This world has become competitive. There is no easy way to get something. Competition is necessary. Competitive exams are also part of it. To get some particular government services one has to crack the competitive exams. Newbies in this competitive world, will always seek for guidance, which lead them to the right directions. Our department always try to give us that right and appropriate direction, and for that our Head of the Department, Dr. Dilip Barad, keep on inviting scholars of the field.
This time, the workshop was for the paper no.1 of NET/SET examinations. This time the scholar was in our house. He was from MBA department of our MKBU. His name is Professor Vedant Pandya and he was invited to talk about the general paper of NET/SET exams. First he gave us 10 components of first paper, which are like...
1) Teaching Aptitude
2) Research Aptitude
3) Comprehension
4) Communication
5) Reasoning Aptitude
6) Logical Reasoning
7) Data Interpretation
8) ICT
9) People Development and Environment
10)Higher Education System
From all these, he was there to talk about the last section Higher Education System. His style of teaching was very straight forward and simple. He has given us the basic structure of Higher Education System. He has very vast knowledge in this field, and from that we have learned one thing for sure that there are many basic things which we need to know. He has talked about government colleges, grant in aid colleges, self finance colleges, then many things about universities.
He has also talked about traditional universities and specialized universities. He gave examples like there are children university, teacher university, defence university, start-up university and many more. This shows how education system is changing and taking new shape.
Over all this session was worth attending. At the end of the workshop our sir Dr. Dilip Barad has prepared the Kahoot quiz to check our attentiveness in class and it was so much fun. At the end we like to thank our Head of the Department to keep on inviting such dignitaries, and we like to thank Professor Vedant Pandya for sharing his time and knowledge with us.
As while constructing a building, base is necessary, same rule apply to the studies. Before starting something new to learn, it is necessary to have base about that particular topic. Same way to construct a base of “Mass Communication and Mass Media” Dr. Jay Mehta was invited on 14th January 2019, at the Department of English, MKBU.
This session was for introductory information. We are very thankful to him as he was ready to come on very short notice. He always make sure his students that they will not going to be bored in his lecture and he always proves it. One technique which he use to keep his students cheered up all the time is, he teach us with the example of movies and also with some Sher – o – Shayri.
He gave us introductory information of all Mass Media. Starting from the Print Media, Radio, Television, Advertisements, Cinema, to the E – Media. He taught us how all these started and how they all have bring major change in society and people. At starting point of every Mass Media Platform there was a negative response to it. But as time passes it has become habit of the people.
With every advanced version of Mass Media and Communication platform, the world has started becoming smaller and faster. We can see the change and also can give example, like in the time of letters it takes so many days to reach to the person but in today’s time, the message takes few second to reach to the other person. Technology and Mass Media makes things easier.
But it also has its side effects. As the speed of reaching to the people has increased, with the same speed and with facts, some fake news also reach to the people. Almost everyone knows how to use these Mass Media platforms, so people should also be aware of the fake news which spreads like virus. People should cultivate the habit of cross checking. With smart technology people should learn to work smartly.
With all these light, short and sweet talking, we have built our base of Mass Media and Communication. To attend Jay sir’s lecture will always be fun. With the knowledge of particular subject, we also enjoys the Shayri. We are very thankful to Dr. Jay Mehta to spare time for us in very short notice and share his knowledge with us.
It is fun to know more than one language. It is more fun to translate some thing from one to another language. Translation is an art, and on 1st January 2019, we try our hands on the art of translation. On that day we have one guest Dr. Vishal Bhadani, who is author and translator. He has one book named “Fictionalay”. This book is collection of Gujarati short stories.
Dr. Vishal was invited at Department of English, MKBU for workshop on translation. In that one workshop, he made us fall in to love with translations. He says that everybody should translate. It widens our mental horizons. Through translations our reading become vast and because of that our vocabulary also becomes rich.
