General Articles – Falcon Consultancy https://falconconsultancy.info Educational Consultant Wed, 26 Jun 2024 07:23:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 What is AI? Everything to know about artificial intelligence https://falconconsultancy.info/2023/12/24/what-is-ai-everything-to-know-about-artificial-intelligence/ Sun, 24 Dec 2023 19:04:58 +0000 http://falconconsultancy.info/education/?p=9280 If you want to know about the fascinating and fast-developing technologies of artificial intelligence, we cover everything from machine learning and general AI to neural networks

What is artificial intelligence?

Hear the term artificial intelligence (AI) and you might think of self-driving cars, robots, ChatGPT or other AI chatbots, and artificially created images. But it’s also important to look behind the outputs of AI and understand how the technology works and its impacts for this and future generations.

AI is a concept that has been around, formally, since the 1950s, when it was defined as a machine’s ability to perform a task that would’ve previously required human intelligence. This is quite a broad definition and one that has been modified over decades of research and technological advancements.

When you consider assigning intelligence to a machine, such as a computer, it makes sense to start by defining the term ‘intelligence’ — especially when you want to determine if an artificial system is truly deserving of it.

Our level of intelligence sets us apart from other living beings and is essential to the human experience. Some experts define intelligence as the ability to adapt, solve problems, plan, improvise in new situations, and learn new things.

With intelligence sometimes seen as the foundation for human experience, it’s perhaps no surprise that we’d try and recreate it artificially in scientific endeavors.

And today’s AI systems might demonstrate some traits of human intelligence, including learning, problem-solving, perception, and even a limited spectrum of creativity and social intelligence.

How can I use AI?

AI comes in different forms that have become widely available in everyday life. The smart speakers on your mantle with Alexa or Google voice assistant built-in are two great examples of AI. Other good examples are popular AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, the new Bing Chat, and Google Bard.

When you ask ChatGPT for the capital of a country or you ask Alexa to give you an update on the weather, you’ll get responses that are the result of machine-learning algorithms.

Though these systems aren’t a replacement for human intelligence or social interaction, they have the ability to use their training to adapt and learn new skills for tasks that they weren’t explicitly programmed to perform.

What are the different types of AI?

Artificial intelligence can be divided into three widely accepted subcategories: narrow AI, general AI, and super AI.

What is narrow AI?

Artificial narrow intelligence (ANI) is crucial to voice assistants, such as Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. This category includes intelligent systems that have been designed or trained to carry out specific tasks or solve particular problems, without being explicitly designed to do so.

ANI might often be referred to as weak AI, as it doesn’t possess general intelligence, but some examples of the power of narrow AI include the above voice assistants, and also image-recognition systems, technologies that respond to simple customer service requests, and tools that flag inappropriate content online.

ChatGPT is an example of ANI, as it is programmed to perform a specific task, which is to generate text responses to the prompts it is given.

What is general AI?

Artificial general intelligence (AGI), also known as strong AI, is still a hypothetical concept as it involves a machine understanding and performing vastly different tasks based on its accumulated experience. This type of intelligence is more on the level of human intellect, as AGI systems would be able to reason and think like a human.

Like a human, AGI would potentially be able to understand any intellectual task, think abstractly, learn from its experiences, and use that knowledge to solve new problems. Essentially, we’re talking about a system or machine capable of common sense, which is currently not achievable with any form of available AI.

Developing a system with its own consciousness is still, presumably, a fair way in the distance, but it is the ultimate goal in AI research.

What is super AI?

Artificial super intelligence (ASI) is a system that wouldn’t only rock humankind to its core, but could also destroy it. If that sounds straight out of a science fiction novel, it’s because it kind of is: ASI is a system where the intelligence of a machine surpasses all forms of human intelligence, in all aspects, and outperforms humans in every function.

An intelligent system that can learn and continuously improve itself is still a hypothetical concept. However, it’s a system that, if applied effectively and ethically, could lead to extraordinary progress and achievements in medicine, technology, and more.

What are some recent examples of AI?

Overall, the most notable advancements in AI are the development and release of GPT 3.5 and GPT 4. But there have been many other revolutionary achievements in artificial intelligence — too many, in fact, to include all of them here.

Here are some of the most notable:

ChatGPT (and the GPTs)

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot capable of natural language generation, translation, and answering questions. Though it’s arguably the most popular AI tool, thanks to its widespread accessibility, OpenAI made significant waves in the world of artificial intelligence with the creation of GPTs 1, 2, and 3.

GPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, and GPT-3 was the largest language model in existence at the time of its 2020 launch, with 175 billion parameters. The latest version, GPT-4, accessible through ChatGPT Plus or Bing Chat, has one trillion parameters.

Self-driving cars

Though the safety of self-driving cars is a top concern of potential users, the technology continues to advance and improve with breakthroughs in AI. These vehicles use machine-learning algorithms to combine data from sensors and cameras to perceive their surroundings and determine the best course of action.

Tesla’s autopilot feature in its electric vehicles is probably what most people think of when considering self-driving cars, but Waymo, from Google’s parent company, Alphabet, makes autonomous rides, like a taxi without a taxi driver, in San Francisco, CA, and Phoenix, AZ.

Cruise is another robotaxi service, and auto companies like Apple, Audi, GM, and Ford are also presumably working on self-driving vehicle technology.

Robotics

The achievements of Boston Dynamics stand out in the area of AI and robotics. Though we’re still a long way away from creating AI at the level of technology seen in the moive Terminator, watching Boston Dyanmics’ robots use AI to navigate and respond to different terrains is impressive.

DeepMind

Google sister company DeepMind is an AI pioneer making strides toward the ultimate goal of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Though not there yet, the company initially made headlines in 2016 with AlphaGo, a system that beat a human professional Go player.

Since then, DeepMind has created a protein-folding prediction system, which can predict the complex 3D shapes of proteins, and it’s developed programs that can diagnose eye diseases as effectively as the top doctors around the world.

What is machine learning?

The biggest quality that sets AI aside from other computer science topics is the ability to easily automate tasks by employing machine learning, which lets computers learn from different experiences rather than being explicitly programmed to perform each task. This capability is what many refer to as AI, but machine learning is actually a subset of artificial intelligence.

Machine learning involves a system being trained on large amounts of data, so it can learn from mistakes, and recognize patterns in order to accurately make predictions and decisions, whether they’ve been exposed to the specific data or not.

Examples of machine learning include image and speech recognition, fraud protection, and more. One specific example is the image recognition system when users upload a photo to Facebook. The social media network can analyze the image and recognize faces, which leads to recommendations to tag different friends. With time and practice, the system hones this skill and learns to make more accurate recommendations.

What are the elements of machine learning?

