Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[konoha]

Hi! I�m Konoha and a Japanese girl.
I�m researching about summer vacation customs around the world.
In Japan, our school takes summer vacation from late July to late August in elementary school, junior high and high school. I want to know about summer vacation customs around the world.
Please tell me your summer vacation customs

[Suzanne]

Hello, Konoha,

In the United States, summer vacation starts at the end of May, or early June. It lasts about 10 weeks. School starts again at the end of August or the first Tuesday in September. This is for grades K-12. Colleges and universities have different schedules.

The reason that summer vacation is so long in America is that 100 years ago, children were needed on farms to help with with crops. So, they couldn't go to school in the summer. Even though we don't need children to help farm anymore, the tradition has remained.

There is much debate about whether children should have such long summer vacations or go to year-round school. Research shows that children lose learning during such long vacations, and parents have a hard time finding childcare for 10 weeks. But, so far, the long summer vacations remain in place.

[konoha]

Hello, Suzanne!

Thank you for your great answer. I�m very happy that you have given me some historical background. I�ll use it for my presentation !!

I�m a junior college student. This year our summer vacation is from early August to late September about two months. I think most colleges and universities in Japan have this schedule.

Please tell me more about in US College and university schedules. It would be much appreciated.

Thanks again!

[wang xiao yue]

In China, students have many activities in their summer vocation.,such as going to a different part of the country to view their nature, meeting their friends that long time no see, doing a part time job for money as well as for experence.
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i am a chinese girl. this is my homework, so i would like to share my opinions with yours.

[konoha]

Hello,wang xiao yue!

Thank you for your information!

I would like you to share your opinions too !! Please tell me about your homework and how long your summer vacation is. It would be much appreciated.

[Suzanne]

In the United States, colleges and universities usually have longer summer breaks. Often, they finish the school year in early May. Students use the longer vacation for different things: some have jobs to eary money to return to school in the fall; some do internships in their field of studey; some travel. Few students do nothing--they know this time is precious, and try to make the most of it.

Colleges and universities also have different school year schedules. Each school determines how its schedule will go.
*Some have two semesters, about 15 weeks long, with a single break for Christmas. This has been the traditional model, with students taking 4-5 courses at a time.
*Some have trimesters, whick last about 10 weeks, with a break between each one. Students take 3 courses, no more than 4.
*Others have sequential terms of 4-6 weeks, where students take fewer courses, only 1-2, but the courses are more intense.

Hope this is helpful! What happens where you live?

[Bob S.]

Before you go on, I think a little clarification is needed in case anyone needs this info:
In Japan, the new school year typically starts in April (I think). So a Summer break is a break during the same scholastic year. If you are in grade 3 at the start of Summer holiday, you are still in grade 3 when you resume school.
In the U.S., the Summer break is a transition time between grades. If you are in grade 3 at the start of Summer, you are beginning grade 4 when school starts again in August or September.
_______________________
Eighty percent of success is showing up. - Woody Allen

[konoha]

To suzanne

In Japan most colleges and universities have a two semesters system.But I think technical colleges have the sequential term system.

During summer vacation, students in my college do something to get a job or to transfer to a four year university.
And last year we had a chance to go to Australia on short study abroad program during summer vacation. Unfortunately, this program was canceled because of the lack of students. But next year we have a chance to go to Britain in February. I hope to go there.

Thank you again for your wonderful answer.


To Bob S

Your right!! You are quite familiar with Japan, aren�t you? May be you know more about the Japanese system than me !!

Thank you for your information!! I will use it for my presentation.

[wang xiao yue]

Usually summer vacation comes from middle July to September 1th. But this year for the preparing of the Olympic Game we get off from school a month ealier.
I don't think we will have much homework to do this term, beacuse we would like to do more and enjoy more during the Olympic Game.
_________________
i am a chinese girl. this is my homework, so i would like to share my opinions with yours.

[cnuwindy]

Well, to be frank, in china most of the students will go to different kinds of training schools during their summar vacation, rather than travelling or having a rest. Most of them are forced by their parents or just by the pressure of exams or the peer pressures. I am a college students so I am lucky enough to choose my favourate way to spend my summar vaction. I always go to other provinces and stay for a while to enjoy their lives.

[konoha]

To wang xiao yue

I really envy you long summer vacation! I�m looking forward to the Olympic to be fun !!

Is your information of summer vacation about university, high school, junior high school or elementary school? And please explain the differences between university, high school, junior high school and elementary school summer vacation.

Thank you for your answer!

To cnuwindy

Your summer vacation is so nice! Are you a freshman?
In my case, this year I have an entrance examination to transfer to a four year university. I have to study hard, but I�ll do my best !!

I hope that you have a nice summer vacation !

Thank you for your information!!

[Amy.come on]

Acutually ,summer vocation happens in China from middle July to early September ,no matter elementory school ,high school(except grade three of senior high school,i will explain it later) or university.it is uaually the same. For the student who is grade three in senior high school,they will have a longer summer holiday neary for three months,after they attend the college entrance exam on 6th June. I am not very clear about the summer vacation schedules in northern universities this year,but in southern part of China,summer vacation schedules still the same as usual.However there is a point i am sure .The universities in Beijing will have a summer holiday a month earlier this year for the Olympic Games.
My friends who study in Bejing university said he would come back in middle June.
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COME ON

[konoha]

Hi,Amy.come on!!

I was surprised that almost all Chinese schools have summer vacation at the same time!!
By the way, your friends already have come back, haven�t they? Their long summer vacation is so nice!! I envy them!! I hope the Olympic Games go very well

Thank you for your information!! ★

[ChuckAD]

I cannot really speak for everywhere in Canada, but in the Province of Quebec, summer vacations for elementary and high schools are from June to August. The school year begins in September. It is a little bit different for colleges, C�GEPS (some kind of college, I guess), and universities, for which summer vacations begin in May and ends in September.

Reading this thread made me realize I have no idea why things are this way. One thing is for sure, though, no matter how long summer vacations are, they're never long enough.