English Department Introduces New Literature Internship Program
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by Melissa Fassel
The fall 2000 semester marked the beginning for a new literature internship program in the English Department. English graduate students Ashley Anderton, Nicole Imbracsio, Robin Mangino, and Vrunda Stampwala worked together with supervising professor Rajini Srikanth to teach five sections of the course “Introduction to the Art of Literature.”
The group dedicated many hours during the summer to select what literature to teach and how to teach it. In eight comprehensive meetings, they drew up a detailed syllabus and teaching strategy. Srikanth explains, “The goal of the course is to think of language as one of many creative media and develop a way for students to understand how language can be crafted into the art of literature.”
Each of the five individuals involved was responsible for teaching a portion of the course, and, according to Professor Srikanth, all interns were “incredibly well-prepared, poised, and able to connect with students.” During the semester, the interns and mentor continued to meet on a weekly basis to discuss student reactions, teaching difficulties, and possible changes in pedagogy and/or the syllabus.
One of the interns praised the opportunity to work within a support group. While graduate interns are understandably excited about the responsibility of teaching a course, this program’s responsibility is nested safely within a network of support, providing a smooth transition from student to teacher.
Professor Srikanth, who teaches the graduate course “The Teaching of Literature,” thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the experience: “We [as faculty members] don’t often get the chance to think about our own teaching strategies or visit other classes. Taking part in this program is like getting a breath of fresh air. The excitement and innovation of these graduate students provides us with periodic energetic boosts.”
This literature internship program is the second of its type in the English Department. It is modeled after the structurally identical composition internship, which focuses on teaching students the writing process and has been in operation since the mid 1980s.