BA (Hons) Primary Education

Emily

I've wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. (Well, apart from when I went through a brief period around the age of 11 of wanting to be a paramedic or a marine biologist. Fears of seaweed and needles soon put a stop to those ambitions). My brother is 10 years younger than me and  trust me, trying to persuade a nine year old boy to stop playing on the PlayStation and sit down to do his homework is not the easiest thing in the world. I really enjoyed having to come up with creative and fun ways to present his homework to him, and that’s what revived my dream of being a teacher.

So now I find myself about to start my second year at the University of Greenwich studying Primary Education. My first year has flown by in a flurry of rocket balloons, hilarious dance lessons and a lot of nursery rhymes. I still remember how nervous I was on my first day, but everybody was so welcoming the nerves didn't last long. We spent our first week, or ‘Induction Week’ as they call it, playing games and getting to know everyone in our classes. We even had guitar lessons at one point! Then the hard work began and we were set our first essay about the value of outdoor learning. I was quite surprised at the difference between the requirements of University level essays and A-level essays, and if there is one piece of advice I can give you it would be to read as many books as possible in preparation for your essays. Trekking across campus with so many books you feel like your back could give out at any moment may not seem very appealing now, but the more evidence you have to back up your arguments, the better your essay will be.

In a way, our timetable is similar to that of a pupil going to primary school. During the first year, we had lessons in PE, English, science and maths. The lessons are very interactive and hands-on – in science, we had to create our own rocket balloons whilst in English we had to perform poetry to each other. This hands-on approach really helps give a solid foundation for your essays, and the tutors are always willing to offer help and advice.

All of this of course was building up to our first block placement – a period of 5 weeks spent in a school with you gradually taking on more and more responsibility within the class. I was placed in a nursery school, something I was initially extremely nervous about as I had always wanted to teach key stage two, but I couldn't have asked for a more rewarding and enjoyable first placement. I was surprised by my own confidence, something which will definitely develop during your first year here! At the start of the year, even the thought of standing in front of a group of people and speaking was enough to get my nerves going – by the end of my placement I was quite happy standing up in front of a class of 25 children and singing! (I’m not quite sure the children enjoyed my singing as much..)

I have loved my first year, and can’t wait to begin my second. If you’re thinking about studying Primary Teaching then go for it, no day is the same. At times it can be hard work, but if you put enough effort in, it’s definitely worth it. 

BA (Hons) Drama

Eleanor

Drama is a very different degree experience compared to most others and it attracts a certain kind of academic. During my first year I took a sociology module to make up my final 30 credits as it was a subject I've always been interested in. From this experience I learnt a great deal about the sociological behaviours comparative between performance students and academic students. In my opinion, the best thing about my course is the outgoing, confident and friendly people I can call my fellow peers. Drama involves a great deal of group work which means that each year very quickly becomes somewhat like a family unit. There is also a big involvement between the academic years as first and third years always work together on final productions and it is practice that we all attend each other’s public performances in support. This means that lecture environments are somewhat different from the norm – not just because their held in a theatre space rather than a lecture hall – but also because of the general chitter-chatter and banter that goes on between students (and also with our lecturers who can’t resist joining in.)

Now onto the information that actually gains me my qualification. We study different periods of theatre throughout the ages starting in first year with early stages (Greek theatre etc). In the second year we then progress onto modern stages exploring plays from the mid-19^th century onwards ranging from A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen to A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney. Also in second year Physical Theatre becomes a module option which is an exploration of a number of different practitioners and techniques such as Meyerhold, Artaud, LeCoq, Bausch and Grotowski. This course ends with a devised physical performance where creative freedom is in abundance.
In third year, the module drama production feels like the crescendo of our course. It’s our chance to prove why we've spent as much as we have on a drama degree (which is often unfortunately disregarded as academic). The production is a replacement of a dissertation and therefore requires a great deal of commitment. In the end, a professional piece of theatre is produced that should not look out of place in the theatre world. This will feel like the pinnacle of my education and will help to prove myself as a performer. I can’t wait!

Finally, I find it important to say that with all degree’s most people find their special few lifelong friends, but with Drama, you can look back at your year book and remember all of your peers as being lifelong friends.

LLB (Hons) Law

Laila

Having initially chosen Kent as my firm choice of university to study Law and found out that I was unsuccessful (in the main cycle), I was not the slightest bit disappointed to accept Greenwich University’s offer as my insurance choice. I had already seen myself studying at this university as I had attended the Open Day and was immediately captivated by the Maritime campus’ beautiful scenery and architecture. Not only this, all the staff were incredibly welcoming and friendly to all enquires (no matter how silly they were).

