Ans:The gripping story “The Boy Who Broke the Bank”, by Ruskin Bond deals with plight of the underpaid or unpaid boys. Exploitation, innocence of children, role of rumours, anxiety, and mob psychology find effective expression in the story. Ruskin Bond is better known as “Indian Words Worth” has written many books for children.
The short story describes Nathu’s suffering in the opening lines. He works as a sweeper boy with the Pipalnagar Bank. He has for long been requesting for a hike of two rupees in his pay. Seth Govind Ram, the owner of the bank, has not agreed to raise his pay. Not only that the regular salary has not yet been paid to him. And lit is already the twentieth of the month. He is a poor boy with not much income and facing many problems. So he is grumbling to himself as he is sweeping the steps of the bank.
How did Sitaram try to help Nathu?
Ans: The gripping story “The Boy Who Broke the Bank”, by Ruskin Bond deals with plight of the underpaid or unpaid boys. Exploitation, innocence of children, role of rumours, anxiety, and mob psychology find effective expression in the story. Ruskin Bond is better known as “Indian Words Worth” has written many books for children.
Nathu was a sweeper boy with the Pipalnagar bank. One day, while sweeping the steps of the bank, Nathu grumbles to himself about his not being paid his regular salary though it was already the twentieth of the month. At this point of time, Sitaram, the washerman’s son happened to pass by the bank. He was on delivery rounds. He observed Nathu replies that he has not even received his regular pay yet. He also mentioned that he would leave the bank as soon as he got his pay. Sitram wishes him good luck and also adds that he would keep a lookout for any job that might suit him. At the fourth home he visited, Sitaram heard the lady of the house mention that she was in need of a sweeper. He told the lady that he knew of a sweeper boy who was looking for work and he could start from next month. He was working in the bank as a sweeper but they were not giving him his pay and he wanted to leave his job. Mrs. Srivatsava asked Sitaram to tell the boy to meet her the next day. Thus, Sitaram tried to help Nathu by finding a new job.
What did Mrs. Srivatsava tell Mrs. Bhushan about the bank? How did the news spread in Pipalnagar?
Ans: The gripping story “The Boy Who Broke the Bank”, by Ruskin Bond deals with plight of the underpaid or unpaid boys. Exploitation, innocence of children, role of rumours, anxiety, and mob psychology find effective expression in the story. Ruskin Bond is better known as “Indian Words Worth” has written many books for children.
In the story ‘The Boy Who Broke the Bank’ Ruskin Bond deicts how rumours spread like wild fire. Sitaram, the washerman’s son, tells Mrs. Srivastava that the sweeper boy of Pipalnagar Bank has not been paid his slaray and is looking for a job. A little later Mrs. Srivastava meets her friend, Mrs. Bhushan, in the market. She comments that Seth Govind Ram’s bank cannot pay it employees. The sweeper boy has not received his wages for more than a month. Mrs. Bhushan concludes that none of the employees must be getting paid. She is sure that the bank must be in a bad way. She tells her husband that the bank is going bankrupt. The news spread rapidly and there is panic and confusion.
How did the customers of the bank react to the ‘news?’
Ans: The gripping story “The Boy Who Broke the Bank”, by Ruskin Bond deals with plight of the underpaid or unpaid boys. Exploitation, innocence of children, role of rumours, anxiety, and mob psychology find effective expression in the story. Ruskin Bond is better known as “Indian Words Worth” has written many books for children.
The sweeper boy of Pipalnagar Bank complains one day that he has not been paid his salary by the owner, Seth Govind Ram. This piece of news gets distorted as it gets passes on from person to person. Soon everyone in the town is convinced that the bank has gone bankrupt. Rumours fly thick and fast about the Seth. Some believe he has fled the state and other say that he has fled the country and someone even claims that the Seth had hanged himself from a tree. In reality, the Seth is in Kashmir on a holiday.
All the people rush to the bank to withdraw their money. They refuse to hear the pleas of the manager. They claim that the Seth is hiding inside a bank locker. When all the ready cash gets over, the crowd gets restive and agitated. Mischief makers join the scene. They gathered outside the bank and started pelting stones and broke the glass window of the bank. Thus, Ruskin Bond depicts how rumours spread like wild fire and causes irreparable damage and lands the bank in trouble.
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
Poem and Poet: The philosophical line have been extracted from the poem ‘I Celebrate Myself’, written by Walt Whitman. The poem forms the opening section of his longer poem ‘Song of Myself’. The poem explains the concept of self and the view that all living and nonliving beings are but the different forms of the Supreme Being.
Context and Meaning: This poem is known for its vision of equality. It is equally famous for its view that all forms of life on earth are but different expressions of the sameSupreme Being. In celebrating himself, Walt Whitman celebrates the glory of all creations and the creator. For, God expresses himself in all of his creations. In making this statement the poet glorifies democracy. This poem is spiritual and patriotic at the same time.
Critical Appreciation: As the poet rightly points out, we are all equal in the true sense of the expression because we all came from the same source – the Almighty.
My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air.
Poem and Poet: The philosophical line have been extracted from the poem ‘I Celebrate Myself’, written by Walt Whitman. The poem forms the opening section of his longer poem ‘Song of Myself’. The poem explains the concept of self and the view that all living and nonliving beings are but the different forms of the Supreme Being.
Context and Meaning: The poet expresses his immeasurable love for this motherland by saying that every part of his body and every atom of his blood were formed from the soil and air of his native land. He adds that not lonely he, but his parents and their ancestors were born in the same country and thus were indebted to its soil and air. He is proud of his country and family.
Critical Appreciation: This line reflects the poet’s patriotism and his attachment to his family and ancestors.
I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,
Hoping to cease not till the death.
Poem and Poet: The philosophical line have been extracted from the poem ‘I Celebrate Myself’, written by Walt Whitman. The poem forms the opening section of his longer poem ‘Song of Myself’. The poem explains the concept of self and the view that all living and nonliving beings are but the different forms of the Supreme Being.
Context and Meaning: At the time of writing this poem, the poet was thirty-seven years old. He enjoys perfect health. He also hopes that he will continue to be in good health till his death. The poet appreciates every aspect of his life the land that he was born in, its soil and air. Celebration of this sort is nothing but singing the glory of God and sincere patriotic feelings of the poet.
Critical Appreciation: The poet appreciates every aspect of his life including his health, the land that he was born in, its soil and air. Thus, it is an expression of his admiration for everything created by God and his Patriotic feelings of his homeland.
Nature without check with original energy.
Poem and Poet: The philosophical line have been extracted from the poem ‘I Celebrate Myself’, written by Walt Whitman. The poem forms the opening section of his longer poem ‘Song of Myself’. The poem explains the concept of self and the view that all living and nonliving beings are but the different forms of the Supreme Being.
Context and Meaning: The poet conveys that creeds and schools of thought that have great influence on man should be kept at a distance. He has learnt sufficiently form them and they will not be forgotten altogether. However in order to have freedom of thought and opinion he should be guided by the primal forces of nature, because nature might speak with no control whatever.
