Writing 2 Handout 6-7

Writing 2 Handout 6-7

Writing 2 Handout 6-7 revised

25. In a friends’ chain letter that I received via e-mail was requested to protest against the enormous increase of the prices for everyday goods. It seems that the prices in German mark are the same in euro now. The protest should be made by not buying anything on July, 1. When nearly every German would supports this idea it could help to provoke the official and economic managers to let them begin thinking about the current situation. So I’m of the opinion that the prices for everyday consumer goods like gasoline or food should be controlled by law.

On the one hand it could help to stop a kind of social discontent, which seems to me, takes place in our life the more everyday. The income of the average worker is not high enough to live on and the situation becomes worse everyday because of the increasing prices for normal consumer goods.

On the other hand there is no possibility to make an average person effort any luxury. So the gap between the rich and the poor becomes bigger. It is like going back in history to the ancient and dark middle age.

To sum up it would be a good decision for our government to think of finding opportunities to change the current situation. One possibility might be to control the prices by legislation as I mentioned below. 229

25. Recently I received a request via e-mail to protest against the enormous increase in prices of everyday goods. It seems that the prices in German marks are the same in euro now. The protest will be made by not buying anything on July, 1. If all Germans support this idea, it could help to provoke government and business leaders into doing something about the current situation. I’m of the opinion that the prices for everyday consumer goods like gasoline and food should be controlled by law.

This could help to stop the social discontent which it seems to me is growing every day. The income of the average worker is not enough to live on, and the situation becomes worse every day because of the increasing prices for normal consumer goods. The average person cannot afford any luxuries, and the gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger. It is like going back to the Dark Ages

26. Have you ever been in the embarrassing situation of not knowing, whether to call someone "du" or "Sie" while a conversation? I work at a bakery. It is hard for me to say "Sie" to a person, who is at my age. But this is a kind of politeness, although in my spare time I definitely would call this person "du". In special situations using "du" can be misunderstood: Authorities or other persons in leading positions may feel insulted when you call them "du". In my opinion using "Sie" expresses your respect and makes you aware of the distance between you and another person: A certain distance between adults and children is necessary to achieve a successful education. However, there are also some disadvantages of using "du" and "Sie" : for example the feeling of equality. Less educated people or foreigners often are "geduzt". In former colonies in France, white people would always say "du" to blacks, while expecting to say "Sie" back This is one kind of discrimination. In less grand circles the men are used to call their mistresses politely "Sie", their wives are addressed with "du". I am not sure, if "Sie" and "du" should be abolished, because this is, on the one hand, something special that belongs to our language. On the other hand"Duzen" or "Siezen" is a serious problem which can lead to embarrassing situations. " Duzen" definitely makes a conversation easier. Furthermore it would be a simplification for foreigners, who learn German. 256

26. Have you ever been in the embarrassing situation of not knowing whether to call someone "du" or "Sie" during a conversation? I work at a bakery. It is hard for me to say "Sie" to a person who is my age , since in my spare time I definitely say "du" . In certain situations, using "du" can be misunderstood: people of authority may feel insulted when you address them with "du". In my opinion , using "Sie" expresses your respect and makes you aware of the distance between you and the other person. This distance can be important. A certain distance between adults and children, for example, is necessary for successful education. However, there are also some disadvantages of using "du" and "Sie" For example, it is discriminatory. In Germany, less educated people or foreigners are often "geduzt". In the former French colonies, white people would always say "du" to blacks, while expecting them to say "Sie." This is one kind of discrimination. In less grand circles men are used to saying "Sie" to their mistresses but "du", to their wives . I am not sure whether the distinctiion between "Sie" and "du" should be abolished , because, on the one hand, this is part of our language. On the other hand, uncertainty about whether to use "du" or "Sie" can lead to embarrassing situations. " Saying "du" definitely makes a conversation easier. Furthermore, it would be a simplification for foreigners learning German.

27. The introduction of the central school-leaving examination.

The federal Republic of Germany decided to make an internal study of the differences between the education of pupils of the federal states after the shocking result of the "Pisa-Study" . The results of this new study will be presented on the 27^th of June. Until then, there are a lot of speculations about the order of the federal states. Bavaria and ^„Baden-Würtenberg" are supposed to be the winner.

