Economic Policy and The Global Environment

Economic Policy and The Global Environment 1 Introduction SMEs are seen as one of the critical handmaidens to huge relationship like change into one of their suppliers and sub-foremen to them. Hence, SMEs are key in the economy as giving a simple work business, structure gatherings of progress by presenting specific changes in the affiliations and close by SMEs utilizing high advancement based and give an adaptable and open to client. 1.1 Characteristic of SMEs Attributes of SMEs are dead set by factors like size of association or free proprietorship: 1.1.1 Impact of Age to the Business Study revelations help considered age of a relationship as a variable that may affect firm survival and improvement and/or definitive decline and passing the commitment of inventiveness that makes new SMEs face an a greater number of genuine threat of survival than more settled firms is that new firms dont have the experience, access, associations, reputation or the validness of the more settled firms, provoking limited access to external resources. 1.1.2 Impact of Location to the Business Geographic area has its suggestions for access to business sectors and different assets like finance, talented work, subcontractors, base, appropriation and transport logistics and other 10 offices. SME achievement additionally relies on upon neighborhood appearance and proceeded with or kept up future business operation in that area 1.2 Whatdo SMEs meanto the Singapore Economy? SMEs is just an imperative piece of the Singapore economy. They contain 92% of aggregate foundations, clichà ©s 51% of the workforce and produce 34% of the aggregate worth included. Nonetheless, their benefit is virtually a large portion of the non-SME foundations. The huge number of low-profit SMEs exists together with a few numbers of more gainful extensive, neighborhood undertakings and remote Mncs. 2 Contribution of SMEs in Singapore The vast majority of the nations saw SMEs as one of the significant that helps to generate a large share of new jobs, promote economic growth, increase competitiveness process and productivity and benefit together with wealth creation. 2.1 Generate a large share of new jobs. More vital than holding the dominant part of occupations in low wage and developing economies, SMEs make a key commitment to the net production of employments, particularly littler and adolescent firms.Work development originates from existing organizations as well as from recently made firms, particularly those that become quickly in the first years of action. These new businesses add up to a generally negligible impact of all organizations. Yet it is assessed that they represent very much a substantial offer of the aggregate employment creation. 2.2 Promote economy growth. Recently reported Singapore is blasting and the Southeast Asian monetary powerhouse extended its general 2013 gauge, expecting a last count of 3.5-4 for every penny GDP development for the year. Anyway the financial news out of Singapore isnt simply a story of colossal progress. Rather, Singapore is experiencing a monetary insurgency, the kind that places small and medium-sized undertakings (SMEs) at the cutting edge of the economy. 2.3 Increase competitive process and productivity. More than 5,600 SMEs were consistent with productivity improvements, capability upgrading and innovation. This was 19% more than 2011. Of these, 72% of the SMEs who had benefitted were small and micro SMEs. Sectoral productivity drives in the retail, food services, food manufacturing and furniture sectors continued to gain traction since its launch in 2011. More than 600 SMEs in these sectors have adopted technologies, redesigned workflows, invested in automation, upgraded capabilities and pursued innovations to improve productivity. 2.4 Wealth Creation â€Å" According to the latest Barclays Wealth Insights report, Singapore is the most fertile environment for millionaires, with 51% of High Net Worth Indiciduals(HNWIs) having accrued their wealth here in less that a decade.† (Lim 2014, P.3) 3 Constrain of SMEs in Singapore SMEs in Singapore got a few shortcomings, for example, low productivity, absence of financing, marketing and promotion and difficulties in lack in managerial capabilities. 3.1 Low Productivity Productivity was negative for six quarters from the final quarter of 2011, and improved marginally in the second and third quarters of a year ago. In a different study directed by the Relationship of Little and Medium Ventures (ASME), 61 for every penny of organizations surveyed demonstrated that they might want to see more activities to build profit. Singapore SMEs likewise need the legislature to expand the PIC plan past the 2014 budgetary year so more organizations can advantage from it. 3.2 Absence of Financing SMEs in the development and extension arrange regularly require a support in financing to accomplish sufficient scale and have to be internationally aggressive. In 2010, the Co-Speculation Program (CIP) was issued to catalyze persistent advance capital for Singapore-based endeavors, through co-contributing with the private segment. The administration put aside $250 million for the first period of the system, of which give or take $160 million has been shipped. This has been effectively catalyzed over $500 million of speculations from private part players, or in excess of three times of the governments cost. In perspective of the critical take-exceptional, we will dispatch the second stage not long from now with the Legislature giving an extra $150 million to match private division speculations. 