255 10 3494 https://omeka.ibu.edu.ba/files/original/89c1fd9b514c27bc48700bb4db9baa01.pdf 864e290cb4374dcf39540acf5cb40a11 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 1387 Title A name given to the resource Costs and Benefits of the EU Enlargement: The Impact on the EU and SEE Countries Author Author Elif, Nuroglu Haris, Kurtagić Abstract A summary of the resource. The south-eastern enlargement of the European Union will be the sixth enlargement since the establishment of the European Community in 1957. This research uses the gravity model to analyze the factors that have an influence on trade flows between the EU and South-east European Countries. The Gravity model explains patterns of trade with GDP, geographical distance and several dummy variables. Using the data from 2010, the gravity model analyzes trade flows between 23 countries from both the EU and South-eastern European Countries. Taking into consideration the costs of enlargement, this paper examines the possible effects of enlargement on trade flows, and its impact on the development of SEEC’s. Moreover, it offers a solution for the South-east European Countries which is the possibility to create the Balkan Union. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available International Burch University Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 Keywords Keywords. Article PeerReviewed H Social Sciences (General),HB Economic Theory,HG Finance Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 957 Title A name given to the resource Autonomous English Activities of Prospective EFL Teachers Author Author Ersin, Pınar C. Camlibel Acar, Zeynep Abstract A summary of the resource. This study aims to explore whether and how Turkish prospective teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) engage in English activities outside their undergraduate courses to improve their English language abilities and their reasons for doing so. The research questions include the following: (a) Do the participants engage in out-of-class English activities? (b) If yes, what is the nature of these activities (e.g., the frequency level, the activity type and the reasons)? (c) If no, what are the reasons behind this choice? (d) What is the relationship between their independent English activities and factors such as their personal and educational backgrounds, and year of study? The study was conducted at the Faculty of Education, in the Department of English Language Teacher Training of a state university in İstanbul, Turkey. Data were collected from 326 Turkish EFL prospective teachers enrolled in all four years of the undergraduate program (90 freshmen, 99 sophomores, 67 juniors, and 70 seniors). A survey consisting of closed-ended and open-ended items was administered to the participants at the end of spring 2011 semester. The survey aimed at obtaining the teacher candidates’ autonomous English use and practice behaviours aside from the departmental requirements. In order to analyze the data, both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed. Qualitative data gathered from the open-ended items of the survey were grouped under categories and coded. To give an account of the type and frequency of the participants' out-of-class English use and practice, frequency counts of all responses were conducted by using descriptive statistics. In addition, t-tests were run to compare the answers of the teacher trainees at different years of study. The findings of the survey will be presented and implications of the results for teacher education programs will be discussed and recommendations will be proposed. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 Keywords Keywords. Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed P Philology. Linguistics Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 951 Title A name given to the resource An Analysis of the Azeri Translation of English Collocation of That-Complement Author Author Farrokh, Parisa Abstract A summary of the resource. This article deals with collocation in general and then concentrates on grammatical collocations based on Benson et alʹs category of grammatical collocations. The emphasis is on a study conducted to find out the Azeri translation of collocation of That-complement. The importance of collocation in the learning of a foreign language and the problems that English learners face with in using collocations have been underscored by researchers. However, there have been few studies to take all types of collocations, particularly, the grammatical type, into consideration. Therefore the translation and production of these collocations may cause some problems for English learners . According to Benson et al., collocation could be sorted systematically into two major groups--lexical collocations and grammatical collocations. A lexical collocation could be made up of nouns, adjectives, verbs, or adverbs. On the other hand, a grammatical collocation was made up of a dominant word, such as a noun, an adjective, or a verb, and a preposition or grammatical structure like an infinitive or a clause. Based on Benson et alʹs category of grammatical collocations, there are four collocations for That-complement : noun+ that-clause, adjective+ that-clause, transitive verb +that-noun clause and subject it+ verb+ that-clause. Based on the analysis of English translated materials into Azeri, it has been found that (1) English collocation noun+ that-clause mainly translated as complex sentences in Azeri with the percentage of 70%.Moreover 18% translated as simple sentences involving verbal combinations and 12% translated as simple sentences lacking verbal combinations.(2) Regarding English collocation of adjective+ that-clause, it can be said that they are translated as complex sentences in Azeri with the percentage of 86%,and also some sentences translated as simple sentences involving verbal combinations with the percentage of 10% .The percentage of sentences translated a simple sentences without verbal combinations is 4%.(3) The results of this research shows that collocation of transitive verb +that-noun clause basically translated as complex sentences with the percentage of 90% and 10% translated as simple sentences involving verbal combinations.(4) Based on the findings of this research, it has been cleared that in Azeri , the dummy subject "it"is nottranslated at all. Since in English , extraposition construction consists copular verbs , in Azeri translation of these sentences instead of copular verbs , there are some expressions called "modal words", functioning like verb phrases, are used according to the meaning of copular verbs. In addition, extraposition constructions followed by that-clause , translated as complex sentences in Azeri , with the percentage of 75%. It should be said that the percentage of the sentences which have been translated as simple sentences without verbal combinations is 15% while the percentage of sentences translated as simple sentences involving verbal combinations is 10%. Moreover, it can be said , generally, in Azeri language, collocation noun+that-clause translated as noun +verb+ that-clause, collocation adjective+ that-clause translated as adjective +verb+ that-clause ,collocation transitive verb +that-noun clause translated as transitive verb +that-noun clause and subject it+ verb+ that-clause translated as (object)+modal words +that clause. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 Keywords Keywords. Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed P Philology. Linguistics Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 952 Title A name given to the resource English for Medicine or Medicine in English? Transdisciplinarity in Teaching English for Medical Purposes Author Author Faure, Pascaline Abstract A summary of the resource. Although to be able to read and speak English is paramount to future doctors, French medical students have very little time to devote to the learning of English. Therefore, at Pierre and Marie Curie School of medicine, we have opted for an integrated approach whose benefits have been demonstrated by research (Grabe & Stoller, 1997; Wolf, 2003; Hellekjaer & Wilkinson, 2003) and which takes the form of lectures on medical specialities in English but which has also been successfully adapted to the teaching of grammar via biomedical metaphors that serve to explain the functioning of various grammatical tools. Yet, opting for a transdisciplinary approach demands that the language teacher be knowledgeable in both the language and the subject whereas language teacher education in France remains very general and rarely integrates LSP (Language for Specific Purposes), let alone a course in the subject. In addition, designing content-based classes raises issues relative to the part dedicated respectively to the language and the content, and to the structuring of both. This article investigates the extent to which transdisciplinarity can be used as a didactic tool in ESP (English for Specific Purposes) classes, its efficacy in terms of motivation and language acquisition, and its impact on teacher education. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 Keywords Keywords. Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed P Philology. Linguistics Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 984 Title A name given to the resource The Role of Learning Styles on the Performance of Learners in ICT embedded Language Teaching Author Author Gucuyener Ulucay, Seda Celikcevik, Barbaros Abstract A summary of the resource. Information Communication Technologies (ICT) has generated a huge difference in last the few decades in industry, commerce, transportation and obviously everyday life. It is an undeniable fact that education was undergone a great change by the use of information communication technologies in class environment. Traditional teaching methods have far been replaced by tools provided by computers and it now became a wonder if the roles of teachers would ever stay the same in the following year as ICT embedded language teaching came to be widely used. Though information communication technologies provide students with the opportunity to visualize the content they have been exposed to, it is questionable if learners