IOSR-JHSS   Volume-10 ~ Issue-4 ~ May-Jun-2013

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to discover the major reasons to Pakistan's intention to join ASEAN. There are severalreasons to join ASEAN. Improving trade volume is the fundamental account of Pakistan. The study discovers the fact that Pakistan should seek its neighbouring countries to enhance its volume of trade. ASEAN could be a major market for Pakistan. It has proved in this study that Pakistan Southeast policy has been successful and beneficial for last several years but still Pakistan has to do much more to improve its exports to the satisfactory levels. The exports of Pakistan have not been impressive. The study shows Pakistan has great opportunity to enhance its cooperation with ASEAN countries by making strong efforts on government levels as well as private levels. The study also reveals that trade is not only reason for joining ASEAN but also to meet the security challenges. After 9/11 Pakistan emerged as front line partner in war against terrorism which created many implications for Pakistan. By improving its relationships with ASEAN countries Pakistan can better combat this problem. Another fact is why Pakistan has not succeeded to become member of ASEAN Regional Forum? The study discovers that main reason is India which creates hurdle for Pakistan to become a member of ARF. Indian is major market for ASEAN nations and member of ARF and strong good will among these nations. But Pakistan would have to accelerate its efforts to improve its image. The study also shows that contains for ASEAN and Pakistan cooperation's. This study alsoproves that Pakistan has still to do more effort towards strengthening its ties with these nations.

[1]. A. Singh, "It's time for Pakistan to play a larger regional role", The Business Times, Yale Global Online, 23 June 2005
[2]. Abdul Kalam "PAKISTAN'S EASTWARD POLICY AND ASEAN CORRELATION:A SECURITY DIMENSION' Area Study Centre, Far East and Southeast Asia University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh Pakistan
[3]. Akhtar, Shameem "PAKISTAN AND THE GREAT POWERS," in Masuma Hasan (ed.), Pakistan in a Changing World. Karachi: Pakistan Institute of International Affairs.
[4]. Ahmad, Shameel (2003: 93), "THE NEW ASIAN REALISM: Economics and Politics of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue," Strategic Studies,
[5]. Aparna Shivpuri1 "PAKISTAN'S "VISION EAST ASIA" POLICY: ECONOMIC AND SECURITY COOPERATION WITH SINGAPORE" Institute of South Asian Studies
[6]. Aqila Khawaja "PAKISTAN ASEAN AS EMERGING PARTNERS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITES" Area Study Centre, Far East and Southeast Asia University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh Pakistan
[7]. Edy Prasetyono "ASEAN SECURITY CHALLENGES" Area Study Centre, Far East and Southeast Asia University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh Pakistan
[8]. Fazalur Rehman "PAKISTAN AND ASEAN RELATION: PROSPECTS FOR ANTI TERRORISM COOPERATION" Area Study Centre, Far East and Southeast Asia University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh Pakistan
[9]. Gupta, Bhabani Sen. "SAARC – ASEAN PROSPECTS & PROBLEM of INTER-REGIONAL COOPERATION" South Asian Publishers
[10]. Ghulam M. Khoso "PAKISTAN INDONESIA RELATION" Area Study Centre, Far East and Southeast Asia

Abstract: This study was undertaken to empirically examine the extent to which socio-cultural factors militate against the work performance and advancement of female executives in Nigerian Public Health Institutions. To this effect, a survey was carried out and the sampled population for the study consisted of male and female executives of health and health related Institutions in Benin City, Nigeria. Likert-type questionnaires were administered to 270 respondents, who were systematically and randomly selected and of which 185 were retrieved. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive inferential statistics. Research findings show that the work performance of female executives in the institutions surveyed are significantly affected negatively by a number of socio-cultural factors such as biological nature of women, women's role in children's upbringing, extension of cultural practices to workplace, and so forth. Further findings regarding the perception of the work performance of female executives across gender was however found to be insignificant. Given the foregoing findings, the researcher recommends the need for concerted efforts by all stakeholders dealing with gender issues to adopt deliberate and systematic gender mainstreaming involving multi-sectoral approach, while the government should demonstrate political will and financial commitment which will ensure the minimization of negative cultural factors militating against the work performance, advancement and upward mobility of female executives in the public health Institutions.

[1]. Afonja, S. (1996).Women and Political Agenda in Nigeria, paper presented at Fredrick Ebert Foundation Conference in popular participation in Governance, 16th—18th August, Ikogosi, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
[2]. Agbadudu, A.B. (2008). Statistics for Business and the Social Science, Uri Publishing Company, Benin City. Nigeria.
[3]. Alele-Williams, G. (1987). ―Science, Technology and Mathematics (STM) Education for All, Including Women and Girls in Africa‖, a Keynote Address Delivered at the Commonwealth Regional Workshop on women and STM Education, Accra, Ghana.
[4]. BabaraEherenreich, ―life without father‖, in McDowell and R. Pringle (1992), Defining women. London: Polity/Open University
[5]. Cockburn Cynthia (1993). Brothers: Male Dominance and Technological Change. London: Pluto. Retrieved from Wikipedia encyclopedia: http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarchy 2/21/2012
[6]. Davies-Netzley, Sally A. (1998).Women above the Glass Ceiling: Perceptions on Corporate Mobility and Strategies for Success Gender and Society, Vol.12, No.3, p.340,doi: 10.1177/0891243298012003006. Cited in Wikipedia, retrieved 2/27/2012.
[7]. Geert, Hofstede. (1994). Cultures and Organizations. London: Harper Collins. M. Tierney. ‗Negotiating a software career.
[8]. Heralambos, M. &Holborn, M. (1995).Sociology Themes and Perspectives, 4th Edition, Collins Educational, London.
[9]. Hesse-Bieber and Carter (2005). p. 77. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GlassCeiling retrieved 2/27/2012
[10]. Jekayinfa, D.A. (1999). The Role of Nigerian Women in Culture and National Development, Journal of Educational Theory and Practice, Vol 5(1 & 2).

