Teaching Literary Studies Theory in Practice

Past Event Summary

A study day organised jointly by the LTSN English Subject Centre and the LTSN Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies

This study day provided an opportunity for lecturers in English, Modern Languages and Area Studies to discuss the implications of cultural theory in terms of course design, delivery and reception. What kinds of factors affect your intake's encounter with theory? Is literary or cultural theory at the core of what students are expected to learn? How does theory relate to other types of ideas the students are encountering? How do students on modularised and joint honours degree programmes negotiate their first encounters with cultural theory, and how can we take the needs of different students into account in course design? Can we achieve a balance between students' needs for explication and practice during teaching time? Why do we introduce students to theory and what do we want them to be able to do with it? During the course of this study day, focusing on students' first encounters with theory, delegates were able to discuss strategies for helping students to make use of theory for themselves.

Note: This event was organised in response to continued interest in the earlier 'Seminars: Theory and Practice' event organised by the English Subject Centre and the content of the two events was therefore similar.