"Parkinson's Disease: Exploring the Mystery of a Movement Disorder"
"Worldwide, a Language Dies Every Two Weeks"
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2007-07/2007-07-30-voa3.cfm
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2007-11-06-voa1.cfm?rss=topstories
Today I listened to two podcasts. I had chosen topics, which looked interesting for me, because I wanted the task to be pleasant for me. I have to admit that my listening skills are not excellent, but after first listening I understood almost everything. During second listening I was reading the transcript to identify unknown words. The rate of speaking was average and words were pronounced clearly and distinctly.
In my opinin, I am quite good at listening to intermediate level of English. However, my ability to understand authentic English speech is just satisfactory. Native speakers rate of speaking is quite fast and I understand only fragments of speech.
If I want to pass my English exam listening paper successfully, I must study more. There are a lot of ways how I can improve my listening skilss. One of the way is to listen more podcasts. Also it is very useful to listen to authentic cassette recording in class.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Eating disorders
Essay
Eating disorders are illnesses with a biological basis modified and influenced by emotional and cultural factors. . Eating disorders are a way of coping with deeper problems that a person finds too painful or difficult to deal with directly. They are complex conditions that signal difficulties with identity, self-concept and self-esteem.
Eating disorders can be difficult to detect. The media glamourization of so-called ideal bodies, coupled with the view that dieting is a normal activity, can obscure a person's eating problems. It can be difficult for a person with an eating disorder to admit they have a problem.
Three chronic eating disorders have been identified. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by severe weight loss due to extreme food reduction. Symptoms include:
• refusal to keep body weight at or above the normal weight for one's body type
• dieting to extremes, usually coupled with excessive exercise
• feeling overweight despite dramatic weight loss
• loss of menstrual periods
• extreme preoccupation with body weight and shape
Bulimia nervosa results in frequent fluctuations in weight, due to periods of uncontrollable binge eating, followed by purging. As well as a preoccupation with body image, symptoms include:
• repeated episodes of bingeing and purging, usually by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics - methods which are both ineffective and harmful
• eating beyond the point of fullness
Binge-eating disorder, or compulsive eating, is often triggered by chronic dieting and involves periods of overeating, often in secret and often carried out as a means of deriving comfort. Symptoms include:
• periods of uncontrolled, impulsive or continuous eating
• sporadic fasts or repetitive diets
Other eating disorders can include some combination of the signs and symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, and/or binge eating disorder. While these behaviors may not be clinically considered a full syndrome eating disorder, they can still be physically dangerous and emotionally draining.
Eating disorders can be difficult to detect. Someone suffering from bulimia can have a normal weight, but the activities they are engaging in can be deadly. Here are some warning signs:
• low self-esteem
• social withdrawal
• claims of feeling fat when weight is normal or low
• preoccupation with food, weight, counting calories and with what people think
• denial that there is a problem
• wanting to be perfect
• intolerance of others
• inability to concentrate
In conclusion, I would like to say that all eating disorders require professional help. Social workers also can help these people. A clinical social worker often will provide psychotherapy while acting as a bridge to connect to additional resources for a medical evaluation and nutritional assessment/counseling, both of which are also critical arenas for intervention.
Eating disorders are illnesses with a biological basis modified and influenced by emotional and cultural factors. . Eating disorders are a way of coping with deeper problems that a person finds too painful or difficult to deal with directly. They are complex conditions that signal difficulties with identity, self-concept and self-esteem.
Eating disorders can be difficult to detect. The media glamourization of so-called ideal bodies, coupled with the view that dieting is a normal activity, can obscure a person's eating problems. It can be difficult for a person with an eating disorder to admit they have a problem.
Three chronic eating disorders have been identified. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by severe weight loss due to extreme food reduction. Symptoms include:
• refusal to keep body weight at or above the normal weight for one's body type
• dieting to extremes, usually coupled with excessive exercise
• feeling overweight despite dramatic weight loss
• loss of menstrual periods
• extreme preoccupation with body weight and shape
Bulimia nervosa results in frequent fluctuations in weight, due to periods of uncontrollable binge eating, followed by purging. As well as a preoccupation with body image, symptoms include:
• repeated episodes of bingeing and purging, usually by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics - methods which are both ineffective and harmful
• eating beyond the point of fullness
Binge-eating disorder, or compulsive eating, is often triggered by chronic dieting and involves periods of overeating, often in secret and often carried out as a means of deriving comfort. Symptoms include:
• periods of uncontrolled, impulsive or continuous eating
• sporadic fasts or repetitive diets
Other eating disorders can include some combination of the signs and symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, and/or binge eating disorder. While these behaviors may not be clinically considered a full syndrome eating disorder, they can still be physically dangerous and emotionally draining.
