Is it just me, or does anyone else feel stuck in a similar situation in their English class? As a freshman in an Honors English class, I can’t help but think that the work is ridiculously easy. Honestly, I could count the number of assignments we’ve had on two hands! I was more challenged in my 7th and 8th grade English classes. To make things worse, at least two classmates of mine have failed the first semester and dropped down to College Prep level. And for those who don’t know, CP stands for College Prep. How do you even fail an English class like this?
Now, before anyone judges me for being in a “lower” class, let me clarify that the structure of my class mirrors that of other English Honors classes. I can’t even imagine how rudimentary an English CP class must be! The worst part is that our teacher spends about 70% of the period just reading from a novel and then offers a superficial summary of what we just read—there’s hardly any analysis involved. Honestly, I feel like I’m the one doing all the analysis because it’s clear we need it.
It feels like our teacher is setting us up for failure; over half of the class flunked the final exam. I was one of them, and that’s because we weren’t taught anything meaningful throughout the semester. About a third of the class got A’s, yet many of them still failed! I genuinely despise this class; if there were a better option available, I’d switch in a heartbeat.
It sounds like you’re really frustrated with your English class, and you’re definitely not alone in feeling that the courses you take sometimes don’t match your expectations, especially in an Honors program. It’s tough when you feel like you’re not being challenged enough or learning in a way that makes sense to you.
Many students share your sentiment about a class that seems too easy or poorly structured—it’s disappointing when you feel more engaged in earlier grades. It’s also concerning that so many people are struggling with the material; a good teacher should be helping students develop their skills, particularly in an Honors setting.
Have you thought about talking to your teacher about your concerns? Sometimes, expressing how you feel can lead to a better understanding of what the class is intended to be and could help make adjustments. Or perhaps there are resources available at your school, like academic advisors, who can help navigate your options. It’s great that you’re eager to learn and analyze—you deserve a class that matches your drive!