Busy Month

September is a busy month for all teachers. Yes, we are full of energy and are greatly motivated and one can even say that the students are still optimistic J There is always a bit of new organizational issues that always have to be dealt with and both the students and the teacher must get on the right “wave length” to assure that the remaining months go well. This month we managed two projects: The European Day of Languages and The Celebration of the State National Holiday of Saint Vaclav.

Sometimes, we as teachers talk a lot, or more than needed. This time I asked the students to make films about those two projects and here are the results! Great Job! 

Check out the Videos on our school web page.       http://praha.educanet.cz/

What We Can Learn From Huck Finn?

"I do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their'n." Chapter 23

I am amazed how so many students in the Czech Republic know the book "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," yet few have actually read it… and those few are the ones who read it as part of their reading lists for Maturita exam in Czech (and they choose it only because they assume that it is an easy book to read, about a little kid.) Little do they know that the book is actually full contemporary lessons, although still considered a great American classic.

This year I have decided that both of my classes will have to read the original version… yes, not the abbreviated look alike.

So I assigned it… the first 5 chapters, a total of 25 pages to be read over the weekend.

Within a few hours one of the students responded: 

 “I just wanted to say, that I read the first chapter and this book is very racist and some of the words in the text I have no idea how to read... EXAMPLE: By and by they fetched the niggers in and had prayers, and then everybody was off to bed. I went up to my room with a piece of candle, and put it on the table.“  

I was crushed… if this is the response I get now, what are they going to say on Monday? And how am I going to explain this unique book to a bunch of modern, mobile phone oriented teens? After all, plenty of people doubt the value of an old, possibly musty canonical work when there are fresher ones for students to read. Why do we need Twain’s 130 yr old novel?

And yes, the novel‘s continuous use of racist language often finds it being taken out of school curricula. The debate over the necessity of the N-word in the novel has been debated for decades (For a particularly good exploration, see: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/01/05/does-one-word-change-huckleberry-finn?ref=books) The book without a doubt sustains its criticism of a hypocritical and morally derelict society and accurately shows what racism looks like. So the word is painfully necessary because it was a historical fact.

Beyond the racist comments, the language (as my student pointed out) is hard for contemporary teenagers to understand – of course reading original Shakespeare is no match at all. 

However, beyond the language, it is my understanding that students simply get Huck. They understand keeping secrets. They understand that your friends expect you to protect them even if it gets you in trouble. They understand that their moral instincts are not always shared by society. They understand that the worlds they create, either modern subcultures or a raft on the Mississippi, are more real and intelligible to themselves than the hypocrisy and corruption of adult society. They know that they will need to light out to the territories themselves someday and find their way – with a path often more difficult than predicted.

So, yes, they are still going to have to read the book – why, because they need to know that they are right, that their instinct is more valuable than predisposed rules by the society.

"I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can't stand it. I been there before." Chapter 43

History - is inspirational

I have always loved history –one can say it is in my blood. I mean, my dad wrote over 20 books on history so something rubbed off on me. History is a very important subject. Although, there has been debate over the years about whether or not to remove History as a core subject. I hope it will not. History is inspirational. Personally, it has improved not just my knowledge of the past, but my analysis in general, and has honed my opinions about a wide range of subjects, including my knowledge of current affairs.

History is a subject that focuses on the past, but can also give us an insight into the present, and how to deal with circumstances that bear a significant resemblance to those of decades or centuries ago. For example, the current recession has been compared to the Great Depression beginning in 1929. The reign of Elizabeth II has also been compared to that of Elizabeth I in the late sixteenth-century as a Golden Age.

In my own opinion, it’s important to know the important figures like William the Conqueror, Henry V, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Joan of Arc and Florence Nightingale because you can then apply their principles and ideas to the wider events of the time, and to what happens now, and who you want to be. Learning about key events like the Battle of Hastings, the Wars of the Roses, the Reformation, the Spanish Armada, and the English Civil War, gives us a sense of patriotism.

