Importance of Communication Skills

Importance of Communication Skills I feel a deep sense of gratitude for this rare opportunity to address the concept of the importance of communication to such a respectable body of students[1]. I may be politically incorrect but as part of the Information Age generation, I try incredibly hard to convince myself that despite the lack of appreciation of the significance of communication, it is the most powerful tool one can have. To say the least, communication is complex. While it may be regarded as a personal expression of oneself, it is an exchange of communication, a method of coordination, an agent of social change and a process of development. At the same time, communication is a potentially devastating weapon. Beyond these banal clichà ©s, what I need to call attention to is the unrecognised power of communication. We take communication for granted, just as we take our eyes, our power of vision, for granted[2]. I take the perspective that communication is a powerful instrument applied in unlimited ways, and which makes up one of the principal forces that control and form human behaviour[3]. To explain the significance of communication is like to explain the significance breathing. If communication means interchange and interchange is a central aspect of human existence then no human can survive without interchange. The ability to communicate is therefore central to how we relate, what we are, how we live and how we learn[4]. To provide credence for my argument, I will take you through the four themes to show that communication is indeed important to us, as students and future professionals[5]. First, we will explore the importance of communication in development of a person. Second, we will consider the impact of communication in improving the impact of education in advancing societal interests. And finally, we will examine the importance of education to career and business advancement. First, communication is crucial for the development of a person. Researchers and educators have pointed out to the importance of communication in self-development. To this end, I must quote Morreale, Osborn and Pearson (2000) who stated that communication should in itself be viewed as general education since it improves personal skills and abilities such as critical thinking, leadership and management skills, social skills and media literacy. While we, as students, recognise the importance of communication education, we underestimate the importance of having communication skills. To this end, the significance of the ability to communicate effectively cannot be downplayed. In my view, the communication discipline should be regarded as central to student successes (Prinsen Punyanunt-Carter, 2009). I suggest that we should equate communication to feeling comfortable with people’s perceptions of us, using language effectively, reasoning with people and feeling confident about our selves[6]. Second, communication ensures effective education delivery. It checks that classroom instruction is improved and is central to effective collaboration within the entire education enterprise. To this end, communication skills are vital for the teachers, school administrators and librarians[7]. Effective communication is a prerequisite to students’ personal, academic and professional accomplishments. In fact, most of the instructions are delivered to use through oral communication. I must make reference to Morreale, Osborn and Pearson (2000) study that explored the importance of non-verbal communication within the context of education. The study found that majority of messages exchanged within a classroom setting originated from nonverbal communication. I take this angle to argue that by consciously controlling our individual nonverbal expressions, we can be able to maintain positive relationships with our audiences within the classroom setting[8]. Third, communication is essential for continuation of the society and for cross-cultural interaction. Through effective communication, we develop the proficiency to speak and interact with people from different cultures. Effective communication also enables us to take part in public life. It also enables us to gain an understanding of people from different cultures[9]. The importance of education within this context has been extensively investigated. A landmark study by Morreale, Osborn and Pearson (2000) made an insightful critical review of the importance of communication media in the society and found that communication greatly influences the direction that democracy takes in a country[10]. I anchor my argument on this study to assert that a society that has an interplay of many forces, such as; apathy, volatility, sense of vulnerability and extreme hostility, people tend to undermine the political stability of a nation, media organisations are therefore at the centre stage of res toring sobriety and order. Taking a different perspective, developing the ability to communicate effectively qualifies us to take part in public life. Like investigated by Morreale, Osborn and Pearson (2000), there is a correlation between effective oral communication through public speaking and civic responsibility. Hence, effective communication plays a critical role in qualifying one to participate in public life. As students, we should learn to appreciate effective reading and writing as a pathway for growing into citizens who can express themselves effectively and participate in public life, as great speakers. Think about all the greatest speakers and the extent to which they have moved crowds with their eloquence. Historically, public speaking was the primary medium for engaging in public affairs at the dawn of democracy in ancient Athens. It is still the primary means for taking part in public life. Fourth, effective communication is essential for career success as well as effective business operation. Take for example; most job interviews base their selections on how effective a candidate communicates. On the other hand[11], the candidate will rely on their communication skills to convince their employers that they are fit for a position. This perspective has been explored by several researchers[12]. According to Bardwell (1995), having effective written and verbal communication skills can help students to get a desirable employment. Essentially therefore, communication skills are crucial for career development. Far from this, the power of communication skills has also not been neglected in various career fields such as engineering, banking, sales and marketing, public relations, information science and politics. All these fields need effective communicators, either through the written or spoken word. Think of the accounting