Finance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Finance - Assignment Example joint venture. Sainsbury’s offers food and non-food items at its supermarkets and convenience stores along with that it also operate online grocery store and general merchandise operations. Sainsbury operates almost 1106 stores that includes 583 supermarkets and 523 convenience stores. Company also holds interest in freehold and long lease hold properties and also the properties that come under their joint venture agreements. In its financial services sectors it provides credit cards, insurance, loans and savings advices also relating to energy efficiency at customer homes. Sainsbury also provides selection of movies, music, books, games and other entertainment products (Yahoo, 2013). Sainsbury’s holds almost 18% share of the UK supermarket and is the second largest supermarket chain in the country. Despite the fact that Sainsbury is the UK’s second largest supermarket chain it is the returns that the company offers that would attract the investors and the share towards the company not the quality of the services or the size of company itself. In order to understand how much value is given or created by the Sainsbury to its shareholders and investors it is important that analysis of it’s incomes, returns that it offers, its operations, liquidity position and the growth that it offers in the future is thoroughly made. Thus to get the full understanding cash flow analysis along with its income statement is made to have idea about its liquidity position. Both inflow and outflow of cash in the company is assured through three different activities that the company goes through operating, investing and financing. All three activities of Sainsbury are discussed as follow. Over the past three years Sainsbury’s Plc. have been reporting net income however as analysis of its profit margins are done it is seen that in the current period its profit margins re lagging behind to that of the industry average. It can be said that the company is

The Underestimation of Violent Sexual Offender Recidivism Essay Example for Free

The Underestimation of Violent Sexual Offender Recidivism Essay The sex offender varies in types of crimes.   Some have committed violent sexual assaults on strangers, have had inappropriate sexual contact with family members, molested children, and others have engaged in a wide range of other inappropriate and criminal sexual behaviors.   A homogenous category of â€Å"sex offenders,† in terms of distinguishing factors linked to recidivism will be hidden and unreliable results will be obtained from studies of recidivism patterns.   Therefore, how can we predict specific violent sex offender reoffense, with an aim to integrate these results logically within existing databases? The common sources of data are from NCVS (National Crime Victim Surveys), survey of State Prison Inmates, and FBI files.    These reports list the overall characteristics of victims and offenders such as background, education, psychological profiles etcand are collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.   In addition, the reporting of sexual offenses is very hard on the part of victims due to shame, guilt and trauma, altering the accuracy of the data. This is particular true in the case of children and teenagers victims.   Prediction of reoffense along with an offender’s profile may help prevent the failure of rehabilitation.   Prediction must be based on an acceptable and standard method of determination in order to be included within these existing databases.   In addition, the integration of the recidivism data into these databases must be based on the consideration of certain factors: Understanding general crime recidivism as opposed to sex offense reoffense Historical characteristics as static factors Characteristics, circumstances, and attitudes that can change throughout one’s life or dynamic factors The overall recidivism rate of a certain group of sex offenders Reconciliation of observed data contradictions For a variety of reasons, sexual assault is a vastly underreported crime. The National Crime Victimization Surveys (Bureau of Justice Statistics) conducted in 1994, 1995, and 1998 indicate that only 32 percent (one out of three) of sexual assaults against persons 12 or older are reported to law enforcement.   (Kilpatrick, Edmunds,, 1992) A review of studies showed that the recidivism rate for specific types of offenders varied.   Research suggests that many offenders have histories of assaulting across genders and age groups, rather than against only one specific victim population. (Marshall Barbaree, 1990): Incest offenders ranged between 4 and 10 percent Rapists ranged between 7 and 35 percent Child molesters with female victims ranged between 10 and 29 percent Child molesters with male victims ranged between 13 and 40 percent In their summary of the research on the recidivism of rapists, Quinsey, Lalumiere, Rice, and Harris noted that the significant variation in recidivism across studies of rapists is likely due to differences in the types of offenders involved (institutionalized offenders, mentally disordered offenders, or probationers). (Quinsey, Lalumiere, Rice, Harris, 1995) Studies on sex offender recidivism vary broadly in the quality and rigor of the research design, the sample of sex offenders and behaviors included in the study, the length of follow-up, and the criteria for success or failure.   Finally, since base rate differences have been identified across types of sex offenses, it makes sense to study recidivism of sex offenders by offense type. To overcome these consistency problems, meta-analysis reviews of research studies can be very useful in summarizing the scope of certain types of offenses collated with the offenders themselves and their types of victims. (Hanson Bussiere, 1998) In sum, because meta-analysis findings can be generalized across studies and samples, they offer the most reliable estimation of factors associated with the recidivism of sex offenders. References Hanson, R. K., Bussiere, M. (1998). Predicting relapse: A meta-analysis of sexual offender recidivism studies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66(2), 348-362. Quinsey, V. L., Lalumiere, M. L., Rice, M. E., Harris, G. T. (1995). Predicting sexual offenses (J.C. Campbell, Ed.). Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage. Marshall, W. L., Barbaree, H. E. (1990). Outcomes of comprehensive cognitive-behavioral treatment programs. New York: Plenum. Kilpatrick, D. G., Edmunds, C. N., Seymour, A. (1992). Rape in America: A report to the nation (Victims of Crime and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center). Washington DC, DC: National Center for Victims of Crime and Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center.

