Karen sanchez portfolio by Perspectives: Yachay Tech English Language Program Level 6 Portfolios

My English Progress

Karen Sรกnchez

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM LEVEL6 Yachay Tech, Ecuador

My English Progress By Karen Sรกnchez

English Language Program Yachay Tech Level 6 - 001 Teacher: Daniel Beall January 9th , 2016 Imbabura, Ecuador

CONTENT 1. Reflective Letter 2. Class Essays (3) 2.1. Response Essay 2.2. Literary Analysis 2.3. Interpretation (Collaborative) Essay 2.4. Argumentative Essay 3. Final Research Project: Essay (1)

Reflections

Than you letter

Karen Sรกnchez Yachay Tech University Imbabura, Ecuador December 14th, 2016

Dear Portfolio Reader,

My name is Karen Sรกnchez. I am delighted to show how my progress was during the last 4 months. All the work in writing tasks that I will show you in the portfolio reflect the effort and dedication in the correct development each of them. This portfolio contains the following components: three essays, a research project that I designed and developed in my English course, and some reflections. I hope you like it and you can learn something about my experience. When I started the 6 level of English, I kept in mind that I need a lot to improve my English writing and speaking, and also I knew that 6th level could be wrong and I will expect it like a huge challenge. I took on every challenge and at the end I could see my enhancement. For instance, in writing at the beginning I did not know how I can start an essay. I felt a little disoriented and confused until the teacher explained that we can use different ways to write a hook, as an anecdote, hypothetical situation or like an interesting fact. On the other side, I had problems with my thesis because they lacked specific statements. Currently, it is easier for me to write, due to the fact that I choose one type of thesis and also I apply the formula to write correctly to thesis. However, most notable was the remarkable improvement in speaking. In this semester I learned to keep control of my nervousness and body expression. In addition to my academic improvement, I also noticed that I enhanced in personal features. Before, I always procrastinated, in this English level sometimes I had to do things a few days

earlier, in order to get good results. This English course was very useful because it helped me to establish better relationships with my classmates. When we did some group activities I learned how I can lead a group, and they way that they work. Also, many of their grammar tips were useful in my essay. Also, some of their grammar tips were useful in my essays. Also, the course was very fruitful; my creativity was hardly trained. For each essay and presentation was necessary ingenuity to capture and remain audience's attention. What I think made me better were two things. The first thing is to read a lot. When I read some articles I could learn new vocabulary, and structure and better ways to express ideas. The second thing that helped me a lot was to ask my teacher for every doubt that I had. On this way, I could clarify each instruction to follow in any activity. I have planned to continue with those activities because those allow me to improve my English. I could add other activities which are related to listening. For example, I plan to watch movies and to travel to English speaker country, in order to introduce me in the environment of English speakers. Finally, I want to thank my classmates and teacher for recommendations and friendship during the semester. All your advice was converted into my tools for each task. Almost all of my life I had problems with English. I feel fortunate to work with you my last semester. For portfolio reader, I hope you like the activities that I develop during the last English Level.

Sincerely,

Karen

CLASS ESSAYS

Running head: LANGUAGE SHAPES THE WAY WE THINK

Response to “How Does Our Language Shape The Way We Think” Karen Elizabeth Sánchez Blacio Yachay Tech

LANGUAGE SHAPES THE WAY WE THINK

Response to “How Does Our Language Shape The Way We Think” Imagine a world where you do not communicate with others; it would probably be chaos because people have a huge dependence on communication in their daily activities. Certainly an important issue that governs communication is language. According to Lera Boroditsky’s article “How Does Our Language Shape the Way We Think”, she argues that there are many aspects that influence the environmental perception in each individual and those aspects could make speakers of different languages to have different thoughts. I partially agree with one of Boroditsky’s points and disagree all together with the others. Most of her points of view lack scientific proof and also she reaches conclusions without enough evidence. Lera Boroditsky argues that different language speakers include different information in their expressions; some of them pay attention in kind details that other people do not pay attention. I agree with this claim because if a person sees different details in an environment, the person can develop for example a different solution for a issue. People, who take care of different details will have the capacity to process information and they can give a more sophisticated. answer For instance, Boroditsky (2009) says that “In Turkish you'd have to include in the verb how you acquired this information”. Turkish people have to take special care

when they are telling something because they must to add the means by which they receive the information. Another thing that Boroditsky (2009) mentions is that “Representations of such things as time, number, musical pitch, kinship relations, morality, and emotions have been shown to depend on how we think about space”. She analyzed the behaviour of the aboriginal community ¨Kuuk Thayorre¨ related with spatial orientation and the chronological order of some events. There she got that the aboriginal community tend to follow a pattern for

