Creative Writing students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) recently embarked on an unusual project that moved them to the head of the class.
Instructor Jen Currin turned the tables on her class by dispatching student teams of two to Surrey and Delta high schools with an assignment: teach writing to a class of teenagers they had never met before.
“I can’t say it wasn’t daunting going from being a student to suddenly having students,” says Nicole Opong-Agyare, a third-year KPU Creative Writing student. “It all went a lot smoother than I had anticipated. It was inspiring seeing the students have so much fun with writing, and it reminded me a lot of myself when I first started at KPU.”
Currin says her goal was to give upper-level students a chance to practice their teaching skills while building connections with high school teachers and students.
“Experiential learning has been shown to be more effective for many types of learners. We learn by doing, and this new partnership allows students to get a taste of what it means to teach. The students have been really excited to get into classrooms and start sharing what they have learned in the Creative Writing program with younger students,” says Currin.
Opong-Agyare says the experience of applying her knowledge from the program in a practical setting boosted her confidence.
“Going into the classroom, I reminded myself that my skill or confidence as a teacher wasn’t as important as simply coming together to celebrate the craft of writing. Once I shifted my perspective, everything was a lot less nerve-wracking and immensely more enjoyable.”
Along with fellow KPU Creative Writing student Cypher Neri, the pair taught a class at Tamanawis Secondary School in Surrey how to define the elements of a story before leading the group in a discussion. Opong-Agyare and Neri later shared a short guide with the students that drew on ideas discussed in the class.
“It was a pleasant surprise to find out that the class still actively participated with our plans,” says Neri. “It was great to see the students’ motivation to learn.”
Neri says the experience reaffirmed how valuable it is to connect with the world beyond the classroom.
“One will never know what it’s like out there until they experience it for themselves,” says Neri. “It strengthens your skills, builds connections and creates memories. Is that not a great way to learn as a university student?”
Isabelle Reader, a third-year KPU Creative Writing student and an aspiring teacher, was assigned a class at Burnsview Secondary School in Delta. She says studying at KPU has helped build her confidence and offered opportunities to try out teaching techniques — helping make her high school teaching experience a success.
“These experiences are tremendously valuable,” she says. “They allow us to apply concepts learned in the classroom, and figure out what works, what doesn’t and where you want to apply changes. I feel as though I will be better prepared when I am given my own classroom to run.”
The KPU Creative Writing Department offers small class sizes and dedicated mentorship with award winning instructors. Courses are offered in fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting and new media, as well as specific genres such as young adult literature, spoken word and speculative fiction. Both bachelor’s and associate’s degree programs are available, along with a minor to complement a different field of study.
