Bangladeshi EFL Learners’ Approach towards Learning English

Bangladesh is a poverty stricken country with a huge population ‘unemployed’ in respect of the definition of Economics including both male and female.  Government is striving hard to make the people well-equipped with necessary skills and learning in order that they can prove themselves fit for the upcoming challenges of the global economy and newer learning. Accordingly, Government emphasizes learning the English language and parents along with the learners are growing conscious but frequently, fall victim to problems in learning this foreign language. Despite being the inhabitants of a developing country, students dare not speak this language for fear of committing some mistakes rather to marshal it.  Here, teachers, students and the teaching-process should co-operate actively with one another  in order to attain the accomplished success Language is a part of national identity, though not static. It acts like a wire through which a human expression can reach another human mind. The proverb goes that “No man is an island”, that is, every individual is bound to come into contact with other people. Bengali is our mother tongue by which any  of us can reach only the Bengali speaking people. However, no country or no nation can live alone. Then, there emerges the necessity of having some means or languages to play a bridging  role . In this world among the millions of languages only few languages have got the status of an international language. Again, among them, English language is the most dominating and influential one. Therefore, in most of the countries it is necessitated to be learned as the second language or the foreign language to run international business or to have higher education. According to Noam Chomsky, there is a universal core grammar which denotes the embedded similarity among the languages in the world and every human child is born with a heavenly acquisition power to understand or learn any language in which he is exposed to including their mother tongue, i.e. first language (L1)  “ …for Chomsky, was that the human infant must be endowed with a highly sophisticated innate ability to learn language ” Diane Larsen and Freeman and Michael II Long.(P-114). “He claimed that the child’s knowledge of his mother tongue was derived from a Universal Grammar which specified  the essential form that  any natural language could take”.[Rod Ellis  :Understanding Second Language Acquisition (P-43 ) ] They can learn any language (L2) whichever they want unlike any other species in the world (except some talking birds, but their ability is not equal to the acquisition power of a human child). Even though, we are to admit that L2 learners specially, adults encounter lots of  hazards due to psychological, environmental or Linguistic differences . For example, Bengali learners suffer from such an inferiority complex that, they would be laughed at if they commit some mistakes in grammar or in pronunciation. This, very truly precedes another problem for the L2 learners, that is, they fail to get an English speaking environment, whereas, English speaking people or people from other languages do not have such kind of reaction while learning or speaking Bengali as an L2 learner. Even it surpasses other causes by hampering the confidence level of the students.  “Trying to get students to be like a native speaker is ineffective; their minds and their knowledge of language will inevitably be different” and “students can become successful L2 users rather than forever ‘failing’ native speaker target” (Cook 1999).[ page 78: Factors affecting the language learning process among Saudi students] Bangladeshi people are proud of the fact that, Bengali language (the mother tongue) has also got the status of an international language. Since the independence, Bangladeshi people are striving and struggling with their poverty, unemployment, ill- equipped infrastructural system and industrialization. To be out of this vicious circle, the need to come into contact with international community has no alternative. Therefore, educationists, policy makers and intelligentsia and govt. feel the importance of learning English language. B. Shabbir and M. Qasim, note that – “ It is generally believed that English is a medium to obtain, not only the power and the prestige but pragmatic aims in which they ( the people ) could maximize their ability to be one of the multilingual and multi-structural societies. Some people regard it as a bridge to many advantages related to business, commerce, industry, and economic progress” (P-75-76 ). In line with B. Shabbir and M. Qasim  Nesa  (2004)   also  states- English is the Lingua franca of business, commerce, science arts , literature of the whole(P-8)  [Critical Literacy: Theories and Practices, 6.2.2012] However, we have endeavored to study some genuine difficulties that every Bengali student has to undergo. The native speakers of these two languages certainly belong to two different geographical, social or cultural environments. At the first approach, a Bengali learner will find the English words to be Greek one so also, it will happen with an Englishman. Some examples are showed below

A Comparative Study of Arthur Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne and Raju in The Guide by R.K. Narayan

