I finished with a D+ in French

I just finished my freshman year of high school and I just got the grade for French and I finished with a D+. It’s ultimately my fault because I had a C and I had a speaking final to makeup that I missed and I was supposed to come in and I had something else to do after school as well and I completely forgot. At this point I really don’t know what to do. My mom is gonna kill me. I’m not gonna get into a good college and I absolutely hate French. I tried this year. I really tried but I don’t know anything and my mom was nice and said it would be fine if I maintained somewhere in the C range. I don’t know what I can do at this point and I’m just freaking out. I don’t know where to go from here. Do I have to retake the class?

First of all your freshman year of high school will matter less than the next two years. There is still time to fix this and if you do well for the next couple of years then universities will see the up trend. I am also guessing that you might not end up being a French major in university, so it might matter a bit less than say algebra.

I struggled with French in high school and can at least talk about how I eventually improved my grades in case you decide to take another year of it. I did manage to pull a low C into a high B over time with some significant effort.

What helped me the most was using French outside of class.

I started watching hockey games in French. Between the periods when they were interviewing native French players I couldn’t follow it. However, when they were interviewing native English speakers in French I had a chance. I started listening to news in French. This had the advantage that I had already heard the news in English, and was watching on TV and could see the pictures. As such I had some idea what was going on. At first both were quite tough, but over time it got better. You might have to look around some to figure out what you can find wherever you live. For example I just tried to get French CBC news over the Internet but got a message that it is not available in my country (which is the USA).

I started just sitting down for a couple of hours each week and chatting (in French) with someone who was a native French speaker. This helped a lot. I happened to be lucky that my parents had friends who were fluently bilingual, but a paid tutor could do the same thing. Even speaking French with a few students in your class who are stronger than you would help, or you could share a paid tutor with a few friends (and therefore split the expense, assuming that the tutor is willing).

I did all of this before the Internet existed. Now of course there are some good French instructional videos on-line. For example the BBC has some (why the BBC rather than a French or Canadian source I have wondered). You also might be able to find something at your library. I also found a great comedian in French on Netflix, and there are a few French movies on Netflix.

Another thing that you could consider if you are sufficiently interested: There are intensive French immersion courses that you can take over the summer. The ones that I know of are in Canada and are for university aged students. However, a quick google search found that there are also some for high school students, both in Canada and in France. For us Canada is a whole lot closer (and would therefore save on travel costs).

French is a core class - you need to reach level 3 in a foreign language to have a shot at a good college. (Tippy top colleges expect level 4 or AP).
So, you can’t stay with that D+, not only because it looks bad, but also because it means you don’t grasp the basics and are going to be in a world of trouble next year.
Can you still do something to turn that D+ into a C? Otherwise, attend summer school and get as close to an A as you can.
Apply to Concordia language village French/ beginners. They may still have spots. It’s worth it if you don’t like French, because it’s nothing like a French class and you learn by doing. It’s a lot of fun. And it’s worth one HS credit! So you could actually have fun and start in French 2 next year instead of repeating.
Try to switch to French for things you like. Listen to beauty (or minecraft or whatever ) channels on youtube, in French. Watch cartoons in French (some French ones include Inspector gadget!)
Does your cable package include TV5monde? If so, try to catch some shows. IFC has a lot of French films. If you have Amazon prime, you can watch The chalet, Black Zone, all kinds of (scary) French shows.
Watch in French with English subtitles to start.

I agree with @MYOS1634. One C+ is not going to put you out of the running, you definitely don’t want a D+ in a core class on one of the first levels. I would ask your school if you could do it online over the summer, because I know most high schools have grade replacement, or they average out the two grades you received. So, if you get a 96, you can still get a B. That would be with the two grades averaged.

Miraculous Ladybug is in French! It’s one of my favorite cartoons and I watch it with English subtitles but the ones without subtitles are easier to find. @MYOS1634 I think the cost of Concordia is not something everyone can pay for. Also, you could’ve just said your favorite YouTube channels.

My daughter had studied for French speaking tests by watching cartoons on Netflix in French and with French subtitles (if the subtitles were english, she would have read and not listened so she had both in French). She watched enough that she was dreaming in French the night before her speaking test! It could help you too.

i think the problem is not a C or D+ in freshman year. Posters ca comfort you short term only. You allowed to this to happen and get to C and does not take action early enough to at least secure a B. Even if your grade is erased, will it not happen in sophomore or junior yr again, or in another subject? An applicant of good school is expected to handle all subjects. No diff with History , Econ, Psychology, Bio, Chem, Calculus or languages. In real life and workplace, you are supposed to pick up some skill even you never learned or not related to your major. Seen enough quitter and excuses in life.

@lemonlulu People make mistakes. I think it’s ridiculous to say that, because the OP did not do well in one class, being French of all things, that they can’t get into a good school, and they are unlikely to be successful in the workplace. Here’s some perspective, because I went through something similar. I did not do well in my first year of German, because I had some severe family problems occurring (two of my close relatives died within three weeks of each other). I retook the class and received an A+ both semesters. I now, despite not doing well in that one class, have succeeded (all As) in my courseload with almost all AP and honors courses. I am on track, according to Naviance and my counselors, to have a good shot at a top 30 school. Also, language is different from history or chemistry. Your brain, when you start a new language, mentally does not comprehend the basic morphemes. With history, for example, you just have to remember what happens and how that impacted society.

@ab2002 ,
i just highlight this was a mistake (which you agreed) and need to correct going forward ( I also provided method for future reference) . I just help people. don’t let this be systematic recurrence events. there are 1000 students in same boat like OP. If they make adjustment now, there is change to make up. If they only worry about their college application chance and not learning from mistake, I believe they are on wrong track.

Sorry for your unfortunate past, not everyone has time to make up or re-take the class as there may be more than 1 D+ during their high school period.

My KEY advice was even they had a C in first test, they need to respond promptly, communicate with teacher, or study harder, so it won’t be too late to hit D+. but to secure a B.

Today someone gets D+ may have better future than someone with all As. But it is a MAY, it depends on how the D+ student move from here.

@lemonlulu, it is hard to follow your posts.

@MaineLonghorn I agree. @lemonlulu You didn’t provide any advice. You basically told them that, because they got a D+ in French, it is likely that they will get a D+ again. It’s summer. How does the OP not have time to take a 5-week summer course? You also didn’t advise the OP to contact a teacher for help. You basically told the OP that it was all their fault that they didn’t secure a B. Your posts come off as the opposite of what you desire.

ha ha, I took the blame.