really have the equal chance to get the utmost benefit of this content as they are exposed to the same activities or the same materials paying the least attention to learners own learning styles. This study aims to explore the extent to which the learners can take benefit from the content information communication technologies provide, whether the kinesthetic learners are left out of the circle of this opportunity as the content is more likely to support visual and audio learners. The study is conducted among eighty adult learners of English as a foreign language at a language course in Istanbul. The findings of the study have not only given the researchers the chance to evaluate the materials and the technologies used but also provided an insight on the process for the betterment of these materials as learning styles were found to play the key role on the performance of the students with the materials they were being exposed to. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 Keywords Keywords. Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed P Philology. Linguistics Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 985 Title A name given to the resource EFL Learners’ Attitudes towards Intercultural Communicative Competence Author Author Guven, Seda Abstract A summary of the resource. As a requirement of the rapid globalization and the increase in intercultural communication in many parts of our lives, English has gained a new status as the language of international communication. Following the change in the role of English, integrating culture into English Language Teaching (ELT) has gained in importance and teaching only the target language culture has been questioned with the idea of teaching world cultures which is a necessity for intercultural communicative competence (ICC). Although the attitudes of teachers towards teaching ICC have been studied in different countries, the research on the attitudes of learners towards learning ICC is limited in literature, especially in Turkey. In this paper, I will present the attitudes of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students towards learning ICC in EFL context. The purpose of the study is to determine whether a) EFL learners support the idea of learning world cultures, b) They are only in favor of learning target language culture, or c) They are opposed to learning values of any foreign culture. The variables such as gender, age, English proficiency level, major and the medium of instruction at their departments will be taken into consideration to see if they affect students’ attitudes towards learning ICC. Approximately 420 EFL learners studying at the preparatory classes of seven different Turkish state universities located in various parts of the country will take part in the study. A questionnaire assessing their attitudes towards learning ICC will be administered to those students. The data to be obtained from the questionnaires will be entered into SPSS and analyzed through quantitative methods by running descriptive statistics and ANOVA. The results of the study are expected to be of benefit to policy makers, course designers and text book writers. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 Keywords Keywords. Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed P Philology. Linguistics Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 943 Title A name given to the resource Political, Historical and Environmental Factors at Language Transmission from Generation to Generation: the Model of Uzbek Originated Afghan Immigrants who live in Gaziantep, Turkey Author Author Hatunoğlu, Nurettin Abstract A summary of the resource. Political, Historical and Environmental Factors at LanguageTransmissionfrom Generation to Generation: the Model of Uzbek Originated Afghan Immigrants who live in Gaziantep, Turkey Since language has a major role for transmitting the cultural values of the society to the next generations, it is the basic unit of the society that ensures the continuity. Although it is a natural process that the language of the society, which is learnt in the family first, interacts with the other languages and changes throughout this interaction, it cannot be accepted as normal that the members of the society forget their mother tongue and interact through other languages. It is the result of the fact that the members of the society could not transmit their mother tongue to the next generations because of some political, historical and environmental factors. For instance, Uzbek originated Afghan immigrants, who were brought from Afghanistan in 1983 and were housed in Gaziantep in Turkey with a political decision made in 1982, were interacting in Persian not in Uzbek, which is an evidence showing how some political, historical and environmental factors can be effective on hindering language transmission to the next generations. In this study, we tried to investigate the causes and results of the language corruption among these Uzbeks via the survey we conducted on these Uzbeks, even the last members of the royalty ofBukhara Khanate. Consequently, the questions asked in the survey aimed to find out the effect of language corruption on culture change, and the effect of these culture changes on the sense of belonging. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 Keywords Keywords. Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed P Philology. Linguistics Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 3633 Title A name given to the resource Volume 2, Issue 2 Author Author Journal of Economic, and Social Studies Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available International Burch University Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 Keywords Keywords. Book PeerReviewed H Social Sciences (General) https://omeka.ibu.edu.ba/files/original/d398261f7baecb6b92b01fa04e7bf616.pdf 93e12514df6a427e73370dfe12a3a5ae PDF Text Text Journal of Economic and Social Studies Clustering Balkan Countries Based on Competitiveness Factors: A Strategic Perspective Kazım DEVELİOĞLU Akdeniz University, Alanya Business Faculty Alanya, Turkey kdevelioglu@akdeniz.edu.tr Kemal KANTARCI Akdeniz University, Alanya Business Faculty Alanya, Turkey kantarci@akdeniz.edu.tr Abstract: Prior to directing their investments, strategy makers at national and firm level need to know competitive advantages and disadvantages in a country or region. By bearing this need in mind, this study aims to examine competitive factors in Balkan countries to develop a road map for investors. To do this, we used World Economic Forum’s “Global Competitiveness Index” to analyze the case of Balkan countries as a region to cluster and compare them based on Global competitiveness factors. Analysis results pointed out those Balkan countries were clustered in two groups and scored lower or medium level on almost all competitive factors as the region. Based on these findings, authors suggested various strategic recommendations at micro and macro level. KEYWORDS: Cluster, Competitiveness, Strategic Management, Balkan Countries ARTICLE HISTORY Submitted: 20 March 2012 Resubmitted: 15 July 2012 Resubmitted: 18 December 2012 Accepted: 24 December 2012 JEL code: M20 237 �Kazım DEVELİOĞLU & Kemal KANTARCI Literature review In an era of great competition among nations and firms, it is vital for firms’ strategy makers to develop strategies to adapt to environmental changes and speed their processes. Vietor (2006) indicates that, in national level, as a result of globalizaton, countries compete each other in terms of markets, technology, skills, and investment to grow and raise their standards of living. Although, macroeconomic competitiveness creates the potential for high productivity, it is not sufficient. Productivity ultimately depends on improving the micro economic capability of the economy and sophistication of local competition (Porter, 2009). Economic Forum (2011) defines competitivenessas the set of institutions, policies, and factors that determine the level of productivity of a country. The level of productivity, in turn, sets the level of prosperity that can be earned by an economy. The productivity level also determines the rates of return obtained by investments in an economy, which in turn are the fundamental drivers of its growth rates. In other words, a more competitive economy is one that is likely to grow faster over time. “Competitive strategy is the search for a favorable competitive position in an industry, the fundamental arena in which competition occurs. Competitive strategy aims to establish a profitable and sustainable position against the forces that determine industry competition” (Porter, 2004, p1). According to Porter (2003) competitive success cannot solely depend on managerial and company attributes when many successful firms in a given field are concentrated in just a few locations (pp. 254). Therefore, we need to see location and cluster membership as integral part of a company’s success. A cluster is “a geographically proximate group of interconnected companies, suppliers, service providers and associated institutions in a particular field, linked by externalities of various types” (Porter, 2003b, p562). Becoming in a cluster offers a firm certain advantages such as knowledge, skills, inputs, components, services, etc. A cluster, geographically, “can range from a single city or state to a country or even a group of neighboring countries” (Enright, 1993; in Porter, 2003a, pp. 254). Regional cooperative formations (e.g., NAFTA, APEC) aimed to develop trade and investment in as particular region. It is expected that cooperation among neighbors can significantly have an impact on productivity of national business environment (Porter, 1998). 