A Multinational Computer Software Corporation Commerce Essay

A Multinational Computer Software Corporation Commerce Essay Microsoft Corporation is a multinational computer software corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington. With annual revenues of more than 50 billion, Microsoft Corporation is more than the largest software company in the world (Kooten, 2011). It was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. In early school days, Bill Gates was the topper of the class. Bill and his friend Paul Allen starts to skip classes soon after they were introduced to computers in 1968 (Balu, 2011). They started to find out how these computers work, read books about them, and they started to write programs then, at the age of 13. After finishing schooling days, they joined Harvard University and this was the time when they got into full time into the world of computers. Gates was not graduated from Harvard University as he spent most of his time in computer center and his total interest in programming. The Microsoft Empire started when Bill Gates saw a copy of magazine in 1975 in which featured the new Altair 8800 microcomputer made by MITS computer. He showed MITS the application of the BASIC programming language for their computer. Gates and Allen moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to be close to MITS Computer and this was where they established Microsoft. Like most start-ups, Microsoft begins small, but has a huge vision a computer on every desktop and in every home. The company was incorporated in 1981 and it became Microsoft Inc. They launched the first Windows operating system on November 20, 1985 (Microsoft, 2012). Microsoft is known globally for its Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Office suite of products such as, Internet Explorer, Power Point, Excel and Word programs. The companys core business is on developing, manufacturing and licensing software products. Microsoft is committed to the mission of helping their customers to realize their full potential. They constantly update and improve their products, continually evolving their company to accelerate new technologies for serving their customers better. Therefore, there are a total of eight business divisions in Microsoft offering greatest potential to serve their customers. They are Online Services Division, Server and Tools Business, Microsoft Business Solutions, Microsoft Office Division, Interactive Entertainment Business, Windows Phone Division, Windows Windows Live Division and Skype. Led by Gates, Microsoft has succeeded in placing at least one of its products on virtually every personal computer in the world, setting industry standards and defining markets. Contents An effective organization should four important management functions in order to help managers to achieve organizations mission. The four management functions are namely: Planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. In this content, we will analyze Microsoft Corporation in using these four management functions effectively. 2.1 Planning In this current global marketplace, a multinational corporation such as Microsoft is required to have a corporate culture and an inclusive business environment. Employees with varied perspectives, skills, and experiences are working together in this corporation to meet global consumer demands. The collaboration of cultures, ideas, and different perspectives is what that brings forth greater creativity and innovation. Microsoft found out that U.S. and global diverse markets represent tremendous sources of value in the workplace and marketplace. The growth of diverse populations worldwide and the potential of these segments make them important targets as prospective employees and customers. Economically, the diverse markets represent a growing source of market consumption and buying power, which makes them an important customer group for Microsoft. By increasing the diversity of workforce, they will create a team that capable of designing products that fulfil these growing customers needs. Employees actively seek guidance from their senior executive leadership team to ensure that diversity and inclusive best practices are deeply embedded throughout the working environment. Microsoft comes out with a strategy called Global Diversity Inclusion (GDI), which included: Representation: Building a Pipeline of Future Leaders Microsoft focuses on building its employee pipeline, while actively recruiting those with wide range of diverse backgrounds, highly trained individuals from around the world. Microsoft leverages relationships with schools and professional organizations to achieve diversity recruiting.   They offer programs that provide students the chance to interact with todays technology and learn about careers in this industry Inclusion: Creating Engagement in the Work Environment In order to sustain diversity gains, working environment must promote behaviours in a way that encourage employees to find new ways of problem-solving and reward diversity of thought. Thus, Microsoft provides leaders that have cultural competency training and GDI best practice management strategies, and offer employees the opportunities to build stakeholder relationships, thereby fostering a culture of inclusive behaviours. Innovation: Driving Market Excellence To build the best software, Microsoft incorporates the talents of varied workforce into products, and fulfils the needs and priorities of its diverse customers, suppliers and partner base. Microsoft works with certified and highly trained individuals, and also with small businesses that are seeking to purchase competitively priced quality goods and services from Microsoft. (A Vision and Strategy for the Future, 2012) 2.2 Leading Microsofts unveiling of the new Surface tablet, and with its planned $1.2 billion acquisition of Yammer, a social networking service, and the company is showing signs of actions of a market leader. Microsoft is going after Total World Domination, 100% market share in every market that it is involved in. They focus on risking profits to increase market share and go after a market with the view to dominate it. This is part of the reason which makes Microsoft the leading corporation. There are secrets of Microsofts management where the key points are, Bill Is Watching (Olaoluwa, 2012). Bill Gates philosophy, approach and strategic vision permeate the entire company. Project managers send reports regularly to Bill about the status of their projects in which the current status of the project and the problem that it faces must be stated in the report to ensure Bill knows what is happening. Bill often walks among the workers to see how projects are progressing and he gains a good understanding about what is going on with the projects by talking to the workers. Because Bill understands what is happening throughout the company, his decisions are generally the correct ones for the strategic direction of the company (Thielen, 1999). Besides, workers are given the freedom to create and work properly, but must at the same time be aware of the problems within and status of the project. There is an annual meeting every year for Microsoft employees that include entertainment as well as business. The idea is to keep all employees informed about what is going on in the company and the direction that it is taking. This reflects the management functions of leading in Microsoft. 2.3 Organizing Microsoft is a public corporation. Shareholders elect the board of directors, who in turn hire the top executives including the president, vice presidents, secretary, and treasurer. The company must follow Washington States laws regarding a corporation and must also abide by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations for financial reporting. As of November 2012, Steve Ballmer held the title of CEO, while co-founder Bill Gates was the chairman. According to Wikipedia, as of 2012, the company has a divisional organization. Each division, or product group, focuses on a specific line of goods and services. Each group has its own research and development, sales and customer service staff. Although this type of organization is more expensive and consumes more resources, but it allows the groups to better serve their customers. Each product group has one executive in charge who reports directly to the companys president. Microsofts five product groups are Windows Live Windows Group, which handles the PC operating software and Windows consumer products; Server Software, in charge of internet server software; Online Services, responsible for online advertising and Bing search engine; Microsoft Business, develops business related software and servers; Entertainment and Devices, assigned to handle the Xbox, Zune and software for the automotive industry. By managing the company in divisional form, the entire group is often in one location, allowing more interaction and better communication between all the employees developing or supporting one line of products. Having a smaller business unit means each division can develop new products and get them to market faster, making it easier to compete against rivals. Figure Organizational Structure of MicrosoftOrganizational Chart Microsoft TheOfficialBoard.jpg 2.4 Controlling Besides planning, leading and organizing, Microsoft also focuses in controlling. This management process is important to ensure activities are accomplished as planned and to correct any unwanted deviation. The controlling process includes monitoring, comparing, and correcting work performance. Microsoft often monitors the employees by personal observation. The company managers practices Management By Walking Around (MBWA). Bill Gates and other management staff of Microsoft often walk among the workers to monitor the progress of the project. By this way the top managers gains a good understanding on what is going on with that project. The employees of Microsoft are rate and measured according to accomplishments. A project failure will affect the employees rating negatively. But failure is expected to happen sometimes, and a failure is acceptable and will not give a permanent bad mark on the employees record, unless the employee fails continuously. This measuring style do not intent to belittle the employee, but to measure the work the employee most recently completed. The employees are not measured by whether the project fails or not, but how well they perform within their scope of responsibility. Employees with better performance will receive rewards as well as successful. If failure happens in a project, a post-mortem discussion is held where individuals discuss what went wrong and what could have bee n done better. 2.5 Factor that lead to success Marco Iansiti and Alan D. MacCormack stated that in any industry subject to rapid technological change, a firm faces two big challenges. The first is in recognizing the threats and opportunities that are caused by newly emerging technologies. The second is in mounting an effective response to these threats. Microsoft appears to have solved these problems, giving it the ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances. Based on Sean Silverthorne, Microsoft has built-in sensing mechanisms to keep track of what is happening in the broader technological context which assist it to recognize threats. Much of this ability comes from its tools division, which tracks the needs of the many developers worldwide who write for Microsoft platforms. When these developers find attractive alternatives to Microsoft technologies as they did when the Internet first emerged, its not long before the tools division starts to hear about it. Microsoft also employed several thousand developers to constantly examining the potential of new technologies. In terms of responding to potential threats, Microsoft consistently plays to its strengths: its overall platform strategy, its existing knowledge base, and its process of componentization. For example, when developing the new Internet Explorer browser, the development team opted to leverage its existing programming model, despite the fact that this would initially slow the project down. From this point on, competitors in the browser space faced a formidable challenge. They were competing not only against the Explorer team, but also against the continual improvements made to Microsofts underlying platform over its many years of existence. 2.6 Future Challenges Even as Microsoft earns high ranking in worlds most powerful brand, profit, sales, assets and market value, their longstanding competitor, Apple, still holds higher ranking than Microsoft in all those aspects. Apple had now topped Microsoft to be the worlds most powerful brand, and it is clear that getting that first place again will be Microsoft greatest challenge. Now and again, Apple had introduced new innovations, especially products like iPad or iPhone, which generates more revenue than all of Microsofts wares combined. Apples innovations have earned Apple more attention and customers as compare with Microsoft. Microsoft challenge will be turning attention of consumers from Apple to Microsoft by coming out with new gadgets that are better than Apples product. Microsoft next challenge is to be flexible in their products. When Apple came out with gadgets with touch screen interfaces such iPhones and iPads, it grab consumers attention to buy the products because people like the convenience and uniqueness of the touch screen interface. Clearly touch screen interface is the trend, but Microsoft could not implement this new technology in their product because Microsofts software products are hardcore to only keyboard and mouse, not touch screen. As a result, Apple was able to grab more customers because of Microsoft inflexibility in its product. To dominate the market, Microsoft needs to be flexible in their product. Findings Conclusion As a summary, the four management functions which consist of: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling had been applied by Microsoft and this kind of management allows the organization to run smoothly in achieving their goals. The chosen example Microsoft stated that planning is the foundation of management, where all the management should built. Planning is importance as well, it determine and implemented to attain the organizations goals and objectives. Besides planning, the management should getting prepared, getting organized. Manager must organize all the resources well before putting into action. Furthermore, leading helps the manager to manage and supervise the actions of the subordinates. This helps them to assist the staff achieving organizations goals and enhancing their career goals which can influenced by leadership, communication, increment, promotion and motivation. Lastly, controlling helps to check the errors and to take the corrective action; therefore control is a tool for achieving organizational activities and also a continuous process. Nowadays, big organizations require managers to be flexible, adaptive, and innovative so to stay competitive. In order to reach these targets, managers must have various management techniques and practices. Managers should understand the fundamentals of the techniques and practices it before it can apply it. Without understanding the management basics, they cant be an effective and efficient manager. As a result, effective and efficient management leads to success, where it accomplishes the targets and objectives of the organizations. Of course, to achieve the ultimate goals, the managements need to work productively and innovative for solving problem with the four management functions mentioned earlier. Management not only has foreseen the desires of accomplishing the goals, but has to look into process that their method is practical and realistic for the company as well.

Should We Bow to Louis XIV? Essay -- French History King Louis XIV Ess

Should We Bow to Louis XIV? Louis XIV, ruler of France for 72 years, is known for stabilizing France and making the country a strong European power. However, many of his projects were costly and caused economic problems for the nation. His personal lavish luxuries also were a financial burden to France. By the end of his reign, nearly all of the land he had acquired through warfare had to be returned, thus wasting enormous sums of French money. King Louis XIV reigned in France from 1643-1715. For 54 of these years, he reigned without the help of an official Prime Minister. Therefore, he personally controlled the French government. This created an absolute monarchy that became a model for much of Europe. Louis’ involvement in the War of Devolution with Spain, the Dutch War, the War of Palatinate and the War of the Spanish Succession had a vast impact on France. By 1677, Louis had expanded the French navy from a fleet of 20 ships to 270 ships. During his reign, the arts flourished and French culture blossomed. Along with this came the construction of the exquisite, extravagant Versailles palace. Louis’ policy on religion produced the Edict of Fontainebleau, which revoked the former Edict on Nantes. These policies and events had both positive and negative effects on life in France during the 17th Century. It could be argued that during his reign, Louis XIV established France as a dominant European power by expanding the French borders and advancing the arts. History shows that during his reign, France achieved a new dominant power throughout Europe. Through his careful, deliberate planning, France acquired much new land. France stunned Europe when Louis invaded the Spanis... ... engaged France in numerous battles and because many of his greatest marshals were now dead, France began to lose many of the lands it had acquired earlier in his reign. By 1697, France had to return Lorraine, Flanders, Luxembourg and the area around the Rhine River. Louis continued to lose battle after battle, and these defeats hurt the economy of France. The cost of these defeats became a huge financial burden on the country. The public debt increased, and taxes were raised. In short, Louis XIV should not be referred to as a glorious ruler. His projects were costly and were often fruitless. After his closest advisors died, he seemed incapable of making good decisions anymore. His personal luxuries, and his desire to be looked upon as a godlike figure, caused economic problems and a severe national debt that took France centuries to overcome.