As mentioned above, machine learning is a subset of AI and is generally split into two main categories: supervised, and unsupervised learning.

Supervised learning

This is a common technique for teaching AI systems by using many labelled examples that have been categorized by people. These machine-learning systems are fed huge amounts of data, which has been annotated to highlight the features of interest — you’re essentially teaching by example.

If you wanted to train a machine-learning model to recognize and differentiate images of circles and squares, you’d get started by gathering a large dataset of images of circles and squares in different contexts, such as a drawing of a planet for a circle, or a table for a square, for example, complete with labels for what each shape is.

The algorithm would then learn this labeled collection of images to distinguish the shapes and its characteristics, such as circles having no corners and squares having four equal sides. After it’s trained on the dataset of images, the system will be able to see a new image and determine what shape it finds.

Unsupervised learning

In contrast, unsupervised learning uses a different approach, where algorithms try to identify patterns in data, looking for similarities that can be used to categorize that data.

An example might be clustering together fruits that weigh a similar amount or cars with a similar engine size.

The algorithm isn’t set up in advance to pick out specific types of data; it simply looks for data with similarities that it can group, for example, grouping customers together based on shopping behavior to target them with personalized marketing campaigns.

Reinforcement learning

In reinforcement learning, the system attempts to maximize a reward based on its input data, basically going through a process of trial and error until it arrives at the best possible outcome.

Consider training a system to play a video game, where it can receive a positive reward if it gets a higher score and a negative reward for a low score. The system learns to analyze the game and make moves, and then learns solely from the rewards it receives, reaching the point of being able to play on its own and earn a high score without human intervention.

Reinforcement learning is also used in research, where it can help teach autonomous robots about the optimal way to behave in real-world environments.

What are large language models?

One of the most renowned types of AI right now are large language models (LLM). These models use unsupervised machine learning and are trained on massive amounts of text to learn how human language works. These texts include articles, books, websites, and more.

In the training process, LLMs process billions of words and phrases to learn patterns and relationships between them, making the models able to generate human-like answers to prompts.

The most popular LLM is GPT 3.5, on which ChatGPT is based, and the largest LLM is GPT-4. Bard uses LaMDA, a LLM developed by Google, which is the second-largest LLM.

What is deep learning?

Part of the machine-learning family, deep learning involves training artificial neural networks with three or more layers to perform different tasks. These neural networks are expanded into sprawling networks with a large number of deep layers that are trained using massive amounts of data.

Deep-learning models tend to have more than three layers, and can have hundreds of layers. It can use supervised or unsupervised learning or a combination of both in the training process.

Because deep-learning technology can learn to recognize complex patterns in data using AI, it is often used in natural language processing (NLP), speech recognition, and image recognition.

What are neural networks?

The success of machine learning relies on neural networks. These are mathematical models whose structure and functioning are loosely based on the connection between neurons in the human brain, mimicking the way they signal to one another.

Imagine a group of robots that are working together to solve a puzzle. Each one is programmed to recognize a different shape or color in the puzzle pieces. The robots combine their abilities to solve the puzzle together. A neural network is like the group of robots.

Neural networks can tweak internal parameters to change what they output. Each one is fed databases to learn what it should put out when presented with certain data during training.

They are made up of interconnected layers of algorithms that feed data into each other. Neural networks can be trained to carry out specific tasks by modifying the importance attributed to data as it passes between layers. During the training of these neural networks, the weights attached to data as it passes between layers will continue to be varied until the output from the neural network is very close to what is desired.

At that point, the network will have ‘learned’ how to carry out a particular task. The desired output could be anything from correctly labelling fruit in an image to predicting when an elevator might fail based on its sensor data.

What is conversational AI?

Conversational AI includes systems that are programmed to have conversations with a user: trained to listen (input), and respond (output) in a conversational manner. Conversational AI uses natural language processing to understand and respond in a natural way.

Some examples of conversational AI are chatbots like Google Bard, smart speakers with a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa, or virtual assistants on your smartphone like Siri.

Which AI services are available to use?

General consumers and businesses alike have a wealth of AI services available to expedite tasks and add convenience to day-to-day life — you probably have something in your home that uses AI in some capacity.

Here are some common examples of artificial intelligence available to the public, both free and for a fee:

  • Voice assistants: Amazon Alexa sitting in that Echo device on your shelf or Apple’s Siri in your iPhone and Google Assistant all use natural language processing to understand and respond to your questions or commands.
  • Chatbots: AI chatbots are another form of virtual assistants that can interact with people and, in some cases, hold human-like conversations, even mimicking empathy and concern.
  • Language translation: Machine learning reaches far and wide, and services like Google Translate, Microsoft Translator, Amazon Translate, and ChatGPT all use it to translate text.
  • Productivity: Microsoft 365 Copilot is a great example of a LLM used as an AI productivity tool, embedded within Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, Teams, and more to automate tasks for you. Simply asking, ’email the team about the latest status on the project’ will trigger Copilot to automatically gather information from emails and documents to generate a text with what you asked.
  • Image and video recognition: Different programs use AI to find information about the content in images and videos, such as the faces, text, and objects within them. Clarifai, which employs machine learning to organize unstructured data from sources, and Amazon Rekognition, an AWS service that lets users upload images to receive information, are two examples of this.
  • Software development: Many developers have started using ChatGPT to write and debug code, but there are many other AI tools available to make a programmer’s job easier. One example, the AI pair programmer GitHub Copilot by OpenAI Codex, is a generative language model that can write code faster with less effort by autocompleting comments and code instantly.
  • Building a business: Aside from an everyday user availing themselves of artificial intelligence around them, there are services offering AI tools for businesses, including OpenAI’s GPT-4 API (currently on waitlist) to built applications and services using the LLM; or Amazon Bedrock, a suite of cloud-based AI tools for developers.

What company is leading the AI race?

Though generative AI leads the artificial intelligence breakthroughs of 2023, there are other top companies working on their own breakthroughs.

OpenAI

It’s not surprising OpenAI has taken the lead so far in the AI race this year, after making generative AI tools available for widespread use for free, such as the AI chatbot ChatGPT and Dall-E 2, which is an image generator.

Alphabet

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has its hands in several different AI systems through some of its companies, including DeepMind, Waymo, and the aforementioned Google.

DeepMind continues to pursue artificial general intelligence, as evidenced by the scientific solutions it strives to achieve through AI systems. It’s developed machine-learning models for Document AI, optimized the viewer experience on Youtube, made AlphaFold available for researchers worldwide, and more.

Though you may not hear of Alphabet’s artificial intelligence endeavors in the news every day, its works in deep learning and AI in general have the potential to change the future for human beings.

