French! Screwing me over!

Applying to College
1

<p>I have this old... almost 60 years old French teacher and her class is unresonably harder than any other classes!
Her tests are hard and I won't even mention the dictee we have to take every chapter... ugh.
When I was in French II class, SHE, HERSELF, said that she doesn't expect anyone to get A's in the class, but rather a C because that's still a passing grade.
Of course I and few other smart people managed to get Bs but other people got Cs and Ds....
I'm currently taking French IV class... so many people quit that there are only 4 kids in my French IV class now.</p>

<p>Does anyone else here struggle with French or is my school just so special?</p>

<p>Although, I have all As in other classes, but like 5 Bs sorely from French class are hurting my GPA which is currently 3.88!!! Is this a serious disadvantage for me?</p>

2

<p>Well … it’s not only your school that has French teacher’s like this.</p>

<p>In any subject you can get teachers that really grind your gears.</p>

<p>I have learned French since Grade 1 (I am from Canada)</p>

<p>You seem to be doing great and a 3.88 GPA is wonderful … I mean even with a B in French unless you are going to be something involving French in the future then I would not even sweat it. But really even if you have B’s in such advanced French classes I doubt it would hurt you :)</p>

<p>It’s nice to know a second language especially French and English. </p>

<p>If you know both in Canada the Government would hire you right on the spot when you finish university.</p>

<p>So even if the teacher is hard, push through it the benefits in the future will be wonderful.</p>

3

<p>If you’re looking for sympathy you’ve come to the wrong place… </p>

<p>Sure, some kids are getting easy A’s with teachers than demand little. Some kids grow up with parents that are native French speakers and have learned the language at home. We can write pages about how some kids have an advantage.</p>

<p>Ok, the world isn’t fair. But here’s the deal. If you complain about it in your essays (actually, the way most people put it here is “try to explain”) you’re showing 2 things, both of which I think you’d be better of keeping to yourself. </p>

<p>First, that you expect someone (eg. adcoms) to make the world “fair” for you. That’s why people write the “explain” essay, because once the adcoms read about the unfair situation they’ll make it right (usually put as “not hold it against me”).</p>

<p>Second, and more deadly from the view of any adcom, is that “explaining” signals you see yourself as a passive vessel filled with what the world hands you. Get a great French teacher, you’ll do great. Get the unreasonable 60 year old teacher, what can anyone expect? </p>

<p>Well, here’s what. In this day and age there are more options for teaching yourself a foreign language than you can imagine. You can watch the classic “French in Action” for free online. Many colleges have entire French courses online on iTunes, also free. You could have shown leadership by setting up a study group with the other 3 kids to drill each other. The library has tons of workbooks, there are websites specifically set up to help self-learners, you can acess tons of streaming media in French, I can go on and on. </p>

<p>When you say “I didn’t get A’s because of an unreasonable & lousy teacher” you are telling prospective colleges that you don’t take responsibility for your learning. Sure, its better if an experienced and caring teacher guides you. But when the world falls short, you throw in the towel. Not what selective colleges want to hear. </p>

<p>IMHO, if you’re thinking about how to “explain” the French grades, the better approach is to hold your tongue.</p>

4

<p>I feel for ya man, but I’m not really sure there is anything you can do about it. I would talk to your teacher about some assignments and see why you aren’t getting an A, if you feel you deserve an A. </p>

<p>The worst she can do is point out what you are doing wrong.</p>

5

<p>You are going to have teachers that you like who are great teachers, teachers that you like who are lousy teachers, teachers you don’t like who are great, and teachers you don’t like that are lousy. The key is to take emotion out of it and determine what you can get from that teacher, and then determine what you need to get elsewhere to be successful and where you can get that. It may be a study group, it may be a tutor, there are any number of resources depending on the subject. Frankly whining doesn’t fit into the equation. Be proactive. You will have to do this the rest of your educational career.</p>

6

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<p>This. Professors, even those at small LACs, aren’t going to hold your hand; if you don’t jive with them, you’ll need to figure it out. The B’s won’t hurt nearly as bad as “explaining” will.</p>

7

<p>I usually take the venting on CC with a dose of patience and humor.</p>

<p>But OP, your first sentence:</p>

<p>I have this old… almost 60 years old French teacher</p>

<p>speaks volumes about how you see the world. At college, with luck, you’ll have some very experienced teachers who may be of that certain age. Most likely your parents are approaching or are at that age.</p>