After having successfully completed the first year and now starting the second year of Law, I had initially been worried about the work load and intensity of the degree more than anything. However, I soon found myself getting used to the amount of revision and reading required to pass this course, even though being quite apprehensive at first.

The subjects I enjoyed the most in first year were Legal Method, Contract law and Human Rights and Civil Liberties. Legal method I found enjoyable because we were able to gain credits for organising law related trips such as visiting different types of court and the Houses of Parliament. On a number of occasions a few friends and I took it upon ourselves to take court trips in between lectures and seminars in order to get an overview of the court structure and analyse Barristers and Solicitors at work.

In Contract Law, the most enjoyable aspect of the course for me was figuring out the problem solving scenarios involving people who had lost their property and deciding whether the claimant should be able to sue or not.

Last but not least, Human Rights Law. This is the field of law I would most like to specialise in as it allows an individual to challenge the state if it is found to be acting in violation of any of the European Conventions on Human Rights. I am interested in this field of law as I would like to practice as a solicitor helping out vulnerable people battling in oppressed situations. 

BSc (Hons) Film and TV Production

James

Hey, I’m James and I am about to enter my second year in studying Film and TV Production. I still remember the day I was accepted into Greenwich; I don’t think I will ever forget it. Greenwich was my first choice and having spent results day stressing and panicking like countless others across the country, to finally receive the a phone call saying “Congratulations, you’re in”… as cliché as it sounds no matter how many times I thanked the stranger on the other end, it seemed to hold little value against the life changing news he had just given me.

Film & TV Production is the course that I was always focused on studying, unlike the similar but more theoretical Film Studies course; it was the practical hands on aspect of Production that sold it to me. What I want to do in life is make films and the amazing thing about my course is that it allows me to do just that. You might be thinking ‘really?! You can make films on a film course? You don’t say!’ But you would be surprised by the amount of universities I visited which took focus on not making films but simply knowing about them. Within the first couple of months I had been given the knowledge of the production process and the key components which make up a crew. Theoretical knowledge of Film & TV is incredibly important but still a basic element in the vastness of the course I am on.

I have learnt a great deal in this first year, not just academically but a lot about myself as well. Self-realization is what I regard to be the greatest characteristic someone on my course can possess, the ability to step back and look at your work with an unbiased mind and say “is that good? I mean is it really good?” there are too many who are blinded by the fact it is their own creation to realise when something is bad, I can honestly say in all the work I have done throughout the first year there is perhaps only one piece I can watch and enjoy.

Before I came to Greenwich I aspired to be a producer, which has now changed to wanting to direct. When I arrived I was under the impression that everyone will want to be a producer as it is at the top the hierarchy, but I was wrong. One of the first activities we did was go around the room and have everyone in the year say what they wanted to become. The diversity in roles was remarkable, editor, sound design, graphic design etc. The point being it makes no difference who you are or what you want to do, in this first year I have been given the chance to be an editor, director, floor manager and various other things on various projects. The nature of the course both questioned and reinforced my views on job prospects.

One of the most surprising things about the first year is that your result doesn't go towards your overall degree and that you only need 40% to pass. This news can be regarded as both good and bad but then there are those who only see it as fantastic. My advice is steer clear of working with those people, no matter how much creativity they possess if they function on the idea that they can scrape into year 2 with 40% they don’t truly want to be there.
I’m going to sound boring and say work hard regardless, but there is incentive. In year 2 you will get the chance to do the course ‘Broadcast Production’, this course is only available to those with the best results and attendance and is without a doubt the one that everyone wants to get as it offers work experience at the BBC.

Greenwich is an amazing place to study and creative inspiration comes easily when walking through campus, you need only look around and see all the tourists taking pictures to know you have come to a special place. No other university in London and very few in the country can claim to have such architectural and historical beauty. I have relatively little interest in history but you would have to be pretty ignorant to not appreciate the greatness that Greenwich possesses.

This first year has passed incredibly quickly; they do say time flies when you’re having fun. I have made lifelong friends and cannot wait for the second year; everything is going to step up and production wise become a lot bigger and even better… and stressful. J

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science

Raeesah

My name is Raeesah and I’m going into the 3rd year of Biomedical Science. The year I started University in 2011, I was part of the last group of students paying the £3(something) thousand. I had always wanted to go to University, so when I did not get into my firm or insurance choices to study Neuroscience I opted to do Biomed because I've always enjoyed science.

When I called Greenwich to ask about places on their Biomed course, I was told they had spaces, when I called back, a few days later, they were full for the BSc H Biomedical science so I ended up doing a FdSc in Biomed, after two years of doing this degree, I have now been ‘fast-tracked’ onto the BSc 3rd year.

