Learning journalistic opinion genres using CLIL methodology

The Faculty of Business and Communication recently started an internationalization process that, in two year’s time, will allow all undergraduate students (studying Journalism, Audiovisual Communication, Advertising and Public Relations, Business and Marketing) to take 25% of their subjects in English using CLIL methodology. Currently, Journalism is the degree course with the greatest percentage of CLIL subjects, for example Current Affairs Workshop, a subject dedicated to analyzing current news using opinion genres. Moreover, because of the lack of other subjects offered in English, ERASMUS students have to take some journalism subjects in order to complete their international passport, and one of the classes they choose is the Current Affairs Workshop. The aim of this paper is to explore how CLIL methodology can be useful for learning journalistic opinion genres (chat-shows, discussions and debates) in a subject where Catalan Communication students –with different levels of English- share their knowledge with European students of other social disciplines. Students work in multidisciplinary groups in which they develop real radio and TV programs, adopting all the roles (moderator, technician, producer and participants), analyzing daily newspapers and other sources to create content, based on current affairs. This paper is based on the participant observation of the lecturers of the subject, who have designed different activities related to journalistic genres, where students can develop their skills according to the role they play in every assignment. Examples of successful lessons will be given, in addition to the results of the course: both positive and negative. Although the objective of the course is to examine professional routines related to opinion genres, and students are not directly graded on their level of English, the Catalan students come to appreciate how they finally overcome their fear of working in a foreign language. This is a basic result of their experience.

La percepció social entorn al delicte i els condicionants que operen en aquesta percepció al municipi de Sant Joan de Vilatorrada

L'objectiu general d'aquesta investigació social és aprofundir en el coneixement de la percepció social entorn al delicte, així com en els condicionants que operen en aquesta percepció al municipi de Sant Joan de Vilatorrada. S'incidirà en el coneixement d'aquesta percepció a partir de la por al delicte i la inseguretat ciutadana, dos fenòmens similars, però no exactament iguals. I els condicionants responen als factors que tenen una influència sobre la por al delicte i la inseguretat ciutadana. D'aquests factors se n'han detectat 34, i només s'estudiaran els nou més rellevants amb la finalitat de saber quin d'ells és el més influent. Tal com s'ha comentat, l'àmbit d'estudi és la població de Sant Joan de Vilatorrada, tot justificant-se pel fet de permetre incorporar el factor de tenir un centre penitenciari al mateix municipi en el qual es resideix. La metodologia escollida és la quantitativa, tot utilitzant la tècnica de l'enquesta. Per altra banda, la mostra és de 2.030 subjectes, tenint present que s'ha obtingut a partir d'una fórmula destinada a calcular les poblacions finites. Finalment, s'han presentat quatre limitacions de l'estudi, tot optant per aportar diverses solucions.

Emotion and Linguistic Diversity

In this paper we shall try to explain why speakers experience their languages so passionately. One explanation is based on the role language plays in the construction of the community and in the fact that it is a clear mark of belonging. Furthermore, we support another reason. Speakers experience their language as something received from their ancestors and that they are obliged to transmit to their descendents, an imperative which carries an extraordinary emotional charge. In fact, fear of the death of a language is experienced as an act of irreparable non-fulfilment. Why? We believe that language is one of the most evident signs of community, much more than the sum of the individuals of which it is composed. Indeed, it is a long-lasting entity projected into both the past and the future and which, moreover, accumulates within the language the whole of the culture. In the survival of the community and the language we find a response, even though it may be illusory, to the need for transcendence: our ancestors live on in our language and we, if we meet our obligations, live on in the language of our descendents

«Me quedaré con lo positivo»: Análisis de blogs de mujeres con cáncer de mama

En este artículo se analizan siete blogs escritos por mujeres con cáncer de mama. En primer lugar, se indaga sobre su forma de concebir el cuerpo en relación, por un lado, al impacto del cáncer en los órganos y procesos corporales ligados a la feminidad y, por el otro, a su carácter mortal. En segundo lugar, se analiza su atribución de agencia en relación a la enfermedad y su curación. Se observa que la responsabilidad en la curación se atribuye principalmente a los médicos, pero aparece con fuerza la idea que la mujer se puede sanar mediante cambios en su estilo de vida y a través del pensamiento positivo. Este establece un marco en el que las afectadas de cáncer encuentran dificultades para reconocer y expresar aspectos considerados negativos del proceso como la rabia, la desesperación o el miedo a la muerte, al mismo tiempo que marca una distinción entre pacientes con trayectorias de éxito en su curación y los que no lo consiguen, que son culpabilizados.