238 Journal of Economic and Social Studies �Clustering Balkan Countries Based on Competitiveness Factors: A Strategic Perspective To be competitive, nations are struggling to remain competitive by having regional specializations in terms of hihger value added – non manufacturing industries and Research & Development intensive manufacturing niches (OECD, 2007). Similarly, Porter (2009) indicates that competitiveness depends on the productivity with which a nation uses its human, capital, and natural resources. Economic coordination among neighboring countries can significantly enhance competitiveness. By the similar vein, as developing countries, economic collaboration among Balkan countries is expected to enhance sustainable competition. At this point, it has to be noted that competition policies of advanced countries might not be appropriate for the stage of development of most developing countries (Singh, 1999). Singh (1999) also indicates that “It is important for developing countries to have a competition policy which is designed to take appropriate account of their level of development and the long term objective of sustained economic growth. This is in part due to the potential effects of the international merger movement and also because of privatization, deregulation and liberalization which have occurred in the domestic economies of most developing countries” (p1). As a developing region, the Balkan peninsula is becoming recovered and develop after post-socialist and instable period because of the war among some of states. “The Balkan Peninsula is an important area, having witnessed important historical and political experiences and incidents for ages” (Çelebioğlu 2011, p.112). Having a population of, nearly, 140 million citizens, the Balkan region provides a promising market for firms from international arena and especially Balkan countries. As it is indicated in WEF’s (2011-2012) Global Competitiveness Report, “national competitiveness, we note that despite much work in the area of sustainability, there is not yet a well-established body of literature on the link between productivity (which is at the heart of competitiveness) and sustainability. However, at the World Economic Forum we believe that the relationship between competitiveness and sustainability is crucial (pp. 52). Developing economically sound strategies, especially for international firms and firms from the region, it is crucial to examine competitiveness indicators of Balkan countries. This will help firms to develop a sustainable competitive edge by investing and selling in the region. Taking this necessity into account, this study aims to fill the gap for lack of comparative studies for Balkan countries. More specifically, we analyze Balkan countries’ competitiveness factors by, first, clustering them and, second, compare the clusters to grasp which cluster perform in which competitive factor well. 239 �Kazım DEVELİOĞLU & Kemal KANTARCI In this study, we used the data of The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) classification of “Global Competitiveness Index” factors to examine indicators that are expected to influence sustainable competition in the region. for the years between 2008-2011. WEF’s classification consists of three sub-indexes and 12 factors that measure these sub-indexes, which are reported below: • Basic requirements (Institutions, Infrastructure, Macroeconomic environment, and Health and primary education) • Efficiency enhancers (Higher education and training, Goods market efficiency, Labor market efficiency, financial market development, Technological readiness, and Market size) • Innovation and sophistication factors (Business sophistication and Innovation) Methodology As it is mentioned above, in this study, we used the data of The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) “Global Competitiveness Index” for the years between 2008-2011. By using the secondary data, we aimed, first, to cluster the Balkan countries in terms of above mentioned “Global Competitiveness Index” factors and second to compare these clusters to reveal which of them are more competitive in subindexes and factors. To classify Balkan Countries, we employed a k-means cluster analysis to see “how objects should be assigned to groups so that there will be as much similarity within and difference among groups as possible” (Churchill, 1998, pp. 860). In comparing Balkan countries based on competitiveness index actors, ttest analysis was used aiming that whether the means of two clustered countries were statistically different from each other. 240 Journal of Economic and Social Studies �Clustering Balkan Countries Based on Competitiveness Factors: A Strategic Perspective Findings In order to cluster the Balkan countries in terms of Global competitiveness factors, we employed a k-means cluster analysis and derived two clusters, which is reported in Table 1 below. One of these clusters (Cluster 1) includes countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey. The second cluster (Cluster 2) countries are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovenia. Scores in Table 1 betray that only in market size competitiveness factor, Cluster 1 countries have a competitive advantage compared with Cluster 2 countries. Table 1. Cluster Analysis Results Cluster Global Competitiveness Factor Institutions Infrastructure Macroeconomic environment Health and primary education Higher education and training Goods market efficiency Labor market efficiency Financial market development Technological readiness Market size Business sophistication Innovation 1 3,63 4,00 4,70 5,45 3,95 4,33 3,60 