The first year at University was an emotional roller coaster, I did not know much about foundation degrees and what they entailed and I had always wanted to do a Bachelors. However, the past 2 years have been the most amazing! I have learnt so much about myself and about science!

Even though I am still not entirely sure what I would like to do once I finish my degree, I know that I am definitely on the right path.

I am going to end with this: "An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus and keep aiming."

BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS

Anna

After a tough but worthwhile first year, I’m about to start my second year with a bag of knowledge and self- top tips for this year. Having done the access course and my college teacher telling me the first year at university is a walk in the park; this could not have been further from the truth.

It hit me hard, the work load is heavy, the extra studying you have to do outside of university hours is a lot and going into a classroom is harder because you have to teach. The hardest part is controlling the class; when there are 30 four and five year olds wriggling around on the carpet whilst you’re being observed teaching a phonics lesson, which goes towards passing or failing your first year.

I forgot that as a primary school teacher you have to teach Physical Education, this was not my favourite subject at school; in fact I never turned up for it. But to pass the module in university, I had to turn up and I had to participate and surprise, surprise I actually enjoyed it.  I even surprised myself by getting my highest mark of the year in the Physical Development assignment. I have learnt not to doubt myself and to get stuck in rather than sitting on the side-lines.

This course is not a walk in the park but it is so rewarding. I have met so many great people and the tutors and staff are so supportive; you may hit a mental, physical, emotional block but I kept telling myself and my mum kept reminding me, ‘you’re training you’re not meant to be amazing straight away.’ You only learn from your mistakes and the best teachers don’t always stick to their plans. If things are going wrong, you have to keep calm, think on your feet and be creative; at the end of the day it’s about the children if they’re not learning, I’m not doing my job properly.

My top tips for this year are:

• Use the library throughout the year (not just in April)
• Do assignments when you get them, not at the last minute.
• Plan your time (part-time jobs, university and school is a tough combo)
• Have down time, RELAX and enjoy yourself!

BA (Hons) English

Anisa

Hi. I’m Anisa. I study English at University of Greenwich at the Maritime Campus. You must be thinking it’s a dull subject right? It. Must. Seem. Like. This. To. You. Most of my friends can’t stand English because they see the typical characteristics of it, e.g. Reading and Writing. Literally, that’s it. But with me, it’s a whole different story… I find it art, I find it something I can express myself with. I find it a tool to become who I am every day.

In my course, I've been reading many different books from different backgrounds, different time of year, basically different everything! But that’s how I learn about my interests. By attending lectures, having discussions in seminars, I was able to break down a 300 page novel to a ‘conversation’ to be able to explain the overall plot and storyline of the story. By studying various themes of stories, I discovered what kind of authors I prefer and what type of novels I enjoy. The one I recently read was ‘The catcher in the Rye’ by J.D Salinger… Love that book. I recommend you read it! Seriously, as I was in my breaks at work, I would read it, and I couldn't stop laughing. It felt like the author was speaking to me and retelling how his journey was. It’s amazing to see how a 300 page novel is retelling events that happened for about 3 days. The pace that gets built up and the description which it consists of, all pull together to create such a moving and interesting novel.

Why I chose English? I've always had this weird fetish for writing. Whether it was poems or plays or just writing, I loved it. I studied Drama in School and I achieved a 100% A* grade in it and for English I got an A! I was ecstatic with the result. In the future I would be interested to take up drama because Drama and English seem to blend well with one another and it is easily relatable to one another. Moreover the teachers that I had for English in School and College, have always been so active and bubbly, which makes me feel that I want to be part of that team, I want to be part of the English faculty! You might be thinking I’m weird right? But it’s always been my passion to become an English teacher and I’m not going to stop till I can succeed in that.

I've just completed my first year, and to be honest, I really enjoyed it. Not only were the lecturers funny (well trying to be, well… they all laugh at a joke and because we don’t understand what the joke is we laugh because of that), but they were extremely helpful with the feedbacks that they give us. They also give us valuable advice on how we can improve our marks. I’m so grateful with the friends that I have made in Uni. That’s probably the main thing that I am happy about. When I first started I didn't know anyone in my lectures or seminars or people that were even around the campus. I mean NO ONE. But I loved it. And on my first day instantly I became well acquainted with my peers. I love meeting new people. It’s a different life for me, and I feel like I become a new me each time.

Through reading other people’s experience allows to form a picture in my head and by me being able to write my experience, allows me to unleash my creative side with the journeys I have been through in life. I believe English does something that no other subject can do, and that is being able to create image through words. Everyone can now take a picture and just show it, but being able to use words in order to bring out the beauty of an image which is created in your mind, that’s something no picture can compare to.