a family member tried to tell me i'd end up broke and homeless if i took an english degree and i ranted for almost two straight hours. i don't understand why english majors get shamed so often- communication is probably the most valuable skill one can have!
I know tons of English and foo major who had to work at the movie theater after college. Not a lot of places will look for English majors. English just makes you like everyone else but without skills on your resume.
I really think it is one of life's major lessons, learning to ignore the advice of well meaning people. I was talked out of my physics degree and into engineering. Later I realized I had made a big mistake and I went fully into Physics and worked in a major aerospace engineering firm and supervised many engineers. Now thirty years later, guess what I do? I teach English in a laid back tropical country and I love it. How can someone else possibly fathom what you interests and talents are. You have to learn to follow your heart!
It's funny to see that some things are the same, no matter what country you are living in. I am studying Polish philology at university and people think that I will end up homeless or (even worse, according to some of them) a teacher.
Thanks for picking my question! I'm in the middle of an English degree right now and I cannot believe how much I've learned and how much I've changed. I've come to realize that there aren't an abundance of concrete "skills" you learn in English, like programming a computer or fixing a car, but everyone needs attentive readers and writers. And you spend a lot of time refining that skill in English. The biggest thing is the way you learn to think. Critical thinking and being able to attack something from several different angles, those are invaluable skills. When you get a job, you can be taught the basic skills. But the way you think and the dynamic way you understand the world is what makes you special. Your advantage as an English Major is that you're basically a professional student. THATS so incredibly valuable. (And cool.)
Molly Moriarty I'm looking to major in English Lit or English Lit and Language and I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about your experience?
I have a B.A in English and this video pretty much sums it all up. What you learn and go though as an English major is life-changing. EFFECTIVE communication is a huge factor. Some majors that often have "set" career paths don't really prepare you for situations outside (or even within) their field of trade. You have the tools, you have your trade, but what you do with it or how you approach very specific cases can be difficult. Of course there are exceptions because not everyone will have the same experience. I've had friends who were English Majors and took a minor in a different course (and vice versa) because English works hand in hand with so many other fields. Having an English degree prepared me with whatever job I came across. It's allowed me to think outside the box and inspired me to always reinvent myself. But hey! A college education is a college education. We should be grateful to have such a great opportunity that is not accessible to others. Whether you're an English, Bio, History, or whatever other major, kudos to you. :) Thanks for making this video, Ariel!
I love this video. Getting an English degree was probably the most fun and hardest thing I've ever done. Three years later and I still miss it. Even though I loved it, I was often met with hostility about doing what many people, especially those who favor the sciences thought was "a throw-away degree." To me, the question wasn't what you CAN do with an English degree, it's what you CAN'T do with it. I would encourage everyone to pursue their passion because it will lead you in the right direction. I can't tell you how much I loved talking with other people about Calvinism in gothic literature. It was a total game changer for me. Now I'm getting my master's to be a teacher, but that's not what I wanted three years ago. I honestly feel like majoring in English improved me as an individual and will help me in almost every aspect of my life. How many people can say that about their degree? Anyway, rant over. Haha.
I've never seen anyone as passionate about an English degree as you are, I can really see the passion in your eyes, when you talk about books. Very motivating and encouraging for me to pursue my English degree. Thank you.
College student A: “I’m studying architecture ” Random Person A: “So what will you do with that degree?” College Student A: “Become an architect, I guess...” Well I say.... Me: “I’m an English major” Random Person B: “So what will you do with that?” Me: “Become an Englishman, I guess!:)”
Thank you , Ariel. I will finish my high school in a couple of months and I am planning on studying English. I know a lot of people in my family are going to be quite freaked out by it when I tell them but I have only one life and I wanna do what I love.
I got my bachelor's degree in English and this video spoke to me on sooo many levels. I was literally agreeing with you when you said the #1 question you get asked all the time. Omg I can't even count how many times I was asked that when I graduated in 2004. I now have a Master's in Communication (film production core) and I work for a tech company. I wouldn't be where I am without my English degree!
So, my whole life I’ve been told you can’t do this degree or that because you won’t get a job with it.. this includes my passions for art and literature. I am now in my 30s and still craving the knowledge I’ve always wanted and have decided to get my bachelors. I’m a little afraid of what might happen .. if it will work out the way I want it to but this video helped.
This video really helped ease my worries, quite honestly! I am a senior currently planning on majoring in Creative Writing, but some of my relatives have been pushing for me to go for an English degree instead. I love English, but I feel a lot more excited about Creative Writing and it's just what I am more passionate about. You helped confirm my thoughts when you differentiated the difference between an English and a Creative Writing degree, where CW is of course more about actually writing. In short, thank you for making this video haha 😊
heyyy seeing as this comment was posted 3 years ago, i was wondering if you actually went ahead with a Creative Writing degree? i’m a junior trying to figure out what to do with my life lol
CAN SOME PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE ENGLISH DEGREES TELL ME ABOUT HOW FINANCIALLY STABLE AND EMPLOYED THEY ARE RIGHT NOW JUST SO I HAVE SOME REAL LIFE EXAMPLES???!!
I'm currently doing my Eng Degree and this video just made me more motivated. Also, seeing the stacks of books behind you made me want to buy the entire local book store. New Sub! woo!
*Random memory from one of my Victorian literature courses:* We were reading Bleak House by Charles Dickens and after the discussion our professor would read aloud some of his favorite parts from that week's section of the book. Well he got to a particularly sad moment in the book and he actually got really teary-eyed and didn't take him long to start crying! That was such a tender moment! ♥ Really showed how much that book touched him and how connected he felt with it. Such a sweet moment. :)
I used to get that "Are you going to be a teacher?" question all the time because I got my degree in History. I'm currently working at a library and am working towards a Masters in Library and Information Science. I love reading fiction but I'm not a fan of looking for metaphors and stuff in books that I read. I love classics and modern literature but I read them for pleasure. I read history non-fic for pleasure but also for critical reading, kind of in the same way you do for analyzing classics. Great video, I really enjoyed hearing about your experiences as an English major😊
I just received my history associates, I'm planning on substitute teaching for awhile, due to health reasons, though I don't plan on teaching in general. My sister in law has a Masters in Library Science and loves it.
I got sick of that question too! I graduated last year (English major) and now I have no idea about what I want to do. I'm so lost and confused, I'm passionate about books too and I'd love to become a librarian but in my country you'd be so poor because people don't read books. Anyway, I'm really happy for you because you chose something you love. Best of luck.
You definitely uploaded this at the right time! I'm currently doing a gap year (in England) where I'm trying to figure out what I want to study at university and I'm having a really hard time deciding. An English major is definitely one of the things I could imagine myself doing. Thank you!!
I was just rewatching this video when I found my old comment! A little update: I‘m in my fifth semester studying literature (English & German) and linguistics - I really enjoy it and I’m so happy that I went for it!
This whole video had me nodding and saying "Yes!" out loud the whole time! You totally captured everything all of us English Majors feel! I also graduated last spring, but with an emphasis in Education, so I was taking those courses as well as Literary Studies ones. I feel like it actually really helped with my appreciation of YA by seeing how actual students of that demographic respond to it. But I totally agree, reading both genres are very different experiences! I don't go looking for symbolism in YA, but sometimes I wind up picking some out naturally, which is fun! Also, a Marxist take on Lorde's album? That sounds amazing? Seeing things like that and all of the different lenses people interpret literature and art and media is definitely my favorite part of the whole experience!
Thank you so, so much for this. It's finally starting to set in that in less than half a year I'll be in college studying lit and I'm both excited beyond compare and terrified of the unknown that is soon to come. This has been grounding on a level that I simply needed at this point.
I was planning to major in English and then I changed my mind to architecture and I have to say that I really have to learn the art of communication , it is an essential skill in studying architecture , it gives you a voice in the room and bring people around you to listen to you . Personally , I see a lot of similarities between English degree and architecture degree , they both depend on the depth of thoughts and how convincing they are .
