teaching "C" to beginning programmers (Grade 11's)

I am starting a new teaching job in September, and the principal (with limited programming knowledge) has stated that I should teach "C" to my grade 11 Computer Science, and C++/Java to my grade 12 Computer Science students.

My thoughts are that teaching "C" to students who have never programmed before will be too advanced for them. I think that they should be taught a more "forgiving" beginners language like Visual Basic or even QBasic. They will be able to learn the "basics" in programming without being too frustrated with too much syntax / variable problems. I feel that teaching anything other that a beginners computer language to beginners is destine for frustration for all involved. Would anyone agree?

What should I say to convince my new principal without "locking horns" even before I have started working with him? Email me at [email protected].

Cory

I'm in grade 9, and I'm learning C++ with no trouble at all. The only programming I've done before was in VB, and I'm finding it frustrating (I wish I'd started off in C++, then moved to VB). Personally, I think you'd be insane to teach them something else first, but, whatever....

have you tried asking him if you could teach an easier language before the C course? perhaps pascal or perl since pascal and perl are somewhat similar to C, than teaching C. C is pretty simple to grasp after pascal or perl...

and I found C++ The easiest of all the programing languages to learn. I had some past experience with Java and Qbasic but nuthing really to extensive. I had no truble learning C++ on my own without the help of any adults.sorry I shouldn't say that Just the ones o n this site and that wrote the tutorials I read.

i found C/C++ pretty hard, but after all, i am 13. i learned BASIC first.. learning languages after C/C++ is pretty easy (learning the syntax at least), but i still suggest a language similar to C before it.

Please don't cross-post, if you want help with a non-programming related problem, post it in the GD board.

-Prelude

Well my High School is doing the same thing. I actually think learning a really simple language that isn't used today just hinders you. I started off learning C++ by comparing it all to BASIC. I had to give up. Then I started again (plus I was a little older then - 13) by doing it as a whole new concept - then I had no trouble at all. If you're truly a good teacher than they should pick it up quickly. And yes - GD would be a better place for this. For us and you - more traffic.

my first programming language was hypercard, but that's a story for another time ( : as for high school, i took c++ my sophmore year and picked up on it quite fast. It's not really the toughness of the course that matters. Any course can be quite simple as long as you have a teacher who understands it and can explain it in a way that the students can understand.

1. C is a good language for beginners, although BASIC might have been more suitable...

2. If your Principal is willing to use C...there is no problem in giving him what he wants. C is not that tough...even for a beginner, or is it YOU ? are you asking this question b/c you have some trouble with teaching C to newbies ? that's most probably what the Principal would think...he can't change that school curriculum for a teacher (sp. a new teacher who hasn't yet gained his confidence)

P.S. My first programming language was FoxPro for Windows 2.6 -> QBasic -> Turbo C -> Turbo C++ -> Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0, ASM 8088 -> Hopefully it'll be C#

Easiest programming language (ok.. scripting language):

http://www.python.org