Page 9 - FP Newsletter January 2020

FP AT NIGHT

"Group work and

regular feedback,

with short chunks

BALANCING ACT of work for practice

Striving for success at work and university helps [students] to

stay focused."
B Y E R I C A B A I L E Y
The Foundation Program (FP) has created. “We needed a way to ensure
taken great strides in shaping a comp- that evening students receive the same S u c h i G o p a l a n
rehensive program that prepares opportunities afforded to our morning F P E N G L I S H T E A C H E R
students for academic study at Dhofar students,” said Nathaniel Lotze,
University. These students attend Deputy Director of the FP. Allowing
classes, engage in the learning process for separate Class Representative
in and out of the classroom, and aim to meetings and additional Muraje’a
transition into their colleges once they Centre sessions also add more support.
have successfully completed the pro-
gram. While the majority of students Additionally, classroom teachers are
are following this “traditional” path, playing an important role in working
the FP has also opened their doors to with these students. “Group work and
adults who are looking for a chance to regular feedback, with short chunks of
pursue their own educational and work for practice helps them to stay
personal goals. By offering classes in focused," Suchi Gopalan, FP English
the evening hours, working adults can instructor, states. "It is quite easy to
gain the same benefits as more establish rapport with the students for
traditional students. most of them are mature, which goes a
long way in achieving the desirable
Evening students who are working full- results.”
time do have some unique challenges.
Many of these students leave work and The FP continues to find ways to
come directly to campus, staying until improve the classroom experience for
10:00 p.m., with little time to do home- these unique students. Working with
work or study. Finding balance can staff, committee members and
often be very stressful for these students are crucial. In the end, the
students. In order to better address the right combination of motivation and
needs of these students, the Evening student support will only benefit these
Student Support Subcommittee was hard-working students.
F P A T N I G H T | P A G E 9