Faculty-led program in London immerses students in British literature, culture

Students also had some free time that provided them a chance to explore other London locations and experience quintessential pieces of British culture.

“I visited so many markets, including Borough, Camden, Portobello and Brixton,” Wray said. “I rode the Uber Boat along the Thames with friends and saw ‘Wicked’ at the Apollo Theater with family. I also saw all the famous sites like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, London Bridge, Houses of Parliament and the British Museum.”

Students and faculty recounted numerous experiences and memories that were special, including one that stood out in particular.

“Probably my favorite memory will be our class reading aloud Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ because that was something the students chose to do and organized themselves,” Zapkin said. “Them taking the initiative to do something literary showed that they were genuinely engaged in the course and in London itself.”

“We convinced our professors and tour guide to join too and had a lot of fun,” Egna said. “It was especially funny when people unknowingly biked through the middle of a scene since we were performing on the sidewalk.”

Zapkin hoped the month of exploration and activities gave students “a more concrete understanding of the literary works we studied,” and that it provides a model for them “to think through connections between literature and setting in their future readings.”

Egna said that was indeed one of her takeaways, adding that studying in London allowed her to contextualize the literature she has read and gain a deeper understanding of it.

“Even something as simple as reading a book in a different location can change your whole perception of it,” she said. “It was incredible to be able to see ‘Richard III’ in the Globe — the theater it was designed to be performed in — read the play, discuss it in class and then visit the Tower of London where several scenes took place. It added a whole new context to the text and made it even more interesting to analyze.”

For many students, being able to participate in this faculty-led program — one of 12 offered by the College of the Liberal Arts this summer — was possible thanks to enrichment funding provided through the college’s Career Enrichment Network.

“The College of the Liberal Arts was a huge financial help,” Wray said. “I don’t think this would have been at all possible without the funding I received. I am extremely thankful to them for making all my little girl dreams come true.”