment of interaction you are selling yourself; your abilities, your character, and your worth to the firm or customer. I do not speak of a status that cannot be influenced or changed. I speak of the status that one can create. Just as I created a perceived status of the Equestrians in your mind you must be able to create a desired perceived status in the minds of others. No matter how great your academic skills may be; if you have not the ability to create powerful perceived status success will always extend beyond your grasp.

                Developing a perceived status of trust, of loyalty, or of diligence are powerful ways to move forward in gaining success in business consulting. Allow me to guide you to another important principle.

Creating a New Kind of Value

                Paul Heathcote, a consultant with over 25 years of experience and who has recently given birth to his own consulting firm explains that being able to communicate effectively is essential. In his words he further taught, “You have to be able to show value to the customer right away.” Yes, this includes your academic knowledge of Proforma statements, the statements of cash flows, or whatever your line of expertise may be but we now know that there is more to it. The ability to “show value” is essential. That “showing” is not to be confused with “doing” valuable things. A consultant who can clearly “show value” through his words is a successful consultant. It takes more than the ability to analyze and crunch numbers to be successful; it takes persuasion by communication.

                An example; imagine two consultants in two different companies were asked to do the exact same task. Upon the asking of the completion of the task the first responds, “Yes, I finished what you had asked for; the papers are on your desk.” The second consultant responds in the following, “Yes, it was a bit more complex than what we had originally anticipated. Your request required a number of other steps that were not foreseen. Nonetheless, I was able to take care of the problem for you and the papers are now waiting for you at your desk.” The two consultants completed the exact same work in the exact same way but in your mind, who worked harder and accomplished more? The second most likely. I do not claim that more words are better than less. To find success in business consulting requires the ability to show to others that you are valuable while still creating a perceived status that is appropriate for your goals and situation. It is worth your time to learn the skill of communication and persuasion rather than just crunch numbers or problem solve.   

Conclusion

 In summary, I do not teach that influential communication alone will bring you great success. It is necessary to receive proper education in a competitive field in order to become a great businessman. That expertise, accompanied with the ability to communicate clearly, increase status, build trust, and demonstrate value is the formula for success. To be successful does not require twenty-twenty vision of the future but it does require the ability to communicate in such a way to demonstrate your control of the present. Learn from those who have already experienced your future; learn persuasion through communication. 

Works Cited

Paul Heathcote. Natural Knack Incorporated.

Burton, Gideon O. "Silva Rhetoricae: The Forest of Rhetoric." Silva Rhetoricae. 15 Dec. 2014.

      <http://rhetoric.byu.edu>.

"The Roman Empire in the First Century: Equestrians." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014. http://www.pbs.org/empires/

Speaking is more than just the job description...

If you are reading this, it’s probably for one of two reasons. One, you are a young ambitious college student who has recently chosen to declare your future career as a translator, and you wish to discover more about how to prepare for your profession. The other reason is that you are one of my peers or teacher evaluating my final work for this.

So, you're interested in translating? This career has always been incredibly valued in the realm of communications. This job has one of the fastest growth rates over the next decade thanks to the rise of commonplace global communications, and the pay is based on demand for a specified language and the translator’s skill and speed in translation of the task. Typically, it’s recommended for a translator like yourself to have a degree in the intended language for translation, and a good background in English comprehension and writing. Considerably affordable compared to law school.

However, don’t think that these few things are the only barriers between you and what it takes to be an official translator. What deceivingly looks like a financially successful job with minimal prerequisites hides many more skills necessary to be adequately prepared as a translator. For example, do you understand the change that the translation industry is going through in our day and technology’s role in the current market? How are you going to successfully translate something, if you don’t know a thing about the origins or cultural context of the material? And are you able to work with a myriad of different people and establish honest and heartfelt connections with your employers? Each of these are necessary to grasp if you want to have success in this profession, and beneficial to you in many other professional endeavors.

Experience in the Old Country

You may know your second language very well, but how is a customer supposed to evaluate your skill aside from your word and a college degree? A good way to show proof of your linguistic skills is to study abroad in a different country. Most language degrees require one or an equivalence in order to get the degree, but for translation, there is a much higher emphasis for this. A translator shouldn’t just understand the grammatical rearranging required between two languages, but also its idioms, cultural emphasis, and colloquial speech. These are things that need a hands on experience to truly understand, and that is what interpretation and translation is all about. Although you may be guaranteed a study abroad through degree requirements, the more official study abroads you can put on your resume, the better it will benefit you (and there is no limit to quantity).