Percepció de la mort en persones grans ingressades en un centre geriàtric: un estudi qualitatiu

La mort sempre ha estat present en tot individu i societat, tot i els grans avenços de les tecnologies i és per la persona un tema de profunda reflexió, tant des de la perspectiva filosòfica com religiosa i la més actual, la científica. No obstant, en les societats industrials avançades cada vegada és més difícil acceptar la simple idea de mort. L’arribada de la vellesa posa a la persona davant de nombrosos canvis i pèrdues que repercuteixen la seva qualitat de vida, la seva estabilitat emocional i porta en sí mateix la consciència de saber que la mort es troba cada vegada més a prop, generant principalment temors i pors. És per això que cal destacar la importància del tema per la infermera que treballa amb gent granObjectiu: Conèixer la percepció sobre la mort que tenen les persones grans ingressades en una residència geriàtrica

Elämänlaatu ja iäkkäiden kaatumisten ehkäisy

Quality of life and fall prevention among the aged Improvement of quality of life is considered to be one of the most important goals of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation among the aged. The study aimed to describe and assess fall prevention interventions as a quality of life indicator, and to describe the social dimension of health-related quality of life among the aged. In addition, it aimed to assess the effects of fall prevention intervention on quality of life among the aged. The study was implemented by using a methodological triangulation. The data in the systematic review was retrieved from the databasis of medical and nursing sciences. Home-dwelling aged (n=19) participated in the qualitative study of a social dimension of quality of life. The data was gathered by the thematic interview method. The quantitative multifactorial fall prevention study comprised 591 participants, either the aged living at home or in sheltered housing, showing an increased risk of falling. Participants were randomized into an intervention or a control group. Follow-up measurements were carried out after a 12 month intervention. The data was collected by the 15D quality of life instrument and a structured questionnaire. Based on the systematic review, only in a few studies fall prevention produced positive effects on dimensions of quality of life (physical function, social function, vitality, mental health, environmental domain). Based on the thematic interview the social dimension of quality of life consisted of three themes: personal values, personal milieu and personal daily life. Based on the fall prevention program, depressive symptoms and distress decreased, managing in usual activities improved, sexual activity and phone contacts increased among men. In women, managing in usual activities improved, socializing increased and discomfort and symptoms decreased. Within the groups, self-perceived health improved among women in the intervention group and among men in the control groups. In addition, fear of falling and feelings of insecurity reduced among women in the intervention group. Personal daily life with its activities opened up new perspectives into the social dimension of good quality of life, which was emphasized especially in the interviews of the oldest participants. Multifactorial fall prevention can affect positively some physical and psychosocial dimensions of quality of life among the community-dwelling aged. Additional studies with larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods and multiple outcome measures are needed. Fall prevention intervention may affect quality of life by different mechanisms, and the quantitative and qualitative assessment of its effects should also be included in the interventions of randomized controlled trials.

The Innovation Process – Aiming towards Innovativeness in a Construction Company

The bachelor’s thesis concentrates on the innovativeness in the construction industry. The purpose of the thesis is to define the innovation as a concept reflected on a context of the construction industry. The second objective is to examine how the construction companies could foster and increase the innovativeness. The third objective was to find out tools, methods and phases of the front-end of the innovation process. The construction industry is often considered as a traditional and an old-fashioned manufacturing industry. The innovation or the innovativeness rarely linked to the construction industry. Productivity is a common problem in the construction industry. The construction industry needs to increase the productivity to compete in a globalized world. The productivity can be increased by the innovation. The thesis based on a literature review. The findings from the literature include a description of the innovation as a concept, the innovative culture and the innovation process as a context of the construction industry. The phases of the front-end of the innovation process were explained. Customers centered approach was taken into account in the innovation process. The required tools and methods for managing the front-end of the innovation process were illustrated. The thesis ensures the importance of the innovation facing challenges of the construction industry. Managing the front-end of the innovation is the most important aspect to stand out from the less innovative companies. To take a full advantage of the innovation companies cannot fear of changes. The innovation process requires a full support of the top management of the company. Taking into consideration a theoretical aspect of the thesis a further research is required to respond practical needs of the company. Tools and methods should be considered according the company’s needs and activities. Company’s existing state and culture should be examined before implementing the front-end of the innovation process to ensure the functionality.