3.3 Marketing and Promotion In cooperations with different nearby undertakings, we find that SME holders have a tendency to see advertising as a need just for huge companies or consumption that are reasonable just when the organization is doing admirably. These are combined up convictions. Showcasing, both as a solid capacity and as a consumption thing, is fundamental for all organizations substantial, medium or little and adroit advertising is discriminating particularly when the organization is not doing admirably. Sometimes, we will run over a couple of enthusiastic SMEs that are eager to cause uses on showcasing. Sadly, they are frequently restless with the results and they expect prompt money related profits for the consumptions. 3.4 Lack of Managerial Capabilities Managerial issues incorporate those identifying with human assets administration. Help businesses and SMEs in all phases of improvement face the regular issue of drawing in, creating, and holding gifted staff, whether specialists, managers, officials or directors. While MNCs have the ability to enlist and hold the best, supporting commercial enterprises and SMEs cant on account of their constrained money related assets and authoritative practices. The tight work market circumstance in Singapore additionally helps the circumstances, bringing about the cream of the work business sector streaming to the MNCs that offer higher pay, a superior nature of working life, and thoroughly preparing projects. 4 Steps to Strengthen SMEs in Singapore These days, Smes is confronting a considerable measure of issue, such as, absence of managerial value, low productivity, engineering imperative and high cost of creation. So with the goal Smes should fortify their shortcoming this is the few ways that ready to help, such as: 4.1 Priorty Sector Lending The need to hold more and better quality value capital against credits will crush banks ability to loan to SMEs, especially since SME giving accompanies higher expected misfortunes than corporate loaning. Banks will probably move a portion of the expense to SMEs through higher premium rates, along these lines decreasing interest for credit. 4.2 Price Perferences Previously, 15% value inclination was achieved out of SSI units for supplies to Psus/Government bodies. Presently it is adjusted at 20% and in the meantime the prohibition rundown will go. The value inclination is supposed to be settled on exact information which will go about as a measure of help to SSI units for using their ability enough. 4.3 Reformation of Labour Law Multitude of work laws has the potential to a vast degree for moderate development of industry in our nation. Work laws offer a lot of security to work compel by the procurement of least wages, PF, reward, tip and ESI and so on. Then again, the head honchos are forced to look for an earlier authorization actually for getting additional time work from work, on installment and despite common assent. More effective and diligent employees may be suitably compensated, and there ought to be a procurement to deduct wages for evading and sluggishness. Steady work laws are a paramount essential for Indian industry to confront the worldwide rivalry. 4.4 The Opportunity Globalization and liberalization would have made gainful open doors also. Numerous effective and fare arranged a few firms would have picked up out of this improvement. Such open doors ought to go about as a motivating force to abundant a little firm in India to improve their aggressiveness to infiltrate the worldwide business. This could likewise be accomplished by little firms getting to be sellers or subcontractors to remote expansive scale businesses. The pattern is outsourcing of supplies by Tncs and they are constantly vigilant for firms that could supply dependable and quality items. 4.5 Networking – Increase Competitiveness The advancement of between firm linkages is an alternate issue meriting more distinguishing. The expanding vicinity of transnational companies (Tncs) in the nation would open up new open doors for subcontracting/ outsourcing. This is on account of FDI has streamed into commercial ventures, for example, information transfers, transportation, electrical, metallurgical businesses and autos, among others, where opportunities for acquiring subcontracting/ outsourcing are distinguished for little industry. 