Critical Appreciation: Nature guides us through her simple and straight forward ways. She is our ‘friend, philosopher and guide’. We can trust her much more than the manmade creeds and schools of thought.
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
Explain briefly what the poet, Walt Whitman, celebrates.
Ans: Walt Whitman’s Philosophical poem ‘I Celebrate Myself’ is a rare blend of spirituality and patriotism. It is the opening section of Whitman’s longer poem ‘Song of Myself’. In this poem, the poet seeks to explain the concept l of self. His concept has its roots in philosophical view that all living and non-living entities are but the different forms of the Supreme Being.
‘Song of Myself’, is one of the most famous poems of America. This poem is important for its vision of equality. ‘I Celebrate Myself’ is the opening section of this sprawling poem. The poet celebrates the spirit of democracy, the greatness of the soil, and the glory of the Lord. ‘I’ in the poem is the poet himself. Yet, it refers to the reader too, and extends further to become a universal entity. The poem praises his existence, his land, his parents, his health, nature and everything in this universe. Celebration of this sort is but singing the glory of God.
Describe the poet’s attachment to his soil and air.
Ans: Walt Whitman’s Philosophical poem ‘I Celebrate Myself’ is a rare blend of spirituality and patriotism. It is the opening section of Whitman’s longer poem ‘Song of Myself’. In this poem, the poet seeks to explain the concept l of self. His concept has its roots in philosophical view that all living and non-living entities are but the different forms of the Supreme Being.
The poet has a great admiration for the beauty of a blade of grass. He invites his soul to lean down and observe the blade of summer grass. He asserts that he nurtured by the soil of his country and breathes its fresh air. He celebrates the greatness of the soil and confirms that every atom of his blood is indebted to his native land. He takes pride in his family and his ancestors who also belonged to the same land. Thus the poem is a celebration of the whole cosmic self.
What does the poet, Walt Whitman, harbor?
Ans: Walt Whitman’s Philosophical poem ‘I Celebrate Myself’ is a rare blend of spirituality and patriotism. It is the opening section of Whitman’s longer poem ‘Song of Myself’. In this poem, the poet seeks to explain the concept l of self. His concept has its roots in philosophical view that all living and non-living entities are but the different forms of the Supreme Being.
The poet wants to have the power to distinguish between good and bad. He should also be able to voice his opinion at every hazardous situation. He should be influenced only by the primal energy of nature. He has the confidence that nature will guide in the right way. Thus the poem blends the appreciation of nature with his faith in God.
Thought without action is abortion. Action without thought is folly.
Lesson and Author: This line is extracted from the essay, ‘Opportunities for Youth’ by Jawaharlal Nehru. He was a great visionary, a versatile genius and a gifted writer. He led independent India for seventeen years as the first Prime Minister and is rightly considered the architect of Modern India.
Context and Meaning: In the opening paragraph, Nehru stresses the need for coordination between one’s action and one’s thought. According to him, thought without action is an ‘incomplete procedure’ andaction without thought is ‘folly’. Thus thought becomes the root of action. Young people should understand the significance of the much needed co-ordination between thought and action. Converting one’s thoughts into action is to be practiced religiously so that a feeling of success and happiness can be experienced. A deliberate thought or a certain measure of thinking has to lead our actions. Any effort will become a futile exercise if thought and action are not finely tuned. Hence it is clear that both thought and actions are very important. Either of them will not serve any purpose if they are separated.
Critical Appreciation: A common human weakness is highlighted in this context Nehru’s suggestion is that the inner conflicts can be resolved only when there is co-ordination between thought and action. A happy person is one who integrates thoughts and actions.
Happiness after all, is an inner state of mind. It is little dependent on outside environment.
Lesson and Author: This line is extracted from the essay, ‘Opportunities for Youth’ by Jawaharlal Nehru. He was a great visionary, a versatile genius and a gifted writer. He led independent India for seventeen years as the first Prime Minister and is rightly considered the architect of Modern India.
Context and Meaning: We come across Nehru’s insight into human ‘happiness’ in the third paragraph of the prose piece. According to him, the young must realize that happiness has very little to do with one’s acquisition or possession of worldly riches. We are essentially social being. Thought poverty makes people miserable; there is no assurance that riches will make them truly happy. It is not wealth but co-ordination of one’s thoughts and actions which liberates one from inner conflicts. Integration of one’s personality is of paramount importance. Happiness is an inner state of mind Human effort is to be directed towards the attainment of a conflict free mind. ‘Social setting’ that we live in, has no major role to play in our happiness or our misery.
Critical Appreciation: Nehru presents a clear definition of ‘happiness’. He feels that happiness is truly a state of mind and is independent of outside circumstances.
Great novels always make one think, because they are pictures of life painted by great minds.
Lesson and Author: This line is extracted from the essay, ‘Opportunities for Youth’ by Jawaharlal Nehru. He was a great visionary, a versatile genius and a gifted writer. He led independent India for seventeen years as the first Prime Minister and is rightly considered the architect of Modern India.
Context and Meaning: Jawaharlal Nehru emphasizes the ‘art of thinking’ in this context. He opines that thinking does not come naturally to aperson. It is to be developed. All of us may not become mighty thinkers but some may. He further recommends a source to develop the art of thinking. ‘Reading’ is very helpful to develop the art. Reading intelligently enables us to grasp people’s thoughts. By evaluating others thoughts we can activate or fortify our thoughts. Nehru advises young Indians to resort to useful reading Newspaper reading or gossiping will not promote creative thinking. Reading literature of great quality leads young minds to get enlightened because it is the literary output of illuminated minds. A good novel is a well to get enlightened because sense the nuances of life through literature. One can develop a proper perspective on different aspects of life by reading good books.
Critical Appreciation: This line clearly suggests that selection of reading material should be done carefully. Great books alone can make us think and evaluate our actions.
There will be always a need for the engineer and the scientist. They cannot fade away even if the politician may fade away.
Lesson and Author: This line is extracted from the essay, ‘Opportunities for Youth’ by Jawaharlal Nehru. He was a great visionary, a versatile genius and a gifted writer. He led independent India for seventeen years as the first Prime Minister and is rightly considered the architect of Modern India.
Context and Meaning: Nehru states that independent India requires and scientists who are well trained and are great visionaries. Their skill will build a formidable India. In comparison, another major stakeholder, the politician, may not build India as selflessly as the engineer and the scientist. A politician contributes in his won way but not as remarkably as an engineer or a scientist. We can understand that in a wellinformed and perfect society, a politician’s contribution gets toned down. It is impossible to imagine that the experts in science and technology will fade away. A progressive nation like India always requires these experts to meet the global challenges. As science and technology are dynamic and keep getting updated, the experts will have a vital role to play in generations to come.
Critical Appreciation: Nehru does not foresee the politician’s decline in the near future although he has a high opinion on the role of scientists and the engineers in building future India.
