“Fiftieth Night” in the UK

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” 

The quote above is a well-known phrase that is used in many films and TV shows today. The phrase is typically associated with someone giving an inspirational speech to a group of people. This quote comes from the Bard himself, William Shakespeare, who wrote it in his play Twelfth Night. Shakespeare is one of the most quoted English writers of all time. He wrote 38 plays and invented around 1,700 words that are still used today in the English language. As an English education major at MLC, I am fascinated by all things literature related 🙂

I have now been in London for almost two whole months. During these two months, I have had opportunities to learn and grow in a number of ways… whether it be with the friends I am around, the traveling experiences I take, or the academics I am studying. 

While in London, I am studying at the University of Roehampton. I am lucky to be taking only three modules (British term for courses) while here. I only have class three days a week (Tuesday-Thursday). This leaves my timetable (British term for schedule) more open than it usually is at MLC. Here is a brief rundown of the modules I am taking…

Perspectives on Children’s Literature (Tuesdays from 2-5)

This class focuses on adolescent literature. We read and discuss novels such as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Giver, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and The Hunger Games. The class size is only about thirteen people; however, most of the time, four or five people skip every week. Attendance isn’t required here; only completing assessments is required. About half of the class is filled with British students while the other half is comprised of study abroad students. 

Shakespeare in London (Wednesdays from 11-2)

Based on the name, this class focuses on Shakespeare. Throughout the semester, we read some of Shakespeare’s tragedies, such as Hamlet and Macbeth… and then we also get the opportunity to watch the plays in person. We discuss the differences between performance styles and how the plays are read versus how they are performed. This class is filled with only study abroad students, and about eleven of us are in the class. 

Language Acquisition (Thursdays from 1-4)

This class focuses on learning how babies and children develop their native language. It is fascinating to discover the psychology and linguistics behind language learning. This is my smallest class, with only six of us in the class. I am the only study abroad student in this class. My other classmates are all linguistic majors, so I sometimes have to work harder to catch-up and understand the content. 

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I have gotten used to having three-hour classes now. All my professors give us a thirty-minute break in the middle of the class. This is a nice time to stretch, eat a snack, or get a coffee! One challenging aspect of classes here compared to MLC is the assessment differences. At MLC, I would have homework assignments every day. Here, I only have two assessments per class for the entire semester. That means my assessments are worth around 40-60% of my entire grade. Having a paper worth that much of my final grade sometimes seems daunting. Participation and class discussions are encouraged, but don’t count as anything towards my grade. Also, I can see a lack of motivation in other students around me. Most other students skip classes, don’t do the readings, and barely participate in discussions. It is difficult for me to see this since I am someone who loves to learn and loves school. 

Having class only three days a week leaves me with a four-day weekend every week! This has been awesome! I use my four-day weekend to travel and explore the surrounding area. London is a huge city… I haven’t even had the opportunity yet to see all its amazing areas. 

Some days, I decide to go into the city by myself and explore. I usually end up walking in parks and going to some free museums. I have learned how reflective it can be to spend time alone, which helps increase my intrapersonal skills. I also travel often with friends I have made here. We will plan trips into London, day trips to nearby cities in England, or trips to other countries. Just this past week, I had a week off of school and decided to go on a trip to visit both Scotland and Denmark!

I spend more of my time here exploring the UK than I do on my actual academics. However, I have found that traveling and exploring unfamiliar places is a learning experience in and of itself. I am constantly outside my comfort zone and putting myself in new situations. I have to learn to navigate where I am going in the city, socialize with people from different cultures, and gain an understanding of the country that I am living in. Every time I step outside my door I face a new learning experience. 

Some people believe that learning consists only of reading textbooks and listening to lectures. I believe that learning is something that can happen anywhere; it is all about the motivation and the mindset that the learner has. I am trying to keep a positive and open mindset while studying abroad. I want to gain the most I can during my time here. I am excited so far about everything I have learned and have been through. I cannot wait to see what these next couple of months will have to offer!

Highlights since my last post:

• Day trips to Stonehenge and Bath
• Traveled to Scotland and Edinburgh
• Saw the Shakespeare plays King Lear and Macbeth
• Watching the flowers and trees begin to bud outside

Till we meet again,

Alison Foxen