Hi! I'm taking an Anthropology degree and I get the same reactions, almost everyone thinks it's useless but it's just like you said: it's not useless, far from it, it's just not clear what my job will be at the end! (And right now I really have no idea about what to do next ahahah) I'm now in the last year and in the last semester and I'm very thankfull I chose it, it provided me so much personal growth and made me think about so many things about the human lives, I wouldn't change it for anything else. Great video as always, btw! :D
I also have a BA in literature and linguistics. Your answer to that first question is so spot on. Not only does a degree in literature teach you about communication but about history, critical thinking, writing, and arguably social justice if you use your knowledge in the right way. Humanities degrees are some of the most efficient because you learn a myriad of skills and pretty much all of them are useful in any job.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO! I'm currently majoring in English literature, with a double minor in writing and philosophy, and I absolutely love it! But it's true - there are a lot of naysayers out there who believe that English majors are destined to become teachers (not that there's anything wrong with that) or have no career at all. It's always really refreshing to hear from someone, who has already finished their degree, talking about how happy they are with it. I definitely don't have the time to read everything professors assign thoroughly, and I don't enjoy it all either. However, like you said, there are those classes that I absolutely love - the ones that have me even more excited to read and write and all that fun jazz. I really do believe that English programs train their students in so many different areas, and help us hone so many different skills, that we can do almost anything after we graduate.
Oh, wow this was just what I needed! I'm in the middle of a gap year and planning on starting on my English degree in September of 2020. I find literature to be delightful and endlessly fascinating, but every time I mention this to someone (family, friends, strangers etc.) they always try and discourage me from doing it. Personally, I would love to be a teacher (high school) or really just have a career that allows me to be a giant nerd that gets to talk about literature. But teaching jobs are always highly sought after, so the competition is quite big - especially within the arts (at least in my country). So it is quite frightening to spend 3-5 years on something that might leave you unemployed. But in the end I know I wouldn't be able to push through an education that I can't stand just because there are available jobs.
@tiny tete i am trying to figure out wht exactly to do with my lifee , was considering medical just cuz society expects tht even tho i know i dont like science labs etc as much , i was considering law,economics or pilot training nd i literally never felt so lost beforee :(((( serious advice help needed here uni is also something i wanna experience and i cant decide if i should do pilot training cuz tht uni experience wouldnt be there i wanna make frnds and memries but also earn alot of money and be successful like i always wanted as i come from a middle class background sorta .. also this whole corona virus BS made me consider whether its a good idea to enter uni when everthing is online currently and for awhile it seemss
Oh, the dreaded "So you're going to teach?" question. I really enjoyed this video, having a Master's and undergrad in English; it's encouraging to see the English major in a positive light, especially now where it feels like the humanities are being slowly crushed. Best of success in your Master's!
Ariel, out of all of your videos, believe it or not, I enjoyed this one the most. I could really relate. When I went to college for art, I had soooo many people in my life tell me that I was wasting my time. That you can't make a living with that degree. While there, I discovered illustration and fell in love with it. I am pleased to say that I had a career as an illustrator, and later went on to become a fine artist. I've made my living in art my entire adult life. So, you never know what your path will be, but if you're doing what you love, you will find your way... smiling all the while.
Thank you for answering my question! I'm currently in my first year of a joint English Literature and Ancient History degree! I completely agree about not reading all the books you're asked to read /they give you a crazy amount!!
i studied in Iraq at the college of arts English department, but unfortunately i couldn't finish it because of war , besides , i was worried to repeat it again the whole 4 years here in Belgium, but you gave me lots of hope and motivation to start again ...thank you so much
To the question of whether Lit majors 'like' all the books they read: Yeah, God No. But also, I have found that I would much rather talk about a book I hate. This might just be a personality thing but I always come to class with a lot to say about books that are disappointing, full of misogyny, written in a way I hate, structured in a way that makes them inaccessible...like, those conversations are golden because conflict is how you learn. In my college Lit majors are required to take one Creative Writing course. Also, to the question of enjoying YA less, I am entering my final term and am going to be taking an Adolescent Literature class; so, it's possible to continue to love YA and also study it because YA and children's lit (which I've also taken) has so much to do with our culture and how we read.
I really appreciate your perspective on this and I find your positivity really encouraging. I am working on a French degree right now and I've been having some doubts lately about the utility of it after I missed an opportunity to study abroad in Paris. I absolutely love my classes though, especially the literature ones.
Thank you for this video! I graduated with my BA in Creative Writing last year. I took a lot of Literature classes and I had to read 3-4 books in a course of every two weeks! It got a little overwhelming and I was not able to catch up with them all. So it is good to know I was not the only one. I love your videos!!!
Great video! And you were spot on with everything. I could relate so much...my favorite part of my English degrees (I got my MA) was class discussion! I always tried to participate. I also really enjoyed my electives like psychology, film, anthropology.
Yes!!! You explain things so well! I got most of these questions a million times over. I did the Creative Writing concentration, yet still had some Lit classes. I ended up minoring in Advertising and now I'm copywriter.
I'm currently studying English Language and Literature with the Open University! I love it so much. I transferred from another university where I studied Film and Television with the OU's way of teaching is much easier for me to understand. I also suffer with anxiety so going to lectures every day was really difficult for me. Love your videos! x
I'm not taking an English degree but I'm taking a Mathematics degree so I get pretty much the same reaction regarding what I'll do in the future. Truth is all my options are out in the open because so much of the modern world is Mathematics. I'm afraid I don't have the same passion you have for your degree though. I like Maths but more in a "this is the subject that bothers me the least" sense than a "Mathematics is absolutely fascinating I love it so much". Also, I really don't have the same opinion you have towards electives. I had to take an elective lat semester and I chose Science and Culture which was basically Science in Literature and the whole time I was like "yep, this is why I'm a Math major, I just really don't like studying this". And it's not that I don't like reading or discussing interpretations, I just don't like doing it in an academic environment, too much pressure. Anyway, great video and I really enjoyed it even though I'd never even consider and English Literature major (or a Portuguese Literature major since I'm Portuguese)
I feel you on the passion part. I study civil engineering, and I have no love for it, but I don't hate is as well, it just suits me the most and I am ok with it. Oh well.
I'm taking a Math and Stats degree, too and I feel the same way! So many people in my classes do it because they're so passionate about the subject, but in all honesty, I chose it just because it was the subject I sucked the least at in high school. There's so many other things that I love so much more than mathematics (anatomy, for example). But it's okay that I'm not in love with my degree, and it's okay that people question why I take it because like you said, so much of the modern world is centred around maths. It's the basis of everything!
Cool! And it is importante to remember that our degrees will not stop us from studying other areas in the future, I am for sure going to take foreign languages classes when I graduate and become financially independent, maybe history or literature even, who knows haha
Patricia Paguio my problem when I was applying for university was that I have no strong passions. Sure I like science over literature, but I don't love it and I chose math because I liked math over any other science though, again, I don't love math. And since math is useful and super versatile I can totally find a passion in the future where my math major is useful. Unlike you there's nothing I'd prefer to be studying but that's okay, I can figure it out later
I just finished my English degree in June. I ended up taking 6 years to complete since I only took 3-4 classes a semester to help alleviate the stress of dealing with my mom's breast cancer and my brain tumor diagnosis... but they were some of the most rewarding years of my life. I took some really incredible classes like an Earlier Medieval Lit class where I discovered I have a burning passion for Medieval times. I took a class on children's literature and had to read Harry Potter for credit. I took a class that was entirely on zombies in lit and movies. And for option classes I found a fascination for greek mythology, archaeology (I took a whole class on excavation and artifact analysis!). I took entire classes on Shakespeare whom I love. I also took a Canadian lit class where we exclusively looked at the residential school system. I cried a lot that semester. We got to meet Richard Wagamese, and had some other first hand survivors speak to our class. (Have you ever read The Outside Circle graphic novel!? Wow.... that book, man.... ripped me apart and then sewed me back together.) There were a lot of challenges within those years and that program but in the end I wouldn't trade it for a second. I even became an executive editor for a student created anthology of fiction short stories. I even got one of my own stories published in the first edition. Getting published, even if it was by a school project, was one of the biggest highlights of my entire life.
I am a double major in English and Journalism. I normally tell people I'm a journalist major to avoid "What are you going to do with that degree?" Kind of questions. But surprisingly, there are a large amount of people that ask me what am I going to do with journalism...
@@mizzphitzbeta So why did you major in the subject then? If you want to be a Journalist, just start making a blog and a TH-cam channel and speak on a subject you want to speak about. Not only that but mainstream Journalism is dead now, it's all about lying to the gullible masses today and being biased and PC now. There is also a major decline in the field with not so promising pay.
