American Accent Training by Ann Cook

American Accent Training by Ann Cook and published by Barrons provides a self-study course that is sure to improve any advanced level students pronunciation. This course includes a course book and five audio CDs. The book includes all the exercises, quiz material and reference material that are found on the audio CDs. In this way, learners follow their course by reading, listening and repeating materials that are oral in nature, but also provided in print. The course takes what is termed a pure-sound approach to learning standard American pronunciation. To put it simply, this course focuses on learning the music of English as it spoken in the USA. The stress-timed nature of English is put emphasized with correct intonation, stress, and liaison used to develop natural sounding speech patterns. These speech patterns are then combined with a specific vowel and consonant patterns in a connected speech in exercises which lead to improved, natural American sounding, pronunciation. Here is a rough overview of how American Accent Training is developed: Introduction to American IntonationThis section helps the learner become aware of the music of English as it is spoken in America. Students learn about intonation and liaison.Refining your pronunciation - specific pronunciation problems including various vowel and consonant sounds.Nationality Guides - these guides help specific nationalities with particular problems arising from their linguistic background. The nationality guides include:ChineseJapaneseSpanishIndianRussianFrenchGermanKoreanPeriodic diagnostic analysis and continuing review and expansion throughout the package A Nice Extra Feature For those studying American Accent Training on their own, a toll-free telephone tutoring number or the website at http://www.americanaccent.com provides a referral to a qualified telephone analyst. The diagnostic analysis is designed to evaluate your speech patterns to let you know where your accent is standard and nonstandard. American Accent Training is a wonderful package that will surely help those who really want to improve their pronunciation. It is very thorough, and although presented in a light-hearted manner, American Accent Training presents a serious tool for advanced English speakers and ESL students determined to learn to speak with an American accent. I would highly recommend this package only to learners who live, or want to live, in the United States or Canada. Furthermore, learners should also be advanced level readers to be able to truly take advantage of all this package has to offer. If you are a casual English learner, or interested in English for taking holidays or communicating with other non-native speakers, this package is probably too extensive for you. However, if you DO want to sound like an American, then this package is sure to provide you with all the tools you need.

