Now that summer is here, are playing hookie? | Open thread

Summertime is here and it's easy to feel that you're wasting it, bathing under the florescent lights at the office or fidgeting in a classroom seat. It's the time of year when some start to toy with the idea of playing hookie – for a day or afternoon – to hit the beach or pool, watch a sporting event or just enjoy a relaxing drink somewhere.

The trick, however, is to have some fun without burning up a vacation day. If you've dodged work to go play, we want to hear your stories of success and failure. And if you haven't, we want to hear your potential plans.

Technology has only heightened people's ability to appear in the office when they aren't, although you have to do it correctly, as one American recently learned the hard way when he failed to adjust the auto-capitalization function on his phone.

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How can schools encourage students to take languages further? – open thread

Learning languages: is technology alone enough to persuade 16 year-olds to continue studying a foreign language at an advanced level? Photograph: Alamy

As technology marches ever forwards the world itself is shrinking; students today can hold Skype conversations with friends in Japan or India as easily as they can speak to the person sitting at the next desk in class. But speaking English can only get students so far; in fact just 6% of the globe are native English speakers so there is a pressing need for students to embrace languages and continue with their study beyond the compulsory age of 16.

Language teachers know this. Back in May language consultant Joe Dale wrote an article which highlighted the amazing ways in which language teachers are harnessing the power of technology. Long gone are the days of repetitive grammar translation exercises with many teachers now looking to incorporate social networking sites, video conferencing and blogging into their lessons to allow students to learn in a mode they feel comfortable and engaged with.

But is technology alone enough to persuade 16 year-olds of the substantial benefits of taking a language further? The British Academy currently has a series of awards on offer which are aimed at exploring, showcasing and rewarding the very best practice and innovations of teachers around the country whose techniques are improving take-up of languages in the post 16 sector.

One of last year's winners of the British Academy award was the Dallam School in Cumbria. Staff at the school had been facing an uphill battle to try and get both students and parents in the primarily rural and monocultural area to grasp the importance of language learning. They won the award for rolling out a programme which saw the formation of bilingual tutor groups which would immerse the children in Spanish or French for short bursts of time, two or three times each day. Headteacher Steve Holdup said: "Students coming out of tutor lessons or at break could be heard chatting unselfconsciously in French or Spanish."

So what have you done in your school to encourage learners to take up languages? Do you have a tutor group scheme like Dallam School or maybe you have initiated a multi-lingual reading circle or similar? Tell us what you do and how you do it by making a comment below.

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Supply teaching: the good, the bad and the ugly – open thread

Even Susan Boyle would shudder in fear at the story of one supply teacher who was asked to improvise a song in front of students. Photograph: Ken McKay/Rex Features

When asked on Twitter to recall the best and worst aspects of supply teaching, the responses came flooding in. From the chance to broaden experience and embracing life without staff meetings to being water-bombed by students, the joys and horrors of the job were tweeted in equal measure.

According to @boogiebeebie, supply teaching is ideal for honing your behaviour management skills. It can also put your ability to think on your feet to the test, as she explained in this tweet about one particularly terrifying placement: "Arrived and was asked to do dance with ks1. Told stereo was broken. Was asked to sing. Wondered if it was a tv prank!

"The Head also watched! Luckily the TA was fab and we just went for it! Still makes me giggle. The TA makes a HUGE difference."

@guardianteach Worst: arrived and was asked to do dance with ks1. Told stereo was broken. Was asked to sing. Wondered if it was a tv prank!

— sarah watkins (@boogiebeebie) June 2, 2013

The flexibility which supply teaching allows was also a key perk of the job for many followers. As was the promise of eventually landing a permanent job. But some complained of a lack of respect from both other staff and students.

@AngieHoneybun called supply teaching: "The most isolating, soul destroying job to have! Treated like fodder." While @GavCross tweeted the biggest drawback about the job was the "rude rude teachers".

@racheljal @guardianteach totally agree. the most isolating, soul destroying job to have! Treated like fodder. Good luck with your new job!

— Andrea Honeybun (@AngieHoneybun) June 2, 2013

Tell us your experiences of supply teaching. What did you enjoy about the job and how has it helped you develop your career? What were the downsides of supply work? We'd love to hear your thoughts, so please add your comments to the discussion below.

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