Journalism isn't so great either. The R.O.I. isn't great and there is a major decline on the profession. Mainstream Journalism is dead too, it's all about being biased and PC just to program the gullible masses of Americans who stare at the one eyed monster known as television and stare deeply into it's inner being and let it tell them what to believe.
English major and proud :D I graduated with an MA a couple years ago, but I can't help but still feel a sort of kindred spirit with any and all English majors - past, present, and future!
I am currently working on my English degree & I have to agree, discussions are the best!!! It's so great to hear everyone's different opinions & the environment is so welcoming.
Oh my God, I wish someone had told me that about creative writing before getting into college, it was my first shock and biggest disappointment as a Freshman. Now, at my last semester, other subjects and courses helped me indirectly with my creative writing, and that seriously made a huge difference, so really everything added up to me as a person and my mentality.
It was always my dream to get an English degree and become an author, and perhap even double major or (major and minor) with music. But according to my mother, neither of those degrees would put food on the table. She didn't even give me a chance to research things I could do with my English degree, besides writing or teaching which she didn't think I could be good at. She just immediately shot it down (I later discovered I could have used it towards a masters in Library Science, which I wanted badly at one point). Plus I was in the last graduating class that could take OAC, and she decided that it would be best for me to leave high school in grade 12 so that I wouldn't get caught in the double cohort. I had pretty good grades but she seemed to think I would never get into university with all that extra competition. It's a terrible feeling, knowing your own mother has no confidence in you. So I ended up going to community college and getting a diploma that she wanted and I hate, and that has never put food on the table (and never can now because it was in I.T. and everything I learned to get it is now obsolete so I'd have to go back to school if I wanted to pursue a careeer in it). Oh the Irony. I so regret not having the balls to stand up to her and do what I truly wanted.
Crocheting Canuck dude dude dude!!! I'm a double major in music and communication, but I am heavily considering switching to music and english. And I definitely feel you. But I just want to tell you that creative degree programs are valid choices, and you can get jobs.
This is literally what happened to me. My family forced me to study ICT at college and at the beggining I kinda liked it but then it got so boring because it wasnt in my interest and my grades were so bad. So I couldnt even go to Uni. Because I didnt get accepted.. I started to work as a Barista. I didnt even think of studying again, but now I regret everything and feel like I have to study the thing that I always wanted the most which is English and Creative writing and they still don't want me to. They keep saying I am wasting my time. I cannot just be a Barista whole my life. It is not what I want. I cannot do anything on IT because I dont remember shit. The only thing I did was reading Wikipedia and writing the thing in my own words. I didnt learn anything about IT. Now as I want to study English, Unis asked me to study 1 year of Access to Higher Education Course. I am already 25 and will be 26 when I start to that course and if I get the grades then I will be able to study at University. I will be around 29-30 when I graduate and I am too afraid that I will not be able to achieve anything.. I have already lost so many years of my time and I cannot decide whether I should study or not.. :(
Trust me, it's no better on the other side. I am an English and let me tell you, your mother told you the truth. The potential R.O.I. for English Majors isn't so great and the skills learned on the subject can arguably self-taught especially if you are on the University level. I majored in English because I also wanted to be an author but realized that I didn't need to major in this subject to do so. You want to be an Author, just start writing, reading, and practicing, no degree needed. You're also better off self publishing as well.
Great video! I'm a fourth year World Literature student and I can agree with a lot that is said in this video. My intended major was English but I was lucky enough to attend a school which offered World Lit! I would highly recommend taking World Lit classes as they offer many different perspectives and combine a variety of subjects such as literature, international studies, history, and so on!
I am getting my degree in English with a Teacher Licensure! I agree with a lot of things in this video! You can't possibly read all of the material & some classes are dreadful but some really do change your outlook! Loved this video!
I am about to enter college next month as an english major (language studies), and can I just say that I got so inspired by this video that I cannot even explain my emotions right now. Some relatives of mine are badmouthing my degree choice and it is kinda sad for me because this is my dream course. I don't mind my job in the future because I just wanna be a writer and maybe a copyreader, or an editor, or proofreader. Nonetheless, I crave for readings, learnings, grammar lessons, speaking skills, and more. And ofcourse, writing! My love for poetry is just- unexplainable. Thank you so much for this!
I love this video so much! I'm currently in my second year of an English and Creative Writing degree. As you can imagine, two things that confuse people. I always get asked if I'm going to be a teacher or a writer. I could never be a teacher. I tried it out a little and nope, not for me. And as for a writer, of course, but realistically, it's not something I can earn from straightaway. People really don't realise how valuable an English degree is. I've had some really boring modules over the last 2 years but the skills I have been prepped with are immense. They will help me in practically any career I wish to go into. And for me, that is hopefully going to be digital marketing focusing on content creation because it combines two of my loves: all things the internet and writing.
I have a BA in English with a Creative Writing emphasis and in the beginning of this video when you were talking about people's question and also reading so much, I had my hands in the air like "preach, girl!! Hallelujah!!" I also loved my Women's Literature and Gender in Literature courses. They were so much fun!
oh my gosh I get asked what I'm going to do with my English degree all the time so so true, this video made me so warm and fuzzy I think about these things all the time
Hello Ariel - I'm starting my degree in English Language and Literature in September and you answered a lot of questions I had about the degree. The "What are you going to do with your degree?" question is one I have already been asked, even though I haven't even started classes yet, and it's been bothering me. I want to study English and Literature because I'm passionate about those things, but all the doubt other people have thrown at me has made me quite anxious about the future. Watching this video has helped me realise that I believe the growth and knowledge I'll receive from an English degree is more important than a clearly defined career path - thank you so much! Lara
I studies English to become a novelist. I've written three books already, so here's hoping an agent will one day find me. Until then, waiting... it's a living.
I'm a theatre major so I know that every play I read is not going to be my favorite, so I completely understand, WHO CAN LOVE EVERY BOOK THEY READ?!? You find the things in the stories to latch on to. :)
I love this video. I plan to major in English Literature and then a master in teaching English. I love English, I breathe English, I eat English, and sleep with English in my brain. I know I will enjoy it no matter the price. Thank you for your encouragement. 🙋🏻♀️
I am currently getting my Masters in English and wish I got my undergrad in English. I am going into teaching, but I think it's so useful to have a degree in English for other things. You get to learn how to analyze something and take that knowledge into your everyday life. You can talk about movies and TV shows with more eloquence! You know how to back up your argument with evidence! An English degree is so useful outside of school or a work environment.
As a Communication major, I can relate to the first question so much. Whenever people find out about what I'm taking up in college, they always ask what I'll be doing once I graduate.
I just applied yesterday to get my Master's in English. I have a BS in Biology, and I LOVED it. I am so passionate about nature/biology/science etc., but I have no desire to have a research-based job. So I concluded that I didn't want to pursue a Master's in Biology. Right now I'm on the journey of accepting that changing directions doesn't mean I love Biology any less, and it doesn't mean I can't find a way to tie it into a future job. Thank you for making this video to help me know what to expect!
I just graduated in May with my degree! I don't really have my next step planned yet, but I am so glad that I did it! We will see what the future holds!
This video is really helpful as an incoming English Lit major. I was starting to be nervous about my major because I'm just an anxious person but the way you worded everything really put me at ease, especially the career question.
I do an English degree but I'm doing my dissertation in YA and it's been such an interesting experience reading YA through an analytical lens. I find I often can't apply the same theoretical frameworks and have to find new ways to unearth the meaning. I think it's making me a better overall student because I have to be so flexible!
I'm currently going into my third year for an English/Psych degree, and I love every second of it 😄❤️ Loved the video!!! Getting constant questions about what I plan to do besides teaching can be so frustrating, but I love videos supporting the English degree!
