Job Discussion Forums

[SethinBeijing]

Hi, thanks to those who offered suggestions about how to teach English Lit. All very useful.

Yesterday, the school sent me this:

Course Description for the History of English Literature

The History of English Literature is a compulsary course for the juniors. In this course the students will be expected to know the main literary theories, schools, important authors and their works, culture and social customs and so on which appeared in different time in UK, but also the politics, economy and tradition of the country. Finally we can let the students enlarge their knowledge

Content
The History of English Literature: from Beowulf in the Age of Anglo-Saxon to modern literature in the 20th century and the main authors and theur masterpieces of each age. Besides, the historical background, literary trends and cultural traditions of each time are briefly introduced

Other requirements
Homework
To appreciate 2 pieces of important literary works
TO READ masterpieces of TEN authors AT LEAST

Ok....now, I am just wondering.....just throwing this out there to those who have worked in China.......is this a typical course description for China? And do you think the above....the 10 authors.......read......homework.............Beowulf.............HOMEWORK.............10 masterpieces.................it's China........................is realistic?
Any constructive feedback, as always, is appreciated.....

[virago]

Jee, that's a long course description!

Obviously the quantity over the quality. Look to short books where possible.

No student in their right mind will read old english books which require complete analysis of each sentence.

I suggest that you develop testing after each few weeks or each book so they can forget and move onto the next one. This reduces their burden for the end of the end of course exam.

anyway I have never taught Lit. at all but there are other posters who have done this and they can provide more constructive feedback.

[Roger]

I second virago's comment.

To answer your question first: No, this is NOT the typical course description you come across in China.
Beowulf? Most textbooks give but passing mention to Chaucer and actually begin with Shakespeare, listing his works and giving a brief bio.
Then it is on to social problems and the Luddites, the Industrial Revolution, women's rights and suffragettes - in chronological order that has to be corelated to Chinese dynasties so your students know where in time theirEnglish characters stand.

Don't your employers make a book suggestion of their own? I am amazed they give you such a broad job description when so many literary greats are, or were, banned in China.
You should also ask them whether your students have done the regular "intensive reading" classes before they come to your course!
So-called "intensive reading" is a sort of foundation for English literature though few actually study English literature.

[NickH]

[latefordinner]

Hey, this sounds like a survey course in a real university, not a Chinese uni! I believe that most of these kids can pretend to have read most of the stuff, but I very much doubt that more than a few can even pretend to have understood any of it, or why it is considered classic literature. If one were to tell them that Macbeth is a terrible story but that Shakespeare's handwriting was the finest of his time, they'd probably believe it.

I'm interested in Virago's comment.

[voodikon]