Department of English - Grand Valley State University

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Welcome Who We Are Adjunct Instructors Faculty and Staff Liberal Education and English Our Strategic Plan What We Offer English Education Linguistics Literature The English B.A. Major Minor Graduate Programs Resources for Students Honor Societies Scholarships and Contests Oldenburg Contest Scholarships Resources for Graduates Forms Contact Us English Department engdept@gvsu.edu	Debbie Wayner - Language Arts Major/Elementary Education WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ATTEND GRAND VALLEY? I was working in a school system as an instructional assistant. I heard a lot about Grand Valley from student teachers and decided I wanted to teach. Grand Valley seemed right for me. WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT GRAND VALLEY? Grand Valley is really flexible as far as scheduling and locations go. Also, it's affordable and I get a good education. HOW HAVE YOU BENEFITED FROM A LIBERAL ARTS FOUNDATION? It had been 30 years since I attended school, so a lot has changed. At one time, I despised algebra. After taking the class, I started liking it. It's just so cool to be taking a geology class - and to love a science class. I've learned a lot of things I didn't know. HOW WILL GRAND VALLEY MEET YOUR FUTURE GOALS? I'm getting a good education. I'll be all set for student assisting and student teaching. HOW HAS GRAND VALLEY'S FACULTY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE? I've had some awesome teachers who help before, during and after class. They make learning fun - and their examples will help me be a good teacher. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS? This is the best education for the price anywhere. Even if I didn't become a teacher, it would have been worth it. Julie Bergman - English Major/Secondary Education WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ATTEND GRAND VALLEY? I have a degree in social work from Michigan State and wanted to pursue a teaching certificate. Grand Valley's University Center here in Traverse City offered good class times and worked with my degree so I wouldn't have to take more undergrad classes. WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT GRAND VALLEY? By catering to people who work or already have a degree, The University Center is a little different than the downstate campus. It's not the traditional college experience. I like the fact that many of the students seem more dedicated to their studies in this setting. HOW WILL GRAND VALLEY MEET YOUR FUTURE GOALS? The way the program is set up, you get a good working knowledge of a classroom. HOW HAS GRAND VALLEY'S FACULTY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE? They're just a good group of people. Open, encouraging, supportive, full of good suggestions - their passion for what they do is obvious. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS? Get some life experiences before starting college so you have a better understanding of what you want. Travel and explore things about you before settling down. Lake Michigan Writing Project The Lake Michigan Writing Project (LMWP) is an organization of, by, and for teachers of writing at all grade levels and in all disciplines, dedicated to improving the teaching and uses of writing through a variety of programs. LMWP is an affiliate of the National Writing Project, an authorized professional development provider for NCLB, under Title II, Part C, Subpart 2. The LMWP is a university-school partnership. The LMWP develops regional leadership and research-based practices in reading, writing, and thinking, pre-K-college. We offer high-quality, data-driven professional development for schools and districts, collaboratively developed to respond to local needs. The LMWP conducts a four week intensive, selective, Invitational Summer Institute for experienced and reflective teachers. Teachers, pre-k-college, across subject areas, are welcome to apply. These teachers prepare to become leaders by demonstrating and inquiring into their most effective practices, doing classroom-based research, and strengthening their knowledge of writing by writing themselves. The LMWP supports these teacher-leaders in an ongoing way, sponsoring study groups, professional learning communities, teacher and action research groups, and Advanced Institutes. Oxford English Dictionary Now Available The GVSU Library recently added the Oxford English Dictionary Online to its database subscriptions. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) "is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium." It includes "the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words, both present and past. It traces the usage of words through 2.5 million quotations from a wide range of international English language sources, from classic literature and specialist periodicals to film scripts and cookery books." Updated quarterly, the OED covers words from all parts of the English-speaking world. "It also offers the best in etymological analysis and in listing of variant spellings." For more detailed information, see the Tour of OED Online. Sarah Hochstetler, 2009 Distinguished Alumni Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society Students at the 2008 Sigma Tau Delta ceremony. For information about joining Sigma Tau Delta, contact Barbara Schneider at 616-331-3681 or schneidb@gvsu.edu. What can you do with an English Major? Frequently, students majoring in English ask me for a list of the jobs they can do when they graduate. My response is that there is good news and better news. First the good news - there is no list (more on this later). The better news is that English majors can do virtually anything! Not surprisingly, these students quickly become frustrated by my response. Why the frustration? Many times your parents want to know what you're going to do. Many times, students on the teaching track, for a variety of reasons, decide just to pursue the English major. Most of the times, however, many of you just don't realize how valuable your degree is to most employers, and where you "fit in." Complete article by Catherine Cameron-Heldt, GVSU Career Services . Why Major In English? Dan Modderman earned his B.A. in Education with an emphasis in teaching English and History from GVSU in 1997. He began teaching at Rockford High School in the Fall of 1997 and has been teaching for 10 years. He has taught a variety of writing and literature classes with students of varying ages and learning abilities. He has participated in team teaching, teaching mainstreamed special ed students, and accelerated students. He is currently teaching Sophomore Accelerated English and AP Language and Composition at Rockford High School. In 2005 he earned his M.A. in Education with a Concentration in English from GVSU, and became a Teacher Consultant and Teacher Researcher with the National Writing Project in 2006. In addition to teaching, Dan leads Rockford High School's Youth Initiative Organization, a student community service program. Recently, he has traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby for education reform and support for the National Writing Project with GVSU faculty. RSS Feed
Copyright © 1995 - 2009	Grand Valley State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution

English Department
engdept@gvsu.edu

Debbie Wayner - Language Arts Major/Elementary Education

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ATTEND GRAND VALLEY?
I was working in a school system as an instructional assistant. I heard a lot about Grand Valley from student teachers and decided I wanted to teach. Grand Valley seemed right for me.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT GRAND VALLEY?
Grand Valley is really flexible as far as scheduling and locations go. Also, it's affordable and I get a good education.

