Programmes of Psychology

The main goal of this article is to compare programmes of psychology at three universities: Mykolas Romeris University, National University of Singapore and the university of Liverpool. At all of these universities students are provided a comprehensive basic academic grounding in psychology.

Firstly, I would like to discus National university of Singapore. At this university the programme aims to equip student with knowledge in the key areas of psychology, such as social processes, cognitive processes, mental health and etc. The central topics are Biological, Cognitive, Abnormal, Developmental, Social Psychology and Empirical Methods. In my opinion, a very important fact is that students could have a lot of laboratory, practical work during their studies. They are encouraged to enquire through empirical study rather than simply to through reading or classroom instruction.

Another university is the university of Liverpool. Its programme offers an opportunity to understand the scientific basic of contemporary understanding of the human mind and behavior. Each year is based around eight modules, with a range of compulsory and optional modules in Psychology. Modules provide an introduction to the principal methods and content of Psychology. Central topics are Social Psychology, Psychobiology, Personality, Cognitive, Development and Abnormal Psychology. There are external modules from a range of subjects outside the School. Students could choose from any of the Faculties of Science, Social and Environmental studies and Arts.

There are not a lot of differences between both these universities and Mykolas Romeris University. Central topics are similar. Psychobiology is like our Anatomy. Cognitive Psychology is similar with Senses and Perception, Empirical Methods with Statistics at MRU. However, I have not found out such modules as Logic and Communication Skills at both universities of Liverpool and Singapore. Moreover, the programme length is 3 years in Liverpool and Singapore. At Mykolas Romeris University programme length is 4 years. Another difference is that academic year are subdivided to two parts and students have to learn eight modules during each of them at MRU, while the university of Liverpool provides eight modules during a year.

Each of these universities has advantages. It is very important point that students have a lot of research projects, laboratory works at National university of Singapore and the university of Liverpool. However, students have to study four years at Mykolas Romeris University. In my attitude, it is beneficial, because good specialists have to have rigid basics and knowledge about their speciality. So, it would be perfect if both theoretical and practical skills be matched.

References: http://www.nus.edu.sg/

http://www.liv.ac.uk/

http://www.mruni.lt/en/index.php

Happiness

Emotion- that is a thing, which makes our life more exciting, stimulating and meaningful. Happiness is one of these emotions and everyone try to achieve it
both consciously and unconsciously. Difference is, how each person interprets this word and what does it mean for him to be happy.

According to the research on a quality of life, which was made by sociologist Ruut Veenhoven, the
Dane and the Swedish are most satisfied with their life. However psychologists claim that happiness is not depend on race, age, or male. It is not depend on being in poor or reduced circumstances too.
Because people always seek to get more and more. So, I think that people attitude, temperament and their culture are hugest factors, which affect their mood.

So, how to find personal happiness? People have to be optimistic and self confident, that can help to realize their goals. Furthermore, feeling of availability is very important. According to this, people can realize themselves in nursing home or children’s home. Moreover, essential condition of happiness is an ability to find time themselves. People should spend their leisure what they want, for example with a book of poetry or exercises of yoga. Communication is another essential thing, because people are social creatures.

In my attitude, happiness consists of small pieces of pleasant events in our life. If we try to notice small details such as somebody’s smile, compliment or pleasant conversation with a friend, we would be in a good mood much more time. It is necessary, that people would not pay attention to various failures or would take them like new challenges.

To sum up, happiness is related with people attitude towards themselves, their achievements, goals and relationships with others. As Buddha is said: “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.“

References:

http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:6XjOuBtvYcQJ:www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19930701-000026.html+happiness+psychology&hl=lt&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=lt

http://worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/

SELF-ASSESSMENT OF SUCCESS IN LEARNING ESP

The main goal of this summary is to evaluate my knowledge and assess my achievements in learning ESP.

WRITING A SUMMARY. When I began to write summaries, it was rather difficult for me. I used to spend a lot of time doing this task because it was not easy for me to find the main ideas of text and write them accurately and objectively. Now I can do this task quicker but sometimes I still have problems with it. It could confirm my last summary that was not very good due to some mistakes and retelling the content.

WRITING COMPREHENSION TESTS ON MODULES IN PSYCHOLOGY. Usually I perform these tests quite good, but it depends on lots of effort that I have to make at learning and remembering information. It is not simple to understand definitions and terms in modules so I always have a dictionary at my fingertips, but it does not always help me to realize a content. Despite this, new words and their revising increase my skills to understand similar texts.

MAKING POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS. This task appeals to me, because it develops my creativeness. I could find out new information from various sources when I was making my presentation. I believe that I managed it and my presentation was quite good.

IMPROMPTU SPEAKING IN CLASS. Speaking practice is the most common task that we have had in this term of study. Due to this I feel a progression in this task. Sometimes I still worry about mistakes and my pronunciation but I try to express my opinion and talk if I have something to say and especially if a tem appeals to me.