LANGUAGE SHAPES THE WAY WE THINK

chronological order placement with respect to the cardinal directions. I think that this is not a consistent thought r. How can the time just depend on your spatial perception? The representation of time, such as we know currently, was originated by a common effort of a group of human beings. All the things that she takes as evidence are consequences of thoughts and customs that have remained over time. That is to say, a different sense of order of the world is understood like a different way of thinking. It is just the result of different traditions. Furthermore, why are the characteristics mentioned related with language? Different language speakers have a different mechanism to order things, but that does not mean that they think different because language is not a factor that allows them to change their thought. Equally important, the author suggested that paying attention in other details can give some people more abilities, and thus change thoughts (Boroditsky, 2009). If one takes into account the special ability of orientation of Kuuk Thaayorre, that was developed as a communication requirement. However, the last statement does not mean new developed abilities were the result of the influence of language, but that thought determined and constructed the languages. Due to the new ability was developed as solution for a necessity. Another Boroditsky example about abilities by was that Russians can differentiate two blue tones unlike other groups of people. However, I believe that this comment is irrelevant due to does not have a close relationship with language. Boroditsky must be more careful with the evidence that she shows because most of her proof contains information of different perceptions in real situations, but are not directly related with language. She should propose her issues more lucid. Boroditsky (2009) says that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even basic aspects of time perception can be affected by languageâ&#x20AC;?. To prove this statement she performed an experiment where English speaker learn

LANGUAGE SHAPES THE WAY WE THINK

Greek ways of talking about time. Due to the fact of she known that English speakers, and Spanish and Greek speakers prefer to talk about duration in terms length and amount respectively. For this part, Lera tried to introduce a new perception of time in the individuals. However, despite changing the time perception from length to amount, when the individuals change of language is not enough proof for the statement. I think that she needs another tool to evaluate if thoughts change, she does not only use mere pretensions. For example, Lera Boroditsky could measure the brain's activity throughout a electroencephalogram because it allows to know if some brain's active zones change. Thus, people would say that change of though is effective because there exist a relationship between brain's active zones and thoughts. To put it another way, imagine an English speaker student who is learning Spanish. According to the author of the article , the student is changing his way of thinking because a different perception of time can change our way of thinking. However, to say a phrase, probably he had to translate the phrase before he mentions it. Taken her statement when she says the phrase in other language he is thinking different, but if he translated before to say the phrase, what happen? His thoughts are really changing? I think that he will remain the same pattern of thought that he had in his native language for this reason the student will not change his thoughts. In addition, the author insists that grammatical gender "has far reaching subconscious effects on how we see the world" (Boroditsky, 2009). I do not share that view because I do not understand how she can think that the gender of objects can influence to change thoughts. Some countries have different gender of objects than other countries, but this statement is not enough to prove different thoughts. It gives us very little information about language influence in daily activities. I think that a better way to evaluate the influence is to get

LANGUAGE SHAPES THE WAY WE THINK

information related with the objects that people of any region connected with male or female gender, and then to compare with the ratio of chauvinism. I believe that gender have to influences in a concrete part of human life. Lera Boroditsky, author of â&#x20AC;&#x153;How Does Our Languages Shape The Way We Thinkâ&#x20AC;? admits that there are several factors that influences our thoughts like paying attention of different details, our own representation of things and a different perception. Also she show examples for each factor but she does not have enough evidence to give a hardly support. For those reasons, I disagree with most of the statements of Boroditsky like some issues are related with our thoughts about space, language affects time perception, influence of gender in partnerships' thinking. However I believe that one of her arguments is valuable; the perception of details change thinking.

LANGUAGE SHAPES THE WAY WE THINK

References Boroditsky, R. (2009, November 6). How does our language shape the way we think. Retrieved from https://www.edge.org/conversation/lera_boroditsky-how-does-ourlanguage-shape-the-way-we-think

Response Essay Name:

Class:

Date:

Score

Notes Analysis is thoughtful and comprehensive.

Content ● Clear and strong thesis ● Has well developed support for thesis ● Demonstrates awareness/knowledge of text and content subject ● Evaluates and analyzes text ● Offers an effective summary of the text’s main idea and supporting points

30 ___ 30

Again, superb work.

Organization ● ● ● ● ●

Effective introduction and conclusion Fluent transitions Logically sequenced and balanced ideas Uses topic sentences Well incorporated source(s), using appropriate and specific details from source.