HOW HAVE YOU BENEFITED FROM A LIBERAL ARTS FOUNDATION?
It had been 30 years since I attended school, so a lot has changed. At one time, I despised algebra. After taking the class, I started liking it. It's just so cool to be taking a geology class - and to love a science class. I've learned a lot of things I didn't know.

HOW WILL GRAND VALLEY MEET YOUR FUTURE GOALS?
I'm getting a good education. I'll be all set for student assisting and student teaching.

HOW HAS GRAND VALLEY'S FACULTY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE?
I've had some awesome teachers who help before, during and after class. They make learning fun - and their examples will help me be a good teacher.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS?
This is the best education for the price anywhere. Even if I didn't become a teacher, it would have been worth it.

Julie Bergman - English Major/Secondary Education

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ATTEND GRAND VALLEY?
I have a degree in social work from Michigan State and wanted to pursue a teaching certificate. Grand Valley's University Center here in Traverse City offered good class times and worked with my degree so I wouldn't have to take more undergrad classes.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT GRAND VALLEY?
By catering to people who work or already have a degree, The University Center is a little different than the downstate campus. It's not the traditional college experience. I like the fact that many of the students seem more dedicated to their studies in this setting.

HOW WILL GRAND VALLEY MEET YOUR FUTURE GOALS?
The way the program is set up, you get a good working knowledge of a classroom.

HOW HAS GRAND VALLEY'S FACULTY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE?
They're just a good group of people. Open, encouraging, supportive, full of good suggestions - their passion for what they do is obvious.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS?
Get some life experiences before starting college so you have a better understanding of what you want. Travel and explore things about you before settling down.

Lake Michigan Writing Project

The Lake Michigan Writing Project (LMWP) is an organization of, by, and for teachers of writing at all grade levels and in all disciplines, dedicated to improving the teaching and uses of writing through a variety of programs.

LMWP is an affiliate of the National Writing Project, an authorized professional development provider for NCLB, under Title II, Part C, Subpart 2. The LMWP is a university-school partnership. The LMWP develops regional leadership and research-based practices in reading, writing, and thinking, pre-K-college. We offer high-quality, data-driven professional development for schools and districts, collaboratively developed to respond to local needs. The LMWP conducts a four week intensive, selective, Invitational Summer Institute for experienced and reflective teachers. Teachers, pre-k-college, across subject areas, are welcome to apply. These teachers prepare to become leaders by demonstrating and inquiring into their most effective practices, doing classroom-based research, and strengthening their knowledge of writing by writing themselves. The LMWP supports these teacher-leaders in an ongoing way, sponsoring study groups, professional learning communities, teacher and action research groups, and Advanced Institutes.

Oxford English Dictionary Now Available

The GVSU Library recently added the Oxford English Dictionary Online to its database subscriptions.

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) "is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium." It includes "the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words, both present and past. It traces the usage of words through 2.5 million quotations from a wide range of international English language sources, from classic literature and specialist periodicals to film scripts and cookery books."

Updated quarterly, the OED covers words from all parts of the English-speaking world. "It also offers the best in etymological analysis and in listing of variant spellings." For more detailed information, see the Tour of OED Online.

Sarah Hochstetler, 2009 Distinguished Alumni

Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society

Students at the 2008 Sigma Tau Delta ceremony.

For information about joining Sigma Tau Delta, contact Barbara Schneider at 616-331-3681 or schneidb@gvsu.edu.

What can you do with an English Major?

Frequently, students majoring in English ask me for a list of the jobs they can do when they graduate. My response is that there is good news and better news. First the good news - there is no list (more on this later). The better news is that English majors can do virtually anything! Not surprisingly, these students quickly become frustrated by my response. Why the frustration? Many times your parents want to know what you're going to do. Many times, students on the teaching track, for a variety of reasons, decide just to pursue the English major. Most of the times, however, many of you just don't realize how valuable your degree is to most employers, and where you "fit in."

Complete article by Catherine Cameron-Heldt, GVSU Career Services .

Why Major In English?

Dan Modderman earned his B.A. in Education with an emphasis in teaching English and History from GVSU in 1997. He began teaching at Rockford High School in the Fall of 1997 and has been teaching for 10 years. He has taught a variety of writing and literature classes with students of varying ages and learning abilities. He has participated in team teaching, teaching mainstreamed special ed students, and accelerated students. He is currently teaching Sophomore Accelerated English and AP Language and Composition at Rockford High School. In 2005 he earned his M.A. in Education with a Concentration in English from GVSU, and became a Teacher Consultant and Teacher Researcher with the National Writing Project in 2006. In addition to teaching, Dan leads Rockford High School's Youth Initiative Organization, a student community service program. Recently, he has traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby for education reform and support for the National Writing Project with GVSU faculty.

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Grand Valley State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution