Students suffer with large Spanish classes

OUR VIEW: The University must consider alternatives to reduce class sizes in FLS 101 to aid students' academic success.

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Posted: 10/15/07

Unlike students in other beginning foreign language classes, students enrolled in Elementary Spanish I have class sizes anywhere from 100 to 200 students -- with the average being around 180. These classes are held in an auditorium with the professor using a lecture-teaching method.

The rationale given for having large class sizes for only Spanish, and not other foreign languages, was that a vast majority of students already have a knowledge-base of the Spanish language before they take the class.

This reason is not only an unfortunate one, but harmful to the educational success of the students enrolled in FLS 101. The current class size in FLS 101 are unacceptable, and the University has to come up with alternatives to reduce the size of the classes.

Students that take FLS 101 begin the semester with a disadvantage from the other foreign language students due to the class size. It's been proven the lower the student-to-teacher ratio in a classroom, the more likely it is for a student to succeed. It's hard for students to develop the important student - teacher relationship, which is a key component of learning process, with lecture-level class sizes.

It's even more crucial to have smaller class sizes at the introductory level because without a firm foundation of knowledge, it's almost impossible for students to master more advanced material.

One reason for the lecture-style learning is to save the University money -- but at what educational cost is the University willing to go to save a few bucks?

Learning a foreign language in a lecture-hall environment with 100 to 200 students must stop. University administrators should use some of this year's tuition increase to fund more sections of FLS 101.

Instead, the University says students should spend more money to take a smaller FLS 101 class by taking a summer session class or have students take an internet section where they will have even less interaction with a teacher.

A University that has undergone a capital campaign should do all that it can to help students achieve in the classroom.