I decided that the classes system here needed much more explaining than my last blog – and so let’s continue! As I mentioned last time, the private and expensive nature of this university means that classes are generally very small. I even have my teacher’s mobile number - which feels really strange, seeing as in Edinburgh I don’t think most of my lecturers even know who I am!
The teaching method by the lecturers is also very secondary-school like – almost constant assessment throughout the term and homework given almost every day. In many ways this has been great, especially given the small class sizes and individual attention. Moreover, the marking system is scaled up hugely from the British system, meaning that marks like 98% are very common! Technically this year does not count towards my degree back in Edinburgh, although I wish it would – seeing as my class average this term has been 96%! However, although the work here seems ‘easier’ than back home – generally due to the teacher almost spoon-feeding you exam answers – there is also a whole element of the course that I don’t come across in Britain… The controversial idea of ‘class participation’. In Edinburgh much emphasis is put on the idea of anonymous marking, especially for final exams, and although percentages of your marks can be based on attendance it is almost unheard of to have ‘extra credit’ activities. Here, however, as much as it must be frowned upon, your grade can seemingly be changed depending on how well you get on with professor, and how much you ask for help. You can even ‘up’ your grade by staying after class and offering to help clear up the lab!
When I realised this, I was somewhat bemused by the almost archaic and clichéd idea of ‘sleeping with the teacher’ (not literally!) to get an A – a concept I thought only existed in American high school films! However, it is most definitely in play here at UM. It’s a shame, because in a way I think it means that people can slack off and still get a high Grade Point Average (GPA) – which is all that matters when you’ve graduated and are looking for jobs. Gosh, I’ve just thought – I hope my professor from here doesn’t read this, I’ll fail my course!
My geology professor is amazing (I’m trying to cover my tracks here!), he’s a real geology guy, the kind that has spent his life licking rocks and treks the whole of the Grand Canyon every year for fun. My classmates are also great fun and I find myself looking forward to lectures for the social aspect! We have regular breaks in the class to go and get Starbucks (very American!), and there are sofas in the department to lounge on when you have a break. The atmosphere of campus is, to some extent, what I would imagine a boarding school to be like – the campus is its own environment within Miami, and I find myself having little reason to leave here and venture into the city itself! In fact, when I do explore off the campus then I almost get a shock that I am in such an amazing city – the skyscrapers in downtown Miami are epic and the beaches are gorgeous!
I’ve got quite involved in the BCM (Baptist Christian Ministry) here on campus, which has been a real experience getting to know American Christians – many of which are Southern Baptists! Sadly, there is a real sense of denominational competition on campus, due to the fact that there are many small Christian groups (such as BCM, Episcopal, Wesley-Methodist, Campus Crusade…) whereas British universities tend to have one bigger inter-denominational group: the Christian Union. Moreover, the tendencies of the denominations here seem to differ slightly from the ones back in the UK – I have been raised in a Church of England (Anglican) church, which obviously does not exist here, and so finding an equivalent has been a challenge! However, it’s been really interesting to talk to people about the differences here in America – there seems to be a bigger emphasis on liberal v conservative groups, which is a factor that has led to the disintegration of the ministries on campus. I’ve also realized that religion featured intimately in the last week’s US election – which is worth a blog in itself! Keep reading!
Kate xx