field for example. It consists of systematic communic ation of quantitative information on a company’s finances. Businesses also depend on communication to advertise their product, where the most effective communicator wins most customers[13]. To conclude, we should come [14]to a common understanding that communication is a powerful instrument applied in unlimited ways, and which makes up one of the principal forces that control and form human behaviour. It helps in human development, it improves the impact of education in advancing societal interests and lastly, it promotes career and business advancement. References Bardwell, C. B. (1997). Standing out in the crowd. Black Collegian, 28, 71-79. Bjerregaard, M. Compton, E. (2011). Public Speaking Handbook: Suppliment to Public Speaking. Retrieved: http://www.snow.edu/communication/public_speaking_handbook.pdf Littlejohn, S. Foss, K. (2009). Encyclopedia of Communication Theory. London: Sage Morreale, S., Osborn, M. Pearson, J. (2000). Why Communication is Important: A Rationale for the Centrality of the Study of Communication. Journal of the Association for Communication Administration 29, 1-25 Prinsen, T., Punyanunt-Carter, N. (2009). The difference in nonverbal behaviors and how it changes in different stages of a relationship. Texas Speech Communication Journal, 34, 1-7. Watt, S. Barnett, J. (2013). persuasive speaking. Retrieved: http://www.publicspeakingproject.org/PDF Files/persuasion web 1.pdf> [1] Attention step: gain attention and interest of audience: Personal greeting (Watt Barnett, 2013; Bjerregaard Compton, 2011). [2] Attention step: gain attention and interest of audience: illustration (Watt Barnett, 2013; Bjerregaard Compton, 2011). [3] Agenda-setting theory: stunningly telling the audience of what to think about, hence influences perception (LittleJohn Foss, 2009) [4] Need step: show the reason for the problem: connecting audience to problem (Watt Barnett, 2013; Bjerregaard Compton, 2011). [5] Need Step: Describe the problem: Show ramifications (Watt Barnett, 2013) [6] Need step: show the reason for the problem: connecting audience to problem (Watt Barnett, 2013; Bjerregaard Compton, 2011). [7] Satisfaction step: offer solutions for needs described in the need step: Explanation (Watt Barnett, 2013) [8] Satisfaction step: offer solutions for needs described in the need step: Show evidence, theoretical demonstration, practical experience (Watt Barnett, 2013) [9] communicators accommodate different cultural practices in cross cultural situations to relate to audience (LittleJohn Foss, 2009) [10] Satisfaction step: offer solutions for needs described in the need step: Show evidence, theoretical demonstration, practical experience (Watt Barnett, 2013) [11] Visualisation step: To help audience visualise results: contrast to compare contrast (Bjerregaard Compton, 2011). [12] Satisfaction step: offer solutions for needs described in the need step: Show evidence, theoretical demonstration, practical experience (Watt Barnett, 2013) [13] Symbolic interaction: the human mind is influenced by constructing things he can identify with (LittleJohn Foss, 2009) [14] Action Step: motivate the audience to act: Illustration (Bjerregaard Compton, 2011).

Twilight 20. IMPATIENCE

20. IMPATIENCE When I woke up I was confused. My thoughts were hazy, still twisted up in dreams and nightmares; it took me longer than it should have to realize where I was. This room was too bland to belong anywhere but in a hotel. The bedside lamps, bolted to the tables, were a dead giveaway, as were the long drapes made from the same fabric as the bedspread, and the generic watercolor prints on the walls. I tried to remember how I got here, but nothing came at first. I did remember the sleek black car, the glass in the windows darker than that on a limousine. The engine was almost silent, though we'd raced across the black freeways at more than twice the legal speed. And I remembered Alice sitting with me on the dark leather backseat. Somehow, during the long night, my head had ended up against her granite neck. My closeness didn't seem to bother her at all, and her cool, hard skin was oddly comforting to me. The front of her thin cotton shirt was cold, damp with the tears that streamed from my eyes until, red and sore, they ran dry. Sleep had evaded me; my aching eyes strained open even though the night finally ended and dawn broke over a low peak somewhere in California. The gray light, streaking across the cloudless sky, stung my eyes. But I couldn't close them; when I did, the images that flashed all too vividly, like still slides behind my lids, were unbearable. Charlie's broken expression – Edward's brutal snarl, teeth bared – Rosalie's resentful glare – the keen-eyed scrutiny of the tracker – the dead look in Edward's eyes after he kissed me the last time†¦ I couldn't stand to see them. So I fought against my weariness and the sun rose higher. I was still awake when we came through a shallow mountain pass and the sun, behind us now, reflected off the tiled rooftops of the Valley of the Sun. I didn't have enough emotion left to be surprised that we'd made a three-day journey in one. I stared blankly at the wide, flat expanse laid out in front of me. Phoenix – the palm trees, the scrubby creosote, the haphazard lines of the intersecting freeways, the green swaths of golf courses and turquoise splotches of swimming pools, all submerged in a thin smog and embraced by the short, rocky ridges that weren't really big enough to be called mountains. The shadows of the palm trees slanted across the freeway – defined, sharper than I remembered, paler than they should be. Nothing could hide in these shadows. The bright, open freeway seemed benign enough. But I felt no relief, no sense of homecoming. â€Å"Which way to the airport, Bella?† Jasper had asked, and I flinched, though his voice was quite soft and un-alarming. It was the first sound, besides the purr of the car, to break the long night's silence. â€Å"Stay on the I-ten,† I'd answered automatically. â€Å"We'll pass right by it.† My brain had worked slowly through the fog of sleep deprivation. â€Å"Are we flying somewhere?† I'd asked Alice. â€Å"No, but it's better to be close, just in case.