To feel stupid and depressed after college

[isthismummy]

I decided that 2018 is the year I'm going to do some of the things I've always said I'd like to do, but haven't. I'm sick of always finding excuses for everything.

I love Greece and I've always wanted to learn a bit of the language. I signed up for a Greek for beginners course that started tonight. I was really looking forward to it, but I just ended up feeling really embarrassed. My knowledge of Greek stretches about as far as saying hello. However nearly everyone on the course knew the entire alphabet, loads of phrases and were basically far more knowledgeable than me. I had to admit several times that I couldn't follow stuff and I was SO humiliated. My face was actually burning with shame. It probably sounds trivial but I felt like I was 12 again, and back in the classroom not understanding the teacher.

I was really excited as I haven't done a college course since 2013. AIBU to not want to go back? I feel the college has misled me as the course was described as suitable for people with no knowledge of Greek. Yet the tutor just seemed to assume we knew loads.

Perhaps I'm just thick?

It's easy to sound knowledgeable at the start - master the alphabet and the basics and you seem to be an expert (to the real beginner). But after a couple of lessons you're out of your comfort zone and floundering while the real beginner is starting to find their feet and feel more confident.
Have a word with the tutor and point out that you are a complete beginner. She may think that everyone is a bit further along and is therefore tailoring it to their level, but she needs to be aiming (at this stage at least) for the one with the least knowledge (i.e. you).
I'm teaching myself ancient Greek and at the start it was all just symbols swirling in front of my eyes. Now it's making a bit more sense.

Agree with transliterating between Greek and English letters, back and forth will really help you master the alphabet. I would think until that starts to come together nothing else matters much, at a bit of a guess. When my son started doing some ancient Greek I looked over his shoulder a bit and the transliterating made so much sense.

By the way, people who've done a lot of maths may be more familiar with quite a lot of the greek alphabet which will speed things up for them - so please don't be put off by how much others seem to know even if they say they are really beginners too. good luck, hope it works well!