La invasión en la ciencia ficción y la construcción de la identidad americana

This dissertation examines the issue of invasion as represented in American science fiction. American SF appears as a scenario in which to explore national identity-an identity that has been marked by the imaginary of invasion. The dissertation focuses in particular on the 1983 television series V, which articulates concerns typical of a nation that has established its hegemony on the basis of the separation between oneself and the other. V, as we argue, equals the expression of American identity with the fear of physical otherness, and the fear of the vulnerability of the national borders as the imaginary boundary that separates the American I from everything else

Suunnittelu ja kontrolli kaupunkirohkeiden ja -pelottomien naisten tuottajana

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Searching for keys to successful post-merger integration : a longitudinal case-study following a public sector merger

Unsuccessful mergers are unfortunately the rule rather than the exception. Therefore it is necessary to gain an enhanced understanding of mergers and post-merger integrations (PMI) as well as learning more about how mergers and PMIs of information systems (IS) and people can be facilitated. Studies on PMI of IS are scarce and public sector mergers are even less studied. There is nothing however to indicate that public sector mergers are any more successful than those in the private sector. This thesis covers five studies carried out between 2008 and 2011 in two organizations in higher education that merged in January 2010. The most recent study was carried out two years after the new university was established. The longitudinal case-study focused on the administrators and their opinions of the IS, the work situation and the merger in general. These issues were investigated before, during and after the merger. Both surveys and interviews were used to collect data, to which were added documents that both describe and guide the merger process; in this way we aimed at a triangulation of findings. Administrators were chosen as the focus of the study since public organizations are highly dependent on this staff category, forming the backbone of the organization and whose performance is a key success factor for the organization. Reliable and effective IS are also critical for maintaining a functional and effective organization, and this makes administrators highly dependent on their organizations’ IS for the ability to carry out their duties as intended. The case-study has confirmed the administrators’ dependency on IS that work well. A merger is likely to lead to changes in the IS and the routines associated with the administrators’ work. Hence it was especially interesting to study how the administrators viewed the merger and its consequences for IS and the work situation. The overall research objective is to find key issues for successful mergers and PMIs. The first explorative study in 2008 showed that the administrators were confident of their skills and knowledge of IS and had no fear of having to learn new IS due to the merger. Most administrators had an academic background and were not anxious about whether IS training would be given or not. Before the merger the administrators were positive and enthusiastic towards the merger and also to the changes that they expected. The studies carried out before the merger showed that these administrators were very satisfied with the information provided about the merger. This information was disseminated through various channels and even negative information and postponed decisions were quickly distributed. The study conflicts with the theories that have found that resistance to change is inevitable in a merger. Shortly after the merger the (third) study showed disappointment with the fact that fewer changes than expected had been implemented even if the changes that actually were carried out sometimes led to a more problematic work situation. This was seen to be more prominent for routine changes than IS changes. Still the administrators showed a clear willingness to change and to share their knowledge with new colleagues. This knowledge sharing (also tacit) worked well in the merger and the PMI. The majority reported that the most common way to learn to use new ISs and to apply new routines was by asking help from colleagues. They also needed to take responsibility for their own training and development. Five months after the merger (the fourth study) the administrators had become worried about the changes in communication strategy that had been implemented in the new university. This was perceived as being more anonymous. Furthermore, it was harder to get to know what was happening and to contact the new decision makers. The administrators found that decisions, and the authority to make decisions, had been moved to a higher administrative level than they were accustomed to. A directive management style is recommended in mergers in order to achieve a quick transition without distracting from the core business. A merger process may be tiresome and require considerable effort from the participants. In addition, not everyone can make their voice heard during a merger and consensus is not possible in every question. It is important to find out what is best for the new organization instead of simply claiming that the tried and tested methods of doing things should be implemented. A major problem turned out to be the lack of management continuity during the merger process. Especially problematic was the situation in the IS-department with many substitute managers during the whole merger process (even after the merger was carried out). This meant that no one was in charge of IS-issues and the PMI of IS. Moreover, the top managers were appointed very late in the process; in some cases after the merger was carried out. This led to missed opportunities for building trust and management credibility was heavily affected. The administrators felt neglected and that their competences and knowledge no longer counted. This, together with a reduced and altered information flow, led to rumours and distrust. Before the merger the administrators were convinced that their achievements contributed value to their organizations and that they worked effectively. After the merger they were less sure of their value contribution and effectiveness even if these factors were not totally discounted. The fifth study in November 2011 found that the administrators were still satisfied with their IS as they had been throughout the whole study. Furthermore, they believed that the IS department had done a good job despite challenging circumstances. Both the former organizations lacked IS strategies, which badly affected the IS strategizing during the merger and the PMI. IS strategies deal with issues like system ownership; namely who should pay and who is responsible for maintenance and system development, for organizing system training for new IS, and for effectively run IS even during changing circumstances (e.g. more users). A proactive approach is recommended for IS strategizing to work. This is particularly true during a merger and PMI for handling issues about what ISs should be adopted and implemented in the new organization, issues of integration and reengineering of IS-related processes. In the new university an ITstrategy had still not been decided 26 months after the new university was established. The study shows the importance of the decisive management of IS in a merger requiring that IS issues are addressed in the merger process and that IS decisions are made early. Moreover, the new management needs to be appointed early in order to work actively with the IS-strategizing. It is also necessary to build trust and to plan and make decisions about integration of IS and people.