Of course, history must not be changed or modified to current trends or wishes. It is important to tell history as it is, or it is not history at all.

To summarize:

• ·        History provides identity. Studying history improves our decision-making and judgment. 
• ·        History shows us models of good and responsible citizenship.
• ·        History also teaches us how to learn from the mistakes of others.
• ·        History helps us understand change and societal development. 
• ·        History provides us a context from which to understand ourselves and others.’

In conclusion, History is essential to the past, present and future. Without it in schools, we would not have influential people. Moreover, without them, we would not know as much about our ancestors, and how to deal with current problems

7 ways which prove that I work with teenagers

I admit, I started teaching at the age of 25, right after getting out of college. This means that I haven’t had much experience in the real world – I mean “office” world. This also means that after 15 years of teaching, I still feel like I am … 25.

Whereas, my 40 something year old friends and family members sound more distinguished and mature with age… I am still stuck in the "teenage phase." 


Here a just a few things that prove that working with teenagers can be very very annoying :-) 

1. You start to sound like them.

I am not sure when it started but I have noticed that I often use vocabulary which … well… is not a 40 –year- old woman vocabulary. I frequently answer with “cool” or call people “dudes” and my worst - refereeing to a “gig” rather than an event. What is more, my text messages (despite my logical and moral opposition) have started to include “bae”, “YOLO” and even an occasional “wtf.” (And yes, that one I am really not proud of.)  

2. You never know if they are secretly saying something naughty.

While it’s true that I am fairly knowledgeable about the current slang (I mean, if not the students than my son always had an ample supply of new and unusual words), the teenage dialect is an ever-changing thing. I can never really keep up. So, when I ask my students what they did over the summer and one of them says, “I went bowling,” I am forced to wonder if the giggles from his classmates are because “bowling” is the newest code word for something else – drugs, sex, bingeing on video games. Who knows? I am certain, however, that half of the time they are enjoying my questioning look.

4. You question every fashion choice.

Yeah, this one I have not conquered yet. It is connected to a social media and the account settings. In a way, I want my students to feel that I am approachable and have nothing to hide…yet, those pictures on Facebook from 20 years ago showing me wearing an NKOTB t-shirt and pink jeans – are now just laughable. And without a doubt, the students have seen it. Becoming part of a joke that they undoubtedly create can be just simply awful. Not to mention the day when my H&M dress is identical to one a 16-year-old Alena wore last Tuesday …Yeah, look on Alena’s face as she was approaching me in the green military tunic and staring at the identical one I was wearing was just priceless.

5 You get horrid pop songs stuck in your head.

I have read once that a truly happy 40-year-old listens to the same music he or she did when they were teenagers… Well, I did throw away the NKOTB tapes but my Enrique Iglesias will always be mine. It is, however, my choice to listen to him over and over… it is something different when I am going about my business, having a perfectly lovely day, when all of a sudden I realize that I have been singing Into You by Arianna Grande for the last half hour – or Adele It’s me…It never fails. I hear them in class, I hear them during the breaks and even on the bus on the way to school – and it is impossible to get them untucked.

6. You find yourself saying, “When I was your age…” way too much.

Again, the age factor creeps up. I want to feel connected and more in tune with the teenager that I teach. Consequently, I find myself pulling my experiences back to them with a “when I was your age…” which immediately stuns me as I realize that my son is their age or even older. Teenagers can never imagine that I was ever their age. And even if I were, things were so much different waaaayyyyy back then that my stories are completely irrelevant. Hence, “when I was your age…” is often followed by son’s reply: “you mean, during the dinosaur age?”

7. You don’t know whether to baby them or tell them to grow up.

This is where I am really lost, double lost if I think of my son too (whom I have just had the pleasure of visiting for the weekend at college.) This is the paradox of the not-quite children, not-quite-grown-up people known as teenagers. One minute I just want to give them a hug and say that all will be just fine because after all they are kids. But the next minute I want to pound them with a frying pan while screaming how irresponsible and immature they are.  I mean someone should teach them that it is about time they got their act together because life ahead is rough. At the end of the day I am more exhausted then they are… maybe a bit schizophrenic from going back and forth from the not-quite-children and not-quite-grown-up attitude.

