Prof XXXXXX,


            I am writing to you to bring an issue that I am experiencing to your attention. The Baruch core curriculum requires 6 credits in a foreign language in all three undergraduate sections. In 2004, I completed French 1002 with a C grade. I struggled grasping the new language in this course and barely met the passing requirements. I was unable to find a suitable 1002 course in early 2005 due to a conflict with work and other required courses. In the spring 2006 semester, I decided to finish my language requirement. I fell behind almost immediately as I tried to review the things I had learned and had not learned two years prior. I met with three different tutors, one being the one at the school, another a personal friend who is somewhat fluent in French, and the last was a private tutor who I met with for a few sessions. All of my tutors agreed that I would need heavy review of the old material as well as heavy study of the new material if I was to earn a passing grade in the second section of the course. Going to class was a painful and depressing experience, as I was often called on and didn’t know the right answer or even anything close to the answer despite having done my homework and required reading. I didn’t stop going to class, however, and continued putting myself through this unbearable experience as I struggled to understand why I could not learn anything when I have done very well in many other courses. 
            
            I am a graduating senior, and I am in dire need of an alternative method to fulfill this requirement so that I may move on to an MPA program as soon as possible. I have met all the other requirements in the core curriculum along with a completed major study in public affairs and minor in psychology. I will gladly spend the winter or even spring session taking any kind of literature course or independent study research, whatever it may involve. As you may have noticed I already have an F in one FRE1002 course and a WU in my attempt to make up the course this semester, so taking it again is not an option for me. I urge you to consider all the possible options and offer me an alternative. Asking for leniency is not an easy or typical thing for me to do as I have never asked to make up assignments, tests, or requested grade changes. I have also never failed any other courses. 

            I met with Prof XXXX from the psychology department a number of times recently to discuss this issue. She agrees that there must be an alternative to the foreign language requirement for students who have extreme difficulty in the subject due to no fault of their own. It is my understanding that there is a way to resolve this in a pleasant fashion that coincides with the complicated bureaucracy that we have here at Baruch. Attached is the information I sent to Prof XXXX a number of weeks ago. It is mainly rhetoric, but it may offer some insight about why this is an issue and how some other schools deal with it. 


Thank you for your time,

XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
xxx-xx-xxxx