Job Discussion Forums

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Just curious who gets what days off for the October holiday this year. Naturally, we have to work on Saturday, September 30th, but only for the first 3 periods, then the kids go home. ????? I'm not sure for whose benefit this is. Surely not the kids. Some go home every night so they have to come back in for only a short time on Saturday morning. The parents? If they have to work their own job on Saturday to "make up" for the holiday, then who's going to come to the school at 11AM to pick up the child? And if they have to commute 30 minutes or more each way, that could be annoying. It's not beneficial to the teachers. It's not like any of us get extra pay for that time. I can understand the full day on the 8th (see below), but this half-day seems a little absurd (guess I should be thankful it's not a FULL day!).

Here's the schedule I was given:

Thursday - - Thursday's classes
Friday - - Thursday's classes
Saturday - - Friday's classes - - but only for the 1st 3 periods.

For my class, I can pretty well pick and choose which lessons I teach, so it doesn't affect me so much. I'm showing a DVD on Saturday morning anyway. But what about those that don't have this luxury? Surely teaching 2 days worth of Thursday classes will throw any Friday group they have off-kilter (if they are teaching all their classes at the same pace, that is). We have to come back on Sunday, October 8th (*groan!*) and this is the schedule:

Sunday - - Monday classes
Monday - - Tuesday classes
Tuesday - - Tuesday classes

. . . then back to normal. Same applies here, won't that frak up anyone who tries to teach their classes at the same speed?

Anyway, who's lucky enough to get 9 days off this year (or more?)?

Leon Purvis · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 8:16 am Post subject:

Like last year, I'll probably get a call from the FL dept at 5:00 pm on Friday informing me that I must teach Thursday and Friday's classes AGAIN on Saturday and Sunday. Students aren't told of the schedule change and the Chinese teachers don't have to go to class ---- just the FTs.

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

11 days off - public university. (half-term)

Calories · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 361 Location: Chinese Food Hell

I'll let you know on Friday or Saturday or Sunday or Monday morning what I'm told but, I don't actually know about this holiday yet and then if I have to teach on Sunday the next week, I'll let you know on Saturday what random day Sunday will be. My guess is Wednesday since I already had a Sunday that was Thursday at the start of the year since they had to start classes on Friday instead of waiting until Monday or maybe it'll be a Sunday that is Monday just for kicks. It would make sense to ask but, you know.

chengdude · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 294

Saturday 9/30: Thursday classes
Sunday 10/08: Friday classes

Blech.

Laoshi1950 · Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 198 Location: Australia

There is usually some sort of perverse 'logic' to the days chosen to be the extra 'make-up' days prior to, or just after, the May/October holidays.

At my college, I was informed today that our schedule for the 'make-up' days would be as follows: Saturday 30 September - we work the Wednesday lesson schedule, again; and on Sunday 8 October - we work the Friday lesson schedule.

I am not quite sure why Friday's schedule was chosen for Sunday 8 October (or, why the Thursday lesson schedule was not chosen).

I remain to be convinced that I have been given accurate information about the arrangements for this college. However, I am sure that the students will know tomorrow. I will double-check with them!

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

My own case is slightly complicated by the fact that I have 2 employers. I'm hired to do xx hours per week IELTS prep, by an educational company with a partnership agreement at a college. The college though plans my schedule, so that my classes don't conflict with my students' regular classes. Then I also teach extra classes for the college, as time allows and bearing in mind that my first priority is the IELTS prep. The same people do the scheduling for both, so conflicts are minimized. Now according to my Iprep contract, my first day back is the eighth, but all of my students will have makeup classes then, so I can expect an empty classroom if I insist on teaching that class. OTOH the same day I have makeup classes for my second contract with the college,and that is the day normally used for them. Now I would love to take the money for a day of no-show classes and turn it into a de-facto day off, but being honest, it would be better for me to reschedule that day's IELTS prep and do my makeup classes for Friday 6th. I've spoken to the college FAO and they smiled and said, "get back to you in a day or 2" This time I believe them, it's in their interest to give a prompt answer.

As it happens, I'm also supposed to have makeup classes on Sat 30th, but I persuaded the same people to move those classes to near the end of term, just a bit before exams. <smile> A good relationship with the FAO pays off! Whoever would have thought!

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

If the weather is nice on Thursday the 28th, then we get two days of Sports Days on the 28th and the 29th, and off until Sunday October 8th teaching Friday's class. Since many of us don't have any classes on Fridays, we will have 11 days off.

If it rains on Thursday the 28th, then:

Thursday the 28th - Thursday's class
Friday the 29th - Friday's class
Saturday the 30th - Wednesday's class

And I think then back to work on Monday the 9th.

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

xinpu · Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 61 Location: Nanjing

every time I ask about National holidays (this will be the third time) the following scenario occurs EXACTLY as described (over canteen lunch usually):

Me: So let's confirm next week I have no classes, right?

Chinese Teachers (usually 3 or more eating sticky canteen rice): Ha Ha Ha , it's national week !! Ha Ha Ha ..no classes (subtext - stupid laowai..like a child ha ha ha)....7days holiday..you didn't know... ha ha ha !

Me: Ok, so no make up classes then?

Chinese Teachers: Oh, err yes (face lost all round, go back to poking the now cold sticky canteen rice)...maybe you have to work saturday and sunday (cue rapid fire chinese and vocal disagreement about when we actually have to teach). ..err we will check.

Me: (to myself) and when exactly where you planning on telling me this????

Craig! · Joined: 23 Jan 2005 Posts: 202

9 or 11 days off.
''Short weeks'' alternate with ''long weeks'', altho this week (short) repeated. Exams going on now.
After GuoQingJie, i expect the long week. but i never know.

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

As many times before, we have to make up SOME classes but not ALL of them... So, some students will benefit (from more English classes though it's debatable whether unfair apportioning of English classes to students will enhance the English proficiency of this minority!).

I have to put in one day teaching two classes out of 9 classes.

I think we will hold a special party!

adamsmith · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 259 Location: wuhan

luckily for me I have to make up wednsday class before and thursday class after the holiday. I say lucky because I have no wednseday classes, so I have a full 8 day holiday.

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

Finish lunchtime Thursday 28th Sept-Return Monday 9th Oct. Normal Sunday class for 1st October to be made up after the holidays, probably Friday 13th October (I usually have Fridays and Saturdays off) No complaints-university schedule.

FT's-Enjoy your break however long and whatever you do... Cool

Crippler · Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Dongguan

Well, I haveOct 1 - October 8 but I teach grade 1 this year and they have a city wide sports meet Sept 25 - 28 and then a school meet Sept 29 - 30. So is don't teach this week either. Only problem is they didn't tell me until I showed up for work on Monday.