Introductions

My name is Brittany R. Something interesting about me would be that I’m 17 years old. I really love to read and write. My favorite thing to do is write down my dreams and try to make stories out of them.

I am a Secondary English Education major. I chose this major because it’s really been something I’ve always wanted to do. I remember as a child thinking about what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I would look at that teacher sitting behind that desk and think, “I want to be in that position for once instead of just on the receiving end.” However, in the past I have been a little indecisive about what career field to go into because I was always brainwashed with people telling me that “teaching is a horrible job! Try something that will make you money!” I tried looking in other fields, but one day I realized that my future could not be controlled by stereotypes or what other people tell me is right or wrong. I control my future, so I decided to just go with my gut!

My family has been very supportive of my decision. My friends are also excited for me, saying that they think I’ll be a great teacher. I have been told by many that I seem like an English teacher, and I like to think that’s a good sign!

I think in the U.S. perspectives on literacy and literature are changing, but I think they are changing for the worse. In my limited experience, the people I have spoken to about literature think that it isn’t relevant in today’s world. The “shiny-object” mentality, so named by my mom because she gets distracted very easily, keeps some people from focusing on books long enough to be interested. This results in the all-too familiar "books are boring." My opinion is that these people just need to find books that interests them.

Once I graduate, I plan to continue my education in graduate school until I have my Master’s. From there, I hope to be able to teach overseas on military bases to broaden my cultural horizons. One day I hope to become a fiction novelist.

Expertise in English is definitely useful in the workplace in America because even simple emails to one’s boss have to be free of spelling and grammatical errors. Knowledge in proper English not only is an impressive asset but a tool of sophistication. Also, in presentations, one must be able to give efficient summaries or hard copies of the material covered for the group being presented to. If the format is inconsistent or the information presented in too casual a fashion, this reflects negatively on the employee who wrote it.

Greetings

Hey guys!

My name is Coleman Joiner, and I am an English Education Major at KSU. I enjoy writing and ever so often, I find enjoyment in reading. I came about my decision to become an English Ed. major because I knew first and for most, I wanted to enter the education field. That is because I have aspirations of becoming a high school head football coach. Now I know what your'e thinking, and it's not what it seems. I do actually WANT to be a teacher as well. I could have easily decided to be a P.E. teacher and take the easy way out. But I have been given (cursed?) with a love for writing and reading (in that order). I always had great English teachers and professors who really taught me to look deeper in to the literature we were reading and to find some way to connect with it. I wanted to be one of those thought provoking teachers. I wanted to be the teacher that tested my students own thoughts and beliefs. These were a few of the reasons I chose to become and English Ed. major!

Now when I initially made this decision, my mother was not a huge fan. She is a teacher and did not want me to have to deal with the many issues with administration, parents, and kids like she does. But she also understands what I want to do, and what it will take to get there, and she supports me fully. She just asks me to please be careful and to make sure this is what I want to do. I am starting to realize that it is in fact what I want to do the rest of my life!

Another reason I decided to enter this field, is because I am starting to see a slow decline in our youth's interest in literature. Kids don't read books anymore. They don't write anymore. It seems the only time students write anymore is when it is required such as the SAT and writing test. I want to help bring life back to literature in the classroom. These students today don't know what they are missing!

Salutation!

I am one of the many Rachel's in the class, Rachel M. or Rae, will suffice as a name.

Entertaining a career in English was never really a pursuit as you cannot chase something that isn't running. I have always had my hopes of becoming a novelist to steer me in this direction. Although there were times I thought of doing something else, I knew that the only dream I have ever had was to be a author. I wanted to write books, and my current pursuit is to be akin to J.K. Rowling. The mad genius behind Harry Potter.

My parents don't exactly approve of the idea of me becoming an author and being in a family of highly successful parents (My Father is practically a Doctor and My Mom was a Vice President and in the top 1% of a Fortune 500 company with awards to boot) becoming an author was always a hobby in their eyes.
"Well, look at what's-his-face from the news! He's a T.V anchor and he wrote a book. You could always do that, not so much the new anchor, but writing could be a side project." My Father would start, only to be followed by, "You really ought to find a real career. Writing isn't going to pay the bills."
Then, my Mother would chime in with: "You would be a fantastic Ambassador, or a Journalist! There, Darling, be a journalist. You can still write."
A life chained to he said/ she said seemed droll and pointless to me. My mind was a racing roller coaster of Dragons, Zombies, Magicians, Elves, Vampires, and Romantic Comedies. Reporting the daily news sounded dun. With many days walking in the mires of a real career my mother became very ill and wanted very much to hear my stories. So, I began to read them to her and then with a bloom of hope in her eyes, she finally jumped of the bandwagon. When I too had fallen ill and could not return to college, she offered to house me on the condition that I wrote feverishly everyday -like it were my job. It was a pleasant surprise to have her believe in me finally, and now that I am well enough to continue my degree, she's enthralled to hear the next installment of whatever I am working on at the time.

I vehemently believe that there is a serious downward spiral of literacy in the United States. It pains me so that readers have become lazy and the writing style has reflected that. I feel much pain when I have to correct the grammar of educated adults, when I know mine is far from perfect. The books that I read today are sickening, and a few have really stood out from the rest. I think that books are changing market, moving slowly into a digital shift. I have noticed that the population doesn't really read books anymore, no, they wait for the movie to come out. This hurts me. The time and effort I have put into book seems cheap compared to what people have done to books lately. I sorely miss the majestic and mysterious beauty of Shakespearean plays and the fright of a E.A.Poe short.  I hope that literature makes a comeback. It's such a beautiful art that it may very well destroy the fabric of humanity if it dies.