This brought up the discussion about different school forms in Germany, because in contrast to the federal states Bavaria uses the central school-leaving exam. The central school-leaving exam will be installed in Hessen in 2003. With that, the ministry wants to succeed in giving pupils the same chance of an education. Every school has the same syllabus that the ministry can be sure everybody is learning the same.

In my opinion this whole central school-leaving exam is not a good thing because the important part of a free arrangement of classes is not given in it. The teacher has follow a very strict syllabus without having the time to do some things which seem to be important for him. Another aspect is that the teacher is not able to pay attention to weak pupils. Pupils have to learn the stuff in that time that is given to them, because the teacher has to press on to the next topic. I do not think that there are as many as there are nowadays who will be able to go to high school. It will be like it is in Bavaria. Only every 5^th pupil is able pass the exam. 274

27. The introduction of the central school-leaving examination.

After the shocking results of the "Pisa-Study," the federal Republic of Germany decided to make an internal study of the differences in the education of pupils in the various federal states. The results of this new study will be presented on the 27^th of June. Until then, there are a lot of speculations about the order of the federal states. Most people believe Bavaria and ^„Baden-Würtenberg" will be the winners.

This has brought up the discussion about the different school forms in Germany, because in contrast to the other federal states, Bavaria has a central school-leaving exam. A central school-leaving exam will also be installed in Hesse in 2003. The idea is to give all pupils equal educational opportunities. Every school will have the same syllabus, so that the ministry can be sure everybody is learning the same things.

In my opinion, the central school-leaving exam is not a good thing, because it infringes on the teacher's freedom. She will have to follow a very strict syllabus, which will reduce the time she has to do things which seem to be important to her . She will not be able to pay as much attention to weak pupils. The students have to learn the material in the syllabus in the time within a certain time period, because the teacher will have to press on to the next topic. I think the result will be that fewer students will be able to go on to university than now. It will be like it is in Bavaria, where only every 5^th pupil passes the final exam and is thus able to attend university.

28. More and more, computers gain influence in our life. They have countless applications and continue to transform our life. However, how will they change the classrooms? Will computers replace teachers? In my opinion, they won’t.

Learning activities can be packaged very attractive, so that there is a great appeal to students, but when they get use of the software so that they are repeatedly exposed to the same material, it could become boring. A teacher is able to adapt the learning content to the students. He/she is aware of their abilities and can vary the activities according to their needs.

The teaching process should not be reduced to an automatic reaction or to a mouse click. The way how a computer teaches is very limited. I experienced that tasks are often restricted and turns out to be stimuli -response activities, because the computer instructs the user how to do a task and it accepts only one possible solution. So if there is a little deviation from the proper answer, e.g. a point is missing, the task is not well-done. Students cannot generate and organize their own ideas.

Feedback, which is given by computers, refers to correctness, but not to the semantic content. That is not assessed. Often, the feedback does not help to spot the wrong thinking. Students are at the loss when they made some mistakes but do not get to know how to correct them. Teachers can give advice immediately. They offer help which is suitable to a particular situation.

Teachers combine language use with engaging the student’s mind as well as engaging the whole person (learning with mind, heard and hands) simultaneously. The whole person is involved. All senses are activated, instead of overwhelming the visual sense. Social behavior and communication cannot be learned from a machine. Teachers are role models for human beings. How can a computer do that? Computers may only be a tool which assists us in teaching students, but that is all. 327

28. More and more, computers are gaining influence in our lives. They have countless applications and continue to transform our lives. However, how will they change the classrooms? Will computers replace teachers? In my opinion, they won’t.

Learning activities can be packaged very attractively, so that there is a great appeal for students, but when they actually start using the software they find that it is boring to be repeatedly exposed to the same material. A teacher is able to adapt the subject matter to the students. He/she is aware of their individual abilities and can vary the activities according to their needs.

The teaching process should not be reduced to an automatic reaction or to a mouse click. This is the way a computer teaches. Tasks are often restricted and turn out to be stimulus -response activities, because the computer instructs the user how to do a task and it accepts only one possible solution. So if there is a little deviation from the proper answer, e.g., a point is missing, the task is not well done. Students are not forced to generate and organize their own ideas.

