Third-year student Bri Jackson shares why they are pursuing an Honours in Romance Studies, in addition to a Double Major in Spanish and History and a Minor in International Relations.
“I found the idea of writing a thesis very intriguing. I appreciate how much flexibility students have to choose a project they’re really passionate about.”
Why pursue an Honours degree?
I found the idea of writing a thesis very intriguing. I appreciate how much flexibility students have to choose a project they’re really passionate about, and I like the idea of being able to choose my own reading list and concepts to focus on. For example, my thesis is based on concepts from a previous course that I really want to explore further. It’s especially interesting to talk about ideas with other potential Honours students, as I’ve learned about people’s differing interests and ideas for projects that I probably wouldn’t have even thought of.
Why specialize in Romance Studies?
I love having the opportunity to learn multiple languages. Although there are many degrees that focus on language learning, most of them only focus on one language. By doing a Romance Studies (RMST) Honours degree, I am able to complete courses that improve my reading, speaking and grammar skills in any Romance language, and most of the courses count towards my degree. This helps me broaden my language abilities and cultural understanding.
Being able to speak multiple languages is very beneficial in many situations. For example, I work in customer service and there have been many times where speaking a second language has come in handy when talking to guests who struggle with English. I only speak French and Spanish, but it is still helpful and allows me to connect with more people.
What are some of your favourite courses?
I have enjoyed all of the courses at the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies (FHIS), and all of my professors have been incredibly kind to my classmates and I!
Originally, I was planning on majoring in International Relations with a Minor in Romance Studies. However, after taking “RMST 300: History of the Romance Languages” and “RMST 301: Prose Fiction and Non-Fiction of the Romance World”, I fell in love with it and decided to do an Honours.
I love literature courses because they introduce concepts and perspectives in an entertaining way; it is very different to read a scholarly article about courtly love than it is to read a fiction story about romance. I especially love looking at the motivations and historical context of the authors. Fiction writers often have themes or references from their own experiences, and it is so cool to see how an author’s personal perspective may influence a story. For example, they may have significant themes reflecting their status, religion, sexuality, and/or gender.
I am personally very interested in speculative fiction and poetry, so the “RMST 301: Prose Fiction and Non-Fiction of the Romance World” and “RMST 302: Theatre and Poetry of the Romance World” courses were very enjoyable! They are a good introduction into a Romance Studies degree. Another interesting literature course was “FREN 311: Introduction to Literature in French”! There are a few overlapping readings with “RMST 301: Prose Fiction and Non-Fiction of the Romance World” and “RMST 321: Critical Writing”, but all these courses are so cool.
I have also enjoyed learning new languages, which was especially fun in Stephanie Spacciente’s “SPAN 201: Elementary Spanish I” and “SPAN 202: Elementary Spanish II” courses!
RMST courses also have amazing courses in English, with a variety of concepts. This term, I am taking Marco Schaumloeffel‘s course titled “RMST 361: Studies in Portuguese and Brazilian Literature”, and I have already learned so much. It is very different from most of the other RMST courses I have done, which have previously focused more on Italian, French, or Spanish literature and culture. I do not speak Portuguese and I am not well informed about Brazil, so everything we have learned has been new and exciting, especially since Marco is very engaging.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in following your path?
I would advise them to keep materials from past courses. There are many readings that I have referred back to for other courses, as well as for my thesis.
As well, make sure to connect with professors and other students. You can easily make friends with your classmates, since you all share a common interest in the course you’re taking! As well, you can bring friends, or make new ones, at our future Romance Languages Students’ Association events!
What is it like to be part of the FHIS community?
The FHIS Department is incredibly supportive. The inclusivity and kindness of all of my professors has given me more confidence to talk to them. It can be difficult to talk to professors, especially for courses that have large classes. Therefore, it is nice that many of the Romance Studies courses are smaller, and that they create a nice environment where it is easier to approach professors. It also helps that all the FHIS faculty are all extremely welcoming, even if you aren’t in their class. As well, Dr. Anne Salamon and others have been very supportive in encouraging me to pursue a Romance Studies degree.
