Should I withdraw from Japanese class?

March 20, 2008 3:14 PM

Last day to withdraw from this course- should I? I'm doing badly, but I'm not sure if the consequences of withdrawing would be worse than sticking with it.

I'm a first-year college student, taking Japanese 021 (the second semester of the lowest course level). I live in and am an active member of Japanese House (on-campus programmed housing). I'm not crazy about learning languages, but I'm not too bad at it and I like the Japanese culture. My major is East Asian Studies, and I had planned to work as translator or something similar here in the U.S. after I graduated.

Here's the problem: I have some problems with anxiety, perfectionism, and just plain getting work done. I've been seeing a counselor and I have some Ativan for emergencies, prescribed after a visit to the ER. For all my other classes, I've been able to work out ways to make up the large amounts of work and class I've missed, or it hasn't mattered.
However, for Japanese, the less work I do and the less time I'm there, the less confident I am in speaking it. Lately I've been much better about getting to class, but the damage is done. I tend to get extremely nervous when I have to speak publicly (or in Japanese) regardless. I made it through two oral exams last semester, but the anxiety has gotten worse and I haven't been able to do the midterm's oral exam for this semester. I was given two chances, and both times I completely freaked out hours before I was supposed to do it and had to email the sensei.
I haven't even been able to study for the exam. I've sat down with everything I needed, then got hung up on minor issues or simply couldn't remember anything. The stress is doing me in, and I don't know how to manage it.

Now, on to my actual question: I know that I must, at some point, do the oral exam, that there will be an oral exam on the final, and that I will have to speak with other students in Japanese during the pairwork exercises we do twice a week. Considering the huge amounts of stress these things cause, should I go ahead and withdraw from the class? The deadline is tomorrow, although I'm sure I could withdraw slightly later because it is on account of a health issue.
Pros of withdrawing: much less stress, more time to spend on other classes, the ability to study Japanese/memorize vocab on my own for next year, not having a failing or close to failing grade on my transcript.
Cons: mostly that I'll only be taking 14 credits without Japanese and that dropping it is admitting failure, but also that I don't know what kind of impact this will have on my major/future career/life.
I would like to think that I could study on my own (I'm rather good at memorizing vocab and understanding grammatical concepts when I'm not dying of stress) and test into the next level of Japanese next semester. I don't know if this is possible, but I'm going to ask the senseis about it. I will admit, a lot of my indecision comes from the fact that I'm giving up. I hate giving up. I also hate the idea of going from 18 credits (which I'm kinda proud of) to just 14 (which would make me feel like a slacker). I don't think there's anything I can do for credit at this point, although I may look into taking some sort of music lessons (I'm a music minor).

So! What do you guys think the best course of action is? Have any of you withdrawn from a course (one integral to your major, perhaps) and what were the consequences?
Thank you!

posted by Baethan to education (21 comments total)

Does your university have a "freshman forgiveness" policy? Many universities allow you to re-take a course that you got a D or an F on and will erase the original grade from your transcript if you do better the second time. If your university has that policy, I think it's a no-brainer: stick it out, do as much as you can, and it'll be easier the second time. (The only real downside is paying for it twice, but you may be on the hook for that anyway.)

Don't conisder it giving up, consider it a strategic retreat. Giving up would be dropping out of college and going to pump gas.
posted by kindall at 3:19 PM on March 20, 2008

"I don't know what kind of impact this will have on my major/future career/life."

Almost all similar decisions that stressed me as an undergrad has NO impact on my future career/life. If you apply for grade school 5 years from now, for example, no one will even notice that you dropped the course. Just take it next year and get an A.

As for oral exams, the best way to get over your anxiety about them is practice, practice, practice. Do a mock exam, with formalities and everything, have your classmates pretend to be the professor, and have them grill you until you cry.
posted by tiburon at 3:21 PM on March 20, 2008

Haha, that should read "grad school," not "grade school." Freudian slip.
posted by tiburon at 3:22 PM on March 20, 2008

A lot of people have a 'W' on their transcript, it really isn't that bad and looks better than an 'F'.

But you should talk to your professor about your problems. Additionally you should go to your schools counseling center to deal with your anxiety. You and a thousand other people have graced the offices of those counselors and they can give you some tips on dealing with your anxiety.