† I remembered beginning the loop around Sky Harbor International†¦ but not ending it. I suppose that must have been when I'd fallen asleep. Though, now that I'd chased the memories down, I did have a vague impression of leaving the car – the sun was just falling behind the horizon – my arm draped over Alice's shoulder and her arm firm around my waist, dragging me along as I stumbled through the warm, dry shadows. I had no memory of this room. I looked at the digital clock on the nightstand. The red numbers claimed it was three o'clock, but they gave no indication if it was night or day. No edge of light escaped the thick curtains, but the room was bright with the light from the lamps. I rose stiffly and staggered to the window, pulling back the drapes. It was dark outside. Three in the morning, then. My room looked out on a deserted section of the freeway and the new long-term parking garage for the airport. It was slightly comforting to be able to pinpoint time and place. I looked down at myself. I was still wearing Esme's clothes, and they didn't fit very well at all. I looked around the room, glad when I discovered my duffel bag on top of the low dresser. I was on my way to find new clothes when a light tap on the door made me jump. â€Å"Can I come in?† Alice asked. I took a deep breath. â€Å"Sure.† She walked in, and looked me over cautiously. â€Å"You look like you could sleep longer,† she said. I just shook my head. She drifted silently to the curtains and closed them securely before turning back to me. â€Å"We'll need to stay inside,† she told me. â€Å"Okay.† My voice was hoarse; it cracked. â€Å"Thirsty?† she asked. I shrugged. â€Å"I'm okay. How about you?† â€Å"Nothing unmanageable.† She smiled. â€Å"I ordered some food for you, it's in the front room. Edward reminded me that you have to eat a lot more frequently than we do.† I was instantly more alert. â€Å"He called?† â€Å"No,† she said, and watched as my face fell. â€Å"It was before we left.† She took my hand carefully and led me through the door into the living room of the hotel suite. I could hear a low buzz of voices coming from the TV. Jasper sat motionlessly at the desk in the corner, his eyes watching the news with no glimmer of interest. I sat on the floor next to the coffee table, where a tray of food waited, and began picking at it without noticing what I was eating. Alice perched on the arm of the sofa and stared blankly at the TV like Jasper. I ate slowly, watching her, turning now and then to glance quickly at Jasper. It began to dawn on me that they were too still. They never looked away from the screen, though commercials were playing now. I pushed the tray away, my stomach abruptly uneasy. Alice looked down at me. â€Å"What's wrong, Alice?† I asked. â€Å"Nothing's wrong.† Her eyes were wide, honest†¦ and I didn't trust them. â€Å"What do we do now?† â€Å"We wait for Carlisle to call.† â€Å"And should he have called by now?† I could see that I was near the mark. Alice's eyes flitted from mine to the phone on top of her leather bag and back. â€Å"What does that mean?† My voice quavered, and I fought to control it. â€Å"That he hasn't called yet?† â€Å"It just means that they don't have anything to tell us.† But her voice was too even, and the air was harder to breathe. Jasper was suddenly beside Alice, closer to me than usual. â€Å"Bella,† he said in a suspiciously soothing voice. â€Å"You have nothing to worry about. You are completely safe here.† â€Å"I know that.† â€Å"Then why are you frightened?† he asked, confused. He might feel the tenor of my emotions, but he couldn't read the reasons behind them. â€Å"You heard what Laurent said.† My voice was just a whisper, but I was sure they could hear me. â€Å"He said James was lethal. What if something goes wrong, and they get separated? If something happens to any of them, Carlisle, Emmett†¦ Edward†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I gulped. â€Å"If that wild female hurts Esme†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My voice had grown higher, a note of hysteria beginning to rise in it. â€Å"How could I live with myself when it's my fault? None of you should be risking yourselves for me -â€Å" â€Å"Bella, Bella, stop,† he interrupted me, his words pouring out so quickly they were hard to understand. â€Å"You're worrying about all the wrong things, Bella. Trust me on this – none of us are in jeopardy. You are under too much strain as it is; don't add to it with wholly unnecessary worries. Listen to me!† he ordered, for I had looked away. â€Å"Our family is strong. Our only fear is losing you.† â€Å"But why should you -â€Å" Alice interrupted this time, touching my cheek with her cold fingers. â€Å"It's been almost a century that Edward's been alone. Now he's found you. You can't see the changes that we see, we who have been with him for so long. Do you think any of us want to look into his eyes for the next hundred years if he loses you?† My guilt slowly subsided as I looked into her dark eyes. But, even as the calm spread over me, I knew I couldn't trust my feelings with Jasper there. It was a very long day. We stayed in the room. Alice called down to the front desk and asked them to ignore our maid service for now. The windows stayed shut, the TV on, though no one watched it. At regular intervals, food was delivered for me. The silver phone resting on Alice's bag seemed to grow bigger as the hours passed. My babysitters handled the suspense better than I did. As I fidgeted and paced, they simply grew more still, two statues whose eyes followed me imperceptibly as I moved. I occupied myself with memorizing the room; the striped pattern of the couches, tan, peach, cream, dull gold, and tan again. Sometimes I stared at the abstract prints, randomly finding pictures in the shapes, like I'd found pictures in the clouds as a child. I traced a blue hand, a woman combing her hair, a cat stretching. But when the pale red circle became a staring eye, I looked away. As the afternoon wore on, I went back to bed, simply for something to do. I hoped that by myself in the dark, I could give in to the terrible fears that hovered on the edge of my consciousness, unable to break through under Jasper's careful supervision. But Alice followed me casually, as if by some coincidence she had grown tired of the front room at the same time. I was beginning to wonder exactly what sort of instructions Edward had given her. I lay across the bed, and she sat, legs folded, next to me. I ignored her at first, suddenly tired enough to sleep. But after a few minutes, the panic that had held off in Jasper's presence began to make itself known. I gave up on the idea of sleep quickly then, curling up into a small ball, wrapping my arms around my legs. â€Å"Alice?† I asked. â€Å"Yes?† I kept my voice very calm. â€Å"What do you think they're doing?† â€Å"Carlisle wanted to lead the tracker as far north as possible, wait for him to get close, and then turn and ambush him. Esme and Rosalie were supposed to head west as long as they could keep the female behind them. If she turned around, they were to head back to Forks and keep an eye on your dad. So I imagine things are going well if they can't call. It means the tracker is close enough that they don't want him to overhear.† â€Å"And Esme?† â€Å"I think she must be back in Forks. She won't call if there's any chance the female will overhear. I expect they're all just being very careful.† â€Å"Do you think they're safe, really?† â€Å"Bella, how many times do we have to tell you that there's no danger to us?† â€Å"Would you tell me the truth, though?† â€Å"Yes. I will always tell you the truth.† Her voice was earnest. I deliberated for a moment, and decided she meant it. â€Å"Tell me then†¦ how do you become a vampire?† My question caught her off guard. She was quiet. I rolled over to look at her, and her expression seemed ambivalent. â€Å"Edward doesn't want me to tell you that,† she said firmly, but I sensed she didn't agree. â€Å"That's not fair. I think I have a right to know.† â€Å"I know.† I looked at her, waiting. She sighed. â€Å"He'll be extremely angry.† â€Å"It's none of his business. This is between you and me. Alice, as a friend, I'm begging you.† And we were friends now, somehow – as she must have known we would be all along. She looked at me with her splendid, wise eyes†¦ choosing. â€Å"I'll tell you the mechanics of it,† she said finally, â€Å"but I don't remember it myself, and I've never done it or seen it done, so keep in mind that I can only tell you the theory.† I waited. â€Å"As predators, we have a glut of weapons in our physical arsenal – much, much more than really necessary. The strength, the speed, the acute senses, not to mention those of us like Edward, Jasper, and I, who have extra senses as well. And then, like a carnivorous flower, we are physically attractive to our prey.† I was very still, remembering how pointedly Edward had demonstrated the same concept for me in the meadow. She smiled a wide, ominous smile. â€Å"We have another fairly superfluous weapon. We're also venomous,† she said, her teeth glistening. â€Å"The venom doesn't kill – it's merely incapacitating. It works slowly, spreading through the bloodstream, so that, once bitten, our prey is in too much physical pain to escape us. Mostly superfluous, as I said. If we're that close, the prey doesn't escape. Of course, there are always exceptions. Carlisle, for example.† â€Å"So†¦ if the venom is left to spread†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I murmured. â€Å"It takes a few days for the transformation to be complete, depending on how much venom is in the bloodstream, how close the venom enters to the heart. As long as the heart keeps beating, the poison spreads, healing, changing the body as it moves through it. Eventually the heart stops, and the conversion is finished. But all that time, every minute of it, a victim would be wishing for death.† I shivered. â€Å"It's not pleasant, you see.† â€Å"Edward said that it was very hard to do†¦ I don't quite understand,† I said. â€Å"We're also like sharks in a way. Once we taste the blood, or even smell it for that matter, it becomes very hard to keep from feeding. Sometimes impossible. So you see, to actually bite someone, to taste the blood, it would begin the frenzy. It's difficult on both sides – the blood-lust on the one hand, the awful pain on the other.† â€Å"Why do you think you don't remember?† â€Å"I don't know. For everyone else, the pain of transformation is the sharpest memory they have of their human life. I remember nothing of being human.† Her voice was wistful. We lay silently, wrapped in our individual meditations. The seconds ticked by, and I had almost forgotten her presence, I was so enveloped in my thoughts. Then, without any warning, Alice leaped from the bed, landing lightly on her feet. My head jerked up as I stared at her, startled. â€Å"Something's changed.† Her voice was urgent, and she wasn't talking to me anymore. She reached the door at the same time Jasper did. He had obviously heard our conversation and her sudden exclamation. He put his hands on her shoulders and guided her back to the bed, sitting her on the edge. â€Å"What do you see?† he asked intently, staring into her eyes. Her eyes were focused on something very far away. I sat close to her, leaning in to catch her low, quick voice. â€Å"I see a room. It's long, and there are mirrors everywhere. The floor is wooden. He's in the room, and he's waiting. There's gold†¦ a gold stripe across the mirrors.† â€Å"Where is the room?† â€Å"I don't know. Something is missing – another decision hasn't been made yet.† â€Å"How much time?† â€Å"It's soon. He'll be in the mirror room today, or maybe tomorrow. It all depends. He's waiting for something. And he's in the dark now.† Jasper's voice was calm, methodical, as he questioned her in a practiced way. â€Å"What is he doing?† â€Å"He's watching TV†¦ no, he's running a VCR, in the dark, in another place.† â€Å"Can you see where he is?† â€Å"No, it's too dark.† â€Å"And the mirror room, what else is there?† â€Å"Just the mirrors, and the gold. It's a band, around the room. And there's a black table with a big stereo, and a TV. He's touching the VCR there, but he doesn't watch the way he does in the dark room. This is the room where he waits.† Her eyes drifted, then focused on Jasper's face. â€Å"There's nothing else?† She shook her head. They looked at each other, motionless. â€Å"What does it mean?† I asked. Neither of them answered for a moment, then Jasper looked at me. â€Å"It means the tracker's plans have changed. He's made a decision that will lead him to the mirror room, and the dark room.† â€Å"But we don't know where those rooms are?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"But we do know that he won't be in the mountains north of Washington, being hunted. He'll elude them.† Alice's voice was bleak. â€Å"Should we call?† I asked. They traded a serious look, undecided. And the phone rang. Alice was across the room before I could lift my head to look at it. She pushed a button and held the phone to her ear, but she didn't speak first. â€Å"Carlisle,† she breathed. She didn't seem surprised or relieved, the way I felt. â€Å"Yes,† she said, glancing at me. She listened for a long moment. â€Å"I just saw him.† She described again the vision she'd seen. â€Å"Whatever made him get on that plane†¦ it was leading him to those rooms.† She paused. â€Å"Yes,† Alice said into the phone, and then she spoke to me. â€Å"Bella?† She held the phone out toward me. I ran to it. â€Å"Hello?† I breathed. â€Å"Bella,† Edward said. â€Å"Oh, Edward! I was so worried.† â€Å"Bella,† he sighed in frustration, â€Å"I told you not to worry about anything but yourself.† It was so unbelievably good to hear his voice. I felt the hovering cloud of despair lighten and drift back as he spoke. â€Å"Where are you?† â€Å"We're outside of Vancouver. Bella, I'm sorry – we lost him. He seems suspicious of us – he's careful to stay just far enough away that I can't hear what he's thinking. But he's gone now – it looks like he got on a plane. We think he's heading back to Forks to start over.