With all these talking he also gave us some practical work. At that day for the first time we observed a particular word, sentence or the text so closely. He also has said that when one translate the words they look towards the words differently and minutely, which they have never done before. He make us aware of different types of translations like, literary translations, legal translations or religious translations.
As a practical task Dr. Vishal has given us worksheet, which includes all types of translations. It was fun to fill up that worksheet. Every student was lost in the world of translations. After filling that worksheet we realised that in just half an hour we have learned many new words. We have to refer dictionary and google because Dr. Vishal has clearly said that your first guess will always be wrong, don’t rely on your first guess. Which is quite right also.
With translations, he also have passion for writing. As it is mentioned earlier, he has one book which is collection of Gujarati short stories. As he was front of us, we can not miss the chance to listen the piece of fiction from the writer its self. While reading his own work, he has also mentioned that he likes to do experiment with his writings and in some of his stories he has done that also. He is very good story teller also, because when he was reading his own work, he was able to make his audience stick with their seats. His stories are full of variety. It gives amazing feeling of freshness and uniqueness to the reader. We have also read some of his stories like, “Museum of Innocence”, “Sansai and Ramjana”, “Spring”, “Mara Hath Ni Vat Nathi”.
So overall it was very fruitful and interesting session of translation and of short stories. He has also given some ideas to work from home. It was great experience to meet some multi talented person. We are very thankful to Dr. Vishal Bhadani to visit our department and spend some time with us.
This blog is part of my academic activity. To know more about the task click here.
We are studying "Mass Media and Communication" and that is why we have asked to write about our favourite Mass Media platform for communication.
Which is your favourite Mass media platform for communication? Why do you like it? What are its drawback?
Today everyone is connected with each other in one or other way. This is the gift of Mass media to the humans. Every human is now connected and can communicate whatever they want. The Mass media is removing the language barrier also by providing translations. Here we have asked to talk about our favourite Mass media platform, its benefits and drawbacks.
I personally prefer YouTube. I like YouTube more than any other Mass media platform. We can find anything according to our likings on YouTube and also free of cost. One only needs internet connection for using it. Secondly it effects visuals and hearing together. When it affects two senses, its effect is more than any other things. There is no other obstacles for common people also. One only needs to have Google account and any one can start their own YouTube channel. Any one can spread their new and innovative ideas. It can be reached to the people with in no time. Apart from all these things, it also provides chances to earn money by making YouTube videos. So by sharing your knowledge or give entertainment to people one can make money also. Because of all these things I like YouTube. It also provides copyright feature which will not allow your content to be stolen, and will also not allow you to use others content.
But like any other Mass media platform this also has some drawbacks. Some time it happens that people don’t understand the meaning which one wants to give, or they interpret it in totally different way. Some times this hurts the sentiments of people and it leads to the trolling of people. As YouTube spreads knowledge and innovative ideas, the spreading of fake news or information will also be equal, which will again leads towards trolling people with wrong information. Other than that it is mostly one way communication. Though it allows viewers to comment their opinions under the video but, there are so many comments and we can not guarantee that every comment will going to read by video maker. So some voices of viewers are unheard. Other drawback of YouTube is, it will not word without internet. If some one needs video without internet they have to download a particular video to watch it without internet. Otherwise it will not work.
YouTube is for general communication, in which unknown Mass is involved. But with all these things I prefer YouTube in Mass media communication than any other platforms for general communication.
For personal communication I prefer WhatsApp as Mass media platform. This provides communication at personal level. You can talk to people who are in your contact list. It provides group feature also, that you can chat in group. Here also it is free. One only need to have internet connection. It is not available without internet, we can say that it is big drawback of this platform. It is advance version pf text messages. Here also you can send messages by using internet. In simple text messages we can not know if the person has read our message or not but in WhatsApp we can know that our message is read. It also provides users privacy. It allows you to share everything and not only text. So for personal mass communication I prefer WhatsApp.
