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Success in this Course:
Any course syllabus mentions textbooks that students need to
purchase, the number of assignments they need to complete,
the attendance policy, how final course grades are
determined, and other policy matters. Such information also
appears in this syllabus. In addition to all of that,
however, students in this course need something else in
order to do well.
First, students in this
course need commitment. Developing their English skills must
have a high priority for them. Attending class sessions is
obviously important, but working outside class is even more
important. Students must commit themselves to spending the
time and doing the work if they want to succeed.
Second, students need
determination to apply themselves daily to their study.
Learning is not always smooth on a daily basis, and the
results are not always apparent on a daily basis. Therefore,
students need determination to continue daily.
Third, students in this
course need patience. Language development takes time and
effort, and success does not come easily. Learning anything
important takes time and effort.
Fourth, students in this
course need awareness to recognize all of the opportunities
for language development that surround them regularly. Once
they start to recognize some of those opportunities, they
need to take advantage of them. Once they start to take
advantage of some of those opportunities, they are on the
road to heightening their language development.
Fifth, students in this
course need curiosity. Asking questions is wanting to know
more. Asking questions is curiosity. In order to learn, a
person needs to want to know. When a person wants to know,
the person is naturally curious. We were all curious as
children, but we are not all curious as adults. What happens
to us? Find that curiosity that you have and start to use
it.
Sixth, language learners
need to realize that ultimately they alone are responsible
for their learning. Teachers may provide assistance and
challenges along the way, but ultimately each student is
responsible for his or her learning.
Lastly, students in this course need to develop effective
ways to use their time to their advantage to keep up with
what is happening in each of their courses. Falling behind
in any course is not a good feeling, so students need to
manage their time effectively to succeed in college. At
times in the semester, come back to this part of the
syllabus and reread it to remind yourself about what you
should be doing and to make sure that is indeed what you are
doing.
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