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
What is happiness, according to Jawaharlal Nehru?
Ans: The Essay “Opportunities for Youth” is a wonderful message to the youth. This essay was written by Jawaharlal Nehru. He was a great visionary, versatile genius and a gifted writer who led independent India for seventeen years as the first Prime Minister. He is said to be architect of Modern India. He is a versatile genius and also gifted writer.
Nehru presents a number of important ideas about the significance of co-ordination between words and deeds in the essay. Happiness is an inner state of mind. It is little dependent on outside environment. According to him poverty makes one miserable. It is also true that riches do not bring happiness. It is not wealth but co-ordination of one’s thought and action which removes inner conflicts. One’s happiness is not determined by wealth or power. The youth of country should maintain integration between thoughts and actions to seek happiness in life.
What quality of Gandhi does Nehru appreciate in the essay?
Ans: The Essay “Opportunities for Youth” is a wonderful message to the youth. This essay was written by Jawaharlal Nehru. He was a great visionary, versatile genius and a gifted writer who led independent India for seventeen years as the first Prime Minister. He is said to be architect of Modern India. He is a versatile genius and also gifted writer.
Jawaharlal Nehru, who was close associate of Gandhiji, describes his amazing qualities. One of the admirable qualities that he had, was to draw out the good in another person though, the other person may have plenty of evil in him. Gandhji understood that every human being has a blend of good and evil in him. A person who looks for good in others is a great person. Nehru feels that people who always seek evil in other find it. This applies to nations and individuals. The father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi was an extraordinary human being who drew out the good in others.
Nehru advises us to develop the art of thinking. He shows the way also. Explain it.
Ans: The Essay “Opportunities for Youth” is a wonderful message to the youth. This essay was written by Jawaharlal Nehru. He was a great visionary, versatile genius and a gifted writer who led independent India for seventeen years as the first Prime Minister. He is said to be architect of Modern India. He is a versatile genius and also gifted writer.
According to Nehru thinking is something which does not come automatically to a person. He emphasizes that we should develop the art of thinking. Nothing is more helpful to thinking that reading great books. By reading intelligently, we understand other people’s thoughts, and thus evaluate our thoughts. Reading newspapers or gossiping will not promote creative thinking. Great books always make one think, because they are pictures of life painted by great minds.
The mere act of aiming at something big makes you big elaborate.
Ans: The Essay “Opportunities for Youth” is a wonderful message to the youth. This essay was written by Jawaharlal Nehru. He was a great visionary, versatile genius and a gifted writer who led independent India for seventeen years as the first Prime Minister. He is said to be architect of Modern India. He is a versatile genius and also gifted writer.
Nehru is of the opinion that the youth should have an inner urge to do something great or worthwhile. It is not for monetary benefits. Pride is doing a job in the best possible manner. He advises the youth that a doctor should think of a discovery which will bring healing to the human race. A scientist should dream of becoming an Einstein. We can achieve our goals not by magic but by strong will and hard work. It takes time and perseverance to do big things. We should grow strong in mind and body. Success does not come suddenly or without setbacks. Opportunities are thrown open to people who are keen of mind, and strong of character.
Robbing children of their childhood is a criminal act, and our society must weed this malaise out from the root.
Lesson And Author:The given lines are taken from the thought provoking essay ‘Dancing in the Rain’ written by AzimPremji, who is an Indian tycoon and philanthropist. His speeches and articles on education and innovation are insightful and inspirational. AzimPremji devotes a lot of time and resources to improve the educational system in India.
Context and Meaning: Here, AzimPremji opines that depriving children the pleasures of childhood is inhuman. The essay deals with the excessive burdened both physical and mental that is imposed on children. It opens with a disturbing report on child labour. The report highlights the pathetic condition of children employed by Zari factories. The writer expresses deep concern and adds that it is a crime to exploit children in this manner. It is blot on society and we must eliminate this evil from society totally.
Critical Appreciation: If our children are exploited and robbed of their childhood they cannot have a healthy growth mentally or physically.We must allow them to dance in the rain i.e. to enjoy their childhood freely.
When I look at children, I wonder whether they have time to play with friends, to meet interesting people, to explore the world, and to follow their curiosity.
Lesson And Author: The given lines are taken from the thought provoking essay ‘Dancing in the Rain’ written by AzimPremji, who is an Indian tycoon and philanthropist. His speeches and articles on education and innovation are insightful and inspirational. AzimPremji devotes a lot of time and resources to improve the educational system in India.
Context and Meaning: Premji expresses his deep concern and doubts whether children have any time to play with friends, to meet interesting people, to explore the world, and to follow their curiosity. Some children are overburdened with their academic activities whereas others are shackled by poverty and hunger and are forced to work in inhuman conditions. He cites the example of a class nine student whogets only half an hour of free time every day. In both the instances, children have no free time to enjoy their childhood.
Critical Appreciation: This line reveals the excessive burden both mental and physical imposed on children. It is a harsh reality prevalent everywhere in India. This evil must be eliminated from its roots. Teachers and parents must encourage children to blossom and realize their true potential.
Gandhiji said that greatest lessons in life are learnt from children, not from learned man.
Lesson And Author: The given lines are taken from the thought provoking essay ‘Dancing in the Rain’ written by AzimPremji, who is an Indian tycoon and philanthropist. His speeches and articles on education and innovation are insightful and inspirational. AzimPremji devotes a lot of time and resources to improve the educational system in India.
Context and Meaning: In this context, Premji reminds himself of Gandhiji’s words that lesson in life are learnt from children and from learned man. Throughout the process of learning, a child fearlessly tries before fiving up unlike adults who fear failure and give up even before they try. A child is inherently curious about the world, and wants to understand how things work. The preconditioned self of the adults prevent them from truly exploring without prejudice. For a child what he or she does is meaningful in its own right whereas adults link every action to an external reward or recognition.
Critical Appreciation: It is the fact that adults should learn a lot from children. Parents, teachers and children should be joint learners as they discover and understand the world.
India will be radiant when our children are free to dance in the rain.
Lesson And Author: The given lines are taken from the thought provoking essay ‘Dancing in the Rain’ written by AzimPremji, who is an Indian tycoon and philanthropist. His speeches and articles on education and innovation are insightful and inspirational. AzimPremji devotes a lot of time and resources to improve the educational system in India.
Context and Meaning: Here, the writer opines that India will have a bright future if only her children are free to dance in the rain. India will progress in the true sense of the word if the children are free from the evils of poverty and hunger. They should not be overburdened with excessive academic work. We must empower our children who are the most vulnerable section of the society. We ought to take a strong decision to give our children the freedom of childhood.
Critical Appreciation: A country’s growth and prosperity depends on the way the children live. They will grow into healthy and mature adults if they are provided the simple joys of childhood.
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS;
What kind of freedom does AzimPremji recommend to the children of India?
