Possible topics for my EU academic paper

Welcome back to university! This is my first post for SUK3 and because we are discussing the European Union during this term, my first post concerns this topic. As we have to write an academic paper for part 2, I now present you my five possible topics:

1) Loss of cultural identity

By this time, every one of us has heard the motto of the EU at least once: “United in diversity”. It indicates that European citizens have come together, in the form of the EU, to work for peace and prosperity, while at the same time maintain a member state’s many different cultures, traditions and languages. In my opinion, however, there is one problem: In terms of open boarders within the European Union migration is playing an increasingly important role. People from different member countries are in a close contact to each other. Therefore more and more cultures are going to meld together. So the first question that came to my mind is if there will be only one European culture one day?

2) Multilingualism in the EU

I have always envied people who were grown up bilingual. It takes you a long time to master a foreign language and sometimes you only see the effort you put into your language learning. Whereas someone who was raised bilingual has advantages without really work on it. As I mentioned above migration is a crucial topic for the EU and therefore is worth writing a paper about it.

3) YELL2 Young Europeans Love Languages

“YELL2 promotes the improvement of language learning and encourages creative teaching to inspire and motivate language learning.” (source: European Commission) YELL 2 stands for Young European Love Languages 2 and it is a network of European organizations which consists of three partners from Germany, UK and Turkey. The institution also gives individuals the chance to actively participate in the project by signing up in a network and educators have the opportunity to share their own best practices with others. I really like the idea of this establishment, because the ability of speaking foreign languages is more than just a boost to your CV or handy for travelling. It also improves the functionality of your brain!

4) Lifelong Learning Programme

I am convinced that everyone has heard about Erasmus but do you know that this is just a sub-programme of an European initiative called “Lifelong Learning Programme”? Not only students have the chance to spend some time abroad, but also pupils, people who are participating in vocational and adult education. The reason why this is a topic worth writing about is the fact, that it enables people at all stages of their lives to take part in significant learning experiences, as well as helping to develop the education and training sector across Europe.

5) Unemployment rate

As a future worker I am often concerned about the increasing unemployment rate in the EU. Will I find a job as a translator when I have finished university? What should I do not get a job? The average unemployment rate of the EU amounts to 10 % which is very high. Although the number of unemployed people has also risen in Austria, it is an outstanding fact that our country has the lowest rate compared to all other member states. So how are our job prospects going to be in the future? What does the EU do to combat this problem? These are just a few question that I would try to answer with this paper.

Culture Days

When I went through the timetable to choose the presentations which I’m going to watch I discovered so many interesting topics so I was spoilt for choice. However, I tried to watch as many presentations as I could and finally I have been to about 13.

Here are the three American presentations I went to see:

American high school & its reputation in Austria

This topic was about the structure and function of high schools in America. The girl who gave this presentation has spent some time in an American high school; therefore she was able to talk about her own experiences. This gave her presentation a very authentic and individual touch. The presenter also talked about the situation of teachers and students and their relationship to each other.

The role of pirates in American history

The presentation related to the situation and development of pirates in America. The girl that was presenting also talked about the distribution of the pirates and how it was possible that they gain a huge power in American history.

Reality TV - Jersey shore and beyond

A girl named Manuela held this presentation. It was about the influence of reality TV and why they are so famous these days. Manuela presented us everything in a very entertaining way and showed us a sequence of a video of “Jersey Shore”.

And here are seven out of a number of Irish presentations I have been to:

The impact of global warming on Ireland’s agriculture

Christian was holding this presentation of the effects that global warming will have and how the Irish farmers will try to cope with it. He named a lot of surprising and shocking facts and presented also solutions to prevent significant losses of agricultural products.

Ireland vs. Austria - Whiskey Distilleries - Challenge accepted!

The presenter’s name was Verena and for her culture essay she compared two whiskey distilleries: one in Ireland and on in Austria (Styria). Verna went on with telling us something about their history and why both of the distilleries are so successful.

The following five presentations are the ones I have chosen to be tested on in my KGP:

1. Ireland’s St. Magdalene Asylums and its Survivors

This shocking presentation was held by Teresa. The St. Magdalene asylums were slave labour laundries which existed until the late 20^th century.

I picked this topic because it is a part in the Irish history that far too few people outside Ireland know about, me included, before I heard this presentation. In my opinion it is import to know about this big suffering of the women of these asylums and the fact that there were these crimes against the women for a long time and everyone accepted it.

