FRENCH STUDENTS: DOES Z'Y VA REALLY DO ANYTHING???
posted almost 11 years ago
I'm not generally a trouble maker, but this has been on my mind lately, especially since I'm set to graduate in May and enrolled in French 201 as part of the language requirement. Students enrolled in French language courses are required to participate in Z'y Va in order to pass the class. It costs about $70.00 each semester and is designed to enhance the student's understanding of French culture and language structures, as if these were not covered in class or through the Centro program (the latter of which I, personally, find helpful).
My question is this: does it genuinely HELP you LEARN anything? More and more often I encounter students who, like me, are required to participate in this program and I have yet to talk to peers that find it helpful in any way. For us, it is a waste of money and a waste of time (both of which are hard to come by for most of us as college students, indeed) that could be spent doing other productive things that benefit our education. I understand, according to professors and students alike, that Z'y Va is one that has been designed by none other than someone in the French department, which leads me to believe that the ONLY reason we -- the students who PAY to be here -- are inconvenienced by this nuisance of a program simply because it was created by someone who works at UMBC.
Now, if there are students who find this helpful and enjoyable, I've created this thread so you can identify yourselves and we can put this to bed. But if my observations and personal research are correct, the MAJORITY of students are drastically inconvenienced by Z'y Va. It doesn't matter much for me since this is, hopefully, my final semester, and I have to do it anyway, but the principle of the issue bothers me. If there is a program that has haunted students for so long that nobody enjoys nor finds helpful in the least bit, WHY ARE WE REQUIRED TO DO THIS? IS THE EGO OF ONE INDIVIDUAL THE REASON THAT WE HAVE TO WASTE OUR TIME, MONEY, AND SOME OF US (who can't figure out this amateur/flawed program) OUR GRADES ON A SYSTEM THAT IS IN NO WAY CONDUCIVE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE STUDENT? This is just one excellent example of how students get bent over by the very institution that exists primarily to help them succeed. At the very least, why do we have to pay again and again when this might not be to the benefit of the people who already pay to be here?
I don't mean to disrespect or offend anyone, and if I'm wrong and there are people who prove me wrong, then I'm satisfied. But in my experience, and through communicating with my peers, it seems as though we are being disadvantaged because of one (or a few) person(s) in the French department who may or may not be making a shit ton of money off of this. Again, if my interpretation of the issue is incorrect, please let me know in a respectful way and I'll be glad to say I'm wrong.
If I am right, what is to be done to rectify the issue?
Thanks for taking the time to read and/or participate in this discussion. I don't normally find a reason to open my mouth about this kind of thing, but like I said above, the apparent principle of the matter really bothers me. I look forward to seeing what you have to contribute.
My question is this: does it genuinely HELP you LEARN anything? More and more often I encounter students who, like me, are required to participate in this program and I have yet to talk to peers that find it helpful in any way. For us, it is a waste of money and a waste of time (both of which are hard to come by for most of us as college students, indeed) that could be spent doing other productive things that benefit our education. I understand, according to professors and students alike, that Z'y Va is one that has been designed by none other than someone in the French department, which leads me to believe that the ONLY reason we -- the students who PAY to be here -- are inconvenienced by this nuisance of a program simply because it was created by someone who works at UMBC.
Now, if there are students who find this helpful and enjoyable, I've created this thread so you can identify yourselves and we can put this to bed. But if my observations and personal research are correct, the MAJORITY of students are drastically inconvenienced by Z'y Va. It doesn't matter much for me since this is, hopefully, my final semester, and I have to do it anyway, but the principle of the issue bothers me. If there is a program that has haunted students for so long that nobody enjoys nor finds helpful in the least bit, WHY ARE WE REQUIRED TO DO THIS? IS THE EGO OF ONE INDIVIDUAL THE REASON THAT WE HAVE TO WASTE OUR TIME, MONEY, AND SOME OF US (who can't figure out this amateur/flawed program) OUR GRADES ON A SYSTEM THAT IS IN NO WAY CONDUCIVE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE STUDENT? This is just one excellent example of how students get bent over by the very institution that exists primarily to help them succeed. At the very least, why do we have to pay again and again when this might not be to the benefit of the people who already pay to be here?
I don't mean to disrespect or offend anyone, and if I'm wrong and there are people who prove me wrong, then I'm satisfied. But in my experience, and through communicating with my peers, it seems as though we are being disadvantaged because of one (or a few) person(s) in the French department who may or may not be making a shit ton of money off of this. Again, if my interpretation of the issue is incorrect, please let me know in a respectful way and I'll be glad to say I'm wrong.
If I am right, what is to be done to rectify the issue?
Thanks for taking the time to read and/or participate in this discussion. I don't normally find a reason to open my mouth about this kind of thing, but like I said above, the apparent principle of the matter really bothers me. I look forward to seeing what you have to contribute.
This question hasn't been answered yet.