4,18 3,78 5,20 4,20 3,13 2 4,35 3,38 4,93 5,90 4,38 4,35 4,58 4,83 4,05 2,05 3,80 3,30 F 1,784 0,401 1,827 0,033 0,022 0,396 3,599 0,021 0,105 15,499 0,018 0,120 p 0,214 0,542 0,209 0,860 0,885 0,545 0,090 0,889 0,754 0,003 0,897 0,737 In order to compare Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 countries, we used t-test analysis and obtained the results, which are reported in Table 2 and Table 3. In table 2, we compared two clusters in terms of Global Competitiveness sub-indexes. Table 2. T-test Results for Cluster Membership and Global Competitiveness Subindexes Variable Basic requirements Efficiency enhancers Innovation and sophistication factors Cluster 1 2 1 2 1 2 Mean 4,38 4,47 4,06 3,87 3,39 3,34 Std. Deviation 0,246 0,449 0,161 0,326 0,214 0,473 t p -0,858 0,396 2,547 0,015 0,479 0,634 241 �Kazım DEVELİOĞLU & Kemal KANTARCI Results in Table 2 portray that Cluster 1 (Mean= 4,06) and Cluster (Mean= 3,87) countries both had medium-level but statistically significant difference (t= 2,547; P= 0,015) in efficiency enhancers sub-index. For the other two sub-indexes, namely basic requirements (t= 0,858; P= 0,396) and innovation and sophistication factors (t= 0,479; P= 0,634), both of the clusters showed no statistically significant results. It has to be noted that in both, basic requirements and innovation and sophistication factors, Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 countries had medium level competitiveness scores. Table 3. T-test Results for Cluster Membership and Global Competitiveness Factors Variable Institutions Infrastructure Macroeconomic environment Health and primary education Higher education and training Goods market efficiency Labor market efficiency Financial market development Technological readiness Market size Business sophistication Innovation Cluster 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 Mean 3,53 3,84 3,70 3,43 4,55 4,89 5,73 5,76 4,21 4,17 4,00 4,12 4,04 4,34 4,04 4,07 3,82 3,74 4,20 2,83 3,75 3,72 3,45 2,97 Std. Deviation 0,233 0,515 0,691 0,851 0,482 0,435 0,228 0,319 0,254 0,625 0,239 0,376 0,325 0,208 0,224 0,504 0,286 0,616 0,579 0,479 0,313 0,427 0,131 0,507 t p -2,657 0,011 1,158 0,254 -2,406 0,021 -0,332 0,741 0,305 0,762 -1,194 0,239 -3,592 0,001 -0,255 0,800 0,597 0,554 8,427 0,000 0,268 0,790 0,705 0,485 Examination of Table 3 revealed mixed results for Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 countries. In Table 3, the results betray that Cluster 2 countries scored better in three of twelve Global Competitiveness factors than Cluster 1 countries. Only for market size competitiveness factor, Cluster 1 countries had statistically significant difference scores (t= 8,427; P= 0,000). 242 Journal of Economic and Social Studies �Clustering Balkan Countries Based on Competitiveness Factors: A Strategic Perspective Discussion Analysis results at the findings section pointed out those competitiveness scores of Balkan countries, whether it belong Cluster 1 or Cluster 2, are relatively low or medium and need to be developed. Specifically, Cluster 2 countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovenia) should have a national strategic plan to improve their competitive position in infrastructure (quality of roads, railroads, ports, and air transport infrastructure), higher education and training (secondary education enrollment, tertiary education enrollment, quality of the educational system, math &science education, management schools, internet access in schools, availability of research and services), goods market efficiency (intensity of local competition, extent of market dominance, effectiveness of antimonopoly policy, extent and effect of taxation, total tax rate, number of procedures to start a business, agricultural policy cost, buyer sophistication), labor market efficiency (cooperation in labor-employer relations, flexibility of wage determination, hiring and firing practices, women in labor force), financial market development (availability of financial services, affordability of financial services, ease of access to loans, venture capital availability), technological readiness (availability of latest technologies, firm-level technology absorption, FDI and technology transfer, internet related factors), business sophistication (local supplier quantity and quality, state of cluster development, nature of competitive advantage, control of international distribution, extent of marketing, willingness to delegate authority), and innovation (capacity for innovation, quality of scientific research institutions, company spending on R&D, utility patents granted). Similarly, Cluster 1 countries should emphasize on development of institutions, infrastructure, financial market, and technological environment and better conditions in macroeconomic environment, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, business sophistication, and innovation. It seems from analysis results that the major advantage for these clusters is their population and market size. This picture warns us that firms plan to invest in the Balkan region should be aware of disadvantageous competitive factors in both cluster countries. It seems that even though both clusters have disadvantages for investors they also offer certain advantages for them. We believe that for strategy makers in national governments and firms, these findings provide useful insights to develop their strategic plans. 