Today’s Picture: Shed by Onetangi Beach at Waiheke Island

Part 1: Today's word

‘Paradigm’ is a very formal, academic word for a general framework of ideas or way of thinking about a topic. Subjects at university have different ways they can be approached. Often, there’s one ‘dominant’ paradigm, which is how most researchers approach a topic, and a number of alternative paradigms, which are used by a smaller group of researchers. For example, 50 or so years ago, behaviourism was the dominant paradigm in psychology. This mean that most researchers, even if they were looking at different questions and using different techniques, followed the same basic way of looking at the mind and how it learns and responds to the environment. However, especially during the 1960’s, these basic ideas were questioned, so there was a ‘paradigm shift’ in which the whole subject of psychology went through a kind of revolution and no longer had one dominant paradigm.

His research was outside the established paradigm, which meant that it was difficult to attract funding.

For more examples and links to exercises, click here www.academicenglishgenerator.com and go to Unit 1

Part 2: Test

Here are four sentences with our word of the day - but only three of them are correct. Which is the odd one out?

It’s been suggested that the growth of online chat and text messaging has brought about a paradigm shift in written communication.

Charles Darwin developed the paradigm that evolution is brought about through competition for survival.

During the 1950’s, behaviourism was the dominant paradigm in psychology, which meant that most research shared the same basic approach to the subject.

His research was outside the established paradigm, which meant that it was difficult to attract funding.

Part 3: Practice Questions:

Do you know the names for the dominant paradigm in any of the subjects you study?

Do you know if your subject has gone through any paradigm shifts that have completely changed the way people think about them?

Part 4: Kiwi Quiz Question

Which of these is NOT a popular New Zealand magazine?

Metro
North & South
The Truth
The Listener

Part 5: Today’s Online Radio Programme

New Zealand – technology

New Technology with Colin Jackson: Computer Hacking
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/20080612

Vocabulary for the article:

vulnerable / trespass / tort / a vandal / drown out / eureka

Questions for the article:

Which network will New Zealanders need to use in order to use their I-Pod?
What was the original meaning of computer hacker?
What’s the distinction between hacking and cracking computers?
What does Colin Jackson think of Hollywood presentation of hacking?
What’s his advice to home PC users?
How many lines of code do many computer programs have? What’s patch Tuesday?
Why is a ‘zero day exploit’ scary?
Why do many programmers wear headphones?
What’s does Colin Jackson believe the programmer's 'anthem' should be?

Today's audio excerpt: from Mali - Mory Kante 'Desole' from the CD 'Sabou': AMG 2004