Feedback which is given by computers refers to correctness, but not to semantic content. That is not assessed. Often, the feedback does not help learners to spot the errors in their thinking. Students are told when they make mistakes, but do not learn how to correct them. Teachers can give such advice immediately. They can offer help which is suitable to a particular situation.

Teachers can teach language by engaging the whole person (learning with mind, heart and hands) simultaneously. All senses are activated, instead of just the visual sense . Social behavior and communication cannot be learned from a machine. Teachers are role models for children. How can a computer do that? Computers may only be a tool which assists us in teaching students, but that is all .

29. In many German prisons for juvenile criminals the prisoners live like in a hotel, they do not lack a thing except the possibility to go outside wherever and whenever they want to go. I do not think that making life as comfortable as possible for criminals in prison is the right thing to do in order to punish those people for their crimes and make them think about repentance and improving their lives.

There are many young criminals who do not care about a judge who is sending them to prison, because they know they will have a lot of fun there. You can choose between different meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you have a fitness-centre and a swimming-pool to do some sports, a play station and various computer games to enjoy your leisure time.

If you are a person who is part of a rehabilitation program, you and your group will make a journey abroad in order to help you to integrate again in normal every-day-life. If you behave well and do not do any illegal things there, you will be free again soon and there is nothing that is going to hinder you from committing other crimes.

Where is the punishment for these people? They do not have to do anything where they really have to think about the harm they did to others and where they are supposed to do something helpful for society. How could this be managed? I do not know the perfect answer, but in my opinion, prisons should be a place of punishment, meditation on justice and repentance. Criminals are not really afraid of being caught, because they know they do not have to fear anything that would be too uncomfortable for them.

When I talked to one of those juvenile gangsters he said that in his opinion there would only exist one thing to help a young criminal to change his/her life. That is to send this person to prison for a while and then make him/her move to another city, to give him/her a vocational training place and to prohibit returning to his former city.

Maybe this could be a solution, but all this has to correspond with constitution and law. Fact is that there has to be a change in the prison-system, because otherwise this institution will completely lose its meaning as a punishment for people who did hurt the law. 402

29. Many German prisons for juvenile criminals like hotels.They lack for nothing except the freedom to come and go as they please. I do not think that making life as comfortable as possible for prisoners is the right way to punish them for their crimes and make them feel remorse, and want to improve their lives.

There are many young criminals who do not care if they are sent to prison, because they know they will have a lot of fun there. They will have a choice of different menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a fitness-centre and a swimming-pool , and a play station and various computer games to enjoy their leisure time.

If they are part of a rehabilitation program, they will make a journey abroad in order to help them integrate again in normal everyday-life . If they behave well and do not do any illegal things there , they will be free again soon, and there is nothing that is going to hinder them from committing further crimes.

Where is the punishment for these people? They do not have to do anything that really makes think about the harm they did to others and where they are supposed to do something helpful for society . How could this be managed? I do not know, but in my opinion, prisons should be a place of punishment, meditation on justice and remorse. Criminals are not really afraid of being caught, because they know they do not have to fear anything that would be too uncomfortable for them.

When I talked to one of those juvenile gangsters he said that in his opinion there is only one thing that can help young criminals to change their lives, and that is to send them to prison for a while and then make them move to another city, give them vocational training and prohibit them from returning to their former city.

Maybe this could be a solution , but all this has to correspond with the constitution and the law. The fact is that there has to be a change in the prison-system , because otherwise this institution will completely lose its meaning as punishment for people who violate the law

30. The EU Closes Its External Borders Sources: Spiegel 25, Stefan Simons „Endstation Sehnsucht", p. 120, and Time Special Report: James Graff, „Across the New Frontier".