Ans: AzimPremji’s thought provoking essay “Dancing in the Rain” is an Indian business tycoon and philanthropist. His speeches and articles on education are insightful and inspirational. Premji describes the pathetic situation the children of our society are in. He wants us to stop burdening them and keep encouraging them to be spontaneous and creative. He eagerly looks forward to seeing children dance merrily in rain.
Adults are robbing their children of their precious childhood. It is a criminal act. Both at factories and at educational centers, children suffer a lot. Children should be given complete freedom in order to grow in a healthy manner. They should be free to play and meet interesting people. They must be encouraged to explore the world and follow their curiosity. Poverty, hunger, parental aspirations and social conditioning should not restrict their freedom. Children should be free to dance happily in the rain. Only then we can flourish as a society.
According to the writer, in what ways is a child different from adults?
Ans: AzimPremji’s thought provoking essay “Dancing in the Rain” is an Indian business tycoon and philanthropist. His speeches and articles on education are insightful and inspirational. Premji describes the pathetic situation the children of our society are in. He wants us to stop burdening them and keep encouraging them to be spontaneous and creative. He eagerly looks forward to seeing children dance merrily in rain.
Throughout the process of learning, a child fearlessly tries before giving up unlike adults who fear failure and give up even before they try. AzimPremji points out that parents and teachers should learn from children, because children always are being deprived of the simple joys of childhood. A child is inherently curious about the world, and wants to understand how things work. The preconditioned self of the adults prevents them from truly exploring without prejudice. For a child what he or she does is meaningful in its own right whereas adults link every action to an external reward or recognition. Many valuable lessons can be learnt by observing a child.
What does the writer expect from parents and teachers?
Ans: AzimPremji’s thought provoking essay “Dancing in the Rain” is an Indian business tycoon and philanthropist. His speeches and articles on education are insightful and inspirational. Premjidescribes the pathetic situation the children of our society are in. He wants us to stop burdening them and keep encouraging them to be spontaneous and creative. He eagerly looks forward to seeing children dance merrily in rain.
AzimPremji expects that parents and teachers should learn from children, because children always are being deprived of the simple joys of childhood. They are crushed by parental aspirations and societal conditioning. Adults should realize that children can teach them many things. He also stresses the need that even the teachers should learn from their students. Similarly, Premjiopines that our teachers could grow enormously by learning from students. If the students and the teachers are joint learners, they understand their world fairly well. Then, they will refrain from pushing knowledge into the young minds and begin the democratic process of being join6t learners. AzimPremji believes that a powerful force for empowerment of children is to have motivated teachers who are learners first, teachers second. Then, we will stop trying to mould children into our “adult” likeness, and let them blossom.
What kind of change does the writer visualize in homes and schools?
Ans: AzimPremji’s thought provoking essay “Dancing in the Rain” is an Indian business tycoon and philanthropist. His speeches and articles on education are insightful and inspirational. Premji describes the pathetic situation the children of our society are in. He wants us to stop burdening them and keep encouraging them to be spontaneous and creative. He eagerly looks forward to seeing children dance merrily in rain.
AzimPemji emphasizes that children should be free from the burden of parental aspirations and the norms of social conditioning. Children should not be overburdened with academic activities. They should be allowed to play with friends, to meet interesting people, to explore the world and to follow their curiosity. Premji strongly believes that our schools should change from being textbook prisons to laboratories of exploration and our homes from being tuition centres to playgrounds of sport and art. We should resolve to give our children the freedom of childhood.
Meaning: A keycard is a security token that grants you access through electrically-powered doors. These systems require a keycard reader (installed on the door) and you gain access by either tapping your card on the reader (proximity reader), swiping it (swipe reader), or inserting it (insert reader).
With keycards, users no longer need to insert a metal or traditional key into a tumbler lock to gain access. Instead, there is an embedded access credential on the keycard magstripe, or as a chip in the card itself, and this is read by the keycard reader each time you attempt an unlock. If the unique code on your card is recognized by the reader, permission is granted for access.
Defination:A key card is a small plastic card which you can use instead of a key to open a door.
A keycard lock is a lock operated by a keycard, a flat, rectangular plastic card with identical dimensions to that of a credit card or American and EU driver’s license. The card stores a physical or digital pattern that the door mechanism accepts before disengaging the lock.
There are several common types of keycards in use, including the mechanical holecard, barcode, magnetic stripe, Wiegand wire embedded cards, smart card (embedded with a read/write electronic microchip), and RFID proximity cards.
Keycards are frequently used in hotels as an alternative to mechanical keys.
The first commercial use of key cards was to raise and lower the gate at automated parking lots where users paid a monthly fee.
Keycard systems operate by physically moving detainers in the locking mechanism with the insertion of the card, by shining LEDs through a pattern of holes in the card and detecting the result, by swiping or inserting a magnetic stripe card, or in the case of RFID cards, merely being brought into close proximity to a sensor. Keycards may also serve as ID cards.
Many electronic access control locks use a Wiegand interface to connect the card swipe mechanism to the rest of the electronic entry system.
A mechanical keycard, with “bumps” that operate pins inside of the lock (similar to a pin tumbler lock)
1. Mechanical
Mechanical keycard locks employ detainers which must be arranged in pre-selected positions by the key before the bolt will move. This was a mechanical type of lock operated by a plastic key card with a pattern of holes. There were 32 positions for possible hole locations, giving approximately 4.3 billion different keys. The key could easily be changed for each new guest by inserting a new key template in the lock that matched the new key.
In the early 1980s, the key card lock was electrified with LEDs that detected the holes.
A keycard with a magnetic stripe
1. Wiegand cards
Since the keycode is permanently set into the card at manufacture by the positions of magnetic wires, Wiegand cards can’t be erased by magnetic fields or reprogrammed as magnetic stripe cards can. Many electronic access control locks use a Wiegand interface to connect the card swipe mechanism to the rest of the electronic entry system.
1. Magnetic stripe
Magnetic stripe (sometimes “strip”) based keycard locks function by running the magnetic stripe over a sensor that reads the contents of the stripe. The stripe’s contents are compared to those either stored locally in the lock or those of a central system. Some centralized systems operate using hardwired connections to central controllers while others use various frequencies of radio waves to communicate with the central controllers. Some have the feature of a mechanical (traditional key) bypass in case of loss of power.
1. Passive RFID[Radio-Frequency identification]
RFID cards contain a small chip and induction loop which the transmitter on the keycard reader can access. The main advantages with RFID cards is that they do not need to be removed from the wallet or pass holder – as the keycard reader can usually read them from a few inches away.
Types Of Keys Used In Hotels
1. Guest Room Key’s
2. Master Keys
3. Grand Master
4. Emergency Keys
5. Floor Supervisor Key
How do they work to unlock hotel doors?
Magnetic stripe cards have a magnetic layer or a strip which contains minimal information for the user. Typically, the user access number is the most identifiable information. Personnel at the hotel desk will imprint the user information at check-in and usually set a time limit for its use until checkout. The door lock is triggered once the magnetic strip is read and verified by the hotel door card reader.
