Conversation with my 7-year-old son who is attending 1st class in a public school.

Two weeks before report card

Me: (in English) “You know we have report cards in two weeks, don’t you?”

He: (in English) “No, what is it?”

Me: (in Czech for the purpose of easier communication) “Vysvedceni”

He: (in English) “oh, what is that?”

Me: (in English) “it is a piece of paper which has some ‘1’ on it or other grades and tells me if you are a good student or not. If you get all 1 I will get you a cake.”

He: (in Czech) “Ja se nenecham oblafnout nejakym dortem” (translation – I won’t be tricked with some cake)

Me: (speechless in both languages) “oh….”

One day before the report card

He: (in English) “You know tomorrow is that day when we get ‘vysvedceni’, don’t you?”

Me: (in English) “yes, and…”

He: (in English) “Are you going to be mad if I have bad grades?”

Me: (thinking in both languages) “Well, no, of course not. If you have a bad grade it just means that we will have to work harder to making in better next semester.” (thinking, how bad can his report card be after 4 months in school in 1^st class?)

He: (in English) “So, you won’t punish me?”

Me: (shocked in both languages) “No, of course not….”

I don’t consider myself an overly strict or demanding parent, I pride myself for being a very understanding and helpful mother – skills I try to apply to my students as well. Last Thursday, on my way to school, I was thinking of what exactly I will tell my new class once I pass out those so eagerly expected report cards. And then I thought of the above conversations and how my own 7 year old went from not even knowing what a report card was to suddenly fearing punishment if there is a grade that I might not like. Where did that fear come from? Who had, in a matter of two weeks, installed in him fear and knowledge of punishment for bad grades? Where was the joy and feeling of pride that I have worked so hard on drilling into him?

Early morning on the way to pick up the report card

Me: (in Egnlish) “You know that today is report card, don’t you?”

He: (in English) “Yeah, but what if I don’t get all 1?”

Me: (in English) “Well, then you don’t and it means you will just have to work a bit harder next year and try again. How about if I buy a cake?”

He: (in English) “But maybe I don’t deserve a cake.”

Me: (in English) “Of course, you do. We can celebrate that you have passed the 1^st semester. We can celebrate that you can read more than 5 months ago. We can celebrate that you can add and subtract and we can celebrate that you tried really hard to do your best.”

He: (speechless in both languages) “ oh…. Good idea, mom. Will your students get a cake too?”

And that is exactly what I told my students, line by line I told them the conversation I had and how a 7-year-old taught me that “grades” are just grades. That those "bad grades" are not to be afraid of but rather take as a challenge that they show a subject which needs improvement, just a bit more work and effort. That those good grades are to be celebrated … but before I told them that I went and I bought them the biggest cake I could J

Congratulations to all my students for passing another semester. 

Congratulations to all my students for learning something new last semester. 

Congratulations to all my students for finding the strength to do all that homework and finding the courage to take those tests and exams. 

Good luck finding the energy and desire to improve in the areas that need improvement. 

The Advantages of Being Bilingual

I have two children at home and both of them speak two languages from birth. What is more, I seem to have many students in my classes who are bilingual and without a doubt there is often a “you’re so lucky” look thrown at them by the other students who are forced to learn a second language the “normal” way.

Given the fact that our school places special emphasis on individual education while encouraging emotional, mental and intellectual development, we have many students who come from bilingual and international families. This means that I daily come in contact with numerous bilingual students and hence I have been reading many articles on the benefits of bilingualism lately and I’ve decided to gather some of the best ones into one post. 

The most significant advantage which has been reported recently must be the fact that “bilingual patients developed dementia 4.5 years later than the monolingual ones.” This was the outcome of a research lead by Dr. Thomas Bak. Suddenly, growing old doesn’t seem so bad J

Bilingualism has also been found to enhance a child’s working memory as shown by a research conducted by Ellen Bialystok at the University of Granada.

Bilinguals are better at multi-tasking. “Children who grow up learning to speak two languages are better at switching between tasks than are children who learn to speak only one language” as explained in Bilingual Children Switch Tasks Faster than Speakers of a Single Language.

Bilingualism makes you more open-minded and sensitive to others:  “bilinguals have an enhanced awareness of other people’s points of view, born from their deeper understanding, from an early age, that some people have a different perspective.”

This probably makes bilinguals better managers as well as stated in the Financial Times article The Multilingual Dividend.

Another study found that bilingualism enhances your listening ability. It showed that in a noisy environment bilinguals are “better at detecting the different sounds, therefore enhancing attention.”