It is always good to meet some favourite guests, with whom we like to talk about ourselves. But is also great to meet guests from around the world and to talk about their culture and know their country. It get more excitement when it is surprised. On 22nd January 2019, we also got similar kind of surprise guest visit from France.
Professor Saeed Paivandi and Professor Fontanini Christine, from University of Lorraine, France, had visited the department of Economics in our Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University to talk about ‘Changing Higher Education System’. From there we have surprised visit to our department of English. Professor Kishor Joshi from Economics department has introduced the guest and we have got the chance to interact with them.
There was a question to Professor Saeed about the social, political and economical changes in France society, because he is the professor of Sociology. From his answer we had come to know about some similarities between India and France. He has talked about the unequal distribution of wealth and some current affairs like “Yellow West Movement” and the agitation which has take place in France for reducing the taxes. He also has talked about the importance of democracy. He said that to discuss social, political, and economical facts of country, the freedom is must and that freedom people get from democracy. So he has emphasized on respect and practice democracy.
Then we also interact with Professor Christine. She has done research in gender studies and Feminization of education. Here also we have found some similarities between France and India. She has said that the numbers of female education is increasing but there are more female studies in Humanities and Medicine then in Engineering or Computer studies. Same we can observe in India that there are more numbers of female students in Humanities and less in Engineering. Though there is some difference between the percentage of people pursuing higher education in France and in India. Of course France have more percentage of people going for higher education then in the India.
Both the professors has talked about very interesting phenomenon which is taking place in France, which is merging up the universities to show the universal presence and to make universities recognised and valued at world level. They have said that this merging up the universities will increase the quality of teaching and also will contribute more to the world level.
At the end of the day, though it was very short and surprised meeting we have meaningful interaction with guests and we got some authentic information about France. It is always pleasure to meet some one from across the sea and to know about them. I want to show gratitude towards the guest from France for coming and to the professor of Economics to take them to our department. I also would like to say thanks on behalf of our Department of English.
This blog is part of my academic activity. To get more information click here.
1.Why is it necessary to use Technology in Education?
Take a moment and think about your surroundings. Think how you have circled by technology. Today’s world is world of technology. The curiosity and education is the path through which these all technology is travelling. Now if we can live with technology then why we can’t study with it.
Technology has become essential and inseparable part of our life. It is necessary to use technology in education. Technology has given new way to the life, same it will give new vision to the education. The whole world is now on our fingertips, any information we can get in no time. This shows technology is speeding up the world. We should speed our education and knowledge system also. Technology can be great help to the students and to the teachers. It does not have boundaries. It is proven fact that visuals helps to remember information for longer period of time and also in effective way. Not only visuals but with technology students can learn using all their senses, and this will make the knowledge store in mind.
The world is moving towards new things, so does education should. With technology, the competition is no more with only classmates, it is now with the learners around the world. To keep our feet on the ground, we must have new weapons. We can not keep fighting with old ones. Technology is that new weapon which is now necessary in education.
2.What is the difference between 'using' and 'integrating' technology?
The difference between using and integrating technology is, to using technology means to be spectator but to integrate technology is, to be performer. This is very big difference. Everybody knows how to use technology but hardly some of them are integrating technology in their life.
We can take simple example like, mostly people takes their basic information from Wikipedia, they know how to use technology. But only few create their own Wikipedia page to give information to the world. These people have integrated technology. Our teacher used to tell us that, “Now from downloader, be uploader.” When one is only take advantage of technology, they are using it. But when they started giving advantage to others through technology, they are integrating it. This is the difference between using and integrating technology. For now as technology has become part of humans’ life, we should all integrate technology.
3.How can we integrate technology?
As I have said before when we become uploader from downloader, it means that we have integrated technology. We have talk about using technology in education. When teacher use technology to teach students and also make students use technology to learn something. This can be called integration. For example, writing this blog is also can be the part of integration of technology. Our teacher has taught us something and, then we have asked to reflect our views on blogs. This is the way of integrating technology.