Enlightenment is something which is very internal. Here, the novels, The Scarlet Letter and The Guide introduces a new approach in justifying religiosity among the widely accepted (!) preachers. Two saintly characters are having a moderate demonstration through this writing in order to unfold their insights under the observation of their so called dedicated activities. So the readers might be convinced by the crucial fact that, how far they are enlightened; or, whether they are being merely privileged to be addressed   by the  illusioned  common mass  or by the co-incidences at large.] Arthur, the distinguished character comes out of Nathaniel Hawthorne in his famous novel the Scarlet Letter while Raju the figurative personnel of The Guide by R.K. Narayan-though the characters amazingly convey striking phenomena belonging to two centuries apart. Both the writers happened to be extremely popular with the vast reading public of the similar and different backgrounds. Both the writers use psychoanalysis, soliloquies, asides, to convey true insight of the characters thereby supplying the readers the resemblences and incompatibilities of their individualities. Here we would  intend to justify and diagnose their extent of moral disillusionment, enlightened realization. Raju,in the Handitouch of R.K. Narayan is found to be shifted ultimately into a guide and prodigy( a guru) according to some critic  he is  an anti hero  rather than a hero. Certainly, the very portrayal of Raju almost provided a modern essence to the novel, the Guide. Since it breaks with the traditional structure of a novel- the hero lacks in heroic characteristics; Rosie is always devoid of being called a heroine; even the plot development is not pursuing a single theme or any particular climax. Unlike the traditional ones it starts with an abrupt opening of a modern drama containing the features of flash back and flash forward as well. In the Scarlet Letter admittedly this kind of feature is hardly noticed. Primarily he seems to be gifted with scholarly attainments, whereas he wore a half-frightened look all about him. Arthur’s failing health was considered to be on account of excessive study and scrupulous fulfillment of his priestly duties; and on top of that, his frequent fasting and vigils. However, we are face to face with Raju when he was chatting with a barber. In the course of the conversation between the two , readers were convinced through the affirmation of the barber that Raju did not commit murder  nor did he cheat , abduct or rape , while ironically he was accused of all these crimes

Pathophysiologische Mechanismen hereditärer Formen von Vorhofflimmern

Vorhofflimmern ist die häufigste chronische Herzrhythmusstörung und geht mit erhöhter Mortalität einher. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Aufklärung der Pathomechanismen, die zur Entstehung der Krankheit beitragen. Dazu wurden Mutationen im Kaliumkanal Kv1.5 untersucht. Auch das Wirkprofil des Antiarrhythmikums Ajmalin wurde analysiert. Zusätzlich wurde die Rolle des Transkriptionsfaktors ZFHX3 in der kardialen entwicklung untersucht

An Investigation of Success and Failure Factors of Street Food Sector Entrepreneurs in Sylhet

Street food sector is rapidly growing large informal sector in Sylhet, the holy land of Bangladesh. This study attempts to investigate the success and failure factors of entrepreneurs in the street food sector of Sylhet. The study was descriptive in nature and both qualitative and quantitative data were used. In this study, a total of 50 entrepreneurs of street food business were interviewed on the basis of convenience sampling (non-probability sampling technique) from Sylhet district. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from the entrepreneurs with a face to face half an hour interview. Mean, mode, percentile, standard deviation were used in the data analysis. The findings of the study divulge that most of the entrepreneurs of street food sectors are young and male. The study also depicts that lack of experience of the entrepreneurs is the main failure factor of this sector. Along with this insufficient capital, a large amount of bribe, intense competition, undefined location are the key failure factors of this sector. On the other hand, the key success factors include easy formation, lower startup cost, less paperwork, fewer employees. The study also interprets that the government has less regulation in this sector, which is also a crucial success factor in this sector. For the development of this sector, the local government authority should provide some specific location for this sector. A large amount of bribe in this sector also needs to be controlled. The banks and other financial institution should provide SME loan to the entrepreneurs. The study will helps local government authority, policymakers, academician and interested persons to get a better insight into this sector. Keywords: Street food sector, entrepreneurs, success and failures factors, Sylhet. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-9-01 Publication date:March 31st 201

Dr. Faustus: theist or atheist?

