Hi again! It’s Grace, your favorite American in Oxford. Today, I’m going to talk about what many consider to be the main attraction of Oxford: the famous tutorial system.
Essentially, instead of learning in a classroom environment with 20 or so other students, my lessons are one-on-one for my literature course and two-on-one for my language course. Before my tutorial, I am expected to read the required texts on the syllabus and submit a 10-ish page essay, which is usually the subject of our one-hour discussion.
Sounds intimidating, right? At least, I certainly thought so my first week here. My first tutorial was for Literature in English, 1830–1910s: Victorian Literature; specifically, on “Bleak House” by Charles Dickens (which, by the way, is a behemoth of a book — I spent all of July through September trying to finish it).
I came to this university with a very specific mental picture of what an Oxford professor would be like. A couple examples come to mind: Snape from the “Harry Potter” franchise or the evil English teacher who replaces Mr. Keating in “Dead Poets Society.” You get the idea. Someone really particular, traditional, intimidating, et cetera. Even just the word ‘Oxford’ invokes thoughts of strict tradition and competitive academics, and I had a preconception that the professors would reflect this ideology.
I was especially nervous going into this tutorial because a quick Google search told me that my professor was an expert in Dickens — not only had she done extensive research on the author but also published a book on his work — and it goes without saying that I certainly am not. I was really worried I would walk into this tutorial and get my essay ripped to shreds.
I’m so happy to report that I have never been more wrong about something in my life.
My Victorian Literature professor is genuinely one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I am embarrassed to admit that I was a little bit awkward during our first tutorial; however, now that I’ve grown more accustomed to this style of teaching, I've been able to really enjoy our conversations. Her feedback is always constructive, genuinely pushing me to be a better critic and writer.
Not only is she extraordinarily kind, but her office is also SO cozy. I get to sit on a little sofa for our tutorials, which seems like a rather trivial detail, but it really makes me feel more at ease. I also love her bookshelves; they look a little insane, with books upon books stacked on top of each other, but I can tell there is a method to the madness.
I have a Victorian Lit tutorial every week — and a language tutorial every other week — so you can imagine that the workload can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, it’s important to remember that, as an Oxford student, you don’t have a lot of in-person class time, so, while daunting, it’s definitely possible to get all your essays done in time.
I really do enjoy the one-on-one sessions, and I can totally imagine myself missing them when I return to Tufts for senior year. However, the great thing about classes at Tufts is the ability to learn from your peers. While I do have the occasional class with the other English students, they’re certainly not as regular as the classes back home.
That’s all for this week, folks! It’s actually Sixth Week here at Oxford, meaning that there are only two more weeks before Michaelmas term is over. Next time you hear from me, I’ll be getting ready to fly home for the holidays!
See you then!
Grace x
