Should I continue with Spanish IV, even though my grades have dropped in that class?

Question

My first year of Spanish I completed with a B+, then second year came. That was a disaster--the first semester I got an A+ even though I had, quite literally, done nothing in the class. Then second semester, with a new teacher, I got a C because she didn't seem to get how far behind we all were. Now, in third year with the same teacher I had my freshman year, I'm struggling. I have a C-, borderline D, because I can't catch up with everyone else. I don't understand what's being said at this level, and the book we're reading is hard for me to understand, even while everyone else says it's easy.

However, my teacher advises us to continue with Spanish IV, because with it, it's easier to test out in college.

What should I do?

Sorry for the overabundance of commas. My English teacher would be ashamed. :(

Answer 1

If you drop it at this point you will likely have an F for the semester which will equal an F for the year... which will mean no credit for the work that you have done. While a D is not nice, an F is worse.

Usually there are NHS tutors available at school. Can you get help? Can the teacher help you after school?

What is the name of the book that you are reading? Send me an email; I am a Spanish teacher and I may be able to give you tips. Often kids run into problems because they try to translate every word. It ends up taking forever and is almost impossible. You need to read the sentence as a whole and try to understand the gist of what is being said. When there seems to be a key word that you don't understand then look that up.

If you are really having a terrible time understanding what the teacher is saying then I suggest getting out some of your DVD's and switching them to Spanish with English subtitles. If you cannot do this then pick a movie that you know well and watch it on Spanish HBO or another Spanish movie channel. Listen carefully to what they are saying as you read the English. This will help you get more used to what the words sound like when they are spoken.

I also teach French, but had a really hard time understanding spoken French. Watching movies helped me a lot.

If you send me a message and tell me the grammar that you are working on then I give tips for that too. Was your level I or II teacher nice? Can you go back to them and ask for help? I would not drop it. If you end up having to take it in college then you will not have to take much, and you usually end up going back to level 2 second semester, or level III and then you pick up on those things that you need help with and end up doing better.

Answer 2

It doesn't help you to take Spanish IV. Spanish III has already hurt you enough. Most universities only require 2 years of foreign language. If you retake the second semester of Spanish III and get a C, you can get an extra year of credit as a college prep elective. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Continue the Spanish. Give extra time to it. Within a couple of generations, I think Spanish will be the main language in the U.S. and many other places. A lot of companies are now hiring only bilingual employees.

Answer 4

i would just drop it and change 2 something else.... i mean borderline D ... that is nawt a good mark.... plus if u change early there will b a chance that u can get into a good class.... if u change when every1 else is.... then u probably b stuck in another class that u don't like!!!!!!! change early