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Each year, usually in the fall, but sometimes in both the fall and the spring, a group of juniors and seniors spend a term in London studying British literature under the direction of a member of the English department.
Applications are reviewed by the director of that year's group, and preference normally is given to majors or prospective majors who have completed at least three courses toward the period requirements of the major.
In spring 2010, Jennifer Brice will direct a new London Study Group for the English Department, The Art and Craft of Travel Writing
“The soul is no traveler,” writes Ralph Waldo Emerson; the body, of course, is. What Americans leave at home—and what they take along—when they travel is the subject of this study group, with its emphasis on the art and craft of travel writing. The group offers students an opportunity to live and study for a full semester in one of the world’s great cities.
In fact, London—and Britain as a whole—will be the central “text” of the study group. In a course titled “Americans Abroad,” students will read works written by travelers to England, beginning in the 19th century. A companion course, “Travel Writing,” will be a creative writing workshop drawing on the experiences of the Colgate students while abroad.
A course in British history will complement their literary studies, giving them a sense of how British politics and history have shaped the perceptions of former colonists. A London theater course will immerse them in the cultural riches of this vibrant and diverse city. On the whole, this palette of literature, creative writing, history and theater is meant to stimulate students’ minds while igniting their imaginations.
Students share their experiences
"In the final weeks of our semester in London, my group took a dinner cruise on the Thames. As the night went on, dinner turned to picture taking, singing, dancing, the spirit of the group took over the boat.
"A Norwegian man celebrating his 70th birthday on the same cruise pulled me aside at one point in the night to ask about our group. He beamed: "You have such a good time together. You are like family." I beamed.
"Our scrapbooks show it, our memories show it: with the backdrop of London and Wales, these lands fresh with new life and deep with history, we came to know each other well. We developed codes and lingo and nicknames, and we learned each others' favorite drinks.
"This semester is something you never want to end, and when it does, it is a terribly sad feeling, but this is only a testimony to the power of my group: I love this group like sundown on the beach in St. Davids, Wales; I love this group like British men love purple shirt and tie combinations, and I love this group like Keith Talent loves darts. These are some of my very favorite people, and I have this semester to thank for that, for constructing a thoughtful, caring, fun, and solid group of friends: like family. Yeah cheers, mates."
Katy Goodrich '03
"The study group can be an experience that changes you. I went to England and found all the places I had read about in so many poems and books.
"I took it upon myself to see all these things but one of the best things about the English Study Group is that I was guided by my professor and my fellow students towards the sites and the places that amaze and enchant.
"I explored a country and the minds of my favorite authors. It is an experience that should not be turned down."
Christopher Maslanka, Class of 2002
"Spending the semester abroad in London was the single most wonderful and formative educational experience I have ever had. You won't understand the sincerity of this sentiment until you go, but write it down, re-read it upon your return, and see if you don't agree."
Jenny Ramer, Class of 2000