Microsoft

Aside from creating Microsoft 365 Copilot for its 365 lot of applications, Microsoft provides a suite of AI tools for developers on Azure, such as platforms for developing machine learning, data analytics, and conversational AI, customizable APIs that achieve human parity in computer vision, speech, and language.

Microsoft has also invested heavily into OpenAI’s development, and is using GPT-4 in the new Bing Chat, as well as a more advanced version of Dall-E 2 for the Bing Image Creator.

Other companies

These are just a few examples of companies leading the AI race, but there are many others worldwide that are also making strides into artificial intelligence, including Baidu, Alibaba, Cruise, Lenovo, Tesla, and more.

How will AI change the world?

Artificial intelligence has the power to change the way we work, our health, how we consume media and get to work, our privacy, and more.

Consider the impact that certain AI systems can have on the world as a whole. People can ask a voice assistant on their phones to hail rides from autonomous cars to get them to work, where they can use AI tools to be more efficient than ever before.

Doctors and radiologists could make cancer diagnoses using fewer resources, spot genetic sequences related to diseases, and identify molecules that could lead to more effective medications, potentially saving countless lives.

Alternatively, it’s worth considering the disruption that could result from having neural networks that can create realistic images, such as Dall-E 2, Midjourney, and Bing; that can replicate someone’s voice or create deepfake videos using a person’s resemblance. These could threaten what photos, videos, or audios people can consider genuine.

Another ethical issue with AI concerns facial recognition and surveillance, and how this technology could be an intrusion on people’s privacy, with many experts looking to ban it altogether.

Will an AI steal your job?

The possibility of artificially intelligent systems replacing a considerable chunk of modern labor is a credible near-future possibility.

While commonplace artificial intelligence won’t replace all jobs, what seems to be certain is that AI will change the nature of work, with the only question being how rapidly and how profoundly automation will alter the workplace.

However, artificial intelligence can’t run on its own, and while many jobs with routine, repetitive data work might be automated, workers in other jobs can use tools like generative AI to become more productive and efficient.

There’s a broad range of opinions among AI experts about how quickly artificially intelligent systems will surpass human capabilities.

Fully autonomous self-driving vehicles aren’t a reality yet but, by some predictions, the self-driving trucking industry alone is poised to take over 500,000 jobs in the US inevitably, even without considering the impact on couriers and taxi drivers.

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25 reasons to study abroad https://falconconsultancy.info/2017/12/31/25-reasons-to-study-abroad/ Sun, 31 Dec 2017 09:29:28 +0000 http://falconconsultancy.info/education/?p=9242 1.     It’ll look good on your CV     25 reasons to study abroad

If you can explore a new country at the same time as picking up the international skills to gain a decent graduate job, then that’s pretty good going.

2.     Brush up on your language skills

Remember the foreign language skills you picked up in school? No, me neither. Refresh them by studying abroad; you might be surprised at how much you remember.

3.     Living in a foreign country is completely different to a holiday

You’ll actually get to experience your place of study in the long term, picking up local knowledge such as where sells the best coffee, what tourist traps to avoid and how to get the most out of your new city.

4.     Meet a diverse range of people

Your exposure to many different types of people will not only help you to develop your people skills, but it will also give you a firmer knowledge of others, both friend and foe.

5.     Make lifelong friends

You may not love every single person you meet, but chances are that you’ll meet at least one lifelong friend (if you’re good at keeping in touch, that is).

6.     Discover new and exciting foods

Get more paella /poutine /pierogi /schnitzel /shawarma /chimichanga /katsudon /bobotie /baklava (delete as appropriate) in your life.

7.     Study and learn differently

Often those studying abroad will experience a completely new way of teaching. This can be daunting, but it will also open your mind to new ways of learning.

8.     Gain independence

It’s not easy being independent – to paraphrase Destiny’s Child – but it’s also a heck of a lot better than living with your parents as a 20-something.

9.     Learn self-reliance

Moving abroad is the ultimate test in self-reliance. When (or if) you move back, you’ll likely rely on others less and you’ll take more responsibility for yourself.

10.    You’ll gain a greater knowledge of different cultures

Cultural sensitivity isn’t just a quality which politicians may be accused of lacking; it’s also something you can develop while studying abroad!

11.    See your own culture through a new lens

It’s easy to accept your own culture as absolute, but living in another country can help inform your point of view on your home culture, allowing you to develop your own views rather than simply accepting those defined by where happen to come from.

12.    Learn more about yourself

Throwing yourself into a completely new environment will help you to figure out what you’re good at, as well as what you’re not so good at. These are things that can then be built on during your study abroad experience.

13.    Become an adult

Speed up the transition from teenager to adult by leaping into the unknown.  You’ll have to fend for yourself, buy your own meals and wash your own clothes, but it’ll all be worth it.

14.    Gain life experience

One of the ultimate reasons to study abroad is to gain life experience. You’ll learn how to organize your life and condense it into one suitcase, handle unforeseen situations, be independent and self-sufficient.

15.    Be spontaneous and adventurous

When you’re hundreds of thousands of miles away from home, spontaneity and adventurousness are your best friends. Open your mind up to new experiences and sights and the fun will come your way.

16.    You learn to appreciate the smaller things more

Studying abroad usually means you have even fewer possessions than the average student, and being that much further from home can really make you miss those familiar comforts you’d taken for granted. Welcome to a new-found appreciation of everything from your parents’ cooking to having more than two pairs of shoes to choose from.

17.    Gain a global mind-set

Whether it’s in work, study or play, you’ll be able to use your new global mind-set to back up arguments, inform your beliefs and steer your future.

18.    Get the perks of international student discounts

Student discounts are always fun but 100 times more so when you’re shopping in a new store with funny-looking money! (Disclaimer: don’t spend it all at once.)

19.    It’s an unforgettable experience

Even if your friends back home get bored of hearing about it (warning: they will), your study abroad experience will stay with you long after it’s over.

20.    You’ll appreciate your home and family more

Any memories of parental arguments or sibling rivalry will pale in comparison to your memories of how amazing they are. (Likewise, they’ll have time to forget about all your less attractive attributes too…) When you get back these relationships will look so much stronger!

21.    International student funding is becoming more common

Studying abroad doesn’t have to leave you penniless, as more and more institutions and governmental bodies are offering dedicated scholarships for international students. To discover international scholarships from around the world, see this page.

22.    Take advantage of lower tuition fees

This of course depends on where you study abroad, but if you choose a location in many parts of continental Europe, Asia and Latin America, you’ll find it’s possible to study at a highly reputed university without getting into five-figured debt.

23.    Use your spare time to explore

In between lectures and lab sessions, studying abroad should leave you with plenty of time to explore. Whether you’re one for visiting iconic landmarks, trying new foods or bartering at local markets, there’s always bound to be a better way of spending your time than scrolling through Facebook!