Godspeed.
posted by munchingzombie at 3:26 PM on March 20, 2008

Drop it, get your health issues under control, and then retake the course next semester. The trouble with "testing into the next level" is that your spoken Japanese won't get any better that way. You need the practice to get better, or risk the anxiety returning.

That being said, your undergrad grades don't really doesn't matter as much as you think they does. The truth is - "C's get degrees". In the end, all that matters (unless you have seriously competitive graduate school ambitions) is that you graduated. (A 'W' still looks better than an 'F', but neither are the end of the world). Since I got my degree 7 years ago, I've had *1* potential employer ask about my transcript (and I work in a very degree-related field.). I wish I knew that back then...
posted by cgg at 3:31 PM on March 20, 2008

Hang in there and find someone to talk to, preferably in Japanese. Find out if you can re-take the class for a replacement grade if you school allows these things. Talk to your instructor, especially if (s)he has office hours soon. Explain the situation and ask for their advice. You may be surprised.

As a teacher, I'm shocked at how many students just drift off into the sunset and fail my class rather then talk to me about their options while there's time to do some reparations. Showing up at office hours or scheduling an appointment shows initiative, which does really count for something.
posted by answergrape at 3:32 PM on March 20, 2008

I failed a class in my major in my junior year. I had no issues with health, or anything I can say to excuse myself.

I graduated on time, and got a good job. In short, the greatest effect it has had on me is to increase my students loan.

If/when you withdraw, ask if you could keep attending class. That way you'd be better prepared when you take it next year or test out of it.
posted by Monday at 3:32 PM on March 20, 2008

I'm going to argue for not dropping it and here's why. I had a slightly similar situation in a language class, although maybe a little less extreme. I had to give a 10 minute presentation in this foreign language and I was absolutely terrified. Major fear of public speaking plus total lack of confidence in my mastery of the language. I went to the class and started to give the presentation but had to stop after a few minutes when I started crying from the stress. So not only did I fail the presentation but I was humiliated from the crying in front of the class.

BUT, and here's a big but, the teacher was forgiving and I tried it again a few days later. With more preparation. I was just as stressed but I didn't cry the second time. And I learned what things I did the second time that helped me get through it compared to the first time. And then I had to do another presentation a few weeks later; this time I used the things that worked well from the semi-successful second presentation and built on them. And I shook all the way through (and cried when I got home) but I made it (15 minutes! all by myself!). And I got an A!

Fast forward to now- public speaking is one of my favorite things to do (in certain situations) and I can speak the foreign language freely and totally without anxiety. Actually DOING IT, even if it was awful, helped. And even failing the first one helped, because then I'd done it and it wasn't the end of the world. I knew that even failing + terror + crying didn't kill me. So the next time around I was less afraid, and so on.

So, if you work like me (and I can't guarantee that you do) just going and doing the oral exam might actually ramp you up to a strong(er) finish to the semester. Prepare, prepare, prepare and go, even if you're shaking and even if you want to puke. Good luck!
posted by ohio at 3:41 PM on March 20, 2008

Seconding checking up on freshman forgiveness. I failed two of my four classes freshman year, retook them the following semester and aced both of them. It actually HELPED my long-term GPA to get F's in those classes freshman year rather than struggling for a 'C' (which you couldn't take over again), much to the envy of my peers.

Otherwise, take the W's. I did those too. I ended up graduating with honors, fwiw.
posted by rooftop secrets at 3:44 PM on March 20, 2008

I taught beginning Russian four about 6 years. I would worry most about developing an anxiety around Japanese. If you want to work in East Asian studies, you will eventually need Japanese. May I suggest a third way? I would drop the course, but explain to your teacher that you do want to learn Japanese, and ask to audit the class. That way you will do better when you take it next time.

I don't know where you are, but perhaps you could try finding a Japanese student who needed help proof-reading his or her papers in exchange for speaking lessons. (It generally doesn't work to trade speaking lessons. The person with the stronger skills isn't afraid to talk; the anxious beginner is).

