<p>Bonehead, while I agree with everything you’ve said, the OP’s first issue was that he couldn’t understand the instructor’s heavy accent. That’s outrageous. Students and their families are paying for an education at an American university. The deserve instructors (adjunct or not) that have deep knowledge of the subject matter, the ability to clearly explain the material (ie teach it), and the motivation to care enough about each student enough to teach the material as if they are their only student. Those students who belong in the class, leaving off students in over their heads, deserve no less. Adjuncts are overburdened and underpaid, and I hope US News takes up your suggestions, but an instructor that cannot speak English clearly enough to be understood should not be allowed to instruct students whose first language is English regardless of their qualifications or motivation. That goes for TAs too.</p>
<p>As for the “accept reality” advice of some posters, that is unfortunately true OP. You’re ultimately responsible for learning. Engineering programs differ from institution to institution, and Bonehead clearly states many of the reasons why, but I have a particular bone (sorry Bonehead) to pick with instructors/TAs that cannot be understood by the majority of their students. If you can’t understand a person when you’re conversing about something as mundane as the weather, it’s a herculean task to understand them when they’re attempting to impart their (possibly) deep knowledge of as complex a subject as university level math to their students, and department heads, engineering colleges, and universities need to be called on that when they hire people to instruct. Give them the “weather” test…then look at their academic qualifications, and their motivation to teach in an overworked and underpaid profession.</p>