Of Mice and Men Essay

In Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, the characters are trenchantly described as â€Å"Lonely Dreamers.† Since there was a stock crash in 1929 everyone got economically depressed. Lennie and George are two men who go to work on a ranch. They encounter many complications. Crooks one of the ranchers wanted to be equal to the others. Candy is a poor old swamper who is depressed of friends and Curley’s wife wants to be a film star but can’t, so they all suffer and therefore dream and are lonely. George Milton is a lonely dreamer who has a friend named Lennie Small who is very immature and George is an outcast between the ranchers. The company of Lennie makes George feel lonely and make a picture in his mind about a dream-come-true ranch. George thinks that they (Lennie and George) are the loneliest ranchers because they have no family so George tells Lennie: â€Å"Guys like us that work on ranches are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. (Steinbeck 31-32) Here loneliness is expressed through George, talking about the unexisting family. George has no quality conversations with someone of his own age, because Lennie is very immature. George desires a family and someone to talk to who understands. George Milton dream a lot. He always keeps on complaining that he had to look after Lennie but if he didn’t he could go an make fifty bucks by working in another job. He could then use the money and go buy something he likes, or go to a whore house. George was definitely dreaming because he wasn’t going to leave Lennie alone and please his own will, he tells Lennie what he feels: â€Å"An’ when the end of the month came I would take my fifty bucks and go to a†¦.cat house†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Steinbeck 145: 2000 Ed) George was not allowed to leave Lennie, runaway and get money, it is impossible because George promised Aunt Clara and he would feel guilty to leave Lennie who doesn’t know how to handle things. George was in a very hard position. Lennie didn’t have much of a family except George who scolds Lennie all the time. If George had a fight with Lennie then Lennie would feel very lonely and have no one to talk to. When Lennie became friendly with George then he would be very happy because he would know that he has George and George has Lennie to look after each other, so he expresses his feelings towards George: â€Å"Because†¦..because I got you to look after me and, you got me to look after you, and that’s why.† (Steinbeck 32: 2000 Ed) Since them both had each other then Lennie didn’t feel lonely and so had someone to talk to. IT was George’s job to look after Lennie so they had to stick together. Lennie small has dreams like us. George thinks of having a dream garden and keeps on telling Lennie about it because Lennie wants to ‘tend the rabbits’ so he keeps on wanting to hear about the garden. He also wants to hear about what all is going to be in the garden so Lennie is imagining all of this because he won’t get the dream garden so he asks again: â€Å"Go on; George! Tell about what we’re gonna have in the garden and about the rabbits in the cages and about the rain in the winter and the stove.† (Steinbeck’s 32: 2000 Ed) Lennie really likes animals and soft things so he really wants to pet the rabbits and experience the rain in the winter while he is in his imaginary garden. Crooks is a very lonely man because he doesn’t have many friends and is a victim on racial prejudice. Since Crooks has no one with him he always sits up at night getting bored and not doing anything just thinking ok companionship, equality, how lonely he is, what and outcast he is and how racist others are towards him. Since he is an afro- American man and the others are white. He then expresses his feelings: â€Å"A guy sets alone out here at night, maybe readin’ books or thinkin’ or stuff like that.† (Steinbeck 105: 2000 ed) Since Crooks is so lonely he is really sad because he finds it very hard to make friends and act the same as the others. Crooks is now having a rough time. Crooks is dreaming of seeing hundreds of men walking o the ranches because there aren’t many people on the ranches anyway because no one likes the ranches. Since Crooks is always dreaming he imagines many things, so he dreams that he sees: â€Å"I see hundreds of men bye on the road’ an on the ranches with their bindles on their back.† (Steinbeck 106: 2000 Ed) I think Crooks has an imaginative mind because he is severly lonely because of his skin colour and race and what others think of him. Candy is one of the ranchers who is lonely too and like George and Lennie doesn’t have any relatives with him. Even Candy doesn’t have many friends. Candy is also old so he thinks that one that he will die and leave his belongings with Lennie and George since Candy doesn’t have anyone else. Candy tells Lennie and George: â€Å"I’d make a will an’ leave my share to you guyz in case I kick off,’ cause I ain’t got no relatives nor nothing.