20 ___ 20 Please see my comments above in the essay to clarify issues.

Language Usage ● Effective and varied sentence structures (balanced and complete sentences), including complex and/or compound sentence structures. ● Avoids run-on and fragment sentences ● Shows mastery of different sentence parts (effectively employs necessary sentence parts, i.e., syntax etc.) ● Avoids vague or ambiguous language ● Proficiency and consistency in verb usage (subject-verb agreement, verb tense, verb aspect)

9 ___ 15

Mechanics ● Use of appropriate punctuation ● Mastery of spelling and capitalization ● Competency in number agreement ● Use of appropriate articles ● Proficient use of prepositions

All directions followed perfectly.

12 ___ 15

Sentence structure can be difficult to understand at times. Syntax is important here...put your adverbs and adjectives in the correct order and your sentences will flow better. Please see my comments above in the essay to clarify issues. To learn: semicolons commas

LANGUAGE SHAPES THE WAY WE THINK

7 Please see my comments above in the essay to clarify issues.

Vocabulary ● Shows range of vocabulary ● Effective word choices ● Proficiency in word forms/functions ● Appropriate register ● Understanding of terms related to topic

6 __ 10

improve vocabulary Excellent work!

Formatting ● Uses APA style (running head, etc.) ● APA cover page ● APA reference page ● Uses appropriate in-text or parenthetical citations ● Required assignment formatting (length, font, spacing, etc.)

Overall Score

To learn: stop putting adjectives after nouns, that is Spanish

10 ___ 10 87 plus 3 points for superb reasoni ng= 90 ___ 100

Your ideas were very mature and your analysis was incredibly strong. This would be a 100/100 paper if it wasn’t for grammar issues, which I’m sure you noticed. Again, your reasoning and your response were incredibly good. So now we know your strengths and your weaknesses. You are a terrific student, studious, intelligent, critical, and comprehensive. So all that leaves is GRAMMAR and VOCAB. Thank God that is the only problem! Let’s work together and get over this last hurdle for you.

Running head: HAPPY ENDINGS

Literary Analysis of “Happy Endings” Karen Elizabeth Sánchez Blacio Yachay Tech

HAPPY ENDINGS

2 Literary Analysis of “Happy Endings”

You wonder what could be your happy ending. Probably, people will say fall in love and get married. Then, to buy a charming house, and to have children. The objective of people ending is to get happiness. However, people do not seem to take care of the unique sure ending is death. “Happy endings” text of Margaret Atwood expresses the idea that whatever path people take it will lead them to death. A literary analysis gives people a better perception of a story, specially if it is about the relationship between plot and theme. It is important this analysis because it will do easier to compare major events with the main idea of the text. First. it is necessary to know, what is is plot? Plot is the principal events that give shape to the story. “Happy ending” could be interpreted as multiple events which gide characters to alternative ways, but always each sub-story has a happy ending. For instance, the story recounts that “Mary fall in love with John, but he does not fall in love with Mary” (Atwood, n/d). They have a depriments life. Finally she dies and John get married with another woman. Other important event is that Mary is with a married man (John), but she really falls in love with James. Once, Mary and James meet, they fall in love. John does not allow the relationship, he kills them and himself . His wife marries with other man. Other alternative way Fred and Marge have to survive to an approaching giant wave. Also, there is a sub-story where Fred is sick and his wife Madge devotes to charity. In the last event, John (revolutionary) and Mary (counterespionage agent)have a passionate involvement. All of the events have a different tragic development, but all of them end with an ideal couple life. On the other hand, it is also important to define theme and to make the respective analysis. Theme is the main idea of a literary work. For this story the theme is death because Margaret Atwood shows that the ending of life always goes toward death. Each sub-story has

HAPPY ENDINGS

different elements as love, romance , sickness, natural phenomena; but at the final all people get an equilibrium and the story tend to finish with the death of characters. Theme and plot have a role in writing, without one of them the story will not have the same impact. For example, to learn that death is the ending of all living people. The plot show that each person is a unique world, and the person has their owns problems and happiness. Those events always tend to a specific point, death, that is the theme of the story. As que saw, if theme and plot does not keep a close relationship, the story does not transmit the same. In conclusion, Margaret Atwood story, “Happy endings” recounts the life of the same characters over different environment and situations. Each of them shows a different reality that always tends to perfection, but those stories finish with death. Main events and objective of story are closely related to give a concrete sense and message. Nothing is said yet, one thing for certain in our lives, death is the final step

HAPPY ENDINGS

References Atwood, M. (n/d). â&#x20AC;&#x2039;Happy ending. [PDF]

