Your Attitude Controls Everything Your Life Essay - 995 Words

Your Attitude Controls Everything In Your Life By Zac Sky | Submitted On July 03, 2012 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook 3 Share this article on Twitter 1 Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon 1 Share this article on Delicious 2 Share this article on Digg 2 Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Zac Sky He has the energy of 20 year old and the looks of a 40 year old, but is actually 60. Everywhere he goes people are won over with his down-to-earth charm, no-fuss style, and the sheer exuberance with which he tackles life. Everyone likes him. No, everyone loves him. In his earlier years he surfed and rode motocross bikes for a living before transitioning into a business career where he quickly established himself as a leader - running his own software company and eventually becoming CIO for a local mining company. His personal life has the same successful theme - happily married for nearly 30 years with two adult children who, from all accounts, are top of their class both mentally and physically. It s fair to say that this man has had a very successful life. It s a life that many people dream of, and strive for, and he has a pretty simple motto which has underpinned everything he has ever done: Attitude is everything. Attitude is Everything This form of thinking says that our attitude is a critical component of our lives -Show MoreRelated7 Steps Towards A Positive State Of Mind Essay1223 Words   |  5 Pagesand negative thinking is pessimism. It is an attitude towards life, yourself and particular predicaments and events in life. Positive thinkers quickly zone in on the positive side of even the darkest moments in their lives, and often see those predicaments as opportunities for growth and learning. Positive thinkers are resilient and able to deal with stressful situations in productive ways. 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Why?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Physical Appearance      Brave and loyal to kingRead MoreGatsby Wealth Analysis906 Words   |  4 Pageswhat he really wants and that is Daisy. When you have a lot of money like Gatsby it is hard to live your life in peace, everyone wants to know what youre doing, where you are, and they criticize people with money a lot more than people with none. If you make your money how the â€Å"Bootlegger† Jay Gatz did some people get suspicious and if they dont like you certain people are gonna try to come after your wealth, like how Tom started to question Gatsby when Tom knew he was seeing Daisy. This shows thatRead MoreExercising The Exercise Of Exercise927 Words   |  4 Pagesit is much more than just working muscles in your body. Exercising is not only working on the outside but also on the inside. Exercising pushes you to do things that normal you wouldn’t want to do or think that you could do. 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United States Federal Bureau Of Investigation Defines...

Terrorism has been creating havoc across the globe for the entirety of recorded history. Today, with the invention of the Internet and different computer programs, these radical groups that enact these deadly attacks are able to change the way they operate through the use of technological advances to further their onslaught on humanity. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation defines terrorism as â€Å"the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.† (International vs. Domestic Terrorism). Every person on the planet can be affected by terrorism, regardless of religion, gender, or race. Throughout history radical groups who become obsessed with their own opinions and beliefs try to force others to believe in their views through displays of violence and terror. Contrary to modern beliefs that terrorists are only r adical Islam groups like Al Qaeda and Isis, but in reality almost every group of people from Christians to even environmentalists have enacted radical terrorist attacks. Terrorism, like technology, is not exclusive to industrialized nations or countries but is available to anyone with the right resources. These technologies are used throughout the world to connect average people to others and is almost always used for good. Terrorist organizations take advantage of new found communicationsShow MoreRelatedDifficulties Of Defining Terrorism And Terrorism807 Words   |  4 PagesDefining Terrorism Marissa P Rice Strayer University Abstract The purpose of this paper is to discuss the difficulties defining terrorism. I will focus on four government agencies definitions of terrorism. I will then choose two to compare and contrast. Then I will choose one definition of the four agencies that I believe most accurately defines terrorism. Difficulties of Defining Terrorism The definition of terrorism may give an enormous impetus in the way of combating terrorism. ThereRead MoreThe Difference between Terrorism and Domestic Terrorism Essay1104 Words   |  5 Pagesterms terrorism and domestic terrorism are very similar concepts. There are, however, slight differences in each. Entities that are apart of the Government have slightly different ways of explaining what they believe to be the correct definition of terrorism and domestic terrorism. In this paper the author will offer definitions of the two terms and state which one they agree with the most. The author will also state how the two terms are best differentiated. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)Read MoreHow The United States Should Combat Such A Horrific Form Of Warfare And Political Change1398 Words   |  6 Pages Much has been made of terrorism and political crime lately. 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The intelligence communities have pursued and tracked down terrorist suspects who pose a direct threat to this country, yet one of the greatest threat to this country is the astronomical number of mass shootings and hate crimes that have occurred in this country post 9/11. The UnitedRead MoreTerrorism Training : White, Department Of Criminal Justice, Faulkner State Community College2855 Words   |  12 PagesTerrorism Training Bronze R. Green Faulkner State Community College Authors Note Bronze R. Green, Department of Criminal Justice, Faulkner State Community College. Bronze R. Green is still at Department of Criminal Justice, Faulkner State Community College. Correspondence concerning this article should e addressed to Bronze R. Green, Department of Criminal Justice, Faulkner State Community College, Bay Minette, AL 36507. Contact: bronze.green@yahoo.com â€Æ' Abstract This paper explores various publishedRead MoreRoles Of Law Enforcement And Intelligence1503 Words   |  7 PagesRoles of Law Enforcement and Intelligence in Counter-Terrorism After 9/11 September 11, 2001 marks one of the darkest, if not the darkest, days in United States history. It is a day in the history of our country in which everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news that two planes had flown into the World Trade Center in New York City, taking out both of the Twin Towers. All in all there were close to 3,000 people who lost their lives on that fateful day betweenRead MoreThe Bombing Of The United States Essay843 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), this is a case of domestic terrorism and defines it as â€Å"the unlawful use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the United States or Puerto Rico without foreign direction committed against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social objectives† (Domestic Terrori sm). The definitionRead MoreTerrorist Essay1588 Words   |  7 Pagesproblem unique to the United States. Our constitutional commitment to political and religious freedom has not protected us from recurring official abuses. With confounding regularity, our government has, in the name of protecting national security, subverted the very rights and liberties which make the defense of the Nation worthwhile. The Federal Bureau of Investigation premier law enforcement agency has played the central role in fighting terrorism at home. In recent years, the Bureau has penetrated andRead MoreI Would Like To Identify And Describe The Major Functions1667 Words   |  7 PagesJustice. I would like to start with the Bureau of Corrections. I chose this one first, because I work for the Department of Corrections. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) or BOP is a United States federal law enforcement agency. A sector of the U.S. Department of Justice, the BOP is responsible for the administration o f the federal prison system such as white collar crimes, bank robberies, fraudulent check writing basically any crime associated with breaking federal law. The system handles inmates whoRead MoreDirector Of Fice Of Homeland Security Essay1497 Words   |  6 Pagesin our state? No many of you have said, so the next question is what the City of Painesville is doing to prevent this from happening in Painesville. I have been asked to prepare an informative report to address the safety of our city. Here I have included information that will assist all department in ensure that the safety of our citizens, city are meet. As Director of Homeland Security my function is to pull together, evaluate, preserve and circulate data that will support local, state and federal