An example of a hotel punch card
1.Guest Room Key
The hotel guest room key is normally issued to open only one room for which it was intended, viz. individualised key for each lock. If the guest room lock is in shut-out mode the guest room key can neither open it nor lock from outside of the room.
2. Master Key
A master key is designed to open a set of several locks. These locks also have keys which are specific to each one (the change key) and cannot open any of the others in the set. Locks which have master keys have a second set of the mechanism used to open them which is identical to all of the others in the set of locks.
For example, master keyed pin tumbler locks will have two shear points at each pin position, one for the change key and one for the master key.
3. Grand Master
Key operates all locks in the Hotel. Including laundry and linen rooms.
Emergency Key
The emergency key opens all guestroom doors, even when they are double locked. It can be used, for example, to enter a room when the guest needs help and is unable to reach or open the door. The emergency key should be highly protected and its use strictly controlled and recorded; it should never leave the property. One procedure for emergency keys is to have them locked in a safe or safe deposit box and signed out by the individual needing one. The log should be dated and signed by the individual taking the key.
Floor Supervisors Master Key
Key operates all sections on the floor/ floors supervised by the particular supervisor.
Housekeeping Staff Master Key
Key operates all rooms serviced by particular room maid or housekeeping staff.
Important Key Control Procedures:
• Security of keys is essential from the moment they arrive on site.
• Keys should be stored separately and securely.
No unauthorized person should be allowed access to any key, either to examine or handle it, since a photograph or impression can be taken in few seconds and duplicate subsequently made.
• Keep a log book of all keys signed out.
• Establish protocol for distribution of keys.
• Use keys that do not identify the property’s name, address, logo, or room number.
• Perform an annual key audit
• When keys are lost or stolen, the locks should be changed or rotated to another part of the property.
• Authorised employees should remind guests to return keys at check-out.
• The loss or suspected compromise of a key should be reported immediately and, after due investigation, a decision be made as to whether or not the lock should be changed.
• Place well-secured key return boxes in the lobby, at exit points of the property, and in courtesy vehicles.
Reading is a basic life skill. It is a cornerstone for a child’s success in school, and, indeed, throughout life. Without the ability to read well, opportunities for personal fulfillment and job success inevitably will be lost. –Becoming a Nation of Readers: The Report of the Commission on Reading
Richard Anderson and the Commission on Reading define reading as the process of constructing meaning from written texts. Skilled reading is
constructive: learning to reason about written material using knowledge from everyday life and from disciplined fields of study;
fluent: mastery of basic processes to the point where they are automatic so that attention is freed for the analysis of meaning;
strategic: controlling one’s reading in relation to one’s purpose, the nature of the material and whether one is comprehending;
motivated: able to sustain attention and learning that written material can be interesting and informative; and
a lifelong pursuit: continuous practices, development, and refinement.
Reading skills lead a person to interact and gain meaning from written language. There are several components one must master which lead to independently comprehending the intended message being relayed in the written content. First is phonemic awareness which is defined by
the National Reading Panel as “recognizing and manipulating spoken words in language” (Whalon et al. 2009). Next is phonics defined by the same group as “understanding letter-sound correspondences in reading and spelling” then oral reading fluency which is “reading text with speed, accuracy, and expression.” The forth component is vocabulary defined as “understanding words read by linking the word to oral vocabulary” and lastly is comprehension defined as “directly teaching students to be aware of the cognitive processes involved in reading”
Reading is a complex “cognitive process” of decoding symbols in order to construct or derive meaning (reading comprehension). Reading is a means of language acquisition, communication, and of sharing information and ideas. Like all languages, it is a complex interaction between the text and the reader which is shaped by the reader’s prior knowledge, experiences, attitude, and language community which is culturally and socially situated. The reading process requires continuous practice, development, and refinement. In addition, reading requires creativity and critical analysis. Consumers of literature make ventures with each piece, innately deviating from literal words to create images that make sense to them in the unfamiliar places the texts describe. Because reading is such a complex process, it cannot be controlled or restricted to one or two interpretations. There are no concrete laws in reading, but rather allows readers an escape to produce their own products introspectively. This promotes deep exploration of texts during interpretation. Readers use a variety of reading strategies to assist with decoding (to translate symbols into sounds or visual representations of speech) and comprehension. Readers may use context clues to identify the meaning of unknown words. Readers integrate the words they have read into their existing framework of knowledge or schema (schemata theory).
OBJECTIVES OF READING:
A general English language program should focus on the four basic skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening in addition to providing instruction in grammar and vocabulary. How this is done varies from school to school, resulting in different levels of integration. Sometimes a single textbook is used because each chapter addresses multiple skills. Other times a separate book is used for each skill area. Whatever the material is, the main objectives for reading remain the same:
Read to activate and reinforce other skills (grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and writing). In the same way that oral dialogues, short compositions, and listening activities do, reading can put into practice grammatical structures, new lexical items, and elements of pronunciation. Reading can also offer good writing models.
Reading to become a better reader. Reading is a skill in itself, and the advantage of working with adult language learners is that they are usually literate in their native language. This means that they are able to transfer advanced reading skills to the second language classroom. Reading in English can activate and develop these skills, making the students better readers in both languages. Reading skills include: skimming, scanning, predicting, and reading for detailed comprehension.
Read to develop critical thinking skills. This is important to address because when teaching English for general purposes, it can be easy to dismiss reading as an activity
more suited for an academic environment. In all situations, critical thinking skills aid communication. From having a phone conversation to writing a business plan, people need to prioritize, make conclusions, draw comparisons, make inferences, etc. Reading can provide opportunities to utilize and sharpen such skills.
Read for enjoyment. Students should ideally discover not only the usefulness but also the pleasure of being able to read in a second language.
IMPORTANCE OF READING SKILLS:
Reading permeates every educational content area. The sequencing, decoding and comprehension skills necessary to read provide a foundation for learning. Early literacy development is particularly important to the growing learner. Skills such as alphabetic awareness and print knowledge in children under age 5 closely connect to later learning, according to the International Reading Association.
Whether you are engaged in a novel, pouring over a newspaper or a just looking at a sign, reading skills allow you to interpret and become engaged in the world around you. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, “Reading is the single most important skill necessary for a happy, productive and successful life.” Developing those skills takes active engagement from an early age.
Reading to Learn
Children today have many opportunities to gather information. Books are not the only tools children are exposed to. Using a smartphone, reading from an electronic tablet or researching on a computer has opened the floodgates for finding and accessing information. A student with the reading skills necessary to access and use information is not just learning to read but also reading to learn. With proper reading skills, he or she can explore topics ranging from how spiders spin silky webs to the details of the Wright brothers’ first flight in North Carolina.
Creating Lifelong Readers
Fluency, decoding and vocabulary development are needed to comprehend written material. Readers use these skills to interpret and understand written words on a page. They read often from a wide variety of materials. They read to find out more about the world in which they live and use that information to improve their lives. Lifelong readers think critically about what they’ve read and make connections to their own lives. They apply their skills in language and writing development.