Hi Ariel! First off, great video as always; you post some of the most interesting content, and it's a joy to watch your work. Secondly, THANK YOU. In a little over two months I'll be graduating with a BA in English, and to hear someone address some of the questions I get asked and the things I try not to worry about was a relief. Being an English major is not easy: it can be extremely taxing, and I've had a few rough patches over the last few years. But even as I think about the essays I'll be writing during the next nine weeks and how much I might stress myself out, I will always say school was worth it because I've studied what I love. Sorry for the long comment, but I just appreciate you so much and hope you have a wonderful day! You've definitely made mine brighter :)
I was a film production/english double major, but dropped the english degree my junior year when I just fell in LOVE with filmmaking. The closer I get to graduation though, the more I'm regretting demoting english to my minor. I just love it so much
It was fun listening to you.. Yes I do have a English degree and digital humanities. As predicted I am a teacher . But I am trying to make literature fun. Your words gave me ideas about how I can use this to make the teaching learning experience fun.
I used to be a science major because I thought I loved science. Uni science turned out to be completely different from school science and I was DEPRESSED. I've always had the passion for writing and reading, analysing texts and stories and sharing them with others, and since early childhood I've been dreaming of becoming a successful author and editor. I switched my major to English and got some pretty negative reactions from friends and family members, but at least now I'm doing something I truly love.
I'm a psychology major so I understand you.... Everybody thinks it is a throw away degree when in reality it opens doors to SO MANY different career paths!
BeautyYourWorld645 Same everyone assumes unless we get our Masters a psych degree is useless, but really there's so much you can do with just a bachelors.
I'm in my first year of uni, and I'm pretty certain that I will major or do a double major that includes English. Because of the judgement surrounding english degrees it literally took me years to come to this conclusion, and some part of me still says that I should study Biology. Thank you for making a video in defense of English majors everywhere
I take an Portuguese and English degree in Brazil and the educational system here is not very good, but even though it's not the best one could have, I love it. Once my mom has asked me "what do you want to study?" I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, but the first thing has come to my mind was English because I love it. I don't regret it at all. The whole reason why I found your video was that I didn't know how to explain what I study in English. You helped me a lot.
I would love to read some of your essays because they sounds so interesting! Particularly the one about Lorde's album and the one about eBooks if you ever want to post them online.
Ariel, I would be very interested in reading your essays if you ever make them available for your subscribers, so please consider that :D, I think a lot of other people would enjoy it too! Great vídeo as Always, have a great week!
The bit about creative writing might be true for you, but I just wanted to add that in my final two years I got to do two progressive creative writing modules, ending in me being able to do a creative writing dissertation. I know this is quite unique, but I'll be graduating in June with a Bachelor of Arts with honours in English Literature, and my final big project is a piece of creative writing :D so I'd say instead of saying no to that question, it might be better to say it depends on the degree and the university xD xxx
I studied English Literature and Creative Writing, and to some extent, one does inform the other. We were told repeatedly to read constantly, and our writing would improve. The thing I find about going into a Lit degree is that it's really useful to know your interests and even think about your future career (!). I got into bookbinding just before uni and at university I was able to study book history and bibliography. This led me onto book conservation, which is my chosen career. It's really important to think about how you can use the degree, but at the same time, use those three years exploring the subject and discovering what you love.
That's crazy! I did Lorde's Pure Heroine for a sociology paper also from a Marxist perspective!! Also, I'm on my semester abroad studying at the University of Waterloo but from Newcastle in England haha (also doing English Lit!) kind of love it here, not sure I'm prepared to go home in a couple of months time! Your semester abroad videos really inspired me to take this opportunity and not be scared about it so thank you :)
i'm currently doing an english degree and oh boy the amount of times i get asked "so do you want to be a teacher?" i also love the flexibility of arts degrees! i've done units on ancient myths and legends, cyberlanguage in linguistics, modern european history... so great
I'm studying Comparative Literature myself, so there's quite a few differences to English Literature (also I think Danish Universities do things different than Canadian, but that's not important). But I still found your points really great and I especially relate to the whole "what are you going to use it for"-thing.
Starting my Literature degree in two weeks, but so glad it's not just me who experiences people asking "so what are you going to do with your degree?" all the time!
A bit late to the party but I relate to this so hard. In my university we don't call it and English degree, we call it Communication Arts. Whenever people ask what it is I study, they just assume we do broadcasting or media production (which is just like a module we do, we do so much more than that), then when people ask what it is I expect to do after graduation, we never really know how to respond. Hahaha. It's so reassuring to know that I'm not the only one who doesn't read all the required reading cover to cover, and that there's no pressure to like ONLY the classics/cerebral stuff. Love your channel.
I was on the verge of requesting a video like this when it uploaded :D Just what I needed! I'm currently taking ENG 102 and loving all the book talk I get to do!
Hi Ariel thanks for your video!!!!!! It’s so so so so amazing to see you so passionate about your learning experience and talk about all the unique point of view of your study!! I am Taiwanese studying English education in China... where in general I think we all just study for the exams... I love talking in English I love arts I love amazing stories I live knowing about the world and I am still figuring out what I should do in the future and although I always kinda feel late to read a lot of classics (two more really really busy year to go and I find it really hard... ) I think why I don’t like school it’s because there’s no ideas jumping out everybody is being quiet and if I ( the bad score student ) the teacher resent sometimes cuz I am not the good student behaving well having good scores. I hope I can still be brave and read more try to keep up with the course and write something do something for the humanity. Thank you Ariel you are amazing 🙏🏽
There is literally no question that I have more of an aversion against than "What are you gonna do with an English degree?" Like, I get it, but do people not realize how many f*cking times we get this question? It's just so exhausting. Also, YES to the required reading. To be honest, I haven't read most of the assigned reading. I did really well on that front the first 2 semesters and then it steadily declined. I picked linguistics as my focus after all because literature was too ... limited for me, I guess, and I'm a total nerd, so I love anything grammar and syntax and word-formation. I'm writing my thesis on US American dialects.
Yes, go english lit majors! It's not about what job will I get, it's about understanding generations that have come before you, sharing experiences, reveling in the words ☺️
a family member tried to tell me i'd end up broke and homeless if i took an english degree and i ranted for almost two straight hours. i don't understand why english majors get shamed so often- communication is probably the most valuable skill one can have!
Emma Mackenzie PREACH. i am so sick of being laughed at wanting to be an English major. THERE IS SO MUCH U CAN DO WITH ENGLISH ITS CRAZY.
I SWEAR SAME
I know tons of English and foo major who had to work at the movie theater after college. Not a lot of places will look for English majors. English just makes you like everyone else but without skills on your resume.
I really think it is one of life's major lessons, learning to ignore the advice of well meaning people. I was talked out of my physics degree and into engineering. Later I realized I had made a big mistake and I went fully into Physics and worked in a major aerospace engineering firm and supervised many engineers. Now thirty years later, guess what I do?
I teach English in a laid back tropical country and I love it. How can someone else possibly fathom what you interests and talents are. You have to learn to follow your heart!
It's funny to see that some things are the same, no matter what country you are living in. I am studying Polish philology at university and people think that I will end up homeless or (even worse, according to some of them) a teacher.
Thanks for picking my question!
I'm in the middle of an English degree right now and I cannot believe how much I've learned and how much I've changed. I've come to realize that there aren't an abundance of concrete "skills" you learn in English, like programming a computer or fixing a car, but everyone needs attentive readers and writers. And you spend a lot of time refining that skill in English.
The biggest thing is the way you learn to think. Critical thinking and being able to attack something from several different angles, those are invaluable skills. When you get a job, you can be taught the basic skills. But the way you think and the dynamic way you understand the world is what makes you special. Your advantage as an English Major is that you're basically a professional student. THATS so incredibly valuable. (And cool.)
Molly Moriarty that was beautiful thank u for defending English degrees they get so much crap.
Molly Moriarty Amazing, thanks for commenting that, it will be helpful to me.
Molly Moriarty I'm looking to major in English Lit or English Lit and Language and I was wondering if I could ask you some questions about your experience?
Molly Moriarty
your WhatsApp No
Thank you so much for this comment. I really needed this.
I have a B.A in English and this video pretty much sums it all up. What you learn and go though as an English major is life-changing. EFFECTIVE communication is a huge factor. Some majors that often have "set" career paths don't really prepare you for situations outside (or even within) their field of trade. You have the tools, you have your trade, but what you do with it or how you approach very specific cases can be difficult. Of course there are exceptions because not everyone will have the same experience. I've had friends who were English Majors and took a minor in a different course (and vice versa) because English works hand in hand with so many other fields. Having an English degree prepared me with whatever job I came across. It's allowed me to think outside the box and inspired me to always reinvent myself. But hey! A college education is a college education. We should be grateful to have such a great opportunity that is not accessible to others. Whether you're an English, Bio, History, or whatever other major, kudos to you. :) Thanks for making this video, Ariel!