† (Steinbeck 71: 2000ed) Candy really wants to go away since he doesn’t have anybody with him. So he always thinks how unlucky he is and how deprived he is of his family. Since Candy doesn’t have much company in the bunk house he hears Lennie and George talking about their imaginative ranch which Candy finds very nice and would like to live on a ranch like they want to. So Candy is prepared to do something in the ranch and share some property so he adds in saying: â€Å"S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred am’ fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good, but I could tend the chickens.† (Steinbeck 87: 2000 Ed) Candy was so upset about his life so he really dreams of doing things but can’t because it is too difficult for him, but would like to do something with others. Curley’s wife is in a really bad shape since she has a horrible husband and no one likes her because of the way she acts and dresses, for e.g. she flirts with the ranchers, wears bright red lipstick and nail polish and so everyone wants to keep their distance from her. She only has a poor old dog to give her company since her husband is so mean to her so she complains: â€Å"Why can’t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely.† (Steinbeck 122: 2000ed) She is really upset with her life and is miserably lonely. She is one of the rejects, because of who she is. She has a bad attitude and dresses up really badly, also the way she talks is very annoying.

Listening And Writing In Esol Planning And Teaching Education Essay

Talking, listening, reading and composing are considered to be reciprocally mutualist upon one another in linguistic communication acquisition. Although talking coherently and clearly is by and large recognised as the most of import end for 2nd linguistic communication ( L2 ) talkers, peculiarly ESOL talkers ( Murphy 1991:52 ) , competency in reading and composing finish a scholar ‘s proficiency in L2. Speaking and hearing may be described as the major accomplishment countries of interpersonal communicating ( Murphy 1991: 52 ) . Whether through synergistic or teacher-instruction, the hearing accomplishment will find how scholars develop eloquence and competency in the linguistic communication being learnt ( Nation and Newton 2009 ; Ellis 2003 ) . Listening is cardinal in linguistic communication acquisition because it non merely aids competency in speech production, but besides in reading. Ellis ( 2003 ) has noted that research workers and instructors have their ain purposes in prosecuting hearing as a linguistic communication accomplishment. For research workers, listening provides agencies for look intoing scholars ‘ ability to treat specific lingual characteristics ( Ellis 2003: 37 ) . In position of this, he suggests that focused undertakings can be devised by ‘seeding ‘ the input with the targeted characteristic and planing the undertaking in such a manner that the merchandise result can merely be achieved if the scholars are successful in treating the targeted characteristic. Therefore, listening undertakings provide an first-class agencies for mensurating whether scholars have acquired the characteristic in inquiry. On the other manus, listening accomplishments can be devised to ease the acquisition o f the targeted characteristic ( Ellis 2003: 37 ) . This essay discusses how the four linguistic communication accomplishments of hearing, reading, speech production and composing are mutualist in assisting a scholar achieve competency in larning English as a 2nd linguistic communication. As we already know, synergistic linguistic communication larning depends a batch on listening and talking accomplishments ( Ellis 2003 ) . However, a good balanced linguistic communication class which consists of four approximately equal strands of learning/instruction in the linguistic communication schoolroom ( Nation and Newton 2009 ) , known as meaning-focused input, meaning-focused end product, language-focused acquisition, and eloquence development, conveying out the common dependence of the four linguistic communication accomplishments. The four strands methodological analysis as described by Nation and Newton ( 2009:1 ) may be summarised as follows: larning though meaning-focused input, that is, larning through hearing and reading where the learners'attention is on the thoughts and messages conveyed by the linguistic communication larning through meaning-focused end product, that is, larning through speech production and composing where the learners'attention is on conveying thoughts and messages to another individual larning through deliberate attending to linguistic communication points and linguistic communication characteristics, that is, larning through direct vocabulary survey, grammar exercisings and account, through attending discourse characteristics and consider acquisition and pattern of linguistic communication acquisition and linguistic communication usage schemes, and larning through developing fluid usage of known linguistic communication points and characteristics over the four accomplishments of hearing, speech production, reading and composing Second linguistic communication acquisition shows that suitably focussed attending to linguistic communication points can do a really positive part to acquisition ( Doughty 2003 ; Doughty & A ; Williams, 1998 ; Ellis 2005 ) . A well-planned linguistic communication class has an appropriate balance of these four strands. Through these four strands the scholars achieve the learning ends