Bilingual children are less easily distracted. Judy Willis MD, a neurologist, teacher and author states that “compared to monolinguals, the bilingual children develop greater attention focus, distraction resistance, decision-making judgment and responsiveness to feedback”  and that “research supports encouraging parents to retain use of their native language in the home” in her article Neuroscience and the Bilingual Brain.

If you grow up as a bilingual you are often also bicultural. In his article Advantages of Being Bicultural  Prof François Grosjean lists the benefits as “having a greater number of social networks, being aware of cultural differences, taking part in the life of two or more cultures, being an intermediary between cultures” as well as having “greater creativity and professional success”.

So, next time my 7 year old places a Czech word in the middle of his English sentence, or one of my bilingual students confuses Czech and English pronunciation – I will just give them a “sympathetic look” and think: “Yeah, you’re still better off than I am.”

… and to the rest of the students… I just gave 8 reasons to start studying your second or third language…. The more the better J

Is going to college or university important?

Yesterday, I took a dozen of our Juniors and Seniors to a local University Trade Show – designed specifically for students who want to gain more information about the application process and maybe even find more information which can help them better choose which school to apply to.

Having a son who himself is in that process, as he will be applying next month to a university or college, the topic of choosing best college or not choosing one at all is of great concern for me.

Many students often ask me the one and only simple questions: Is going to college or university important?

Today, I did my own research (based on US / UK information – not CZ as the language is a bit of a disadvantage for me J ) and here are 4 reasons why you should go to college.

1.    You Will Make More Money

Let’s face it: most of us want to make money, and making more money is often a good thing. According to Simply Hired, the average salary for a  college graduate is $46,000, but the average is $32,000 for those with a high school diploma. Obviously, more money is often a plus, and although colleges can be expensive, many people feel that having debt is reasonable if it leads to a better paying job.

I am fairly certain, that in the long run in the Czech Republic the same principle applies (although with different numbers).

 

2.    Many Jobs Require a College Degree

You can certainly start at a company and work your way up, and you may be able to achieve the career you hope for. Even if you are able to move up in the company, some jobs will still be out of your reach without a degree. Depending on this position, you may be required to obtain a degree even if your experience far surpasses workers coming in with a degree.

In addition to specific jobs within a field requiring a degree to move forward, many specific careers also require a specific degree. There are certainly excellent jobs that you will not need a degree for, but certain positions (like most teaching jobs, nursing jobs, and so on) will require formal training. If you want to have a career in one of these fields, you will have to earn the necessary degree.

 

3.    You Will Gain Valuable Skills

College is often what you make of it. While some colleges are better known and more prestigious than others, you can gain a valuable education at most schools if you put the work in. If you attend class regularly, and you choose classes that will challenge you, you will get more from school. You can focus on classes that will help develop skills that will be useful. It’s also important to get an internship if possible. Often, internships are available to students with good standing which can provide a one foot in the door for a future job.

4.    College is a New Experience

Not only will college help in determining whether or not the intended career is the right fit, but it also provides valuable lessons in learning how to interact with other people. Once in the “real world” everyone needs to be able to work with many different personalities, and college is a great time to start practicing.

College also is a good introduction to being an adult. Although you will probably still have a meal plan, you will be responsible for attending class and doing well, keeping track of commitments, and so on. Many aspects of college translate into important life skills that will help you after college.

There are many other reasons to go to college. You may meet friends that you will have your entire life. You also might study abroad and learn about new cultures, or you may join clubs that you never knew existed. College gives you the chance to start fresh and reinvent or find yourself.

Hence, get off your bed and apply! 

Oldies but Goodies - Merry Christmas

A few days ago I came home from work and upon entering my kitchen I saw my two lovely sons (19 and 7yr old) dancing to Christmas songs… yes, I did suddenly realize that it is December and that certainly means it is Christmas time… and that means that Christmas songs will follow us around in all supermarkets, elevators and cars. Hence, in honor of those songs which every year so diligently remind us that we must be jolly, I would like to pay a tribute to some of my favorites:

WHITE CHRISTMAS  - old time classic. According to the Guinness Book of Records the version sung by Bing Crosbyis the best - selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 100 million copies worldwide. It has been sung by artist such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and even Lady Gaga… but Bing is just one. 

LITTLE DRUMMER BOY - known "Carol of the Drum" is a popular Christmas song written by and American classic music composer Katherine Kennicott n 1941 and recorded in 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers – yes the ones from “The Sound of Music.” Yet, the Johnny Cash performance is my favorite.

RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE RAINDEER – shall I say anything more…there is a child in all of us

SILENT NIGHT (German: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) is a popular Christmas Carol composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohn in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011. The song has been recorded by a large number of singers from every music genre. The version sung by Bing Crosby is the third best - selling single of all time. 

and now... get ready because you will hear them over and over and over again. Why? Because (on behalf of all the teachers in EDUCAnet) I would like to:  WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS 

Monty Python (sometimes known as The Pythons) is not well known among the younger and most importantly Czech generation yet, in my humble opinion, there should be a maturita question just about them.

