Pam,

One option I looked at when I had a number of French students in one of
my classes was to see if I could offer them the course on a pass/fail
basis that way they got the credit for taking the course without
adversely effecting GPA.  Unfortunately the powers that be back in "La
France" vetoed that idea so I ended up assigning grades.  Taking into
account that English was their second language I tried to put myself in
their position as if I were studying in France and I actually cut them
a little slack after I gave them a couple of exercises to see if they
really "got" the basics.  I think the fact that I speak a little French
helped the situation somewhat.

As long as the student is willing to put forth the effort needed to
pass the class I don't have a problem giving them the benefit of a
doubt when it comes to grades.  Besides I'd much rather do that for
students who really do put forth the effort, (most Japanese students
I've known really do put forth the effort) than to give a B to a person
(say for instance a traditional 18-22 year old American student who's
in college to party and play for four years) who just showed up for
exams without doing any of the other required work and was just taking
the class to fill hours.

But that's just my humble opinion.

RDP
------------------
Richard D. Parker, MPA, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Management
Western Kentucky University
On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 16:07:56 -0500
 Pam Gershuny <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hello too all of you very wise professors,
>
>
>
> I have a number of Japanese students who do not speak, understand, or
> write very well in English.  They are currently getting D's in class.
> What do you think is ethically required?  Give them an extra
assignment?
> Does it have to be offered to all the students?  I do not think they
> understand the material.  I have had many conversations in my office
> where I do not think they understand what I am saying.  In other
> classes, accounting, quantitative methods, etc. they are doing well.
If
> students receive a "D" in my class they cannot go on in the business
> school, a "C" is required to take upper level classes.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Pam
>
>
>
> Pamela Gershuny, J.D., M.B.A.
>
> Assistant Professor of Business Law
>
> Department of Accounting and MIS
>
> Harrison College of Business  (AACSB accredited)
>
> Southeast Missouri State University
>
> Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
>
> (573) 651-2097 office
>
> (573) 651-2992 fax
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Website http://cstl-hcb.semo.edu/gershuny
>
>
>