The EU governments have decided to close the exterior land borders against illegal immigrants. Some EU states have recently enforced tougher laws, including traditionally more liberal states, such as the Netherlands and Denmark. The number of legal immigrants had reached a record high between 1989 and 1993 with about 1,5 million per year entering into Europe. Following this period, the numbers have declined. At the moment they are once again slightly on the rise, and are estimated at 700,000. On the average, the number of asylum seekers hasn’t risen since 1992. Instead, the focus has been on the number of illegal immigrants. It is estimated to be between 500,000 and 3 million per year. Even the High Commissioner of refugees (UNHCR) pleads for restrictions. He would like to see steps taken against those who are not political refugees and those persons involved in smuggling. Plans have been proposed to take action against smugglers on land and on sea, the joint protection of common European borders, and consultations about possible sanctions against non-cooperating third world countries. What options does Europe have to master the situation? The U.S. has serious problems enforcing its own southern border. And yet the EU exterior borders include approximately 11 countries, including the Mediterranean sea. In addition, the consequence of limiting the possibilities for immigrants to enter Europe legally is the rise in illegal smuggling. Another issue of interest is the basis for the mentality among Europeans who believe that „Europe is full". The truth is that the EU only accepts about 5% of the world’s refugee population. The typical illegal person does not enter illegally. Instead, he is often a person whose visa has expired or who is an asylum seeker whose request has been denied. Graff is of the opinion that the real change has not been in the number of illegal immigrants but in the situation in the European Union. People believe that the European economy is no longer capable of supporting immigrants. In addition, Europeans are concerned about the welfare state and the changed world since September 11th. But are illegal immigrants really a threat for the labour market? Numbers show that there is no direct connection between immigrants and unemployment. Illegal immigrants are mostly involved in illegal employment. Cheap labour makes up a part of the prosperity that Europe enjoys, jobs that Europeans themselves would refuse to do. On the other hand, the succeeding generation of working immigrants from the sixties and seventies have serious problems finding jobs. Perhaps Europe’s real challenge is to integrate these persons first? Insufficient integration measures has been shown to lead to problems of ethnic concentration in overcrowded areas with high unemployment and criminality, which contributes to the problem of xenophobia. 479

30. The EU Closes Its External Borders Sources: Spiegel 25, Stefan Simons „Endstation Sehnsucht", p. 120, and Time Special Report: James Graff, „Across the New Frontier".

The EU governments have decided to close the exterior land borders against illegal immigrants . Some EU states including traditionally more liberal states such as the Netherlands and Denmark, have recently enforced tougher laws ,. The number of legal immigrants reached a record high between 1989 and 1993 with about 1.5 million per year entering Europe. Following this period, the number has declined. At the moment it is once again slightly on the rise, and is estimated at 700,000. On the average, the number of asylum seekers hasn’t risen since 1992. Instead, the focus has been on the number of illegal immigrants, estimated to be between 500,000 and 3 million per year. Even the High Commissioner of refugees (UNHCR) pleads for restrictions. He would like to see steps taken against those who are not political refugees and those involved in smuggling. Plans have been proposed to take action against smugglers on land and on sea, and to promote the joint protection of common European borders, and consultations about possible sanctions against non-cooperating Third World countries. What options does Europe have to master the situation? The U.S. has serious problems enforcing its own southern border, with only one country. The EU exterior borders include 11 countries. In addition , the consequence of limiting the possibilities for immigrants to enter Europe legally is the rise in illegal smuggling. Another issue of interest is the mentality of some Europeans who believe that „Europe is full". The truth is that the EU only accepts about 5% of the world’s refugee population. The typical illegal person does not enter illegally. Instead, he is often a person whose visa has expired, or an asylum seeker whose request has been denied. Graff is of the opinion that the real change has not been in the number of illegal immigrants but in the situation in the European Union. Some Europeans believe that their economy is no longer capable of supporting immigrants. In addition, they are concerned about the welfare state and the changed world since September 11th . But are illegal immigrants really a threat on the labour market? Statistics show that there is no direct connection between immigrants and unemployment. Illegal immigrants are mostly involved in illegal employment. Cheap labour is one reason for the prosperity that Europe enjoys, filling jobs that Europeans themselves would refuse to do. On the other hand, the second generation of immigrants from the sixties and seventies have serious problems finding jobs. Perhaps Europe’s real challenge is to integrate these persons first. Insufficient integration measures have been shown to lead to problems of ethnic concentration in overcrowded areas with high unemployment and crime, exacerbated by racism and hatred of foreigners