† I could hear Alice filling in Jasper behind me, her quick words blurring together into a humming noise. â€Å"I know. Alice saw that he got away.† â€Å"You don't have to worry, though. He won't find anything to lead him to you. You just have to stay there and wait till we find him again.† â€Å"I'll be fine. Is Esme with Charlie?† â€Å"Yes – the female has been in town. She went to the house, but while Charlie was at work. She hasn't gone near him, so don't be afraid. He's safe with Esme and Rosalie watching.† â€Å"What is she doing?† â€Å"Probably trying to pick up the trail. She's been all through the town during the night. Rosalie traced her through the airport, all the roads around town, the school†¦ she's digging, Bella, but there's nothing to find.† â€Å"And you're sure Charlie's safe?† â€Å"Yes, Esme won't let him out of her sight. And we'll be there soon. If the tracker gets anywhere near Forks, we'll have him.† â€Å"I miss you,† I whispered. â€Å"I know, Bella. Believe me, I know. It's like you've taken half my self away with you.† â€Å"Come and get it, then,† I challenged. â€Å"Soon, as soon as I possibly can. I will make you safe first.† His voice was hard. â€Å"I love you,† I reminded him. â€Å"Could you believe that, despite everything I've put you through, I love you, too?† â€Å"Yes, I can, actually.† â€Å"I'll come for you soon.† â€Å"I'll be waiting.† As soon as the phone went dead, the cloud of depression began to creep over me again. I turned to give the phone back to Alice and found her and Jasper bent over the table, where Alice was sketching on a piece of hotel stationery. I leaned on the back of the couch, looking over her shoulder. She drew a room: long, rectangular, with a thinner, square section at the back. The wooden planks that made up the floor stretched lengthwise across the room. Down the walls were lines denoting the breaks in the mirrors. And then, wrapping around the walls, waist high, a long band. The band Alice said was gold. â€Å"It's a ballet studio,† I said, suddenly recognizing the familiar shapes. They looked at me, surprised. â€Å"Do you know this room?† Jasper's voice sounded calm, but there was an undercurrent of something I couldn't identify. Alice bent her head to her work, her hand flying across the page now, the shape of an emergency exit taking shape against the back wall, the stereo and TV on a low table by the front right corner. â€Å"It looks like a place I used to go for dance lessons – when I was eight or nine. It was shaped just the same.† I touched the page where the square section jutted out, narrowing the back part of the room. â€Å"That's where the bathrooms were – the doors were through the other dance floor. But the stereo was here† – I pointed to the left corner – â€Å"it was older, and there wasn't a TV. There was a window in the waiting room – you would see the room from this perspective if you looked through it.† Alice and Jasper were staring at me. â€Å"Are you sure it's the same room?† Jasper asked, still calm. â€Å"No, not at all – I suppose most dance studios would look the same – the mirrors, the bar.† I traced my finger along the ballet bar set against the mirrors. â€Å"It's just the shape that looked familiar.† I touched the door, set in exactly the same place as the one I remembered. â€Å"Would you have any reason to go there now?† Alice asked, breaking my reverie. â€Å"No, I haven't been there in almost ten years. I was a terrible dancer – they always put me in the back for recitals,† I admitted. â€Å"So there's no way it could be connected with you?† Alice asked intently. â€Å"No, I don't even think the same person owns it. I'm sure it's just another dance studio, somewhere.† â€Å"Where was the studio you went to?† Jasper asked in a casual voice. â€Å"It was just around the corner from my mom's house. I used to walk there after school†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I said, my voice trailing off. I didn't miss the look they exchanged. â€Å"Here in Phoenix, then?† His voice was still casual. â€Å"Yes,† I whispered. â€Å"Fifty-eighth Street and Cactus.† We all sat in silence, staring at the drawing. â€Å"Alice, is that phone safe?† â€Å"Yes,† she reassured me. â€Å"The number would just trace back to Washington.† â€Å"Then I can use it to call my mom.† â€Å"I thought she was in Florida.† â€Å"She is – but she's coming home soon, and she can't come back to that house while†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My voice trembled. I was thinking about something Edward had said, about the red-haired female at Charlie's house, at the school, where my records would be. â€Å"How will you reach her?† â€Å"They don't have a permanent number except at the house – she's supposed to check her messages regularly.† â€Å"Jasper?† Alice asked. He thought about it. â€Å"I don't think there's any way it could hurt – be sure you don't say where you are, of course.† I reached eagerly for the phone and dialed the familiar number. It rang four times, and then I heard my mom's breezy voice telling me to leave a message. â€Å"Mom,† I said after the beep, â€Å"it's me. Listen, I need you to do something. It's important. As soon as you get this message, call me at this number.† Alice was already at my side, writing the number for me on the bottom of her picture. I read it carefully, twice. â€Å"Please don't go anywhere until you talk to me. Don't worry, I'm okay, but I have to talk to you right away, no matter how late you get this call, all right? I love you, Mom. Bye.† I closed my eyes and prayed with all my might that no unforeseen change of plans would bring her home before she got my message. I settled into the sofa, nibbling on a plate of leftover fruit, anticipating a long evening. I thought about calling Charlie, but I wasn't sure if I should be home by now or not. I concentrated on the news, watching out for stories about Florida, or about spring training – strikes or hurricanes or terrorist attacks – anything that might send them home early. Immortality must grant endless patience. Neither Jasper nor Alice seemed to feel the need to do anything at all. For a while, Alice sketched the vague outline of the dark room from her vision, as much as she could see in the light from the TV. But when she was done, she simply sat, looking at the blank walls with her timeless eyes. Jasper, too, seemed to have no urge to pace, or peek through the curtains, or run screaming out the door, the way I did. I must have fallen asleep on the couch, waiting for the phone to ring again. The touch of Alice's cold hands woke me briefly as she carried me to the bed, but I was unconscious again before my head hit the pillow.

