5 things to do after the first day of class

Congratulations! Not only have you decided to study a second language but you’ve just finished your first class. You’ve met your instructor and classmates, you’ve purchased the book a syllabus was passed out… now what? How do you go from day one of no knowledge to a Spanish rockstar?

Here’s my list of the top 5 things to do following your first day of class:

1. Introduce yourself to the teacher

You are one of at least 50 other students that your teacher is responsible for. Take a moment after class or even in an email to introduce yourself to your instructor. Tell them your full name, your background with language, and any goals you may have for the semester and bonus: ask a question about the course and how to get the most out of it. I’ve had as many as 120 students in one semester and its beyond difficult to put faces with names, but I always remember my students who introduced themselves to me on the first day.

2. Get the contact information of 2-3 of your classmates

You never know when you may have an unexcused or even excused absence and you miss a day or two of class. Having the contact information of a few of your classmates ensure that you have an internal support system and can stay on track with what you may have missed. Additionally, these contacts are great for forming study groups to prepare for assessments and projects. Groupme is also another option to stay connected to your classmates electronically, although in classrooms of 12+ students it can be a bit overwhelming.

3. Actually read the syllabus

This is your roadmap for success. It should list the chapters you will cover during your course as well as major assessments. Most teachers will also list homework assignments in advance. Record important dates, tests, quizzes, projects, etc. in your planner or on your google calendar. Personally, I’m a huge fan of the Passion Planner for organization and they have many options that can suit your needs. If anything is unclear, ask your teacher!

4. Organize your language notebook/binder for the semester

Now that your instructor has covered the logistics of your course, take a moment to organize your notebook/binder. Create a section for Vocabulary, Grammar, Class notes and Homework to start. You may also want to make room for handouts and assessments that are returned to you. Setting up your notebook early will make it much easier to identify any questions that may arise during the semester as well as review for homework and assessments.

5. Set SMART goals

You may recognize this acronym, if not, SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound. For example, saying “I want to be fluent in Spanish” is not a SMART goal. Rewriting that statement as a SMART goal would look like this, “I want to be able to order at a restaurant in Spanish by December”. It is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timebound. Take a moment and write out 3-4 SMART goals that you want to achieve this semester.

Cheers to your success!

~Dr. Cort