Studying English in Algeria (university students)

Studying English in Algeria, a topic that I have promised you to talk about since like forever. Unfortunately, I could not go live on Facebook and I am a loser with video recording and editing. Therefore, I will just try to squeeze all of the information into this blog post. I am going to put as much details as possible. It will be a long post that hopefully will contain a big number of answers that you’ve been looking for.

It does not seem logical for me to start talking about studies right away since the majority of you do not know who I am, what I do and why should my random post be considered as advice. So, let’s start by: me introducing... well, ME.

My name is Ines, one of the admins of the Facebook page Algerian Book Readers (I am also the creator, but we would not be where we are today if it wasn’t for the rest of the amazing team) and I am a third year student of English. 

• Why did I choose to Study English? Have I ever regretted my choice?

I have always liked the language and I did not find anything better on my list of options, so I went with what was the coolest choice. To be honest, I have not regretted studying English even at the worst times and when I hated going to university. I just feel sorry that languages, at our universities, are not given much importance (I guess). Many students are directed towards languages without any tests (in my opinion, the BAC average is not enough); as a result, too many students with so much difference between their levels are studying together! Not enough teachers, that what leads to the recruitment of many teachers who are not that competent... The consequences are endless, but talking about them isn’t the aim of this post.

Before I answer any more questions, let me inform you that the answers are based on my point of view, way of learning and  personality... in other words, they are going to be subjective. I have not checked any studies, scientific research about studying a language or anything like that. So, you might not agree with all of what I say, some of my ways of learning may work only for some of you... Therefore, you do not have to stick to all of what I tell you, but only with what would work best for you. I truly hope that you will at least find somewhere to start from. With no further talking (actually,
What is the best way to learn English? (in general, not any specific module.)  

Let me tell you something, there is no way you can learn English if you do not interact with the culture and native speakers. By this, I do not mean you have to turn into an American, but there is just no way you could pick up the basics without watching some of their news, movies, series; listening to their music or reading their books... anything in English. Of course, just bear in mind that our mentality and way of living are so different from theirs... You might be questioning why I am telling you this, it seems so logical right? But I have noticed that those classmates who are completely not interested in the British or American culture (who only watch Lebanese, Turkish or Korean Tv programs) do not have good speaking and listening skill. Trying to learn a language from grammar or vocabulary books and learning by heart won’t be so helpful. If anyone wants to study English, French or any other language; and knows that they are not interested, never liked and never will like those cultures; should choose another major. Because no matter how much they try to study hard to get a diploma and a good job in the future, it will be super hard for them and I do not think that they can be as good as they want. (This is just a little note for anyone who would ask you if they should study any language, tell them that it’s a matter of preference and personality)

What’s cool about learning English is that it can be fun. Especially that now we hear it everywhere: English series and movies are internationally known. And they are subtitled with all languages. No matter what anyone’s native language is, they can learn English. You might be watching anything and enjoying your time while doing so, and still picking up new words and unconsciously learning grammar. What could ever be better than that? Haa?

At university:

First things first, first year students (trying to be funny, but it’s not working):

•  Is English really your thing? Should you retake your BAC exam and study something else?

Most of you might be lost, you might be freaking out and do not know what to do. Many will think of taking the BAC exam again and switch majors... You’re going to be fine. Calm down, and keep reading, I was in your shoes once; this is why I am writing this.

What to do before taking the big step: I am no longer going to university; I will stay at home, study and retake the BAC exam?

If you have been dreaming of studying anything else since you were little, and English is not your first nor best choice, then: stay at home and study hard. DON’T YOU EVER GIVE UP YOUR DREAM MAJOR AND JOB. EVER. Even if you have to retake the BAC exam 3 times. That is way better than studying something and thinking that you could have been doing something else.

If you do not really have any favourite major, you do not hate English and you’re willing to study hard. Then, it is only confusing at the beginning because University is a whole new world and system. You’ve been used to find everything you need in school books. Teachers have always given you what to exactly memorise and revise. Now, you have the huge WORLD WIDE WEB, you have to look up information there. You have to find a little fish in an ocean. Believe me, you will get the hang of it. Do you think I knew where to find books during my first year?! I did not even know what was freaking PDF format and audio books where a discovery. Just do not be ashamed of asking questions, no matter how dumb they sound. When I think of my old emails and messages to teachers, facebook pages, other students...  I wish I could erase memories, Sometimes I guess I forgot I had a dictionary! But if those people did not help me, then what would have happened to me? Now, when a first year student messages me, I be like: seriously, all of that is on Google and Youtube!! But then I remember: THEY ARE LEARNING, YOU ARE LEARNING, and I AM STILL LEARNING. We will actually never stop learning. But ways of learning differ from one level to another. What would seem to someone super simple is a whole game changer for another person. For this, I have to say again: ASK (you know where to find me if you think I can help you. I will do my best). 