First of all there are two types of teacher. One, who only think giving information is teaching and the second, who gave new ways of thinking. There is no question rises to replace the first type of teachers because they are already has been replaced. With the help of technology students can get more information that that teacher can give. Because without doubt google has more information than one teacher.
But to replace the teacher who provides new way of thinking with the information provided by technology, in my account it can not be replaced. Technology can only give information. It will not give the new way of looking towards that information, or to connect that information with other similar one. Now this is what a teacher in era of technology do. They tell their students to get information on their own and then guide them to use it in many different ways. These teachers can not be replaced by technology.
5.Write in brief on David Crystal's views on 'effect of new technologies on English language', 'biggest challenge for English language teachers in the times of internet', and 'texting is good for English language'.
1)Effect of new technologies on English language
Here David Crystal has talked about the changes in English language after arriving of certain technologies. He has given example of printing, Telephone, broadcasting, and internet. He says that every time with new technology, new language also introduced to suit that technology. He also talked about the text messages and twitter. He refers to the short length of messages and tweet and says that has bring the abbreviation of the words in use. People tend to think that this abbreviation will ruin the English language but he says that it is not so. These abbreviation of is only 10 percent in the text. Other 90 percent remain the standard English or any English which is used by people. So he basically throws the light on how with the arrival of new technology, people also think and write in new way. Technology bring the new aspect of language, or new way of writing language.
2)The biggest challenge for English language teacher in the times of internet
Language teaching is hardest job according to David Crystal. We all will agree on that. He also has given reasons that why it is the hardest job. First he says that because the language which teacher use and the language which students use are different. In the time of internet new words can be reach to the people in no time. Because of this the students will have different vocabulary then the teacher. Now in this time pf internet teacher should also need to keep pace with the changing world. Teachers have to knew the new words same as their students do. They have to keep all the information which is spreading widely around them. This is the challenge which language teacher has to face. Secondly he says that there is variety of English language and its accents. Teacher should teach students to listen the other accents which are not RP. Teacher should make their students ready for the differences. They can not say that this is the only correct pronunciation. This is another challenge or rather say duty of teacher to make their students accept the differences.
3)Texting is good for English language
Here he talks about the benefits which texting is giving to English language. He also talk about the myth of texting that kids use abbreviation in text and because of that they don’t know how to spell correct word. David here says that kids do abbreviation because for them it is cool to do it. Secondly he says that if they are shortening the word in first place they know the full word. Another myth about texting is that kids will use their abbreviation in other writings also and they will fail in the exams. Here David says that he has gone to school and ask to kids that will they use text abbreviation in exams and he says that kids are smarter these days, they say that it will make them look dumb. Then he talk about that how it is good for literacy. The person who can read and write is called literate and it will be perfect only by practice. Here David says that texting is making people literate because they are practicing reading and writing. By all these things he says that texting is good for English language. 6.Name one web-tool which can help in development of all four L-S-R-W skills. If possible explain how it works.
In this digital era there are number of tools which can help in development of all four basic skills, for me it is YouTube. This is the best tool according to me to improve four basic language skills. We can watch the video in any language we want on YouTube. This will improve our listening skill. The more you listen, the more it affects your speech, so it will help to improve speaking skill. If one will decide to upload their own video and for that they have to write their script and also they read from other descriptive videos. This will improve their reading and writing skill. So this is how YouTube will help in development of basic four language skills.
This blog is part of my academic activity. We have asked to share our views on what according to us is fiction and lie. Here is my response.
It is told in sanskrit shloka that, "The world of Poet is greater then the world of Bramha (creator of the world as per Hindu myth)" and many reasons are also given to prove that statment and one reason is that that "The world of Bramha" has rules but "The world of Poet" has no rules there for "The world of Poet" is greater. Here having no rules doesn't mean anything else but a new world which is alternate of the world in which we live and that is called "alternative fact", which is a pure imagination and pretending of something but claiming something which is imagined is lie.