Abstract: The present paper focuses on Shobhaa De's: Mind and Art. De is a writer in Indian English Literature which has a rich and a long tradition of women novelist who portrayed the India of our time. Feminist like Kamala Markandaya, Namita Gokhale, Manju Kapur, Anita Desai, Arundhati Roy and Shashi Deshpande, has given their genuine aspirations focusing on the parochial society. Shobhaa De writes about the glamorous society of Mumbai at the grass root level. Her mind is more provocative and it understands the sentiments of the reader of the bourgeois world. Her art exposes the neurotic and amoral people of urban society. Her mind is very sharp and her art is unique and unrepeatable.

Keywords: Indian English Literature, Novelist, Mind, Art, Urban society, Theme, Diction, Style, Plot and climax.

[1]. Prasad, Amarnath and Singh, Nagendra Kumar. Indian Fiction in English Roots and Blossoms. Vol. II (1st Ed), New Delhi: Sarup & Sons, 2007, p.V.
[2]. Paul, W. Roberts, 'The Toronto Review' quoted by UBSPD Publishers and Distributors Ltd., 5, Ansari Road, New Delhi, p.3.
[3]. Encyclopedia Britannica. The Britannica Guide to the Brain. London, England Constable & Robinson, Ltd., 2008.
[4]. De, Shobhaa, Selective Memory, Stories from my life, New Delhi: Penguin Books Ltd., 1998, p.284.
[5]. Bhavnagar, M.K., 'Post Modernism- An Introduction', M.K. Bhatnagar, M. Rajeshwar (ed). Post modernism And English Literature, Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, 1992, p.2.
[6]. Paul, W. Roberts, 'The Toronto Review' quoted by UBSPD Publishers and Disitributors Ltd., 5, Ansari Road, New Delhi, p.3.
[7]. De, Shobhaa. Snapshots. New Delhi: Penguin Books Ltd., 1995, p.226.
[8]. De, Shobhaa. Socialite Evenings. New Delhi: Penguin Books Ltd., 1989, p.11.
[9]. De, Shobhaa. Sisters. New Delhi: Penguin Books Ltd.,1992, p.49
[10]. Shanta, Krishnaswamy, The women in Indian Fiction in English. New Delhi: Ashish Publishing House, 1984, p. IV.

Abstract: The present study was conducted at a Thai graduate school where for over 40 years of offering a reading course, approximately 20%-80%, making 50% of students on average, could pass it. Thus, the co-authors analyzed the textbook while asking their students to complete a questionnaire. The participants were 54 graduate students. The tool employed in this study was an open-ended questionnaire. The three options about how each student felt about the textbook—appropriate, too easy, or too difficult—set out the study. Despite the quantitative results divulging the difference in considering the textbook as 'appropriate,' 'too easy,' or 'too difficult,' most of the respondents mentioned the inadequacy of some fundamental grammar lessons and vocabulary practices. Some participants required Thai translation for some parts which were difficult to comprehend. Some articles in the textbook were outdated, had no pictures, and caused confusion. The contents were also too long for the class to cover within the 45-hour time frame, resulting in the instructors' scurry to finish the textbook. To be specific, their evaluation of the textbook mainly relied on the test as the benchmark. A rich source of data is proved to be the open-ended questions where all participants can articulate themselves freely.

Keywords: academic reading skills, graduate students, SLA, Thailand

[1]. 2013 University Web Rankings. (2013). Universities in Thailand. Retrieved on February 2, 2013 from http://www.4icu.org/th/
[2]. Anderson, N. (1999). Exploring second language reading: issues and strategies. Canada: Heinle & Heinle Publishing, Inc.
[3]. Burt, M., Peyton J. K., & Adams, R. (2003). Reading and adult English language learners: a review of the research. USA: Center for Applied Linguistics.
[4]. Chalaysap, N. (2009). A comparative study between syntactic structure identification training and integrated reading strategy training in teaching English sentence reading. The Asian EFL Journal Cebu Conference Proceedings, August, pp. 43-56.
[5]. Chalaysap, N. (2011). Reading behavior of Master's degree students: A case study of the National Institute of Development Administration. NIDA Development Journal, 51(3), pp. 167-186.
[6]. Chalaysap, N., Swangboonsatic, C., Getkham, K., Suwanarak, K., Jaturongkachoke, K., Sena, K., Klamphonchira, N., Rojjanaprapayon, R., Saengboon, S., Gadananij, S., and Sagaravasi, V. (2010). ELT Innovation: Students' Participation in Generating Academic Reading Materials. Proceedings of the International Conference of Language and Communication (ICLC 2010), Bangkok, Thailand, pp. 184-194.
[7]. Chanseawrassamee, S. (2012). Teaching adult learners English through a variety of activities: Perception on games and rewards. US-China Foreign Language, 10(7, July), ISSN 1539-8080, pp. 1355-1374.
[8]. Child, J. (1988). IV Reading proficiency assessment: Section 1: Framework for discussion. In P. Lowe, Jr. and C. W. Stansfield (Eds.), Second language proficiency assessment: Current issues (pp. 125-135). New Jersey: Prentice Hall Regents.
[9]. Connolly, P. (2009). The challenges and prospects foreducational effectiveness research. Effective Education, 1(1, March), pp. 1-12.
[10]. Crandall, J. (1979). Language in education: theory & practice (adult vocational ESL). US: Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL).