A framework for characterizing communication-oriented ELT textbooks

Textbooks hold a fundamental position in English Language Teaching (ELT). Today, their main aim is to contribute to the development of the learner’s communicative competence. This paper sets out to set the basis for constructing a framework for characterizing ELT textbooks, in terms of their opportunities to promote communicative competence. In order to provide a theoretical foundation for the framework, it first introduces the notions of input (Krashen, 1989) and output (Swain & Lapkin, 1995). Then, it presents two influential models of communicative competence, i.e., those of Canale and Swain (1980), and the Common European Framework for Reference of Languages (Council of Europe, 2001, 2018). Following that, it presents two significantly quoted sets of principles for the study of learning materials in Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), i.e., the principles of Richards and Rodgers (2014) and Nation (2007). Building on the models and principles, the paper suggests eleven criteria for characterizing communication-oriented ELT textbooks, covering input in the form of topics and texts, and output in the form of activities. A short discussion of the main affordances of the suggested framework is provided at the end of the article. Keywords: Communicative Competence, ELT Textbooks, Textbook Analysis, Communicative Language Teaching (CLT).

Models of the Welfare State

IN 1990, Gøsta Esping-Andersen published The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism, a work which has turned out to be the single most important and decisive contribution to welfare state research in the past thirty to forty years. In essence, Esping-Andersen argued that we can observe systematic variation in the character of the developed welfare states of the West, which he grouped into three distinct welfare state models: a Scandinavian social democratic model, a conservative continental European model, and a liberal Anglo-Saxon model. This chapter provides a short description of Esping-Andersen’s three regimes; introduces a fourth, Southern European model, which will then be described in somewhat more detail; and outlines a historical and genealogical account of the development of all four models. Finally, the chapter briefly expands on the comparative perspective with a short discussion on whether the regime concept or the understanding of distinct welfare models can also be applied to other regions, such as Latin America and Asia.

Hidden in the bushes: uncovering the diversity of the genus Neometrypus Desutter, 1988 n. status (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Paroecanthini: Tafaliscina) in Neotropical forests

Neometrypus Desutter, 1988 n. status is elevated to the generic level. Ten new species of this genus are described (N. azevedoi n. sp., N. carvalhoi n. sp., N. catiae n. sp., N. couriae n. sp., N. lopesae n. sp., N. maiae n. sp., N. marcelae n. sp., N. mejdalanii n. sp., N. mendoncae n. sp., N. monnei n. sp.). All the species are from Brazil, nine from the Atlantic Forest, and one from Amazonia. We also provide a distribution map of all type localities of Neometrypus n. status, an identification key for all 13 known species of the genus, the first record of the mating behavior, and a short discussion about paedomorphic characters and communication between these crickets.

Rare health conditions 52: sick sinus syndrome, Saturday Night Fever, empowerment and engaging with local communities

The purpose of this series is to briefly highlight a range of rare health conditions. Rare health conditions are those that affect no more and usually fewer than 1 person in every 2000. Many healthcare assistants and nurses will encounter some of these conditions, given the high number of them. This 52nd article will explore two of these conditions, sick sinus syndrome and Saturday Night Fever, with a short discussion on empowering people.

Using Netnography to Investigate Travel Blogging as Digital Work

This chapter describes the method of netnography and illustrates the application of this online method to investigating the distributed, multi-modal, and mobile work of travel bloggers. It opens with a discussion of the emergence of travel blogging as a form of digital work which possesses nomadic qualities before moving on to a short discussion of the emergence of the method of netnography and its current developments. Following this, the author’s own use of the netnography method to investigate travel blogging is outlined with critical reflection on the advantages and challenges of the netnography method, both more widely and in relation to this research project in particular. The netnography method is critically appraised alongside a discussion of the ethical issues which must be taken into consideration when using the method. The conclusion outlines possible directions for the method’s future use.

The Hebb Synapse Before Hebb: Theories of Synaptic Function in Learning and Memory Before Hebb (1949), With a Discussion of the Long-Lost Synaptic Theory of William McDougall

Since the work of Semon was rediscovered by Schacter in 1978, there has been a renewed interest is searching for the “engram” as the locus of memory in the brain and Hebb’s cell assembly has been equated with Semon’s engram. There have been many theories of memory involving some concept of synaptic change, culminating in the “Hebb Synapse” theory in 1949. However, Hebb said that the idea that any two cells or systems of cells that are repeatedly active at the same time will tend to become “associated,” was not his idea, but an old one. In this manuscript we give an overview of some of the theories of the neural basis of learning and memory before Hebb and describe the synaptic theory of William McDougall, which appears to have been an idea ahead of its time; so far ahead of its time that it was completely ignored by his contemporaries. We conclude by examining some critiques of McDougall’s theory of inhibition and with a short discussion on the fate of neuroscientists whose ideas were neglected when first presented but were accepted as important many decades later.

