The college I study in, the American College and SCILET (Study Center for Indian Literature in English and Translation), in Madurai, offered me an opportunity to study a semester under the scholarship of Hildesheim University, Germany, and to specialise in English language and literature.
I observed and experienced a huge contrast between Indian and German academia, in terms of teaching methodology, knowledge acquisition and competence. Almost all courses give students sufficient time to contemplate, recollect and prepare for the next class. As a language student, I believe in an interactive classroom. Classrooms there were exactly like that, where the teacher encourages students to participate in discussions and awards marks for participation. No contribution from the student is judged and criticised.
Knowledge sharing
European educational institutions are known for their cultural diversity and inclusive education. The University of Hildesheim hosts international students from almost all seven continents; the majority of students are women. There is no deprivation of rights and roles, rather, this ambience is optimally used by the university in learning and sharing knowledge across nationalities, ideologies and gender. Amidst such diversity, I neither observed nor experienced any form of discrimination or bias. Such an environment enables a seamless intellectual exchange in a healthier academic space. I was associated with the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) which helped me socialise more and relish the German experience through day tours, seminars and workshops.
The commitment of the faculty was remarkable. As a literature student, it was a thrilling experience to observe and learn from the land of great philosophers such as Heidegger, Engels and Nietzsche. It was fascinating to see and imagine the time and space they spanned. With the student identity card, all students could travel for free throughout lower Saxony, which was an added blessing during the weekends. Most buildings and churches in lower Saxony boast of various schools of art and architecture. It was indeed an unforgettable experience as a music lover to live in the country of great composers such as Handel, Bach and Beethoven.
Josiah Immanuel M. studied master’s in English language and literature from Stiftung Universität Hildesheim, Germany, as an exchange student from The American College, Madurai, for a semester from April to August, this year.