Classmates Cheating. What to do?

I’m in a really tough situation with my AP Chinese Class. There are six students, and our teacher will frequently assign speaking assignments consisting of free response questions we answer ahead of time, or culture presentations. For all of the speaking grades, we sit at computers and answer into a microphone. It is hell having to memorize the culture presentations and free response answers for the speaking assessments. All other five students for the entirety of the semester and last semester have printed out pronunciation of the speaking, and read off the printed sheet without the teacher seeing. So I spend hours memorizing while they type out English pronunciations and read off it secretly. The problem is our teacher thinks we are capable of memorizing the presentations, so assigns more of them even more frequently. So I’m going through hell (Like hours spent just for one memorization) to do my work honestly and getting a lower grade. My dilemma is whether or not to tell my teacher or someone. I’m also in Physics C and Calc BC which both are not nearly as bad as this Chinese Class.

Maybe you could talk to your guidance counselor and tell them that you have seen students printing out the pronunciation and using it…you don’t want to name names but you are doing the work and see the teacher ramping up the work because it looks like this task is easy while you have been spending hour memorizing…you would like this to be prevented in the future.

I would definitely tell someone because it sounds like their cheating is having a negative impact on you. There are a couple things you can do,

  1. Send the teacher an email or talk to them after class (Sending an email will make it easier and if you decide to talk in person make sure it is when the other students are not around
  2. Tell your guidance counselor the story maybe he/she can try to help you and will tell your teacher

I know either of these options may be difficult for you but it won’t be more difficult than the stuff you have to memorize for class. Remember this is not your fault but it is your place to step in or else your teacher will never know.

Thanks for the feedback so far. I just didn’t know whether or not it would be good to tell someone. The whole snitch mentality ya know? Also, it could hurt the other students if I tell (our school takes cheating very seriously). But then again, I’ve had many sleepless nights just because of this class. And all the memorizing is beyond stressful.

don’t do anything. if they cheat thats their problem and if you are too scared/mature to cheat yourself, then just be quiet.
plus the more you practice, the better for you. when they won’t be able to say anything correctly on AP exam or in their future life, you will succeed because of all the rigorous training you get now. plus if you tell the teacher, he will punish them and since you’re the only one who doesn’t cheat, they will instantly know you are a snitch. so don’t do anything.

You can tell someone but is there a way to do that anonymously? Our school has a “text a tip” on the website so if we have any complaints we can message them so they could investigate. Since the cheating does impact you, I suggest reporting it anonymously or removing names and describing your situation and how cheating impacts you. It’s difficult to win here because you’re in the minority so if the teacher asks the class, the other 5 students would disagree.

I wouldn’t do it in person because if someone notices even if they are not from your class that could spell trouble for you with those students. Email could work but doing it anonymously is probably best.

You say that reporting could hurt the other students…but they are hurting you in that they are getting better gradeswith less effort and they really don’t understand the material.

Just do you.