Introduction

‘ We live in a world in which we are dangerously influenced by media images.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement?


Until the mid of the last century, most of the people can get information from over the world easily by using media such as television, radio, newspaper, internet, and others. It means that media has become a part of daily life and influenced the life of mankind. Media images have both beneficial and harmful effects. Some people believed that media provides all the information they need, to entertain and at the same time it helps to find more about a topic which are interested in. However, some people argued that the invasion of the media images have many negative aspects to audience. TV and the Internet destroy communication between the members of the family. Moreover, according to Tiggemann & Pickering (1996), ‘ the amount of time an adolescent watches soaps, movies and music videos is associated with their degree of body dissatisfaction and desire to be thin’. This essay will examine that to what extent effect of media images on influencing social behavior in a negative way and also mention how to evade harmful influence of the media.

Monday seminar

Television viewing habits around the world

• More than a third of Canadian households own at least three television sets.


• Canadians watch more TV in the winter, and less in the summer months.


• Children in US average 2.5 hours of TV viewing per day, compared to an average of one hour a day for homework.


• Older people spent more time in front of the tube as well. Men and women over 60% spent nearly ten more hours than the national average watching TV.


• 78 % of Asian consumers did not pay full attention to TV commercials during commercial breaks, and only 10 per cent could recall the controlled brand after watching a commercial break.


• 23.6% of people age 13-54 watched the premiere in a location other than their home.


• 35.3% of teenagers age 13-17 leaving home to see the highly anticipated sequel.


• The positive effects of TV viewing habits are :
  (1) Imaginary Skills - TV teaches you how to develop and use your imagination
  (2) Role Playing - Young people can learn adult roles by watching them on TV. We all tend to copy behaviors that are rewarded. Notice what roles and actions are rewarded on TV.
  (3) Family Values - You can learn about family values through TV viewing
  


• The negative effects of TV viewing habits are :
  
  (1) Stereotypes - TV may present roles based on race, gender, age and physical beauty. Values of youth and physical attractiveness develop based on these biases.
  (2) Violence - Young people (particularly boys) who watch TV violence are more likely to imitate more aggressive acts.
  (3) Reality Check - TV is sometimes used to tune-out others or escape from the real world. This can cause you to miss out on real world experiences.
  
  
  
  Television images
  
  · Most of the images on TV did not show reality.
  · Most of the stereotypes really reinforce the society like some of the action heroes for adolescents, superman for young children etc.
  
  
  The future for television and television viewers
  
  · Media Literacy is quite important and it should be taught in the schools
  · The main purpose of TV is to entertain and to inform. Other purposes is to sell, to show reality and sometimes to help people escape reality
  · In the future, people will watch TV by using mobile phone.
  

Media vocabulary

broadcast (n) : a programme that can be seen or heard on radio or television

(v) : to send out messages or programmes to be received by radio or television

channel (n) : a television station and the programmes that it broadcasts

prime time (n) : The time of day when most people are watching television

article (n) : a piece of writing about a particular subject that is published in a newspaper or magazine

coverage (n) : news about something on television or radio or in the newspapers

documentary (n) : a film or television programme that deals with real people and events

paparazzi (n) : photographers who follow famous in order to take photographs of them that newspapers and magazines will buy

audience (n) : a group of people who have come to a place to see or hear a film, performance, speech etc.

the limelight (n) : a situation in which you are getting a lot of interest and attention from the newspapers, television etc.

Diagnostic Language Test

I completed the quick placement test. I found many mistake, especially on the last page. It’s about collocation. I searched a good website to improve this part.

There are some mistake that I make below.

He was able to predict what was going to happen with ........ accuracy.
Answer : uncanny – strange and mysterious; that you cannot easily explain.

We need to find a new site with ........ access to the European motorway network.
Answer : ready

This will probably be the ........ achievement of her career.
Answer : crowning

We're fighting for the ........ abolition of the death penalty.
Answer : outright – without hiding anything; openly
- immediately or completely

Prepare for the further study

I will study Computer Application in Accounting next semester. The first module is Strategic Information Management. I borrowed the book (Management Information Systems:by Terry Lucey.)

This book focuses on a means of processing data, i.e. the routine facts and figures of the organization, into information which is used for decision making. It is changes in decision behavior which distinguish data from information.

What is a Management Information System (MIS)?