For example, once a person died it can not be live again and this is fact but in Mary Shelly's " Frankenstein" Victor give life to a dead one which is purely imagination or fiction or we can say this is "alternative fact" but claiming that it is fact that Victor gave life to dead is lie, which any literary writers never does. So it is like "alternative fact" or "alternative world" of literary writers and not lies.
This blog is part of my academic activity. We have asked to share our views on the artical of Moni Mohsin, who is a author. She has shared her views about the mentality of society where people are telling writers to photoshop the reality. She boldly denies it. Here is her words, to read click here.
She is saying that stop telling writers like Sharmeen and Adiga to photoshop real face of society. If society wants them to write good things about themselvse then change the self not the views of writers. Here after reading her artical I am sharing my views.
We can say that hypocracy is in the blood of indians and not only indians but everyone who only wants to show a good picture of everything and try to curtain every bad things which are alive in between them. That is the reason, no matter how much hate the two family has but when they are front of others they are like having a very good relationships, they never show problems.
The response of people is negative on the works which shows some harsh reality of that place may be because that places are colonized and they want to show their colonizer the greatness of thier place though we can not find such greatness. If literary writers or any art form shows the bitter reality it doesn't mean they are anti-national, they have feelings for nation and that's why they are showing that dirty picture of reality to bring some change. This is the work of art to show which is curtained, and if nation have problems with the writings they should change themselves in such a way that no writer can find a picture to write something harsh.
This blog is part of my academic activity. Here we have asked to give our views on contemporary issues. On which Mario Vargas Llosa has also shared his views. To read his views click here.
The word or ideas like liberals, nationalism, populism, greatest challenge to democracy, intellectual honesty, literature and morality, political correctness and freedom all are have many dimension which changes with places and people. Here are my views on this topics.
Liberals are those who think differently then others and there is always resistence front of liberalism and this resisting voice is that much strong that it can suppress the voice of liberals, but the voice of liberals should be respected because the liberals are also part of this society and they just show their freedom of everything which still bind others.
Nationalism as Mario vargos also says that it is racism, to believe that the belongingness of some land or race give you priviledge you started thinking your superiority on others which creates violence. Violence is always harmfull, it doesn't matter that in which form or on what name it is done.
Literature and morality, both are the way different from each other. Literature is at first place only for enjoy though it always have some kind of meaning but it is not neccessory also. If you can't get the meaning but you enjoy it is worth of literature. It is not lecture of saint, it is mainly for pleasure. Morality has its own place in literature, but if it doesn't have it doesn't mean as weak literature.
This blog is part of my academic activity. We have asked to read Mario Vargas Llosa's interview and share the ideas which we like the most from interview. Here are some ideas from interview which I like the most. To read the interview of Llosa click here.
"I think it is right to denounce abuses against women. These abuses are everywhere, so I have total sympathy for this movement as far as it is for more justice, more democracy, more equality of opportunities for women and men."
"If you respect literature you must accept not only the very idealist, altruist vision of human beings but also the infernal vision of them."
"You cannot attack literature for our vices and prejudices and stupidities. I think this is very important because I am convinced that the feminist movement’s voice should be heard, but I don’t accept this idea of censorship for literature or for culture in general."
"Young people today tend to think that images can form modern creative citizens. They don’t. Images create a passive citizen, more easily domesticated than the citizen formed by ideas. I am certainly convinced that ideas are much more important than images."
"words are acts and that you write things that could make a difference in history or solve problems. Writing was a way to participate in the creation of a different kind of society: freer, more just, more liberal."
"Probably historians are more accurate, but it doesn’t matter. The way literature impregnates the imagination is what matters."