24.    Increase your international job prospects

While you can always go home at the end of your time as an international student, many choose to stay put and apply for a working visa. Even if you return home or decide to seek work elsewhere, the international experience provided by studying abroad is likely to be looked on favorabl home or decide to seek work elsewhere, the international experience provided by studying abroad is likely to be looked on favorably by employers.

25.    Because “variety is the spice of life”

It might be something your dad says when opting for a different flavor of crisps at the supermarket, but it’s true; change, variety and new experiences are what make life worth living. Mix it up a bit: study abroad!

Want more content like this?

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How To Manifest Everything That You Want https://falconconsultancy.info/2016/12/27/how-to-manifest-everything-that-you-want/ Tue, 27 Dec 2016 16:09:02 +0000 http://falconconsultancy.info/education/?p=9234 Manifesting is the metaphysical art and science of how we can easily bring our desires into the physical world. It is natural process that involves a specific vibration of energy which you experience that will attract any heartfelt desire to you quickly and effortlessly! To start this process, you should think of something that you would like to have. Start from small things first because this will give you more faith as to that they will manifest.

When you manifest small things, you will be able to gradually progress to bigger and bigger ones. Some fail to manifest because they want to get large amounts of money, houses or cars with their first intention. But that does not work this way because you cannot possibly completely believe that such big things will manifest when you are just a beginner.

How to manifest your desires

  • Slow Down, Relax and Fully Be Here Now.

Being ever-present to this eternal moment is one of the most essential and basic key to manifesting. The mind will jump from past to the future and back again to the past, distracting you from the Infinite Source of power that is only here now. The entire Universe is happening only in this moment. If you are thinking about anything but this moment you are missing out on the Source that is connected to everyone and everything in it. The mind/ego is an extraordinary tool and is what we use to manifest our desires with. If the mind is free from the distracting thoughts about the past and future, then the amazing core of your magical manifesting power has room to come through! By slowing down you are able to shut off the mind chatter and tap directly into the infinite Source of manifesting power that is available ONLY in the Now. As you learn how to slow down your thoughts, your breathing and the movement of your body, eventually the mind comes to a halt and creates space of timelessness. Here we tap into the Infinite Source and you make contact with a super-natural power inside. When we live throughout our day at an enjoyable relaxed and peace filled pace, we can truly resource the intelligence and power in this eternal moment.

Remember, every idea begins with an intuitive hunch. We know we need certain things at certain times in our lives. There is an inner voice which tells us. We encounter omens or coincidences which point to it. Conversations trigger ideas through synchronicity. There are times when you know you want something.

  • Practice Stillness Everyday.

In order to stop the constant chattering of the mind, we need a conscious daily Meditation practice of training the mind. Manifesting happens instantly when you have made the mind to act according to your way. The longer you can maintain focus on your breath, the faster your goals will manifest for you. The actual time it takes to manifest is directly proportional to the number of minutes you can concentrate on what you want without distraction. Become the master of your thoughts, get to know this seat of consciousness inside.

Be clear on what it is you wish to create in your life. The more specific – the better. We teach making lists as a way to clarify what you want. The world is a reflection of our mind. We attract into our lives a reflection of the thoughts we project. If you really want anything, you can have it. Creating a crystal clear vision is an important step.

  • Make Conscious Contact With The Universe

The first step here is to acknowledge that there is a higher power inside you right now, and its very easily available to you. The next step is to be open to this extremely ever-present intelligent Source that is always happening everywhere you are. Believe and get to know your personal conscious connection with this sacred Omni-present Source of power. As you progress in your relationship with this very real divine intelligence, center your mind closer to your heart. You will come to know that God is closer to you than your heart, your mind or your next breath of air.

By spending time getting clear on what you desire, you will recognize it when it turns up! That will provide you with certainty that you have found what you are looking for and give you the courage to complete the plan to manifestation.

  • Trust in Life’s Magical Unfolding Process.

Be infinitely patient! Discover a deeper “knowingness” inside you that can help you let go of anxiety, disbelief and doubt. Decide and believe that your goal is on its way. The Universe is always supporting what you want and if you affirm what you want it will always help you to achieve it. The more you can surrender to this deeply wise and powerful feeling of trust and letting go, the more the Universe can help you. It’s about getting in touch with that infinite patience that ignites and engages this manifesting process. The experience of Trust is really the greatest and deepest surrender to the Universe from the tiny ego trip we’re on.

Thus, be crystal clear on your outcome; daily visualize what you desire, but release the need to have it. When we project neediness, we block manifestation. When we don’t care, miracles happen. Be confident. Release any negative thoughts. Affirm that what you desire is on the way with everyone you meet. Brush off any thoughts or comments that you can’t achieve what you wish.

  • Focus on your Desired Outcome without Attachment to it.

When you allow your mind to ONLY have positive thoughts towards your desired outcome you are saying to the Universe that you are devoted to manifesting your dream. Being in a deep, positive, open connection with your desired outcome without being overly attached to it, is one of the greatest hidden keys to manifesting it. Positive thinking is a way of sending direct messages to the Universe saying what you want is important and sacred to you. Visualize, feel and imagine that your greatest dream is happening to you without clinging to it. Assume that your imagination is real! Honor and respect your goals in life as if they were given to you from the highest and most powerful being you can imagine.

By now you need to put in place all that is necessary to make your dreams come true. Completely let go and it is a matter of time. We live in an infinite universe of absolute abundance. It is only our limiting beliefs which restrict our experience.

  • Love Yourself Always and In All Ways.

By simply and profoundly giving Love to yourself everyday in every way you are saying to the Universe you are worthy of attaining any dream, vision or goal. Immediately drop any neediness for love, acceptance and approval from others and replace it with self-love. Step aside from everyone’s judgments of you and use that crucial time and energy to send yourself loving and appreciative thoughts. You will increase your manifesting ability and power with every loving feeling you have about yourself that is usually negative and skeptical. The greatest manifesting energy comes from within this Infinite Source of Thought of your being which is in essence Absolute Love.

In simple words, anchor in your belief in your own power to manifest by celebrating your success. The more you do this, the easier it becomes to find exactly what you want in life. Have a glass of champagne. Go out for dinner. Splash out. It is important to honor your victories. Angels tread lightly. You are an angel. Lighten up, have fun with life, and watch your desires come to pass with ever increasing rapidity. Make it so!

Conclusion

Decide what you want, know you deserve it, believe that it is and it will be yours!

