English

A new trend of using Social Media or Social Networking Sites has been recently highlighted in this technology era.  Social media influences people’s lives in many aspects including education and English language learning.  It has made an effect on the English language either in a positive way by adding new words to the dictionary a negative way by misusing the grammar and using incorrect abbreviated words.  The purpose of this study is to examine what the effect of using Social Media has on the English language learners and see if it was more positive than negative and vice versa as well as to understand the students’ perceptions on how the use of social networking sites help to facilitate or inhibit their English writing skills.  To achieve the objectives of the research, the study used a mixed method approach which involved the survey of students in high schools.  The study revealed that majority of respondents used WhatsApp and Facebook for making friends and chatting. In addition, majority of respondents experienced negative effects such as poor grammar and spelling.  Nevertheless, there were cases where others experienced improvement in their readings skills as a result of participation on social media networks.  Also, respondents shared ideas, discussed and shared examination questions among themselves on social media networks.  The study recommended the promotion of social media usage for academic purpose, counseling for addicted students and the use of the right grammar and spelling when participating on social networks.

Key words:  Social Media, Communication, College Students, Academic Writing

The main focus of this study is to find out whether it is possible to maintain ‘Google Classroom’ in our Department of English, Jahangirnagar University. Google classroom is one of the most popular and most vastly used online platforms for educational purposes. It is designed as an application that can allow teachers and students to perform blended learning in a paperless way. This study was performed to figure out, whether it is possible to maintain such virtual space to conduct academic work in the context of the Department of English, Jahangirnagar University. For data collection, two interviews has been performed. Survey was done among 30 students of different batches. After analyzing the data we came to the interpretation that, both the teachers and students are eager to use this application as it would save time & save paper. But at the same time, they are not sure if it would be suitable for the Department of English or not. Since all the students do not hold the same economic background, and everyone does not have the access to internet, it would be a challenge for the department to implement it. Therefore, the conclusion stands, at present the department does not have enough resources to maintain the ‘Google Classroom’, But in future, if all the obstacles aside, the department is interested to implement such classroom in the academic system.

Dance is a performance art form consisting of purposefully selected sequences of human movement. This movement has aesthetical symbolic value, and is acknowledged as dance by performers and observers within a particular culture. Bangladeshi culture is rich with traditional and contemporary dance forms. Since the introducing period of dance in Bangladesh, it is changing and developing and merging its path towards every sphere of our culture and our daily activities. Classical forms of the sub-continent predominate in Bangladeshi dance. The folk, tribal and Middle Eastern traits are also common. Among the tribal dances, particularly popular are Monipuri and Santal. Rural girls are in the habit of dancing that does not require any grammar or regulations. Bangla songs like jari and shari are presented accompanied with dance of both male and female performers.This report aims to illustrate the relationship between dance and culture in Bangladesh. It will focus on contemporary dance form in Bangladeshi films and its evolution and changing trends from 1960’s to present years.

The initial objective of this paper is to focus on the use of violence with a constructive attitude in Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o’s Petals of Blood.  Petals of Blood is not set in early colonial Kenya or during the struggle for the independence of Kenya. It is rather set in post independence of Kenya. Life in post - colonial Africa is characterised by a great deal of political disillusionment and social corruption. The post-independence era of Africa is bedevilled with social corruption, autocracy, foreign-dominated economy, as well as the betrayal of human ideals among others. For the masses in many African countries, the post colonial era did not offer them anything too different from the colonial era itself. The only difference, however, is that their white colonial masters have simply metamorphosed into their own natives, the elite few, who have assumed control. Ngugi holds the idea that if colonialism is itself violence then it must be removed also by violence. With the definition of ‘constructive violence’ this paper will criticize the post-independence society of Kenya and effects of capitalism as described in the novel, Petals of Blood and will also evaluate the characters of the novel and their violent attitude towards various events.