George passed the IELTS exam with flying colours!

We wish to congratulate George on his excellent performance and high scores in the IELTS exam (November 2015). Well deserved, indeed! Best of luck with your postgraduate studies and applications, George!

B for Brilliant - Our Digital School Magazine (Nov 2015)

The Impact of the Internet, by George

There is no doubt that technological advancement has brought about a new era in the way we buy and sell goods. Admittedly, the invention that has had the greatest impact is that of the Internet. The advent of the Internet gave rise to online shopping, which is gaining more and more momentum. Online shopping has transformed the consumer behaviour as well as certain aspects of their lives in both positive and negative ways.

To begin with, we should consider the benefits of buying and selling goods and services online. First and foremost, the main advantage of online shopping is its convenience. Customers do not have to show up in a store to buy what they need - rather, they do so in the comfort of their house. All you need is a device with internet connectivity, be it a computer, smartphone, or tablet. A further advantage of online shopping is that it enables you to access a much broader market - a market that transcends the narrow borders of your country. A person in Europe can purchase something in the US and have it delivered at home at the simple press of a button. This means that you have access to more products - products that may not be available at the local shops. On top of that, online shops often have various filtering sorting capabilities that allow you to quickly find what you are searching for. Another feature that makes online shopping very attractive is the fact that the products usually have detailed customer reviews and ratings. Thus customers can in some cases get a better feeling of the product quality, a capability that you do not have when you buy something at a regular shop. The experience of using a product is very different to the impression you get at the shop. By reading customer reviews you have the opportunity to learn things like the durability or the performance of a product.

 As mentioned above, the Internet has influenced the way we sell products as well. Although not as many people sell online as they buy, selling used items has become a lot easier since the advent of the Internet and especially the creation of online ads and auction sites. Traditionally, people sold belongings they did not need anymore by publishing ads in newspapers. In this time and age, posting advertisements online has become very popular. Since selling things has been made easier, more and more people are selling old belongings.

On the other hand, online trading does not have only advantages. Shopping at the local stores is also a social activity. It is for many people a good opportunity to meet up and spend time together. Now that more and more people shop online, they meet less often to do their shopping together. Another important aspect of e-shopping relates to security. There are cases where people have fallen victims of fraud - where credit card data have been stolen, and thieves have withdrawn a large amount of money from bank accounts. Today online payments are generally safe, but still there are vulnerabilities that can be exploited by internet thieves. Last but not least, online shopping has had an impact on local economies, too. The capability to buy a product cheaper and import it from another country benefit large international stores at the expense of the local ones.

All in all, the Internet has had a considerable impact on the way we buy and sell goods and by extension on our lives. It has opened a window to a broader market and has made purchasing easier and more convenient. On the other hand, as a result of this convenience people tend to meet less to do their shopping together. 

Gender Inequality in the Job Market, by George

Women and men are often considered to possess different strengths and weaknesses. This is often reflected in the job market, where certain professions are traditionally dominated by men, while others by women. In some professions the prejudice against men or women is so strong that they may even be excluded from these professions. However, I am of the opinion that, wherever possible, gender equality should be encouraged.

Moreover, in the male-dominated professions, women find it very difficult to climb the career ladder due to this discrimination. By the same token, men do not easily get promotions or pay raises in female-dominated professions.

Such examples are very common in professions that require manual labour as well as professions related to technology and executive positions. In construction, police or firefighting women are seen as lacking the physical strength needed to perform the tasks associated with these jobs. In technology-related fields like IT, there is this stereotype that men are more talented (probably because technology is usually more attractive to men than women). In the case of executive positions, men are often considered as more competitive and dynamic. On the other hand, women are considered as more strategic, forthcoming, and emotional. Thus they are preferred as teachers, managers, nurses and waitresses.

Even though it might be true to some extent that men and women possess different strengths and weaknesses, judging somebody solely based on their gender is unlikely to result in a safe or wise choice. There will always be women who will outperform men in male-dominated professions and vice versa. Therefore, in my view, it is reprehensible to reject a job candidate because of their gender. It is equally unethical when somebody cannot climb the career ladder because of their gender. If someone does a very good job and does not get promoted even though they deserve it, then they lose their motivation and feel that their work is not valued.