 

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A Simple Guide to De-clutter Your Mind https://falconconsultancy.info/2016/12/27/a-simple-guide-to-de-clutter-your-mind/ Tue, 27 Dec 2016 16:02:10 +0000 http://falconconsultancy.info/education/?p=9231 [box] “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo DaVinci.[/box]

The goal of reducing clutter is to eliminate the non-essentials and keep only what is needed. If you are cleaning out your closet, this means deciding which pile each thing belongs in. But when it comes to the contents of your mind, the choice is where you place your attention. What do you want to feed with your most precious resource – your attention? We must however be aware that the beginning of any change and any new direction starts within. More accurately it starts with a thought. No matter what that new journey will be, no matter how far it will take us, that first step will quietly, occur within the realms of our own mind.

An uncluttered mind is still and pristine like a mountain lake on a windless day. Even if a ripple appears, the tranquility remains, undisturbed. Your actions are clean and efficient. In the spaciousness, you notice creative impulses, novel ideas, and boundless peace. You feel light, calm, and alive.

Mental Noise

To a great extend, much of this can be classified as mental noise. We are forced to deal with it, blocking it out when we can, doing our best to filter out small pieces that are actually useful to us. We as humans were simply not designed to deal with this much information all at once. This noise keeps us at a disadvantage. It prevents us from focusing on our goals, focusing on what truly matters. It keeps us disconnected from the big picture and from each other.

Without the much needed mental clarity, no matter how many courses we may take, we are not prepared to recognize that which truly makes the difference in our lives, what brings us the lasting happiness that we seek.

Inquiry for Thoughts and Feelings

Are you ready to de-clutter your mind? Experts suggest asking a series of questions to decide what to keep and what to let go of. Take each thought pattern, each emotion, and any internal experience that holds you back and pose these questions:

  • Do I need this? Is it essential or necessary?
  • Does it serve me? Is it helpful or useful?
  • Am I attached to it? Can I let it go?

The Process of Letting Go

Let’s be clear about what “letting go” means. It’s not exactly like throwing away those clothes you haven’t worn for five years – or is it?

Letting go might mean choosing to move your attention away from a non-essential thought or feeling every time it arises. Or, the process of asking these questions might automatically dispel a long-treasured, old, boring story.

And sometimes the letting go is more of a process that happens over time.

Start by asking yourself the three questions, and see what you discover. Maybe you will be ready to let go of a mindset that doesn’t serve you. Or simply asking the questions may help the patterns loosen their grip.

De-cluttering is not an order, or even a goal. With great wisdom and love, simply notice, inquire, receive, then watch what happens…effortlessly.

Simple Breathing Meditation Technique

Here is a step by step guide to a simple breathing meditation technique that can be helpful for de-cluttering your minds.

Find a quiet dark area where you will not be disturbed for a duration of your session. Assume a comfortable position sitting down, without leaning back.

 

  • With your eyes closed, take a couple of deep breaths to help you relax. Now, breath normally. Gently bring your attention to the air moving in and out of your nose. Feel the cool air entering your nostrils, rising up through the nose passages on inhale. Don’t hold your breath. Feel the warmer air moving through and out of your nose at exhale. You can keep your eyes focused at the point between your eyebrows if you like.

 

  • Continue with your attention on the breath. Never force your breathing but allow it to naturally flow in and out of your nose. Thoughts will come up in your mind. One by one acknowledge them and gently return your mind to the breath. Watch your breath, never forcing it, simply observing. The thoughts will come and go, but the breath will continue, calmly and peacefully. It may be helpful to mentally repeat “in” while breathing in and “out” when breathing out.

 

  • You may find that after a while, your breath will become shallower. This is normal and you should just go along with it. Don’t force your breath. The key is simply to observe the air, become the air itself if you will. Let go of everything else, allow yourself to deeply merge with it. If your time is limited, you may want to set a gentle alarm in advance letting you know when the time is up. Slowly get out of the state of meditation but try to retain the calmness that you are experiencing. Bring this feeling of calmness with you when you’re done.

This simple practice will train your mind to focus on just one thing – in this case, your breathing. The effectiveness of this method comes from having a permanent point of attention. You may practice it as long as you’d like. It is recommend to start for just 5 to 10 minutes per day and growing your practice from there. Eventually, this meditation practice may be performed sitting at your office during a break, on the bus, whenever you have some down time or need to focus yourself.

The benefits of de-cluttering your mind are felt almost immediately. You will become more focused and prone to less distraction in general. All of your ideas will evolve more naturally. Your decisions will become more intuitive. Any task that you approach will be more manageable and easier to achieve. You will be ready to handle the new journeys or to improve your current ones. The answers will naturally come to you, just listen. This practice may also make you feel more peaceful and attuned to everything and everyone around you. You will realize that we all have the same desire for love, peace and appreciation that connects us all.

Conclusion

To be in a position to create a brand new program we have to change the programming of the past. Clear the slate if you like. So let’s get into how we can de-clutter our minds. It takes work, sacrifice and persistence.

However this is the price you must pay to prepare the fertile garden in your mind. There is no such thing as something for nothing. The universe will only align with you when you are prepared to pay a price for what you will receive. I hope you can commit to the price being asked here. The rewards will far outweigh the asking price.

The process is working when you begin to feel a difference in your energy level. Soon after that you will begin to be aware of the thoughts buzzing around in your head.

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Develop Critical Thinking Skills: Cross Examination Debates https://falconconsultancy.info/2014/11/03/develop-critical-thinking-skills-cross-examination-debates/ Mon, 03 Nov 2014 12:52:02 +0000 http://falconconsultancy.info/education/?p=9208 Develop Critical Thinking Skills: Cross Examination Debates

Author: Alhambra14
Published in: Oral Language

Developing Critical Thinking Skills: Cross Examination DebateBy Reed Markham, Daytona State College

Debating current issues is a great way to develop a student’s critical thinking skills and maximize student participation in the classroom.  Successful debates involve the selection of audience centered topics.  In preparation for the debates students utilize research from library databases and the internet.  On the day of the debate students should bring copies of research, notes, and speech outlines.

A basic format for the Cross Examination Debate includes the following:

Participants: 2 teams- Affirmative and Negative (2 students in each team)

Class -debate judges

Room setup: Two tables, podium in the center, student debaters face the audience

Format:

The constructive speech is designed to give students an opportunity to prepare an extemporaneous speech using the Toulmin Model of Argumentation.

First Affirmative Constructive speech (6 minutes)

Outline format:

Attention getting introduction

Debate Resolution

Definitions- key terms in the debate resolution

Body- utilize a modified Toulmin Model containing a claim statement, evidence (sources must be cited), and impact (personal opinion describing the significance of the argument).  Three claims must be presented.

Conclusion- brief conclusion summarizing key arguments and concluding with an attention getter.

 

Cross Examination (3 minutes) by a member of the Negative team- each participant is expected to participate as a questioner and as a respondent during the debate.

