Please let me know of your thoughts about the following aspects of the
course.
1. The seminars (subject matter, degree of difficulty,
anything that should have been more, or less, anything else)
2. The lectures on Jung and Lacan
3. The Correspondence course
4. The Workshop
5. Anything else
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1. The seminars: They were informative and useful but it would have been nice to spend more time on Lacan.
2. The lectures: Really entertaining. Lacan was slightly confusing, but I suppose that can't be helped.
3. The Correspondence course: Good idea, especially as I never had to do it. Encourages you not to miss anything.
4. The Workshop: Too long and was difficult to concentrate by end. Some presentations too long. Need more of a post mortem to discuss theories suggested in workshop.
5. Anything else: Would like advise on farther theories (Sate, Winnicott etc) and more reading. Not always sure if applying the theories correctly. I sometime felt a bit directionless. Basically the course was inspiring, exciting, thought provoking, broadening and I want to do it again next term!
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1. The seminars: Personally, this course has been a break-through for me and has been immensely gratifying. The amount of reading has been perfect is w/ all other work it is manageable and therefore encouraging. It has been great to be in a seminar group where everyone feels good about participating. I have no complaints - only good things to say. Thank you.
2. The lectures: 6:00 p.m. has been okay w/ me - it works because the topic is interesting! Lacan is a hard one and involves a great deal of personal effort plus an open mind. I feel that I may have been trying to look at it in the same was as F and J which doesn't work. By the end (and workshop present.) begun to accept it!
3. The Correspondence course: N/A as I didn't do it. But in principle I approve of the idea.
4. The Workshop: There is a lot to be gained - personally (what was learnt from work involved) and from others (esp on Lacan and Woolf) maybe ensure no two overlaps (e.g. M-S. N's. D) - bit more space and comfort (-concentration times!) And as regards length: a platoon commander will motivate his soldiers before a battle that is going to be long and had w/ casualties - maybe you just need to do the same at the beginning and perhaps interject w/ a little something (jokes?!) early-mid-afternoon. I don't see a way round, as the idea is to learn, not sit through!
5. Anything else: Fascinating and relevant reading. You are very approachable in an English dept. that isn't and that is greatly appreciated. I have grown up emotionally and intellectually as a result of this course, which has not only had positive results for me but also [confidential].
Thank you, Tom.
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1. The seminars: The seminars were very interesting but occasionally a bit over my head.
2. The lectures: These were very good - I thought they'd be difficult to understand but they weren't and they held my attention - which is very difficult to do!
3. The Correspondence course: You were right in saying that there was no pressure to hand in work. I'm not sure if this was a bad thing or not - I felt after the seminar that my written work would just be a reiteration of what others had said.
4. The Workshop: Very good. I was surprised at how long I was able to keep my concentration. The feedback sheets were also very helpful. It was perhaps a bit too long though.
5. Anything else: Not much - it was nice to have a tutor who was enthusiastic instead of cynical.
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1. The seminars: Maybe we did a bit too much on Freud and not enough on Jung. I did enjoy the seminars a lot, though.
2. The lectures: Were excellent. Very helpful indeed.
3. The Correspondence course: I agree it didn't work/go too well; we needed to be given a deadline on when to hand the completed work in. It was a good idea, though.
4. The Workshop: Was exhausting, terrifying and exhilarating.
5. Anything else: Thank you.
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1. The seminars: Without sounding sycophantic I genuinely believe that this course has been my salvation on this course. Up until now I have not particularly enjoyed the English course -too disjointed, so it has been a relief to participate in a well organised, thoughtfully planned course - Thanks.
2. The lectures: Especially informative
Complement the seminars
Explain the reading
3. The Correspondence course: A great way to go about it
Made me lose that fear of attending when the work hadn't been done.
4. The Workshop: Great in all v. beneficial
Obviously can be a long day
Unfortunate when presentations dealing with same subject.
5. Anything else: Once again, thanks.
The reason I chose to do this course was to solve the eternal problem that when my responds to me doing English Degree they say 'well all you ever talk about is sex' Freud has been explained.
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1. The seminars: I would have liked to have spent a little more seminar time talking about Lacan, but I enjoyed them all.
2. The lectures: They were both good clear and jampacked full of information.
3. The Correspondence course:
4. The Workshop: Enjoyed it, but the day dragged on a bit.
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1. The seminars: Very daunting but very useful. Subject matter was very interesting.
2. The lectures: Very well structured and clear. Quite hard to take it all in but this was because of the amount of information not because of the style of lecturing. V. enjoyable - especially the Jung lecture.
3. The Correspondence course: Good idea - made sure it was impossible or at least difficult to slip behind.
4. The Workshop: The most scary thing I have done since I came here but very rewarding.
It was a hard day (I had a headache at the end) but I am glad I did it.
5. Anything else: This is the best course I had taken here. I thought I would regret it when I came to the first seminar but I didn't! I actually feel like I've learnt something worthwhile. I especially enjoyed reading Jung and Campbell. I did find the seminars hard but that was good because they pushed me to participate and to do the work. I especially liked the 'Goblin Market' where we had to apply the theory studied.
2. The lectures: Brilliant, very thorough and extremely informative. I felt these gave me a real 'users guide' to the theories.
3. The Correspondence course: A little harsh(!) but necessary I think. Stopped me from getting left behind when I did miss a session.
4. The Workshop: Nervewracking but rewarding. I feel that this motivated research on the subject (through fear of potential humiliation!) and thus I feel well-prepared to do the written work.