Running head: ART INTERPRETATION

Interpretation Of “House Of Cards” Valentina Córdova, David García, David Lajones, Karen Sánchez Yachay tech

ART INTERPRETATION

2 Interpretation Of “House Of Cards”

Twyla Tharp once said “Art is the only way to run away without leaving home”. In this sense, many artists express their feelings or their disagreements through their works. As an example we have Zinaida Yevgenyevna Serebriakova (1884-1967), who was a Russian female painter. She belonged to the artistic Benois Family, a family of famous artists in the 19th-20th centuries. From her youth onwards, Zinaida Serebriakova strove to express her love for the world and to show its beauty. Her earliest works, Country Girl and Orchard in

Bloom, speak eloquently of this search (Olga's Gallery, 2016). She became a recognized artist with her work Self-portrait: At the Dressing Table. Also, she focused on rural life of Russian

people in works, such as Peasants or Sleeping Peasant Girl (ARTINCONNU, 2009). Till that she had been painting with oil; a thing that changed when her husband died. By changing her paint, she saw the opportunity of getting more income. This moment of her life coincided with one of her most tragic works, “House of Cards”. In this work she painted her four orphaned children. This picture evokes some sensations and messages such as the strong relationship between siblings, the hard situation the artist’s family was going through and women as important part of society. The painting “House of cards” is a oil on canvas which has unknown dimensions. The picture presents four kids, two boys and two girls that are sitting around of pyramid of cards. One of the girls who is the youngest, is seeing with admiration to her sister that is in front of pyramid . The oldest girl has a heart card in her right hand and another card in her left hand. Both boys are staring the cards pyramid, but one them has a diamond card in his hand with intention to put it in the house of cards. The skin of the children is white and their cheeks are red as well as their lips. In general, they are all four focused on building a house of cards. The house of cards is building on a table where there is also a doll with red dress, a part of book,

ART INTERPRETATION

and a pot with blue flowers which apparently are withered. The kids are wearing jackets that are blue as well as the table the flowers and the back of the some cards. The red color of the pyramid stands out in the painting which calls to the attention of the observers. Finally, the walls that surrounding the children in that room look a little dirty and with the paint stained. The characteristics of the rest of the room are not shown within the painting. On the other hand, the cohesion between siblings is the force that built this pyramid. This painting looks as if the children were siblings that strive to keep the pyramid of cards stable, which could mean a strong family bond between them. This might mean that the fundamental basis of their relationship as siblings are solidarity and cooperation which makes one think about the importance of these values in life. In another aspect, the children look like they were really concentrated in the structure of the pyramid because they put card by card into it carefully. This calls to our attention because it transmits the importance of concentration when people do some activity. This means that when you are focused on achieving goals, you have to try it many times until you get better results. Also, the little girl looks at the older sister as a leader in the cards game. This can mean that in this epoch there might have taken place a revolutionary deed that generated the change of the thought in favor of the feminine gender. In this sense, the role played by woman is underlined from a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game as in the history of humanity. This recognition makes us feel proud because throughout history it has been understood that men and women can both perform valuable work. More deeply than just the gender, objects in the painting can give another insight into the painting. Taking into account the clothes, the painting â&#x20AC;&#x2039;House of Cards looks as if the children were from a country with cold weather due to colors, blue scale, used by the painter.

ART INTERPRETATION

Because the children’s coats are really obvious to the naked eye, it can mean the weather in the surroundings of house’s children was very cold. Also, the painter wanted to emphasize even more with blue color on the children’s coats that as is known is a “cold color” which leads us to go back to a cold city. Moreover, the red color in cheeks of the children could confirm the cold weather in their surroundings as is commonly known people from cold countries have red cheeks due to accumulation of red blood cells in this part of their faces. This can indicate that the temperature is cold, therefore the painting gives the sensation of a cold environment. Certainly Zinaida´s artistic work can be interpreted as the importance of women's role in the society in a period of change of mentality. However, “House of Cards” also could have another viewpoint for interpretation. For Dola (2013), art critic, the artistic work is more related with the economic and sentimental situation which Zinaida faced during her husband's death. Dola (2013) refers to the children that appear in the picture having a melancholic look for the painful situation experienced at that moment. Furthermore, Zinaida´s picture have a symbolic image that is the house of cards which reflects the instability in the life due to the fact that she had to take care of her children, and additionally to take care of her ailing mother. The author also argues that the image reveals harmony because even children are sad they seem to remain a strong bond and family union. Dola´s ideas are complemented with freedom and revolution issues previously raised. Both parts of interpretation keep relationship because authors just reflect in their artwork their feelings and experience and both revolution and loss of her husband happened until that stage. There are many ways of interpreting an artwork. And while they are mostly different, they coincide on the subjectivity of the analysis. One cannot go back in time to ask Zinaida