The meaning of MIS is no definition. The term MIS relates with computer based data processing, systems analysis, file design and various other technical aspects of computer based systems.

“Management Information System: The combination of human and computer-based resources that results in the collection, storage, retrieval, communication and use of data for the purpose of efficient management of operations and for business planning” by Kelly


Problem with MIS

- lack of management involvement with the design of the MIS
- narrow and / or inappropriate emphasis of the computer system
- undue concentration on low level data processing applications particularly in the accounting area
- lack of management knowledge of computers
- poor appreciation by information specialists of management’s ture information requirements and organizational problems
- lack of top management support

Key point of summary

- The book adopts a decision focus to MIS with an emphasis on the user’s requirement for relevant information not on the means of production.
- There are wide ranging knowledge requirements for MIS including; the nature of data and information.
- Management and MIS must concentrate on what before how.
- Areas of change include; greater competition, faster pace, new technologies and methods, globalization, employment patterns.

conversation club

5th November 2008
I attended the conversation club. We talked about household waste.

- How often is your household waste collected in your country?
In my country, municipality official keep rubbish everyday in the morning.

- Do you need to separate it or put it in one big bag?
The government campaigned to recycle waste. They set up a rule to people separate rubbish but this campaign was not successful.

A teacher gave a sample in Hackney. Hackney has a new plan to dispose waste and it is an environmentally friendly way. In 2020, the North London Waste Authority will increase recycling 50% and cut the amount of waste sent to landfill from 36% to 15%. They will establish two sorting plants for recyclables; facilities for composting and turning waste into biogas to create electricity
Finally, the students were divided into 3 groups and prepared to talk about recycling proposals in Hackney.

NEW WORDS

dispose (v) : to get rid of sb/sth that you do not want

landfill (n) : a place where waste is buried in large amounts

amenity (n): sth in a place that makes living there enjoyable and pleasant

Greenwich visit

I went to Greenwich last week. Greenwich has many attractive places that tourists should visit such as National Maritime Museum, Royal Observatory Greenwich, etc. Personally, the Fan Museum is the most interesting place. This museum is the first and only museum in the world to preserve fans from many countries. It is home to more than 3,500 fans and the excellent Helene Alexander collection. I was very surprised when I arrived at the museum. Ithought it was a small place but I went inside I had to say small is beautiful. I saw the vivid fans around the room. They are divided into two parts. The ground floor is permanent and introductory display. The Orangery room is decorated with a mural which makes the room a wonderful atmosphere. From the French windows you can look out at a Japanese style garden with a fan-shaped parterre, a pond, and a stream. The next floor displays theme exhibitions. This month features an exhibition called Fashion in the Palm of your Hand. However, the exhibitions are changed approximately three times a year. Some type of fan had disappeared and difficult to find them.I wanted to take some pictures but the staff would not allow to flash photography because it will destroy the surface of fans. The Fan Museum’s staffs were pleased to answer my questions and gave a free audio while visiting the permanent exhibition. There were also labels on the walls to give further information. I wanted to join a fan workshop but fees are quite expensive and I changed my mind to buy some gifts to my friends. I went back home in evening.

Say Hi and analyse

I’m Siripet. I come from Thailand, land of smile. My friends call me ChingChing. It means something pure or clear. Many friends of mine wondered why I have a Chinese name. Grandfather and grandmother moved from China to Thailand. My grandmother given this name that it was one of her favorite Chinese actresses. My family has settled in Northeast of Thailand for many years. I was born and grew up there. Although, I have studied English since I was 12 years old, I haven’t improved it as well. To learn a foreign language is not easy. Specially, I have no chance to speak to a foreigner but I didn’t mind I thought it wasn’t necessary. Unfortunately, I worked for an overseas company after graduated. The significant purpose in the working world is to achieve in career and personal life. Employees need to present their skills. In addition, I found that English is very important for my job. I can’t get promoted if I lack of English skills so, I decided to study English course and Msc. Computer Application in Accounting.

I have been studying English in London Metropolitan University for three months. Personally, I think I can improve listening skill more than other skills. At first time, it is difficult to understand British people speak but I tried to listen to the radio everyday. My speaking skill isn’t good I still speak not fluently. I attend the conversation class every week to practice this skill. I take long time to write a paragraph. This month I learn new vocabulary that it is more important than last month. Finally, I think all of them are getting better soon