Dr. Faustus is the greatest but the most controversial of Marlowe’s plays. Among the causes of controversy, whether Dr. Faustus is an atheist or theist deserves utmost attention. This paper is intended to deal with the issue. Though at various stages of the development of the action, Dr. Faustus abjures Trinity, resorts to necromancy, becomes guilty of demoniality, for which he is called an atheist, the intensity of his later wish for having redemption and the destruction of his self makes him emerge as a theist. Without these qualities, Dr. Faustus is said to the embodiment of the character of Christopher Marlowe himself, who was an atheist or a member of an atheist group. Therefore, it is also an object of discussion to correlate Dr. Faustus with Marlowe.

Woman Question and Questioning Personal Autonomy in The Changeling

The Changeling , collaborated on by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley , incorporates two plots in which the central roles are played by women who have their origin in two totally different social structures. This essay makes an attempt to put the status of woman in question as to how a woman’s personal autonomy goes through twists and turns  in the social construct mirrored in the play, how a woman can lead life according to her own will. How Beatrice’s selfhood fluctuates and gets affected – are also under discussion of this essay. The essay shall further argue that Beatrice’s quest for private desire / authenticity produces a paradoxical meaning between the intended effect of the action and actual result

Exploring Pull Factors of Travel Motivation: An Exploratory Study in Sylhet Region

Bangladesh has a massive potential to flourish its tourism sector. As it have spectacular resources to present. This study analyzes the importance level of motivational pull factors that affect tourists’ decision when they chose a destination for tourism. 100 questionnaires were completed using face-to-face and telephone interview to collect pre and post-visit information. Data have gathered from the tourists who visited from outside of Sylhet and also from greater Sylhet Division by structured questionnaires. The study demonstrates that highest importance level gained by the availability of public toilet in the tourist spot (mean value 4.64). Gradual importance is attained from the elements- easily reached and cleanliness of the destination, pleasant and safe accommodation, personal security, prices of different products, availability of hygiene food and beverages, availability of recreation facilities, reasonable rent of accommodation, and shopping facility After examining the post visit opinion found some elements are treated the negative e.g. price of various products (food, drink, handicrafts, etc.), availability of public toilet, availability of different recreation facility (Water Park, sports facility, night life, etc.), and shopping facility. This study has an extensive implication for further research in tourism

Disability, ICT and eLearning Platforms: Faculty-Facing Embedded Work Tools in Learning Management Systems

This paper contributes to the current discussion in the field of human-computer interaction design (HCI) on the accessibility and design of eLearning tools embedded in the online platforms for higher education. Presenting the preliminary results of a longitudinal study of the accessibility of the faculty-facing pages of Canvas learning management system, it aims at drawing the attention of designers, developers, and manufacturers to the barriers erected by the ableist LMS designs for disabled faculty. The paper asks for improvements in design processes by embracing participatory design methods and by paying attention to the recommendations included in this paper

Measuring gender attitudes using list experiments

We elicit adolescent girls’ attitudes towards intimate partner violence and child marriage using purposefully collected data from rural Bangladesh. Alongside direct survey questions, we conduct list experiments to elicit true preferences for intimate partner violence and marriage before age 18. Responses to direct survey questions suggest that very few adolescent girls in the study accept the practises of intimate partner violence and child marriage (5% and 2%). However, our list experiments reveal significantly higher support for both intimate partner violence and child marriage (at 30% and 24%). We further investigate how numerous variables relate to preferences for egalitarian gender norms in rural Bangladesh

Exploring Pull Factors of Travel Motivation: An Exploratory Study in Sylhet Region

Bangladesh has a massive potential to flourish its tourism sector. As it have spectacular resources to present. This study analyzes the importance level of motivational pull factors that affect tourists’ decision when they chose a destination for tourism. 100 questionnaires were completed using face-to-face and telephone interview to collect pre and post-visit information. Data have gathered from the tourists who visited from outside of Sylhet and also from greater Sylhet Division by structured questionnaires. The study demonstrates that highest importance level gained by the availability of public toilet in the tourist spot (mean value 4.64). Gradual importance is attained from the elements- easily reached and cleanliness of the destination, pleasant and safe accommodation, personal security, prices of different products, availability of hygiene food and beverages, availability of recreation facilities, reasonable rent of accommodation, and shopping facility After examining the post visit opinion found some elements are treated the negative e.g. price of various products (food, drink, handicrafts, etc.), availability of public toilet, availability of different recreation facility (Water Park, sports facility, night life, etc.), and shopping facility. This study has an extensive implication for further research in tourism