2. The Irish Claddagh Ring – A Celtic Symbol

The first time I read of this very special ring was in a book by Cecelia Ahern, the Irish authoress. I got curious about this ring and so I surfed the Internet. The idea of the symbolic meaning (the hands represent friendship; the heart represents love; and the crown represents loyalty) is so special to me. And it’s not just about the look of the ring but there are also several meanings concerning the way you wear it.

3. Animal Symbolism in Irish Mythology

When I think of Ireland, mystical stories with fairies, witches, goblins and dwarfs come to my mind. In these mythologies animals play a very big role and they are attributed various meanings. For me animal symbolism is so popular, because people like the fact that they are able to immediately realise if somebody is good or evil. Crow? Evil. Deer? Good and helpless. You can’t apply this to human beings.

4. Appreciating Life – Donal Walsh’s Fight against Suicide in Ireland

The story of this young boy from Ireland who suffered two times from cancer is very touching. I have never heard of such an impressive person before – and that is exactly why I chose this topic. The boy fought against suicide in Ireland when he was in terminal condition. Donal Walsh had a great personality and is definitely the most selfless person in the world.

5. Transition Year – working towards maturity

After Carmen had finished the first sentences of her presentation, I felt in love with this topic immediately. Transition year is an optional one-year school programme only available in Ireland. It can be taken by students after the Junior Cycle. The programme gives students a valuable opportunity to engage in a wide variety of interesting, diverse, and challenging areas of their subjects which do not normally make the curriculum.

“I’m gonna live forever!”

On Tuesday my friend and I went for the first time to the Graz Opera for watching the musical “Fame”. It is playing in the opera since October and there are only two plays left. They great thing about buying the tickets is that students get a discount of 50%!

The story is of several students who attend the High School of Performing Arts from their freshman year until graduation, among them fame-obsessed drug addict Carmen, ambitious actress Serena, the comedian Joe, quiet, saintly violinist Schlomo, and talented dancer Tyrone. They want to become actors, singers, dancers and musicians.

I have also watched the movie from 2009 on which the musical is based on. The problem with the musical is that a lot of things happen, but the plot doesn’t seem to develop.

However, I really liked the musical: The actors are educated in a lot of various fields – from ballet to tapping and playing instrument. They seemed to be so passionate for their work!

“Fame” is really a visit worth, but if you can’t make it to the play, watch the movie which is also very impressive...

Unconventional = successful?

Have you heard about the guy who has lost a bet and now dressed up as a stewardess and worked for an airline for one day? :) His name is Richard Branson and he is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world.

Richard Branson, the founder and owner of the Virgin Group (Virgin Atlantic airlines, telecommunications, trains, cosmetics and credit cards) says his goal is to turn Virgin into “the most respected brand in the world”. Branson’s skill as a brand builder is one of the reasons underlying his longevity as a business leader.

I think it is difficult to separate the success of the Virgin brand from the authentic man behind that brand. He travels the world weekly, reinforcing his goo-natured, visible, jet setting, billionaire reputation. Once I read an interview in which he was asked what the most important quality of a good leader is. Here is his very honest and straight answer: “Being someone who cares about people is important. You can’t be a good leader unless you generally like people. That is how you bring out the best in them.”

Richard Branson is a very successful entrepreneur because of his stamina. At first, nobody takes him seriously. He was an unemployed crackpot, a dreamer but also a VISIONARY. However, by the time he has finally earned the respect of the business community, he has already made it.

Five amazing places I want to see

1. Santorin

Santorin is an island off the coast of Greece - thousands of years ago the site of one of the largest volcanic explosions in history. Today it plays home to spectacular views, crazy architecture, and a storied history. Supposedly the same eruption that destroyed it led to the legend of Atlantis :).

2. Iceland

Iceland features some of the most alien landscapes in the world. From huge, partially frozen waterfalls, to insane sunsets and sunrises, to miles of barren tundra; not to mention an outgoing population who’s down to party ;) – Ireland has everything. Moreover, it is a long dream to see the fantastic Northern Lights…

3. Australia

The essence of Australia is diversity: deserts, coral reefs, tall forests, snow-cloaked mountains and multicultural melting-pot cities. For me, Australia means adventures and a warm, friendly, relaxed lifestyle.

4. India

India's culture and heritage are a rich amalgam of the past and the present. This vast country offers the visitor a view of fascinating religions and ethnography, a vast variety of languages and monuments that have been present for thousands of years. If I think of India, Mehndi (body painting with Henna), the Holi festival, thousand different gods, yoga and a lot of wisdoms come to my mind.

5. The Amazon

The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and houses millions of creatures rarely found anywhere else, it’s worth seeing for thousands of reasons. Apart from the unique landscape, the reason why I really want to go there is the fact that nobody would expect me to survive a travel through a wilderness like this!