Media Violence Essay - 1860 Words

Does entertainment influence societys attitude towards violent behavior? In order to fully answer this question we must first understand what violence is. Violence is the use of ones powers to inflict mental or physical injury upon another; examples of this would be rape or murder. Violence in entertainment reaches the public by way of television, movies, plays, music, and novels. Through the course of this essay it will be proven that violence in entertainment is a major factor in the escalation of violence in society, once this is proven we will take all of the evidence that has been shown throughout this paper and come to a conclusion as to whether or not violence in entertainment is justified and whether or not it should be†¦show more content†¦In that same study other possible causes for the vast increases in violence were studied, the baby boom effect, trends in urbanization, economic trends, trends in alcohol abuse, the role of capital punishment, civil unrest, the av ailability of guns, and exposure to television(Lamson 32). Each of these alleged causes was tested in a variety of ways to see whether it could be eliminated as a credible contributor to doubling the crime rate in the United States, and one by each of them was invalidated, except for television. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Children average four hours of television per day, and in the inner city that increases to as much as eleven hours a day, with an average of eight to twelve violent incidents per hour. It is also interesting to note that violence occurs some fifty-five times more often on television than it does in the real world (Medved 156). FBI and census data show the homicide arrest rate for seventeen-year-olds more than doubled between 1985 and 1991, and the rates for fifteen-and sixteen-year-olds increased even faster. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Movies also add their fair share to the problem of violence in society. Researchers have established that copycat events are not an anomaly.Show MoreRelatedMedia Violence And The Media Essay864 Words   |  4 PagesExposure to the media violence may be especially problematic in late adolescence. Television and other media play a major role in adolescent socialization and identity development by providing perspectives, values, ideologies, and behavior models (Arnett G., Roberts D. et al.). The socializing role of television in particular may be ampliï ¬ ed by the large amount of time young people spend with this medium. Speciï ¬ cally, 18- to 24-year-olds spend more time watching television and movies than youngerRead MoreMedia Violence1535 Words   |  7 Pagesat looking at the potentially harmful effects of the consumption of violent media and the impact it has on psychological factors. Two psychological factors that have been researched are empathy an d aggression and how violent media influences these two emotions. Theories that have tried explaining the pathway from the viewing of violence in media and the impact on aggression have generally focused on the role of violent media being used by consumers as observational learning and promoting the developmentRead MoreMedia Violence and Violence in Society1059 Words   |  4 Pagesprogramming contains some violence, there should be more and more violent crime after television is available† (Freedman). Many suggest the violence in media is causing violence in society but then how is it that violent crimes are actually decreasing in the United States. The violence that is occurring is actually due from the mentally ill, poor parenting, and the location of where one lives in society. Violence has actually decreased over the decades even though media has more violence than ever beforeRead MoreThe Effects Of Media Violence In The Media1212 Words   |  5 Pages Introduction With the recent increase in media presence throughout the world, there has also been an increase in violence portrayed through the media. Media violence is believed to be causing aggression in today’s youth and society. This paper will examine the potential reasons on how media violence is causing aggression Review of Literature In a study conducted, media psychologists, mass communication scientists, pediatricians, and parents all completed an anonymous online survey that asked whetherRead MoreViolence in Mass Media594 Words   |  2 PagesViolence in Mass Media Violence is everywhere and in everything from what we see to what we hear. Today’s society has become acquainted with the violence in video games, tv shows, movies, and music since it is everywhere but many have become too attached to this violence and brought it to real life. Many assume that getting rid of this violence is essential to a more passive and peaceful society but there are more benefits to the portail of violence that society sees today. One of the key itemsRead MoreMedia, Violence, And Violence Essay1892 Words   |  8 Pageswould be the media. Media and violence are both very wide and broad concepts that have massive impacts in our society, and it is important to distinguish their relationship with each other. The types of media are things such as violent video games, films, newspapers, magazines and television. One particular type of media that is often very problematized is violent video games. Different studies have shown convincing and unconvincing correlational in regards to the media and violence, but to whomRead MoreMedia, Violence, And Violence Essay1949 Words   |  8 Pageswould be the media. Media and violence are both very wide and broad concepts that have massive impacts in our society, and it is important to distinguish their relationship with each other. The types of media are things such as violent video games, films, newspapers, magazines and television. One particular type of media that is ofte n very problematized is violent video games. Different studies have shown convincing and unconvincing correlational in regards to the media and violence, but to whomRead MoreThe Effects Of Media Violence On Behavioral Violence916 Words   |  4 PagesEffects of Media Violence on Behavioral Violence in Young Adults in America The influence of mass media has progressively increased in American society, but can the media have effects beyond mere entertainment and impartial information? American culture has become saturated with online news reports, social media, and media entertainment. Technology has become a major factor in America’s social environment. Much of the information gained from digital sources involves or portrays violence, and manyRead MoreMedia Violence And Its Effects1057 Words   |  5 Pages Media violence exposure has been investigated as a risk factor for aggression behavior for years. The impact of exposure to violence in the media the long term development and short term development of aggressive behavior has been documented. Aggression is caused by several factors, of which media violence is one. Research investigating the effects of media violence in conjunction with other predictors of aggression such as; environmental factors and dysfunction within the family household,Read MoreThe Effects Of Violence On The Media1550 Words   |  7 PagesThe effect of violence in the media is a big controversy; some say it affects are society and others say that there is not any proof of this. There are many theories on how violence in media does, and how it does not, affect our society. Many people claim watching television or even playing video games will affect children’s or young adults’ minds. Researches claim that they found no evidence of change in aggr essiveness in children or young adults while playing video games. Researchers allowed children

