For college students only!! Do you have to read aloud in college courses like you have to in high school?

Question

My name is Jessica. I am going to begin college this early fall. I am going for either Buisness or Phycology. I will be taking my first two general years at a tech. school and then transfering to a near by University. I always hated having to read aloud in class and give big speeches every other friday in history class. I was just wondering if College is like Highschool. Do you have to read your term papers to the class and read the text outloud in courses? I am the first out of my family to go to college and almost all of my friends are in Beauty School or taking mechanic courses. So, they can't really tell me. Thank's for answering!
By the way, does anyone know of a good vocabulary builder book or something I can use to help me improve my vocabulary? I suck at it. I am a mathmatics girl,nothing more.

Answer 1

Hi, My name is Jessica too and I also feared reading aloud in college (something I always hated in High School and if you ask me, I think that is elementary stuff)!

Anyways, while I was a senior in High School, I took a Speech class at a small community college (I wouldn't of taken it, but it is a requirement to get your AA degree at that college). That is the only class that speeches are given in.

Also, I just finish my first semester of college and I had an English class. We did read aloud every now and then, but not our essays. We read from the book and I hated it. It's not that I can't read, it's just that I get shaky and my voice cracks. I thought that was the most stupid thing ever because I didn't feel like a freshman in college, I felt like a 3rd grader! I figure the only reason we read aloud was because we are a VERY small community college and it was a very small class. So I guess it depends on if you go to a big or small school. Good Luck!

Answer 2

Usually you're safe from reading aloud in class in college, especially if you're in a large lecture hall. The only class I've had to actually read aloud in so far was a literature class; we would sometimes read short plays in class and then discuss them. Expect to do a lot of presentations in your classes. You aren't going to be reading papers that you write so much as you'll be giving 5-15 minute powerpoint presentations. I can almost guarantee that you'll have at least two of those types of assignments for different classes every semester. This past semester, for example, I had a 7 minute presentation for an EDU class, and a 15 minute presentation that was part of a group project for a Social Science class. Also, expect to do a lot of self-motivated reading because nobody will sit you down and quiz you on it, but professors weight in-class participation so your best bet is to do your reading and take part in class discussions.
As for building your vocabulary, there are a few things you can do. When you're reading a book, keep a dictionary with you and simply look up words that you're not sure of the meaning of. This is something I've gotten into the habit of doing, and it helps me to better understand what I'm reading and add words to my everyday wordbank. Also, subscribe to a "word of the day" type of email so you are always exposed to at least one new word each day. Quotationspage.com is a good place to subscribe to this type of email. If you're worried about vocabulary in your writing, ask your advisor if the college has a writing center. Most schools do, and you simply bring papers there a week or so before they're due then other students who have been hired to work there help you edit and fine tune your work. It's a great resource.
Congratulations on being the first in your family to be able to go to college! As long as you put a bit of effort into your work and take advantages of the resources available to you, you will do fine!

Answer 3

Totally depends on the college, the class, and the professor.

I was never in a class where we went around the room and each read a paragraph from the text like we sometimes did in high school.

You might have to give a presentation, but you probably won't have to do this in most of your classes unless you major in something like Communications. On the first day of class, your professor will probably hand out a syllabus that lists the course requirements. If you have to make a presentation, it should be on the syllabus. Most schools have a drop/add period so if you REALLY don't want to take a class with that type of requirement, you can drop the class and add a new one that doesn't have that type of requirement.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Yes, you have speak in front of your class, mostly for finals but also as major projects for different classes. For business, expect to have to do projects that you will have to present for your class. I don't think I ever had to give a speech in psychology, though, but you'll have to give speeches in other classes you'll be forced to take (in the interest of being 'well-rounded'), such as English.

It's possible that some your professors may have you read from the text in class, but it's not likely. It's not high school, so you are expected to do your reading on your own time, prior to the topic being discussed in class. If nothing else, make sure you do that.

I've always done crossword puzzles, which helps to build a vocabularly, but I also read a lot. While you're reading, you could write down unfamiliar words to look up (and keep for future reference).

Lots of the dictionaries you'll find online have a "Word of the Day" feature. I keep three Websters dictionaries, one by Bantam, one large one by Oxford, but also an Oxford Geographical Dictionary, a Crossword Puzzle Dictionary, a Dictionary of Theories, Roget's Thesaurus, and two Spanish-English dictionaries. If I had an unabridged dictionary, that would trump the four regular dictionaries I have. Instead, I go to Dictionary.com, Ask.com or Wikipedia if a word baffles me.

Do any word puzzles you can get your virtual hands on, too. They help some, and they are fun ways to build your vocabulary.

Congratulations for being the first in your family to go to college! You should check with your school's financial aid department to see if they have any scholarships for that (some do). I hope you make them proud by trying your best, and I have faith that you will. The best of luck and skill to you.

Answer 5

yes. it really depends on the size of the class. but somewhere in your college experience you will have to do some public speaking. probably more than you want. it is all part of communications, which is a really big deal in colleges right now. sorry. it is a good idea to get a vocabulary builder. if you know what school you are going to, just call for an appointment with an adviser. they will help answer a lot of questions for you and point you in the right direction. plus the earlier you get started the better classes you will get.

Answer 6

you usually dont read at all in class. once in a while you will, but the prof usually asks for a volunteer. as for expanding your vocabulary just read as many novels as possible. and by novel i dont mean those goofy romance things. try authors like hawthorne or twain. get the biggest dictionary you can find or maybe use one online. everytime you find a word you dont know and cant figure out with context clues then look it up. i had a friend in colege in a similar situation and she always had a dictionary in her backpack and if someone said somtihng she didnt understand in class she'd write it down and look it up immediatley after class. also your school will have a person similar to a highschool guidance counselor. ask your advisor who that person is if you dont know and then get to know them. i was the first in my family to get a college education as well. it can be difficult because no one at home will be able to understand what your life is like. they may try to help, but often times their good intentions can end up hindering you.
the best thing you can do is start reading now, read, read, read. that way when you get to your junior and senior years the load wont be so much. also at the end of a semester ask profs what the matierial will be for the next semester. and read that, this will give you a little extra time to overcome any vocab issues. Good luck, and remember to have a little fun, but not to much ;)

Answer 7

Sometimes, there are final presentations in class. Other times, there's a class participation grade that requires answering questions/contributing to class discussion. Also, in one of my Latin courses, we sometimes did sight translation of classical works like the Aeneid. However, "reading aloud" (as you described) is generally not done in college courses. At least, that's my experience.

Answer 8

Im a sophmore in college and I have never had to read outloud in class. Thank God! I hate reading out load in front of alot of people.

Answer 9

No, you don't have to read papers to the class - although I've heard psycology seminars are like that sometimes, so you might if you take advanced courses. You may have to do presentations on your research, though.

Answer 10

The important thing is just stay focused on your studies.... Try not to let too many distractions get in the way.. Be about your business and get it down. You will reap the benfits later when it is all said and done. Well make a little room for pleasure.. =)