Jose Rizal Essay

As all Filipinos very well know Jose Rizal has written many books like Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo to expose the hardship Filipinos are experiencing during the Spanish Time without fearing for what would happen to his life because of this. He was even exiled in Dapitan because of his writing and during this time he did not stop helping and even taught the villagers there the importance of education and as a doctor cured those who are sick. His intentions were clear, the willingness to help is always there. I think this is the first step in showing the Fiipinos his intention of helping our fellow Filipinos to build a nation. Our Forefathers became aware of the abuses being done in our country because of what Rizal had written therefore awakening the Filipinos knowledge to build a nation not under the influence of any Foreign People but a nation which should be protected and loved by its citizen. The intentions also of the Foreign Leadership that was happening in our country that time were revealed by his writing. Abuses of the soldiers, Friars and other Spanish leaders were exposed to the people and analysing such would be comparing the corruption happening even during those days. Corruption has been a root cause on why a nation suffers. Jose Rizal during his last days made thru to his intention of his love for the Nation so that it could be strong. Sacrificing his life for the Nation who during that time is so afraid and awakening the Katipunan to stand strong against Foreign Colonialism is surely an indication that this is the start of a strong Nation not afraid to face aggression and to love this country which should be governed by its people and showing his undying love by sacrificing himself just to spark its country man, therefore it is my opinion that Rizal is the spark to build a strong nation here in our Country.

Russian Words Family Members

Family is very important in Russian culture.  Many families are composed of several generations living under one roof, often in compact apartments, and children can continue to live with their parents long into their twenties, thirties, and even forties. As a Russian learner, youll need to familiarize yourself with the different names used for all members of the group, including in-laws and extended family. Russian Word Translation Pronunciation Example Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã ° mom MAmah ÐÅ"Ð °Ã ¼Ã °, Ã'  Ð ¿Ã'€Ð ¸Ã µÃ ·Ã ¶Ã °Ã'Ž Ð ·Ã °Ã ²Ã'‚Ã'€Ð ° - Mom, I'm arriving tomorrow. Ð ¿Ã °Ã ¿Ã ° dad PApah ПÐ °Ã ¿Ã °, Ã' Ã'‚Ð ¾ Ð ¼Ã ¾Ã ¹ Ð ´Ã'€Ã'Æ'Ð ³ ДÐ ¶Ã ¾Ã ½ - Dad, this is my friend John. Ð ±Ã °Ã ±Ã'Æ'Ã'ˆÐ ºÃ ° grandmother BAbushka ÐÅ"Ð ¾Ã µÃ ¹ Ð ±Ã °Ã ±Ã'Æ'Ã'ˆÐ ºÃ µ Ð ´Ã µÃ ²Ã' Ã ½Ã ¾Ã' Ã'‚Ð ¾ Ð »Ã µÃ'‚ - My grandmother is 90 years old. Ð ´Ã µÃ ´Ã'Æ'Ã'ˆÐ ºÃ °/Ð ´Ã µÃ ´ grandfather DYEdushka/DYED ÐÅ"Ð ¾Ã ¹ Ð ´Ã µÃ ´Ã'Æ'Ã'ˆÐ ºÃ ° Ã' Ã'€Ð °Ã ¶Ã °Ã »Ã' Ã'  Ã'  Ã'„Ð °Ã'ˆÐ ¸Ã' Ã'‚Ð °Ã ¼Ã ¸ - My grandfather fought the Nazis. Ã'‚Ã'‘Ã'‚Ã'  aunt TYOtya ПÐ ¾Ã ·Ã ¾Ã ²Ã ¸ Ã' Ã ²Ã ¾Ã'Ž Ã'‚Ã'‘Ã'‚Ã'Ž, Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã ¶Ã °Ã »Ã'Æ'Ð ¹Ã' Ã'‚Ð ° - Call your aunt, please. Ð ´Ã' Ã ´Ã'  uncle DYAdya ÐÅ"Ð ¾Ã ¹ Ð ´Ã' Ã ´Ã'  - Ð ¿Ã ¸Ã' Ã °Ã'‚Ð µÃ »Ã'Å' - My uncle is a writer. Ã' Ã µÃ' Ã'‚Ã'€Ð ° sister sysTRA ÐÅ"Ð ¾Ã'  Ã' Ã µÃ' Ã'‚Ã'€Ð ° Ð ·Ã °Ã ½Ã ¸Ã ¼Ã °Ã µÃ'‚Ã' Ã' Ã ±Ã °Ã »Ã'Å'Ð ½Ã'‹Ð ¼Ã ¸ Ã'‚Ð °Ã ½Ã'†Ð °Ã ¼Ã ¸ - My sister does ballroom dancing. Ð ±Ã'€Ð °Ã'‚ brother BRAT ÐÅ"Ð ¾Ã ¹Ã ±Ã'€Ð °Ã'‚ Ð ¸Ã ³Ã'€Ð °Ã µÃ'‚ Ð ½Ã ° Ð ºÃ »Ã °Ã'€Ð ½Ã µÃ'‚Ð µ - My brother plays the clarinet. Ð ´Ã ²Ã ¾Ã'ŽÃ'€Ð ¾Ã ´Ã ½Ã °Ã'  Ã' Ã µÃ' Ã'‚Ã'€Ð ° cousin (female) dvaYUradnaya sysTRA ÐÅ"Ð ¾Ã'  Ð ´Ã ²Ã ¾Ã'ŽÃ'€Ð ¾Ã ´Ã ½Ã °Ã'  Ã' Ã µÃ' Ã'‚Ã'€Ð ° Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã ·Ã ²Ã ¾Ã ½Ã ¸Ã »Ã ° Ð ² Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã ½Ã µÃ ´Ã µÃ »Ã'Å'Ð ½Ã ¸Ã º - My cousin rang on Monday. Ð ´Ã ²Ã ¾Ã'ŽÃ'€Ð ¾Ã ´Ã ½Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ð ±Ã'€Ð °Ã'‚ cousin (male) dvaYUradny BRAT Ð ¯ Ð µÃ ´Ã'Æ' Ð ² Ð ³Ã ¾Ã' Ã'‚Ð ¸ Ð º Ã' Ã ²Ã ¾Ã µÃ ¼Ã'Æ' Ð ´Ã ²Ã ¾Ã'ŽÃ'€Ð ¾Ã ´Ã ½Ã ¾Ã ¼Ã'Æ' Ð ±Ã'€Ð °Ã'‚Ã'Æ' - I am going to visit my cousin. Ã'‚Ã'€Ð ¾Ã'ŽÃ'€Ð ¾Ã ´Ã ½Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ð ±Ã'€Ð °Ã'‚/Ã'‚Ã'€Ð ¾Ã'ŽÃ'€Ð ¾Ã ´Ã ½Ã °Ã'  Ã' Ã µÃ' Ã'‚Ã'€Ð ° second cousin male/second cousin female traYUradny BRAT/traYUradnaya sysTRA ОÐ ½Ã ¸ - Ð ¼Ã ¾Ã ¸ Ã'‚Ã'€Ð ¾Ã'ŽÃ'€Ð ¾Ã ´Ã ½Ã'‹Ð µ Ð ±Ã'€Ð °Ã'‚Ã'Å'Ã'  Ð ¸ Ã' Ã µÃ' Ã'‚Ã'€Ã'‹ - These are my second cousins. Ã'‚Ã'‘Ã'‰Ð ° mother-in-law (wife's mother) TYOsha Ð ¯ Ð »Ã'ŽÐ ±Ã »Ã'Ž Ã' Ã ²Ã ¾Ã'Ž Ã'‚Ã'‘Ã'‰Ã'Æ' - I love my mother-in-law. Ã'‚Ð µÃ' Ã'‚Ã'Å' father-in-law (wife's father) TYEST' Ð £ Ð ¼Ã µÃ ½Ã'  Ã'…Ð ¾Ã'€Ð ¾Ã'ˆÐ ¸Ã µ Ð ¾Ã'‚Ð ½Ã ¾Ã'ˆÐ µÃ ½Ã ¸Ã'  Ã'  Ã'‚Ð µÃ' Ã'‚Ð µÃ ¼ - I have a good relationship with my father-in-law. Ã' Ã ²Ã µÃ ºÃ'€Ð ¾Ã ²Ã'Å' mother-in-law (husband's mother) svyKROF' ÐÅ"Ã'‹ Ð µÃ ´Ã µÃ ¼ Ð º Ã' Ã ²Ã µÃ ºÃ'€Ð ¾Ã ²Ã ¸ - We are going to visit my mother-in-law. Ã' Ã ²Ã'‘Ð ºÃ'€ father-in-law (husband's father) SVYOkr ÐÅ"Ð ¾Ã ¹ Ã' Ã ²Ã'‘Ð ºÃ'€ Ð »Ã'ŽÐ ±Ã ¸Ã'‚ Ã'„Ã'Æ'Ã'‚Ð ±Ã ¾Ã » - My father-in-law loves soccer. Ã' Ã ½Ã ¾Ã'…Ð ° daughter-in-law (in relation to the mother-in-law) snaHA Ð ¯ Ð ¶Ã ´Ã'Æ' Ã' Ã ½Ã ¾Ã'…Ã'Æ' Ð ¸ Ã' Ã'‹Ð ½Ã ° - I'm waiting for my daughter-in-law and my son. Ð ·Ã' Ã'‚Ã'Å' son-in-law (both for mother-in-law and father-in-law) ZYAT' Ð Ã °Ã ´Ã ¾ Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã ³Ã ¾Ã ²Ã ¾Ã'€Ð ¸Ã'‚Ã'Å' Ã'  Ð ·Ã' Ã'‚Ð µÃ ¼ - I should/I need to talk to my son-in-law. Ð ½Ã µÃ ²Ã µÃ' Ã'‚Ð ºÃ ° daughter-in-law (in relation to the father-in-law); sister-in-law (brother's wife) nyVYESTka ÐÅ"Ã'‹ Ð µÃ ´Ã µÃ ¼ Ð ² Ð ¾Ã'‚Ð ¿Ã'Æ'Ã' Ã º Ã'  Ð ½Ã µÃ ²Ã µÃ' Ã'‚Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ¹ - We are going on holiday with my/our daughter-in-law/sister-in-law. Ð ·Ã ¾Ã »Ã ¾Ã ²Ã ºÃ ° sister-in-law (husband's sister) zaLOVka Ð £ Ð ¼Ã ¾Ã µÃ ¹ Ð ·Ã ¾Ã »Ã ¾Ã ²Ã ºÃ ¸ Ã'‚Ã'€Ð ¾Ã µ Ð ´Ã µÃ'‚Ð µÃ ¹ - My sister-in-law has three children. Ð ´Ã µÃ ²Ã µÃ'€Ã'Å' brother-in-law (husband's brother) DYEver' ÐÅ"Ð ¾Ã ¹ Ð ´Ã µÃ ²Ã µÃ'€Ã'Å' - Ã'ŽÃ'€Ð ¸Ã' Ã'‚ - My brother-in-law is a lawyer. Ã' Ã ²Ã ¾Ã' Ã'‡Ð µÃ ½Ã ¸Ã'†Ð ° sister-in-law (wife's sister) svaYAchenitsa ÐÅ"Ð ½Ã µ Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã ·Ã ²Ã ¾Ã ½Ã ¸Ã »Ã ° Ã' Ã ²Ã ¾Ã' Ã'‡Ð