5 Conclusion Based on the research, later on for SMEs ought to improve social flourishing obliges a need of women asserted SMES, youthful business person, adjust to the future globalization and in conclusion making more legitimacy and unwavering quality items. Firstly, In owning business grants for women following future pioneers who will see their organizations into the following period of development, to contend on the worldwide stage. Besides, Young business person swaying SMEs to be more progress and guaranteeing the budgetary issue too. Ultimately, adjust to globalization and making more unwavering quality and legitimacy items helps SME to be additionally adjusting in the worldwide advance by utilizing advance innovation to deliver a top notch items for society. 6 Reference: AsiaOne Business, (2014). More SMEs seek assistance to increase productivity. [online] Available at: http://business.asiaone.com/sme-central/news/more-smes-seek-assistance-increase-productivity [Accessed 9 Nov. 2014]. Chang, R. (2014). Budget 2014: More support for Singapore companies to raise funds See more at: http://business.asiaone.com/news/budget-2014-more-support-singapore-companies-raise-funds#sthash.SPRx0H0S.dpuf. AsiaOne Business. [online] Available at: http://business.asiaone.com/news/budget-2014-more-support-singapore-companies-raise-funds [Accessed 9 Nov. 2014]. Ho, D. and Lim, L. (2014). SPRING -Marketing is vital for all even for small companies. [online] Spring.gov.sg. Available at: http://www.spring.gov.sg/NewsEvents/ITN/2012/Pages/Marketing-is-vital-for-alleven-for-small-companies-20121123.aspx?skw=smes marketing and promotion [Accessed 9 Nov. 2014]. Ilo.org, (2013). Is small still beautiful?. [online] Available at: http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/comment-analysis/WCMS_218252/langen/index.htm [Accessed 6 Nov. 2014]. Lim, C. (2014). The Strategy Issue. Volume2 Issue 7. Singapore, p.3. Mediabuzz.com.sg, (2014). Singapore SMEs usher in new era of business productivity. [online] Available at: http://www.mediabuzz.com.sg/asian-emarketing/brand-n-ingameadvertising/2149-singapore-smes-usher-in-new-era-of-business-productivity [Accessed 6 Nov. 2014]. Meti.go.jp, (2014). APEC Internationalization of industrial Science and Technology. [online] Available at: http://www.meti.go.jp/english/apec/apec-isti/ISTI/abridge/sgz/sgzsme05.htm [Accessed 9 Nov. 2014]. Rbi.org.in, (2014). Reserve Bank of India. [online] Available at: http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/FAQView.aspx?Id=87 [Accessed 10 Nov. 2014]. Sgemployers.com, (2014). www.sgemployers.com | snef. [online] Available at: http://www.sgemployers.com/public/industry/sme21.jsp [Accessed 6 Nov. 2014]. Singapore Business Federation, (2014). SINGAPORE SMEs NEED TO GET THEIR MOJO BACK. [online] Available at: http://www.sbf.org.sg/public/newsroom/details/20131121pr.jsp [Accessed 9 Nov. 2014]. Spring.gov.sg, (2014). SPRING Performance Indicators. [online] Available at: http://www.spring.gov.sg/aboutus/pi/pages/performance-indicators.aspx [Accessed 6 Nov. 2014]. Spring.gov.sg, (2014). SPRING New SME Definition and Launch of New Online Tools and E-Services. [online] Available at: http://www.spring.gov.sg/NewsEvents/PR/2011/Pages/New-SME-Definition-and-Launch-of-New-Online-Tools-and-E-Services-20110322.aspx [Accessed 6 Nov. 2014]. Spring.gov.sg, (2014). SPRING More SMEs Raised Productivity, Innovated and Upgraded Capabilities in 2012. [online] Available at: http://www.spring.gov.sg/NewsEvents/PR/2013/Pages/More-SMEs-Raised-Productivity-Innovated-and-Upgraded-Capabilities-in-2012-20130219.aspx [Accessed 6 Nov. 2014]. Spring.gov.sg, (2014). SPRING SPRING Scholars to Champion SME Growth. [online] Available at: http://www.spring.gov.sg/NewsEvents/PR/Pages/SPRING-Scholars-to-Champion-SME-Growth-20140718.aspx [Accessed 11 Nov. 2014]. U-Wen, L. (2014). BIGGER PRODUCTIVITY PUSH NEEDED FROM SMES. asme. [online] Available at: http://www.asme.org.sg/index.php/news/new/bigger-productivity-push-needed-from-smes [Accessed 9 Nov. 2014]. 6.1 Report: Chane Wube, M. (2010). FACTORS AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES. p.22. Lim, C. (2014). The Strategy Issue. Volume2 Issue 7. Singapore, p.3. Nyangori, R. (2014). Factors influencing performance of micro and small enterprises: a case of Kisumu City Bus Park-Kenya. pp.10-11. Oliver Wyman and Fung Global Institute, (2013). Asia Finance 2020 Framing A New Asian Financial Architecture. p.8. Raju, K. (2014). Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): Past, Present and Future in India KD Raju. pp.19-20. The Importance of SMEs in the Economy. (2014). p.1. 6.2 Newspaper: Chang, R. (2014). Budget 2014: More support for Singapore companies to raise funds See more at: http://business.asiaone.com/news/budget-2014-more-support-singapore-companies-raise-funds#sthash.SPRx0H0S.dpuf. AsiaOne Business. [online] Available at: http://business.asiaone.com/news/budget-2014-more-support-singapore-companies-raise-funds [Accessed 9 Nov. 2014]. Singapore Business Federation, (2014). SINGAPORE SMEs NEED TO GET THEIR MOJO BACK. [online] Available at: http://www.sbf.org.sg/public/newsroom/details/20131121pr.jsp [Accessed 9 Nov. 2014]. U-Wen, L. (2014). BIGGER PRODUCTIVITY PUSH NEEDED FROM SMES. asme. [online] Available at: http://www.asme.org.sg/index.php/news/new/bigger-productivity-push-needed-from-smes [Accessed 9 Nov. 2014]. 1

The Musical World of Aaron Copland Essay -- Biography Music