Managers and the people involved in the process of hiring new people have to be fair and offer equal opportunities to men and women. They should assess the employees based on their performance, their skills and experience instead of innate traits like their gender. By doing so the satisfaction of the employees would increase since they would feel that they are fairly treated.

It is true that men and women are discriminated by their gender and they are not offered equal opportunities in the workplace. Although men and women might have, in general, different strengths and weaknesses, judging them based on their gender is narrow minded and can result in dissatisfaction in the workplace.

Extended Families, by Danae

Dear Editor, 

I read the article about extended families. An extended family refers to a nuclear family that lives with other close relatives of different generations under the same roof or very close - in the same block, for example. I am writing to tell you my opinion and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this issue. I am of the opinion that living all together is not a good idea because the drawbacks outweigh the benefits.

To begin with, it is such a difficult thing to live under the same roof with other people of different ages because it may cause trouble. Older people need more rest during the day; on the other hand, kids and people of younger ages are more active. Their quite different lifestyles are bound to come into conflict sooner or later. For instance, younger people want to listen to loud music anytime during the day, while their parents or grandparents long to find some peace and quiet and relax in a tranquil environment.

Nevertheless, when living in the same place or in the same block of flats with your grandparents, uncles or aunts, it is also true that if you ever need some help, they will be there for you. For instance, if you have not got enough time to go to the bank to pay the bills, they may do it for you. Of course, they may contribute in many other ways such as by cooking or doing the household chores. In addition, one of the most significant benefits is that you find yourself in an emergency situation, they will be there to give you a helping hand.

Considering all of the above, it is clear to me that families should weigh out the pros and cons of moving in with relatives before they make up a decision. 

Yours faithfully, 
Danae Robertson

To Have a Pet, or Not to Have a Pet?, by Danae

Dear Alex, 

I read your previous letter about your considering buying a pet and I'm writing to tell you the advantages and disadvantages of having a pet - since I own one, I know both of them first hand.

To begin with, I believe that pets are a very good company for the reason that you never feel lonely. There are many activities that you may do together; for instance, you may go for a walk at the park or at the beach. In addition, you could play games together such as hide-and-seek or tag. A pet is ideal for only children as well as children who lack playmates. Moreover, a pet can develop a sense of responsibility in young people, because through this situation children and teens learn to be more mature and responsible, the reason being that they must look after their pets - clean them, feed them, take them to the vet for vaccination, and spend quality time together.

On the other hand, a pet may cause problems. More specifically, they may make noise all the time (for example, dogs may bark and annoy the neighbours) or do damage to the furniture. Cats may scratch the sofas and curtains. It goes without saying that owning a pet is also expensive because of the food you have to buy them regularly along with some bathing products, the visits to the vet, and of course some toys!

To conclude, I think that owing a pet isn't a very easy task because you'll have more responsibilities, but then again it's definitely worth the trouble as pets are the best companions.

Yours,
Danae

 

The Earthquake, by Marco

Thousands of years ago in what is now called Nepal, a young boy, who was part of a group of nomadic people, was traveling along with his friends, siblings and family to the other side of India. It was a beautiful day; the sun was shining and the birds were singing.

Suddenly, while the people were trying to cross a river, the boy heard a strange noise. He turned around and saw all the animals and birds, including the ones of their caravan, running and flying away. Then, the earth started quaking and shaking, and because no one had experienced such a phenomenon before, everyone started panicking.

Shortly after that, the nomadic group saw what we now call Mount Everest rise before their eyes. As they didn't have their animals to help them climb the mountains, they were essentially trapped and surrounded by the mountains of Nepal. The boy's family and friends along with the rest of the nomad were not able to survive this unexpected turn of events and lost their lives trying to find a way out of these huge mountains.

This legend has been told innumerable times in India and everybody is terrified when they hear this story.