Non Political Revolutions free essay sample

What is a revolution? A revolution is a call for change. Not all revolutions have been about government, meaning that they were not about going to war to change a government. Some revolutions were for economic, intellectual and social changes. Two of these revolutions were the Industrial Revolution and The Commercial Revolution. Both of these revolutions have brought many changes to their societies. The industrial Revolution began in Britain in the late 1700s. Before the industrial revolution people worked from home using hand tools or basic machines. Industrialization introduced special purpose machinery, factories and mass production. These machines would make it possible for products to be done faster and in greater amounts. These factories were built in cities. The people that liven in the country side saw a better way of living in the cities after the industrial revolution, this led to urbanization. This revolution raised the standard of living for many people, mostly for the middle and upper classes. We will write a custom essay sample on Non Political Revolutions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, life for the poor and working classes was still very challenging. Most of the time wages for the people that worked were low and the working conditions were poor. Industrialization also took away jobs for some people. Some craftspeople were replaces by machines. Because of so many people arriving from the country side urban and industrialized areas became overcrowded and polluted making diseases way easier to spread and catch. The Commercial Revolution was a period of European economic expansion, colonialism and mercantilism which lasted from the 16th century until the early 18th century. The Commercial Revolution increased trade and price inflation which led to the creation of new working class. The commercial Revolution also led to what is called the Colombian exchange, in which animals, plants an diseases were transported between the old world to the new world. The Commercial revolution led to the discovery of the new world which had many exotic products that the Europeans wanted like gold and silver. The excessive trade of gold and silver caused economic growth in Europe and that’s when banks and credit facilities were built. The commercial revolution also had negative impacts such as price inflations which was bad for poor people because even though they were the one that worked the most in farming and everything else they were still not able to afford the high prices on products. This created a bigger gap between the rich and poor people. Non political revolutions, just like political revolutions have had many impacts on their society. Both the commercial revolution and the industrial revolution gave their societies a better way of living and new chances to develop new ways to make money. Most of these improvements and developments are still used in the modern world such as trades and factories.

Systematic and Unsystematic Risk Determinants †MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Systematic and Unsystematic Risk Determinants. Answer: Introduction This is a study which will analyse the impact of the global economic crisis on the banks in United Arab Emirates. The study will aim to highlight the profitability of the banks after the global economic crisis. The four banks that are taken in to account belong to two categories, Islamic and conventional banks. The banks that will be analysed to identify the profitability are Dubai Islamic Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and National Bank of Abu Dhabi. Dubai Islamic Bank was the bank who implemented the principles of Islam in the all the practices of the organization. It is one of the largest Islamic bank in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai Islamic Bank ,2017). The organization being a public joint stock company is listed in the Dubai Financial Market. The organization is involved in both international and local partnerships and has a network of 200 branches in Pakistan. The banking license of the organization was received from the Central Bank of Jordon to work as a financial institution of Islamic nature. Sharjah Islamic Bank is also bank which has implemented the Islamic principles in the banking system of their organization (Sharjah Islamic Bank, 2017). The headquarter of the bank is in Emirates and has been converted in to an Islamic bank in the year of 2004. On the contrary, the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank has been established as a public shareholding listing organization and had limited liability. However, the government of Abu Dhabi holds 65% of the shares of the company (ADCB, 2017). The rest of the funds of the organization is held by individuals and financial institutions. The bank is a joint company which provides services in the field of commercial, retail, merchant, investment, fund management and brokerage. National Bank of Abu Dhabi is one of the largest lender bank in the United Arab Emirates and the market capitalization of the bank is one of the largest. The headquarters of the bank is in Abu Dhabi and is situated in the ma in financial district in Abu Dhabi. There is diversity in the portfolio of the bank and provides services such as corporate, retail, investment and wholesale banking facilities. The other services provided by the bank includes wealth management, brokerage, Islamic Banking, leasing and property management (NBAD UAE, 2017). The study will evaluate the ROE of the banks, ROA of the bank, Equity multiplier and asset utilization ratio. The comparative study will facilitate in understanding the profitability of each of the banks and the causes behind it. Statement of the problem The global economic crisis had profound impact on all the banks all around the world. However, the impact of the global economic crisis was different in Islamic banks and conventional banks. The principles these banks follow is different so the impact of the global economy will be different on both type of the banks. The study will analyse the profitability of each of the banks by analysing their return on investment, return on asset and equity multiplier ratio. These values will highlight the impact of the global economic crisis on each of the banks and how they have coped up with it. What is the impact of global economic crisis on the Islamic banks? What is the impact of global economic crisis on the conventional banks? What is the significance of the global economic crisis on the profitability of the Islamic banks? What is the significance of the global economic crisis on the profitability of the conventional banks? The study aims to identify the impact of the global economic crisis on the banks in United Arab Emirates. The study has chosen two conventional banks and two Islamic banks which will be analysed based on their return on investment, return on asset and the equity multiplier. The findings form the study will be able to validate the existing theories of literature and will provide a better understanding of the topic. H0 The global economic crisis has impacted the profitability of the banks in United Arab Emirates H1 The global economic crisis has not impacted the profitability of the banks United Arab Emirates The literature review is divide in to two parts one is the theoretical literature and the