Have you guessed yet what the students get to do for PE class? Students at our school are very lucky to get to do snow shoeing, roller blading, archery and the rock wall. But here in Dubna they get to go downhill skiing!!!
This week I also had my first experience of cultural misinformation. One of the English teachers asked us to prepare a lesson on the topic of "Skip Year." I was trying to figure out why they wanted a whole lesson on leap year. She then explained that it was the year between high school and college when Americans travel around and do not do work or school. Hmm...
I explained we don't have that. Then another teacher walked in and said, "Oh, you probably just call it something different," and described it again. I explained that in America we either go on to more school, work, or work to earn money for school. She looked at me, looked at her text book, looked at me again, and then said, "We will need to find another topic!"
It ends up that her students (seniors) are about to have to write a persuasive essay on whether you should give a homeless person money. Being from La Crosse and seeing this problem often, this was a MUCH easier topic for me to teach!
We also got to observe a dance class today. All of their students attend dance class, kind of like our specials would be. I could not believe how hard these students were exercising without breaking a sweat! Lots of core muscle training!
Now imagine children walking to school (there are no school busses), and seeing a bunch of children carrying their skis! And you thought carrying your violin to school was a lot of work?
This week I also had my first experience of cultural misinformation. One of the English teachers asked us to prepare a lesson on the topic of "Skip Year." I was trying to figure out why they wanted a whole lesson on leap year. She then explained that it was the year between high school and college when Americans travel around and do not do work or school. Hmm...
I explained we don't have that. Then another teacher walked in and said, "Oh, you probably just call it something different," and described it again. I explained that in America we either go on to more school, work, or work to earn money for school. She looked at me, looked at her text book, looked at me again, and then said, "We will need to find another topic!"
It ends up that her students (seniors) are about to have to write a persuasive essay on whether you should give a homeless person money. Being from La Crosse and seeing this problem often, this was a MUCH easier topic for me to teach!
We also got to observe a dance class today. All of their students attend dance class, kind of like our specials would be. I could not believe how hard these students were exercising without breaking a sweat! Lots of core muscle training!
That looks a little bit like Zumba if you ask me!
ReplyDeleteI did have that thought!
DeleteMy kids would LOVE it if they could go skiing often through school. Autumn has a field trip to Mt. La Crosse today and is so excited. It would be so neat for the kids to get to go more often. I know she'll be very envious. :)
ReplyDeleteWith MT La Crosse right there, maybe it would be good for S Bluffs?
DeleteSay Hi to Anna Z. My daughter Nina met her when she was at Logan Middle last fall. They even had a conversation in Russian since my daughter is bilingual.
ReplyDeleteWill do! I just had dessert with her tonight!
DeleteMandi, she meant Gap Year which they do in the UK. It is actually quite popular over there. I learned about it from the textbooks I have to use to teach my students English. So, it was a mix of British culture and American English since it is actually Gap Year and not a Skip Year :) By the way, I love reading your posts about our schools -kinda fun to see what you think and experience. We will have to meet.
ReplyDeleteNadya
AH!! Thank you! She may have used the right term and I remembered incorrectly! I'd love to meet Nadya!! We should schedule it out so that my host does not plan something else!
DeleteMandi can you imagine me on sking? I had a hard enough making a basket or playing softball. Skiing I would have a steady appointment with the ER. This sister is not the most graceful.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine either one of us having the coordination to just carry the things to school, let alone get down the hill!
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