243 �Kazım DEVELİOĞLU & Kemal KANTARCI References Churchill, Gilbert A. (1998). Marketing Research. Dryden Press. Çelebioğlu, F. (2011). Investigation of Development Indicators in the Balkan Countries for the Post-Socialist Period. Journal of Economic and Social Studies, Volume: 1, Number: 1, 111-122. Enright, M. J. (1993), "The Geographic Scope of Competitive Advantage," in E. Dirven, J. Groenewegen, and S. van Hoof (eds), Stuck in the Region?: Changing Scales of Regional Identity. (Utrecht: Netherlands Geographical Studies 155), 87-102. Porter, M. E. (1998). The Competitive Advantage of Nations. The Free Press. Porter, M. E. (2003a). Locations, Clusters, and Company Strategy (in The Oxford Handbook of Economic Geography, Gordon L. Clark, Maryann P. Feldman, and Meric S. Gertler (eds), Chapter 13, pp. 253-274), Oxford University Press. Porter, M. E. (2003b). The Economic Performance of Regions. Regional Studies, Vol. 37, 67, 549-578. Porter, M. E. (2004). Competitive Advantage, The Free Press. Porter, M. E. (2009). The Competitive Advantage of Nations, States, and Regions, Harvard Business School, Advanced Management Program. OECD. (2007). Competitive Regional Clusters: National Policy Approaches, (http://www.oecd.org/document/2/0,3746,en_2649_33735_38174082_1_1_1_1,00.html), (22.04.2012). Singh, A.. (1999). Competition Policy, development and developing Countries. Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi. Vietor, R. H. K.. (2006). Strategy, Structure, and Government in the Global Economy. Harvard Business School Press, Boston, Massachusetts. World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report, (2008-2009). World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report, (2009-2010). World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report, (2010-2011). World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report, (2011-2012). 244 Journal of Economic and Social Studies � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 1396 Title A name given to the resource Clustering Balkan Countries Based on Competitiveness Factors: A Strategic Perspective2 Author Author Kazim, Develioglu Kemal, KANTARCI Abstract A summary of the resource. Prior to directing their investments, strategy makers at national and firm level need to know competitive advantages and disadvantages in a country or region. By bearing this need in mind, this study aims to examine competitive factors in Balkan countries to develop a road map for investors. To do this, we used World Economic Forum’s “Global Competitiveness Index” to analyze the case of Balkan countries as a region to cluster and compare them based on Global competitiveness factors. Analysis results pointed out those Balkan countries were clustered in two groups and scored lower or medium level on almost all competitive factors as the region. Based on these findings, authors suggested various strategic recommendations at micro and macro level. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available International Burch University Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 Keywords Keywords. Article PeerReviewed H Social Sciences (General),HB Economic Theory,HG Finance Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 944 Title A name given to the resource The Communicative Approach and Its Applications in the Modern English Classes Author Author Keskin , Nurgul Benk, Kemal Abstract A summary of the resource. In Communicative Language Teaching Approach, the aim of language teaching is to teach the communication process. However, the primary requirement for any communication is the existence of a meaningful input to be got across. If the necessary knowledge of a language is not obtained, then the desired communication may not be realized due to a lack of essential input. Thus, the structure of the target language should be known by speakers to a certain extend if they are non-native speakers of the target language as in the case of English as a Second/Foreign Language (EFL/ESL) learners in Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina. At this point the notions of language accusation and language learning step in as EFL/ESL learners may not have the opportunity to be exposed to the target language, in this case "English", sufficiently. The reasons for this situation may vary according to the primary needs of the students, different educational beliefs and opportunities. In this paper three main topics are presented about Communicative Language Teaching Approach including the application of Communicative Language Teaching Approach in the modern English classes, the effects of this approach on students' motivation and some activities based on CLT. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 Keywords Keywords. Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed P Philology. Linguistics