Journal

French 102 has been a challenge for me. In French 101, Madame Dubois, taught in a very specific way. I greatly enjoyed her way of teaching. She was very understanding and walked us through everything we needed to know, in class. Then on our own time, we completed homework that reinforced what she taught and then would review the following class. On Fridays we would typically have our test days. 102 has been structured in drastically different ways.

I believe Madam Facer is a professional and an expert in her craft, however I struggle as her student when it comes to digesting content. For example, all instruction is given from the syllabus, or otherwise verbally in class. It is rare to receive an announcement, reminder, or email besides the automated reminders from the Immerse Me program. This could be considered fine for most, however for me, a fulltime student and father who supports an entire household; as well as all my additional obligations such as attending mandatory appointments from the VA, this becomes a problem.

I am capable of understanding the course content, but often times, we are introduced new vocabulary and terms, all in french by either Madam Facer or the CMU program. I struggle with this aspect, because for me, I correlate the English words that mean the same, so that I can remember the french counterpart. I do not have the same amounts of study time as most, and we do not review chapters, just the important bits that Madam Facer chooses to go over that day.

I struggle with memory issues due to my traumatic brain injury and PTSD, and care to help manage these issues are lack luster to say the least. I feel that no matter how long or how often I study, the information is always fragmented in my mind.

I hope that I pass the class, but I do not have confidence that I will.  This compounds all my other life struggles, such as my ability to see my son, my ability to pay my bills, and my pursuit of happiness; all held at a knife’s edge because of my struggles with French 102.

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