31. The anti-smoking compaign is exaggerated Filters have greatly reduced the risks of smoking Alcohol can also demage health, and there are no strong anti-alchholic compaign I really don't think that this compaign is exaggerated. Everybody leaned in schoolhow dangerous cigarretts are, even for the fallow human beings. Every smoker knows that a cigarrett risks his health, but he smokes, is looking for excuses or knows people who dosn't smoke and nevertheless have lung-cancer or got amputated a leg. And the most loving sentence is: "My grandmother smoked all life long and died in the age of 95 at infirmaty!" That is completly nonsens! Of course, there are people who do not smoke and still get this deseases, but their are minority. I'm a nurse. While my instruction I worked at "Gefäßchirurgie" for a lomg time. This ward has about 33 patient, 31 of them smokes! Many of them still thinks that they are not because of the smoking ill and after a legaputation you can see them ( as soon as they are able to move themselve ) at the entrance of the hospital- smoking. I really can not understand that! Some of them are so bold to smoke in sickroom. It might be rigth that alcohol also demage health, but if I'm sitting in a pub it is unhealthy for me when everybody around me is smoking and I have to breath their smoke. If there are sitting three drunken men beside me it is not unhealthy for myself. A smpker endangers his fallow human beings, an alcoholic not. Alcohol is dangerous for other parts of the body, you can't compair it.you also could say that it is unhealthy to eat sweats and there is no anti-sweats compaign! 334

31. The anti-smoking compaign is exaggerated Filters have greatly reduced the risks of smoking. Alcohol can also damage health, and there are no strong anti-alchholic compaigns. I really don't think that this compaign is exaggerated. Everybody learns in school how dangerous cigarettes are. Every smoker knows that he risks his health, but he smokesanyway and looks for excuses. For example, he may say he knows people who don't smoke and nevertheless have lung cancer or have had a leg amputated. The most amusing excuse is "My grandmother smoked all her life and died at the age of 95!" Of course, there are people who do not smoke and still get these diseases, but they are a minority. I'm a nurse. During my training I worked in a ? ward for a long time. This ward has about 33 patients, and 31 of them smoke! Many of them still think that they are not ill because of smoking , and after their leg amputation you can see them ( as soon as they are able to move by themselves ) at the entrance of the hospital- smoking. I really can not understand that! Some of them are so bold as to smoke in the hospital room. It might be true that alcohol also damages your health, but, still, if I'm sitting in a pub is the most unhealthy thing for me if everybody around me is smoking is that I have to breathe their smoke. If there are three drunken men sitting beside me, it is not unhealthy for me, but if there are three smokers... A smoker endangers his fellow human beings, but an alcoholic does not . Alcohol is dangerous for other parts of the body, you can't compair it.you also could say that it is unhealthy to eat sweats and there is no anti-sweats compaign!

32. A few weeks ago, the Belgian parliament has passed into law the right to administer euthanasia .

According to this law, which is restricted by severe conditions, patients who are not in the final stage of a deadly disease are also allowed to ask for medical help to cause premature death. By this regulation, the law in Belgium goes even a step further than the Dutch laws on euthanasia.

The prevalent opinion among churches, political parties and the medical profession in Germany is a general disapproval of euthanasia in any case. The main argument concerning this topic is that a legalization of the lethal injection destroys the inviolability of human dignity and that every assisted suicide ignores the right to live and is ‘an easy way to get rid of old and sick people’.

To my mind, simply regarding euthanasia from a strict moralistic point of view and arguing that with euthanasia people’s basic right to live is ignored is a too easy and simplified argument. One should be more realistic concerning this topic. Everyone who states that death by euthanasia is an inhuman, innatural death and euthanasia should therefore be prohibited also has to consider the consequences of operations and medicaments applied today in hopeless cases (e.g. severe cancer) to prolong life. Many people with a lethal disease without hope are at the mercy of an agoinizing slow and painful death through life-prolonging medicines and pain-killing drugs.

I ask myself whether this is this the more dignified way of dying than dying by assisted suicide.

To my mind, the step to legalize euthanasia is a step towards a humanization of death. 272

32. A few weeks ago, the Belgian parliament passed a law legalizing euthanasia .

According to this law, even patients who are not in the final stage of a fatal disease are allowed to ask for medical help to cause their premature death. This Belgian law thus goes a step further than the Dutch laws on euthanasia, which….

