The GAP Year. BUT WHY?? A break Travel Decide what to do Gain skills and life experience To earn money to: – –A) pay for a course at a private college.

The GAP YearThe GAP Year

BUT WHY??

• A break• Travel• Decide what to do• Gain skills and life experience• To earn money to:

– A) pay for a course at a private college

– B) help pay college expenses• A combination of factors

Other reasons…

• Discover the real you – strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, areas of interest

• Help others

• Defending the country

• Satisfying Government regulations

““Students put a hold on studies Students put a hold on studies to help needy”to help needy”Sun Herald November 2006Sun Herald November 2006

First year deferments increasing Increasing programs available

Deferment during uni course Huge range of options

““Gap year a cool option for Gap year a cool option for the young” the young” Sunday Telegraph Sept. 2006Sunday Telegraph Sept. 2006

See the world Work your way Learn a language Helping hand

““Students are increasingly Students are increasingly choosing to explore the world choosing to explore the world

before settling down” before settling down” Sun Herald January Sun Herald January 20062006

TRAVEL

•new cultures•religions •philosophies • broaden your horizons •encourage self-sufficiency•enhancing experiences

Work Abroad

opportunity to spend time outside of your home country

earn some much needed cash become immersed in a new

culture

Negatives of taking a GAP Year...

• can distract you from your career path• potential employers may fear your

wanderlust • work experience in your chosen career

would be regarded even more highly by prospective employers than travel

• a string of work placements may be interpreted as a lack of focus

• high costs involved• not going on to university (at least for now)• getting out of a study routine may make uni

harder• missing out on scholarships for Yr 12

students

Remember…

•Think carefully about what you want to achieve if you take a gap year

• Investigate opportunities early

•Check if doing other courses will affect your university offer of a place

•Good luck!

What would you do with a What would you do with a gap year?gap year?

• Write a 10 minute response to this Write a 10 minute response to this questionquestion

Gap Year in ChinaGap Year in China

• Students from an IB school in Ireland Students from an IB school in Ireland want to know how much it will cost want to know how much it will cost them to spend their gap year in them to spend their gap year in China.China.– As a group you must:As a group you must:

•Create a detailed budgetCreate a detailed budget

•Explain your allotments (how much you’ve Explain your allotments (how much you’ve budgeted for each item)budgeted for each item)

– What expenses will the student have to pay for What expenses will the student have to pay for during a year in China?during a year in China?

Monthly Assessment #1Monthly Assessment #1

• Interactive OralInteractive Oral

• Fish Bowl Discussions based on 2 Fish Bowl Discussions based on 2 videosvideos

• To prepare: review your class notes, To prepare: review your class notes, important vocab., readings, and the important vocab., readings, and the proposalproposal

• But what IS a fish bowl discussion?But what IS a fish bowl discussion?

• Students in the “fish bowl” are active Students in the “fish bowl” are active participants in the discussion AKA you participants in the discussion AKA you must talkmust talk

• Students outside of the “fish bowl” are Students outside of the “fish bowl” are passive participants in the discussion passive participants in the discussion AKA you are an active listener (you AKA you are an active listener (you may talk, but it isn’t required) – If you may talk, but it isn’t required) – If you talk, it will only HELP your gradetalk, it will only HELP your grade

• There are NO assigned rolesThere are NO assigned roles

• Everyone within the fish bowl must Everyone within the fish bowl must participateparticipate

• While you’re in the fish bowl discussion While you’re in the fish bowl discussion think about:think about:– Staying on topicStaying on topic– Point out possible counter-arguments (points of Point out possible counter-arguments (points of

view) that haven’t been addressed. Are you view) that haven’t been addressed. Are you skeptical? skeptical?

– Are you a stronger student? Interpret what’s Are you a stronger student? Interpret what’s being said in the conversation to help out your being said in the conversation to help out your classmatesclassmates

– Remember, you must all speak. Encourage one Remember, you must all speak. Encourage one another another

How will I be assessed?How will I be assessed?

• Criterion A: Productive SkillsCriterion A: Productive Skills

• Criterion B: Interactive and Receptive Criterion B: Interactive and Receptive SkillsSkills

How to create a travel How to create a travel brochurebrochure

• What is a brochure?What is a brochure?– A small booklet or pamphlet, often A small booklet or pamphlet, often

containing promotional material or containing promotional material or product information.product information.

Holiday AssignmentHoliday Assignment

• Create a Travel Brochure for your Create a Travel Brochure for your designated country designated country