Clarissa Palomar what job/career did you get into after graduating ?
😊
But the question is.. can we teach English in canada? We might have to move to some other country to work as an English teacher!
I'm considering majoring in English, and this video made me feel so much better about the idea. Thanks, I really needed this!
Are you satisfied ??
I love this video. Getting an English degree was probably the most fun and hardest thing I've ever done. Three years later and I still miss it. Even though I loved it, I was often met with hostility about doing what many people, especially those who favor the sciences thought was "a throw-away degree." To me, the question wasn't what you CAN do with an English degree, it's what you CAN'T do with it. I would encourage everyone to pursue their passion because it will lead you in the right direction. I can't tell you how much I loved talking with other people about Calvinism in gothic literature. It was a total game changer for me. Now I'm getting my master's to be a teacher, but that's not what I wanted three years ago. I honestly feel like majoring in English improved me as an individual and will help me in almost every aspect of my life. How many people can say that about their degree? Anyway, rant over. Haha.
I've never seen anyone as passionate about an English degree as you are, I can really see the passion in your eyes, when you talk about books. Very motivating and encouraging for me to pursue my English degree. Thank you.
College student A: “I’m studying architecture ”
Random Person A: “So what will you do with that degree?”
College Student A: “Become an architect, I guess...”
Well I say....
Me: “I’m an English major”
Random Person B: “So what will you do with that?”
Me: “Become an Englishman, I guess!:)”
Roy K do you mean an Englishman?
old dad's joke no
@@wyaakk hahaha thank you!
Hahaha got good one.
I will in fact be using this 😄
Im getting a degree in Creative Writing which means no one ever taking it seriously.
katejarvis I hope you write an amazing book one day 💕
katejarvis I'm in the same boat with you! We can shun the non believers!
there is a skill that you will really need to learn, it's called "burger flipping"
Σταυρος Χρηστ. Wow what an original comment and opinion, you must be highly intelligent. Far too good for so called "creative writing"
Σταυρος Χρηστ. Άμα είσαι Έλληνας θα το ξέρεις καλά αυτό το επάγγελμα :Ρ
THE TEACHER QUESTION UGH. Relatable af. 😂
Everytime I get that kind of question, I just told them "Yes I do want to become an English teacher, teaching abroad"
Thank you , Ariel. I will finish my high school in a couple of months and I am planning on studying English. I know a lot of people in my family are going to be quite freaked out by it when I tell them but I have only one life and I wanna do what I love.
YAAS we support you and wish you great success! Good luck :)
nerdfighter_and_ unicorn Go you!!
I got my bachelor's degree in English and this video spoke to me on sooo many levels. I was literally agreeing with you when you said the #1 question you get asked all the time. Omg I can't even count how many times I was asked that when I graduated in 2004. I now have a Master's in Communication (film production core) and I work for a tech company. I wouldn't be where I am without my English degree!
So, my whole life I’ve been told you can’t do this degree or that because you won’t get a job with it.. this includes my passions for art and literature. I am now in my 30s and still craving the knowledge I’ve always wanted and have decided to get my bachelors. I’m a little afraid of what might happen .. if it will work out the way I want it to but this video helped.
This video really helped ease my worries, quite honestly! I am a senior currently planning on majoring in Creative Writing, but some of my relatives have been pushing for me to go for an English degree instead. I love English, but I feel a lot more excited about Creative Writing and it's just what I am more passionate about. You helped confirm my thoughts when you differentiated the difference between an English and a Creative Writing degree, where CW is of course more about actually writing. In short, thank you for making this video haha 😊
heyyy seeing as this comment was posted 3 years ago, i was wondering if you actually went ahead with a Creative Writing degree? i’m a junior trying to figure out what to do with my life lol
CAN SOME PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE ENGLISH DEGREES TELL ME ABOUT HOW FINANCIALLY STABLE AND EMPLOYED THEY ARE RIGHT NOW JUST SO I HAVE SOME REAL LIFE EXAMPLES???!!
Hi there, I am financially stable and employed with a double major in media studies and english! Working in the interesting field of book marketing :)
I have a stable job and been working with one of the biggest network in the U.S as a Customer Service Representative since 2011. :)
It's better to be struggling doing something you love than trying all your life to fit in something you don't enjoy as much
I am considering graphic design major English minor
@@Mut11 Not really.
You have such passion for your degree it's so inspirational to listen to you talk 🙌🏼
I'm currently doing my Eng Degree and this video just made me more motivated. Also, seeing the stacks of books behind you made me want to buy the entire local book store. New Sub! woo!
I really really want to read that essay on pure heroine, that sounds so interesting.
*Random memory from one of my Victorian literature courses:*
We were reading Bleak House by Charles Dickens and after the discussion our professor would read aloud some of his favorite parts from that week's section of the book. Well he got to a particularly sad moment in the book and he actually got really teary-eyed and didn't take him long to start crying! That was such a tender moment! ♥ Really showed how much that book touched him and how connected he felt with it.
Such a sweet moment. :)
I used to get that "Are you going to be a teacher?" question all the time because I got my degree in History. I'm currently working at a library and am working towards a Masters in Library and Information Science. I love reading fiction but I'm not a fan of looking for metaphors and stuff in books that I read. I love classics and modern literature but I read them for pleasure. I read history non-fic for pleasure but also for critical reading, kind of in the same way you do for analyzing classics. Great video, I really enjoyed hearing about your experiences as an English major😊
I just received my history associates, I'm planning on substitute teaching for awhile, due to health reasons, though I don't plan on teaching in general. My sister in law has a Masters in Library Science and loves it.
I'm starting a two year Library and Information Technician course this fall. I may very well go for the full masters degree someday too though. :)
I wanted to attempt a masters Iibrary sciences but I'm afraid there will be no jobs available
I got sick of that question too! I graduated last year (English major) and now I have no idea about what I want to do. I'm so lost and confused, I'm passionate about books too and I'd love to become a librarian but in my country you'd be so poor because people don't read books. Anyway, I'm really happy for you because you chose something you love. Best of luck.
@@whateverbabe maybe you can move somewhere, to a different country perhaps.
You definitely uploaded this at the right time! I'm currently doing a gap year (in England) where I'm trying to figure out what I want to study at university and I'm having a really hard time deciding. An English major is definitely one of the things I could imagine myself doing. Thank you!!
I was just rewatching this video when I found my old comment! A little update: I‘m in my fifth semester studying literature (English & German) and linguistics - I really enjoy it and I’m so happy that I went for it!
i love history, writing, reading, different ways of thinking, and literature. I believe majoring in English is for me
This whole video had me nodding and saying "Yes!" out loud the whole time! You totally captured everything all of us English Majors feel! I also graduated last spring, but with an emphasis in Education, so I was taking those courses as well as Literary Studies ones. I feel like it actually really helped with my appreciation of YA by seeing how actual students of that demographic respond to it. But I totally agree, reading both genres are very different experiences! I don't go looking for symbolism in YA, but sometimes I wind up picking some out naturally, which is fun! Also, a Marxist take on Lorde's album? That sounds amazing? Seeing things like that and all of the different lenses people interpret literature and art and media is definitely my favorite part of the whole experience!
Thank you so, so much for this. It's finally starting to set in that in less than half a year I'll be in college studying lit and I'm both excited beyond compare and terrified of the unknown that is soon to come. This has been grounding on a level that I simply needed at this point.
Em Nelson 💕💕💕💕💕💕
I was planning to major in English and then I changed my mind to architecture and I have to say that I really have to learn the art of communication , it is an essential skill in studying architecture , it gives you a voice in the room and bring people around you to listen to you . Personally , I see a lot of similarities between English degree and architecture degree , they both depend on the depth of thoughts and how convincing they are .
Hi! I'm taking an Anthropology degree and I get the same reactions, almost everyone thinks it's useless but it's just like you said: it's not useless, far from it, it's just not clear what my job will be at the end! (And right now I really have no idea about what to do next ahahah) I'm now in the last year and in the last semester and I'm very thankfull I chose it, it provided me so much personal growth and made me think about so many things about the human lives, I wouldn't change it for anything else. Great video as always, btw! :D
Currently finishing up an English Degree with a focus on Linguistics, planning on going into NLP.
