What to do about calc 1 class?

im a sophmore and in majoring in civil engineering. i am just now in calc 1 and failing. we, im not the only one, everyone else in the class is. the teacher does an example on the board, and none of us can understand a word he says. then because we dont know enough about the problem to ask questions, he assumes he can give harder ones on the test. we take our tests to the tutors and they dont knwo how to do it.





i am attempting to do the HW for fridays test but i understand it even less the usual. i am not used to not being able to understand math. i was a natural at it. now i try at a problem for over an hour and still dont get it. i know not to try others b/c they get harder.





now i think of myself as a failure and a quitter because i stopped trying to get the problem. ive twisted myself up inside so all i feel is shame for myself. i have to pass this class. plz dont say switch majors. im mostly venting but ay replies would be welcome.

What to do about calc 1 class?
you really should go talk to this professor


i suggest going with a small group of people in the class who are having the same problem as you, and explaining to him that you guys really dont understand the material and that he should explain why stuff works in more depth


he might seem distant or unapproachable but im sure that he will listen and try to improve his class based on your suggestions because thats why he is a teacher (hes there to teach not to fail you)


DONT switch your major!


if youve found something you like you should pursue it no matter how many obstacles are thrown in your way


good luck!





p.s. also if theres a specific problem that you cant work out, i could try to help...although im not making any promises
Reply:Is it too late to drop? I would drop it this semester and take it during a summer session either with your school or with a community college or somewhere else that your college will allow you to transfer the credit in with.





It sounds like a big part of the problem is the professor, so hopefully a new teacher will help.





Also, I was a great math student myself and loved math up until Calculus. I did great in PreCalculus and for the life of me couldn't get better than a C in Calculus. So maybe it's just something about the topic itself that gives some of us who have naturally done well in math a bit of difficulty in this particular area.
Reply:Don't quit. I have a foreign teacher with a horribly hard to understand accent. I get a seriously bad headache everyday in that class. The class is seriously averaging around 50% on tests. I'm passing, barely. Fortunately this won't transfer on my transcripts when I transfer to my target 4 year college. I have a 4.0 outside this one class with this terrible teacher. I need to take Calc I next semester which is the math that will transfer. Keep on going. Seriously, don't quit because it kind of makes me want to quit, and I need this!!!
Reply:I know what you mean being that I am in the exact situation. (Calc 3 though) I've never been great at math but i use to do MUCH better back in the days now I read and the more I do the less I understand. I usually go to other calculus teachers and beg them to help me solve and understand a problem.


If your teacher is the problem then I would just gather will all your classmates and demand him to teach better, otherwise, it would be impossible to pass. You can also try to switch to another calculus class w/ another professor. But DO NOT change your major.