Long-Term Implications
Reading skills are “essential to function in our society,” according to Duane Alexander, director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, speaking before a congressional subcommittee in 2002. Alexander stated that many children living in poverty lack
the skills that will allow them to become lifelong readers. A person with low reading ability may not be able to read signs, understand medical information or prescription directions or apply for jobs that require basic skills tests. Per a survey conducted by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a child’s third grade reading proficiency is an indicator of future achievement. If a student is not developing adequate reading and writing skills by that age, he or she is more likely to encounter “ongoing academic difficulties in school, failure to graduate from high school on time and chances of succeeding economically later in life.”
Successful Students
Whether the author is writing to inform, persuade, give directions or entertain, he or she is communicating to his or her audience. A person who can read has the ability to empathize with and connect to the characters in a story. A reader builds background knowledge about many different subjects that he or she can later use. Students with the necessary reading skills can later develop writing and language skills necessary for academic and professional success.
ADVANTAGES OF READING:
A book is our best friend. In our society we have friends and foes. Even the so-called friends can cheat us in times. However, books are our never-failing friends. Just like a good friend, it gives us company during idle time. A good book guides us in our lives.
Books are the voices of wisdom, past and present. The knowledge stored up in them invites us and gives us joy.
We read books not only for instructions but also for entertainment. It is the most harmless occupation for using time in a productive manner. The bookshelves are the standing source of joy to all book-lovers. To an educated man there is no pleasure comparable to the pleasures of reading books. Books provide us with varieties of entertainment. Some give us loud laughter, some a smile and some only an unexpressed joy.
Books help us forget for a while the cares and anxieties of daily life. Those who can read books are lucky indeed. A reader of books forgets his worries for the time being and finds pleasure from it. Money cannot buy peace of mind. Power cannot heal our sorrows. Books can, when all other fail.
A book is the windows to the outside world. The books on traveling can take us into the jungles of Africa, to the desert of Sahara, to the top of Everest or to the ice-fields of the Arctic. And all the while we can relax in bed or on armchair.
A book can put us in the time-machine. It can take us the great minds of the past and the present. Books on antiquity bring vividly to us the world of the past. We go back in thought to the dim, old days of the past.
Books can broaden our mind and gladden our heart. We see into the secrets of life and universe in the books on science, religion and literature. We love books for all these reasons.
Knowledge itself is also a great source of pleasure. Books on expeditions and adventures fire our imagination. Detective stories give us thrills and keep us absorbed. From all these we derive both pleasure and surprise.
However, there are numerous books and we need choice of books. We do not have enough time and energy to read all these books. We know, good books ennoble our minds, while bad books pollute it. Our time is precious; we cannot waste it by reading trash. So, we should read those books which may be our best companions, which can enlarge our vision and make our life more meaningful.
Successful study at university is often about meeting competing demands and deadlines, so you need to get the most out of your reading in the limited time available. Before you begin, make sure you have identified a) the purpose for doing the reading and b) what you need to achieve.
Always read with a purpose in mind. Before you begin, you should have an idea of why you are reading and what you are looking for/ what you want to achieve. Are you reading:
to locate specific information?
to understand difficult ideas?
to gain an overview of something?
to enjoy words and descriptions (as in poetry and some prose)?
to relax and escape into a novel?
Think about the way you would read to get a broad idea of what an article might be about, compared to how you would read to understand a complex and detailed concept – you might use previewing for the first task and intensive or critical reading for the second (more about this in the Reading Strategies section).
Working out why you are reading something (what you need to achieve) will determine the way you will read it (or which reading strategies to use).
Uni study requires a lot of reading within a limited time, so it is important to be selective about what you read. You need to make decisions about what is essential.
Establish which readings are required for your particular course and which are suggested (not compulsory). In some courses required readings take the form of a Course ‘Reader’ or textbook, in others your lecturer/ tutor will indicate what is essential.
There will be times when you need to read an entire article or chapter in detail. At other times you may be looking for specific information relating to an assignment topic and only a couple of pages or even a couple of paragraphs in a text will be useful. Once you locate the parts of a text that are going to be most relevant you may not need to read the rest.
How to select?
Know what you are looking for (i.e. have a purpose)
Identify key words to help you search
Look for these key words when browsing the table of contents and index of a book for relevant pages
Obtain an overview to further narrow down the ‘possibly useful’ field.
Any prior knowledge of a topic you are reading about, and linking new material with your past experience will help you read more effectively.
Ask yourself what you already know or think about this topic (from lectures, from other reading, from what you have heard or seen).
If you have a reading list, select a source that might offer a good starting point. If the topic or material is new, begin with a general introductory text and read slowly.
Read any related questions to the reading before doing the reading; they may be questions at the back of the chapter or the essay/assignment question.
Identify your expectations – what do you think it will be about?
Ask yourself questions about the topic. Change the title, headings and subheadings into questions or ask yourself what you want to find out.
You will remember more if you read with questions in your mind, rather than adopting the ‘sponge’ approach – simply trying to absorb everything.
If you are finding reading overwhelming, break the reading up into manageable segments (e.g. chapters, individual articles, a specific number of pages).
Identify your purpose and the time you have available
Set yourself a goal (for example, decide to read for a set length of time or a certain number of pages).
Reward yourself with a break when you’ve completed it.
The tasks and goals may be large or small, depending on what needs to be achieved.
Always note where information and ideas come from. Record details of author, title, place of publication, publisher and date so that you can find the text again if necessary. Always record page numbers with any notes you take.
HOW TO IMPROVE READING SKILLS:
“There is a total incompatibility between the joy of reading, a vagabond experience, and the experience of reading inorder to answer questions, and explain what you understood.” – Rubem Alves, Brazilian educator.
Here are the seven strategies for reading improvement:
1. Read about things that interest you. If you are interested in what you are reading about, the words will come alive, and you will be motivated to understand. You will feel satisfaction in accomplishing a task that you enjoy, and which you consider meaningful. The more you read, the better you will become at reading. Just get started and it will become a habit, as long as you are interested in what you are reading.
2. Read material that is at your level, or just a little difficult for you. Read material that you find easy to read, or just a little challenging. Looking up many unknown words in a conventional dictionary is tedious, and the results of the dictionary search quickly forgotten. It is better to stay within your comfort zone and keep reading. Soon you will be able to take on more difficult content.
3. Learn to read in depth, stay on the same subject for a while. If you are familiar with the subject you are reading about, you will understand better. Do not just read short articles. Commit to books. Stay with one author for at least one book. If the subject matter is new to you, you should even try to read a few different books or articles about the same subject, before you move on. This way you will meet the same vocabulary and ideas often, helping you to learn. You will also be able to get deeper into the subject and your reading confidence will grow.
