Reagan, Obama and Inequality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reagan, Obama and Inequality - Essay Example Nicholas Kristof argues in his article that the inequality has soared since the time president Reagan took office to this time when president Obama is still in office. According to Nicholas, the median household income has stagnated and educational progress has almost come to a halt. He further argues that the average Canadian family is better off than the average American family. The author has based his arguments from the late 1970s to now when president Obama is still in office. The issue of inequality came up in the president’s state of the union address (Kristof). The president proposed that the government should take this issue seriously and corrective measures should be taken. However, the author does not believe that any action will be taken, citing that every year the president mentions an issue during the state of the union address and nothing is usually done to correct the situation. The author differentiates between opinions and facts. Some of the facts the author gives are that the median income for households has increased from the year 1979. However, according to his opinion, the Average American family is worse off than the average Canadian family.

Problematizing the Use and Learning of a Second Language Essay

Problematizing the Use and Learning of a Second Language - Essay Example The quest for education has attracted international students to foreign countries. Both undergraduate and graduate international students are, for example, enrolling in the United States universities in large numbers. The students, however, encounter several challenges as they strive for academic excellence and adapting to the new society. They even find it hard to socialize with the local students because of inadequacies in language proficiency and other related factors. In spite of the challenges, the students are of benefit to the learning communities both at the national and state levels. They introduce new cultures and bring about financial gains to American institutions. It is a fact that the English language is prevalent in various countries all over the world, but the level of understanding on how to use it differs. Several countries in Africa and Asia have embraced the English language. I believe that English is the most learned language in schools. I think that governments and institutions interested in enhancing their quality of learning cannot understate the value of English. Drawing examples from Chinese students, Qian, presents a comprehensive study of the teaching methods that can improve their oral English. He notes that China has given attention to the learning of oral English in colleges (Qian 2204). I think that in spite of China’s rampant economic growth, they still have to depend on the language when sourcing for foreigner investors. I fail to understand how China’s growth can continue if they can fail to embrace the language. By teaching English to their children and students in colleges, they provide grounds for their f uture growth. Qian, a lecturer at the department of English in Zhenjiang Watercraft College, argues that â€Å"it is true in China that thousands of students cannot speak fluent English although they have learned it for several years† (2204).  Ã‚