First Negative Constructive speech (6 minutes)

Outline format:

Attention getting introduction

Debate Resolution- negative team indicates that they disagree with the debate resolution

Definitions- key terms in the debate resolution

Body- utilize a modified Toulmin Model containing a claim statement, evidence (sources must be cited), and impact (personal opinion describing the significance of the argument).  Three claims must be presented.

Conclusion- brief conclusion summarizing key arguments and concluding with an attention getter.

Cross Examination (3 minutes) by a member of the Affirmative team

Second Affirmative Constructive speech (6 minutes)

Outline format:

Attention getting introduction

The second speaker does not repeat the debate resolution and definitions- goes directly to the body of the speech

Body- utilize a modified Toulmin Model format – claim statement, evidence (sources must be cited), and impact (personal opinion describing the significance of the argument).  Second speaker has two must pick one of two options for the body of the speech- (first option) present three, new independent claims (4, 5, 6) on the issue; (second option) reiterate claims presented by the first speaker, adding more evidence- examples, case studies, statistics, quotations.

Conclusion- brief conclusion summarizing key arguments and concluding with an attention getter.

Cross Examination (3 minutes) by a member of the Negative team

Second Negative Constructive speech (6 minutes)

Outline format:

Attention getting introduction

The second speaker does not repeat the debate resolution and definitions- goes directly to the body of the speech.

Body- utilize a modified Toulmin Model format – claim statement, evidence (sources must be cited), and impact (personal opinion describing the significance of the argument).  Second speaker has two must pick one of two options for the body of the speech- (first option) present three, new independent claims (4, 5, 6) on the issue; (second option) reiterate claims presented by the first speaker, adding more evidence- examples, case studies, statistics, quotations.

Conclusion- brief conclusion summarizing key arguments and concluding with an attention getter.

Cross Examination (3 minutes) by a member of the Affirmative team

Preparation (prep time) for the rebuttal (5 minutes)

The rebuttal is an impromptu speech designed to give students the opportunity to think critically, analyze their opponents’ arguments, and develop a strong closing statement.

First Affirmative Rebuttal speech (4 minutes)

Outline format:

Attention getting introduction

Body of the speech- focus on at least three voting issues- presenting reasons why the class (acting as judges) should vote for the Affirmative team.  Speaker needs to be responsive to opponents’ arguments, identify fallacies, and emphasize key arguments from the constructive speech.

Conclusion- brief summary and attention getter

First Negative Rebuttal speech (4 minutes)

Outline format:

Attention getting introduction

Body of the speech- focus on at least three voting issues- presenting reasons why the class (acting as judges) should vote for the Affirmative team.  Speaker needs to be responsive to opponents’ arguments, identify fallacies, and emphasize key arguments from the constructive speech.

Conclusion- brief summary and attention getter.

Second Affirmative Rebuttal speech (4 minutes)

Outline format:

Attention getting introduction

Body of the speech- focus on at least three voting issues- presenting reasons why the class (acting as judges)  should vote for the Affirmative team.  Speaker needs to be responsive to opponents’ arguments, identify fallacies, and emphasize key arguments from the constructive speech.

Conclusion- brief summary and attention getter.

Second Negative Rebuttal speech (4 minutes)

Outline format:

Attention getting introduction

Body of the speech- focus on at least three voting issues- (presenting reasons) why the class (acting as judges)  should vote for the Affirmative team.  Speaker needs to be responsive to opponents’ arguments, identify fallacies, and emphasize key arguments from the constructive speech.

Conclusion- brief summary and attention getter.

Cross Examination rules and strategies:

Questioner-

Take the time to research and read about arguments on both sides of the issue

Prepare questions in advance of the debate (but keep in mind that spontaneous questions have the greatest impact)

Use follow up questions, if necessary

Avoid general questions

Ask specific, probing questions

No personal questions (personal questions are irrelevant)

Use your research to reference questions

You may ask questions about any issue or idea related to the debate topic

Face the audience as you ask questions

10.  Avoid the shotgun approach to asking questions

11.  Don’t let the respondent ramble- feel free to interrupt the respondent after they have given a fair response to a question

12.  Use your time wisely- ask your best questions first

13.  Take notes during your opponent’s speeches

14.  The cross examination is for questions, not rebuttal speeches

Respondent-

Take the time to read several resources in preparation for your debate

Practice responding to questions with your debate team member in advance of the debate

Avoid responding like a politician- make sure you answer the question

Take advantage of generalized questions- feel free to elaborate on your response- it is the responsibility of the questioner to interrupt your response and ask another question

Don’t respond to personal questions (personal questions are irrelevant)

Use your research to reference question

Face the audience as you respond to questions

Remember- your debate team member cannot answer questions for you- be prepared

Classroom audience:

*Class members are expected to attend the debates and serve as debate judges.  Each class member will use the argument flowsheet method of note taking during the debate.  At the end of the debate class members will write down the name of the team that did the best job of debating the issues. Describe the reasons why you were persuaded to vote for that team. Make sure your name in is on the argument flowsheet.

*Class members need to set aside their personal opinions as debate judges.  Judges are expected to be fair and impartial judges.  Do not ask questions or interrupt the debate participants.

*Class members need to turn in their argument flowsheet at the end of the debate to receive credit for the assignment.

Debate preparation:

*Debate team members and opponents work together to prepare a debate resolution.  This is a competitive debate- do not work with your opponents after a decision on a resolution has been made.  Canned debates will receive significant grade reductions.

*Do not sit during the presentation of your speeches and cross examination.

*Results of the class vote will be announced at the end of the debate by the professor.

*Fairness doctrine applies to each speech delivered- speakers must stop speaking when the time limit has been reached. Student participants may use a stopwatch during the debate.

*Students are required to turn in copies of their research at the end of the debate.

*Laptops may not be used during the debate.

*Visuals are not required for this assignment. Do not use PowerPoint- the focus of the debate is on the development of verbal images and ideas.

This debate format gives students an opportunity to prepare a research based speech, respond and ask questions, and develop an impromptu concluding statement.  Audience members are actively involved in taking notes and making a decision about who is more successful.

