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BlueBlood
Joined: 31 Aug 2013
Posts: 261
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 Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 6:49 pm Post subject: Summer Vacation at Chinese Colleges & Universities |
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Guys, what are generally the dates of summer holidays in China, beginning to end?
I realize each college is different, and even the best ones usually don't bother to specify the exact beginning and ending dates in advance. I'm just looking for general parameters, ie. mid-July to early-Sept (?).
Thanks in advance! |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Mid- to late-June to early September. Generally. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:38 am Post subject: |
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For FTs the end can come earlier than expected (poor joke) as the admin may want to clear the unimportant oral classes out of the schedule to allow students to cram for the 'real' stuff.
I advocate leaving one clear week at the end anyway with all assessing and mark reporting done. Especially if it is your first semester it can be stressful enough without thinking 'Hell I've got a plane to catch at 8am tomorrow and the college mark registration system has just died'.
The Sept start semester can get going late for freshmen classes as they do a few weeks military training at some unis. |
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BlueBlood
Joined: 31 Aug 2013
Posts: 261
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 5:12 am Post subject: |
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NS, You imply that FT's generally have the ability to decide whether or not classes take place over the final week. Am I reading you correctly?
I ask bc I'm surprised the admin would let FT's make that call. I figured they'd expect X-number of classes per semester, excluding finals. |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 5:18 am Post subject: |
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| BlueBlood wrote: |
NS, You imply that FT's generally have the ability to decide whether or not classes take place over the final week. Am I reading you correctly?
I ask bc I'm surprised the admin would let FT's make that call. I figured they'd expect X-number of classes per semester, excluding finals. |
I think NS meant the opposite: to give yourself an extra week after the supposed end of the semester to give yourself time to get grading and all of the little details squared away.
I would agree with this. I can never understand why people would make a beeline to get out of dodge the day after the semester ends--there's no hurry and it ends up creating waaaay more stress to push to get everything done. IMHO, better to give oneself a week and then board that plane. For me, that simply leads to a greater peace of mind.
The same with the beginning of the semester--it always amuses me when people arrive the day before the start of classes. Those people are usually harried and end up being a hot mess and start things off on the wrong foot. Better to give oneself a few days' leeway before showtime. Again, greater peace of mind.
I would agree: I think the admin generally would not let FTs make that call.
Just my two kuai's worth.
Warm regards,
fat_chris |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 5:42 am Post subject: |
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| BlueBlood wrote: |
NS, You imply that FT's generally have the ability to decide whether or not classes take place over the final week. Am I reading you correctly?
I ask bc I'm surprised the admin would let FT's make that call. I figured they'd expect X-number of classes per semester, excluding finals. |
Chris is right.
No classes at all would be a school call, based on clearing space for other things.
Having the formalities over with one full week to spare is an FT call.
The kids can turn up if they want to and I run a movie. Ever watched The Parent Trap eight times in one week?
Occasionally students (who have their marks by that time) want to talk about them. Usually the ones who have done well, but the odd complaint also.
Luckily I keep very detailed records of class by class performance and can back up the marks awarded. |
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BlueBlood
Joined: 31 Aug 2013
Posts: 261
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:29 am Post subject: |
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| Non Sequitur wrote: |
| BlueBlood wrote: |
NS, You imply that FT's generally have the ability to decide whether or not classes take place over the final week. Am I reading you correctly?
I ask bc I'm surprised the admin would let FT's make that call. I figured they'd expect X-number of classes per semester, excluding finals. |
Chris is right.
No classes at all would be a school call, based on clearing space for other things.
Having the formalities over with one full week to spare is an FT call.
The kids can turn up if they want to and I run a movie. Ever watched The Parent Trap eight times in one week?
Occasionally students (who have their marks by that time) want to talk about them. Usually the ones who have done well, but the odd complaint also.