Eating disorders can be difficult to detect. Someone suffering from bulimia can have a normal weight, but the activities they are engaging in can be deadly. Here are some warning signs:
• low self-esteem
• social withdrawal
• claims of feeling fat when weight is normal or low
• preoccupation with food, weight, counting calories and with what people think
• denial that there is a problem
• wanting to be perfect
• intolerance of others
• inability to concentrate
In conclusion, I would like to say that all eating disorders require professional help. Social workers also can help these people. A clinical social worker often will provide psychotherapy while acting as a bridge to connect to additional resources for a medical evaluation and nutritional assessment/counseling, both of which are also critical arenas for intervention.
The problem of teenage pregnancy
Essay
Adolescent pregnancy continues to be one of the most difficult issues that teenagers, their families, and communities face today. It affects us all in some way. The teenage mothers or fathers are often unprepared for parenthood and drop out of school, taking low-paying jobs and never completing their education. The teenagers' parents are often thrust into the role of raising two children-the teenager and his or her child.
Social and educational institutions share in a large portion of the problems of adolescent childbearing. Children of teenage parents frequently live in homes that are near or below poverty level. They often require public assistance for the basics of life: food, clothing, and shelter. There is an increased incidence of school failure and dropout in teenage parents and subsequently in their children.
Dealing with an unplanned pregnancy can be scary and confusing. Some of the emotions that teenagers may encounter when facing an unplanned pregnancy are: initial excitement, confusion, fear, resentment, frustration . It's a natural response for them to think about and want to protect the baby that is growing inside you. It is also natural to be scared and confused about how to deal with this unplanned pregnancy.
Teens are more likely to become pregnant if they:
• Begin dating early(dating at age 12 is associated with a 91% chance of being sexually involved before age 19, and dating at age 13 is associated with a 56% probability of sexual involvement during adolescence)
• Use alcohol and/or other drugs, including tobacco products
• Drop out of school
• Have no support system orhave few friends
• Lackinvolvement in school, family, or community activities
• Think they have little or no opportunity for success
• Live in a community or attend a school where early childbearing is common and viewed asnormal rather than as a cause for concern
• Grow up in poverty
• Have been a victim of sexual abuse or assault
• Have a mother who was19 or younger when she first gave birth.
Common methods of birth control include:
• the birth control pill or patch
• condoms
• intrauterine devices (IUD)
• the Depo-Provera injection
• diaphragms
• spermicides
• cervical caps
To sum up, adolescents face a wide range of issues everyday relating to their physiological, emotional, cultural, and psychological concerns. One of the most important and complicated issues is teenage pregnancy and childbearing. We as social workers have much to learn about the teenage pregnancy prevention. Effective programs and strategies are needed to enhance parents' and school role in teaching about sex, relationships, and responsibility.
Adolescent pregnancy continues to be one of the most difficult issues that teenagers, their families, and communities face today. It affects us all in some way. The teenage mothers or fathers are often unprepared for parenthood and drop out of school, taking low-paying jobs and never completing their education. The teenagers' parents are often thrust into the role of raising two children-the teenager and his or her child.
Social and educational institutions share in a large portion of the problems of adolescent childbearing. Children of teenage parents frequently live in homes that are near or below poverty level. They often require public assistance for the basics of life: food, clothing, and shelter. There is an increased incidence of school failure and dropout in teenage parents and subsequently in their children.
Dealing with an unplanned pregnancy can be scary and confusing. Some of the emotions that teenagers may encounter when facing an unplanned pregnancy are: initial excitement, confusion, fear, resentment, frustration . It's a natural response for them to think about and want to protect the baby that is growing inside you. It is also natural to be scared and confused about how to deal with this unplanned pregnancy.
Teens are more likely to become pregnant if they:
• Begin dating early(dating at age 12 is associated with a 91% chance of being sexually involved before age 19, and dating at age 13 is associated with a 56% probability of sexual involvement during adolescence)
• Use alcohol and/or other drugs, including tobacco products
• Drop out of school
• Have no support system orhave few friends
• Lackinvolvement in school, family, or community activities
• Think they have little or no opportunity for success
• Live in a community or attend a school where early childbearing is common and viewed asnormal rather than as a cause for concern
• Grow up in poverty
• Have been a victim of sexual abuse or assault
• Have a mother who was19 or younger when she first gave birth.
Common methods of birth control include:
• the birth control pill or patch
• condoms
• intrauterine devices (IUD)
• the Depo-Provera injection
• diaphragms
• spermicides
• cervical caps
To sum up, adolescents face a wide range of issues everyday relating to their physiological, emotional, cultural, and psychological concerns. One of the most important and complicated issues is teenage pregnancy and childbearing. We as social workers have much to learn about the teenage pregnancy prevention. Effective programs and strategies are needed to enhance parents' and school role in teaching about sex, relationships, and responsibility.
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