other is the empirical literature. The theoretical literature review will illustrate the various theories from different researchers and the empirical literature review will consist of the calculated data of all the banks that have been taken in to account. Islamic banks have similar roles when compared to the Conventional banks. The Islamic Banks are the main sponsors to production of information and therefore supports in addressing the problem of asymmetric information. They also facilitate in the reduction of the transaction costs and assists in diversification for investors and small savers. During conducting the organizational business, Islamic Banks mitigate risks which arise from the operational, liquidity and asymmetric information problem. The fundamental difference between Islamic and Conventional Banks is that Islamic banks operate in harmony with the guidelines of Shariah which is the Islamic legal code (Waemustafa Sukri, 2015). The intermediation of the conventional banks is mainly based on debt and allows the transfer of risk while the intermediation of Islamic banks have a contrasting character and is based on assets which focuses of sharing of risk. Risk transfer and Risk sharing Conventional Banks Risk Transfer Islamic Banks Risk Sharing The risk is transferred by the depositors to the banks so that they can ensure that their return is pre-specified. The Islamic bank share the return and the risk with the investors (profit sharing investment account (PSIA) holders) and there is no pre-specified return in this context and the return will depend on the performance of the bank. The interest rate is independent of the return and borrowers will have to pay it irrespective of the return. The risks are being transferred through credit default swaps and securitization. The financing of the organizations is based on debt. The risk is shared in Musharakah and Mudharabah contracts in Islamic banks. Moreover, the sales contracts are conducted in most of the contracts. The level of risk sharing is different in the Islamic banks and according to the standards step by the Islamic principles, the policies are similar to the conventional banking system. However, there is a basic difference in the Islamic banking system that it does not allow making investment in the instruments which are having adverse effect on the conventional competitors which was the cause of the global economic crisis. However, the economic crisis had impacted the both conventional banks and the Islamic banks but the impact will have to be assessed based on certain criteria (Bourkhis Nabi, 2013). The indicators which can be used to identify the impact are bank lending, profitability, bank rating and bank asset. Various studies suggest that the analysis of the profitability of the Islamic banks are much better condition than the conventional banks. Beck, Demirg-Kunt Merrouche, (2013) states the impact of the crisis on the Islamic banks are worse than in other countries. However, in some countries the losses faced by the Islamic banks are more than in United Arab Emirates. The risk-taking factor for the Islamic banks were more so it was expected that the losses incurred will be more but the scenario was opposite. The ratio of the non-performing assets was higher among the Islamic banks than the conventional banks in the country. The credit growth in the economy suggest that the credit growth was more for the Islamic banks than the conventional banks. Thus, the Islamic banks were able to provide stability to the market due to the growth in credit. The asset growth also shows a similar scenario where the asset of the Islamic banks was expected to grow more than the conventional banks. However, there was different situation in different countries and so there is no uniformity in the opinion among the various researchers (Waemustafa Sukri, 2016). Comparative analysis of performance between conventional bank and Islamic banks was completed amid the economic crisis for the State of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. This examination utilized six proportion investigations what's more, found that Islamic managing an account endured more amid the money related emergency worldwide as far as capital proportions, use and profit for normal value while regular banks endured more as far as return by and large resources and liquidity. The examination by Hesse Poghosyan, (2016), studied the impacts of the worldwide budgetary emergency in 2008 and 2009 against Islamic and ordinary saving money in a few nations including Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Turkey. Consequences of the investigation demonstrated that Islamic banks were influenced in an unexpected way than ordinary banks within the worldwide monetary emergency. The gainfulness factor had helped Islamic saving mone y by lessening the unfavourable impacts of the worldwide monetary emergency. Liquidity is a vital factor in guaranteeing stability in a banking organization. It assumes a critical part in liquidity hazard in existing monetary emergency. The investigation by (), who made examination amongst Islamic and regular keeping money amid the worldwide budgetary emergency in 2007-2008 in Malaysia took into account three markers; productivity, liquidity and credit chance of saving money organizations (Ajmi et al., 2014). The example was taken from 2006 to 2010 and was categorized into some time recently, amid also, after the monetary emergency. The discoveries uncovered that Islamic saving money was less presented to liquidity hazard when contrasted with regular saving money amid the money related emergency. A study was likewise directed in Turkey to survey the security of Islamic and regular saving money area in the worldwide money related emergency from 2006 to 2011. The study utilized yearly examination slant towards productivity, liquidity, hazard and proportion of a dvantage amount of traditional and Islamic saving money. The outcomes demonstrated that Islamic keeping money was more steady than ordinary banks as far as gainfulness, capital ampleness and liquidity for the period under audit, counting amid the 2008 worldwide money related emergency (Rosman, Wahab Zainol, 2014). As stated by (Kapan Minoiu, 2013), due to the recent global financial crisis the traditional banks got affected in a bad way all across the world. Even though the Islamic banks also got influenced by this global financial crisis, but their performance at the time of this crises was recorded better the traditional banks. On further research it was found that the Islamic banks had to suffer in the areas of capital ratio, leverage and return on equity irrespective of their good performance during 2006-2009 in comparison with the conventional banks. As per the Report of World Bank (Ashfaq, 2016), the comparison carried out between the performances of the traditional banks and the Islamic ones at the time of the financial crisis showed that even though both the forms of banks were influenced by the crisis, the Islamic banks came out superior in terms of credit risk and liquidity reserves. Therefore, it can be easily said the Islamic banks performed better than the convention ones in the financial crisis. A Dubai based mortgage provider, AMLAK, faced financial lie-down and their Kuwait institute defaulted, in turn failing to issue their SUKUK. However, Islamic finance continued in a relatively positive and sturdy manner, irrespective of the instability and the misery of the overriding financial crisis. Generally, the admission of the financial crisis in the Islamic capital market was not to happen because of a lot of reasons that included: the Shariah not allowing the sale of debt against debt, and it is not possible for someone to be selling the resources till the time the person is possessing the actual resources and it is prohibited by Islam that risky and speculative transactions are carried out. Additionally, in Islamic finance, lending is founded on capital backing and the generally mortgage loans are presented in exchange of solid assets. In comparison, in traditional baking the main agenda of present crises is simply due to huge amounts of loans being granted by them minus any kind of collaterals. Inside the Islamic regulatory control system, the investors are all conscious of both the risks and returns. As mentioned by Saif-Alyousfi, Saha Md-Rus, (2017), the result of the execution of profit and loss sharing transactions is complete disclosure and clarity. Due to that there is better comprehension experienced in market discipline, and because of that there is appearance of judicious control over needless lending, which in turn improved the Islamic financial system. The global financial crisis played a huge role in pushing the developed countries into developing a fresh financial system that would be having eth capability of tackling the crisis issue. The crisis made the developed nations lower their bank rates and that introduced a new financial system that is completely founded on the Islamic principles of interest free financial system. The capitalist system that failed after this financial crisis, was looking for a system that would be solving the speculation issues and financial crisis inside the Islamic financial system as an alternative (Mohamed, 2016). The capitalist system was extremely affected by the harshness shown by the financial crisis, but still managed identifying the failure of risk alleviations at different levels as the cause of the crisis. The capitalist economy was looking for a system that is completely risk free. Irrespective of different crisis and challenges, steady growth is seen in Islamic financial institutions. Countries such as Bahrain, UAE and Malaysia are the hubs for Islamic finance that are working towards the development of Islamic finances. The leading financial centers of the world like Hong Kong, New York and Singapore make use of Islamic finance simultaneously with traditional banking for the improvement in risk and liquidity management. SUKUK bonds are key instances of Islamic finance growth (Gopalakrishnan Mohapatra, 2017). As per Kapan Minoiu, (2013), analyzing the competitive situation and traditional Islamic financial system found that the Islamic banks are found to be less competitive in comparison with the traditional banking system. Due to high capitalization, the Islamic banks face less financial risk. They kept on showing more durability and flexibility in the face of the global financial crisis of 2007. Even the western banks profited from the Islamic banks in the aftermath of the global crisis in the battle of tackling the crisis for the restoration of their financial stability. Findings have suggested the Islamic banks being more capable of controlling risk in comparison to traditional banks, with the help of better capital ratio, principles free of Gharar and interest. Their finance is based on moral and ethical principles, even proper checking and balance, working in the interest of everyone. Dubai Islamic Bank Equity Multiplier (EM)= Total Assets/ Total Equity 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 National Bank of Abu Dhabi Return on Equity (ROE)= Net Income/ Total Equity 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 164.26 146.26 -5.74 1.97 14.53 10.77 13.89 15.27 17.39 13.58 13.26 Return on Assets (ROA)= Net Income/ Total Assets 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.03 Equity Multiplier (EM)= Total Assets/ Total Equity 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 7 7 7 8 8 7 8 8 8 9 9 24,177 26,408 28,728 30,351 31,801 24,270 24,177 26,408 28,728 30,351 31,801 Sharjah Islamic Bank Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Return on Equity (ROE)= Net Income/ Total Equity 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 18.26 22.33 23.19 22.14 19.4 15.56 9.91 8.44 -8.8 2.79 2.79 Return on Assets (ROA)= Net Income/ Total Assets 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 1.19 1.4 1.43 1.33 1.17 1.02 0.68 0.56 -0.55 0.16 0.16 Results and analysis The result of the study suggests that the existing theories have been validated which shows that the return on equity and the return on asset for the Islamic banks are unchanged which means that the global economic crisis was unable to pout significant impact on the performance of the Islamic banks. However, this is not the case for the commercial banks which suggest that there is fluctuation in the return on investment and the return on asset which shows that the commercial banks have been significantly impacted by global economic crisis. Moreover, the equity multiplier for the commercial banks are high which suggest that the banks are relying more on debts for financing purposes which increases the chances of failure risk for them. Conclusion Thus, it can be concluded from the analysis of the study that the impact of the global economic crisis of the conventional banks have been huge and their return on investment have been hampered significantly. However, the data suggest that there has been negligible impact of the global economic crisis on the Islamic banks. Moreover, they have been able to provide stability to the macro economic environment of the country. Thus, from the data it is suggested that the conventional banks should rely less on debt for financing purposes. Moreover, the result suggest that the Islamic banks are more profitable than the conventional banks. The return on investment of the Islamic banks are stable and while there is lot of fluctuation in the ratios in both the commercial banks. However, the bank that has been mostly impacted is the National Bank of Abu Dhabi whose performance has decreased significantly over the years. Moreover, the equity multiplier for the organization is too high which sugg est that there the organization highly dependent on debt for financing. References Ajmi, A. N., Hammoudeh, S., Nguyen, D. K., Sarafrazi, S. (2014). How strong are the causal relationships between Islamic stock markets and conventional financial systems? Evidence from linear and nonlinear tests.Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money,28, 213-227. Ashfaq, M. (2016). IMPACT OF GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISES ON GLOBAL FINANCIAL STABILITY AND NEED FOR AN ALTERNATIVE FINANCIAL SYSTEM.Business Excellence,10(2), 109. Beck, T., Demirg-Kunt, A., Merrouche, O. (2013). Islamic vs. conventional banking: Business model, efficiency and stability.Journal of Banking Finance,37(2), 433-447. Bourkhis, K., Nabi, M. S. (2013). Islamic and conventional banks' soundness during the 20072008 financial crisis.Review of Financial Economics,22(2), 68-77. Gopalakrishnan, B., Mohapatra, S. (2017).Turning Over a Golden Leaf? Global Liquidity and Emerging Market Central Banks Demand for Gold after the Financial Crisis(No. WP 2017-04-02). Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department. Hesse, H., Poghosyan, T. (2016). Oil prices and bank profitability: evidence from major oil-exporting countries in the Middle East and North Africa. InFinancial Deepening and Post-Crisis Development in Emerging Markets(pp. 247-270). Palgrave Macmillan US. Home | DUBAI ISLAMIC BANK. (2017). Dib.ae. Retrieved 6 November 2017, from https://www.dib.ae/ Kapan, M. T., Minoiu, C. (2013).Balance sheet strength and bank lending during the global financial crisis(No. 13-102). International Monetary Fund. Mohamed, W. M. H. (2016). Corporate Governance Practices of the Middle East Banking Sector: A Comparative Analysis between Islamic and Conventional Banks.Journal of Finance,4(1), 99-111. Personal Banking | NBAD UAE. (2017). Nbad.com. Retrieved 6 November 2017, from https://www.nbad.com/en-ae/personal-banking.html Personal, Online Business Banking Services UAE - ADCB. (2017). Adcb.com. Retrieved 6 November 2017, from https://www.adcb.com/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 Rosman, R., Wahab, N. A., Zainol, Z. (2014). Efficiency of Islamic banks during the financial crisis: An analysis of Middle Eastern and Asian countries.Pacific-Basin Finance Journal,28, 76-90. Saif-Alyousfi, A. Y., Saha, A., Md-Rus, R. (2017). Shareholders Value of Saudi Commercial Banks: A Comparative Evaluation between Islamic and Conventional Banks using CAMEL Parameters.International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues,7(1), 97-105. Sharjah Islamic Bank. (2017). Sib.ae. Retrieved 6 November 2017, from https://www.sib.ae/home Waemustafa, W., Sukri, S. (2015). Bank specific and macroeconomics dynamic determinants of credit risk in Islamic banks and conventional banks.International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues,5(2). Waemustafa, W., Sukri, S. (2016). Systematic and unsystematic risk determinants of liquidity risk between Islamic and conventional banks.