of a linguistic communication class, viz. fluid control of sounds, spelling, vocabulary, grammar and discourse characteristics of linguistic communication, so that they can be used to pass on efficaciously. A justification of the four strands is the time-on-task rule, that is, learning-to-read by reading or learning-to-write by composing ( Nation & A ; Newton 2009:2 ) . The more clip one spends making something, the better they are likely to make it. Those who read a batch, for case, are better readers ( Cunningham & A ; Stanovich 1991 ) , and those who write a batch normally become better writes. The grounds for the four strands draws on a big and turning organic structure of research into the functions of input, end product and focussed direction on L2 acquisition and on development of speech production and reading eloquence ( Nation & A ; Newton 2009:3 ) .Meaning-focused input: acquisition through hearing and readingThe meaning-focused input strand involves larning through hearing and reading, that is utilizing linguistic communication receptively. It is called ‘meaning-focused ‘ because in all the work done in this strand, the scholars ‘ chief focal point and invol vement should be on understanding, and deriving cognition or enjoyment or both from what they listen to and read. Typical activities in this strand include extended reading, shared reading, listening to narratives, watching Television or movies, and being a hearer in a conversation ( see Hinkel 2006 ) .Meaning-focused end product larningMeaning-focused end product involves the scholars bring forthing linguistic communication through speech production and composing were the scholars ‘ focal point is on others understanding the message ( Nation & A ; Newton 2009 ) . It occurs when scholars write essays, and assignments, when they write letters, dairies, direct electronic mail and text messages to each other and when they write about their experience. As spelling is peculiarly of import in authorship, holding to compose can do scholars cognizant of the spreads in their spelling cognition ( Nation 2009:18 ) . Writing activities that can assist with spelling are copying, delayed copying, read and compose from memory, command, the assorted signifiers of guided authorship, composing with the aid of a dictionary and free authorship.Language-focused acquisitionLanguage-focused acquisition has many names ; concentrate on signifier, form-focused direction, deliberate survey and consider instruction or acquisition as opposed to acquisition, or knowing acquisition ( Nation & A ; Newton 2009:7 ) . It involves calculated acquisition of linguistic communication characteristics such as pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, grammar and discourse. A assortment of activities may be used, such as pronunciation pattern, utilizing permutation tabular arraies and drills, larning vocabulary from word cards and intensive reading. Other activities may be interlingual rendition, memorizing duologues an acquiring feedback about authorship. There are legion techniques for giving calculated attending to spelling, for illustration. . The critical factor is doing certain that there is an appropriate balance of each of the four strands so that there is some calculated attending to spelling but this attending does non go inordinate. Deliberate attending can include a figure of activities such as screen and recover, utilizing analogies, utilizing word parts, articulating the word the manner it is spelled and visualizing. There is need to look at each of these techniques:Cover and RetrieveThe scholar writes a list of hard to spell words down the left-hand side of the page ( state 2009:19 ) . The first missive or two of each word is written following to it, for illustration: yacht Y happening O The words are studied and so covered and each word is written from memory utilizing the first missive hint. The first missive is written once more so that the activity can be repeated. yacht yacht YUsing analogiesWorking with the instructor or in little groups, the scholars think of known words that portion similar spelling characteristics to words that they have trouble in spelling. For illustration, if larning to spell ‘apply ‘ , the scholars think of the known words ‘reply ‘ , ‘supply ‘ which are words with similar spelling characteristics and sound ( Nation 2009:19 ) .Using word partsWord parts may be helpful in pulling attending to word constructing units. This may be peculiarly utile with progress scholars. For illustration, the word ‘separate ‘ contains the root ‘par ‘ which is besides in ‘part ‘ . Therefore, the spelling is ‘separate ‘ non ‘seperate ‘ .Pronouncing the word the manner it is spelledTeaching spelling is one of the great challenges of linguistic communication instruction. As a guideline, Nation ( 2009 ) encourages that students may be encouraged to i ntentionally misspeak a word like ‘yacht ‘ /yaect/ as a sort of mnemonic for spelling. Learners may besides be encouraged to look at a word, close their eyes and seek to ‘see ‘ the spelling of the word in their head. This is what is called ‘visualising ‘ a word.The instance for incorporating linguistic communication acquisition accomplishmentsAlthough a big figure of traditional methods of linguistic