I've finished my English degree this year and I can't be more proud, I'm so happy that I chose it.
I also have a BA in literature and linguistics. Your answer to that first question is so spot on. Not only does a degree in literature teach you about communication but about history, critical thinking, writing, and arguably social justice if you use your knowledge in the right way. Humanities degrees are some of the most efficient because you learn a myriad of skills and pretty much all of them are useful in any job.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO! I'm currently majoring in English literature, with a double minor in writing and philosophy, and I absolutely love it! But it's true - there are a lot of naysayers out there who believe that English majors are destined to become teachers (not that there's anything wrong with that) or have no career at all. It's always really refreshing to hear from someone, who has already finished their degree, talking about how happy they are with it.
I definitely don't have the time to read everything professors assign thoroughly, and I don't enjoy it all either. However, like you said, there are those classes that I absolutely love - the ones that have me even more excited to read and write and all that fun jazz. I really do believe that English programs train their students in so many different areas, and help us hone so many different skills, that we can do almost anything after we graduate.
Oh, wow this was just what I needed! I'm in the middle of a gap year and planning on starting on my English degree in September of 2020. I find literature to be delightful and endlessly fascinating, but every time I mention this to someone (family, friends, strangers etc.) they always try and discourage me from doing it. Personally, I would love to be a teacher (high school) or really just have a career that allows me to be a giant nerd that gets to talk about literature.
But teaching jobs are always highly sought after, so the competition is quite big - especially within the arts (at least in my country).
So it is quite frightening to spend 3-5 years on something that might leave you unemployed.
But in the end I know I wouldn't be able to push through an education that I can't stand just because there are available jobs.
@tiny tete i am trying to figure out wht exactly to do with my lifee , was considering medical just cuz society expects tht even tho i know i dont like science labs etc as much , i was considering law,economics or pilot training nd i literally never felt so lost beforee :((((
serious advice help needed here
uni is also something i wanna experience and i cant decide if i should do pilot training cuz tht uni experience wouldnt be there i wanna make frnds and memries but also earn alot of money and be successful like i always wanted as i come from a middle class background sorta ..
also this whole corona virus BS made me consider whether its a good idea to enter uni when everthing is online currently and for awhile it seemss
But you can't be an English teacher in canada lol. She is a Canadian btw
@@annefranklin2806 ?
Oh, the dreaded "So you're going to teach?" question. I really enjoyed this video, having a Master's and undergrad in English; it's encouraging to see the English major in a positive light, especially now where it feels like the humanities are being slowly crushed. Best of success in your Master's!
Bookstahooda could I ask what you’re doing with your degree and masters now? cuz i really want to know the job prospects
Ariel, out of all of your videos, believe it or not, I enjoyed this one the most. I could really relate. When I went to college for art, I had soooo many people in my life tell me that I was wasting my time. That you can't make a living with that degree. While there, I discovered illustration and fell in love with it. I am pleased to say that I had a career as an illustrator, and later went on to become a fine artist. I've made my living in art my entire adult life. So, you never know what your path will be, but if you're doing what you love, you will find your way... smiling all the while.
Thank you for answering my question! I'm currently in my first year of a joint English Literature and Ancient History degree! I completely agree about not reading all the books you're asked to read /they give you a crazy amount!!
i studied in Iraq at the college of arts English department, but unfortunately i couldn't finish it because of war , besides , i was worried to repeat it again the whole 4 years here in Belgium, but you gave me lots of hope and motivation to start again ...thank you so much
To the question of whether Lit majors 'like' all the books they read: Yeah, God No. But also, I have found that I would much rather talk about a book I hate. This might just be a personality thing but I always come to class with a lot to say about books that are disappointing, full of misogyny, written in a way I hate, structured in a way that makes them inaccessible...like, those conversations are golden because conflict is how you learn. In my college Lit majors are required to take one Creative Writing course. Also, to the question of enjoying YA less, I am entering my final term and am going to be taking an Adolescent Literature class; so, it's possible to continue to love YA and also study it because YA and children's lit (which I've also taken) has so much to do with our culture and how we read.
I really appreciate your perspective on this and I find your positivity really encouraging. I am working on a French degree right now and I've been having some doubts lately about the utility of it after I missed an opportunity to study abroad in Paris. I absolutely love my classes though, especially the literature ones.
Thank you for this video! I graduated with my BA in Creative Writing last year. I took a lot of Literature classes and I had to read 3-4 books in a course of every two weeks! It got a little overwhelming and I was not able to catch up with them all. So it is good to know I was not the only one. I love your videos!!!
Great video! And you were spot on with everything. I could relate so much...my favorite part of my English degrees (I got my MA) was class discussion! I always tried to participate. I also really enjoyed my electives like psychology, film, anthropology.
Yes!!! You explain things so well!
I got most of these questions a million times over. I did the Creative Writing concentration, yet still had some Lit classes. I ended up minoring in Advertising and now I'm copywriter.
When I told people I was majoring in English, they were literally all like "Oh, you're going to be a teacher!" so I felt that part.
I'm currently studying English Language and Literature with the Open University! I love it so much. I transferred from another university where I studied Film and Television with the OU's way of teaching is much easier for me to understand. I also suffer with anxiety so going to lectures every day was really difficult for me. Love your videos! x
This was so helpful! I'm starting my English literature degree in August! Thank you Ariel! Love from Mexico ❤️❤️
I'm not taking an English degree but I'm taking a Mathematics degree so I get pretty much the same reaction regarding what I'll do in the future. Truth is all my options are out in the open because so much of the modern world is Mathematics. I'm afraid I don't have the same passion you have for your degree though. I like Maths but more in a "this is the subject that bothers me the least" sense than a "Mathematics is absolutely fascinating I love it so much". Also, I really don't have the same opinion you have towards electives. I had to take an elective lat semester and I chose Science and Culture which was basically Science in Literature and the whole time I was like "yep, this is why I'm a Math major, I just really don't like studying this". And it's not that I don't like reading or discussing interpretations, I just don't like doing it in an academic environment, too much pressure. Anyway, great video and I really enjoyed it even though I'd never even consider and English Literature major (or a Portuguese Literature major since I'm Portuguese)
I feel you on the passion part. I study civil engineering, and I have no love for it, but I don't hate is as well, it just suits me the most and I am ok with it. Oh well.
I'm taking a Math and Stats degree, too and I feel the same way! So many people in my classes do it because they're so passionate about the subject, but in all honesty, I chose it just because it was the subject I sucked the least at in high school. There's so many other things that I love so much more than mathematics (anatomy, for example). But it's okay that I'm not in love with my degree, and it's okay that people question why I take it because like you said, so much of the modern world is centred around maths. It's the basis of everything!
Cool! And it is importante to remember that our degrees will not stop us from studying other areas in the future, I am for sure going to take foreign languages classes when I graduate and become financially independent, maybe history or literature even, who knows haha
thezurichfolder she
Patricia Paguio my problem when I was applying for university was that I have no strong passions. Sure I like science over literature, but I don't love it and I chose math because I liked math over any other science though, again, I don't love math. And since math is useful and super versatile I can totally find a passion in the future where my math major is useful. Unlike you there's nothing I'd prefer to be studying but that's okay, I can figure it out later
I just finished my English degree in June. I ended up taking 6 years to complete since I only took 3-4 classes a semester to help alleviate the stress of dealing with my mom's breast cancer and my brain tumor diagnosis... but they were some of the most rewarding years of my life. I took some really incredible classes like an Earlier Medieval Lit class where I discovered I have a burning passion for Medieval times. I took a class on children's literature and had to read Harry Potter for credit. I took a class that was entirely on zombies in lit and movies. And for option classes I found a fascination for greek mythology, archaeology (I took a whole class on excavation and artifact analysis!). I took entire classes on Shakespeare whom I love. I also took a Canadian lit class where we exclusively looked at the residential school system. I cried a lot that semester. We got to meet Richard Wagamese, and had some other first hand survivors speak to our class. (Have you ever read The Outside Circle graphic novel!? Wow.... that book, man.... ripped me apart and then sewed me back together.) There were a lot of challenges within those years and that program but in the end I wouldn't trade it for a second. I even became an executive editor for a student created anthology of fiction short stories. I even got one of my own stories published in the first edition. Getting published, even if it was by a school project, was one of the biggest highlights of my entire life.