If it makes you feel better, I had to retake second year Russian, and ended acing a practice exam for the defense language institute. Slow and stead is the only way to learn a language. And Japanese grammar is hard in the beginning, but very cool one you understand it.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 3:46 PM on March 20, 2008

Aw, kiddo, don't worry. Withdrawing looks MUCH better on your transcript than, er, a D or an F. If this is causing so much anxiety to you, withdraw. There is no shame in it; professors know these things happen, and by the time you get to grad school (or even sophomore year), no one will care. I do hope you and your counselor talk about more than just ativan for emergencies! I mean, it does help, speaking from personal experience, but so does a less ... potent, more regular drug that you can take consistently.

For some perspective: late in the second semester of my freshman year, I withdrew from all of my courses for similar reasons as the ones you cite. Despite school policy being a mandatory minimum one semester leave of absence after such a drastic course of action, I successfully argued my way back into school for a normal start to my sophomore year, caught up on all my lost credits over the next three years, and graduated on time, with high honors. It can be done. Having a good, communicative relationship with professors definitely helps - have you talked to your Japanese professor about this? I guess with oral exams it doesn't work so well, but in the future, you might find that taking an incomplete is an option.

(FYI, I actually withdrew from another course just a few weeks ago, so realize anxiety is not a battle that can be vanquished once and then solved forever, but it does get easier. This time, it was just one class, and before I'd invested an entire semester. You will persevere!)
posted by bettafish at 3:46 PM on March 20, 2008

Echoing answergrape: I would much rather have a student come and speak to me about difficulties in class before the F happens (of course, that isn't the end of the world, but a W is preferable). Can you perhaps withdraw from taking the class for credit and audit it instead? That would help prepare you for the next go-round and make it a non-threatening way to practice your oral Japanese.

And, FWIW, 18 credits is A LOT for a first-year student. To put it bluntly, if you are feeling this anxious, you are not doing yourself a favour by taking this many courses. Along the same lines, you are not "giving up" by dropping to 14 credits. In the long run, withdrawing from a course in the first year of your undergrad is not going to have any kind of impact on your career.

Good luck.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:48 PM on March 20, 2008

P.S. answergrape is right. Teachers do want their students to do well. If you do decide to stay in the class, I would let the professor know you are serious, and ask for advice.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 3:48 PM on March 20, 2008

Whatever you decide, have you considered, after this quarter, shifting to a part-time program? I often recommend this plan to people who have anxiety. Think of your quality of life. Take your time, and do it all right.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 3:48 PM on March 20, 2008

I withdrew from a class in college when it became apparent that it was going to be an absolutely huge amount of work of the kind that I don't like doing. I ended up with 12 or 14 hours. The entire consequences of the withdraw consisted of me doing better in other classes, more hours to work as a grader, and more time to get drunk. No one is going to look twice at a W on your transcript - people withdraw for all kinds of good reasons, and you certainly have plenty of them.
posted by 0xFCAF at 4:16 PM on March 20, 2008

Do you think that you will be able to conquer the issues that you've been having with anxiety and be able to do oral exams next semester? If so, then totally drop the course, and re-take it at a point where you can handle the requirements better. It's not a moral failing; just a recognition that this version of the course, at this time, isn't working out---and it will allow you to do better in the rest of your courses.

I'd much rather have students withdraw when they're in this kind of hole then have to flunk them.

If you don't have to wait until next spring to take the course again, I don't see this will have much impact on your "future" (whatever that means in this context). Even if you do, it's fixable: talk to your instructor and your academic advisor and you should be able to determine a way around the difficulty.
posted by leahwrenn at 4:35 PM on March 20, 2008

Mostly I just want to say that you're not alone. I have struggled with the same thing in my language classes. It is a terrible, self-perpetuating cycle. It is true that the worse it gets, the worse it's gonna get. I have had a bit of success with not allowing even one absence, because if I miss a day, it's harder to go back the next day, and the next thing you know you're dropping out. But boy, do I ever know how hard it is.

Definitely start a conversation with your teacher, and talk to the students with disabilities office for advice. They can advocate for you. I also agree that a withdrawal on your transcript is much better than an F, if you still have the choice.

Be kind to yourself.
posted by loiseau at 5:57 PM on March 20, 2008

dropping it is admitting failure, but also that I don't know what kind of impact this will have on my major/future career/life.