ART INTERPRETATION

about the thoughts she had for her painting or what ideas she wanted to transmit to the audience. Even if we do so her answer will keep being subjective. This paper collected some analysis based on the genders present in the picture and the color palette used to make it. According with the analysis of objects and colors,the artwork reflect the hard situation the artist’s family was going through, and also the role of women in the society of the age. It lastly included the critique of an expert, Dola. When contrasted, both interpretations coincide in the hardness of the situation Zinaida´s family was living and the children’s thought about family union.

ART INTERPRETATION

6 References

R, Dola. (2013). Zinaida’s House of Cards. [online]. Retrieved from htps://ipseand.wordpr ess.com/2013/10/06/zinaidas-house-of-cards/ ARTINCONNU. (2009, June 11). Zinaida Serebriakova. Retrieved from ARTINCONNU: http://www.artinconnu.com/2009/06/zinaida-serebriakova-1884-1967.html Olga's Gallery. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.abcgallery.com/S/serebriakova/serebria kovabio.html

Interpretation Essay (Collaborative) Group member names: Valentina Córdova, David García, David Lajones, Karen Sánchez Class: L6-003

Date: Score

Content ● Clear and strong thesis that states the interpretation of the piece ● Has well developed internal support ● Uses external evidence appropriately ● Demonstrates description, using details ● Employs logical analysis

30 ___ 30

Organization ● ● ● ●

Effective introduction and conclusion Fluent transitions Logically sequenced and balanced ideas Uses topic sentences

16 ___ 20

Notes Overall, I think this is a terrific evaluation and interpretation of internal and external evidence, with a strong thesis and frankly, great attention to detail and assignment requirements. Great job, everyone.

Some of your transitions are rough. Remember to always use 1. transition words (beginner level) 2. transitions between ideas by referencing a previous idea in the first sentence of the next paragraph. (look at your transition I marked “good” for an example of this)

ART INTERPRETATION

● Well incorporated source(s), using appropriate and specific details from source.

Your conclusion is weak. Check the comments.

Language Usage

Terrific work here. Meaning was never compromised.

● Effective and varied sentence structures (balanced and complete sentences), including complex and/or compound sentence structures. ● Avoids run-on and fragment sentences ● Shows mastery of different sentence parts (effectively employs necessary sentence parts, i.e., syntax etc.) ● Avoids vague or ambiguous language ● Proficiency and consistency in verb usage (subject-verb agreement, verb tense, verb aspect)

15 ___ 15 Massive article problems in the second paragraph.

Mechanics ● Use of appropriate punctuation ● Mastery of spelling and capitalization ● Competency in number agreement ● Use of appropriate articles ● Proficient use of prepositions

12 ___ 15

Vocabulary ● Shows range of vocabulary ● Effective word choices ● Proficiency in word forms/functions ● Appropriate register ● Understanding of terms related to topic

5 ___ 5

Formatting ● Uses APA style (running head, etc.) ● APA cover page ● APA reference page ● Uses appropriate in-text or parenthetical citations ● Required assignment formatting (font, spacing, etc.)

Peer Assessment Score based on your team member’s evaluations of your collaborative effort

Overall Score

4 ___ 5 10 ___ 10

Section not evaluated. I find that this is always positive, and no one ever marks anyone down for their transgressions. I’m giving an automatic 10 here.

92 ___ 100

Terrific work all around. I’m proud of you guys!!!

Running head: LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS

Is It Correct To Legalize Drugs? Karen Elizabeth Sรกnchez Blacio Yachay Tech

LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS

Is It Correct To Legalize Drugs? Imagine a world where drugs were legal. A world where you can buy marijuana, cocaine or heroin in the store in front of your house. This is the reality of many states of United States and other countries, which have adopted politics for drug legalization. For some people drugs legalization is good, due to of the fact that that think that legalization will help to decrease crime, social, political and economic problems generated by drugs use. However, the do not consider that problems generated by drugs do not disappear at all,those only change. For that reason is important to know that drugs legalization is not correct because it does not offer an entire solution of social, political and economic issues generated by drugs use. The analysis of Dan Baum's text, “How to win the war of drugs” mentions many arguments to support drugs legalization. One important is related with creation of codes for drug legalization and government investment. Baum proposes the situation of Colorado as an example. He says that in drugs legalization process, there is not enough time to write regulation codes to citizen know “what to do with their grow rooms and burning down their homes” (Baum, 2016). Drugs legalization is a process that need planification and many regulation processes because it is new for people. Drugs legalization needs a deep analysis, and also it requires more investment of governments because drug legalization will generate a revolution on already established codes (government need more sources on law legislation) and regulation institutes need to know how to drive new situations (more investment to teach new regulation mechanism). The legalization of drugs is not efficient because it demands more government investment on law creation and mechanisms to apply it, and the time spent on law creation will be long.

LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS

Dan Baum also argues that drugs legalization is going to â&#x20AC;&#x153;decreaseâ&#x20AC;? crime and other abuses. He adds, if governments make drugs legal, they remain in control of citizen due to of the fact that regulatory institutes (police officers) already will not be focused of drug traffic. However to say that something is allowed does not solve the problem. The problem is that drug consumption has generated social and economic problem in society, and decrease consumption is the solution. Furthermore, government action has to be focus of people benefit at whatever cost. At this point governments are searching solve a problem preferring crime and not struggle against it. Action of governments is just omitting the problem, and as its action now is not a fault it is not saw as a crime. Furthermore, government has to respond to individuals and not for resources. Drugs legalization is thinking for adult people, but what will happened with children. Baumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s text is referred just on superficial issues due to of the fact that he does not consider the role of children in society. Dan suggests that that places with drug legalization tend to decrease the ratio of drug consumption. However, people must realize that suddenly children will start to assume that drugs in life is are something normal and later the ratio of drug consumer will increase. For that reason, governments have to think more in prevention mechanisms, and not in drug legalization because this phenomenon in the future will increase the ratio of drug consumers. Additionally, he says that there is another reason for drugs legalization decrease the ratio of consumer which is related with the action of government. If governments start to provide drug to its citizens. Governments will give them more dependence because it make easier means to get drug. Government could implant a regulation with the control of drug price which is not good at all because people can get drugs in the black market.

LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS

Drugs became in a hard problem for governments, and legalization of them is not the solution because it only change the problems that society have to face. The best solution is the government investment on prevention mechanisms. Drugs legalization does not promote people benefit, and the consequence on children in the future will increase the ratio of drug consumers.

LEGALIZATION OF DRUGS

5 Reference

Baum. D., (2016). How to win the war of drug. [Online]. Retrieved from http: haper.org/archive/2016/04/legalize-it-all/5/

FINAL RESEARCH ESSAY

Running head: MUSIC AND LEARNING

How Music Improves Learning Karen Elizabeth Sรกnchez Blacio Yachay Tech

MUSIC AND LEARNING

2 Abstract

The following research essay refers to the influence of music in the learning process. The article contains information that shows how biological and psychological issues are related to learning. Moreover, there is an analysis of the ideal kind of music for the development of several activities. The research section shows data from Yachay Tech students´ community, relating to numerical and literacy activities. The essay also tries opposite points of view which argue that music is not effective for learning process enhancement. However, those experts do not consider that people who work without music have more psychological crisis. Specific type of music enhances certain people’s abilities through stimulation of their brains, this statement means that the power of people’s productivity is in the music that they decide to listen.

MUSIC AND LEARNING

3 How Music Improves Learning

Everybody knows or has heard about Albert Einstein, the father of modern physics. He made many important discoveries in physics field, such as Brownian motion, the Photoelectric effect, equivalence between mass and energy, and Relativity. However, you probably did not know that music had a special role in his challenges. Many historians affirm that when he was developing his theories, he just rested playing the piano, and then he would come back to continue with the development of his theories until he got it. This anecdote can serve as an example of how music influences and enhances creativity and cognitive processes. Always music has been important in human being history that it has been influenced several notorious historical episodes of human life. It was used as psychological weapon in wars and battles, also several cultures use music as mating ritual. Currently, many experts have proved that music influences more than the basic behavior, music also allows people to improve cognitive skills. Moreover, music is a powerful tool because it evokes emotions and moods that influence in people's activities, for this reason it is important that people know more about the effects of music in the efficiency of the human mind, especially in the learning process. Music perception is complete process which activates several brain regions that improve its development. Its perception is carried out initially in two temporal lobes, more specifically in the primary and secondary areas (A1, A2), and auditory association areas (AA); see appendix A. Primary auditory areas “receive their main input from the ears via the thalamus”, it is considered as the first station where auditory information is processing in the brain. This region is specialized in “basic auditory processing such as pitch and loudness perception, perception of time structures, and spectral decomposition” (Parncutt & McPherson, n.d). Secondary auditory areas are the surrounding zones of primary structure,

