1

Dear Reader,
We all want choices, right? Well I love having a choice but that was quickly swept right
from under me when it was time to register for classes. I was taken by complete surprise when it
was brought to my attention that Spanish 1 and 2 were only offered as a hybrid course. You may
ask, what is a hybrid class? A hybrid class is where 50% of the face-to-face time is replaced with
online learning (Zappia). These aspects were meant to complement each other and to help the
student learn more material (LaMartina). Of course that sounds great but I was in for a rude
awakening. Ill speak more on that later.
We have to realize that not everyone learns the same. A student must take full
responsibility of any work given. Once a week, the class meets face-to-face. Each class period is
spent reviewing the work that was assigned a week earlier. Therefore, the homework has to be
completed prior to being taught. As I said before, not every student can teach themselves. So that
brings me to my question, are hybrid classes effective? How can they be when they are designed
for people who dont have an issue with teaching themselves?
Spanish is a foreign language which means it will take an extra effort for Englishspeaking students to pass this hybrid course. Not only is it only halfway taught, but its a
completely new language that has to be learned. I feel like I could have been more successful in
Spanish 1 if I was given the choice to choose the traditional classroom setting.
This issue has been neglected for so long because you never really know hard something
is until you go through it. We need to raise awareness because this is a real problem, so join me.
Help me give the students their choices back.
Sincerely, Jadaeja Brown

Frustrated College Student. Digital image. Dreamstime.

Geotrac, n.d. Web. 3
May 2016.

I am a witness and reliable source when it comes to hybrid classes because I have firsthand experience. When I was registering for classes I was quickly in for a rude awakening. I am

majoring in Communications so I have to take 3 foreign languages. My language of choice was

Spanish, however, it quickly came to my attention that Spanish 1 and 2 are only offered as hybrid
classes. I couldnt believe they would have to take 50% of a foreign language class online. I can
barely do my English work! I reluctantly signed up for the class anyway.
The first semester of my freshman year came around and we started classes. I quickly
caught myself beginning to struggle in Spanish. The professor had explained that we would be
making a McGraw-Hill Connect account to do all of our assignments on. Connect housed our
weekly homework assignments, practice assignments and grades. Every week we had an
assignment due. We would have to have the work completed and submitted by 11:59 the night
before class. A hybrid class is when 50% of the work is online and the other half of the time is
spent in a face-to-face setting so we only met in class once a week (Welcome).
I never understood why we had to complete our work before we went to class. I am more
of a hands-on learner. Hybrid classes are the total opposite of hands-on. Taking a hybrid class is
basically like teaching yourself. I was upset with the schools way of doing things because whos
to say I am that type of learner. As the semester progressed, I began to struggle more. I started
seeing more and more low grades on my Connect report. I went to tutoring but it didnt help. I
feel like I was struggling so hard because I wasnt used to the material being taught this way. We
would always have to turn in the homework before the professor taught us the concepts. How is
it even possible to make good grades on things we arent familiar with?
Having all of our work online made it very easy to use outside sources, and we really
didnt have a choice. If we wanted good grades we had to learn how to fend for ourselves. I
began to really study hard and try to focus more. I could see my grades improving a little but it
was still hard. Somehow I managed to get a B in the class. I knew that I would have to take the

next level Spanish and I was not prepared. I can hardly remember any of the material. I was just
doing work, but I wasnt learning.
I thought that maybe I was the only one in the class struggling so I asked my classmates
what they thought about the class, and not having a choice to choose the traditional classroom
style. Heres what they said:

Interview
Q: Do you think hybrid classes are effective in college?

A: No, I barely learn anything so I feel like it is pointless.

Q: Do you think students should have a choice to take hybrid classes or not?
A: Of course. I feel like everyone has a different learning style so we should be able to choose
what kind of class accommodates us.
Q: Would you take Spanish as a hybrid class as a choice?
Student 1 answer: I would take this class as a choice because I feel like its easier to get over on
the professor.
Student 2 answer: I wouldnt want to take Spanish as a hybrid because I cant teach myself new
things that well.
Q: How are your grades in hybrid Spanish 1?
A: My grades are pretty decent but I feel like I have to work 2x harder since I am teaching
myself most of the material.
I then asked my professor how she felt about teaching a hybrid course. Here was her
response to my questions.
Q: What is it like to teach a hybrid course?
A: I have to do less work, which means the students have to do more. This sometimes has a
negative effect because some students struggle with hybrid courses. If they arent doing well, it
reflects back on me.
Q: Do you think hybrid courses are effective?
A: It all depends on the student. Some people can learn in this type of environment.

Q: Would you recommend taking a hybrid course?

A: It depends. Yes, if you feel like you are advanced in Spanish. Spanish as a hybrid course is not
the same as a traditional class! If you feel like you will be struggling to learn a new language,
hybrid is not for you. Some students just need extra help and attention from the professors that
they will not get in a hybrid course.

3 May 2016
Jadaeja Brown
9201 University City Blvd

Charlotte, NC 28223

Dean of Students
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28223

Dear Dean Davis,

Hi, my name is Jadaeja Brown and I am a student here at the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte. I am a Pre-Communications major and we are required to take 3 foreign
languages. It has been recently brought to my attention that the Spanish 1201 and 1202 classes
are only offered has a hybrid class.
I conducted an interview in my current Spanish 1202 class. 83% of the class agreed that
they were struggling in class because it was a hybrid. The students explained to me that taking
the hybrid class is very time consuming and requires 50% more effort than a traditional class.
Since the hybrid class only meets once a week, the students are responsible for completing all of
the online work assigned. The students complained that they could see their grades declining. We
discussed that not every student has the same learning style, so each student should be granted
with the choice to take the class as traditional or hybrid.
My proposal to you is that you consider changing the option of each foreign language
class from only being offered as hybrid to the option of taking the class in a traditional classroom
setting. I understand that this will not increase cost because the professors are getting paid per
course (Stress). This will also cut down the cost of the McGraw-Hill Connect portal. I predict

that the students of Spanish 1201 and 1202 will see an improvement in their grades if this
decision is made. Please give our students a choice.
Thank you for your time and for considering my request.
Looking forward to getting your response soon,
Jadaeja Brown

Works Cited

"Hybrid Courses: About Hybrid." Hybrid Courses: About Hybrid. Learning Technology Center,
n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2016.
"Hybrid Courses." Meeting In Person And Online. Scholarships, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
LaMartina, David. "The Hybrid Classroom: Just as Effective as In-Person Lecturing?" Edcetera.
Rafter, 21 Sept. 2012. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
"Stress, Strain, & Strength: An Introduction to Materials Science." Science Buddies. N.p., 16
Feb. 2006. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
"Welcome to the Northern Virginia Community College Website." What Is a Hybrid Course?
Northern Virginia Community College, 2016. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
Zappia Susie. "Pros & Cons of Hybrid Courses." Pros & Cons of Hybrid Courses. Hearst Seattle
Media, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.