expected to have classes for 7 hours straight with no break?

littlepinkstars44

I need some advice please, have just been given my new timetable for semester B, which starts next week.

We have 2 core modules and an optional module, i have picked Spanish for my option. Languages are not taught at my university, but we are sent to the college down the road for them. Which is fine with me, i went there for 2 years and i know my Spanish lecturer very well!

But the problem is that on Fridays i have classes from 10am-5pm, with a 2 hour break between 11-1. As i have picked Spanish, my class runs from 11-1 on a Friday. Meaning i am expected to have classes back to back from 10am-5pm, as well as the 10minute walk it takes to get the college and back to uni.

My question is, can a university realistically ask this of a student?

dmg24

Yes, they can expect you to take the lessons at their designated times or choose other options. They will not change the timetable for one student.

stephyt23

I had a similar thing on my timetable from 9 til 3 with no break. (though it was made longer by the fact it took me over an hour travelling to uni each way so was more like 8 til 4 with no break) Luckily for me it was only for 4 weeks but I hated it. We explained to our tutor after the first week that we were doing these hours with no break and she said she'd let us have 5 mins at the start of her lecture for us to have something to eat, so maybe ask one of your lecturers if that's possible as it's not right to go that long without eating, you'll be getting headaches and stuff.

Elsterap

I had a law module in my Business Studies course which was identical to a module in the Accountancy course - I turned up to some Accountancy classes when I had to work (though the uni did not want a mass migration - so ask your tutor)

charlie792

Id have thought that the lecturers would give you some kind of break if you ask them - I assume you are not the only student in the situation.

At my uni this year we have 2 x 2hour lectures back to back and we explained to our lecturer and he starts the lecture 15 mins later so we have a little break and gives us a 10 min break in the middle so we can grab a sandwich.

Unless you speak to your lecturers about it they won't know the situation.....

Indie_Kid

charlie792 wrote: »

Id have thought that the lecturers would give you some kind of break if you ask them - I assume you are not the only student in the situation.

My Law lecturer did this. We had a 10 minute break between the first and second hour. Others didn't; but they were fine with me getting up and walking out for a bit.

littlepinkstars44

Yeah i am the only student in this situation. As no one else in my class has picked a language as their option this year, so their optional module is on a Thursday morning. They all get a 2 hour break on fridays between 11-1, while i am in Spanish.

It also takes me around 45mins each way to get to uni from my house, which doesn't actually bother me at all.

Indie_Kid

dmg24 wrote: »

Yes, they can expect you to take the lessons at their designated times or choose other options. They will not change the timetable for one student.

Exactly. When they were changing my timetable last year, (because the days were far too long for me) I got told that I could change seminar groups if I find someone willing to have me. However, I can't get them to change the lectures.

littlepinkstars44

I emailed my lecturer who we have for the 1-3pm class (also the course leader) And explained that my spanish clashes with her class and i probably won't be there until 1:30 most Fridays as by the time i walk back up to the uni from the college and get something for lunch.
She has replied saying bring your own lunch with you, and try to get away from the class early!

I don't think that is fair at all, when exactly am i going to have time to eat my lunch if i am in lectures and seminars all day? And why should i have to ask to leave spanish early, which even though it is an optional module, to me it is my main module! As that is what my whole aim of my degree is about, languages!

littlepinkstars44

sh1305 wrote: »

Exactly. When they were changing my timetable last year, (because the days were far too long for me) I got told that I could change seminar groups if I find someone willing to have me. However, I can't get them to change the lectures.

I can't even go to a different lecture or seminar on a different day. There is only 18 of us in my class (or should i say on my course), so it isn't like the classes are split and half the class goes 1 day, the other the next day or anything.

Lokolo

Why can't you eat lunch in any of the classes? Surely you'll have a lecture for one of them, just sit at the back and munch away whilst writing notes.