I hälsans spelrum : lek på vårdandets scen

With caring science as its foundation and by means of the perioperative dialogue, the intended contribution and overall aim of this present thesis is to describe what play is and could be in the caring reality, an ideal model. The perioperative dialogue is the nurse anaesthetists’ pre-, intra- and post-operative dialogues with the children they care for in connection with anesthesia. The thesis is composed according to Schopenhauer’s notion that the road to science presupposes the world seen as performances, and has an all-pervading hermeneutic approach. The performances of the thesis are: the performance of all performances, the empirical performance, the transcendental performance and the universal performance. The performance of all performances originates in the theoretical perspective of the thesis and describes what play and its characteristics are. This performance is realized through the hermeneutic interpretation of the etymology and original meaning of the word play along with texts from caring science, philosophy, anthropology and the history of religion. The empirical performance originates in four empirical studies where caring is organized as a perioperative dialogue. In study I, the material was collected with the help of participating observations and semi-structured interviews, in study II, with the help of the critical incident method and in study III, with the help of conversation interviews. In study IV, play develops into a clinical caring science research method. The research participants consist of children with special needs, children with a pronounced fear of anaesthesia, parents of children with severe autism and nurse anaesthetists. The empirical performance relates in what way play manifests in a perioperative child context by interpreting the results from the empiric in the light of the characteristics of play. The transcendental performance is enacted in the playhouse of health and presents a picture of the essence of play, the playing. In the playhouse of health, the light, winged movement of play is actualized when what was previously too difficult, too heavy and pinioned instead is as easy as anything. The eye of love and compassion knows the art of deciphering the secret script where the Other’s holiness resides, even if mere glimpses of it appear. The universal performance depicts three caring acts where the entrance consists of entering play, the ideal of which is realized in the unmasked openness face to face, that which protects the playing human being against encroachment and an unwanted audience. In the second caring act, entering play plays on to the finely-tuned interplay between human beings in the winged play of beauty and dignity. In the third caring act, the world’s deepest plays are staged on the stage of caring, in the sense that the innermost being of each individual, the universal will joins in and allows individuals to live as playing human beings who are at home with themselves and the world. The captivating, graceful and friendly play works from within itself, as long as it illumined by the light of claritas can play undisturbed on the stage of caring where it – like an unclouded mirror of its own ideal watches over children’s health.

