Sunday, May 17, 2015

Halfway Through a Hellish May

Two weeks ago, we switched instructors in my French training class. My class is the same three students, which helps with the transition as we all figure out how the new instructor teaches. However, along with the new instructor came a new pace of the French learning program.

I'm not completely sure that my assumptions about the program are accurate, but I can tell you what the situation feels like: there's a newly developed curriculum, with a book and a computer lab component to go with it. There are about ten folks going through the program in the same phase of training as me (phase 1) - I think the other two classes are more advanced, but still not on to Phase 2 yet. Phase 1 seems to correspond to the first sixteen units of the books and, conveniently, we're supposed to be able to be assessed at a 2/2 level (speaking/reading) by the end of week sixteen. From a newbie perspective, this seems rather clear: we must learn a unit a week. But then throw in the fact that three of us were absolute beginners, with no knowledge of French, and you can see how the first month or two would go more slowly. After all, we had to learn not just the vocabulary and grammar, but the actual pronunciation, including accents, spelling, and rules of connecting words or not connecting words together.

I think the plan had been to first assess us at week eight, halfway through the general time allotted for Phase 1, and halfway through the units allotted to Phase 1; we were assessed in week eight, and we all tested well in my class: we were at a 1+/1+, right where we were expected to be. We were then just completing unit five. Then, the original "plan" had us testing next at week sixteen... by which time theoretically, we would be through unit sixteen in the book.

This means that we now feel like we have to learn eleven units in just three weeks, since our 2/2 assessment was scheduled for the end of May. This wasn't a random assumption: our new instructor indicated that she would be doing at least three units per week to get us to the finish line (of unit sixteen).

Naturally, we freaked out a bit. Well, I did anyway. I went to the language supervisor (a different person than our instructor) and let her know about my feeling. The next day, she spoke to my class and assured us that all was progressing as it should, and that although we did need to get to unit sixteen in three weeks, several of the units were review and repetition. We felt a bit better.

The next day, the language supervisor came to speak to us again: our assessment was being delayed a week (to week 17) and we were each being assigned a one-on-one tutor, for an hour, twice a week. Also, instead of the usual, preferred method of having a main instructor for four hours a day and a different conversation instructor for one hour a day, we would have five hours with our primary instructor and no conversation instructor.

But, we were assured, we're not being rushed.

That was two weeks ago. Since then, we have covered three units, each with all new vocabulary and grammar rules. Our new instructor is very thorough and provides us with sheafs of handouts each day, which clarify and give examples of the new lessons we're learning. She's a tough task-mistress and I haven't quite figured out how to be more patient with either myself or with her. I'm struggling, and by the end of each day I am exhausted, frustrated, and quite sure that my brain is leaking out of both ears. By the end of each week, I feel worn down emotionally. I think it's the combination of a tough pace, a tough teacher, and a whole new style of teaching, which has shifted much of the responsibility of learning from the teacher in the classroom, to the student at home. I spend three to four hours outside of class each day studying, doing homework, and memorizing vocabulary.

There are no signs of slowing down. It looks like May is going to be one hell of a month and I just hope that my brain can re-charge each night and be ready each morning for the new day's marathon.

Saturdays are reserved as No French days, although I cheat and play with my French apps sometimes anyway. My classmates and I are doing our best to encourage each other and help explain difficult concepts to one another. Every now and then one of us snaps at the instructor, which is awkward for everyone.

But, I'm going to be speaking French like a pro in no time... I hope!

Meanwhile, I'm doing my best to take care of my health: in bed by 9:30pm each night, making my lunches and trying hard to eat breakfast every day, and exercising. I've squeezed in a 30-minute walk after class and before homework, every day. On Wednesdays and Sundays, I swim for half an hour with a coworker who is also going through a different language study program. I think these things help, but of course once on the path to eating, sleeping, and exercising more, it feels like I'm not doing enough. It's hard to keep myself from trying to mash even more into my schedule.

Like for example, the Data Visualization class I'm taking through my Master's in International Relations degree program. It took up two six-hour chunks of my last two Saturdays and has a project associated with it that will eat up around six hours of some other day. Probably not my best decision but it keeps me active in the study program. I'm not sure yet if my new lifestyle (not to mention location) will allow me to continue the program. To be determined...

La vie est belle... life is beautiful... I tell myself to just keep repeating that. In French, of course...

--Z