communication larning continue to be utile, current surveies encourage incorporating linguistic communication accomplishments in the linguistic communication schoolroom. For case, learning reading can be easy tied to instruction on authorship and vocabulary, and unwritten accomplishments lend themselves to learning pronunciation, listening and cross-cultural linguistic communication interaction ( Hinkel 2001 ; Lazaraton 2001 ; McCarthy & A ; O'keeffe 2004 ) . Task-based instruction of L2 accomplishments has built-in chances for more accurate and complex utilizations of linguistic communication ( Ellis 2003 ) . For illustration, narrations and description undertakings in fluency-focused instruction, arguments and problem-solving undertakings promote increased grammatical and lexical complexness in learner linguistic communication. Through these undertakings a significant betterment in the sum of spoken discourse and in grammatical, lexical and articulative competency is enhanced. English linguistic communication has become more internationalised, and hence, instruction of accomplishments such as pronunciation has shifted from aiming native-like speech patterns to aiming intelligibility ( Tarone 2005 ) . In this respect, instruction has to turn to issues of segmental lucidity, that is, the articulation of specific sounds, word emphasis and inflection and the length and timing of intermissions. The current attack to learning pronunciation is by and large based on three principled standards. First, pronunciation and modulation are taught in context and in concurrence with specific accomplishments. Second, direction in pronunciation serves broader communicative intents, and eventually but non least, the instruction of pronunciation and modulation is based on realistic instead than idealistic linguistic communication theoretical accounts ( Chun 2002 ) . The 1980s saw a displacement from the position of L2 listening every bit preponderantly lingual to a schema-based position, and listening teaching method moved off from its focal point on the lingual to the activation of scholars ‘ top-down cognition ( Hinkel 2006:9 ) . Emphasis now, is on the incorporate instruction of listening for communicating and in concurrence with other L2 accomplishments such as speech production, socio-pragmatics, grammar and vocabulary. The lingual and schema-driven strands of learning listening have found a niche in current incorporate attacks, such as task-based or content-based direction ( Snow 2005 ) . The design of listening pattern, for case, can integrate a figure of characteristics that make the development of L2 listening abilities relevant and realistic. Listen-and-do undertakings, for illustration, stand for a flexible beginning of listening input for get downing o intermediate scholars. The content of undertakings can be easy controlled in respect to their lingual and conventional variables, such as frequent happenings of mark syntactic and lexical constructions in the context of meaning-focused undertaking ( Ellis 2003 ) . This is done in countries of grammar buildings, words and phrases or colloquial expressions.Recent research has shed a great trade O visible radiation on the procedures and acquisition of L2 reading. As in hearing, L2 reading involves both top-down and bottom-up cognitive processing. Eskey ( 1988:95 ) suggests that the strongly top-down prejudice neglected scholars weak Aress of lingual processing. the bottom-up processing of reading involves a wide array of distinguishable subskills, such as word acknowledgment, spelling and phonological processing, morpho syntactic parsing and lexical acknowledgment ( Eskey 2005 ) . The reader needs to garner ocular information from the written text, place the significance of words, and so travel frontward to the processing of the construction and significance of lager syntactic units, such as phrases or sentences. Ocular processing of words and letters represents a cognitively complex undertaking ( Koda 1999 ; Chikmatsu 1996 ; Shimron & A ; Savon 1994 ) . Readers whose L1 writing systems are markedly diffrent from the that of L2 may be slowed down in their reading procedure by the demand to achieve fluid L2 word acknowledgment before geting text-processing accomplishments. The findings of L2 reading research on the cardinal function of bottom-up processing, word acknowledgment eloquence, and the acknowledgment of the morphophonemic construct ion of words and phrases have led to substantial displacements in reading and literacy direction to immature and big L2 scholars likewise. As an illustration, in 1999, the National Literacy Strategy in the UK introduced work on phonics, word acknowledgment, and in writing cognition primo to sentence and text degrees of direction ( Hinkel 2006:13 ) . In teacher instruction, current methodological analysis text editions reflect the alteration in positions on learning L2 reading, literacy and authorship. Most influential L2 instruction and larning publications have seen the demand to include at least a chapter on the instruction of bottom-up reading accomplishments normally followed by direction in top-down and strategic reading ( Celce-Murcia 2001 ; Carter & A ; Nunan 2001 ; Mckay 1993 ; Nunan 1999, 2003 ; Wallace 1993 ) .