Studying a language in its original country has always been used as an efficient indicator of one’s skill. For example, when the Bible was being translated into Latin in the late 4th century. A priest by the name of Jerome wanted a reliable bible created for widespread use through the church, so with consent from the pope, he set out to do that himself. He moved to Jerusalem and spent five years of his life learning Hebrew from the Hebrews themselves. Then, he spent the next fifteen years In the holy land single-handedly translating the Bible into Latin from Greek and Hebrew. Because of his extensive time spent abroad and intricate involvement in the language, Jerome’s completed Vulgate Bible became known as the most accurate translation of the Bible for a thousand years until Martin Luther’s translation in 1536. (de  Gruyter, p. 304-315)

Are you fluent in Binary?

Another thing important to the modern-day translator is, well,  what the modern day holds. You may be deceived, thinking that technology plays a small part of translation’s work. After all, Google Translate can do hardly more than what a traditional dictionary can do. A translator should be practically a hermit, free to work on his own and never have to deal with anything more complicated than an email with the file of the completed work. Right? Wrong. The truth is that technology is your best ally in this work. The role of a translator has always been intertwined with the new advancements of whatever era it takes place in. The world wide web is deeply intertwined with commercial translation efforts. Clients are searched for here, materials are uploaded, even many assignments given are purely digital. Modern translators are not as easily reclusive as perhaps believed to be, and they must be flexible to the twists and changes that advances will bring.

It's thanks to this that your future career exists, as well as
the internet and your favorite fandom of choice.

The digital age isn't the only instance of the need for an adaptation to a more social and outspoken translator. In the times of the Egyptians, ancient Romans and even the middle ages, everything was written by hand. A translator’s job then was long and arduous work, with everything done by yourself and a small group of others, having to copy everything piece by piece down to the letter, without making a single mistake. Ugh! In 1450, all of that changed when the Gutenberg printing press was created. It was a warm welcome of relief. At the same time, it caused a severe shift in the life of translation up until that time. Gone was the monastic lifestyle and endless hours of repetition. Emphasis became more on spreading the materials created by the new, innovative process. Now the internet is placing emphasis on strong communication between the translators and their clients. Thereby, useful skills in marketing or business are highly praised in the current translator world. (Briggs,15-23, 61-73)

Extending the conversation beyond small talk...

The most mandatory, unofficial skill for people pursuing translation though is the unique understanding of literary composition and verbal discourse that a professional must have in their arsenal. When you think of knowing how to write and speak, you typically picture authors and lawyers to do those things. You should make no such mistake with translation. Knowing how to speak is the true hidden art within this career. What is so complicatedly confusing about it is the simple fact that as a translator (and especially as a vocal interpreter) You must understand how to keep something as original as possible. Context, wording, any change whatsoever must be virtually non-existent. When you translate, you must be a perfect representation of their ideas, emotions and credibility. In order to be an effective translator, you need to mimic your client and become a substitute. Failure to do so can lead to an improper result of what is desired and in a worst case scenario, unintentional wars started in foreign relations due to a translator displaying their work in lighting unintended for the message given.

Conclusion

If you truly desire to be a translator, my recommendation is to be involved with as many people as possible in real life (or online) and get a feel for just how valuable the aforementioned skills are. Try to translate a joke you like and keep the context in check, skype with people in different countries and get familiar with how to find and address clients through online means. Enhancing your ability to speak with others and convey the right message is what translation is truly about.

Bibliography

1. Walter de Gruyter, “Theologische Realenzyklopädie, Vol. 15”, Berlin – New York 1986, Web. 6 December 2014

Briggs, Asa and Burke, Peter “A Social History of the Media: from Gutenberg to the Internet” Polity, 3rd ed. 2010, Print

Communication in the World of Accounting

Accounting has been around for centuries and some of the oldest accounts recorded and known date all the way back to ancient Rome where they would account for taxes, crops, and population (Rathbone). At that time accounting was simply recording the count of different categories. As civilizations began to develop and evolve with advancements in technology, accounting followed the trend. Today modern accounting practices have become much more complex, with many rules and regulation created in the late nineteenth century (Schneider). The accounting junior core will teach students all of the rules and technical information needed for their profession, but what is often left out the communication skills needed in their field. Accounting students must know how to communicate both through written documents and through oral, face-to-face interaction in order to successfully communicate with others.

