Working with European Professors: Current Students speak about how their art is informed through working with European Professors and studying abroad
by admin • October 4, 2013 • Music Program, Student Life, Uncategorized, Undergraduate Physical Theatre, Undergraduate Programs • 0 Comments
I knew coming into this program that the class structure and instructors would be different. However I was not sure exactly how they would be different. The classes are by no means easier, but I come into the classroom with a sense of relaxation. Although I know that my classmates and I are quite sleep-deprived, we all come into class ready to work. I think we owe this work ethic to our instructors, they create a welcoming environment for us to be open and creative.
Most of our classes involve open discussions. The instructors encourage us to express how we feel and to ask questions in or out of class. Although some of my classes in the states had a similar structure, our instructors at the ADA have a different way of explaining our creative process. Though it is a lot of different teaching methods and beautiful accents, each professor thinks in a different way, and when they share this with us, it makes me look at knew perspectives of artistic expression which I have never thought of before.
In my opinion, one of the most significant parts of the semester has been Tarantella (a traditional Italian dance). The theatre students are usually split into two groups, so we are not together for most of our studio classes. We finally got to work together when we had our first Tarantella class. It was incredible getting to share the experience with all of the theatre students. Looking around the room, I saw so many beaming faces, I knew that this class had done something special to us.
– Chelsea Rose Thompson
From Germany to the UK, Serbia to Italy, having professors from all over the European continent has been an interesting experience. The language barrier has never been a problem, and I think it’s cool that they often check with us to make sure if they used a word correctly or ask us to decipher an idiom they don’t understand. Even if a professor can’t find the right words in English, they often use sound effects or hand gestures (yes, Italians actually do gesticulate A LOT!) to communicate what they’re trying to say. I like to think that this back and forth of communicating with a mixture of languages and gestures will make me a better communicator when I go back home, on and off the stage.
-Verity Pryor-Harden
Having professors from all over Europe has been such an amazing experience. Not only is it a pleasure to listen to their various accents in class, but it is also wonderful to hear them use words in their own languages sometimes and have us help them find the word in English. Sometimes there is no direct translation for the word or phrase they are using and it’s really cool to hear how they describe certain things to make it translatable. In having professors that don’t speak English as their first language my mind has been opened to various ways of seeing and explaining things.
– KC Morse
– Russell Norris