The prevalent opinion of religious and political leaders, and physicians, in Germany is that euthanasia should not be allowed in any case. The main argument is that legalization violates human dignity and can be too easily abused.

To my mind, regarding euthanasia from a strictly moralistic point of view is simplistic and unrealistic. Anyone who states that death by euthanasia is inhumane should consider the consequences of medical treatment to prolong life in hopeless cases . Many people in such a situation are doomed to an agonizingly slow and painful death because of "life"-prolonging medicines, which only prolong their suffering.

Is this a more dignified way of dying than dying by assisted suicide?

To my mind, legalizing euthanasia is a step towards the humanization of death, and the Belgians should be applauded for their courage in taking it.

33. Television is harmful

TV violence corrupts children

On the one hand, I don't think you can say TV is generally harmful,. because there are so many programmes for children which are educational, like Sesame Street, Sendung mit der Maus, Heidi, Biene Maja and so on.

On the other hand, there are programmes, even for children, that are decidedly violent and unhealthy . Look at " Tom and Jerry". Many children are not able to understand that in normal life a cat can't recover after being hit on the head with a hammer as a cartoon cat does, and they … .

Because of these violent programmes, many children became aggressivetowards other children and / or animals. They do what they see on TV, since on TV it doesn't seem so bad.

But that is not everybody's opinion. If nobody watched these programmes anymore, they wouldn't be shown.

Brutality among teenagers is increasing, and I think one reason could be the TV programmes they are watching every day.

Sure, not every child becomes aggressive because of watching TV, but children who are weak or can't talk with their parents or friends about their problems are endangered. Look at Erfurt.

Everybody have to choose what he or she wants to watch and which programmes are better not to watch. Every adult must be able to know what a child could watch and what not.

There is another problem: many children watch too much TV. For parents who are too lazy or irresponsible to try to find some time to play or talk with their children, TV is the cheapest babysitter. . These TV orphans sometimes never learn to play

Older children are often alone in the afternoon because their parents have to work. Some of those children watch TV a lot, and because of boredom they do stupid things or sometimes even cruel things .

There are programmes from which children get the idea to do stupid things. I think that such programmes must be prohibited, as well as violent videogames. 339

33. Television is harmful

TV violence corrupts children

Because of these violent programmes, many children became aggressivetowards other children and / or animals. They do what they see on TV, since on TV it doesn't seem so bad.

But that is not everybody's opinion. If nobody watched these programmes anymore, they wouldn't be shown.

Brutality among teenagers is increasing, and I think one reason could be the TV programmes they are watching every day.

Sure, not every child becomes aggressive because of watching TV, but children who are weak or can't talk with their parents or friends about their problems are endangered. Look at Erfurt.

Everybody have to choose what he or she wants to watch and which programmes are better not to watch. Every adult must be able to know what a child could watch and what not.

There are programmes from which children get the idea to do stupid things. I think that such programmes must be prohibited, as well as violent videogames.

34. Are school-uniforms popular and necessary?

In most schools in Great Britain the students are supposed to wear school niforms. No one knows the origin of this practice. There are no laws in the UK regarding school dress. It has always been the decision of the individual school whether to require uniforms or not, and what they should look like. Nevertheless , there are just a few, mostly private schools, that do not require uniforms, as the ministry of education knows.

But what do British school children say about their uniforms? Most students like them and are proud to wear them. The uniforms give them a feeling of belonging to the community of their school.

There are studies that indicate that school uniforms reduce violence and peer pressure , and result in more feeling of solidarity . The students are given the chance to concentrate more on their classes and less on their outward appearance.

At some schools the uniforms are especially popular because the students are so proud of going to that particular school.

Is it possible to introduce school uniforms in German schools?

German students like to express themselves with their outward appearance. They like to show, by their clothing, that they are punks, " dark people", skaters, rappers, etc. who

It would probably be very difficult to introduce school uniforms in Germany.

My personal opinion is that they could solve a few problems. I think there would be less peer pressure and violence because no students could show off with their designer jeans, for example. Parents could save money because they would not need to buy expensive school clothes.

To get back to the question if school niforms are popular and necessary, I think in some countries they are popular, but they are not necessary.