(Alternately titled: Why I’m no longer allowed to choose my own classes.)
I’m only three weeks into the semester and already I dropped a class. Turns out my “easy” class turned into my hardest. So after much debate, I dropped it. Also…I may or may not have missed all three classes. I know…I’m awesome.
So I said au revoir to French and bonjour to a professional writing course. I spent a couple of hours trying to find a course that would fit in with my crazy schedule.
So I missed the first couple classes since I registered late. I checked online and no books were required. This was turning out to be a pretty sweet course. Then things took a turn for the worst…
Thinking the class began at noon, I hauled ass from my previous class to the other building. I was a minute or two late, but was surprised to see everyone in their seats and class in session. I walked in, grabbed a seat in the back and was greeted with a hello from the teacher. She had a puzzled face and I returned the look. She asked if she could help me and that’s when I realized I was in the wrong class.
This is my confused face. Photo by my sneaky-iPhone-camera-snapping-roommate.
In general I tend to avoid drawing attention to myself, so this really made me uncomfortable. I ended up leaving and having my mom log into my school account to double check my schedule. Of course class began at 12:30. Of course.
So at 12:30 I go into class and I notice that there are a lot of Asian people in there. I figured it was cool…foreign people need to write right? I pick up the handouts I missed from earlier classes and after reading over them, I felt it was a little…remedial. Class begins and I realize that not many people speak English very well. I don’t know when I realized that this was an international course. It could have been when she said “international” or it could have been after reading the syllabus.
So I’m in an ESL class. Some how I missed that in the course description when I signed up. I figured that this would be my easy class because, well, I speak English. I speak it pretty well actually. I’ve made it clear to her that I was only there for financial aid credits. She has confirmed with me that I am not an international student. So why does she keep calling on me?!
I read paragraph after paragraph and I answered question after question. Is she just tired of teaching non-English speaking students or does she secretly hate me for taking this course? More importantly, are these students going to talk shit about me in another language?!
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
that’s definatly something i would end up doing…
blaezs last blog post..223 Days…
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I can SO sympathize with you. Gotta love school, right!
The New Blacks last blog post..The things you do for love…
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LOL depends on how old the asians are really. Most of the young ones are somewhat bitter. The older ones–and I do mean older–arent as bad. Well if nothing else, you can turn your writing class into a culture class, and see what you can find out about ESL students.
Not So Nobles last blog post..Nothing is original
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Oh no! I think it’s a right of passage in college to somehow end up with a scheduling nightmare that results in a really crappy class.
Is it too late to switch to something else?
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They require you to take an ESL course for financial aid? Colleges are weird.
nancypearlwannabes last blog post..My Work Is Strange. Like You Didn’t Know That Already.
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LOL that sounds like the perfect example for reading the description correctly.
Dutchess of Kickballs last blog post..I’m Not A Kid Anymore
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Hmm. It’s easy, and on the other hand? So not easy. I would have stuck with French, but C’est la vie!
Of course, I have access to a native speaking tutor. Who happens to be incredibly delicious. 
I think your teacher is probably leaning on you for comfort. It’s got to be harrowing looking out at a sea of faces that maybe have half a clue what you’re saying, when you can get that magic look of comprehension from someone else……
verybadcats last blog post..Comatose
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I bet ESL is HARDER than regular english. I think I’d probably flunk!
Maxies last blog post..Would You Rather Friday
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I love the picture! The cat is looking at you, so cute!
Tell the ESL teacher some crap about wanting to learn how a foreign language is taught or how students learn it best at a high level (I mean past beginner-intermediate) because you feel this might give you an edge on learn a foreign language yourself, or help you decide if you want to go to Japan to teach English. If she feels you have a legitimate reason to be there, she’ll probably ease up.
Smallss last blog post..The conclusion
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I once was the cameraguy on an ESL TV show. That is to say I stood in a tiny little ratty classroom in the basement of a building in Boston’s Chinatown and watched ESL classes while a camera rolled.
I went crazy after about a week.
AndyHannons last blog post..Living with a Celebrity
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This reminds me of how the last course I took in college (for the credits) was a pre college intro to studying skills/english, complete with snack time.
Meghans last blog post..Dirty Little Secret
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This story was awesome. I also laugh at the fact that your classmates have to think you are SUCH a teacher’s pet….
Rachel M.s last blog post..Comic Journal 1.26.09 and a giveaway!
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For my part, I envy that you’re officially ENROLLED in your classes. Let’s trade war stories, seriously.
Phils last blog post..Er Gent See
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Hey, at least it’ll be an easy A, right? That’s hilarious.
Arielles last blog post..I don’t even know what to call this post
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Hahaha! This is one of my favorite posts from you.
And yes, they totally are going to talk shit.
chriss last blog post..hanging tough, staying hungry
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Hahaha I’m sorry, but this was pretty funny. It makes me want to go back to school. Kinda.
poodlegooses last blog post..Permission from the Mother
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hahahha oh jenn, that’s just too funny. seriously you have the most random luck when it comes to school. i can’t wait to hear more stories from this semester.
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That’s hilarious! Are you sticking with this class? It’s an easy A right?
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I went to a school with two identical-looking buildings, so I often ended up in the wrong class. It is the worst. BUT not as bad as the time I missed my math final because I thought it was at 1:30 (it was at noon).
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That is such a me move. Super cute picture of you! Miss you!
Jessicas last blog post..Key Learnings, family visits, cupcakes and cold!
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Haha that is just too funny! I’ve added wrong classes before but nothing ever like this! Have fun in your ridiculously easy class!
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I know this is kinda funny, but this is why I hated college – what a massive waste of time and money that you have to take this thing just for some arbitrary credit.
Brians last blog post..Free Agency, Deodorant, Cavs
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Oh, Jenn! This is so funny… and obviously annoying for you. But don’t you find it a teeny bit ironic that you ended up in an ESL class because you misread your native language?
Maybe you should stick it out.
Mermandas last blog post..Andrew Is Fired
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Ok, this is seriously hilarious. Enjoy your ESL class! If they teach you about dangling pariciples, come over to my blog and leave me a comment about what those are…because I’m still not quite sure.
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