The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, October 30, 1974, Page page 9, Image 9

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ew language class controversial; who is it for?
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Consider -you sign up for a preparatory
language course, designed for freshmen and
students who have not previously taken a
language. It is supposed to have about 50
students in it.
End resultModern Languages 100.
Students from all academic levels are
taking the course. They are students who
have taken a language In high school, are in
their fourth semester of language, or who,
because of his course, will never take a
language at UNL. The class has 235 students
In it.
Confused? You're not the only one.
Jane Dein, vice chairman of the Modern
Languages Dept. said Modern Languages
100 was desianed for freshmen who haven't
taken a language in high school and who
.haven't decided which language they want to
take.
She said the course counts as one semester
of the required four semesters of language.
She noted it can be taken prior to 101 (first
semester language) or instead of 202 (fourth
semester language).
'Bad feeling'
According to Dein, "some students have a
bad feeling for language because of previous
experiences in high school." She said
students who took a language in ninth or
tenth grade may not remember it and have to
"Modern Languages 100 will teach the.
linguistics of a language and prepare them
for i 01," shesaid;
Paul Schach, instructor of Modern Langu
ages 100, said "it is the type of course that
requires reading ability and an understand
ing of linguistic terms." He said students are
quitting the class because they don't
understand the terms.
Under the circumstances, he said, the class
is noing as well as can be expected.
' Having more students than anticipated
and students of unequal background makes it
(the class) difficult to teach," Schach said.
Grades on the first test ranged from 100
per cent to 8 per cent, Schach said. He said
there were 10 perfect grades.
Entrance exams
Schach said he thought one answer to the
problem would be entrance exams.
"It would separate students of different
abilities," he said. "Some students aren't
prepared for college language courses.
Schach placed the blame on a decline ot
language teaching in high school.
Julie Jorgensen, graduate assistant, whose
background includes psychology, German
arid linguistics, said she believed the
problem is student laziness. She said of 82
midsernister reports sent, 45 were F's and 37
wereD's.
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jaid, but she said ideally it should be taken as
the fourth semester of a language.
"Students thought it would be easier than
a language and they've found put it isn't'
she said. -
She noted changes in the second semester
course are possible. .
"With a smaller class there could be more
group discussions."
Instead of fourth semester
Jeannie Chandler, senior, has taken
Hebrew and French. She said she is taking
the course instead of a fourth semester of a
language.
"I'm taking it pass-fail and even then it's a
lot of work." She said she thinks the class
should be for.graduate students.
Kurt Wullschleger, junior, said the class is
a lot of work.
Kate Graf, a sophomore, took Spanish in
high school and is starting Spanish over next
semester. She said "I would rather take a
language; this is harder."
Lori Libert, freshman, said if she had had
two or three years of German, Latin and
linguistics it would have helped. She said, the
course should not be for freshmen.
Marilyn Miller, freshman, said "the
language is hard to understand and It shouid
definitely not be a freshman-level course."
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1
5
team
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Wednesday, October 30, 1974
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First of all, Army ROTC only takes up about
three to five hours a week of your time while you're in college.
No big thing. '
Second, it gives you an edge on the other
guys. In areas like management, organization and leadership.
No big thing.
Third, it pays $100 a month during your junior
and senior years. No big thing.
Fourth, it lets you serve your country as an
Army Officer. No big thing.
But the big thing is that little things add up. The
education, the background,
the experience.
Right now you may
think Army ROTC will look
small on your resume. But a
lot of employers don't think so.
And with jobs getting tougher
to come by, a little thing like
ROTC can start to look
pretty big.
Army ROTC.
The more you look at it, the
better it looks.
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contact:
If
Robert; 'A. Julian
110 RUSH E!dn.
daily ncbraskan
page 9