I am a double major in English and Journalism. I normally tell people I'm a journalist major to avoid "What are you going to do with that degree?" Kind of questions. But surprisingly, there are a large amount of people that ask me what am I going to do with journalism...
Under the cape honestly I just tell a lot of ppl IDK what I want to do because I'm so sick of ppl laughing at me wanting to be an English major.
QueenAurora'sBooks same omg
I am a Journalism major as well lol and I don’t freaking know what to do with this damn degree after I graduate next year
@@mizzphitzbeta So why did you major in the subject then? If you want to be a Journalist, just start making a blog and a TH-cam channel and speak on a subject you want to speak about. Not only that but mainstream Journalism is dead now, it's all about lying to the gullible masses today and being biased and PC now. There is also a major decline in the field with not so promising pay.
Journalism isn't so great either. The R.O.I. isn't great and there is a major decline on the profession. Mainstream Journalism is dead too, it's all about being biased and PC just to program the gullible masses of Americans who stare at the one eyed monster known as television and stare deeply into it's inner being and let it tell them what to believe.
English major and proud :D I graduated with an MA a couple years ago, but I can't help but still feel a sort of kindred spirit with any and all English majors - past, present, and future!
I am currently working on my English degree & I have to agree, discussions are the best!!! It's so great to hear everyone's different opinions & the environment is so welcoming.
Oh my God, I wish someone had told me that about creative writing before getting into college, it was my first shock and biggest disappointment as a Freshman. Now, at my last semester, other subjects and courses helped me indirectly with my creative writing, and that seriously made a huge difference, so really everything added up to me as a person and my mentality.
It was always my dream to get an English degree and become an author, and perhap even double major or (major and minor) with music. But according to my mother, neither of those degrees would put food on the table. She didn't even give me a chance to research things I could do with my English degree, besides writing or teaching which she didn't think I could be good at. She just immediately shot it down (I later discovered I could have used it towards a masters in Library Science, which I wanted badly at one point). Plus I was in the last graduating class that could take OAC, and she decided that it would be best for me to leave high school in grade 12 so that I wouldn't get caught in the double cohort. I had pretty good grades but she seemed to think I would never get into university with all that extra competition. It's a terrible feeling, knowing your own mother has no confidence in you. So I ended up going to community college and getting a diploma that she wanted and I hate, and that has never put food on the table (and never can now because it was in I.T. and everything I learned to get it is now obsolete so I'd have to go back to school if I wanted to pursue a careeer in it). Oh the Irony. I so regret not having the balls to stand up to her and do what I truly wanted.
Crocheting Canuck dude dude dude!!! I'm a double major in music and communication, but I am heavily considering switching to music and english. And I definitely feel you. But I just want to tell you that creative degree programs are valid choices, and you can get jobs.
This is literally what happened to me. My family forced me to study ICT at college and at the beggining I kinda liked it but then it got so boring because it wasnt in my interest and my grades were so bad. So I couldnt even go to Uni. Because I didnt get accepted.. I started to work as a Barista. I didnt even think of studying again, but now I regret everything and feel like I have to study the thing that I always wanted the most which is English and Creative writing and they still don't want me to. They keep saying I am wasting my time. I cannot just be a Barista whole my life. It is not what I want. I cannot do anything on IT because I dont remember shit. The only thing I did was reading Wikipedia and writing the thing in my own words. I didnt learn anything about IT. Now as I want to study English, Unis asked me to study 1 year of Access to Higher Education Course. I am already 25 and will be 26 when I start to that course and if I get the grades then I will be able to study at University. I will be around 29-30 when I graduate and I am too afraid that I will not be able to achieve anything.. I have already lost so many years of my time and I cannot decide whether I should study or not.. :(
I relate. my parents made me do science and maths and I hate it. I wish I did english
Alexis M. That’s exactly what my mother did to me today 😢
Trust me, it's no better on the other side. I am an English and let me tell you, your mother told you the truth. The potential R.O.I. for English Majors isn't so great and the skills learned on the subject can arguably self-taught especially if you are on the University level. I majored in English because I also wanted to be an author but realized that I didn't need to major in this subject to do so. You want to be an Author, just start writing, reading, and practicing, no degree needed. You're also better off self publishing as well.
Great video! I'm a fourth year World Literature student and I can agree with a lot that is said in this video. My intended major was English but I was lucky enough to attend a school which offered World Lit! I would highly recommend taking World Lit classes as they offer many different perspectives and combine a variety of subjects such as literature, international studies, history, and so on!
I am getting my degree in English with a Teacher Licensure! I agree with a lot of things in this video! You can't possibly read all of the material & some classes are dreadful but some really do change your outlook! Loved this video!
I am about to enter college next month as an english major (language studies), and can I just say that I got so inspired by this video that I cannot even explain my emotions right now. Some relatives of mine are badmouthing my degree choice and it is kinda sad for me because this is my dream course. I don't mind my job in the future because I just wanna be a writer and maybe a copyreader, or an editor, or proofreader. Nonetheless, I crave for readings, learnings, grammar lessons, speaking skills, and more. And ofcourse, writing! My love for poetry is just- unexplainable. Thank you so much for this!
I love this video so much! I'm currently in my second year of an English and Creative Writing degree. As you can imagine, two things that confuse people. I always get asked if I'm going to be a teacher or a writer. I could never be a teacher. I tried it out a little and nope, not for me. And as for a writer, of course, but realistically, it's not something I can earn from straightaway. People really don't realise how valuable an English degree is. I've had some really boring modules over the last 2 years but the skills I have been prepped with are immense. They will help me in practically any career I wish to go into. And for me, that is hopefully going to be digital marketing focusing on content creation because it combines two of my loves: all things the internet and writing.
I have a BA in English with a Creative Writing emphasis and in the beginning of this video when you were talking about people's question and also reading so much, I had my hands in the air like "preach, girl!! Hallelujah!!" I also loved my Women's Literature and Gender in Literature courses. They were so much fun!
oh my gosh I get asked what I'm going to do with my English degree all the time so so true, this video made me so warm and fuzzy I think about these things all the time
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO I'm in 10th grade and I can't wait to go to college or university to study english and this was so much to watch!!!
Loved hearing the Canadian accent strong in this video, as a Canadian living in the states for a decade.
Hello Ariel - I'm starting my degree in English Language and Literature in September and you answered a lot of questions I had about the degree. The "What are you going to do with your degree?" question is one I have already been asked, even though I haven't even started classes yet, and it's been bothering me. I want to study English and Literature because I'm passionate about those things, but all the doubt other people have thrown at me has made me quite anxious about the future. Watching this video has helped me realise that I believe the growth and knowledge I'll receive from an English degree is more important than a clearly defined career path - thank you so much! Lara
as a person with an english degree, i was just nodding and smiling throughout the video, and saying 'Preach!' the whole time. totally relate!
I studies English to become a novelist. I've written three books already, so here's hoping an agent will one day find me. Until then, waiting... it's a living.
3yrs later how are your books doing
@@nawaladawe1640 I'm actually doing a Masters in screenwriting. I still have hopes to being a published author.
@@Voltanaut cool if you end up making a book what genre will it be fiction ,non fiction,childrens books etc
@@nawaladawe1640 Scifi or what I like to call "rock band story".
I'd love to give them a read someday!
I'm a theatre major so I know that every play I read is not going to be my favorite, so I completely understand, WHO CAN LOVE EVERY BOOK THEY READ?!? You find the things in the stories to latch on to. :)
I love this video. I plan to major in English Literature and then a master in teaching English. I love English, I breathe English, I eat English, and sleep with English in my brain. I know I will enjoy it no matter the price. Thank you for your encouragement. 🙋🏻♀️
I am currently getting my Masters in English and wish I got my undergrad in English. I am going into teaching, but I think it's so useful to have a degree in English for other things. You get to learn how to analyze something and take that knowledge into your everyday life. You can talk about movies and TV shows with more eloquence! You know how to back up your argument with evidence! An English degree is so useful outside of school or a work environment.
As a Communication major, I can relate to the first question so much. Whenever people find out about what I'm taking up in college, they always ask what I'll be doing once I graduate.