If you love English and have always wanted to study it, then .... emm I have nothing to tell you other than good luck, work hard, you’ll do well.

•  What should you do to get good marks? Which modules should you focus on?

During the first year; the most important modules are oral expression, written expression, and grammar. Usually, if you get good marks in those exams, then you’ll get a good average. Maybe  “very good” or “acceptable”, those depend  on whether you did  well or bad at the second most important modules which are phonetics and  linguistics; then I guess civilisation, literature, foreign language, and an additional module that differs from one university to another.

What I called second most important modules are going to be named from now on “life-saviours”. If you do not get very good marks in OE, WE and Gram and you do your best at the LSs then you’re saved. If you screw  up (jed babaha l7alouf f) everything, then you still have make up exams ( you can take them during your first year so that you can pass to second year. You can choose to be a first year student for another school year but ONLY attend the classes and retake exams of the modules that you failed in. Otherwise, you can move to second year with “debts” and pay them by taking 2 exams for those modules you failed in -one with first year students for not taking the makeup exam during your first year, and the other “normal” exam with your second year classmates).

I advise first years to focus on OE, WE, and Gram because in addition to being the “average boost up” they are the basics of the language.

Oral expression: This depends on what you already know, how good your listening and speaking skills are. But do not give up if you see that some other classmates are better and you’re a bit behind. You can catch up. Focus in class, write down hard words and expressions, try to speak even if you make mistakes (easy, simple and short answers. They do not have to be complicated). If your teacher makes you watch videos or listen to audios, at the end of each class give them your USB or email and tell them to send you the files. You can watch/listen to them again at home and look up the subtitles. If your teacher asks you to do individual or in groups presentations; then make your research at home, try always to use simple words, use pictures and videos when you present. Always remember that the audience are the same people that you were joking with before you went in class. There is nothing to be afraid of.  (Read more about Doing Well in Oral expression and nailing your presentations.)

Grammar: I am sure that many of you will be surprised by the amount of “discoveries” you’ll make at this class. Tenses, verbs and all those little words that seem so simple are “amazing and horrible” at the same time. I have already mentioned learning grammar unconsciously, I am sure that many of you will know what form of verbs should be used in a certain situations. What’s awkward is that you won’t know why you have used those specific tenses and forms. That’s when Miss Grammar comes and tries to be Einstein and figure out a cause for the existence of every little auxiliary, “d” or “ed”. I have a love hate relationship with grammar, I mess it up because of thinking so much about the rules. I still feel guilty about some stupid mistakes that I have made. Thank god grammar nazzi does not exist, or they would have hung me a long time ago (also, dear Miss grammar, I apologize for every mistake I am or will be making ... Got those tenses right, who’s winning now haaa?). Always focus in class; revise the same lesson as many times as you can; do not memorise the rule, make examples and remember them; look up books, check them out, then choose a couple to be your best friends for the next years; YouTube is heaven of grammar lesson, always search for lessons there.

Written expression: if you have a problem speaking out, then writing down your thoughts should be fun. Grammar will hunt you here also, actually it is in your paragraphs and essays that you can show off your grammar “muscles”. I do not really think that WE has RULES, I think that what you learn during that class are just tips to write better and ways to avoid committing mistakes. The rest depends on your vocabulary (you do not need to use hard words, but you do need to know a few words from every niche –topic. A little bit of everything is what makes a lot) and style. Just like grammar, you should use a few books as guides to help you along your writing journey, but I think that reading is what will really help you to write better. 

(More posts about grammar and written expression coming up in the next few days, with books and videos, stay tuned) 

Linguistics: I do not think that I will ever love this module. I admit that there are some really interesting and cool lessons. But for me, linguistics, is a huge battle field where different armies (the schools)  are fighting and you’re in the middle watching and trying to figure out which army is fighting for the good cause, which one is right, which one should win? The problem is that they are all right and wrong, and no one will ever win!! And then some armies intermix and create a new one which is neither with the first army nor with the second one... It drives me nuts. In addition to all of this, you need to memorise “a few” lessons, and I hate memorising. I do not want to make you feel down. Remember, this is just me.  When it comes to linguistics, I think books and Google are the best way to understand it. Youtube helps sometimes too. (click here for some lessons and videos)

Phonetics: apart from the transcription part that I hate, phonetics is logical. One lesson leads to another, at the end you’ll have those connected lessons which if you do not really get the last one you’ll have trouble getting this one. It needs some memorisation. As long as you do not wait till the day before the exam (like I do) to revise, You’ll get a very good mark. Because I think you need to analyse and understand the relations, and then reread what you’ve understood which is kind of a first memorisation and a second revision, then the memorisation in which you keep repeating the terms, expressions, and definitions so that you won’t mix them up or forget them. I think it pretty much resembles science, and I LOVE science. My teachers’ handouts have always been great; as a result, I never had to do big research. I remember finding some really good videos on YouTube once, though.

Civilisation: I do not think that you need to be Einstein in order to understand this module, but you need to have the memory of an elephant. Actually, let me rethink this elephant thing again. It actually depends on whether you like and are interested in past events and a history that isn’t yours (your country’s).  Also, if you’re already used to watch documentaries, kings and queens movies, and read historical fiction; then you’ll be surprised by the amount of information that you won’t have to memorise. This module is kind of “slow and steady wins the race”. I mean you can’t go watch 10 documentaries and 5 movies during the night before the exam. You’ll remember nothing. In this case you better memorise by heart whatever your teacher gave you. And after finishing this exam, start thinking of the next one. During the next semester, you can enjoy your weekends by watching movies and learning about the past. For the British civilisation, look up the movies about their kings and queens. The America civilisation is recent; you can even find videos of what have happened in the USA during the 20^th century.  

PS: This is also and advice for myself, we’ll try to find movies and watch them together. Send me links

Literature: First year, I was like what the heck is this? I will never get the hang of it. Today, I am thinking to do a master in literature. This is also the “slow and steady wins the race”. Let me tell you what’s wrong with teaching literature at university. First, we, Algerians, do not read much (if not “at all”). As a result, when students start to attend literature classes ;and the teacher begins with “literary elements” and try to explain what’s a voice, plot, characters... It sounds like Chinese. Imagine telling someone who’s colour blinded to visualize the colour blue; While they have never seen it before? That’s exactly the problem with literature classes. You can’t understand the basics if you do not already have something in your memory to which you can compare or connect what the teacher is telling you about. To make it even worse, teaches assign classics to read. Classics are great, but even native speakers of English find them a bit complicated. How about someone who’s learning English as a foreign language? Do not lose hope; try to do whatever you can to get at least an acceptable mark (Even if you have to memorising by heart). Just find a way to not fail (not cheating, though) and then start reading contemporary books, young adult and books that have been written in the late 20^th century or 21th century. Step by step you’ll get into it and start getting interested in classics and more complicated books.

(If you do not know from where to start check out our two posts: 7 tips and tricks for people who want to start reading books and How to read more books) 

PS: I’ll have more detailed blog posts about these 4 modules soon. Do not worry. I got your back :p

Also, these modules may be the biggest cause to why you’re freaking out right now. Do not worry a lot about them during your first year. Do your best to try to understand them. Even if you’re not completely sure what you were learning, you’ll keep studying the same thing during your second year. It will be more detailed and a bit harder. But those details will make you understand better. You’ll start remembering what you have learnt during your first year and be like: ah! Okay. That’s why we’ve been saying this and this and this...

      I guess that’s all for first years. Let’s move on to the second year:  

The main modules are also Grammar, OE and WE

Life saviours will also remain the same. (Some coefficients might change)

And that module that varies from one university to another will be replaced by translation.

As a second year student, you’ll be more confident since you know which learning techniques work best for you. University will turn out to be your natural habitat rather than that new discovered planet. Especially if you did “good” during your first year then you will have no problems during the second one. If you are still a bit behind, then that’s okay. Just work harder to catch up. Always go back to your first year lessons before learning any new ones.

Now, what you have to start thinking of is your third year: you will not have grammar to boost up your average any more, OE and WE coefficients will go down. Literature, civilisation and linguistics will rise to the top L That’s why you should focus a bit more on those, at the same time do not forget that OE, WE, and Miss Grammar are still this year’s leaders.  In other words, STUDY EVERYTHING. I am telling you this because majoring in Civ, Lit, or monster linguistics will be some of your options for your master’s degree (you’ll  also have other options that won’t revolve around those modules, do not freak out YET). We want to have as many options as we can right? Even though majoring in any of those is the same in our country. They are all “you studied English” and you can teach English. Still, majoring in something that you like is better than forcing yourself to study something that you do not enjoy much.

       As for third year students: all I can say is I FEEL YOU, especially if teaching is not your number one choice. I do not really have anything to say except from “hang on”. I guess for this part I need an older EX-student to give US advice.

Finally, thank you for taking the time to read this “super long” post, I truly hope that it will help you. I know that I am not Mahatma Ghandi and my words are not that big of a deal. However, if you think that any part of this post can help someone you know, then share the link with them. If you have any questions or pieces of advice please inbox me on Algerian Book Readers. There are not much info on the net about studying English at an Algerian university, so let us change that. With your advice, I will write other posts. And together we can help other people and give back what we have been given.  

Please know that this post is not in anyways to advertise for the page or get Algerian Book Readers everywhere on the NET. Every little word was from the bottom of my heart, all of what I have written is exactly what I would say to a best friend or sibling. This post is also a thank you for everyone that has helped me when I needed help; I know that I can’t do much for them since they are older and more experienced. But I am sure that if they ever see me trying to give other people what they have given me that would be considered that as the best thank you ever.

Take care and good luck.

Ines x