Monty Python were a British surreal comedy group who created the sketch comedy show Monty Python's Flying Circus, that first aired, 1969. The Python phenomenon developed from the television series into something larger in scope and impact, spawning touring stage shows, films, numerous albums, several books, and a stage musical.

The group's influence on comedy has been compared to The Beatles' influence on music.

Broadcast by the BBC between 1969 and 1974, Flying Circus was conceived, written, and performed by its members Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. Loosely structured as a sketch show, but with an innovative stream-of-consciousness approach (aided by Gilliam's animation), it pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in style and content. Their influence on British comedy has been apparent for years, while in North America, it has coloured the work of cult performers from the early editions of Saturday Night Live through to more recent absurdist trends in television comedy.

What is more, "Puthonesque" has entered the English lexicon as a result.

This year I decided to introduce this great British classic to our students and invited them to a new re-lease of the Monty Python and the Holy Grail which took place in Svetozor cinema. Without knowing what it was, the students still showed up. Being 17, I think they had no idea what to think of when the movie started. However, with they did manage to crack a smile or two at the absurdity of King Arthur quest to find the Holy Grail. 

COOLEST THANKSGIVING FACTS

·         The first known thanksgiving feast or festival in North America was celebrated by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado and the people he called "Tejas" (members of the Hasinai group of Caddo-speaking Native Americans).

·         The first Thanksgiving was not a feast, but rather a time when Native Americans helped Pilgrims by bringing them food and helping them build off the land.

·         Thomas Jefferson thought the concept of Thanksgiving was "the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard."

·         Benjamin Franklin wanted the national bird to be a turkey. Because he simply liked it.

·         Here's one of those funny Thanksgiving facts: Turkeys have heart attacks. When the Air Force was conducting test runs and breaking the sound barrier, fields of turkeys would drop dead.

·         Fossil evidence shows that turkeys roamed the Americas 10 million years ago.

·         It was not until 1941, that congress declared Thanksgiving as a national holiday. It was declared to be the fourth Thursday in November.

·         91% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day.

·         Every President since Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day. But in 1939, 1940, and 1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Thanksgiving the third Thursday in November to lengthen the holiday shopping season. This upset people.

·         The North American holiday season (generally the Christmas shopping season in the U.S.) traditionally begins when Thanksgiving ends, on "Black Friday" (the day after Thanksgiving); this tradition has held forth since at least the 1930s.

·         Corn is one of the popular symbols of thanksgiving. It came in many varieties and colors - red, white, yellow and blue. Some Americans considered blue and white corn sacred. The oldest corns date 7000 years back and were grown in Mexico.

·         A spooked turkey can run at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. They can also burst into flight approaching speeds between 50-55 mph in a matter of seconds.

Happy Halloween

When I first arrived in the Czech Republic in 2001 there was no Halloween here. Yup, no pumpkins, no trick or treating and no costumes… I remember my basic attempt of creating a Halloween party for my students – mean less to say only my 7 year old son Andrew came in Harry Potter costume (which I spend days and days sowing and making.) There was no pumpkin pie or there was no pumpkin latte, just crude replies “you’re in the Czech Republic, we don’t celebrate it here.”

15 years later, and I am having a hard time distinguishing between the Halloween fevers here or in the USA. Every child gets a paper as early as first class with pictures of ghosts, witches and pumpkins to color, cut, glue and well… memorize.

Here in Prague there is a very small “American neighborhood” which ironically doesn’t have that many Americans living there but is located right next to the American School. Additionally, years back it was designed and built according to the American suburbian architecture. Given the fact that so many international families live there and have such strong connections to the local school, they organize a yearly trick or treating event.  I went there for the first time last year and was completely amazed. It was almost the best trick or treating even I have ever been to  - even better than the ones in the good old USA.  Not only did my second and now the youngest son, got a basket full of candy but he managed for the first time to experience a true Halloween.

This year I decided to go again and even invite some students. Part of me really didn’t believe that any will show up, but they did and we all had a marvelous time.

With this I would like to thank all the lovely families in NEBUSICE, Prague for organizing such yearly event and to all the students who found some time to celebrate this unusual event. 

Kamila and Michal - I didn't even recognize them at the bus stop

They all arrived on time... and yes that is Tomas

since all my students think I am a witch at times (test time) I decided to really get in the role

this is where I buried the students who hadn't done their homework

who is that? Jan (a bit different than in class)

ooopssss, I forgot to hide all the body pieces

Trick or Treat