Training: “C” the goal?

Ridiculous vs. Training

The two most ridiculous statements ever made in a skill-building class are often said on the first day: “Right now, everybody has an A. Whether or not you keep it is up to you.” Those statements put students in a clutching mode, grasping at something they can’t even see. If your teacher has said that, he or she does not have a training mindset.

You have to train. You have a goal. But “I want an A” is not a goal you can reach if you don’t know what it looks like to pass by F, D, C, and B. So take a look:

 

• F students work hard at not doing.
• D students barely do the work assigned in class.
• C students complete work in class if there’s time.

 

• F students work against remembering what’s covered in class.
• D students don’t copy notes carefully from the board.
• C students make careful notes, but tend not to look at them again until right before an exam.

 

• F students only participate if they absolutely must, and then it’s usually taken as an opportunity to make fun of themselves, others, or the subject.
• D students don’t volunteer to participate, but they are less obnoxious when they do.
• C students may volunteer to participate, but only because they think it’ll help their grade. They don’t actually care about the content.

 

• C students barely keep up with the vocabulary throughout a chapter, and don’t retain many words beyond three chapters. In order to keep a C on a midterm or a final exam, they have to do a lot of vocabulary review.
• B students learn the majority of the vocabulary list for a chapter, and usually permanently retain a dozen words. Some review is needed for an exam, but not much.
• A students learn, retain, and use all the vocabulary.

 

• C students try using the verb tense being studied, but don’t master it.
• B students get close to mastering the spelling of a tense.
• A students master how to spell a tense, and are concerned with what it means.

Take Note…

Notice that it’s not a question of whether or not A or B students do the work, take notes, or participate in class. The difference between B and C students is a commitment to attempting to master vocabulary and verb use. And the difference between B and A students is the attempt at true mastery of vocabulary, verbs, and the finer points of grammar.

• C students try anything to pass.
• B students enjoy themselves and the class, and reach for mastery.
• A students grapple for mastery. Some actually attain it.