SELF - ASSESMENT OF ONLINE LISTENING TO PODCAST

http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice.aspx

Heart attacks and shock

http://historyonair.com

Byzantine Empire

I have listened two podcasts. The main purpose of this task was to improve my listening skills and to prepare for my listening exam.

The first podcast was about heart attacks: how to recognize it and to help. Another podcast was about Byzantine Empire. Here I found many interesting facts and I had an opportunity to remember the history.

In spite of fact, that podcasts were very interesting, it was rather difficult to understand (it was not so easy to listen native speakers) especially about the Byzantine Empire. I had to listen it three times.

The pronunciation was not so clear in both podcasts. I realized that there is a need to improve my vocabulary, because I had to search the meaning of many words in a dictionary.

There were no interferences, so I did not have to listen absolutely intensely.

In my opinion I should need more listening practice. I can improve my listening skills by listening to various podcasts as often as possible, watching English movies and other English TV programs. It could help to expand my vocabulary margins.

Social Inequality

I am going to write about social equality and inequality.

Firstly, the main inequalities in society are class, gender, race and inequalities in income and wealth. Inequalities are usually represented in one of three patterns:

• Hierarchical inequality. This is the main pattern of inequality in income and wealth.

• Stratification. People are ranked in groups, set at different levels. This model is mainly used in discussions of class and gender.

• Social division. Societies can be seen as almost divided between groups - 'black' and 'white', men and women, rich and poor.

Secondly, Policies for equality. The inequalities which people are concerned with, Rae suggests, can concern

• individuals - the comparison is made, for example, between rich and poor people

• blocs in society - like women, racial minorities, old people or regions

• segments - for example, a distinction confined to children or to women.

Policies for equality can aim at:

• equality of treatment. This is treatment without bias, prejudice or special conditions applying to people

• equal opportunity. This can be the opportunity to compete, or the chance to compete on the same footing as others

• equality of outcome. Policies which are concerned with inequalities of income or health status are generally concerned with removing disadvantage in outcome.

Third issue is redistribution. A measure is redistributive if the people who receive goods or services from a measure are not the same as the people who pay. All welfare provision is, by definition, redistributive in some way.

Redistribution does not have to be from rich to poor. Redistribution is conventionally classified as vertical or horizontal. Vertical redistribution may be progressive (from rich to poor) or regressive (from poor to rich). Horizontal redistribution goes from one kind of group to another - from men to women, households without children to families with children, tenants to owner-occupiers.

Egalitarian redistribution is progressive, but there are many ways to achieve equality, with different effects. There are four strategies:

• maximin, or raising the minimum;
• minimax, or levelling down the best off;
• least difference, reducing the range of inequality at each end; and
• ratio, compressing the range so that everyone is pushed nearer to others.

In Lithuania, The Minister of Social Security and Labour has an overall responsibility to coordinate and implement gender equality issues in all spheres and is hence to function as a Gender Equality Minister. The Division for Labour Market and Equal Opportunities is located within the Ministry of Social Security and Labour. The functions of the Division are to implement the government policies on gender equality within the competence of the ministry and to coordinate activities on gender equality in other fields. Moreover, the Inter-ministerial Commission for Equal

Opportunities for Women and Men, with representatives from all the ministries, has had an overall

responsibility for gender equality to be taken into account in all issue areas.

Lithuania also has an Office of Equal Opportunity Ombudsperson, which is

an independent institution accountable to the Seimas (the Parliament), currently with seven employees. Individuals can appeal if they have been discriminated against, in employment or education, due to their sex. The Office can also initiate investigations. Moreover, the

Ombudsperson supervises the implementation of the Act on Equal Opportunities.

Child Abuse

What Is Abuse?

Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, or a combination of any or all of those. Neglect — when parents or guardians don't take care of the basic needs of the children who depend on them — can also be a form of abuse.

Physical abuse is often the most easily spotted form of abuse. It may be any kind of hitting, shaking, burning, pinching, biting, choking, throwing, beating, and other actions that cause physical injury, leave marks, or produce significant physical pain.
Sexual abuse is any type of sexual contact between an adult and anyone 18 or younger child. If a family member sexually abuses another family member, this is called incest.
Emotional abuse can be difficult to pin down because there may not be physical signs. Emotional abuse happens when yelling and anger go too far or when parents constantly criticize, threaten, or dismiss kids or teens until their self-esteem and feelings of self-worth are damaged. Emotional abuse can hurt and cause damage just as physical abuse does.

Why Does It Happen?

If you're one of the thousands of people living in an abusive situation, it can help to understand why some people abuse — and to realize that the violence is not your fault. Sometimes abusers manipulate the people they are abusing by telling them they did something wrong or "asked for it" in some way. But that's not true.
There is no single reason why people abuse others. But some factors seem to make it more likely that a person may become abusive.
Growing up in an abusive family is one factor. Other people become abusive because they're not able to manage their feelings properly. For example, someone who is unable to control anger or can't cope with stressful personal situations (like the loss of a job or marriage problems) may lash out at others inappropriately. Alcohol or drug use also can make it difficult for some people to control their actions.
Certain types of personality disorders or mental illness might also interfere with a person's ability to relate to others in healthy ways or cause people to have problems with aggression or self-control. Of course, not everyone with a personality disorder or mental illness becomes abusive.
Fortunately, abuse can always be corrected. Everyone can learn how to stop.

Negative consequences of child abuse:

• Emotional Effects: Low self-esteem, Depression and anxiety, Eating disorders, Relationship difficulties, Alienation, Personality disorders.

• Physical Effects: Injury, Death, Lifelong health problems, Cognitive difficulties.

• Behavioral Effects: Problems in school and work, Delinquency, Teen pregnancy, Suicide attempts, Criminal or antisocial behavior, Aggressive behavior: spousal and child abuse.

What Should Someone Who's Being Abused Do?

People who are being abused need to get help. Keeping the abuse a secret doesn't protect anyone from being abused — it only makes it more likely that the abuse will continue.
If you or anyone you know is being abused, talk to someone you or your friend can trust — a family member, a trusted teacher, a doctor, or a school or religious youth counselor. Many teachers and counselors have training in how to recognize and report abuse.
Sometimes people who are being abused by someone in their own home need to find a safe place to live temporarily. It is never easy to have to leave home, but it's sometimes necessary to be protected from further abuse. People who need to leave home to stay safe can find local shelters listed in the phone book or they can contact an abuse helpline. Sometimes a person can stay with a relative or friend.
People who are being abused often feel afraid, numb, or lonely. Getting help and support is an important first step toward changing the situation.

Child abuse prevention organizations in Lithuania :

• Children care of rights inspection;

• Children care of rights office (under the government);

• Children hotline;

• Various non-governmental organizations (“Child House”).