Luckily I keep very detailed records of class by class performance and can back up the marks awarded. |
By this you mean actually having the final exams on the second-to-last class, then making the last class basically optional for the students? |
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MisterButtkins
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Posts: 1221
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 10:41 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| By this you mean actually having the final exams on the second-to-last class, then making the last class basically optional for the students? |
Yeah, basically. Another thing you can do, if you give interview tests, is to "schedule" the interview for like, the last 2 classes. Then tell all the students they have to come to both classes. Then just run them all through on the first class. No more tests!
Another thing I will do is this: Tell the students they can either (A)All go on one day (the first day), but some of them will have to go during their lunch break or (B)Some of them will go on the second day. Give them the opportunity to vote. I have done this 4-5 times and only one class voted for two days. The others, I was done the first day. |
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Toast
Joined: 08 Jun 2013
Posts: 428
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 11:39 am Post subject: |
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| fat_chris wrote: |
| I would agree with this. I can never understand why people would make a beeline to get out of dodge the day after the semester ends--there's no hurry and it ends up creating waaaay more stress to push to get everything done. IMHO, better to give oneself a week and then board that plane. For me, that simply leads to a greater peace of mind. |
Ideally true, alas if you're forking out $ for your own plane tix the difference between flying out on say June 25th or July 1st could hurt worse than peeing out a kidney stone. Anyway with 3 week waiting periods for new RPs at many PSBs these days getting out before halfway through summer vacation may soon become a near impossibility.
As far as setting dates for final exams etc. my school gives a time slot usually the week before last which is duly ignored by most FTs who just make their own arrangement with the students to get everything finalized a week or so before that. Last semester was a bit of veritable clusterf@ck though as some FTs were giving final exams a month+ before the semester ended and were lying on a beach in Phuket by the time the FAO called a meeting the discuss final tests 3 weeks later. Grumbling ensued and a couple of additional clauses were written into the contract appendix about consulting with the DOS regarding finalizing classes and student grades. |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 11:49 am Post subject: |
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| Toast wrote: |
| Ideally true, alas if you're forking out $ for your own plane tix the difference between flying out on say June 25th or July 1st could hurt worse than peeing out a kidney stone. |
Mention of peeing out a kidney stone. OUCH!
Ah, I get it about flight price--definitely to be considered.
But then this:
| Toast wrote: |
| Last semester was a bit of veritable clusterf@ck though as some FTs were giving final exams a month+ before the semester ended and were lying on a beach in Phuket by the time the FAO called a meeting the discuss final tests 3 weeks later. Grumbling ensued and a couple of additional clauses were written into the contract appendix about consulting with the DOS regarding finalizing classes and student grades. |
That gets a double
Warm regards,
fat_chris |
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choudoufu
Joined: 25 May 2010
Posts: 3325
Location: Mao-berry, PRC
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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at our little vo-tec college, we have a set schedule for tests and exams.
week 17: last week of classes, usually used for review.
week 18: exams (given by teachers to individual classes) *we ft's do these*
tests are given during normal class hours in the assigned classrooms
week 19: tests given for combined classes, with assigned proctorators,
requiring reassigned classrooms, no regular classes scheduled.
students may leave at the end of week 19.
week 20: grading, paperwork, and so on. teachers leave at the end of
the week, or once they have turned in their stuff.
i have all my lesson summaries, class evaluations (and so on) ready by
the end of week 17. tests are graded immediately after completion. i'll
plan to turn in all my stuff on monday of week 19, and fly out wednesday,
giving me an extra day in case something unimportant comes up.
i buy my plane tickets the first couple weeks of the semester, and notify
my FAO of when i'll be leaving. i can buy my tix in advance at cheapskate
prices, according to the semester schedule we get during the first week.
this gives me 1-1/2 extra weeks of vacation without cutting any classes
out of the schedule. no problems with this school. department is happy,
contract is fulfilled, all paperwork is turned in on time or early. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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| BlueBlood wrote: |
| Non Sequitur wrote: |
| BlueBlood wrote: |
NS, You imply that FT's generally have the ability to decide whether or not classes take place over the final week. Am I reading you correctly?