4. If you have trouble reading, listen first. Many great works of literature were written to be read out loud. Learn to appreciate the art of the narrator. Listen to audio books or audio files of the material that you are reading. This will help make difficult content seem more familiar. If you can hear the new words and phrases that you are reading, you will have an easier time understanding and remembering them. Hearing the rhythm of someone reading a text will help your own reading.
5. Let your imagination get involved. Good readers get engrossed in their reading and let it trigger their imagination. Learn to enjoy your reading without asking too many questions or analyzing too much. It will just spoil the sensual enjoyment of the reading experience. You do not need to predict or analyze. Just enjoy and look forward to absorbing the information, ideas and thoughts expressed by the writer.
6. Don’t worry about what you don’t understand. Most of your reading should be for pleasure. You can enjoy reading without understanding all of what you read. You may even understand some things in your own personal way. Neither you nor a teacher needs to “monitor” your understanding. Learn to enjoy reading, even while feeling that you do not fully understand or remember what you have read.
7. Recognize that the key is to read a lot. You may develop a system for keeping track of new words that you encounter in your reading, using lists, or Flash Cards, or other memory systems available on the Internet or elsewhere. However, the main growth in your vocabulary and reading skill will come just from reading as much as you can. So learn to enjoy reading and read a lot. Keep reading, and you will become a better reader.
Unfortunately not all reading is just for pleasure. When you are reading a textbook or manual, or report or other material that have to read for school or work, you may need to underline, take notes, and read some parts over again, in order to retain what you are reading. However, if you have developed the habit of reading for pleasure, you will find that the cognitive techniques you need will come naturally, and that you will understand a lot better than before.
BARRIERS OF READING:
Lack of grammatical and linguistic competence:
Many people cannot read effectively because they fail to decrypt grammatical and lexical units of language in the text. They lack the ability to differentiate and recognize the words, sentences, expressions, used in the text. It hampers the process of reading. The reader may stop reading further if he fails to understand the text grammatically.
Lack of motivation:
Reading for information and knowledge requires motivation and discipline. Many people think reading as boring and time consuming task. Lack of proper motivation and goal may create barrier to reading.
Lack of concentration:
If the reader lacks concentration while reading, he just will turn pages after pages without much comprehension. Reading is psycholinguistic process. It requires careful attention of the reader.
Proper light and ventilation:
A reader has to struggle a lot to read in dim light or dark rooms. If proper ventilation is not there in the reading room, reader may feel suffocated or tired.
Size of the book:
Normally, people prefer reading small size articles and texts. If the book contains volumes of pages, it decreases the interest of the reader.
Articulating the words and sentences loudly:
Many readers have habit to articulate loudly or murmur the words in the text. They buzz each word which creates a barrier to speed reading.
Putting finger, pen or any object on the words and sentences while reading:
Many people put their finger or pen on the text while reading. They move the finger or object from word to word which lowers down the process of reading.
Narrow eye span:
Many readers read the text into independent eye shift between each and every word. They have narrow eye span. It not only decreases the speed of reading but also affects the comprehension. Shorter the eye span, slower the speed and comprehension. Readers require proper training and techniques to expand their eye span.
They are each used for different purposes, and they are not meant to be used all the time. They are at the fast end of the speed reading range, while studying is at the slow end.
People who know how to skim and scan are flexible readers. They read according to their purpose and get the information they need quickly without wasting time. They do not read everything which is what increases their reading speed. Their skill lies in knowing what specific information to read and which method to use.
What Is Skimming?
Skimming is one of the tools you can use to read more in less time. Skimming refers to looking only for the general or main ideas, and works best with non-fiction (or factual) material. With skimming, your overall understanding is reduced because you don’t read everything. You read only what is important to your purpose. Skimming takes place while reading and allows you to look for details in addition to the main ideas.
How to skim.?Many people think that skimming is a haphazard process placing the eyes where ever they fall. However, to skim effectively, there has to be a structure but you don’t read everything. What you read is more important than what you leave out. So what material do you read and what material do you leave out?
Let’s say you are doing research on a long chapter or a web site. By reading the first few paragraphs in detail, you will get a good idea of what information will be discussed. Once you know where the reading is headed, you can begin to read only the first sentence of each paragraph. Also called topic sentences, they give you the main idea of the paragraph. If you do not get the main idea in the topic sentence or if the paragraph greatly interests you, then you may want to skim more.
At the end of each topic sentence, your eyes should drop down through the rest of the paragraph, looking for important pieces of information, such as names, dates, or events. Continue to read only topic sentences, dropping down through the rest of the paragraphs, until you are near the end. Since the last few paragraphs may contain a conclusion or summary, you should stop skimming there and read in detail. Remember that your overall comprehension will be lower than if you read in detail. If while skimming, you feel you are grasping the main ideas, then you are skimming correctly.
When to skim. Because skimming is done at a fast speed with less-than-normal comprehension, you shouldn’t skim all the time. There are many times, however, when skimming is very useful.
Suppose you are taking a presentation skills class and have to deliver an oral report in a few days about the first computers ever made. You locate six books and four newspaper articles about this topic. Because you must be ready soon, you do not have time to read each word, but you need a large quantity of solid information.
Skimming will help you locate the information quickly while making sure you use your time wisely. It will also increase the amount of usable material you obtain for your research.
Suppose you have an exam in a few days. You need to review the material you learned, but you don’t want to reread everything. By skimming, you can quickly locate the information you haven’t mastered yet and study only that material.
While reading, ask yourself the following questions to help you decide whether or not to skim. If you answer yes to any of these, then skimming is a useful tool.
Is this material non-fiction?
Do I have a lot to read and only a small amount of time?
Do I already know something about this?
Can any of the material be skipped?
If you have sufficient background knowledge or believe you don’t need the information, then skip it! That’s right—don’t read it at all! Believe it or not, skipping material may sometimes be the best use of your time. Just because someone wrote something doesn’t mean you have to read it. If you pick and choose carefully what you skim and skip, you will be pleasantly surprised at the large amount of information you can get through in a short period of time.
What Is Scanning?
Scanning is another useful tool for speeding up your reading. Unlike skimming, when scanning, you look only for a specific fact or piece of information without reading everything. You scan when you look for your favorite show listed in the cable guide, for your friend’s phone number in a telephone book, and for the sports scores in the newspaper. For scanning to be successful, you need to understand how your material is structured as well as comprehend what you read so you can locate the specific information you need. Scanning also allows you to find details and other information in a hurry.
How to scan. Because you already scan many different types of material in your daily life, learning more details about scanning will be easy. Establishing your purpose, locating the appropriate material, and knowing how the information is structured before you start scanning is essential. The material you scan is typically arranged in the following ways: alphabetically, chronologically, non-alphabetically, by category, or textually. Alphabetical information is
arranged in order from A to Z, while chronological information is arranged in time or numerical order.
Information can be also be arranged in non- alphabetical order, such as a television listing, or by category, listings of like items such as an auto parts catalog. Sometimes information is located within the written paragraphs of text, also known as a textual sense, as in an encyclopedia entry.