"All writers are autobiographical. In some writers, this is more explicit and obvious, in others more hidden. But I don’t think you invent anything out of nothing. The main point of departure is always the personal memory of actual experience."
This blog is part of my acdemic activity. Here we have asked to see oneness in literature, with the comparison of "The Waste Land" by T. S. Eliot and the short story "Joke" by Anton Chekhov.
Literature is like a river, water of river makes it's own small different ways and flaws in different directions but the root is same. According to Northrop Frye, all literature seems to follow basic archetype. The skeleton is same the body is different. Every new literature has some connection with the old one and with that connection it makes it place in existing building of literature. Every literature has some signs and symbols, sometimes the signs and symbols are same but meanings are different. As every writer has it's own reason to write, to put certain symbols, and to give certain message through symbols.
Here the lines from "Waste Land" and Anton Chekhov's short story "Joke" has some same symbols like environment, going down on the sled. In "Waste Land" it's about childhood memory the hidden meaning is sexual perversion, but in "Joke" has visible meaning of lust. In"Joke" there is only lust and name was given of love. So both has some similarities. Which also signifies oneness of literature.
This blog is part of my academic activity. "Pahredar Piya Ki" was a Hindi serial. Which was broadcasted on Sony Tv. In this serial they are showing a woman married to a boy with the purpose of protecting him from his evil family members. The age of girl is 19 years and the age of boy is 9 years. This is what made this show talk of the town. Many believes that this show is regressive and many thinks it is progressive. We have asked to give our views. Here is my opinions about this serial.
I think that "Pehredar Piya Ki" got controversy because they show woman as protecter and woman is older than man character and that is the reason why all wants to ban it because they never accept woman in power position. If the position of woman and man is changed than society don't have any kind of problem then they don't remember child marriage also. Other reason I thought that may be whatever reason is there, I don't think that marriage is the only option if she wants to protect him she can adopt him too. Marry to a 9 year old boy is not a solution. And to compelete my point I want to say that in this world nothing is perfect, everyone has some kind of problem with everything you can not make happy every people but it doesn't mean you start baning the things if it is so then one day may be everything is ban you have free choice if you like it watch it, if you don't then don't watch it.
This blog is part of my academic activity. For more information click here.
"Post Truth" has choosen as the word of the year in 2016 by Oxford Dictionary. According to Oxford dictionary Post Truth means, " relating to or denoting circumstancee in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief."
We have asked to write our understanding of Post Truth. As per my understanding post-truth is simply means remaking of truth. It is something that powerfull people make for their comfort zone and, its presentation is so powerfull that society starts believing it as truth. It has very strong effect that people don't feel need to question it. Post-truth mainly can be found in politics or in name of religion or nation, where they atteck on people's emotion and make them emotional fool.
If we take example of movie "PK", the Baba defines pk's remote control as the broken stone of lord shiva's weapon just for publicity and money. He plays with people's faith. Same thing heppens in movie "Oh My God", when Paresh Raval is in comma, all saints making viral the roumor that Paresh Raval is god's Avatar. Only for making money and these all things heppen in name of god, that is the reason people don't question it and starts believing it blindly.
While in play "Othello" by Shakespeare, Othello kills Desdemona because Iago constatntly attck on Othello's mind that Desdemona have affair with Casio on the contarary Othello knows very well that Desdemona and Casio are best friends even he forget that Casio is the one who delivers their messages. Othello never have doubt on Desdemona untill Iago plant a seed in his brain and make some post-truth and make Othello believes that Desdemona cheating on him and he kills her wife and Iago does all these things for his personal revenge.
If we give comman man two choise either he live and make country proud or he commit suicide or kill other innocent people for country or religion, a comman man normally choose the first one but terrorists are ready to die and kill other people in the name of religion or country. They missuse people's feeling for nation or religion and make any person ready to commit suicide, they constantly hammaring on brain or repetation of some words which make people stop thinking logically and they become ready to kill innocent people and commit suicide.
