By Rebecca Kalmar, Staff Writer
I was going to be late, but I would make it. Hurrying down the flights of stairs at 215 Lexington Avenue, I rushed into room 208 and took my seat. It was my last chance to attend an English majors meeting before graduating, and I wanted to soak in every second. From the moment I walked in till my reluctant exit to make my next class, I couldn’t stop smiling.
I know I’m biased. Of course, the student who came to Yeshiva University with plans to major in English, and who will soon leave YU with an English degree, would love the subject. That being said, I truly believe there is something in the field for everyone, and I hope you will hear me out with an open mind, whether you read Dickens for fun or you haven’t touched a book in weeks.
As one of the humanities, the field of English is concerned with the human condition. An English major delves into a world filled with complicated characters and diverse cultures, and emerges with a broadened worldview. No matter what profession you’re interested in, you will benefit from increasing your awareness of those around you and mankind at large.
Then, there are the books. In addition to increasing knowledge, books provide a form of escape. Books can take you anywhere, from a magical castle, to a bustling kitchen, to an alien planet, immersing you in each world. No matter what you’re struggling with, there’s a place where you can go to get a much-needed break, and it only takes moments. If you’re not a fan of reading, try an audiobook. The introduction of engaging voices can take a story in a whole new direction.
An assignment for a literature course can be very intimidating at first glance. How can one be expected to write whole papers about just one book, or even one paragraph? The truth is that the skills required to write English papers are ones that Beren students are already building, and that many have been forming for a long time. Literary analysis has many striking parallels to learning Torah.
The processes of looking at a single phrase from a pasuk (verse) and determining the different ways it can be understood, finding connections between perakim (paragraphs), or comparing attributes of various Biblical individuals, are an excellent segue to the processes by which one analyzes works of literature. Not only is learning Torah an excellent precursor to fulfilling your Interpreting Literature and the Arts general education requirement, the study of English also provides you with improved techniques for how to increase your Torah knowledge.
Let’s talk about the English department at Stern College. In any discussion about my major, I inevitably remark that I am so blessed that the English department is one of, if not the, most solid department in Stern. It’s filled with incredible educators who genuinely want the best for their students and are committed to helping them to succeed. Every incoming English major is partnered with a professor who acts as a mentor to the student throughout her time at Stern, ensuring that she gets the assistance she needs.
English classes are entertaining and cover a wide range of topics from comic books to monsters and even theater. I personally have taken an incredible range of courses including The Hebrew Bible on the World Stage, which increased my passion for theater, Writing Women’s Lives, which changed the way I write about myself, and Development of the British Novel II, which often felt like attending an amazing book club.
The English major is split into three tracks: English literature, creative writing and media studies. While the first two tracks have a more narrow focus, media studies is incredibly broad, covering anything from video editing and photography to journalism to social media and advertising. As a media studies student, I have had the opportunity to take classes related to videography, journalism and computer design. The media studies major is a great option for students who like English and are interested in broader applications of the field in the career world.
I’m not saying that everyone should drop their biology and psychology studies and become English majors (though we will welcome you with open arms if you do). I know that people have preferences for certain kinds of classes, and I think it’s always important to follow your passions. However, if you like reading books, or enjoy writing, or remember an English teacher fondly, perhaps consider an English minor. It is a smaller commitment that will still allow you to enjoy what the English department has to offer.
At the very least, as you rush to fulfill your general education requirements, don’t settle for a “boring, easy” English course. Find a class that sounds interesting to you, and I assure you that you won’t regret it.
Photo Caption: The Stern English major fact sheet
Photo Credit: Dalya Eichler / the YU Observer