GRADING SCALE FOR PARTICIPATION GRADE:  Your instructor will use this scale to determine your participation grade.  You should use it to know what is expected of you in the classroom.  Please note that this scale is not a precise evaluation tool, but a guidelline that will vary with different levels and courses.  All grade assignments will be left to the discretion of the course instructor.   

 

100-90%

 Excellent level of preparation and participation;

·            Regularly offers relevant comments or answers without prompting;

·            Regularly answers when called on and demonstrates extensive preparation;

·            Nearly always participates voluntarily in class activities without hesitations;

·            Consistently stays on task during partner/group work;

·            Uses German almost exclusively (asks permission to speak English); 

 
89-80%

 High level of preparation and participation;

·            Sometimes offers relevant comments or answers without prompting;

·            Usually answers when called on and demonstrates preparation;

·            Sometimes participates voluntarily in class activities;

·            Stays on task during partner/group work;

·            Uses a lot of German (sometimes asks permission to speak English);

 
79-70%

Satisfactory level of preparation and participation;

·            Occasionally offers relevant comments or answers, but usually needs prompting;

·            Answers when called on, but is not consistently prepared;

·            Generally does not participate voluntarily in class;

·            Inconsistent participation  in partner/group work (chatting, unprepared);

·            Uses German only when required (asks lots of questions in English);

 
69-60%

Low level of preparation and participation;

·            Rarely offers relevant comments or answers without prompting;

·            Often unable to answer when called on; rarely prepared;

·            Clearly hesitant to participate voluntarily in class activities;

·            Inconsistent participation in partner/group work; (chatting/unprepared/unwilling)

·            Rarely uses German ;

 
60-0%

Inadequate level of preparation and participation;

·            Unable to respond when called on:

·            Unwilling to participate in class activities:

·            Clearly unprepared for class:

·            Rarely or never speaks German:

 

 

TIPS FOR SUCCESS:

 

SPEAK: Make an effort to speak every single class period.  You can only improve and strengthen your language skills by using them!  Your participation will help motivate your classmates as well – and make the lesson more productive for everyone!

 

ASK: If something isn’t clear, if something interests you and you want to know more, or even if you are just not sure about something,… ASK!!  Your questions benefit the class in many ways.  You, of course, will get an answer to your question, but you also help your instructor know how well class is going and what might need more explanation.  You also help the other students by opening a new way of thinking about a particular topic. 

 

WORK WITH OTHERS: In this class you will be expected to participate in numerous group activities.  Don’t treat this as an excuse to goof off.  Group work allows you a more intimate and relaxed opportunity to practice your language skills.  You can also learn from your partners: they might be able to help you with specific problems, and you will surely exercise your skills by helping them.

 

DON’T ASSUME: Don’t assume that everyone else in the class is going to make fun of you, or that they all know what might be going on!!  They have the same anxieties you do.  Worrying about them will only diminish your opportunity to practice speaking and learning in class. 

 

REMEMBER! Remember that your participation grade will not be determined by individual errors, but by an assessment of your overall participation and effort in class.  Don’t let a fear of making mistakes inhibit your work in class.  Your instructor will be looking for consistent and active participation and steady progress – mistakes are a necessary and expected part of that process!!

 

HAVE FUN! Don’t forget that learning languages is fun!  Sure, you get to learn about other cultures and how they speak, think, and perceive the world, but you also get to do fun activities in class and “be” someone else as you speak a new language.  Your language classes will also be some of the only ones in your college experience in which you have small classes and really get to know and work closely with your fellow students and instructor.  Enjoy!!