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Why it’s never to late to go back to School https://falconconsultancy.info/2014/11/03/why-its-never-to-late-to-go-back-to-school/ Mon, 03 Nov 2014 12:49:35 +0000 http://falconconsultancy.info/education/?p=9206 Why it’s never to late to go back to School

Author: jasonw93
Published in: Essays on Teaching

The public perception of a person’s path through Toronto education has for the longest time been “one then done,” with every student following the same basic route: High school, post-secondary, and then onto the workforce, without a glance back. The idea of continuing education, or further education later in life carries certain stigmas around it which should be dispelled. There are many benefits to pursuing education further down the road. It can enhance your life, it can forward your career, and it can be done on your terms, without disturbing the life you already lead. Let’s take a closer look at these benefits:

  1. The world is changing, and it pays to keep up
    Really, you should never stop learning. The world advances and evolves, and it can benefit you to stay current. More importantly, though, you may have to. As the times change, so does what you need to know to stay on the job. What you learned when you were in school may now be less relevant to your career, and keeping abreast of the technology and practices of your organization is a never-ending process.If you’re in engineering, or machines, or computing, or anything else involving technology, it’s particularly essential to learn about the latest developments, and the practices that go with them. After all, if there’s one constant to technology, it’s that it’s always changing. The good news is that with continuing education, you’ll never have to fulfill the stereotype of the old-timer that doesn’t understand the gadgets that kids are using. It’s entirely possible to stay on top of technology. Furthermore, there’s a social good to be done. If you know best practices, you can contribute positively to society, particularly if you’re in education or personal care. College education can ensure you’re up to date with those best practices.
  2. You can get a whole new career, or augment your existing one
    Even when it isn’t essential, keeping up to date can get you noticed in your workplace. If you’re any sort of professional, an educational certification specifically stating that you’re knowledgeable about the latest standards and practices can provide true proof of that professionalism. You could see promotions, pay raises, or even brand new opportunities.Or maybe you’re tired of your current job, and want to get into something you can be passionate about, or where there’s more room for advancement. After all, industries like hospitality are rapidly growing, and you can use your education to specifically go where the jobs are.But this doesn’t have to be about your job, or advancing your career, or even money. Maybe you’re not interested in changing that. And that’s fine, because…
  3. It can be for your personal growth, too
    You don’t have to be enrolled simply for the sake of your career. Maybe there’s something you’re passionate about that you want to learn more of, like how to fix your car, or dancing, or even another language. Or perhaps you want to keep your mind sharp, or get out and socialize with people that share your interests. Whether you’re a beginner, or an expert looking to update their knowledge, there’s room for every interest. And you can find room for it too, since…
  4. You don’t have to give up years of your life, or your job.
    A good college program will understand your needs: You need money to keep living, and cutting your job out to go back to school makes the financially-savvy side of you twitch a little bit. A good post-grad curriculum doesn’t have to follow the traditional class structure. You could participate in single-day workshops, or weekly ones, or single specific classes. And those classes can be in the evening, or on weekends, perfect for your 9-5 workday. Aside from variable class times, there’s even another option entirely…
  5. You don’t have to physically go back, either.
    It turns out you no longer need to literally go back to school to go back to school. Maybe it’s the commute, or time, or the location, but if the idea of dragging yourself down to a classroom isn’t appealing, there’s distance learning, where you won’t have to put your job or career or family or personal commitments on hold.With distance learning, you can keep working, and have an academic workload you can shift around as necessary. Online learning is led by a professional instructor, same as a class. You can access the online classroom 24-7, and access course materials and assignments when you have the time. There’s even Correspondence or Print-based courses if you’re taking it offline.Centennial College’s School of Continuing Education can give you the chance to upgrade your job or life skills, with its selection of flexible, practical programs. Whether in the classroom or through distance learning, you’ll be connected to professionals with real-world experience, ready to pass their benefits on to you. It’s never to late to learn, and the school is flexible enough to teach you on your own terms. Have a look at its programs, and let them guide you through the next step of your lifelong learning experience.
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8 Important Reasons For Teaching Kindness in Modern Schools System https://falconconsultancy.info/2014/11/03/8-important-reasons-for-teaching-kindness-in-modern-schools-system/ Mon, 03 Nov 2014 12:48:07 +0000 http://falconconsultancy.info/education/?p=9204 8 Important Reasons For Teaching Kindness in Modern Schools System

 

Author: RippleKindness
Published in: Character Education

Most people have heard the phrase ‘random acts of kindness’, which refers to a selfless act of giving resulting in the happiness of another person. Terms like this are increasing in popularity around the world, as more people identify a deficiency in their lives that can only be fulfilled by altruism.It seems we just can’t get enough of those addictive feel good emotions and with good reason.

 

Scientific studies have shown that kindness has a great number of physical and emotional benefits, and that children require a healthy dose of the warm and fuzzies in order to flourish as health, happy, well-rounded individuals.

 

Patty O’Grady, PhD, is an expert in the area of neuroscience, emotional learning, and positive psychology with special attention to the educational arena. She believes that “kindness changes the brain by the experience of kindness. Children and adolescents do not learn kindness by only thinking about it and talking about it. Kindness is best learned by feeling it so that they can reproduce it. Kindness is an emotion that students feel and empathy is a strength that they share.”

 

A great number of benefits have been reported to support the theory of teaching kindness in schools:

 

1. Happy Children

Science explains that the good feelings we experience when being kind are produced by endorphins that activate areas of the brain that are associated with pleasure, social connection and trust, and it’s proven that these feelings of joyfulness are contagious, encouraging more kind behaviour by the giver and recipient.

 

2. Increased Peer Acceptance

Research on the subject has determined that kindness increases our ability to form meaningful connections with others. Studies show that kind, happy children enjoy greater peer acceptance because they are well-liked and that better than average mental health is reported in classrooms that practice more inclusive behaviour due to an even distribution of popularity.

 

3. Improved Health and Less Stress

It’s widely documented that being kind can trigger a release of the hormone oxytocin which has a number of physical and mental health benefits as it can significantly increase a person’s level of happiness and reduce stress. More recently though, it’s been found it plays a significant role in the cardiovascular system, helping protect the heart by lowering blood pressure and reducing free radicals and inflammation, which incidentally speed up the aging process.

 

4. Greater Sense of Belonging and Improved Self Esteem

Studies show that people experience a ‘helpers high’ when they do a good deed, a rush of endorphins that creates a lasting sense of pride, wellbeing and an enriched sense of belonging. Even small acts of kindness are reported to heighten our sense of wellbeing, increase energy and give a wonderful feeling of optimism and self worth.

 

5. Increased Feelings of Gratitude

When children are part of projects that help others less fortunate than themselves, it provides them with a real sense of perspective and helps them appreciate the good things in their own lives.

 

6. Better Concentration and Improved Results

As it increases serotonin, which plays an important part in learning, memory, mood, sleep, health and digestion, kindness is a key ingredient that helps children feel good. Having a positive outlook allows them greater attentions spans and enables more creative thinking to produce better results at school.

