As a college student, we have all had that one class that has taken us to the brink of insanity. The course that has made us reconsider our major, or even if we should be attending school at all. Whether it be because it bores us to tears, or those tears are caused by the fact that we have no idea what we are doing. We have all had one. For me, it was Linguistics.
Being an English major, Linguistics is a requirement for my degree. I spent many hours at my computer with tear-filled eyes as I tried desperately to comprehend the course material. Each time I thought I understood it, my less than stellar grades sniped back at me. There were several times I thought about dropping the class and changing my major just to avoid it. Rather than give up, I found ways to get through it.
Read, Read, and Read.
Make sure you read all the material given. I cannot stress how important it is not to skim through your text when you are struggling like this. I am one of those people who can comprehend materials by skimming, that is until this class. Make sure you set aside enough time for reading and studying. Don’t pull an all-nighter the night before an assignment or test.
Take Notes
Make sure you take plenty of notes! If necessary, take notes of your notes, just to make sure you are understanding the material. Having notecards available of the main points is always a big help. I have always been a note taker, but they weren’t always as detailed as they could have been. I can’t stress how important it is to make sure you have a ton of notes!
Research
If you are still unsure of the material, research it. There is always a ton of material available online, or in the library, that can help simplify things for you. It seemed as though I was Googling every other term just to understand what I was reading. It may require extra time, but it will definitely be worth it!
Talk to your instructor
When I thought all hope was gone for me in my Linguistics class, I turned to my instructor for help. The information he gave to me really made the difference in me being able to complete the class. I have found that they are always willing to help, and they have a world of knowledge that they are willing to share, if you just ask.
Get a Tutor
Most colleges have a tutoring program at little or no cost. Take advantage of them because they can offer insight into what you may not be understanding. They have taken these courses and know what is expected. It is also great to have someone to bounce your thoughts and ideas off of who can give you great feedback.
Give Yourself a Break
Most importantly, go easy on yourself. If this is a course that isn’t a strong subject for you, or that you are really struggling with, don’t have unrealistic expectations of yourself. It’s okay not to be perfect at everything. This was a hard lesson I had to learn when I ended with a final grade of a B in my Linguistics class, the first of its kind in my college career. It was a bittersweet moment for me. On one hand, I was angry at myself for screwing up my GPA, on the other, I was so grateful to have passed the class at all.
There are ways to get through the class from hell. If you are finding that it has become too overwhelming, talk to your advisor, and see what he, or she, can do to help. Remember, no one is perfect at everything all the time. Do your best and be proud of yourself for it!
