Conditions for classes - homework
By Viv Quarry (www.vivquarry.com)
If you are
having classes with Viv, homework is not optional. The teacher prefers to
dedicate class time to speaking, listening, vocabulary and grammar work.
Reading and writing (and some grammatical and vocabulary practice exercises)
are mostly set for homework. This work is an essential part of your course and
not doing it, or presenting it late reduces the effectiveness of having
classes. If you can't do homework regularly, it's better to suspend your English
course.
Here's a
story which illustrates Viv's point of view:
Once upon a
time there was an executive working for a large multi-national company. He had
a problem though, whenever he wanted to speak English, his throat hurt and he
couldn't manage to express himself. One day he was discussing the problem with
a colleague when his friend mentioned that he knew a doctor who had been able
to resolve a similar problem for him. The executive noted down the doctor's
phone number and decided to call him.
He arranged
an appointment with the doctor for the following Wednesday evening after work.
He arrived at the doctor's surgery on time and the doctor examined him and did
some tests. "I know exactly what your problem is. I can prescribe you some
special medicine, but it must be taken in a particular
way", the doctor said. "You must take the medicine once a week,
during one and a half hours. It doesn't matter when you take it, but during one
and a half hours you have to take a drop of the medicine every five minutes",
the doctor continued. The executive put the bottle of medicine in his pocket
and left the surgery.
Three
months later the doctor and the executive met in the street. "How are
you?", asked the doctor. The executive took a piece of paper out of his pocket
and wrote "I'm ok". The doctor asked what had happened and if the
medicine had failed to work.
"No",
the executive wrote, "I've been so busy that I haven't had time to take
any of the medicine yet", he scribbled.
The doctor
shrugged, said goodbye and turned away.
Conditions
for classes with regard to the completion of homework:
1. When homework hasn't been completed, Viv will highlight the exercise in your notebook and on his computer in red. When this happens, if the exercise hasn't been completed or isn't brought to the next class, the class will be cancelled and charged in full. If you have homework marked in red in in your notebook, classes cannot be transferred to another day or cancelled in advance without charge.
2.
If the
teacher has to cancel two classes in any thirty-day period, classes will be
suspended for one month.
3.
A
second one-month suspension in any 12 month period will result in the
termination of classes.
However, if
there is a SERIOUS reason why you have been unable to do homework one
week. Let Viv know in advance and there won't be any problems, but this will
mean that you will probably have more to do the following week.