PERFORMANCE IN LISTENING PRACTICE. It is the hardest exercise for me. I find it difficult to understand everything what is said in the recording and follow the text. It is not enough for me to listen a text twice and I discomfit when I cannot feel the gaps. Due to this, I don’t hear anything from the second part of the text.

WRITING CONTRIBUTIONS TO E-PORTFOLIO (WEBLOG). Writing contributions is not very hard task because we can use other sources and get information from them. However, I often do not notice some grammar mistakes or use wrong tenses. But I think that I learn from my mistakes and try not to make them again.

To sum up, I get a lot of knowledge in this term. However, there are some tasks that are still hard for me, so I think that only practice could help me to do them better and better

Learning ESP

ESP - English for Specific Purposes. This term refers to the teaching of a specific genre of mostly technical English for students with specific goals, fields of study, careers.

The most important difference between English for Specific Purposes and general English is that ESP students already have some knowledge related with English. ESP gives specific needs for the learners because they get only that information, which is important for their main field of study in their English classes . It helps student‘s to gain some professional skills and use them in their particular jobs. So students are highly motivated to learn English.

Students approach the study of English through a field that is already known and relevant to them. The students' matter knowledge gives them the context they need to understand in English . Due to this, they can learn vobuculary and various definitions more easily and faster.

There are some ways in wich people can learn English. Well-formed grammar, lexis and their appliance in various works is a real advantage for each student . According to this, ESP includes Power Point Presentations on ESP themes, writing summaries of ESP texts , contributions. These writings help student‘s to increase their ability to write objectively, accurately, clearly, and briefly.

Another method to gain English knowledge is listening practice. Students begin to understand foreigners‘ pronunciation more easily than before if they do this practice. They tend to memorize some words and phrases and apply them in their speech.

ESP icludes both short talks on ESP Issues and discussions too. It is the main way to learn English. A very important thing that student‘s would be active in their classes and talk without fear to make mistakes, because students must make errors in order to succeed.

So, ESP learners are those people who have a specific interest for learning and subject matter knowledge. They try to develop English language skills, which have to reflect their native-language knowledge and skills.

References: http://www.world-english.org/how_to_learn_english.htm

http://www.antlab.sci.waseda.ac.jp/abstracts/ESParticle.html

http://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/articles/teaching-english-for-specific-purposes-esp.html

And Death Shall Have No Dominion

"And death shall have no dominion.
Dead mean naked they shall be one

With the man in the wind and the west moon;

When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,

They shall have stars at elbow and foot;

Though they go mad they shall be sane,

Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;

Though lovers be lost love shall not;

And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion.

Under the windings of the sea

They lying long shall not die windily;

Twisting on racks when sinews give way,

Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break;

Faith in their hands shall snap in two,

And the unicorn evils run them through;

Split all ends up they shan't crack;

And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion.

No more may gulls cry at their ears

Or waves break loud on the seashores;

Where blew a flower may a flower no more

Lift its head to the blows of the rain;

Though they be mad and dead as nails,

Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;

Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,

And death shall have no dominion. "

Dylan Thomas

“States of Consciousness” analytical summary

“States of consciousness” is the third part in the coursebook “Understanding of Psychology”, which is written by Robert Feldman. In the module 1 “Sleep and Dreams” the author explores importance of sleep and dreams and their influence for people .

Firstly, Robert Feldman discusses five stages of sleep, ranging from 1 stage to REM sleep and reveals changes accuring in human body during sleep, such as blood pressure or eye movement. Furthermore, Feldman unfolds timescales of the stages of sleep and substantial amount of sleep to gain sufficient bounce.

Secondly, Robert Feldman talks about different approaches to origin of dreams and prefers three theories : unconscious wish fulfillment theory, which represented Sigmund Freud , dreams - for survival and activation – synthesis theories. In addition, the author explains different kinds of sleep disturbances, for instance, insomnia , sleep apnea and their both physical and psychological reasons. Moreover, Feldman discusses importance of circadian rhythms for bodily functions and damage if circadian rhythms are disturbed.

Finally, the author talks about daydreamers, most common fantasies and their benefit. Moreover, the author proposes some psychologists’ suggestions for overcoming sleep disturbances.
In conclusion, Robert Feldman reveals the benefit of sleep and dreams, issues related with them and helps to look to dreams more seriously.

I'll starred

"To bear a weight that cannot be borne,

Sisyphus, even you aren't that strong,

Although your heart cannot be torn

Time is short and Art is long.

Far from celebrated sepulchers

Toward a solitary graveyard

My heart, like a drum muffled hard

Beats a funeral march for the ill-starred.

—Many jewels are buried or shrouded

In darkness and oblivion's clouds,

Far from any pick or drill bit,

Many a flower unburdens with regret

Its perfume sweet like a secret;

In profoundly empty solitude to sit. "

Charles Baudelaire