Different environments is good.
Why don't you ask the others in your class who want to learn (or who are in a similar situation to you) and see if they want to have a study group at the local library or something - where you do a quick revision of the work done in the week and then move...
I can see your point here! Try and talk to the tecaher out of class...explain that you have noticed that he/she has been talking quite a lot and you want to learn.
In General Maths, l would go over examples and a few questions form each exercise the night before, so the next day l would know...
I did well in english in year 11 (ranked 2nd) and l am used to the workload. I am about the same rank this year (so far) and it gives me motivation...especially to beat bec (l can try!!) who's coming 1st.
Try to get the basics under your belt and know them - well.
abdooooo...why don't you try doing the work at home (during the night or in your spare time) and using the classes as revision?
Tell the other wankers in your class to stfu, your trying to get an education.
Its a bit different at my school. Most people have 4 subjects so we have a lot of periods of one subject a week. If they arrive late 3 times a week and turn up an hour late when we have 3 periods of bio in the morning - thats 3 hours of bio gone.