February 2024
What's Happening This month
Here's the schedule for February.
Culture Corner:
A Short History of St. Valentine's Day
1. Who was St. Valentine?
He was a clergyman (either a priest or a bishop) who lived during the days of the Roman Empire. He was executed on February 14th, 269AD.
2. Why is he associated with love?
During those times there was a Roman law that banned soldiers from getting married. A soldier's duty was to the state of Rome, and being married meant that they couldn't focus 100% of their energy on defending Rome. However, Valentine often married soldiers in secret and one day was caught. That's why Emperor Claudius II executed Valentine. Valentine's death made him a martyr. People started to celebrate February 14th to remember the kind heart of St. Valentine.
The modern day celebration of Valentine's Day started in the U.K. during the 19th century. This when giving cards, flowers and chocolates started become popular.
Do you give cards, flowers or chocolates on Valentine's Day?
Teacher's Corner
Riddle of the Month: "I can be stolen or given away and you'll live, but you can't live without me. What am I?"
For the answer, please ask Leo teacher.
Inside the Classroom:
This month were having a look at the language from Unit 1 of Everybody Up 3. The theme is food but be careful, there are two different questions and many students get confused. Let's have a closer look at LIKE vs. WANT vs. NEED.
1. Q: What do you want?
A: I want some __________.
2. Q: What do you need?
A: I need a _________.
I need some _________s.
Example:
I like cherries.
I like bananas.
I like strawberries.
I like all these fruit, but if you ask me NOW, "What do you want?" My answer is, "I want some strawberries," because that's what I would like to eat now.
I am going to the supermarket. I have a list of things to buy. These are things I need.
Although I want some strawberries, they aren't on my list, but what is on my list are bananas. So, if you ask me, :What do you need?" My answer will be, "I need some bananas."
I like all fruit. I want some strawberries. I need some bananas.
ADULT CORNER
This month were will examine the pros and cons of a four day work week. Please watch the video below, then test your understanding of the video by answering the questions below. In class, we will discuss the later questions. Here's the link to the video:
Questions about the video:
1. Who was the first to implement a 5 day, 40 hour work week?
2. What were some of the reasons a 40 hour work week was written into law?
3. Around the 3:10 mark of the video, the narrator talks about the "decoupling of economic growth from worker compensation." What does this mean?
4. Who was responsible for starting policies which decouple the worker from economic growth?
5. What does data from the 4-day work week trials show?
6. In an 8 hour day, how long is the average office worker productive?
7. What were the goals of the 4-day work week?
8. What were the results of the trials?
9. What would the social and environmental impacts of a 4-day work week be?
10. How does Andrew Barnes view the 4-day work week?
11. Why is Andrew Barnes' view of the 4-day work week problematic?
12. How are the goals of capital and labour in conflict with each other?
13. Why are labour unions important?
Discussion Questions:
1. On average, how productive do you feel you are in an 8-hour work day?
2. What do you think about the results of the 4-day work week?
3. What do you think are the pros and cons of a 4-day work week?
4. Are you in favor of implementing a 4-day work week nationwide? Why or why not?
5. What do you think about labour unions in Japan? Are they effective or ineffective?
6. If you were the CEO of your company; after seeing the results of the trials, would you implement a 4-day work week? Why or why not?
7. Is there any information in this video you found surprising?
8. What do thou think it would take for Japan to adopt a 4-day work week?
News from
We have an event coming up this month. If you or someone you know is interested, please come and check us out.
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