Author Topic: What usually happens during English classes in February at public schools? (Read 1453 times)

adrian84 · « **on:** January 11, 2012, 08:13:44 pm »

The students tend to be finished their English book, and are ready to just graduate, so what typically happens during English class in February?

gangwon · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2012, 08:48:21 pm »

Last year ours were cancelled, the students just stayed in their home rooms. This year, we're on holiday enjoying the sunshine - hopefully!

money55 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 12, 2012, 07:02:42 am »

they gave me a holiday. YAhoo, I guess. i would have preferred it if they had gave me Dec 26-Dec 31st off. Then I come back January 2nd to January 20th. (Korean New Years). Then I come back and teach. whatever though. They gave me a long holiday.

stamerjam · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2012, 10:09:53 am »

This is my first time, but I think I have 3 days of classes to teach.... we'll see.

I'm planning a Valentine's Day lesson in case I teach that week. Try to make it as fun as possible...

Jozigirl · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2012, 10:17:46 am »

They're just supplementary lessons. I usually get told just to show movies because the kids are tired. It's basically downtime but they have to be at school so let them relax.

Yu_Bumsuk · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2012, 11:02:46 am »

In a word, nothing.

notinKS · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2012, 11:18:28 am »

Last year I showed the Super Bowl halftime show and bits and pieces of the game. My soul cried a little each time I heard Fergie sing Sweet Child O' Mine.

But the kids loved it. The things I do for these kids...

Anyway, this year (different school) the kids are only back for two days and on the second of those days, the 1st and 2nd grade students don't even come.

Uhfotis · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2012, 12:55:01 pm »

It seems to totally depend on the principal and the level of the school. Generally I'd echo the comments above and say that if you do have to teach try to make it as fun as possible for the students without totally abandoning educational value.

Calvinism · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2012, 02:48:03 pm »

Hmm . . . does anybody know when the new semester actually starts or does it depend on the school/district in most cases?

Uhfotis · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2012, 03:05:52 pm »

The new semester starts either march 2nd or 5th depending on your school.

Yeti · « **Reply #10 on:** February 06, 2012, 01:44:38 pm »

If you have to teach on these days I recommend doing something rather light, like comics or a review game.

lasoro70 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2012, 08:22:40 am »

I prepared an English game complete with prizes but I've only had one chance to play it. Three of my last five classes have been cancelled at the last minute (of course I had to wander the hallways for 15 minutes looking for my co-teacher to obtain this info) and one class wanted to watch a movie that the teacher had been showing them. So, I've only had once chance to play the game but they seemed to enjoy it. It's my "toughest" crowd (second level, soon to be third level, boys) so I was happy to keep their interest for 45 minutes.

I have 6 classes left until the graduation ceremony and I'm expecting half of those to be cancelled at the last minute.

Anyway, definitely have something ready like a very fun game. However, it's kind of a chaotic week so I would expect many last minute cancellations and schedule changes. My friend is at a high school in Daejeon and half of his classes for the week have also been cancelled.

sweetjane2011 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2012, 09:00:00 am »

Plenty of desk warming!!

Loudine · « **Reply #13 on:** February 08, 2012, 09:19:32 am »

This could be heaven, or this could be hell.

Anybody with more experience/insight care to shed some light on why, after a long break, the school year is not finished? This does not seem to make any sense to me. The students are off from school for several weeks, then have to come back to school, ostensibly to complete work not finished before the end of the year, but mostly to just hang around and bide their time until graduation. So we all come back, muck about for a week or two, then it is spring break. I don't get the logic.

Yu_Bumsuk · « **Reply #14 on:** February 08, 2012, 09:24:13 am »

Quote from: Loudine on February 08, 2012, 09:19:32 am

This could be heaven, or this could be hell.

Anybody with more experience/insight care to shed some light on why, after a long break, the school year is not finished? This does not seem to make any sense to me. The students are off from school for several weeks, then have to come back to school, ostensibly to complete work not finished before the end of the year, but mostly to just hang around and bide their time until graduation. So we all come back, muck about for a week or two, then it is spring break. I don't get the logic.

It's mostly to get administrative work done and plan for the new year. If your coworkers haven't yet had some very long, boring if at times argumentative, meetings they probably will soon. The students are basically 'on hand' to deal with any paperwork that concerns them and to clean / rearrange / move things in place for next year.

Amandada6262000 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 08, 2012, 10:26:28 am »

This week is so frustrating to me. No one tells me ANYTHING- ie, schedule changes- and I waited around in my classroom for my students for 10 minutes before I realized, maybe their class is cancelled. I really don't know what to do with them- I was specifically told NOT to show a movie. My students completely lack any motivation (not that I blame them) and teaching any kind of lesson, hell, even asking them to play a GAME is proving extremely difficult. I try just having open/free conversation classes too, but those bomb within ten minutes. I can't wait for next semester to start....

weirdgirlinkorea · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2012, 10:41:14 am »

Well we had to return two weeks but only had to teach the first week and this week is just deskwarming. Since I don't want to come in during my break I'm trying to get as much done as possible but the ondol floor in the lounge keeps making me sleepy...haha.

Anyway, I was sick and consequently out during the teaching week, but I know from my CT (and from past experience) they just showed movies. That's what we usually do at the end of the term when we finish the book.

Even if we weren't allowed to show movies we would just be doing role play and games.
I don't really get this two week interruption either. Personally, I'd rather deskwarm after camp and this just have a month straight off. I know some schools that allow this. I'm considering asking for this next winter.

Jrong · « **Reply #17 on:** February 08, 2012, 11:11:56 am »

Back at school for one week. No teaching. Finished detailed afterschool lesson planning with all materials. Sit on my ass and watch things like this: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/witness/2012/01/20121121051543501.html
or play guitar.

jbf7934 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2012, 12:08:57 pm »

It's crazy how much these kids go to school, when every other class is cancelled. Maybe the real reason they go on Saturdays is to make up for missed classes

Yu_Bumsuk · « **Reply #19 on:** February 08, 2012, 12:11:23 pm »

Quote from: jbf7934 on February 08, 2012, 12:08:57 pm

It's crazy how much these kids go to school, when every other class is cancelled. Maybe the real reason they go on Saturdays is to make up for missed classes

Actually this week feels a lot like Saturday school.

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Author Topic: What usually happens during English classes in February at public schools? (Read 1453 times)