[etni] Fw: Meitzav/Recommendations for improvements to the English curriculum‏/meitzav
----- Original Message ----- From: Esther Revivo - estherrv@xxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Meitzav/Recommendations for improvements to the English curriculum‏/meitzav
Kathi, I teach the lowest group in the 8th grade at our Ulpana. I told my pupils straight away, that part of the test is not intended for them, explaining which parts I expect them to do. (Both listening tasls; the first 2 reading comprehensions and the first task for writing.) I not only object to the test itself, which within 5 minutes destroys my entire year of, "YES! You can succeed in English!" but the grading system as well.
And, yes, my girls got grades from 17, up to 51, most being in the 35-45 zone. What a waste of national resources and our diminishing classroom hours! What with only 4 weekly hours as opposed to 5 in years past, and due to some practice for this stupid test, I will not have time for the mini-portfolio I usually do, and have not yet taught modals, the passive, nor have we had enough library hours to finish our reading tasks. Se la vi. With 20% less teaching hours, what the ^%##% do people expect from us????? This brings me to my next comments:
Kudos to those of you who invested hours composing the wonderful document you posted! Last week, I thought I was losing my marbles: I have a "matkonet day" this Monday in the 11th grade on modules A,B,C,D with several girls having התאמות needing cassettes. I bring MY walkman and go begging others on the staff for their old ones! (DUH! Is this not the age of MP3 and 4?) This after organizing **shudder** the cassettes. I have to double and triple-check to make sure that everybody's התאמות are properly addressed. (No complaints on that score, when they are legitimate; it's the lack of remuneration for the vast hours organizing this marathon several times a year that galls me!!!) Talk about "multi-tasking!"
I am sad that my health is forcing me to leave full-time teaching, as I am the sole bread winner of my family and it will be hard going. I also adore teaching and hate to give up the daily "rush" and high I get from the challenge. However, we are so incredibly unappreciated and underpaid while doing so very much more than many of our colleagues teaching other disciplines, that teaching part-time will be a great relief, G-d willing. No wonder there is a lack of decent English teachers. 

I am tired, and I rest my case.
Esther Revivo
Ulpanat Tzvia Sedot Negev
P.S. We got a taste of Sederot this Shabbat. For the first time since the Gulf War of '91, sirens woke us at 6:20 and again at 7:30. This brought back unpleasant memories. I heard that the kassams fell this time on the opposite end of Netivot, on the side facing south (the way to Beer Sheva,) unlike most of the previous ones that are on my end of town, closer to Gaza. I hope this doesn't herald what I fear it does. 



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