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Academic
Quarter Hour
University Glossary:
This is how to study
Quarter Hour
University Glossary:
This is how to study
You've probably often wondered where the academic quarter hour actually comes from. After all, it's not uncommon for lectures or seminars to start 15 minutes later than indicated in the timetable. The origins of the academic quarter hour actually go back several centuries. We'll show you two theories about the origins of the academic quarter hour:
Theory 1: In the Middle Ages, lectures were often given by itinerant lecturers who moved from university to university. At that time, there were no uniform time specifications, which is why confusion often arose. To avoid this, a quarter-hour buffer time was introduced so that the lecturers had enough time to get from one place to another. This tradition has continued to this day and is practiced by many universities and colleges around the world.
Theory 2: In the Middle Ages, there were no precise clocks and the bells of the churches were the only timekeepers. Students therefore often had to travel long distances to get to the lecture. To ensure that everyone arrived on time, the lecture did not start until 15 minutes after the specified time. This gave the students enough time to get on their way.
You've probably heard of the academic quarter hour, right? But did you know that there is a special term for the time that elapses between the official start of an event and the actual start? This time is called "c.t.", which stands for "cum tempore" and translates into German as "with time". This means that an event that starts at 10 a.m. "c.t." does not actually start until 10:15. Why does this tradition exist? Originally, it was to allow students to rush from one lecture to the next without wasting time. Nowadays, however, the academic quarter hour is more of an excuse for being late. But beware: not all professors agree and start their lectures on time!
You've probably heard of the academic quarter hour, but what does sin tempore actually mean? This Latin expression means "without time", which means that an event starts exactly at the specified time. In contrast, "cum tempore" means "with time," which means that an event can start 15 minutes later. Sin tempore, then, is the exact opposite of the academic quarter hour. It means that punctuality is very important and that you can rely on the time given. So, if you receive an invitation to an event with "sin tempore", be sure to be on time, as there will be no delays. It is important to stick to this rule because there are often a lot of events that take place one after the other and delays can mess up the schedule. So, be on time and respect the rules of academia.
You might be wondering how long an academic hour actually is. Well, usually an academic hour lasts 45 minutes. However, this is not the same all over the world. In some countries, such as the USA, an academic hour lasts 50 minutes. It is important to note that an academic hour is not the same as a regular hour, as it is often interrupted by breaks and discussions. It is also important to know that the academic quarter hour, which is common in some countries, delays the start time of a lecture by 15 minutes. This means that a lecture that should start at 9am will not start until 9:15am. It is important to check the specific rules and standards of your university or college to ensure that you arrive on time for your lectures.
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