Reflection: The semester is ending...

Now that the semester is almost over I want to recommend the three best classes I have had here at Old Dominion University. These classes are both relevant for study abroad students, but also, maybe even more so, relevant for American students.

The first one I want to mention is "Social Inequality" (SOC 320) with professor Mona Danner. In this class you learn how wealth and power is divided in the U.S society, but also why this division is accepted. As I am person who grew up in a highly socialistic society it has been difficult for me to see the arguments for the way this country divide its wealth. This course has helped me get closer to an answer, although I still really don't get why people are not angry of the fact that the richest 10 percent own 80 percent of the wealth (see former post 2-D to 3-D). If it was up to me, I would want every American to take this class, to get an idea off how skewed the society is.

The second class I would like to mention is "Perspectives: The American Dream" (Amst 300) with professor Joseph Cosco. This course teaches you how American mindsets developed up through history and who was included in the American dream and who was not. With text such as "A description of New England" by Captain John Smith, all the way up to song lyrics by Bob Dylan, we analyzed how American society changed and how the American Dream changed. The American Dream relates to the social inequality there is in this country, as everybody strives for their own fortune and believes all it takes is hard work and not the right circumstances.

The third and last class i will recommend is "Public Journalism in a Digital age" (Comm 366) with professor Ashley Hall. In this class you learn how to use the new medias that are popping up everywhere on the Internet and how to integrate journalism skills into these medias to make your source more professional and interesting. Through this class I got to reflect upon my discoveries here in America and put them into words. So especially if you are a study abroad student I would recommend this Class, but also to Americans because it is a class where you learn by doing.

The last two classes would just be a waste of time mentioning. A problem with both of them is the use of learning through remembering and not through practical use. This leads to boring classes and less motivation from my own part.

All in all this semester has been a great experience for me, both from an academic perspective, but also from a personal perspective. The general level here is a bit lower than what I am use to in Denmark and there is a lot of the so called "busywork" that serves the only purpose to make a class harder with no reference to college/university learning.

I want to thank Dr. Danner, Dr. Cosco and Dr. Hall for challenging my preconceived ideas about American learning style.