“Bodies can be compelled; minds must be turned, since they cannot be compelled”: Preaching as an “Introduction” to Law in the Ecclesiastes of Erasmus of Rotterdam

The recent studies on the relations between humanism or humanists and jurisprudence convince that Reneaissance, especially in XVIth century, when the national states began to raise, belonged to the periods of increased interest in the issue of law. Although Erasmus was not a layer, nor he introduced in any of his works a complete theory of law, he maintained close relations with many leading theoreticians of the law and jurists (Alciati, Budé, Cantiuncula, Zasius) and sometimes spoke in the legal discussions of his age. Among hist most important works concerning the matter of law were: Institutio principis Christiani, Ratio seu Methodus verae theologiae, Christiani matrimonii institutio, De interdicto esu carnium and Ecclesiastes. In the paper I’m going to concentrate on this latter work, in which Erasmus discusses the significance of preaching, preacher and widely understood Christian rhetoric. In the Ecclesiastes Erasmus touches the law subject with the special emphasis on historical character of law and relations between the divine law, the law of Christ and the law of Nature. After a short discussion about his understaning of law I will concentrate on the essential differentiation between the letter of law and the spirit of law, and I will point at proposed by Erasmus ways of introduction of law into human life. Erasmus, on the one hand, escaped a rigidity and abstraction of law and, on the other, he neutralised an aspect of the coercion of law. In his solution Erasmus appreciated the political dimension of preaching and acknowledged preacher as a more important guide of the people, than ruler. I’m going to interpret the Erasmian concept of preaching as an rhetorical mean of introduction of law in analogical way to “introduction” proposed by Plato in his Nomoi.

A SHORT DISCUSSION ON THE EFFECTS OF THE IN DUPLUM RULE UPON COMMENCEMENT OF LITIGATION AND AFTER JUDGMENT: A VIEW BOTH “INSIDE” AND “OUTSIDE” THE NATIONAL CREDIT ACT

It has repeatedly been confirmed by the courts that the in duplum rule forms part of South African law, and more recently section 103(5) of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005 (hereinafter “the Act”) has concretized the rule into statutory form. This note examines the effects of the in duplum rule once the litigation process has been initiated by the creditor and the implications of the rule after judgment is granted against the debtor. Preceding such discussion, however, one needs first to consider whether South Africa still has a common-law in duplum rule, or whether the statutory in duplum rule has ousted the “old” rule in toto (for ease of reference andpracticality the rule as developed by the courts shall be referred to as the “common law rule” and the rule as set out in s 103(5) of the Act shall be referred to as the “statutory rule”). It is submitted that while the statutory rule has superseded the common law rule in terms of all credit agreements that fall within the jurisdiction or ambit of the Act there are those credit agreements that are not regulated by the Act and it is those credit agreements where the (“old”) common-law rule shall apply and regulate the interest component collectable by the creditor vis-a-vis the debtor. Thus the two rules must now operate together; both rules applying to different sectors of society; at least society whilst it wears its consumer cap. The codified in duplum rule as will be seen below – affects only natural persons and the juristic entity, as defined by the Act, remains to be protected by the common-law rule. Furthermore, the common-law rule will be applicable to those credit agreements which fall outside the auspices of the Act.

An Ayurveda Approach to the Management of Astigmatism: A Case Report

Astigmatism is a type of refractive error wherein the refraction varies in the different meridian of eye. This accounts for approximately 13% of all refractive errors. Kriyakalpas are the special treatment protocols mentioned for the management of eye disorders in Ayurveda. This paper aims to highlight the benefits of Kriyakalpas in Myopic Astigmatism with a case study, which includes short discussion on the mode of action of various Kriyakalpas based on its bio availability. The efficacy of the treatment plan is dependent on the method of preparation of drug and mode of administration mentioned in classics. It highlights all the above said points on the basis of clinical observations during the treatment of female subject aged 10 years, diagnosed with myopic astigmatism, which can be correlated with features of Prathamapatalagata Timira. She was treated with Nasya, Aschothana, Seka, Pindi and Tarpana. Her visual acuity and Diopteric powers were evaluated before and after the treatment and in follow-ups. There was significant improvement in both the parameters which highlights the benefits of Kriyakalpas in myopic astigmatism.

Contribution to the subfamily Ophioninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Southern Europe with the description of one new genus and 15 new species

This paper presents the descriptions of four new species of the genus Enicospilus Stephens, 1835 and ten species of Ophion Fabricius, 1798: Enicospilus (Allocamptus) izquierdoae sp. nov., E. borderai sp. nov., E. erebus sp. nov., Ophion albanicus sp. nov., O. anatolicus sp. nov., O. canariensis sp. nov., O. castilloae sp. nov., O. cypriotus sp. nov., O. incarinatus sp. nov., O. trochantellatus sp. nov., O. mediterraneus sp. nov., O. pusillus sp. nov., O. rugipleuris sp. nov. and Ophion ziczac sp. nov. Additionally, a new genus Nyxia gen. nov. and its only known species Nyxia shawi sp. nov. is decribed from Portugal. Enicospilus arcuatus (Brullé, 1846) syn. nov. and Enicospilus hannibalis (Kohl, 1905) syn. nov. are junior synonyms of Enicospilus inflexus (Ratzeburg, 1844). Enicospilus ramidulops Scaramozzino, 1986 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Enicospilus bimaculator Aubert, 1979. The mainly Afrotropical species Enicospilus antefurcalis (Szépligeti, 1908) is a new record for the Palaearctic realm. A short discussion on the presumed diversity of Western Palaearctic Ophioninae is given.