When I first signed up for this course, like others in the class, I was taking it as a literature requirement that sounded somewhat interesting. It ended up being my favourite course I was in this semester. Firstly, I really enjoyed the format of this course. It made me feel like everything I was doing was because I had wanted to / chose to do it (with regards to getting to mostly pick what we read) and I appreciated the expectations being so clearly laid out at the start of the term. This course also showed me that reading can be enjoyable! Prior to this class, every time I read it was for school, and it was always something I didn’t enjoy that much. During this course, I read many different novellas that showed me there is much more out there that can be enjoyable. I even went and bought myself books to read in my down time now. I think the turning point for me was reading Agostino. I highly enjoyed that story and it began to make me fall in love with literature again.
I also enjoyed how interactive this course was. Normally I do not speak much in courses or share my thoughts, but the environment created by Jon, our TA’s Patricio and Jennifer, and the other students in the course made for such a fun and different dynamic where ideas flowed and bounced off each other which made coming to class fun and exciting and had me wanting to be involved.
Overall, this course taught me much more than I could have expected, and I am extremely glad I took and it was able to experience it all with everyone this semester!
Hi Laura! Although I don’t believe we had the pleasure of meeting in class, I think our takeaways from this course were basically identical. I really enjoyed Agostino as well to the point where I felt compelled to watch the film and further explore my reflections on what was written. Having power over the things we did in class rather than just constantly meeting deadlines was such a refreshing experience.
Hi Laura! This class was also my favourite this term, even though I was only taking it to fulfill a lit requirement. The environment in the classroom was so welcoming and made me want to participate in class. I learned so much this term, being able to share our thoughts and hear feedback from others. The contract grade allowed me to enjoy the book because I wasn’t stressed about what I had to do. Reading a book a week and my blog post became a routine and comfort. I am so happy to read so many different books this term, and I am excited to finish a few this summer that I couldn’t during the term!
Hi Laura, thank you for a great post! I’m so glad to hear you found enjoyment in literature again. I also gained a deeper interest in reading, thanks to this course. Agostino was also a “turning point” for me. While earlier books such as “Combray” and “Paris Peasant” were a bit harder to comprehend, Agostino very strongly attracted me. Perhaps it was the interesting parent-child relationship, or the struggles of transitioning from youth to adulthood. On a similar note, Bonjour Tristesse was also a very attractive read. Anyways, thank you for your post, and enjoy your summer!
– Daniel Choi
Hi Laura! We have very similar opinions on how this course reminded me that reading could be enjoyable without needing to analyze each sentence. I also found the environment of the classes to be very safe and welcoming. It was nice to be able to read so much each week. Have a nice summer and good luck with exams!
Hi Laura!
I also found my passion for reading again with this course! Before, I only read when it was required to do so with my courses, which made me lose all motivation and interest in reading, but with the stories and discussion we had in this class, I was actually able to enjoy it!
-Yasmin Ahmadi
Hey!
I think, like you, I found that I enjoyed this class much more than I expected. I am really glad to hear you rediscovered your interest in reading and literature. I enjoyed being able to read various books from bygone eras and have the chance to experience little snippets of life that were otherwise left in the past.
Hey! I loved the format of this course too. It was my first experience with contract grading and I loved that it made me know exactly what to expect each week. I also agree with you that the environment in the class was really relaxed and made it easy to share and disuss.