I just applied yesterday to get my Master's in English. I have a BS in Biology, and I LOVED it. I am so passionate about nature/biology/science etc., but I have no desire to have a research-based job. So I concluded that I didn't want to pursue a Master's in Biology. Right now I'm on the journey of accepting that changing directions doesn't mean I love Biology any less, and it doesn't mean I can't find a way to tie it into a future job. Thank you for making this video to help me know what to expect!
it's really adorable to see how passionately you talk about your degree :))
I just graduated in May with my degree! I don't really have my next step planned yet, but I am so glad that I did it! We will see what the future holds!
Translation major here! I literally cannot agree more about the communication training!
This video is really helpful as an incoming English Lit major. I was starting to be nervous about my major because I'm just an anxious person but the way you worded everything really put me at ease, especially the career question.
I do an English degree but I'm doing my dissertation in YA and it's been such an interesting experience reading YA through an analytical lens. I find I often can't apply the same theoretical frameworks and have to find new ways to unearth the meaning. I think it's making me a better overall student because I have to be so flexible!
I was unsure whether I wanted to do an English degree but your video definitely sealed the deal for me. THANK YOU for posting this. 😊👍🏼📚
I'm currently going into my third year for an English/Psych degree, and I love every second of it 😄❤️ Loved the video!!! Getting constant questions about what I plan to do besides teaching can be so frustrating, but I love videos supporting the English degree!
Hi Ariel! First off, great video as always; you post some of the most interesting content, and it's a joy to watch your work. Secondly, THANK YOU. In a little over two months I'll be graduating with a BA in English, and to hear someone address some of the questions I get asked and the things I try not to worry about was a relief. Being an English major is not easy: it can be extremely taxing, and I've had a few rough patches over the last few years. But even as I think about the essays I'll be writing during the next nine weeks and how much I might stress myself out, I will always say school was worth it because I've studied what I love. Sorry for the long comment, but I just appreciate you so much and hope you have a wonderful day! You've definitely made mine brighter :)
I was a film production/english double major, but dropped the english degree my junior year when I just fell in LOVE with filmmaking. The closer I get to graduation though, the more I'm regretting demoting english to my minor. I just love it so much
It was fun listening to you.. Yes I do have a English degree and digital humanities. As predicted I am a teacher . But I am trying to make literature fun. Your words gave me ideas about how I can use this to make the teaching learning experience fun.
I used to be a science major because I thought I loved science. Uni science turned out to be completely different from school science and I was DEPRESSED. I've always had the passion for writing and reading, analysing texts and stories and sharing them with others, and since early childhood I've been dreaming of becoming a successful author and editor. I switched my major to English and got some pretty negative reactions from friends and family members, but at least now I'm doing something I truly love.
I appreciate your great knowledge on the great nature of the English literature degrees. You truly are an angel.
Purchased both of your zines last month! Anyone contemplating on purchasing/supporting Ariel.....Do it!!
I'm a psychology major so I understand you.... Everybody thinks it is a throw away degree when in reality it opens doors to SO MANY different career paths!
BeautyYourWorld645 Same everyone assumes unless we get our Masters a psych degree is useless, but really there's so much you can do with just a bachelors.
I'm in my first year of uni, and I'm pretty certain that I will major or do a double major that includes English. Because of the judgement surrounding english degrees it literally took me years to come to this conclusion, and some part of me still says that I should study Biology. Thank you for making a video in defense of English majors everywhere
I take an Portuguese and English degree in Brazil and the educational system here is not very good, but even though it's not the best one could have, I love it. Once my mom has asked me "what do you want to study?" I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, but the first thing has come to my mind was English because I love it. I don't regret it at all. The whole reason why I found your video was that I didn't know how to explain what I study in English. You helped me a lot.
Don't mind me. I'm just binging on your videos. I'm not an English major but I still share that passion for reading 💕
I would love to read some of your essays because they sounds so interesting! Particularly the one about Lorde's album and the one about eBooks if you ever want to post them online.
Ariel, I would be very interested in reading your essays if you ever make them available for your subscribers, so please consider that :D, I think a lot of other people would enjoy it too! Great vídeo as Always, have a great week!
The bit about creative writing might be true for you, but I just wanted to add that in my final two years I got to do two progressive creative writing modules, ending in me being able to do a creative writing dissertation. I know this is quite unique, but I'll be graduating in June with a Bachelor of Arts with honours in English Literature, and my final big project is a piece of creative writing :D so I'd say instead of saying no to that question, it might be better to say it depends on the degree and the university xD xxx
I studied English Literature and Creative Writing, and to some extent, one does inform the other. We were told repeatedly to read constantly, and our writing would improve.
The thing I find about going into a Lit degree is that it's really useful to know your interests and even think about your future career (!). I got into bookbinding just before uni and at university I was able to study book history and bibliography. This led me onto book conservation, which is my chosen career. It's really important to think about how you can use the degree, but at the same time, use those three years exploring the subject and discovering what you love.
That's crazy! I did Lorde's Pure Heroine for a sociology paper also from a Marxist perspective!! Also, I'm on my semester abroad studying at the University of Waterloo but from Newcastle in England haha (also doing English Lit!) kind of love it here, not sure I'm prepared to go home in a couple of months time! Your semester abroad videos really inspired me to take this opportunity and not be scared about it so thank you :)
i'm currently doing an english degree and oh boy the amount of times i get asked "so do you want to be a teacher?" i also love the flexibility of arts degrees! i've done units on ancient myths and legends, cyberlanguage in linguistics, modern european history... so great
Wuthering Heights
by Emily Brontë...is my favorite novel in English literature.
I'm new to your channel and I'm loving all the topics you approach. You seem to go beyond in the discussion. congrats
This is so relatable. Thank you for this video Ariel. I am studying English as my pre-law.
I'm studying Comparative Literature myself, so there's quite a few differences to English Literature (also I think Danish Universities do things different than Canadian, but that's not important). But I still found your points really great and I especially relate to the whole "what are you going to use it for"-thing.
Starting my Literature degree in two weeks, but so glad it's not just me who experiences people asking "so what are you going to do with your degree?" all the time!
A bit late to the party but I relate to this so hard. In my university we don't call it and English degree, we call it Communication Arts. Whenever people ask what it is I study, they just assume we do broadcasting or media production (which is just like a module we do, we do so much more than that), then when people ask what it is I expect to do after graduation, we never really know how to respond. Hahaha. It's so reassuring to know that I'm not the only one who doesn't read all the required reading cover to cover, and that there's no pressure to like ONLY the classics/cerebral stuff. Love your channel.
I was on the verge of requesting a video like this when it uploaded :D Just what I needed! I'm currently taking ENG 102 and loving all the book talk I get to do!
oh mY GUINEAS I RHYMED halp me
Hi Ariel thanks for your video!!!!!! It’s so so so so amazing to see you so passionate about your learning experience and talk about all the unique point of view of your study!! I am Taiwanese studying English education in China... where in general I think we all just study for the exams... I love talking in English I love arts I love amazing stories I live knowing about the world and I am still figuring out what I should do in the future and although I always kinda feel late to read a lot of classics (two more really really busy year to go and I find it really hard... ) I think why I don’t like school it’s because there’s no ideas jumping out everybody is being quiet and if I ( the bad score student ) the teacher resent sometimes cuz I am not the good student behaving well having good scores. I hope I can still be brave and read more try to keep up with the course and write something do something for the humanity. Thank you Ariel you are amazing 🙏🏽
There is literally no question that I have more of an aversion against than "What are you gonna do with an English degree?" Like, I get it, but do people not realize how many f*cking times we get this question? It's just so exhausting.
Also, YES to the required reading. To be honest, I haven't read most of the assigned reading. I did really well on that front the first 2 semesters and then it steadily declined. I picked linguistics as my focus after all because literature was too ... limited for me, I guess, and I'm a total nerd, so I love anything grammar and syntax and word-formation. I'm writing my thesis on US American dialects.
I'm from Argentina and I'm doing a Spanish degree. You're so right! It's so beautiful and important. It's a shame that people don't understand it
Yes, go english lit majors! It's not about what job will I get, it's about understanding generations that have come before you, sharing experiences, reveling in the words ☺️
I'm from just outside Guelph and considering an English degree so this was really helpful! Thank you Ariel!