Assumptions in Quantitative Research Essay Example

Assumptions in Quantitative Research Paper Post-positivism allows researchers to examine realities through a variety of measurement tools; thus accessing realities which could elude measurement by direct observation (Giddings Grant, 2007; Schumacher Greener, 1992). Regardless of whether the researcher adopts a positivist or post-positivist philosophy, the description of the paradigms begin with assumptions about the researchers role and relationship to the setting, and by identifying the epistemological and validity assumptions underlying the choice of the role and relationship. The conviction that there is a reality existing outside of the researcher, hat this reality can be observed (ontology), and that knowledge of this reality can be measured objectively (epistemology) are foundational assumptions in quantitative research (Hathaway, 1995). Thus the objects of interest are measured by instruments (e. G. , telescope), the data is examined and analyzed to determine if logical patterns are present, and rational theories are constructed to explain and predict a variety of facts (Hathaway, 1995). Ontologically the researcher assumes that the external reality is comprised of facts that are law-like and provide structure or a theoretical framework to this reality. Physics provides an example of this approach. Methodological and Ontological  Assumptions We will write a custom essay sample on Assumptions in Quantitative Research specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Assumptions in Quantitative Research specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Assumptions in Quantitative Research specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Empirical-analytical inquiry is characterized by the researchers detached or objective view from the setting under study. This objectivity or detachment is, in part, due to the assumption that the object under study is separate from or independent of the researcher (Eisner, 1981; Smith, AAA; Smith, Bibb). In the empirical analytical view, researchers adhere to the mind-reality duality and the mind is seen as separate from reality (Hathaway, 1995). Another way of considering objectivity is that of being hurry neutral (Schumacher Greener, 1992). This is an extreme view and within the contemporary empirical analytical view, researchers would claim that most inquiry is theory laden (Smith, Bibb). However, with objectivity as the goal, the researcher strives to prevent biases throughout the research process and attempts to control the research design for validity, credibility, and reliability (Burns Grove, 1997). While it is impossible to achieve complete objectivity, cultivating an awareness of potential threats and taking measures to decrease threats whenever possible serves to strengthen the research project. It is important to underscore the intertwined nature of the assumption about objectivity and the assumption that a reality exists outside of the observer. The observer, or researcher, assumes that reality exists outside of the human experience (Carroty, 1998; Polite-OHara et al. , 1991). In other words, there are facts with an objective reality separate from the beliefs of the researcher therefore reality exists regardless of the researchers presence (Firestone, 1987). In a contemporary perspective, reality holds a mediated position between the objective and subjective worlds. Reality affects human beings and unman beings effect reality (Schumacher Greener, 1992). Thus unobservable realities exist and can be represented in theoretical concepts. This line of thinking extends teen assumption AT realty Deanna Tanat wanly can De crossover only Dye slung the senses. An example of an unobservable reality would be a belief that depression is a reality. Depression is not an object that we can observe. Rather we can observe phenomena such as actions, behaviors, and consequences that may be associated with depression. Given this phenomenon, theoretical Judgments are made about what constitutes a theoretical reality of depression. The theoretical construct enables the researcher to design a research project on the subject of depression. Linked to the assumption about reality is the assumption that reality consists of facts or truths that can be known (Hathaway, 1995) and these facts provide the researcher with a theoretical framework to help guide the inquiry (Firestone, 1987). The researcher aims to precisely and define categories based on these facts before the study begins and then determines the relationships between them (Firestone, 1987; Smith, Bibb). Hypotheses establishing a relationship between cause and effect are rived from these categories and only the data that is relevant to them are collected and tested. An extreme critique may be that reality is being actively structured by the researchers prosecuted categories and that this methodology is unduly controlled regarding what is relevant to the study. The assumption underlying this point is the deterministic or linear nature of hypothesis testing. Control is inherent in this method of inquiry which is another underlying assumption of quantitative research. Researchers using a more moderate approach within the post positivist paradigm recognize that research is a human endeavor. They derive their a priori categories from personal beliefs or experience, from theoretical formulation, or from their own or others interpretive research (Hathaway, 1995). Because reality is considered to be relatively stable and researchers are able to observe it, a further assumption is that of objective measurement (Polite-OHara et al. , 1991). The purpose of objective measurement is to gain an understanding about the reality of a phenomenon in an objective manner (Giddings Grant, 2007). Thus, in the act of documenting and measuring, the researcher, in the role of a detached onlooker, reserves objectivity (Hathaway, 1995). In other words, it is essential that the measurement tool(s) and process are objective to gain closer proximity to true knowledge of the phenomenon. Measurement is an important assumption in quantitative research and measurement tools, if properly designed and applied, can lead the researcher to greater understanding about the phenomenon. Measurement is the process of assigning numbers to the phenomenon using some type of rule (Burns Grove, 1997). Before assigning numbers there is an assumption that the measurement tool(s) will be accurate in measuring the phenomenon. For example, if a researcher wants to measure pain, a measurement tool such as a pain scale could be used. Alternatively, the researcher could choose to measure opinions about various pain treatments. In order to measure the opinions, the researcher would assign numbers to the most likely responses observed. In constructing the pain treatment opinion tool(s), it is essential that the measurement tool(s) have an appropriate correspondence to the reality of pain treatment opinions (Polite-OHara et al. , 1991). Thus to accurately measure a phenomenon, the measurement tool(s) must be based on a reality and be as objective as possible. The assumptions of reality, objectivity and measurement are interrelated and integral to the ontology and methodology AT quant I t tattle research. I nose assumptions are essential components in the design of quantitative research projects. An example is if the researcher seeks to understand philosophies of childhood, their assumptions about reality, objectivity, and measurement related to this philosophy are embedded in the designing the research project. There is an assumption that a reality about philosophies of childhood exist. Additionally, there are assumptions that philosophies of childhood can be measured and done so objectively. The researcher would consider how to objectively measure philosophies of childhood when developing the research design. If there were no existing tool(s) to measure the reality of philosophies of childhood, it would be necessary to develop a measurement tool(s) which could accurately measure the phenomenon. In developing the tool, the researcher would make objective theoretical Judgments about what variables (e. G. , psychological, biological, etc. ) would signify this phenomenon. In sum, assumptions that the reality (philosophies of childhood) exists, that such realities are measurable, and that the assortment and process of inquiry are as objective as possible are hallmarks in the quantitative approach to research. Epistemological Assumptions Knowledge within the empirical analytical paradigm has utility if it is generalized. The aim of inquiry is to generalize from the particular and apply a theoretical framework that can be applied universally (Hathaway, 1995). Therefore the aim of generalization is served by the development of universal knowledge. A broad example is research on the efficacy of pain medications. Control and experimental groups are observed to determine the effects of a specific drug. If there is justification to believe it alleviates pain the medication is made available for treating the population at large through a regulated process. Knowledge is also defined by what researchers call data and the selection of meaning. The researcher conducting empirical analytical inquiry makes decisions that will reveal what is generally applicable to all similar situations (Firestone, 1987; Smith, AAA; Smith, Bibb). Taking a critical stance, Habeas (1971) claimed that such inquiry implies a dissociation of knowledge from human interest (Habeas, 2005) and questions the it with individual contexts, values, and preferences. Caution must be taken when considering that the context of discovery may be quite different than the context of practice. Separating the universal from the particular is accomplished through several processes (e. G. , instrumentation and precision) and methodological assumptions (e. G. , measurement techniques) (Hathaway, 1995). The researcher, independent of specific situations under study, determines a set of hypothesized categories based on a priori knowledge and conducts a controlled inquiry to give meaning to phenomena that have significance at a generalized level. Data are considered factual or context-free when they have the same meaning across situations and settings (Hathaway, 1995). Conclusion The decisions researchers make concerning research methods have a direct impact on how they make meaning of their world. By adopting quantitative research, reality is structured and understood in a particular way. In some ways, the choice of quantitative approaches creates the reality we are attempting to discover. By making a choice to conduct quantitative inquiry, we choose our paradigm or assumptions auto teen world (Leaner, BIBB; Hathaway, 1 Assumptions Tanat a realty exalts operate from the researcher, that such realities are measurable, and that the measurement and process of inquiry are as objective as possible are hallmarks of quantitative research. References Lender, J. S. (1986). Educational research: A personal and social process.

