[Franco]

Teaching subjects in non native languages - immersion teaching- is not so uncommon ouutside the linguistically poor culture of the uk Will.

I presume when you say immersion teaching you mean in the context of teaching a foreign language? I'd assumed that most/all degree courses in a language would be taught in the language in question in the UK? Nevertheless I will withdraw my initial surprise given the context Andy has provided about the student body at his institution.

Not true unfortunately. I did German and only about 1/6 of the course was in German. It's the same in most oxbridge/ red brick unis. Interestingly the newer unis generally do more teaching in the target language and see it as more of their duty to actually teach you the language. I think the attitude is that at the better unis, you should have such an interest in the subject that you can teach yourself. The lectures are then on History, Literature, Politics, Film, Culture - all delivered in English.

[battery]

I have very mixed feelings about working from home.

I went from 12 months of maternity leave straight into furlough for 4 months and now I am back part time working a third of the hours I would normally work (and part time furloughed) from home. I am very fortunate that as a family we are stable financially but I feel well and truly out of the loop having been in the same room as my boss only twice in nearly two years, I haven't seen one of my other colleagues in that time and the third one has left.

I work for a small independent charity and as part of that I teach at university. As we are classed as external all my teaching has been cancelled this year and we can't get access to any of our client group face to face. A small proportion of our client group we are able to work with online but digital poverty is a real issue and it has meant a complete change in the way in which we work. TT - I really like your creative approach to teaching online, I'm being invited back for one of my courses next year and should we end up online I will definitely be looking for creative delivery models.

That's not to say that it is all bad. The people that we are able to work with are getting a lot out of one to one working and flexible session times. I am investing time in my own CPD and am able to attend courses and conferences online that would simply not be possible under normal circumstances due to lack of time and money.

I don't miss the crap standard of driving on the M62 but I do miss that time to decompress and switch my brain from work mode to home mode. Working whilst supervising home learning of a 6 year old is impossible never mind the 20 month old trying to type on the computer so Daddy and I have to compare calendars and I have to try and fit my work in when I can which leads to feelings of guilt as well as stress.

I'm lucky I have a very understanding boss who pretty much just lets me crack on but he also happens to be a really good friend and I miss the random chats as well as the supervision (I mean that in the academic and the social work sense) that I get when I am in the office.

Like many others I think a mixed approach would suit me well - but only once the kids are out of the house in school/nursery - the office in the campervan is starting to wear a bit thin now!

[Falling Down]

I too miss the transitional periods in the day, going to work, visiting a client, even going out for a sandwich at lunch and the journey home. I realise how valuable these times are for allowing my brain to rest and mind to wander.

[tomtom]

A builder working up a quote for me today was wondering whether we’ll all go back to the mad cap pace of life - or whether things would remain a bit slowed down post covid...

[teestub]

A builder working up a quote for me today was wondering whether we’ll all go back to the mad cap pace of life - or whether things would remain a bit slowed down post covid...

Personally I can't wait to get back to something a bit more mad cap!

[tomtom]

A builder working up a quote for me today was wondering whether we’ll all go back to the mad cap pace of life - or whether things would remain a bit slowed down post covid...

Personally I can't wait to get back to something a bit more mad cap!

Its a funny one - I quite liked lockdown lite...

Maybe around Sept/Oct time... most stuff open, but roads and traffic down from pre covid times. I'm probably a happier person not constantly rubbing shoulders with strangers and quite like my own bit of space (I'd rather not live in a city - but life/family etc.. etc..).

Total tangent - but (a) not drinking for the last 3 or 4 years and (b) witnessing the focus and desire to get pubs and "hospitality" open under Covid makes me reflect on how much our society is driven by booze. How much of socialising - and society revolves around "having a beer". /random

[Bradders]

Loads of really interesting thoughts here from everyone, brilliant, thanks. I wish I had the time to reply to more of these!

The conclusion I think clearly is for something in the middle, with the key for me being choice now that it has been proven that people really can work perfectly well from anywhere.

In my experience climbing attracts individuals, loners, non team people so you would expect to find a majority happy to work at home on this forum but i dont think this is the case in the majority. Offices and workplaces are a lot of peoples lives, its where they meet friends and partners, get away from the drudgery of looking after the kids, housework, DIY etc.

I think you're absolutely spot on with this, and working from home has definitely emphasised how happily introverted I am, compared with a lot of people. I've never made friends with anyone at work in the 12 years I've worked at my firm!*



*as in an actual friendship where I'm keen to see them outside of work