Aaron Copland was born on November 14th, 1900 in Brooklyn, New York, United States (3). His parents, Harris Morris Copland and Sarah Mittenthal Copland, were Jewish immigrants from Russia (6). Copland had four older siblings who grew up together. When he was eleven years old, one of his sisters, Laurine, taught him how to play a piano (3). Laurine also influenced to his musical world by introducing him to ragtime and opera (6). From 1913 to 1917, he took his first formal piano lessons from Leopold Wolfsohn (3, 6). Wolfsohn introduced him to the pieces of the great musicians such as Beethoven and Mozart. When he was fifteen, he attended a concert by composer Ignacy Paderewski. The dream of becoming a composer sprouted inside him after attending the concert (3). While he is attending Boys’ High School in 1917, he began to study composition and music theory through taking corresponding courses taught by Rubin Goldmark (2). Rubin Goldmark was a very conservative American composer, who discouraged modern music. After his graduation from Boy’s High School in 1918, he chose to study composition with Goldmark instead of attending to a university (6). He also received piano lessons from Victor Wittgenstein and Clarence Alder. He was exposed to various genres of music by attending to operas and concerts. The Cat and the Mouse (1920) was his first published composition that was not shown to Goldmark. The Cat and the Mouse is a literal composition which fast tempo depicts the mouse while slow tempo depicts the cat (1). In 1921, he wrote the Piano Sonata for Goldmark (6) Copland did not like the conservative musical world of United States (1). After he completed the Piano Sonata, he left United States and continued his studying in American... ...siconline.com/subscriber/article/opr/t237/e2406>. Web. 3. Copland, Aaron, and Vivian, Perlis. Copland: 1900 through 1942. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1987. Print. 4. Copland, Aaron, and Vivian, Perlis. Copland: Since 1943. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1999. Print. 5. Griffiths, Paul. "Copland, Aaron." The Oxford Companion to Music. Ed. Alison Latham. Oxford Music Online. 16 Jan. 2011 . Web. 6. Howard Pollack. "Copland, Aaron." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 16 Jan. 2011 . Web. 7. Pollack, Howard. Aaron Copland: The Life and Work of an Uncommon Man. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1999. Print. 8. Kamien, Roger. Music: An Appreciation. New York: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages, 2010. Print.

Dialectic Journal for Catcher in the Rye Essay

Entry One Quote: â€Å"†¦ and all that David Copperfield kind of crap but I don’t feel like going through it if you want to know the truth†¦ my parents would have about two hemorrhages a piece it I tell anything pretty personal about them.† (Page 1) Response: This excerpt makes me very curious about his family members. The tone makes me believe that Holden probably is ashamed by them or he doesn’t like them when he describes them as â€Å"crap†. His parents’ attitude toward telling others personal stories is also confusing. It is not clear whether they are the ones inhibiting Holden from telling or not. I predict that Holden is reluctant when it comes to uncovering truths about his life. This quote is important because it gives me background information into Holden’s family life, as well as revealing a variety of characteristics of his personality. From this quote, I could tell that Holden does not have motivation to excel in school and he does not seem to care about getting kicked out. Being the teenager that he is, Holden does not realize the importance of education in his life, thus not caring about the severe consequences. Entry Two Quote: â€Å"He said he talked to Jesus all the time, even when he was driving his car. That killed me. I can just see the big phony bastard shifting into first gear and asking Jesus to send him more shifts.† (Page 17) Response: The quote made me really confused because I do not understand what Holden meant by shifting gear in this passage. However, now I understand that he does not like braggers and fakers. Also, Holden finds it irrational that these people dare to say they follow Jesus. I agree with him. If standing in a parking lot does not make you a car, then going to a church does not mean you are incredibly religious. This also seems to be one sign of Holden’s immaturity. It is very clear that when Holden starts to horse around, he puts an effort into annoying those surrounding him. Entry Three Quote: â€Å"I didn’t care about not seeing the movie anyway†¦ Besides, I’d been to the movies before with Auckly and Brossard.† (Page 37) Response: This quote seems ironic to me in ways more than one. Holden normally hates watching movies because he thinks that actors are fake and phony. He also does not like Auckly that much. In this section of the book, Holden does not seem glum and miserable as usual because he is acting like a regular teenager would. Holden’s invitation to Auckly proves that he is caring and sensitive to Auckly’s emotions. He also knows that loneliness is the worst situation so he helps Auckly out of it at least for one night. I also feel as if Holden really did care about seeing the movie because of the tone evolved in his voice. Entry Four Quote: â€Å"He got leukemia and died when we were up in Maine, on July 18, 1946. You’d have liked him. He was two years younger than I was, but he was about fifty times as intelligent. He was terrifically intelligent.