The Right Personal Essay Examples Will Help You

The Right Personal Essay Examples Will Help YouMany of the professors who give essays in the Junior Cert are always searching for personal essay samples in the students. This is because every student has unique characteristics that should be considered in a written report. There are numerous assignments that are given for a Junior Cert and it is up to the students to pick the best one for them. There are many people who have successfully completed their Junior Certs and started a career in different fields.It is very important for the students to make the best out of their potential because the notes they have made can be used as personal essays when they get into higher courses. The essay samples that are given to the students will be able to guide them in all aspects of writing a final document. Senior cert students always need to know their limits and stick to them because they cannot be reckless in everything they do. The ideas that you are trying to convey through your writing n eeds to be original and not plagiarized.There are so many different forms of personal essay samples that you can choose from but you should choose the one that best suits your personality. There are several important considerations that you need to take before choosing a sample. You must not choose a sample, just because it is in the form of a library book or article. There are many examples of such writing that you can find from the Internet and use for free.A computer is also a basic requirement and you must also take proper care of your papers so that they do not look terrible. Any mistake in grammar or syntax will automatically make the writing look bad. There are so many plagiarism detectors that you can use on the Internet and they are available for free. This helps in ensuring that no plagiarism has been committed by you.To write a Junior Cert report it is important that you spend time in selecting the right writing style for the assignment. If you were forced to write a docu ment after a deadline, you should ensure that you do it in a good manner. This is because there are a lot of seniors at your institution and you want to appear as good as possible. Writing in a dull and boring way will bring a bad impression to your peers and teachers.You can always use the personal essay samples for reference in your own college papers. It is important to have multiple examples of different styles in order to ensure that you create a topic that appeals to everyone. For example, if you wrote about a great financial crisis that occurred in the US, you might need to look at another paper that is similar to that.The most important aspect that you must remember is that Junior Certs is often competitive. The students who write a better and unique report are usually the ones who get extra marks and get ready for their exams.

4 Reasons to Major in a Foreign Language (and 3 Not To)

4 Reasons to Major in a Foreign Language (and 3 Not To) SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Gaikokugo ga suki desu ka?That’s Japanese for â€Å"Do you like foreign languages?† If your answer is a resounding yes, then a foreign language major might be for you. In 2013, I graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree in Japanese. Though I sometimes doubted whether I should major in Japanese, I ultimately knew it was the right choice because being able to understand and use Japanese was a skill I wanted to have for the rest of my life. Moreover, I didn't just enjoy learning Japanese but also loved getting to know Japanese culture. These are the reasons I chose to major in Japanese. That said,a language major isn’t for everyone. So should you major in a foreign language? What are the reasons you should? And what are the reasons you shouldn't? In this guide, I give you four reasons to major in a foreign language and three reasons not to. I also go over what questions to ask yourself before deciding whether to pursue a language major. But first, what exactly is a foreign language major? What Is a Foreign Language Major? Before I go into the reasons you should and should not major in a foreign language, let me explain what I mean by majoring in a foreign language. Many US colleges offer undergraduatemajors that focus on a specific language and the main region/culture it's spoken in. In other words, you’re not simply majoring in a language but rather a language and where it’s most commonly used. So if your major is French, you’ll likely learn about France. Similarly, If you’re studying Mandarin Chinese, you’ll likely learn about Chinese culture. Colleges offering foreign language majors typically house them inhumanities departments or at colleges of letters, arts, and sciences (or something equivalent). Although most foreign language majors combine language and cultural studies, many are named after the language only. For example, if you’re studying Spanish (in addition to Latin American or Spanish culture), your major is most likely called Spanish instead of something like Spanish culture or Spanish language and culture. However, some schools use slightly broader names for their foreign language majors.My alma mater, USC, for example, offers an East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) major, which lets you study Japanese, Chinese, or Korean (as well as the language's respective area). As a result, students mainly studying Japanese might say they’re majoring in Japanese when in actuality they’re majoring in EALC with an emphasis in Japanese (as in my case). Some schools also offer foreign language majors that let youstudy more than one language at a time.One example is the University of Michigan's Romance Languages and Literatures major. For this program, students can study two Romance languages (out of Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and French) at the same time. Finally, some majors have college language requirements but are not specifically focused on the language (or area) itself.Examples include comparative literature majors and linguistics majors. For the former, you must typically learn at least one foreign language so that you can compare texts in their original languages. For the latter, you must know a foreign language so that you can effectively analyze its linguistic properties. Though these two majors clearly involve language study, they're not the same as language majors in that they don't focus on area/cultural studiesas well. Overall, it’s arguably more accurate to call language majors "foreign culture majors" or "foreign language and culture majors," since these majors almost always combine the study of language and culture. Learning culture is just as important as learning language. My Story: I Majored in Japanese Now that you understand what a foreign language major is, let’s get down to business: who am I, and why am I writing this article? As I briefly mentioned at the beginning, I majored in a foreign language (and in English- what can I say? I love languages!). My language of choice was Japanese. Why did I choose this language? Well, I’d been studying it since junior high school, absolutely loved learning it (even though it was really, really hard at times- and still is), and envisioned myself eventually using Japanese in my career. Because I knew I wanted to major in Japanese before I even started college, I looked specifically for colleges that offered a major in Japanese. Eventually, I enrolled at USC where I declared a major in East Asian Languages and Cultures with an emphasis in Japanese. For this major, I had to take mostly Japanese-language classes as well as classes on topics relating to Japanese and East Asian studies, such as literature, art, and history. Since graduating from USC, I’ve worked as an English teacher for the JET Program (a government-sponsored program that pays you to teach English in Japan) and am now enrolled in a Japanese Studies Master of Arts program at the University of Michigan. Here are the primary reasons you can trust my advice in this article: I have firsthand experience with learning and majoring in a language:I know what kinds of classes you’ll likely need to take and understand how tough it can be to keep up your language skills (especially over those long summer breaks!). I have worked in a job that uses my target language: Obviously, what kinds of job options you'll have after majoring in a foreign language will depend on several factors, but know that I, too, have gone through the process and will try my best to lend you a (relevant) hand. I majored in what I loved: Ultimately, I chose to major in Japanese because it was something I found interesting, useful for my career goals, and downright fun. Now that we've covered all the basics, let’s take a look at the main reasons you should (and should not) major in a foreign language. 4 Reasons to Major in a Foreign Language We’ll start with the positive points. What are the benefits of majoring in a foreign language, and what are the main reasons you should consider doing it? #1: You’re Passionate About the Language and Want to Use It in Your Career This is rule #1 in my book. You should only be majoring in a foreign language if you’re absolutely passionate about it. The reason passion is so important is that learning a foreign language is really hard work and takes years of practice to become fluent. Majoring in a language is also a smart idea if you plan to use the language in your career.If you want to be a translator/interpreter, for instance, majoring in the language you want to translate is a 100% practical decision and will give you the background necessary for doing well in your job. But a foreign language major won't make you a lot of money, right? Not necessarily. Although liberal arts degrees have a reportedly harder time landing well-paying jobs, recent reports show that many liberal arts majors earn about as much as, if not more than, STEM majors do. #2: You’ll Learn a Practical and Lifelong Skill Although many people don’t think a foreign language major is practical, knowing another language is an excellent lifelong skill to have and can come in handy in a variety of situations, particularly if you want to travel abroad or work in a global industry. You've probably heard thatthere are tons of mental benefits of being bilingual, such as improved memory and better multi-tasking skills. But there are also broader benefitsof knowing a foreign language that apply to your career and lifestyle. Here's whatan article posted on Trinity Washington University’s websitehas to say about knowing multiple languages: "The ability to communicate in multiple languages is becoming more and more important in the increasingly integrated global business community.*Communicating directly with new clients and companies in their native language is one of the first steps to founding a lasting, stable international business relationship." *Emphasis mine Clearly, majoring in a foreign language not only teaches you how to speak a language but also how to communicate effectively with people (and potentially business partners!) from different cultures and language backgrounds. This is an excellent attribute to have in the workplace and might even result in higher pay in the long run. It’s also a great skill to have when applying for jobs since your ability to speak another language will help you stand out from other applicants. An article on Penn State's websiteagrees, claiming that multilingualism increases your desirability in the job market: "In our globalized world, it has become even more essential in the job market to know another language. Companies and businesses have a natural desire to expand their existing networks. Having fluency in another language gives an edge on any resume by showing employers potential to converse with an entirely different group of people."* *Emphasis mine As you can see, there are some great occupational benefits to majoring in a foreign language and being familiar with another culture! #3: You Want to Work in a Foreign Country If one of your goals is to work and live in another country- in particular, an area where your target language is spoken- a major in that language is a logical choice. Such a major proves that you are familiar with both the language and culture. For some jobs based in your target country, knowing the local language might be expected. Even if it’s not required, though, your knowing the local language couldgive a boost to your resume,as it implies you’ll require less help adjusting to your new environment. #4: You Like the Idea of Double Majoring Majoring in a foreign language can be useful for your career goals if you plan to double major. This way, you’ll have a different skill or field you can apply your language knowledge to. You’ll be most appealing as a job candidate if you pair a foreign language major with a major in an entirely different field,such as business, international relations, political science, economics, STEM, or education. This kind of double major will give you a vast range of skills you can apply to a variety of careers and fields, from business to PR to teaching. Hoping to earn a lot of money? Then pair your language major with a STEM major. According to a report by The Conversation, this combination offers the biggest potential for high earnings. (Note, however, that a dual STEM degree typically brings in the most cash.) There are even programs that encourage students to double major in STEM and a foreign language. If you’re like me and can’t get enough of the humanities, it's OK to double major in a language and another liberal arts major. Just know thatyour potential for high wages will be lower than if you combined your language major with a major in a technical- or business-oriented field. This doesn’t mean that you will for sure earn a small salary- just that your job options might be more limited. 3 Reasons Not to Major in a Foreign Language Now that we’ve gone over the good side, it's time to head on over to the dark side. What are some reasons you shouldn’t major in a foreign language? I introduce my top three below. #1: You’re Not Passionate About the Language You’re Learning This is a pretty obvious reason, but if you're not passionate about the language you’re learning and don’t intend to use it after college, don’t major in it. Learning a language is tough- sometimes it feels impossible. So if you’re majoring in one, you need to have the patience and diligence to study it for the long term. A language major means you'll be learning the language the rest of your life. This is what you must doto keep up your communicative skills and be able to use the language consistently in both your career and social life.If you’re not ready for this lifelong process or aren’t sure whether this is something you can commit to, don’t major in a foreign language. Don't know what you want? Take a class or two in your desired language of study and then decide whether this is something you can see yourself studying (and enjoying!) for a long, long time. If you enjoy learning a foreign language but are more interested in other fields, consider minoring in the language. This way, you’ll still be able to use the language fairly effectively but more so as a supplementary skill- meaning that it won’t be the main skill set you graduate with but will still be an important one. #2: You're Expecting to Be Fluent by the Time You Graduate Unfortunately, even if you study a foreign language for four years straight in college, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll graduate with full fluency in it. The reality is that many foreign language majors won't actually attain fluency by the end of college. It’s not that these students are bad at the language or that their schools are bad at teaching it- it’s simply that students typically need more time and language practice than what college offers. So if you're not ready to dedicate your personal life as well as your academic life to this language, it's probably not in your best interest to major in it. While it's possible to attainsome level of fluency by the time you graduate, what skill level you're at will ultimately depend on many factors, including how well you did in your language classes, whether you studied abroad (trust me, it helps!), and how often you used (and continue to use) the language outside of class. Part of fluency also depends on the language you're studying and what your native tongue is.Data released by the Foreign Service Institute of the US Department of Stateshows thatit takes native English speakersfar less time to reach proficiency in Spanish, French, or Italian than it does to reach proficiency in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, or Arabic. In my case, I spent the equivalent of four years studying Japanese in college. I even studied abroad in Tokyo for a semester. But would I say I was fluent by the time I graduated? Far from it. Though I loved the Japanese language and certainly felt I was at an advanced level, I still struggled to speak and understand it. Some of this was due to laziness- I didn’t make much of an effort to integrate Japanese into my daily life, which I strongly regret- and some of this was due to a lack of confidence in my abilities (I always got shy whenever I tried to speak Japanese with people). However, once I moved to Japan after college and began living in a small town where virtually no one spoke English, my Japanese rapidly improved. Basically, what I’m trying to get at is that you shouldn’t expect to be a totally fluent speaker in a language simply because you majored in it. In reality, you’re likely going to need to spend time outside of and after school practicing the language and really making it part of your life until you can honestly say you've reached a comfortable level of fluency. In short, a foreign language major takes a lot of additional effort to make it worth it. #3: There’s a Higher Chance of Unemployment and Low Pay I’ve already touched on this a little above, but it can be difficult for language majors to find a well-paying job (especially if you majored inonly a language and didn't double major). Let’s start by looking at unemployment rates.According to Forbes, non-technical majors have higher unemployment rates than STEM, business, and health care majors do. Moreover, recent graduates with liberal arts degreesface an unemployment rate of 9.2%. But what about salary?A 2015 study conducted by Georgetown’s Center on Education and the Workforce found that the median salary for those who majored in a foreign language was about $52,000. While this salary might not sound too bad to you, by comparing it with the median salaries of other common majors, you'll see that salaries for foreign language majors don't rank that high: General engineering: $81,000 Economics: $76,000 Architecture: $67,000 Nursing: $66,000 Public policy: $65,000 Biology: $56,000 Journalism: $56,000 History: $54,000 Foreign languages: $52,000 Commercial art and graphic design: $51,000 Psychology: $49,000 Secondary teacher education: $48,000 Overall, majoring in a foreign language is a somewhat risky business. Not only might you have more trouble finding a job, but you’re also likely to have a lower starting salary. Should You Major in a Foreign Language? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself So far we’ve looked at some of the reasons you should and should not major in a foreign language. In the end, though, should you do it? Here are three questions to ask yourself before making your final decision. #1: What Kind of Career Do You Want (or Think You Want)? Although you don’t technically have to use your major in your career, it’s a good idea to try to find a way to apply the skills you acquired in college (in this case, mastery of a foreign language) to your professional life. But what kinds of jobs will a language major prepare you for? Two of the most popular fields for language majors aretranslation and interpretation. However, there's both good and bad with this. The bad news is that these two jobs typically don't pay a ton. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for translators and interpreters in May 2016 was $46,120. Wages can vary a lot, though.While the lowest 10% of translators made less than $25,370 in 2016, the highest 10% made more than $83,010. That’s a difference of almost $58,000! This variation in pay depends on a number of factors, including whether you’re a self-employed or in-house worker, where you live, and what languages you know. So what’s the good news? Translation/interpretation jobs are on the rise. According to the BLS, the projected growth rate for interpreters and translators from 2016 to 2026 is 18%- that’s % faster than the growth rate for all jobs in the US! But what if you’re not interested in becoming a translator or interpreter? That’s fine! Not everyone who studies a language wants to sit around all day translating business manuals or interpreting at conferences. Here are some examplesof other jobs can you do with a foreign language major: International relations specialist Teacher/professor Consultant Advertiser Foreign service officer Attorney Public relations For more examples of jobs for language majors, check out these excellent lists by Southeastern Louisiana University and Georgetown University. #2: How Fluent Do You Want to Become? If you’re expecting absolute fluency in your target language by the end of undergrad, know that this might not happen.(Again, this really depends on multiple factors, including what language you're learning, whether you study a lot on your own time, etc.) Although you can learn a lot with four years of college-level language instruction, it’s generally not enough to make you truly fluent in a language. This is why I suggestlooking at your bachelor’s degree as a starting point. I know, this probably sounds horrible- you spend four years learning a language and I'm calling that a starting point. But the reality is that language learning is a lifelong process. And if you expect to use your language in your future career, you’ll need to spend time after college studying and practicing it as well. Here are six ways you can further improve your language skills after college (note that you can do most of these tips during college, too!). Tip 1: Visit and/or Live in a Country That Uses Your Target Language Although easier said than done, immersion is one of the best ways to get a language down fast. If you're in college, study abroad. Already graduated? Try to apply for jobs in your target country. One "easy" way to gain access to a country is to teach English.If you’re studying Japanese as I did, you could apply for the JET Program. If you’re studying Korean or Spanish, you could apply for the EPIK program in Koreaor the Auxiliar de Conversacià ³n Program in Spain. Tip 2: Study on Your Own Time This tip is crucial (and really hard to do when you’re no longer in school!). Finding time to study on your own is what will ultimately help you keep up your language skills and stay sharp. I suggest buying some textbooks and keeping the ones you used in college so you can review what you've learned. Your goal here is to continuously work on improving your vocabulary and grammar knowledge. Flashcards are an excellent way to jog your memory. If you're like me and hate making flashcards, try using Anki or Memriseto make and download digital flashcards instead. Tip 3: Join a Local Language Group When I felt that my spoken Japanese was getting worse, I decided to look for a language group in my area using the website Meetup. Through the Japanese-language group I found, I was able to converse in Japanese with both native Japanese speakers and other language learners. The group wasn’t just great for practice but was also extremely fun! I recommend using Meetup if you ever want to look for (or make) a language group. Tip 4: Hire a Tutor or Online Language Partner If you want to practice speaking and listening but can’t find anyone to do this with in person, try looking for a language partner or tutor online. Tons of companies offer language lessons over Skype and other video chat programs. Some of the best includeVerbal Planet, italki, and Live Lingua. Tip 5: Attend a Language School If you're hoping to improve your language skills and prefer doing so in an academic environment, consider applying to a language school. While tuition can be high, the experience and vast set of skills you acquire often make it worth the price. For example, many people I know attended aMiddlebury Language School over the summer- and all of them loved it! Tip 6: Go to Graduate School If you not only want to become fluent in a language but also want to be able to use it effectively in both professional and academic settings, grad school might be a good option for you. However, as you probably know, graduate programs (particularly master's programs) in the US can get pretty expensive, soI recommend applying for as many fellowships as possible. One of the best-funded scholarships for language learners is theForeign Languages and Area Studies (FLAS) program, which typically covers full tuition and offers a yearly stipend of $15,000 for grad students ($5,000 for undergrads). #3: What Language Are You Interested In? It’s important to understand that if you plan to use your foreign language major in a career, then your job/salary prospective will depend, in part, on which language you choose to study. For those of you thinking about becoming translators/interpreters, here’s what theBLS has to say about the types of languages that will be most in demand: "Demand will likely remain strong for translators of frequently translated languages, such as French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.Demand also should be strong for translators of Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages;for the principal Asian languages including Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, and Korean;and for the indigenous languages from Mexico and Central America such as Mixtec, Zapotec, and Mayan languages."* *All bold emphasis mine If you want to work for the US government, your best bet will be to major in a critical language. But what is a critical language exactly? According to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), critical languages are languages that are "less commonly taught in US schools, but are essential to America’s positive engagement with the world." At present, there are 14 critical languages: Arabic Azerbaijani Bangla Chinese Hindi Indonesian Japanese Korean Persian Punjabi Russian Swahili Turkish Urdu Note that thisdoesn’t mean you won’t be able to find a job if you studied a language not on this list, such as Spanish, French, or Portuguese. Rather, all this indicates is that if you’re planning to work for the US government in particular, you might have a slightly harder time getting a job, as there is a smaller need for your language than there is for the ones listed above. Conclusion: When to Pursue a Foreign Language Major Overall, there are both advantages and disadvantages to majoring in a foreign language. I chose to major in Japanese because I knew it was the right path for me- and one I really,really wanted to take, despite the challenges I'd inevitably face. If you're thinking of pursuing a language major, make sure you're doing so for the right reasons. Once again, here are the four best reasons to major in a foreign language: You’re head over heels in love with the languageand want to make a career out of it You’ll learn skills you can apply to a variety of careers and situations You’ll be more likely to secure a job abroad should you want to work outside the US You’re interested in double majoring, which will give a professional boost to your foreign language major by equipping you with more skills you can use in the future That said, majoring in a foreign language isn't for everyone. Here are the top reasons you should not major in a foreign language: You’re not passionate about the language you’re studying You're expecting to be totally fluent by the time you graduate (while not impossible, this usually requires you to spend a lot of extra time studying and practicing your language) You’ll face a higher risk of unemployment and a lower starting salary If you're still on the fence about pursuing a language major, ask yourself the following questions to help you determine whether this major is the right decision for you: What kind of career do you want? How fluent do you want to become? What language do you want to study? In the end, whether you decide to major in a foreign language is your choice and yours alone. Just make sure you have a good reason to do so and have considered all possible pros and cons before committing to a language major! What’s Next? Not sure what to major in? Get expert advice in our guide to choosing a college major, and learn the five main factors to consider before you declare a major. Foreign language majors can be lots of fun- but they're not typically the most lucrative. Our guide tells you which college majors are likely to bring in the most cash, and offers tips on whether you should pursue one. What are the worst majors for college students? If, after graduation, you want to have an easier time finding a job with ahigh salary, consider avoiding these 26 majors. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.