CEA CAPA London Center Door

Ready for Takeoff? 

I am a student from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, and one of the biggest obstacles I had to confront while preparing for my study abroad experience in London was the fact that I would be in new classes with new professors. Back on my home campus, I always had a good sense of what to expect and how to plan—but I worried about the academic differences in England and how I might handle it. Although CEA CAPA provided syllabi online for each class, which did answer my questions about course load, there was still a fear of the unfamiliar. I liken it to the first semester of college, really. That fall semester brimmed with newness and uncertainty.  

After being in courses for about three weeks, I can say with confidence that there was nothing to be anxious about. My professors are lovely people who care about their students, and they keep us engaged throughout the three hours of class time, which I found to be a major change from my normal hour-and-a-half long sessions. My peers are friendly and participate actively in class, and this in turn makes me less nervous to raise my hand and contribute. In fact, I even volunteered to be on a student-led panel during one of my courses as we discussed our readings. This is something I likely would not have done at Hollins.  

Class Schedule 

My schedule is flexible and allows me to have downtime. On Mondays, I have Detective Fiction. On Tuesdays, I attend Writing the City and Theatre in the City, both of which stir my creative side. On Wednesdays, there is British Museology and Shakespeare. This means that I have no classes on Thursdays and Fridays, giving me extra time for homework and exploration.  

Class Structure 

Initially, I was concerned about the days that I had two classes, since this meant sitting in rooms for a total of six hours. But I quickly discovered that my professors love to take their students on field trips, giving us the opportunity to interact with London rather than simply reading about it from a book. For example, in my Shakespeare class, we took a small tour of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and we toured Shakespeare’s Globe theater together. Both of these excursions were amazing, and I learned so much more about Shakespeare. He has never really been my favorite writer, as I have always found him a bit inaccessible, but the trips outside the classroom opened my eyes to his world and the significance of his plays. When we visited the Globe, there were also dogs posing on the stage with their Shakespearean frills, and that was a definite bonus!  

Shakespeare’s Globe, featuring Bella the dog

British Museology introduced me to the Natural History Museum. I spent two hours wandering through the beautiful architecture on my own, forming my answers to the worksheet that my peers and I were given. For this class, I am appreciative that the discussions are so open-ended and that our professor encourages us to think deeply about the impact's museums, and their displays, have on the public. The highlight of this visit was the dinosaur exhibit, for sure. Soon, we will also be visiting Tate Britain, the Victoria and Albert, and more.  

The Natural History Museum

The Show Must Go On 

Additionally, many of my courses also provide tickets to see shows, many of which are replacements for actual class times. What better place to dive into the theater scene than London? Recently, and my first show here, I saw “Cowbois,” which is a queer Western written by Charlie Josephine featuring gender-defying characters and a celebration of what makes humans love so deeply. I am also looking forward to a Theatre Night with CEA CAPA, as I have tickets to “Little Big Things” in the coming weeks. Even for Detective Fiction, my class has plans to attend “The Mousetrap” and “Hercules Poirot” at their respective theaters. It’s going to be a great semester full of amazing performances! 

Cowbois by Charlie Josephine 

Conclusion 

If you’re on the fence about studying abroad because you’re worried about the academics, I assure you: it will be okay. The professors are very accommodating and understand that this is an entirely new environment for students. They will be challenging you to step out of your comfort zone, but never in a harmful way. Also, the three-hour classes are filled with engaging activities and field trips so that you really begin to glimpse what life in London is really like. As the Tenth Doctor says in Doctor Who (my favorite British show), allons-y! 

CEA CAPA London Center, Interior