On a lighter note, I haven't quite decided what I want to do once I graduate from College. I know I want to write books, but like books, I want to bring back the classic of Old Hollywood Cinema, as well. I love books, but I also enjoy other mediums. I hope to write a play, a movie, a graphic novel, and many, many books. Until then, I suppose I will be living in someone's attic, eating cheap noodles and waiting the day for a book to be finished. Hardly worth wild, but a dream, nonetheless.

Hi everyone!

Hi everyone,

My name is Carolyn and I'm an English major at Kennesaw State University. I think it's going to be really interesting to be able to talk to everyone on here this semester. I decided to become and English major because I love to read and I love to write, and it's the only thing that I can see myself pursuing in college. For awhile I considered doing English Education because eventually I want to become an English professor, but English Education is geared more toward teaching high school, and that isn't something I could see myself doing. When I was in high school, none of the students in my English and literature classes took the courses seriously and didn't seem to be interested. I figure that in college, though, most people are interested in what the teacher has to say, so I would definitely enjoy that more.

My parents weren't surprised when I told them that I'm majoring in English, and I don't think that they could imagine me doing anything else, either. My mother always encouraged me to read when I was younger, and she's the one got me into writing as well. A lot of people say that the only thing that you can do here with an English degree is teach, but my parents have always reassured me that this isn't the truth. Even though I eventually want to teach at a college or university, I want to look into every other opportunity that is available to me in writing. My parents encouraged in to write as an intern for an online magazine, and I love it.

I think that the perspectives of literature has definitely changed recently here, and it has been for the worse. The majority of people don't appreciate literacy and literature as much it used to be appreciated (or, at least as much as I appreciate it). I would love for an aspect of my career to involve promoting literacy and literature, and to show people why it is so important. I suppose the reason that I'm so against teaching high school is because so many students are opposed to reading. I would love to acquire the patience one day to be able to teach that age group and try to change their minds.

I'm taking a Careers in Writing class this semester and I've realized that with internships and persistence an English major can get just about any job they wish. The head of the English department here at KSU told us that employers typically hire English majors because they know that if we can understand all of the complicated characters in the literature we read, we will be able to get along with and understand all of the people who we work with. I really liked this idea.

I look forward to hearing from everyone throughout the semester!

Carolyn Buonomo

First Discussion - Introduction

Hello, world. :)
My name is Kathryn Brower and I am an English Education major at Kennesaw State University. I am an avid reader and writer.
I chose to become an English Ed. major after a few detours in my college career. I started out as an English major (hoping to pursue journalism), changed to Early Childhood Education after a brutal encounter with a composition course (my always-thick skin must have gone on vacation), and then realized that with ECE I was forsaking the thing that was most important to me - writing. I decided to mesh the two together to get the best of both worlds. My friends and family have always supported my choices, especially when it comes to academics.
I do think that views on literacy/literature are changing in the United States, though I can't be sure if it's for better or worse. The introduction of such advanced technology has seemed to push everyone to do things as quickly as possible, including spelling with shorthand which seems to show lack of respect of the English language in my opinion. However, going through the English Education program at KSU has shown me the many different ways that teaching English in the schools is evolving into a much more creative fashion. In fact, I am excited to see where our kids can go after they have been taken away from the "drill and kill" grammar instruction they are used to and introduced to novel ways to incorporate grammar into their art.
Once I graduate, I intend on continuing my education further. I'd like to obtain my Master's degree in the Art of Teaching English, and am considering a PhD program as well. After schooling, I (obviously) plan to teach: first on the high school level, and perhaps onto the college level in the future. My degree is necessary for my field of work.
I can't wait to get to know you all. :)

English Studies in Slovakia and the United States

In this first discussion, we would like you to introduce yourself and share your perspective on English studies. You can post by clicking on "new post" on the upper right hand side.  You can use your first name only or your first name and the initial of your last name (there are several Rachels in the Kennesaw State group, so that may help) in the introduction. Please, also say a little bit about your interests or any other interesting facts about you. If you know how, you can also post a picture of yourself. As a contribution to the discussion on English studies, please answer the following questions:
1. What made you decide to pursue the English (English Education) major? (Some of my students are just English majors and some of them are English Education major)
2. How did your friends and family respond to your choice?
3. Do you think people's perspectives on literacy and/or literature are changing in your country? If so, how?
4. What do you plan to do once you graduate? Is expertise in English useful in the workplace in your country and how?
The semester starts later in Slovakia, so once the Bratislava group gets on board and gets a chance to post, we'll be asking you to respond to at least 3 students in the other group. 

Welcome to the Comenius-Kennesaw State Online Discussion Forum!

The purpose of this site is to facilitate an exchange of ideas and perspectives on English studies and literature between a group of English Education students at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia and a group of English & English Education majors at Kennesaw State University in the metro Atlanta area. Both groups will be taking a course that introduces them to English studies at their respective institutions. The online discussions will serve as the basis for cross-cultural comparisons and reflection on the role of our discipline in a broader global context.