Helen of Troy free essay sample

Since we are talking favourite characters, thought I would talk about one from Greek Mythology, a female figure that I like, and find very interesting. Well, to be honest, you really cannot see any good portion of character development. The larger story is literally involved with the rise and fall of people around her. She even displayed very little emotions and was sort of unaffected by the war outcome. Still I like her Helen of Troy, or Helen or Sparta, one of the most controversial female characters in literature, has been the literary and mythic symbol of beauty and illicit love.She was the most beautiful woman in Greece best known for being the cause of the Trojan War. A wholewar which lasted for ten years. Helen, was flesh and blood certainly, but she was also immortal, since her father was none other than Zeus. Her mother was the beautiful Leda, queen of Sparta, who was ravished by the father of the gods in the form of a swan. We will write a custom essay sample on Helen of Troy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Leda’s husband was Tyndareus, who later the same night, unaware of his feathered predecessor, also impregnated his wife. She produced two eggs, one of which yielded Helen and Polydeuces and the other of which contained Castor andClytemnestra.Helen was a beauty as a child; therefore, Theseus kidnapped her, so that she would be his wife one day. Her twin brothers came to her rescue and brought her back to their mother. When it was time for Helen to marry, many Greek kings and princes came to seek her hand or sent emissaries to do so on their behalf. Among the candidates were Odysseus, Menestheus, and Patroclus, but the favorite was Menelaus who did not come in person but was represented by his brother Agamemnon. All but Odysseus brought many and rich gifts with them.Tyndareus would accept none of the gifts, nor would he send any of the suitors away for fear of offending them and giving grounds for a quarrel. Odysseus promised to solve theproblem in a satisfactory manner if Tyndareus would support him in his courting of Penelope, the daughter of Icarius. Tyndareus readily agreed and Odysseus proposed, before the decision was made, all the suitors should swear a most solemn oath to defend the chosen husband against whoever should quarrel with him. Helen and Menelaus were married. Following Tyndareus’ death, Menelaus became king of Sparta.Few years later, Paris, a Trojan prince came to Sparta to marry Helen, whom he had been promised by Aphrodite after he had chosen her as the most beautiful of the goddesses, earning the wrath of Athena andHera. Helen fell in love-as Aphrodite promised- and eloped with him, leaving behind Menelaus and Hermione â€Å"her daughter†. When Menelaus discovered that his wife was missing, he called upon all the other suitors to fulfill their oaths, thus beginning the Trojan War. Virtually all of Greece took part, either attacking Troy with Menelaus or defending it from them.The more you read about Helen, the more conflict you feel towards her true nature†¦To some authors she is a muse, a female figure of anexceptional inspiration. To others she is a deceitful woman who is considered the sole cause of the death of thousands Greek and Trojanmen â€Å"†¦and excited the heart of Helen; maddened by the Trojan man , a traitorous guest, she followed him in a ship on the sea, leaving at home her child and her husband†¦ The Trojan plain holds conquered because of that woman† Alkois here holds Helen responsiblefor the destruction of Troy. Homer, one of the most celebrated authors of epic literature, has a more complex view of Helen’s character. His Iliad is full of negative references towards Helen from every character who mentions her name. Here is one of my very favorite pieces, and I think the best written on her; Christopher Marlowe’s Helen in Dr. Faustus: Was this the face that launched a thousand ships And burnt the topless towers of Ilium? Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss. Her lips suck forth my soul; see where it flies! Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.Here I will dwell, for heaven be in these lips, And all is dross that is not Helena. I will be Paris, and for love of thee, Instead of Troy, shall Wittenberg be sacked; And I will combat with weak Menelaus, And wear thy colors on my plumed crest; Yea, I will wound Achilles in the heel, And then return to Helen for a kiss. Oh, thou art fairer than the evening air Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars; Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter When he appeared to hapless Semele; More lovely than the monarch of the sky In wanton Arethusa’s azured arms; And known but thou shalt be my paramour! Helen of Troy free essay sample Reaction Paper This is a review/reaction paper for the movie Troy released in 2004, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and screenplay by David Benioff. Cast of characters: Achilles – Brad Pitt Hector – Eric Bana Helen of Troy – Diane Kruger Paris – Orlando Bloom King Priam – Peter O’Toole Menelaus – Brendan Gleeson Agamemnon – Brian Cox Patroclus – Garrett Hedlund Odysseus – Sean Bean Briseis – Rose Byrne Troy is a film adaptation of the epic Iliad. It is a good movie for its entertainment value but not for its likeness to the narrative by Homer. It s a movie made to entertain the audience, not to tell the story of the events that happened in Iliad. There are many inconsistencies between Iliad and the movie Troy. One of them that stands out is the absence of gods in the film. As we all know, the setting of Iliad is inhabited by gods that interfere directly with humans and there are many instances in Iliad where the gods interacted with the humans. We will write a custom essay sample on Helen of Troy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Thetis, the mother of Achilles is the only deity seen in the movie. More important divine occurrences like the Judgment of Paris (the cause of the Trojan War) and the priest killed by Poseidon’s serpents (as seen in The Odyssey) were left out. This major discrepancy itself takes the film away from being a true adaptation of Iliad. A mythological story without the gods is like a play without the supporting characters. Troy’s visuals are stunning. The Trojans and Greeks are all clad in beautiful armor. The city of Troy looked exactly as one would imagine it to be – a grand city protected by impenetrable walls. The clashes between the two armies are wonderful to watch with the bird’s eye camera view of the battlefield showing detailed fights between opposing soldiers. Much of the film’s $175 million budget surely went to visual production. Diane Kruger as Helen of Troy As for the actors, they all met my expectations, though barely for some. Brad Pitt is fit for the role of the brave Achilles but he could have shown more facial expressions to show his emotions. Diane Kruger is exquisite but hardly the one I would consider the most beautiful. Peter O’Toole is perfect for the role of old and wise King Priam. I didn’t like the actors for Agamemnon and Menelaus. Though they certainly looked ruthless and merciless, their characters didn’t command respect worthy of a king. Troy is based loosely on the story of one of the greatest wars ever told. It was not hyped up to be a loyal big screen adaptation of the Trojan War but an entertaining movie with a famous background story.