Written Rhetoric

There are two types of written communication for accountants (1) financial statements, and (2) business correspondences. To better understand how each one plays a role in the accounting field, case studies have been provided below:

Financial Statements

John has just submitted the quarterly financial statements for the company. He double checked that the assets equal the liability and equity, the monthly ending account balances match on both the cash flows and bank account statements, and the income statement has the correct revenues and expenses listed. All three statements that he created followed the specific format that is customary to the field. John knows that because the documents were clean, and organized, those who would review the statements would easily find the information they were seeking. John was able to follow a specific form that allowed easy access to information. In accounting, it is imperative that the financial statements are clean and clear so the intended information will be easy for the reader to access. Over the years, accountants have somewhat standardized the look of their financial statements through the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), but there is still some flexibility when it come to the outline. Because of this, choosing the correct template to follow is very important.

Business Correspondences

Hannah needed to write a memo to her accounting team that explained the new system when creating journal entries. There were multiple added or revised steps, and she knew it would be a longer memo. When writing in business, it is important to keep the messages organized, and easy for the reader to understand where exactly in the process they are. Hannah kept that in mind when writing the memo, so she decided the best option was to organize the steps by bullet points. This would create a break in the page which would make the reading seem less daunting to read, and it would make the organization of the memo very precise. Hannah also created an agenda, similar to a thesis sentence, and the beginning of the memo which outlined all that was going to be discussed in the memo. It acted as a table of contents, which helped the reader follow and understand where how the paper was being guided. In the end, because Hannah was able to neatly organize her memo, all of her staff were able to transition smoothly over to the new journal entry system.

Oral Rhetoric

The second type of communication is oral, when people interact with one another in the workplace. Once again, there are two subcategories in this communication, communication during (1) an interview and (2) a meeting / presentation. The following case studies exemplify these two categories:

Interviews

Adam knows that first impressions are everything when it comes to interviewing. Oral communication does not consist of only what you say, but also includes tone and body language. When answering questions Adam made sure that his voice sounded confident and sure of his abilities and previous work experience. He also used a friendly and approachable tone when first introducing himself. Adam also took body language into consideration when preparing. He came ready to give a firm handshake, make direct eye contact, and dress appropriately. During the interview, Adam was very mindful of his gestures and hand movements. He avoided making nervous gestures such as playing with his hands, but also made sure to use his hands and avoid sitting completely still and lifeless. Finally, Adam prepared answers to the possible interview questions that would be asked. When interviewing one weak answer could prevent you from getting the job if your competitor is a great interviewer, and because of this he made sure that every answer that he would give would tell both a past problem that he encountered, and also the solution that he came up with that helped him in the work place.

Presentation / Meetings

Lisa was assigned to give the monthly presentation to the board of directors that explained the financial standing of the company. She knew that some of the directors did not have strong financial knowledge, and that if she were to talk and explain things to them as she would to her accounting colleagues, they would not understand. In order to relay the information Lisa chose to not just show the statements and charts, but to translate them from numbers into words, and explain the occurring trends. She also made sure that her accounting jargon was limited, and that she spoke in simple terms that everyone could understand. She had PowerPoint slides up and ready with information on them that she was going to further discuss.

In conclusion, accounting student must know how to communicate through written and oral rhetoric in order to successfully relay the information that they know to others in the company. Written financial statements and messages, along with oral communication during interviews and meetings / presentations are used daily in this field, and are vital to surviving in the business world. Just like everything in life, in order to master the skills, it take practice and patience. Taking the Management Communications class required for business majors will help further build up the communication skills described above.

Work Cited

Rathbone, Dominic. “Taxation in Roman Egypt.” Classical Review 27.2 (2007): 490-492.

Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.

Scheider, Bob. “Accounting Basics, History of Accounting.” Investopedia. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.

So You Wanna be a French Teacher

I was thirteen years old, and I did not want to take a Spanish class.

            The whole world was already taking Spanish, and besides, my older sister had taken French and loved it. So despite my parents’ warnings that Spanish would be more useful, I enrolled in French I for my eighth grade year. French I led to French II, which led (eventually) to French 322. In the middle of that great journey, I came across a thought: what about French teaching?

            So I looked into it and discovered that which already begs for attention: in order to teach French, you have to know French…and really know French. It would be a little tough to teach a language when you’ve never been immersed in it before, wouldn’t it?

            Underneath that fact, though, there is more to being a French teacher. It’s not just about saying your “bonjour”’s and your “oui oui”’s. It’s about knowing how to communicate with certain audiences, as well as how to use knowledge of French teaching history, in a way that benefits students the most.

