Good morning!

So, finals week… No one likes it, we all have to go through it. I was also sick with a cold during finals week, so that was fun. My throat was hurting, I was constantly sleeping when I wasn’t studying. Adding in languages was difficult, and I didn’t do a good job juggling everything.

A few weeks before finals week, I forgot to book a French lesson on italki. I just blew it off because she didn’t have any other lessons open when I realized I didn’t have a lesson booked. The next week, I was lectured about how regularity is key and that she prefers two lessons a week for beginners. This was a very fun lecture (heavy sarcasm in that sentence). It was right before I was preparing for finals week in my classes. Therefore, the lessons that week were not as fun for me, and I felt like this was a chore.

The next week, I got so caught up in the week I forgot to do my homework. I thought I could manage to wing it in class, but that didn’t work. Then I was lectured about the importance of homework and that there’s no point in assigning it if I was just going to do it in class.

So, I’m up to my ears in homework from other classes, AND about a week’s worth of homework from my Spanish and French teachers, PLUS a weekly Spanish lesson, and TWO weekly French lessons. This lecture wasn’t appealing to me either. She had not asked if I was okay, or what my life was like outside of our lessons, so being there was twice as much like a chore than that last time.

So, this lesson came around last Friday, and I hadn’t done any homework that time either. I then noticed that day, that she had forgotten to send me the audio for the lessons, so I got by with that excuse.

I am on the hunt for a French teacher on italki that will keep me motivated, and I’ll be comfortable to miss lessons, or accidentally forget to book lessons. I will begin my first trial lesson on Friday the 18th. Wish me luck!

What I Can Do to Improve

Next finals week in the fall, December 14th, 2018, I plan to create a more advanced homework schedule in my new 2018 Erin Condren planner! I plan to do more chunks of subjects, and hopefully, I won’t be sick. Also, I am hoping for a teacher that is a bit more understanding of my needs. Also who doesn’t have lessons so early in the mornings, so I can wake up a bit before I leave for classes.

Incorporate French into methods that don’t feel like work. Even though you might not feel like you’re learning as much, you know you at least did some work.

Have a good week!

Marina.