I think the course sounds great, and I love the way you talk about wanting to teach it - I took "Gothic and Melodrama" this year at my university, and whilst the texts and themes were really rich and interesting and I enjoyed the reading, the way the tutor ran the course was just completely uninspiring. Each week was on a different text (starting with The Castle of Otranto, ending with Seven Gothic Tales, and every single week he'd have such specific ideas of what was and was not important to discuss and just ask endless series' of leading questions that he wanted very particular answers to. It was a stifling atmosphere, he often laughed at people for suggesting answers he didn't agree with (they were either too basic or too complicated and missing an "obvious point") and by the end of it people just barely spoke at all. He was obviously very clever and knew a lot about the texts, but he should have just gone and written a book on them, not taught them. He was the worst seminar-leader I've encountered during my three years here, and it was such a shame because the course itself interested me so much.
Anyway, my point is, I really hope that you get to teach your course, because your attitude towards teaching (from what I've read in your journal) seems so completely opposite to that of my tutor - your enthusiasm would surely be infectious and inspiring and make the course wonderful. Best of luck, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you!
And if you're at all interested I'd be happy to scan in the reading list and course outline and essay questions from my course folder and e-mail them to you. Just say the word if you'd like me to.
...whilst the texts and themes were really rich and interesting and I enjoyed the reading, the way the tutor ran the course was just completely uninspiring.
I've been in the same sort of class far too many times, especially since coming to graduate school. The ESP school of class discussion: "I'm thinking of something... on page 237 of the text... what is it?" If I ever run a class that way, I hope my students mutiny or throw pencils at me or something.
And I would be very curious to see the reading list and other materials you mentioned, whenever you have time to send them -- no rush; I feel sure this is a busy time of the semester for you too!
Anyway, my point is, I really hope that you get to teach your course, because your attitude towards teaching (from what I've read in your journal) seems so completely opposite to that of my tutor - your enthusiasm would surely be infectious and inspiring and make the course wonderful. Best of luck, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you!
And if you're at all interested I'd be happy to scan in the reading list and course outline and essay questions from my course folder and e-mail them to you. Just say the word if you'd like me to.
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I've been in the same sort of class far too many times, especially since coming to graduate school. The ESP school of class discussion: "I'm thinking of something... on page 237 of the text... what is it?" If I ever run a class that way, I hope my students mutiny or throw pencils at me or something.
And I would be very curious to see the reading list and other materials you mentioned, whenever you have time to send them -- no rush; I feel sure this is a busy time of the semester for you too!
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