MUSIC AND LEARNING

and their function is the processing of timbre. The auditory association area is the station where derived perceptions from primary and secondary auditory areas are correlated for analysis of two or more components. Three sections before reviewed are just the beginning of a process, due to of the fact that later the process takes place in any brain zone. It is difficult to determine what is the region where the other part of processing of melody information takes place. The undetermined phase of perception can be developed in any stimulated place, and there form as many interneuronal connection as possible. Although there exist indeterminate areas; specific areas of perception give useful information. Some experts have determined that â&#x20AC;&#x153;these temporary lobes deal not only with hearing but also with other aspects such as cross-modal learning, memory and emotionâ&#x20AC;? (Parncutt & McPherson, n.d). This statement suggests that listening to music could improve cognitive skills because according to a biological point of view, learning is the product of interneuronal connections. Music generates more interneuronal connections which enhance learning process. If music produces more neuronal connections, those will generate connections different from connections generated by another activity (Peretz, 2006). Additionally, new connections will give the individual other perspective and analysis capability to face any situation, this factor is also dependent on a psychological approach. Another benefit that music gives to an individual is related with the psychological field. Psychological development is referred as management of conflict situations, which depend on own experiences of people . As music also is related with the zone of processing emotions: music can influence feeling of each experience. A person is considered as a set of different factors, and it is ridiculous to consider that the person just can focus their attention in one issue. The human mind constantly is changing its state and evaluating past, present, and future events. Music provides people one extraordinary benefit which helps them to

MUSIC AND LEARNING

maintain relaxed. According to Jane Collingwood (2016), psychologist, specially pieces of classical music “have a beneficial effect on our physiological functions, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the levels of stress hormones”. An application for this argument could be in students who are studying for an exam, this situation provokes stress which can be controlled listening the correct kind of music. Although some studies affirm that music worsens cognitive performance, it offers people a pleasure environment to study. However, at this point people should consider that stress also decreases work efficiency, therefore students who do not listen music in circumstances of stress also do not get good results. There is fact that supports the latest ideas, Dolegui (2013), a biopsychologist. ensures that a study conducted by Hallman, Price and Katsarou proves that children work better with relax music than without it; children do not get the best results, but their development was good. Therefore, a person will have a better learning development, due to of the fact that the brain is stimulated to feel pleasure, for this reason when a person study with music they feel less stress, and thus the person can improve their skills. However not all music improves cognitive skills that people want. There exists a select groups of melodies which promote certain abilities. First it is important to determine the best between music with and without lyrics. Music without lyrics is better because it allows people to get a high level of concentration that concentration acquired by music with lyrics. For instance, in 1993, the neurophysiologists Rauscher, Shaw, and Ky found that “listening to classical music and executing spatial tasks share neural pathways in the brain’s cortex” (Berk, 2008). The stimuli of brain parts is related with learning and consequently with the improvement of activities which are process in those areas of the brain. As we see, there exist instrumental music which improves certain cognitives skill, here it will be analyzed. Baroque classical music is known for its mind-boosting effects; David Allen,

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instructor of productivity, affirms that Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” and other Baroque tunes stimulate his skills. Other kind of music is music at 60 beat per minute because it maintains brain bright and breezy; excellent exponents of this kind of music are Telemann and Vivaldi. Experts also consider that “Chill out” (modern electronic) was designed to relax mind (UNC Charlotte and the University City Area, 2016). So, any kind of music produces different effects in human mind. If people know more information to improve a specific skill, people could use a kind of music with a specific task. To find the kind of music suitable for the learning process that is related with academic activity of each individual, there is information that reflects the success in certain academic activities with different kind of music. For example, in Yachay Tech student community some students suggested that they prefer to study without music because in this situation their concentration increased. There is another group of students who always study with music, in that group the majority ensure that studied with instrumental music because when they use music with lyrics they tend to concentrate more on the lyrics. Also, in Yachay Tech student community there exist a group of students who use different kind of music for specific academic tasks. For example, they ensure to prefer electronic music with tasks that only require to read, or even music with lyric UNC Charlotte and the University City Area. (2016). Nevertheless, students also said that they prefer to study without music or just instrumental music if they are working with number because this activity demands more concentration. As we see, people use different kind of music to develop different tasks, not all the music has the same effect in the individuals, it will vary for each activity and personality (see Appendix B for students´s information). Undoubtedly, music is a hard stimuli in all human´s activities, it can enhance certain cognitive abilities. However there are some people who disagree, and they argue that music