 

7. Less Bullying

Two Penn State Harrisburg faculty researchers, Shanetia Clark and Barbara Marinak say, “unlike previous generations, today’s adolescents are victimizing each other at alarming rates.” They argue adolescent bullying and youth violence can be confronted through in-school programs that integrate “kindness — the antithesis of victimization.”
Many traditional anti-bullying programs focus on the negative actions that cause children anxiety and often with little impact. Teaching kindness and compassion in schools, not only fosters the positive behaviour that creates warm and inclusive school environments, but helps children feel that they belong. It’s documented that the effects of bullying can be significantly reduced by integrating kindness based programs in schools.

 

8. Reduced Depression

Dr. Wayne Dyer, internationally renowned author and speaker, says research has discovered that an act of kindness increases levels of serotonin (a natural chemical responsible for improving mood) in the brain. It’s also found that serotonin levels are increased in both the giver and receiver of an act of kindness, as well as anyone who witnesses that kindness, making it a wonderful natural antidepressant.

 

 

Maurice Elias, a professor at Rutgers University Psychology Department says that “as a citizen, grandparent, father, and professional, it is clear to me that the mission of schools must include teaching kindness. Without it, communities, families, schools, and classrooms become places of incivility where lasting learning is unlikely to take place.

 

We need to be prepared to teach kindness, because it can be delayed due to maltreatment early in life. It can be smothered under the weight of poverty, and it can be derailed by victimization later in life. Yet despite these and other travails, the receipt of kindness and the ability to show kindness through service are both growth enhancing and soul cleansing.

 

Kindness can be taught, and it is a defining aspect of civilized human life. It belongs in every home, school, neighborhood, and society.”

 

It’s become quite clear that modern education must encompass more than just academics, that in order for children to develop into happy, confident, well-rounded individuals, matters of the heart must be taken seriously and nurtured as a matter of priority.

 

 

References:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/sel-teaching-kindness-maurice-elias

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-r-hamilton-phd/kindness-benefits_b_869537.html

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/positive-psychology-in-the-classroom/201302/the-positive-psychology-kindness

http://phys.org/news191601357.html

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0051380

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More TV in the Classroom Please https://falconconsultancy.info/2014/11/03/more-tv-in-the-classroom-please/ Mon, 03 Nov 2014 12:43:55 +0000 http://falconconsultancy.info/education/?p=9202 More TV in the Classroom Please:

Author: Calib Sael
Published in: ESL

Growing up in Puerto Rico means being strongly influenced by American culture probably more than in any other part of the world. Radio stations constantly play American music, and the TV is full of American programs; most of them dubbed since Spanish is the first language of the majority.  One of my favorite forms of entertainment is going to the movies, which in Puerto Rico is a completely different experience. Most movies in cinemas in Puerto Rico have subtitles in Spanish and are rarely dubbed (except for children’s movies). This meant reading the dialogue in Spanish while simultaneously listening to it in English. As a beginner reader, this proved to be a challenge. Trying to read the words before they disappear forever from the screen was a race against my reading skills I usually lost. But little by little, as my skills got better, I got to the point of being able to understand a whole movie. What a triumph that was! But then my journey switched, and that fluency reading practice became one of the best English teachers I ever had, which says a lot since children in Puerto Rico take English as a core subject  since kindergarten.                Today, as a bilingual teacher in Texas,  I see children struggling with reading and the English language on a daily basis. This has made me wonder if there are instances in which subtitles and captions have been used successfully to increase reading skills and English proficiency. My experience was not by any means a systematic approach, but maybe with some researched techniques I can improve and replicate it to help struggling readers.

One of the best examples on how subtitles can help with literacy comes from India. In a 2008 article, Brij Kothari, Tathagata Bandyopadhyay, and Debanjan Bhattacharjee study the impact of Same Language Subtitling (SLS) in readers from three different levels: good readers, early-readers, and non-readers. In the study they track the progress in literacy of viewers of two song programs, Chitrahaar and Rangoli, with and without SLS. Researchers found literacy levels improved considerably on viewers with SLS in all three levels. After five years of schooling, only 24% of children who did not have exposure to SLS became proficient readers. On the other hand, 56% of children with regular exposure to SLS programming became good readers. Researchers stated that, “It is claimed that SLS creates a context in which reading skills are practiced, automatically, incidental, and subconsciously by millions of children and adults. In the process, SLS leads to reading skill improvement” (“Same Language Subtitling on TV: Impact on Basic Reading Development among Children and Adults,” planetread.org, January 2008). In other words, not only did viewers practiced their reading skills, but they did it without even knowing it.

As we can see, captions and subtitles can be a great tool to increase literacy skills, but they can also provide help with second language acquisition. Hsin-Chuan Huang and David Eskey studied its effect on English as a second language students (ESL) with intermediate level. These researchers found many areas in which the use of captions can benefit ESL students and improve a variety of linguistic abilities like: general comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and listening comprehension. Researchers quote

“As Newman and Koskinen stated, students might establish the relationship between words and

meanings through TV’s combination of pictures and sounds. TV’s entertaining qualities make it an easier medium to access than text, and it also minimizes fear of failure in learning” (The Effects of Closed-Captioned Television on the Listening Comprehension of Intermediate English as a Second Language (ESL) Students, Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 1999). In other words, not only it helps with linguistic skills, but it can actually reduce the anxiety students experience when dealing with a second language by making it more accessible and engaging. In fact, Deborah Linebarger describes the level of engagement as: “In sum, television captions, by evoking efforts to read, appeared to help a child focus on central story elements and away from distracting information, including sound effects and visual glitz” (“Learning to read from television: The effects of using captions and narration”, Journal of Educational Psychology, Jun 2001).

Although Hsin-Chuan Huang and David Eskey focus their research on students with an intermediate level of English, we can infer that with certain adjustments this can also be used with all levels. Chrissine Rios from the Kaplan University Writing Center states, “Watching programs in English and referring to subtitles in your first language to maintain the show’s context or clarify a new word can improve your listening skills and show you how English speakers use gestures to construct meaning” (“Practical Ways to Improve Your English”, kucampus.kaplan.edu, March 2013). Put differently, ESL students with low proficiency can use captions in their own language to clarify words they don’t understand. According to the author, caption videos can even help with body language, a language skill many forget to address in ESL classes.

The idea of using subtitles and captions in the classroom is not new. From the late 1980’s, when the technology started to spread, many researchers and educators have spoken in favor its use as a powerful educating tool. None the less, over twenty years later, its presence in classrooms could still be underappreciated. The amount of lesson choices it provides for teachers to help with reading and language proficiency skills should make it an essential and versatile tool. Teachers could have kids watch videos repeatedly without sound to improve fluency skills or with sound to increase hearing comprehension. The amount of possible uses could be as big as the ingenuity of the teacher, and with the help of parents, students could be watching TV with closed captioning at home turning a normally non-educational activity into something that might help students from all levels succeed academically.

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