Despite all of this, I wouldn’t change working with them for an “office” job. I mean, thanks to the teenagers, I have tapped into the fountain of youth. After all, you are only as old as you feel…hence am still a very happy 25 year old.

Ideas Teachers Want Parents to Know

As both an English teacher and parent of a young adult (20-year-old) and a little 2^nd grader, I know how important the relationship is between teachers and parents. So I’ve compiled a list of 6 ideas teachers really want the parents of their students to know that might help encourage communication and understanding between the classroom and home.

1. It is hard to believe but I (actually all good teachers) spend a lot of time planning lessons and assignments. We don’t just pull everything out of our heads two minutes after the class starts J So, If you have questions about why I am teaching certain materials in a certain way, please ask. I won't bite. On the contrary, I will greatly appreciate the effort you put in by asking the question.

2. Given my college degrees and experience, I consider myself an expert on education, but you are the expert of your own child. I want to know more about your child, so please share anything you can. If I don’t know how to deal with your child or help them – I will ask you, because you are the expert of your own child.

3. Grades aren’t as important as you think they are. So many parts of school are more important than getting straight A’s, including helping your children discover interests and how to get along with others. Learning to stand up for themselves and how to handle disappointment are also essential skills that must be learned – and better earlier than later on. I won’t give up on your child, and one, or even a few, poor grades do not define who your child is.

4. It’s normal for your child to behave differently at school and at home. Remember that school is where students practice being young adults and taking on new identities. Please make home a safe place for your child to still be a child once in a while.

5. Please talk to your child about cell phone etiquette. I waste so much class time asking students to put their phones away. And please, don’t text your child during my class. If it’s a true emergency, call the school office.

6. Also, please encourage your child to get enough sleep. Majority of the teenagers I see on any given day are sleep-deprived – walking Zombies gulping down a can of red bull.

In a way, we teachers (and I for certain) feel privileged and want to teach and be around your children… they do make us laugh. Most importantly, we want them to succeed and move on, and we certainly don’t want to make like more difficult than it already is...

Get Your Hiking Boots Ready

Who said school has to be boring? Not me! And not my school!

We are excited about the beginning of the school year. Why? Because we are starting it off with an exciting and original school trip to Norway.

The Kingdom of Norway was chosen last spring by our students as the next destination. We will pack our backpacks, grab our sleeping bags and tents and head north. But this will not be an ordinary “sightseeing trip.” It will an expedition into the wilderness. After a day trip in Oslo we will head even further north and west to check out the most beautiful natural wonders Norway has. We will travel all the way to Bergen by train and lots and lots of walking.

So get your hiking boots ready because the fun is about to start. 

Grand Opening - 1st Day of School

The first day of school is the first day of an academic year. The timing varies between different areas around the world because of the differences in weather climate, season and culture. A common pattern in North America and Europe is for school to begin in late August or early September, while in the southern hemisphere mid January to early February is common.

This year we once again started on the 1^st of September. However, for us this was a super special day as not only did we kick off a new year but we also welcomed our students in a completely new, modern and large school building. Over the last 6 months and super busy last two months, our staff created a friendly, clean and fully functional new cozy nest. Such large event required an even larger welcome and hence all the students, the returning ones and the new ones, as well as their parents, grandmothers and brothers or sisters all met for the grand opening at 8:45 in front of the school.
Of course, a grand opening wouldn’t be so grand if it didn’t have some celebrities, right? Hence, we were so lucky to have our recently graduated senior Jiri Prskavec come and welcome our students. Without out a doubt, it was most generous of him to spend some time with us and our students especially since has just returned from the RIO 2016 Olympics where he won the bronze medal.
Pictures were taken, autographs were given out, snack were eaten and coffee was drunk…and in the end the ribbon was cut and students entered…
Wishing a wonderful new school year to all… (teachers, students and parents)