A big congratulations to final year BA (Hons) Comparative Literature student, Lauren Lopez, who has secured a place on the PGCE programme at University of Cambridge. We caught up with Lauren to find out more about her plans for the future and advice for new students.
What has been your favourite module so far?
My favourite module was ‘The Tale’ which I studied during my first year on the course. It was a fantastic introduction to Comparative Literature, as we analysed different genres of texts from a wide range of countries. We studied everything from classical texts, such as Ovid’s Metamorphosis, to fairy tales and gothic fiction. The fairy tale element in this module sparked my interest in Children’s literature, which together with the ‘Children’s Literature’ module, I studied in my second year, inspired me to focus my dissertation on Children’s Holocaust Literature.
Congratulations on your teacher training place at Cambridge, what inspired you to get into teaching?
It was my love of literature that inspired me to get into teaching! I wanted a career that enabled me to continue to learn about the subject and share my passion with others. I also believe that the skills you gain whilst studying literature are invaluable, from critical thinking to an increased sense of empathy.
Additionally, the role teachers are playing in the ongoing Covid crisis is inspiring. They were able to quickly adapt to new technologies and think up original and creative ways to keep students engaged and motivated at a time when the whole world stood still.
What piece of advice would you give to students who are thinking about studying Comparative Literature at University?
I would tell these students to go for it! Comparative Literature offers a global outlook of literature, which allows us, as students, to investigate the varied cultures, histories, and traditions that inspired these works.
The large number of optional modules grants each student freedom and flexibility, as they are able to tailor their area of study to suit their individual interests. It is also important to take into account the passion and dedication of the team of academics. They always quickly respond to emails and are more than happy to arrange virtual meetings, which has made online learning a far more manageable challenge, as I have continually felt supported as a member the Comparative Literature team.