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decreases the efficiency of work which involves certain kind of cognitive abilities. For instance, Sarah Ransdell (a psychologist of Florida Atlantic University) demonstrates with an experiment that student’s work with music become slow. In the experiment she proposed to students to write an essay with and without music, there she found that students with music wrote less amount of word in the same time than students without it (Graham, 2001). Another counter argument was presented by Cary Cooper, a psychologist at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, who expressed that “To have an additional stimulus in the form of music is bound to distract” (Chapman, n.d). Cary Cooper demonstrated that not only the kind of music acts as distraction, there is another factor that affects concentration. This factor is music volume. In Cooper´s experiment the children who had background noise, tended to have raised blood pressure, heart rates and levels of stress hormones (Chapman, n.d). It is important to consider that problems in health also can influence in the efficiency of people's work. Both experiments have strong arguments against the music role during cognitive performance. However, the efficiency of certain cognitive skills are dependents of the variation of conditions. For example for Sarah Ransdell´s point of view, music decreases the speed of activities. On the contrary , Ransdell does not consider the idea that certain kind of music allows the development and enhancement for certain abilities. To provide better evidence against music benefits in learning process she should prove the influence of a kind of music in different activities, and then she should evaluate if that kind of music is efficient for those activities. She should not have a judgment before to prove that issue. For Cooper´s argument, it is important to consider that the disadvantages in health provided by music are just dependent on music volume. Therefore, to improve learning process, it is necessary to find the ideal range of music volume. That counter argument could open a new issue to

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research. So, What should be the most pleasant music volume to enhancement cognitive skills?, this issue will become a new theme for research in the future. To come back to the point, both counter-arguments are not totally acceptable, they have restrictions and different behaviors which depend on certain variables like kind of music and its volume. If research related with learning process and music increases, in the future scientists could develop technology to enhance cognitive abilities, due to the fact that music has the power to modify several areas of the brain. This issue has a high probability to occur and people must be prepared to know how to react to human enhancement through music. Human being have to be prepared for accepting or rejecting the statement because this issue shall involve â&#x20AC;&#x153;developing of policies for its use and implies the need for social systems ensuring that everyone has affordable access to themâ&#x20AC;?(Miah, 2016). Remember that the regulation of activities will come from each habitat of the earth, for this reason is important starting to think in the possible development and advance of science. Ultimately, music is influencing all the activities in our daily life, behind this beautiful melodies there are biological and psychological issues that contribute for our personal perception. Biologically facts reveal that same regions employed to listening music process is employed to cross-modal learning and memory. Furthermore, music gives psychologically benefits, which are related with the control of stress. Those contribution allow music operates in cognitive processes to improve learning. However, people should consider that the development of skills also depends on the kind of music that each people chose for specific tasks. Students of Yachay Tech demonstrate that some academic activities are made with classical, electronic music or without it. Moreover, it is important to know that music also can become a distraction factor, but this problem can disappear if each person controls the ideal range of music volumen . People have to know what is their appropriate

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kind of music and for what activity is it, due to of the fact that these features allow people to enhance learning process.

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10 References

Berk, R. (2008). Use of technology and music to improve learning. Retrieved from http://images.pearsonassessments.com/images/NES_Publications/2008_12Berk_1301 2_1.pdf Chapman, J. (n.d). Silence is golden for studying. [online]. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-30831/ Silence-golden-studying.html Dolegui, A. (2013). The Impact of listening to music on cognitive performance. Retrieved from http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/762/the-impact-of-listening -to-music-on- cognitive-performance Graham, D. (2001). Kill the music if you want good grades. Retrieved from https:// www.newscientist.com/article/mg16922822-100-kill-the-music-if-you-want-good-gra des/ Miah, R. (2016). The Ethics of Human Enhancement. Retrieved from https://www.technology review.com/s/602342/the-ethics-of-human-enhancement/ Parncutt, R. & McPherson, G. (n.d). The science and psychology of music performance. New York Peretz, I. (2006). The nature of music from a biological perspective. Retrieved from http://eamusic.dartmouth.edu/~larry/music1052008/readings/peretz.pdf UNC Charlotte and the University City Area. (2016). Music can help you study. Retrieved from http://uncc49er.com/622/music-can-help-you-study/

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11 Appendix A Some parts of brain and areas of function

Appendix B Survey Yachay Tech students

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FINAL RESEARCH PROJECT: Essay Name: Karen Sanchez