Dropping is not admitting failure -- it is admitting that you are human and sometimes we take on too much, or need to drop unimportant things to focus on things that matter, or our needs change with time. I dropped plenty of classes, and so did almost everyone I know, both as an undergrad and as a graduate student. It's why there is an option to withdraw -- many, many people figure out late in the term that the class is not for them.

(Many schools offer a medical option, where you can withdraw with no penalty -- the counseling staff or dean of students or similar can best tell you what your options are. If that lets you avoid the W on the transcript, great, but the W is not a big deal, really.)

Impact on future: none, other than positive. You will be free to focus on and do better in your other classes. It might set you back six months or a year in terms of learning Japanese, but there are other things you can take if you decide that Japanese is not for you. The absolute worst case scenario is that you will have to take a class over the summer, or maybe graduate a semester late. That's all. No impact on applying to graduate school, no impact on getting jobs or internships, there will be no pop-quizzes on the subject later in life, nothing.

I can't underline enough how normal and routine this is -- people all around you have had to or will have to do this; your professors probably dropped the odd class or two; you are not alone. And not only are you not alone, it is not a stigmatized action for which you will be punished. You will be welcome to retake the class; you don't need to switch your major; you don't even need to try and keep this a secret. It's a total non-event, except that you are in the middle of it and finding it all really stressful. At this point, I would have to look at my transcript to tell you what classes I dropped -- it was a huge deal at the time for me, but with time and some perspective the memory has completely faded away.
posted by Forktine at 6:22 PM on March 20, 2008

I have a "W" on my undergrad transcript that occurred due to a clerical error that I was never able to correct (huzzah for university bureaucracy!). I graduated and was still admitted to all the grad programs I applied to. Nobody has ever mentioned it.

I think I would take the "W". There's a reason that the "W" policy exists and it sounds like your situation is textbook case. Heck, if you talk to the right people at the right time you may be able to convince them to let you drop without the "W" if you medical problems are as significant as you say.

Take the class again when you are ready--but don't procrastinate! I can tell you from personal experience that when it comes to foreign languages, the longer you wait, the harder it gets.

And go talk to the professor. 99% of them want to help if you just enable them to do so.
posted by jtfowl0 at 6:26 PM on March 20, 2008

I can't tell you which way to go. What I can tell you is that:

1. I withdrew from a course or two, failed another course outright, and had two outstanding incompletes at the end of my senior year of college. I still graduated in four years, I still had a good GPA, and I still got a good job.

2. You're not a "slacker" for taking only 14 credit hours in a semester. More people than you might think do just that every semester. I did most people one better: After taking 17 credit hours to begin with my freshman fall and withdrawing from a course, taking that down to 14 credit hours, I decided to take around 12-14 credit hours every semester. To offset that, I did about a semester's worth of courses, one or two at a time, over the course of each summer during my four years.

Net result: A better GPA, 'cause the summer courses were much lower pressure, and courses during the year were much more doable when there were only four or five of 'em each semester. That, and I had more time for delving deep into a few good activities.

3. My Waterloo was Calculus II. I took it the first time during the regular spring semester my freshman year, started to fall behind in the huge lecture course, and withdrew. That summer I retook it, in a tiny class with lots of direct instruction from and interaction with the professor, and got a B+ or A- or something along those lines. (Can't remember which way it fell, but it went a lot better.) Some obscure paperwork requirement that I didn't fulfill made it so I couldn't just replace the grade outright (I think I had to get the retake course pre-approved or something like that for it to count), but normally I would've been able to.

4. The one course I did fail? Latin. Here's the thing: I had a B- or C going into the final that semester. I would've done fine if not for one thing: When I started falling behind, I didn't talk to the professor about it, and ultimately I was so embarrassed and so behind that I just quit going to the class, skipping the final. I'd calculated that even missing the final, I couldn't get lower than a D. I didn't bank on the professor being, you know, a little ticked off that I'd just "quit" her course—and there was the F.

So here's my advice to you, considering Japanese isn't just a whim for you like Latin was for me: Talk to the professor! ASAP! Learn from my mistake.
posted by limeonaire at 7:23 PM on March 20, 2008

Thanks guys! I feel much better about withdrawing, which I think I will do. Thank you for your support! I see it's not as big a deal as I thought it was. :]
posted by Baethan at 8:01 AM on March 21, 2008