Sticking Point

[changeling67]

Listening to yesterdays third years, have made me more than a little despondent.  I'm not a person who needs her hand held - in fact, I am a person very used to doing stuff off my own back and normally I am the one who is asked where/what/how/who.  Nor am I the type to get seriously knocked by others point of view (don't go up there, my 'ansom - there be dragons in Plymouth), but I am more than a little worried and need to chat with our principle lecturer.

OK - it might be a bit of a culture shock, but there is a big difference between being a bit inadequate from lack of preparation and totally floundering because information and dates have not been made available to you.  It is almost as if Unis ride on the fact that little college satellites have to keep up, as they have bestowed on them the right to do these courses. You owe us a favour by deigning to let you through the door.
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Some also have found that their essay writing skills have had to change.  Many have relied on their innate ability to be able to write, then finding that it all becomes unraveled mid-dissertation. I must admit that I have fell foul to that mid Access and occasionally this year too - I tend to plan mine now.

Therefore, today is reading the last of A Passage to India notes and the assignment plan so far is thus:

Chandrapore

The environment - jungle/city/caves
Animals
·         Non-threatening – monkeys
·         Threatening – snakes, big cats, spiders,insects

The weather system – extreme heat/monsoons

Psychology

English versus Indian

The class/caste system
·         English – Clubs & Churches
·         Indians – Mosques & Temples
    (Ghettoes on both sides)

No inter-relations - vast assumptions made on both sides

No understanding of culture = continual communication breakdowns (intentional and unintentional)

Vast caricatures evolve on both sides

Comments

[bethnoir.livejournal.com]

don't feel despondent, you overcome challenges every day, I'm certain that you will cope with it!

[calico-pye.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Beth - I may feel better about this tomorrow. There is bound to be a feed back session when we see the principal lecturer, if not - I will raise it privately at one of the tutorials. It's a bit worrying, though - I have a friend doing her second year BSc Psychology at Plymouth, I haven't called her in a while. Maybe I need to have a chat with her to find out what the de rigeur is on her course.