My professor is unfairly grading, he's unconsistent, and is failing me for it. How should I complain to dept?

Question

My spanish professor unfairly grades. He tells me that I can pass his course if I work really hard, after the midterms, and I have been doing that and improving but when I talked to him today he goes, "You most likely won't pass. You have to pass the next test with an A to pass my course" and that is highly unlikely, why? He gave us over 100 words to study for Thursday and then today he gives us another 50 words to study for Thursday, a composition to write, a presentation to prepare, and workbook work. I don't think I'm wrong when I say that it is unreasonable for just two days. I called him out about it in class and he tells me that I don't know what I'm talking about and that he would never give us work he believes we couldn't manage. What does he know what we can't manage? This is his second semester teaching! And I go to him during office hours to ask for help but he brushes me off. Am I wrong? How should i complain to the dept? Should i make an appt or jus walk in? This is Span 2

a majority of the class is failing. The composition is 3 pages long and the presentation is 10 minutes long. We have 150 vocabulary, so we have to know it English to Spanish and Spanish to English and how to spell it. 2 days isn't enough to do that, plus, we have to know verb translations (subjunctive, irregular, pretterite) and such.

And on Rate My Professor he also has a ton of bad reviews. Does that merit any credibility?

Answer 1

Talk to other students and see what they think. If it is just you, then do the best you can with the work. If many students have a problem, arrange to talk to him together. If you go to the department on your own it will sound like sour grapes because you are failing the course.

Answer 2

Your thesis here (he's unfairly grading) isn't supported by your argument (there's too much work). In your statement, you provide no evidence that he's grading unfairly or inconsistently and yet your initial complaint is that he is.

Narrowed into one sentence, what you wrote here is "this professor gives too much work for me to finish, therefor he is grading unfairly and inconsistently." I'd suggest you not make that argument to a department head - you'll look stupid.

If your college operates like most colleges, the Dean will be happy to hear your complaints and will "nod and smile" as you present them. He'll then file your complaint somewhere in the back of his head and go about his daily business.

One day, when it's time for your professor to be reviewed by the department, the Dean will remember your complaint as "this professor is too hard, he makes us do homework" and give him a raise for not being slack on students like so many others.

As you formulate your complaint, list what reasons you have that his methods are pedagogically unsound. I suspect that you're not going to find much there. You can't very well argue that he's a bad professor because he gives you a grade you earned (even if it's an F) and you can't very well argue that he's a bad professor because he assigned a lot of vocabulary in a language class (even though I don't think 150 words a week is that many).

In most colleges, there are two courses that always have a lot of failing students in them. One is language and the other is non-major math. This is consistent throughout all colleges and is the reason that any complaints from failing students in those are going to be summarily dismissed.

How many classes are you in that require "a composition"? That seems like a normal college level assignment to me. Where's the issue there? I've been in classes that required five pages on a topic "tomorrow by noon".

As for what you can manage. You make your course schedule according to what you can manage. If you can only manage one course at a time then only take one course at a time. As a professor, he makes assignments according that what his class objectives require. It's not important, when planning what to assign in Spanish class, what other things you have to manage. That's your problem and not his.

College is hard. It's supposed to be hard. That's just the way it is. Things aren't always "unfair" just because you're failing though. This is your wake-up call to college level work, some professors actually expect you to learn something and then demonstrate that learning in order to pass their class.

You can do one of two things here. You can complain and get an F anyway or you can study for this one and pass this class. Your choice.

Answer 3

Actually, that workload sounds about right for that level of language class. I remember, my French class, we had to study 50-100 words including verbs, plus all their conjugations and etc. for each class - and class met 3x per week. That was in addition to written work, and etc. It was intense. I remember that class taking more study time than any of my other classes that semester. I'm afraid it may be the nature of the beast.

Still, you may feel you need to complain. If so, you may want to start by talking to your academic advisor. See what she thinks, and how she feels you should proceed. She'll be able to direct you in how best to complain.

As for his telling you that you could pass if you worked quite hard after midterms, and now telling you that your passing is unlikely - that's possible. When you first spoke, he meant what he said - if you work really hard, and get good grades from that point on, you could pass. But you haven't gotten the level of grades you'd have needed to. So now, you'd need an A on this next test in order to pass.

Don't call your professor out in class. It makes him defensive, and less likely to listen to you. Speak to him privately about issues, during office hours. And be specific, and begin with "I" statements. "I'm having a difficult time getting all this done." And ask him for advice. Then slip in that other students are also struggling... It's too late for this now, though. But it may work with future professors.

When you go to office hours for help, do you go there with a specific assignment in your hand, or do you just go there for general help? It can help greatly if you go there with something specific to work on - a specific assignment that you're doing, for example.

Answer 4

It sounds like he's not inconsistent, just a hard *** (i.e., that he is consistently overdemanding). The fact of the matter is that there's probably not a lot you can do. You can try to set up an appointment with the dean or with the head of the department.

My guess is the only remedy will be when you get to fill out a course evaluation. It sounds like this guy doesn't have tenure yet and, if he's as universally hated as you suggest, he probably won't get it.

Answer 5

Make flashcards to memorize this sh*t and get 100% on the test.

Use memory aids for the hard stuff like "sounds like 'car gone by'" and stuff like that.

Then complain.

A complaint from a failing student has no credibility.

***

You know what, if most of the class is failing, that is a good sign. Too many teachers let entire classes coast, resulting in poor education and meaningless diplomas.

Answer 6

150 words, what do you need to know, do you need to know meanings, spellings, English to Spanish, definitions?

Composition, how long?

Presentation, what type, how long, what resources do you need to use?

Workbook, how much, what kinds of work?

Honestly its a 2nd level Spanish class which means you already took or pre-qualified out of Spanish 1. you have knowledge of the Spanish language and workings of Spanish in educational setting. it really doesn't sound like that much work to me, i know i've had more assigned in a class that meets every 2 days, on a level one class.

Answer 7

Make an appt. with the head of the dept. Make sure you have all the information you need. It would help if another student went with you to back up your information.

Answer 8

He is the teacher. Quit posting questions and get to work on your Spanish. Is everyone else in the class failing?

Answer 9

The workload sounds pretty typical to me. Stop complaining and do the work.

Answer 10

i'm not totally sure that i agree with you, are other kids concerned about the work, and if so then you need to let the dept. know that he is overloading you and if they feel that you are right then they'll make changes.