5. Anything else: Nope, that just about covers it.
Except to say that this course has changed my philosophy of life.
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1. The seminars: Interesting, stimulating and easy to take part in. Opened my mind.
2. The lectures: The Lacan lecture was extremely well constructed and interesting. It must be sometimes difficult to tread the thin line between being too serious and too trivial with Lacan, but the lecture showed the right balance.
3. The Correspondence course: Successful.
4. The Workshop: Hard work and tiring but constructive. Worth the effort.
5. Anything else: The depth of content of this course is the reason why I do English.
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1. The seminars: The seminar was interesting and brought a lot of new, interesting thoughts for me. The quality of the seminar was higher than any of the seminars I did in Germany. However, I think I can use some Freudian, Jungian or Lacan - aspects whenever they might be useful.
2. The lectures: Unfortunately I had to miss your lectures about Jung because of a choir rehearsal. The Lacan lecture was just excellent.
3. The Correspondence course: Very much work, indeed. But it was obviously the best way to learn the key words of every theory. The jungian essay was more difficult than the Freudian one. I came to a point where I really hated Jung, all the books about him and the English language at all. But, as I said before, it was very, very useful.
4. The Workshop: I did enjoy it till about 4 o'clock - After the tea-break I didn't understand nearly a single word. I was obviously tire and the 'English-German translator' in my mind was almost damaged.
5. Anything else: For me, it was the most brilliant and extraordinary start at a British university .
Besides, I was totally impressed by the fact that you can address your teacher by his first name! This would be impossible in Germany!
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1. The seminars: The seminars were useful and enjoyable; the degree of difficulty was ok, and the handouts were very good. The only improvement I would suggest is smaller groups.
2. The lectures: Great, informative, interesting, entertaining, helpful.
3. The Correspondence course: A good idea, although I didn't use it.
4. The Workshop: I am so grateful that you made me do this. I learned so much from having to collaborate with someone else and produce something as a team effort. Having to stand up and deliver a presentation was something I wouldn't have volunteered to do, but I am really glad I did it, and will be less frightened about that sort of thing in the future.
5. Anything else: I have really enjoyed this course, and I feel that I have learned a lot.
I am impressed by your quiet authority - the way you just assume that we will do what is required, and so we do.
it has felt like a growth experience - a white school....? or maybe a pink one....?
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1. The seminars: The seminars were very,very worthwhile. As I said on the other feedback form, I would have preferred it if one of the Freud seminars could have been a carry-on to Jung, or a focus on another theorist eg Derrida or a Freudian. A small point-on the whole, fantastic!
2. The lectures: These were also very good. The Jung was, as you know, similar to first year - I needed a reminder but if the subject was approached from a different angle it would have been even better. The Lacan was brilliant - a tough subject made interesting and informative. Obviously, the jung part may become irrelevant if the English lecture course changes.
3. The Correspondence course: A good idea. Re your worry on the handout: my feeling towards enforcement is you shouldn't push it too far, but many may need a little extra jostling to do what they think is right but are lazy toward - i.e. a friendly ............ if they pass you in the corridor. Leave the ultimate de........ to the student but don't tell her explicitly that by any means.
4. The Workshop: Excellent. People did work hard on this like your idea about the course or presentation. I didn't think it was too dull. A great day!
5. Anything else: Speakers? Hearing a bona fide psychoanalyst might be fascinating (though I don't know, I've ever met one.) Not interfering with the course - just a (eg) Tuesday evening. This course is one of the finest I have ever taken.
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1. The seminars: Subjects very interesting and different!
Fairly difficult at times, but all our questions were answered clearly and I learnt a lot from these seminars.
2. The lectures: Comprehensive and illustrative - I'm sure you talk so quietly in order to make us concentrate! (cunning and effective!) Made me want to read more about them.
3. N/A
4. The Workshop: A long day! but v. rewarding . It was illuminating to get together with friends and discuss our work for our presentation. Very interesting day, nice to hear everyone's reactions and thoughts to this subject.
5. Anything else: It's great to hear a tutor who is obviously interested in his subject - thanks to Tom for making me interested!
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1. The seminars: Brilliant, thought inspiring. Correct level of reading required - realistic.
2. The lectures: Clear, useful, product of which are notes for exams, both good and useful.
3.
4. The Workshop: Great for personal presentation skills, even better in working in a group, disagreeing, having to find common ground and common interpretation. Coming up with material for deadline.
5. Anything else:
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1. The seminars: Basically, my main problem has been throughout that I have a VERY heavy workload this term, I'm behind in my schedule for my dissertation which counts for as much as an exam (this is for my other subject - 3rd year C.H.) So I haven't felt like I could put as much in as I wanted. (see section 5)
2. The lectures: Very useful and informative - helped to ground us and pull all the main points into perspective.
3. The Correspondence course: It's a great idea, I know that I still owe work - the problem is (and this is not just a pathetic excuse - its the truth), much as I wanted to throw myself into the course and keep up, I simply did not have enough hours in the day with pressure of 3rd year assessed work.
4. The Workshop: Really enjoyable, but as you say, too long to appreciate the end ones! I enjoyed doing the research for our presentation v. much, and once I'd got a grasp, I couldn't stop reading on it!
5. Anything else: Over all, it is a really fascinating, very enjoyable and inspiring course. I found it v. thought provoking, but because my workload in other subjects has been so heavy, I was often unable to do enough reading around the subjects in order to feel confident.