µÃ ½Ã ¸Ã'†Ð ° - My sister-in-law called me. Ã'ˆÃ'Æ'Ã'€Ð ¸Ã ½ brother-in-law (wife's brother) SHOOrin Ð £ Ã'ˆÃ'Æ'Ã'€Ð ¸Ã ½Ã ° Ð ¿Ã'€Ð ¾Ã ±Ã »Ã µÃ ¼Ã'‹ Ð ½Ã ° Ã'€Ð °Ã ±Ã ¾Ã'‚Ð µ - My brother-in-law is having issues at his work. Ã' Ã ²Ã °Ã'‚Ã'Å'Ã'  mother of daughter-in-law/son-in-law SVAT'ya Ðâ€"Ð °Ã ²Ã'‚Ã'€Ð ° Ð ¿Ã'€Ð ¸Ã µÃ ·Ã ¶Ã °Ã µÃ'‚ Ã' Ã ²Ã °Ã'‚Ã'Å'Ã'  - The mother of my daughter-in-law will arrive tomorrow. Ã' Ã ²Ã °Ã'‚ father of daughter-in-law/son-in-law svat Ð ¡Ã ²Ã °Ã'‚ Ð »Ã'ŽÐ ±Ã ¸Ã'‚ Ã'€Ã'‹Ð ±Ã °Ã'‡Ð ¸Ã'‚Ã'Å' - My daughter-in-law's father loves to go fishing. Ã' Ã ²Ã ¾Ã' Ã º sibling-in-law (husband of a woman's sister) svaYAK Ðâ€"Ð ´Ã'€Ð °Ã ²Ã' Ã'‚Ð ²Ã'Æ'Ð ¹, Ã' Ã ²Ã ¾Ã' Ã º - Hello, brother. (as in 'you're family') Ð ºÃ'€Ã'‘Ã' Ã'‚Ð ½Ã'‹Ð µ/Ð ºÃ'€Ã'‘Ã' Ã'‚Ð ½Ã °Ã'  Ð ¼Ã °Ã'‚Ã'Å'/Ð ºÃ'€Ã'‘Ã' Ã'‚Ð ½Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ð ¾Ã'‚Ð µÃ'† godparents/godmother/godfather KRYOSnye/KRYOSnaya MAT'/KRYOSny aTYETS Ð ­Ã'‚Ð ¾ - Ð ¼Ã ¾Ã ¸ Ð ºÃ'€Ã'‘Ã' Ã'‚Ð ½Ã'‹Ð µ - These are my god-parents. Ð ºÃ'Æ'Ð ¼Ã ¾Ã ²Ã'Å'Ã' /Ð ºÃ'Æ'Ð ¼/Ð ºÃ'Æ'Ð ¼Ã ° godparents (in relation to all other relatives) KoomaVYA / KOOM / kooMA Ð  Ã'‡Ã'‚Ð ¾ Ð ´Ã'Æ'Ð ¼Ã °Ã'ŽÃ'‚ Ð ºÃ'Æ'Ð ¼Ã ¾Ã ²Ã'Å'Ã' ? - And what do the godparents think? Ð ¿Ã »Ã µÃ ¼Ã' Ã ½Ã ½Ã ¸Ã'†Ð ° niece plyMYAnitsa ÐÅ"Ð ¾Ã'  Ð ¿Ã »Ã µÃ ¼Ã' Ã ½Ã ½Ã ¸Ã'†Ð ° Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã' Ã'‚Ã'Æ'Ð ¿Ã ¸Ã »Ã ° Ð ² Ã'Æ'Ð ½Ã ¸Ã ²Ã µÃ'€Ã' Ã ¸Ã'‚Ð µÃ'‚ - My niece has gotten into college. Ð ¿Ã »Ã µÃ ¼Ã' Ã ½Ã ½Ã ¸Ã º nephew plyMYAnnik ÐÅ"Ã'‹ Ð µÃ ´Ã µÃ ¼ Ã'  Ð ¿Ã »Ã µÃ ¼Ã' Ã ½Ã ½Ã ¸Ã ºÃ ¾Ã ¼ Ð ² ÐÅ"Ð ¾Ã' Ã ºÃ ²Ã'Æ' - My nephew and I are going to Moscow together. How to Say Mom and Dad in Russian The most common way to address your parents in Russian is to say Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã ° and Ð ¿Ã °Ã ¿Ã °. You can also say Ð ¼Ã °Ã'‚Ã'Å' (MAT) - Mother, and  Ã ¾Ã'‚Ð µÃ'† (aTYEts) - Father, as well as Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã ¾Ã'‡Ð ºÃ ° (MAmachka) - Mommy and Ð ¿Ã °Ã ¿Ã ¾Ã'‡Ð ºÃ ° (PApachka) - Daddy. Example: ÐÅ"Ð ¾Ã'  Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã ¾Ã'‡Ð ºÃ ° - Ã' Ã °Ã ¼Ã °Ã'  Ð »Ã'Æ'Ã'‡Ã'ˆÐ °Ã' .Pronunciation: maYA MAmachka - SAmaya LOOCHshaya.Translation: My Mommy is the best. Example: Ð ¯ Ð ½Ã µ Ð ²Ã ¸Ã ¶Ã'Æ'Ã' Ã'Å' Ã'  Ð ¾Ã'‚Ã'†Ð ¾Ã ¼.Pronunciation: ya ny VYzhus satTSOMTranslation: I dont see my father. Diminutives for Family Members Diminutives are used a lot in Russian, and the names of family members are not an exception. Diminutives are formed by changing the ending of a word. Example: Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã ° - Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã ¾Ã'‡Ð ºÃ ° - Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã'  - Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã µÃ'‡Ð ºÃ ° - Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã'Æ'Ã' Ã ¸Ã ºPronunciation: MAma - MAmachka - maMOOlya - maMOOlychka - maMOOsikTranslation: Mom - Mommy - diminutives of Mommy Example: Ã'‚Ã'‘Ã'‚Ã'  - Ã'‚Ã'‘Ã'‚Ã'Æ'Ã'ˆÐ ºÃ ° - Ã'‚Ã'‘Ã'‚Ð µÃ ½Ã'Å'Ð ºÃ °Pronunciation: TYOtya - TYOtushka - TYOtynkaTranslation: Aunt - Aunty - Aunty