† (Page 49) Response: This quote seemed very significant to me. It informed me that Holden had a younger brother named Allie who died from Leukemia. It is extremely clear that when Holden thinks about Allie, all he thinks about is how amazing of a person Allie was. I get the feeling that Holden is very fond of his siblings and has developed a fantastic relationship with them over time, making the death of Allie a major impact on his life. Also, the way Holden seems to be acting in this scene in the book tells me that he has strong feelings for Jane. The way he is talking about Stradlater has a connotation of evilness and mystery as to why he is afraid about Jane. Holden used to be close friends with Jane and he knows things about her that is worrying him about the intimate relationship she might form with Stradlater. Entry Five Quote: â€Å"I was right away sorry I’d said it, but it was too late.† (Page 75) Response: In my perspective, Holden tells these lies because he is used to it, but every time in the end he feels guilty. I think the fact that Holden feels bad about what he has done makes him a mature young man. He recognizes his mistakes and recognizes the horrid feeling of telling a lie. Many people in life have had moments where they have said something and regretted it immediately. This is the exact situation in which Holden was in. Holden had just had one of those relatable moments involving the guilt from saying something harsh and how it immediately affects him. However, he soon realizes that it is unfortunately too late to take back the words he had said. Entry Six Quote: â€Å"The fish-that’s different. The fish is different. I’m talking about the ducks.† (Page 82) Response: In this passage of the book, Holden is thinking scientifically. This supports the fact that he is smart after all, even though he his failing most of his classes. Often times, a teenager wants something so bad, they come up with crazy and somewhat stupid ideas and plans to help them obtain that something. Maybe this is because he does not want to try or maybe he wants to fit in with others who would not accept him if he was smart. In this metaphor, he is comparing himself the ducks in Central Park when the lagoon freezes over. What Holden is really saying is the fact that he would not know where to go if he stays living in a place full of phonies and rude people. The ducks cannot swim in ice and he will not stay in a school full of fakes. Entry Seven Quote: â€Å"She hasn’t felt too healthy since my brother Allie dies. She’s very nervous. That’s another reason why I hated like hell for her to know I got the ax again.† (Page 140) Response: This quote clearly explains how Holden is definitely not the only one who is affected by his brother, Allie’s, death. Holdens mother has gained severe health problems ever since Allie passed away. His mother is also very nervous, and I have come to conclusion that this is probably because she is afraid to lose another child of her own. However, not matter what her reason, Holden is concerned about his mother, and he feels saddened and guilty that his problems will affect her. This seems to be one of the real reasons as to why he does not want his parents, especially his mother, to know about him getting kicked out of school once again. I can relate to Holden in this situation in the fact that there is much pain and struggle that goes on within a family when a tragedy happens. Entry Eight Quote: â€Å"I kept putting my hand over my stomach and all to keep the blood from dripping all over. I didn’t want anybody to know I was wounded. I was concealing the fact that I was a wounded sunuvabitch.† (Page 150) Response: Back in the hotel when Holden caught himself into a fight and became the punching bag for the elevator guy, he pretended to be shot in the stomach. It is worth noting that Holden does the same thing now. I will infer that Holden may have seen this played out in a movie and such a scene became imprinted in his head. Also, this passage is extremely symbolic as to how Holden is feeling. It is very clean that Holden has a ton of issues that are depressing him but he is not showing that among others. I feel as though if Holden received help from a therapist or even a loved one he could excel in life and not have to live in such a tremendous lie anymore. In this depressed state, Holden is looking for much comfort. In some ways Holden proves he has much strength, but in other ways he proves he is a weak liar. Entry Nine Quote: â€Å"Then I took my hunting hat from my coat pocket and gave it to her.