Ruminations on Communications

            There is a problem in junior high and high schools in the United States (among others): the lack of funding for humanities subjects like French. In order to keep funding for your subject, you must be able to convince a variety of audiences that the French language matters in education. Considering each of these audiences’ values before presenting your arguments can help you keep your subject in schools.

            The Head Honchos

            One audience you’ll encounter is the school administrators. Because they are the ones who will be cutting the funding for French classes, or at least delivering the bad news, you’ll need to stuff some good stuff up your sleeve to convince them that French is needed in schools.

Administrators are academics, right? They thus value professionalism, statistics, and good solid reasoning. Appealing to these values requires a confident appearance coupled with your best pressed slacks or that black pencil skirt. This shows that you are serious about your topic, and that you understand the hierarchy of school positions. You also have to do some genuine research beforehand—find a couple studies with graphs to display, for example. Do a brief study yourself at your school if you can (making sure, of course, that all of this research points to how French language learning benefits students). Then, show them that you know what you’re talking about. Make straightforward points that represent a clear pathway of logic. Create multiple syllogisms, emphasizing the conclusions about—or the advantages of—French as a part in the whole of education.

The Young Whipper-Snappers

Of course, your most frequent audience will be students. Convincing these little buggers that French is a worthy pursuit (which will lead to larger class sizes and thus more funding) is a different task altogether.

            Students value entertainment, familiarity of tone, and application to real life. For your case to be convincing, all of these elements must be included. So say you’re doing a beginning-of-the-year presentation to students about how French can be of use to them in their education. Make it an online presentation, like a PowerPoint or a Prezi. Start it with a video (a funny one that students might already know would be best). Keep the slides interesting throughout the presentation with music and pictures that keep their attention. Now that you’ve got them with the technology, make sure that your tone doesn’t betray your status. Just because you’re going to be their French professor doesn’t mean that you’re better than them—so make sure your voice isn’t sending that message. Throw in some hip teenager lingo, for instance, along with some funny French words. Get on their level. Show that you care not just about their presence in your class, but about their general educational well being. That can definitely boost your points with the kiddos. But some of them might then get to the point where they start wondering, How does this matter in real life? One of the things that first caught my attention about French was how it would connect me to other people and other parts of the world that I had never studied or seen before. Using this little tidbit could help attract some of those students who haven’t thought about French before but have a deep sense of curiosity or wanderlust.

The Tale of French Teaching

            Before the Renaissance, French teaching emphasized conversation more than anything. Students learned as if from traveler’s bilingual dictionaries—how to talk about the pantalons they put on that morning, how to describe the nourriture they ate for lunch, how to ask for directions to the cinéma. Their textbooks were “elementary grammars…and treatises” that addressed little more than “the occupations of daily life” (Simoni). Grammar was left on the sidelines. Teachers—who were often emigrants—did little more than move their students to conversational ability. Granted, at that time, French teaching wasn’t exactly standardized.

            French teaching in modern history, up to the present, is much the opposite. The student’s first encounter with French often consists of just standardized learning of grammar and vocabulary (using textbooks that may or may not be from the ‘80’s). These “‘pre-communicative’ knowledge and skills” (Littlewood) are essential foundations, but they don’t get students to the communicative part of language. And it’s the communicative part that really makes knowledge of language useful and meaningful.

            So, what? Can this historical context make a difference in how French teachers make a difference in students’ lives? Indeed, it can. Knowledge about the history of French teaching can help create the ideal learning environment for students. The approach is to balance the distant and recent past.

            It can be difficult for beginning students especially to have the courage to communicate in a secondary language in class. To embolden the shier ones requires, quite simply, frequent and effective conversation activities. Integrate simple and useful French phrases into the curriculum so that students can speak in the classroom while they are learning other grammar and vocabulary rules, not apart from that learning. French teachers should also speak in French at least during part of class, working up to entire class times in French within the first couple years of language courses.

           

            French teaching is more than being fluent in French. In order to persuade students and administrators to recognize the value of French classes, you must possess rhetorical and historical knowledge. Such tools can and will have an incredible impact on how much attention and funding your language program receives, as well as how you’re your students learn and end up being able to utilize their language skills.

Works Cited

Littlewood, William T. "Form and Meaning in Language-Teaching Methodology." The 

Modern Language Journal (1980): 441. EBSCO. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.

Simonini, R. C. "The Genesis of Modern Foreign Language Teaching." The Modern 

Language Journal (1951): 185-86. EBSCO. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.