Learning to use your hands while scanning is very helpful in locating specific information. Do you do anything with your hands to locate a word in a dictionary? To find a meeting time on your calendar? To read a train or bus schedule? Using your hand or finger is extremely helpful in focusing your attention and keeping your place while scanning a column of material.
Your peripheral vision can also help you scan effectively. When your hand moves down a list of names, you see not only the name your finger is pointing to, but also the names above and below. Let your eyes work for you when searching for information.
Keep the concept of key words in mind while scanning. Your purpose will determine the key words. Suppose you are looking for the time a train leaves from New York City for Washington, D.C.The key words to keep in mind are “from New York City” and “to Washington,D.C.” If you are looking for the cost of a computer printer with the code number PX-710, the key word to locate in a list of many printers is “PX-710.”
When to scan?
You scan when your aim is to find specific pieces of information. If you were doing the research for an oral presentation, you could scan the index of books, web sites, and reference materials. You would discover whether they contain any information you want and the pages where the information can be found.
In the past, you probably scanned without knowing you were doing it. Now with the information provided in this section, you can use scanning more intentionally and frequently. The more you practice, the more effective scanning will become. Finally, the most important benefit of scanning is its ability to help you become a more flexible reader. Scanning adds another high gear to your reading.:
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SKIMMING AND SCANNING:
Skimming is about going through the whole article, whereas scanning is just finding out the specific text or pattern. Therefore, scanning requires a higher understanding of word recognition than compared to scanning. Unlike skimming, in scanning the reader is already aware of the text he wants to search in the document. However, in skimming, the reader usually has no or little idea about the document. Skimming is more about reading and understanding, whereas scanning is all about searching or finding. Therefore, both are different from each other.
Comparison between Skimming and Scanning:
Skimming
Scanning
Definition
A technique for fast reading. A reader reads the article in order to get the general idea of it.
A technique in which a reader tries to search a particular text or word in the document
Requirement
Ability to go through the article quicklyAbility to understand what can be relevant and not in reading
Ability to find quicklyUse of fingers can be effective while looking for a specific informationFocus on key words
Purpose
Generally to get the general idea of an articleTo sample a book before actually purchasing it
Generally to search a telephone number from a listTo find a particular quotation in a book
Method
Read the title carefullyFirst paragraph and introduction need to be read carefullyEmphasis on the reading of first sentence of every paragraphHeading and sub headings should be readPictures, charts or graphs should be noticedWords or phrase that are italicized or boldface must be noticedSummary or last paragraph is important to understand the conclusion
Reader must be clearly aware of the specific information that needs to be searched in the documentClues must be used to find the answer – like if one is searching for a date, then only numbers should be looked forHeadings can be helpful in suggesting the location of the desired informationOne should be careful in reading and skipping the sections of the passage
Listening is receiving language through the ears. Listening involves identifying the sounds of speech and processing them into words and sentences. When we listen, we use our ears to receive individual sounds (letters, stress, rhythm and pauses) and we use our brain to convert these into messages that mean something to us.
Listening in any language requires focus and attention. It is a skill that some people need to work at harder than others. People who have difficulty concentrating are typically poor listeners. Listening in a second language requires even greater focus.
Listening is the act of hearing attentively. Research shows that 45% of our time is spent on listening. We listen more than speak. If this listening skill is used in a proper way we can master the tools of communicative skills. Listening is difficult, as human mind tends to distract easily. A person who controls his mind and listens attentively acquires various other skills and is benefited.
Listening skill can be defined as, “Listening is the act of hearing attentively”. It is also a process similar to reading which should possess knowledge of phonology, syntax, semantics and text understanding. Thomlison (1984) defines listening as, “Active listening, which is very important for effective communication”. Listening can be also defined as, “More than just hearing and to understand and interpret the meaning of a conversation”.
Listening skill makes you successful in workplace, family and in the society. Good listening skill is mandatory to get into a profession in communications, management, planning, sales, etc. Listening skills involve a different set of etiquettes, questioning for explanation, showing empathy and providing a suitable response. Good listening skills include the understanding ability. Body language is also a part of listening skill. Eye contact with the speaker, sitting straight and alert are the good gestures of a good listener.
Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication process.
Listening is key to all effective communication, without the ability to listen effectively messages are easily misunderstood – communication breaks down and the sender of the message can easily become frustrated or irritated.
If there is one communication skill you should aim to master then listening is it.
Hearing
Listening
1. A physical ability and not a conscious act (Physiological)
A skill and conscious act (Psychological)
2. Is hearing randomly
Is listening intentionally and analyzing
3. Everyone who is physically able to hears
Not everyone listens
4. Perceiving sound by the ear
Making an effort to understand using reception, analysis, and interpretation.
5. Involuntary
Voluntary
6. You just hear sound and noise but do not understand much
You understand what is being said or heard.
7. Does not need focus
Needs focus and care
8. Hearing uses only one of the five senses.
Listening uses hearing, seeing and sometimes the sense of touch.
9. Receiving sound vibrations
Observing behavior and adding meaning to what the speaker says
10. Passive
Active
TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE LISTENING:
a. Have eye contact with the speaker.
b. Sit straight and adapt a posture to tell the speaker that you are listening.
c. Show some gesture which represents attentive learning, for example nodding of the head.
d. Verbal responses while listening shows that you are a good listener.
e. Wait for the speaker to complete his speech and then share your views, don’t interrupt him.
f. Try to concentrate on the complete speech.
g. Do not give your views unless you are asked to do so. Interrupting and thrusting your views are mostly not liked by all people.
Listening skill is a technique used for understanding, what is being said by taking into account how something is said and the nonverbal signs and body language that accompanies it. This technique requires practice as listening is very difficult. A person who controls is mind and practices attentive listening will be successful in life and his career.
LANGUAGE FOR COMMUNICATION – SPOKEN ENGLISH FOR TOURISM
UNIT-I
Reading and Listening- Key Cards- Guide Books- Reports- Letters- Dialogues between Tourists and Guides- Face to Face Conversation- Telephone Conversation.
UNIT-II
Listening and Speaking- Dialogues- Role Plays- Wide Range of Accents- Listening to Tourism Advertisements- Extempore- Debates- Seminars and Group Discussions.
UNIT-III
Writing Skills- Drafting a Letter- Sending Fax- Memos- Notices- Drafting Circulars- Making Announcements and Drafting- Sending and Receiving Mails.
UNIT-IV
Testing and Evaluation in a given Situation- Enquiries at a Hotel Reception- Booking a Hotel Room-Taking order from Room Service- Explaining an Attraction as Guide- Complaint Handling by a Guide.
UNIT-V
Preparation of Travel Agency List- Preparation of Conferences list- Negotiating with a Tourists-Preparing Itinerary- Preparing Route Map.
SUGGESTED READINGS:
English for Travel and Tourism- Leo Jones, Cambridge University Press
English for Hotel and Tourist Industry- Red Revill and Chris, Oxford University Press.
English Study Material 