† (Page 180) Response: In this quote it is clear that Holden feels attached to it because he is able to recognize the connection he has with it. When he puts on the hat, he feels almost outside of himself and feels like there is someone that understands him. He understands himself even if no one else does. He feels safe when he wears it. The hunting hat is very symbolic to Holden. He wears it whenever he wants to feel protected and loved. It is probably the only object he cherishes. Giving that hat to Phoebe is a terrific example of being the catcher in the rye because he was to protect the children from the severity of life. Among those children, his favorite person is Phoebe, and this is why he chose the hand off the hunting hat to her. Entry Ten Quote: â€Å"but this damn article I started reading made me almost worst. It was all about hormones. It describes how you should look, your face and eyes and all, if your hormones were in good shape, and I didn’t look that way at all.† (Page 195) Response: Holden appears to be sad, lonely, and in desperate need of comforting. Unfortunately he decides to turn to alcohol for comfort. This clearly demonstrates how Holden behaves when dealing with certain issues as well as showing another immature side of him. Holden is originally skinny. He was supposed to be on a certain diet to help him gain weight, but he never eats enough. In fact, he rarely mentions food in his whole novel. His body is not receiving the essential nutrition in order for his body to function correctly, and consequently his hormones are not going to form completely. Many organs in his body will not work correctly, this includes his brain. This is scientifically why Holden will wind up in a mental hospital to seek help with his personal issues.

How to Teach English Using Newspapers

Newspapers or magazines are a must-have in every classroom, even beginner classrooms. There are a number of ways to use newspapers in the classroom, ranging from simple reading exercises to more complex writing and response assignments. Here are suggestions on how to use newspapers in class arranged by linguistic objective.   Reading Straight forward reading: Have students read an article and discuss.Ask students to find articles from different nations on a global topic. Students should compare and contrast how different nations cover the news story. Vocabulary Focus on word forms using colored pens. Ask students to circle different forms of a word such as worth, worthy, worthless, etc. in an article.  Ask students to find various parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs.Make a mind-map of an article relating ideas through vocabulary.Focus on words related to certain ideas. For example, ask students to circle verbs that are related to finance. Have students explore the differences between these words in groups. Grammar Discuss the use of present perfect for recent events that have an effect on the current moment by focusing on truncated newspaper  headlines that use the past participle such as  XYZ Merger Done Deal, Law Approved In SenateUse colored pens to focus on grammar points. For example, if you are studying verbs that take the gerund or the infinitive, have students highlight these combinations using one color for gerunds and another color for infinitives. Another option is to have students highlight different tenses in different colors.Photocopy an article from a newspaper. White out key grammar items that you are focusing on and have students fill in the blank. For example, white out all the helping verbs and ask students to fill them in. Speaking Break students up into groups and read a short article. Students should then write questions based on this article, and then exchange articles with another group providing questions. Once groups have answered the questions, get students into pairs, one from each group, and have them discuss their answers.Focus on ads. How are the ads pitching their products? What messages are they trying to send? Listening / Pronunciation Ask students to prepare two paragraphs from a newspaper article. First, students should all the content words in the passage. Next, have students practice reading the sentences focusing on using correct intonation of the sentence by focusing on content words. Finally, students read to each other asking simple questions for comprehension.Focus on an IPA symbol or two through the use of minimal pairs. Ask students to underline example of each phoneme practiced. For example, have students compare and contrast the phonemes for the short /I/ sound and the longer ee of /i/ by looking for representative words with each phoneme.Use a news story that has a transcript (NPR often does provides these on their website). First, have students listen to a  news story. Next, ask questions about the main points of the story. Finally, ask students to listen while reading the transcript. Follow up with a  discussion. Writing Have students write short summaries of news stories they have read.Ask students to write a newspaper article of their own for a school or class newspaper. Some students can do interviews, others take photos. Alternately, use the same idea to create a class blog.Lower level students can use photos, charts, pictures, etc. to begin writing descriptive sentences. These can be simple sentences describing what someone is wearing to practice related vocabulary. More advanced students can write about the back story of photos such as why the person was in a certain situation shown in a photograph.