Here I go again......

So the following essay was written last week on Wednesday 24 August 2011. Originally written in a notebook, I had to transfer it to my computer. Some minor editing was done to the paper however I wanted to keep it as nearly as possible to its original form. I hope you enjoy it:

I currently find myself sitting in English class. This is a course that I typically despise. Since starting a blog and writing poetry, my view became more endearing to this subject. So far, I am utterly disappointed and disgusted by this class. My civilian, hipster, Marxist teacher (not to slight any people of those traits, it is mere description) is droning on about an article directed toward anthropology. So far, not one person in my class has provided a successful insight about the article. My teacher is the supreme analyzer in this arena. I find myself again being forced to read things that I don’t enjoy or pull out any significant meaning which I can respect. Deep reading and ambiguous inference (aka. Bullshit) seem to be the focus of this class currently. This is an English COMPOSITION course. The problem is that the powers at hand forced us to buy some 5 or 6 books about Cuba. It is not pure literature either. So far, and looking ahead on the syllabus, I am in a Cuban history class. Thanks but no thanks; I’d rather be kicked in the groin repeatedly by Michael Ballack. It’s not that I despise Cuba or don’t believe it is important to know aspects of her history.

(10 minute pause for in class writing)

I am disgruntled that my “English Composition” class is the bastard child or a provincial history course and a parochial literature course. Better yet, this course is required and is the only English class offered unless you are a major in that discipline. Given that I am an Arabic and German major, please let me choose between a regional history or literature class which actually has an application for me. One of those courses would be a much better use of my brain and talent. I could probably learn more about Cuba’s history and culture by watching an episode of “No Reservations.” Why must I read longwinded or ambiguous texts which all state the same damn thing? The sad thing is, this is only the fourth lesson of this class and I am already this heated! Will it get better? I damn well hope so.

An important factor in producing good work and motivation yourself to do it involves having a genuine interest in the topic at hand. I have no motivation in this class and will therefore devote more time to other subjects. I mean, instead of listening to the droning of my teacher, I am writing a beautiful and critical analysis of the course which he teaches. Any student would put forth the bare minimum in a class they don’t enjoy. Well, it’s true of any student except some of the intellectually insane who do anything and everything for that valedictorian title or Rhodes scholarship. A teacher should respect my admittance of this truth. A teacher should not only teach, but motivate and inspire his or her students too.

I don’t mean for this writing to be a tirade. I am merely discussing the values I hold in my intellectual development. Here is a positive example for your reading enjoyment. Last year, I had to take a philosophy course. At first I was annoyed by the fact that this was another required course. The early classes were annoying and it seemed as though there was never a right answer. Due to this, I held my tongue and made myself the quiet listener. Things changed after the first few weeks of class. My teacher was a very animated man. I attribute this to the fact that he is a Tanker (he works in the Armor Branch in the Army). Outside of animation, he used media, usually humorous media, to kick-start many classes. This was satisfying and made a good springboard into class discussion. My favorite thing, about his used of media, was that he played clips from Monty Python productions. I consider myself a diehard Python. His tactics in class get even better. He led class discussions, not lectures, that incorporated witty examples, drawings, and a puppy (stick figure puppy to be exact, it’s an inside joke). The class moved on from fundamental philosophical theories to the morality of war. This was not only interesting but my teacher “loves War and blowing shit up and driving over stuff with tanks” (Don’t take that too literally, He is simply showing pride in his profession, He is not a loony). This teacher motivated and inspired me to a great degree. I was engaged in class and took time out of class to further pursue discussions with him.

                Why can’t the teachers in other courses of mine do their job as well as he does? Back to the original intent of this writing, my English class is not an English class, nor is my teacher an effective one. I will stop this here so that I do not further rant and potentially find myself in trouble. Until next time dear readers, enjoy yourself.