I ask bc I'm surprised the admin would let FT's make that call. I figured they'd expect X-number of classes per semester, excluding finals. |
Chris is right.
No classes at all would be a school call, based on clearing space for other things.
Having the formalities over with one full week to spare is an FT call.
The kids can turn up if they want to and I run a movie. Ever watched The Parent Trap eight times in one week?
Occasionally students (who have their marks by that time) want to talk about them. Usually the ones who have done well, but the odd complaint also.
Luckily I keep very detailed records of class by class performance and can back up the marks awarded. |
By this you mean actually having the final exams on the second-to-last class, then making the last class basically optional for the students? |
I'd say '2nd to last week' rather than class.
But that last week should be clear of everything and this allows for the TIC factor to emerge.
I only teach Oral so all assessment is done by 2/3 students performing a little playlet from a group of topics I choose.
As I do a mid semester assessment in the same format I don't have to labour over the process.
Week 15 I announce the test and provide the topics. I also reconfirm the students (2/3) who will be working together.
Week 16 and 17 is for the assessments. I've always had 40+ students so impossible to get 15-20 playlets heard in 90 mins.
Groups are drawn at random but once they've performed they can leave class. Many stay though.
I don't load marks until all classes are completed as I like to do a 'what if?' final look through to make sure I've marked fairly. Not only in each class, but across all the classes.
I've mentioned before that the current English student name may not be what's on the computer. That's why my student assessment slip records unique student ID number.
Sorry to blather on but I know Blueblood is still to start teaching and I want to give a bit of context.
If you have any doubts about getting assessments performed and marked by Week 17, start the process in Week 14. |
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mw182006
Joined: 10 Dec 2012
Posts: 310
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| Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 4:56 am Post subject: |
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This thread is making my head spin a bit. Guess I need to clear some things up with my boss. Due to visa issues I got a late start this semester and started teaching in Week 7. I decided to assign what I thought would be an easy project last week - a 5 minute oral presentation - and that has gone over like a lead balloon. For most of the classes I caved and let them speak using their notes, and I think this may stretch into a 3-week ordeal for my largest classes. It sounds like I may need to give a total of 3 projects including the final, so I have a hard time seeing how I'm going to squeeze all of this in by week 19 (or sooner based on some of the comments in this thread).
I guess you could say I'm in that 'difficult' university position you guys talk about. Example, in some classes I'll say good morning and ask students "how are you doing today" and the only response I get is "yes." Haha...technology is lacking, the textbooks are basically useless, and I don't really get much direction from anyone. I'm not getting too down on myself since this is my first crack at this, but I do want to help these kids learn...it just seems like an impossible task given the circumstances. I guess I'm just going to have to play the entertainer role and find some games and activities. |
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teenoso
Joined: 18 Sep 2013
Posts: 365
Location: south china
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| Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 5:27 am Post subject: |
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Last day of term here is 11 July.
The exam schedule is set by the school , so this term we have (oral) exams on the last Friday of the last week. Marks collated over the weekend and in presumably on the first Monday of the vacation!
Every college has its own system , so there are no guarantees you can get away immediately.
Re the previous post : talking 5 mins on a topic is a tough assignment even for english majors, IMO. I give my students easy topics ('My favourite movie' etc) in the exam (not before) , 3 mins to get ready and then talk for 2-3 mins. |
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mw182006
Joined: 10 Dec 2012
Posts: 310
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| Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 5:42 am Post subject: |
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| teenoso wrote: |
| Re the previous post : talking 5 mins on a topic is a tough assignment even for english majors, IMO. I give my students easy topics ('My favourite movie' etc) in the exam (not before) , 3 mins to get ready and then talk for 2-3 mins. |
Yeah, lesson learned. |
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