What classes in South Africa are like

I've been asked by a few people about more details on the classes I'm taking, what my classes are like, etc. I'm taking 4 classes, 2 of which are on Monday and 2 of which are on Tuesday. Each of my professors are colored (the term for mix; you have whites, blacks, and colored as the main category as races here), and I'm by far the minority in terms of a white student. The majority is colored, and the rest are blacks. I don't really feel that aware or uncomfortable about it at all though, I actually don't even think about it. When I talk though, I'm very aware how foreign I am. I've had 3 professors ask me questions of it what they are talking about is true in ths US, or to give an American perspective, and that's somewhat odd for me. At some points I feel like they are wanting the American to validate their point, while I'm trying to not fit into the American know-it-all sterotype, so I'm not sure how to word my reply.

They refer often to what they are talking about in the contexts of South African history, so even though I'm not taking an "africa" course, I do still feel like I'm getting a good sense of this culture. Each class has one paper, one test, and then one final exam. The exam is half your grade, and the paper and test are each a fourth. I was told I just need to pass my courses here for them to count at home, which at first seemed like not a big deal to me, but it seems like failing is alot more common here. In the States, as long as it's not a super hard course, you can do the minimum, and pass. I'm not entirely sure that's the case here, so I'm a little nervous about how these tests and papers are graded.

My first class is about Psychometric testing--the history of tests, how tests are administered to patients, how you diagnose based on results of testing. This professor was harder for me to understand than the rest, and I asked a student if he was South African, thinking he may be from elsewhere. They said yes, and I explained how I had difficulty understanding him. They smiled and said it's because he was Afrikaans, and was speaking with a heavy Afrikaans accent. This class is my least favorite, mainly because he hasn't showed up twice, and yesterday showed up halfway through. He's very scatterbrained, and I still don't really have an idea of what is going on in there. He gave us lecture notes, but we're several pages behind, and there is no book. I have a paper due at the end of the month and I have no idea how to even start it. I asked one of the girls I sat next too if she understood what he was saying or what we were doing, and she said she was totally lost. Thus, I felt better knowing this wasn't just me being an international student.

My second class on Monday is Personology, or the study of personality. I actually do enjoy this class--the professor is organized and presents the material in a way that I remember it. He's been very helpful to me. There is one other American girl in this course who is studying here on a different program, so we've been able to help each other out a bit.

On Tuesday, I have a child and adolescent development course, which I have already taken back at UMSL actually. I needed a class though during the crazy week of registration, so they stuck me in here. I do get to learn about how growing up in South Africa affects a person, which is much different than America. This class is huge, with people sitting in the aisles because there isn't enough seats. I always have to get a seat in the front row just so I can understand the professor with his accent.

My last class on Tuesday is Psychopathology, or abnormal psych. This one is all about the major psych disorders (bipolar, schizophrenia, eating disorders). This is stuff I hadn't taken yet in the States, so I feel like I am learning in this one. The professor is a woman, and she's very engaging and teaches the material well.

Thus far I haven't done anything yet to earn any grades at all. I have a paper due next week, which we were paired up to do, so fortunately I had a bit of help from a regular student here. I just did my part and handed it to him, and he is going to format and turn it in. I have another paper due at the end of this month, and my first test this Friday. After that test, I'll have a better idea of how easy or hard the tests here are. I don't expect to get results anytime soon after turning in papers or taking tests, as efficiency and responsiveness isn't too big a priority here! Spring Break is in 2 weeks, and that's when the first term end. The second term begins after that, and I'm guessing that's when I'll get the info for when the semester here actually ends, since I've been told all sorts of dates.

So that's what my classes are like!