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Imagine studying literature in England,
Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It’s a dream that came true for
students on the British Literary Tour sponsored by the English
Department at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
Students visited Westminster and St. Patrick’s Cathedrals,
Shakespeare’s home in Stratford, homes of Tolkien, Wordsworth
and Yeats, as well as Big Ben, Tower Bridges and the Globe
Theatre. “I visited places people dream about,” Jessica Whitman
remarked about her experience on the tour this past summer. “The
trip was incredible.”
When asked why the English Department supports the tour, Darin
Merrill, a member of the English Department faculty at BYU-Idaho
and a sponsor for the trip, said, “The tour accomplishes the
stated purposes of many of our courses in a way that classroom
instruction never can. Visiting a place like Stonehenge or York
enables the students' imaginations to envision the events that
contextualize much of the literature they have studied.”
Brandon Clawson, another student who went on the trip, said,
“I’ve always liked William Wordsworth, but after understanding
where he’s coming from, I absolutely love his work.” Clawson
said he has a better appreciation for literature and really
connected with the authors. “I learned more on this trip then I
ever did in a classroom,” he said.
Merrill stated the tour opens students’ minds “to the reality of
an intensely diverse world populace, thereby enhancing their
awareness of others, which is an important step in becoming a
better Christian and better scholar, student and citizen of the
world.”
“I’d encourage anyone to definitely go. It’s not just for
English majors and it’s a reasonable price for all you
experience,” Whitman said. She further stated she can’t think of
a better time for students to pack up and be gone for a month.
“As students we have more free time now then we’ll ever have in
the future,” she said. “We should take advantage of
opportunities like this.”
As a sponsor, Merrill hopes “students will connect with the
literature in such a way that the world is more valuable to
them.”
The tour is open to all majors and begins on May 3, 2006.
Several spots are still available. Students interested in
applying for the trip should visit the website at www.byui.edu/travelprograms/britishliterary
or contact the directors for more information: Paula Soper,
Darin Merrill and Scott Samuelson. |