Liberaalin juristin dilemma

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Tuotantokoneiden pitoajat meijerialan yrityksessä

Diplomityön tavoitteena on tutkia, millaisia ovat Valion tuoretuotemeijerien tuotantokoneiden toteutuneet pitoajat suhteessa kirjanpidon pitoaikaan ja mikä pitoaikoihin eniten vaikuttaa. Tuotantokoneiksi luetaan tässä tutkimuksessa valmistus- ja pakkauskoneet sekä pakkauskoneiden jälkikäsittelylaitteet. Tavoitteena on selvittää myös eroja eri laiteryhmien ja meijerien välillä, ja mitkä syyt aiheuttavat nämä erilaiset pitoajat. Tutkimus toteutettiin sekä haastattelututkimuksena että taseeseen ja erillisiin konetietoihin tutustumalla. Tärkeimpinä käytettävinä teorioina on hyödynnetty erilaisten pitoaikojen määritelmiä sekä koneiden korvausmalleja sekä muita tutkimuksia pitoajoista. Vanhimmat valmistuskoneet olivat Tampereella ja uusimmat Jyväskylässä. Pakkauskoneista vanhimmat ovat Riihimäellä ja uusimmat vastaavasti Jyväskylässä sekä Tampereella. Jälkikäsittelylaitteista vanhimmat laitteet olivat Tampereella ja uusimmat Riihimäellä. Kokonaisuudessaan laitoksista nuorin on Jyväskylän meijeri, mihin merkittävin syy on koko prosessin uusiminen vuonna 2003. Tutkimuksessa kokonaispitoaika tuotantokoneille oli 10,8 vuotta. Yleisimpiä syitä jonkin laitteen vaihtamiseen meijereillä olivat pelko hygienian riittämättömyydestä, laitteen huonontunut kunto ja varaosien huono saatavuus. Tutkittujen Valion laitoksien tuotantokoneet ovat hyvin samanikäisiä verrattuna muiden tutkimuksien tuloksiin. Jatkossa Valion kannattaisi kehittää pitoaikojen seurantaa ja vuosittaisia tarkastuksia meijereillä.

Människans liv med sömnbesvär och hur människor med sömnbesvär upplever kognitiv beteendeterapi

Sleep disorders are a common health problem in western countries. Every third working age person suffers from sleep deprivation and that often leads to other health problems as well. One can end up in a vicious circle, which can further decrease mood and ability to function. The aim of this thesis is to illustrate how sleep deprivation affects the lives of working age population and to deepen our understanding of life with sleep deprivation. Study questions are: how does sleep deprivation affect a working age person’s life and what kind of experiences do people have about cognitive-behavioural therapy as a treatment to sleep disorders. Theoretical perspective is based on clinical nursing science theories and the humanist view of man, which sees human as an entity. The methodology used is phenomenological approach and data analysis is conducted by using Ricœur’s hermeneutic phenomenological interpretation method. The empirical part is divided into two different sections. The material of the study consists of interviews and surveys done by people who have experienced sleep deprivation or sleep disorders. Two interviewees talked about their lives with sleep disorders and there are 21 surveys conducted on people’s experiences on cognitive-behavioural therapy. The partakers in the two sections are different people. The results show that people with sleep disorders can end up in a vicious circle of sleep deprivation and in worst cases a sleep disorder can take charge of a person’s whole life. Sleep disorder can cause shame and fear of stigma. Nevertheless, someone suffering from a sleep disorder can find strength and solutions to control the difficult situation. This study proves that both nursing staff and other people have little information about difficulties in sleeping and awareness should be improved in clinical nursing. A health-care provider has an essential role in preventing someone ending up in a vicious circle of sleep deprivation and cognitive-behavioural therapy can contribute to good health. Reflection at the end of cognitive-behavioural sleep therapy course helps patients to continue their learning process. When someone is sleep deprived, it means that they have control over the situation, but when someone has a sleep disorder, that person does not have the strength to control the situation.

Competitividade e restrição externa na Zona do Euro

The recent debt crisis in Greece, Ireland and Portugal has exposed the fragility existing in the Eurozone for promoting development and economic convergence between the countries that have adopted the currency. Way beyond the fear of insolvency, what is observed is a growing disparity of the most-developed countries in comparison to the less-developed ones, with perverse consequences for the last ones. Once the nominal exchange rates are fixed, the divergent movements in relative prices and wages between the countries have led to totally distinct paths for the real exchange rates. Worsening the scenario, one can observe the incompleteness of the political union, the monetarist focus of the ECB and the lack of labor mobility between the countries, what distances from the argument stated by the theory and puts in jeopardize the future of the Monetary Union.