Maryann Henck, M.A.

In our bibliotherapeutic reading and writing circle, you are welcome to explore a variety of activities that not only focus on helping you improve your English language skills but also your well-being. Poetry/bibliotherapy can be understood as a unique and creative form of guidance in which literature and writing are used as tools on the path to self-awareness, self-care, and self-help. Each week, you will have the opportunity to participate in a shared reading and/or a guided discussion of a poem and brief reading (e.g. a short story or an excerpt from a novel, play, or memoir) in pairs or small groups. Additionally, you can experiment with various forms of bibliotherapeutic writing such as blackout poetry, free-writing, and various journalling activities. We will complete all of the readings and writing activities during class time. You do need any previous knowledge of bibliotherapy - just an open mind and the willingness to experiment in a safe space where a new experience awaits you every week.

Imagine this seminar as an exercise in border crossings in which we will embark upon figurative journeys to several thematic realms in North American culture: Canadian-U.S. relations with an emphasis on identity construction and specific ethnic groups; gender, equality, and sexual politics as well as contemporary Native issues. We will explore these realms though literary and cinematic texts in conjunction with supporting theoretical readings. As a general framework, I would like to propose several overarching titles for these realms of exploration: "Encounters at the 49th Parallel: Crossing the Border or Crossing the Line?”; “Reclaiming the ‘F’ Word: The Many Faces of Feminism”, "The Immigrant Experience: Voices from the Margins," “Cultural Appropriation and (Mis)Representation of Native People." Additional emphasis will be placed on discovering intersections and unifying themes between the various topics.

Required reading: The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa FastHorse

A conversation piece is something unusual that stimulates discussion. In this course, I will select an object, a piece of flash-fiction/short-short story, images/works of art, or an incident/news event, etc. to encourage you to actively participate in various speaking activities. These include – but are not limited to – guided discussions, mini-debates, impromptu mini-presentations, drama games, and roleplays. Although you will primarily practice enhancing your speaking skills and increasing your active vocabulary, you will also have the opportunity to improve your reading, listening, and writing skills based on the selected weekly activity.

A conversation piece is something unusual that stimulates discussion. In this course, I will select an object, a piece of flash-fiction/short-short story, images/works of art, or an incident/news event, etc. to encourage you to actively participate in various speaking activities. These include – but are not limited to – guided discussions, mini-debates, impromptu mini-presentations, drama games, and roleplays. Although you will primarily practice enhancing your speaking skills and increasing your active vocabulary, you will also have the opportunity to improve your reading, listening, and writing skills based on the selected weekly activity.

En este seminario interdisciplinario bilingüe (español e inglés), profundizaremos en diversos tipos de fronteras —históricas, geográficas, políticas, literarias y lingüísticas, por ejemplo, en el contexto de las relaciones entre el mundo anglosajón y el hispano. Tras una introducción general al seminario y sus objetivos, los estudiantes tendrán la oportunidad de explorar diversos temas relacionados con el seminario, como por ejemplo: las demarcaciones naturales como fronteras políticas; la historia como medio para comprender los acontecimientos contemporáneos; el lenguaje como puente u obstáculo; las tradiciones y los modelos de adaptación; las familias biculturales como agentes del diálogo intercultural; las conexiones entre tecnología y cultura; y la evolución del género y la igualdad. Además, analizaremos estos ámbitos a través de textos literarios, documentos cartográficos e históricos así como el visionado de escenas cinematográficas.

In this bilingual (Spanish and English) interdisciplinary seminar, we will explore a variety of borders - historical, geographical, political, literary, and linguistic, e.g., in the context of English and Spanish-speaking populations. After a general introduction to the seminar and its objectives, students will have the opportunity to explore a variety of themes related to the seminar such as: natural boundaries as political borders; history as a means of understanding contemporary events; language as a bridge or a barrier; traditions and models of adaptation; bicultural families as agents of intercultural dialogue; the connections between technology and culture; and the evolution of gender and equality. In addition, we will analyze these areas through literary texts, cartographic and historical documents, as well as film clips.

Practice makes perfect, so it's time to write away - right away! If you find yourself suffering from procrastination, this weekly course is here to provide you with a much needed dose of motivation and inspiration.
In our 90-minute weekly sessions, you will have the opportunity to actively participate in a variety of writing exercises and activities geared towards helping you to get black on white, develop your own writing style, and experiment with writing for various purposes - whether they are academic, professional, or creative. We will begin with shorter writing tasks in the initial sessions and progress to longer and more complex tasks by the end of the semester.
Additionally, you will have the opportunity to train language-related competencies such as - but not limited to – expanding your vocabulary; perfecting written communication skills (e.g. sentence variation, transitions; developing a sprachgefühl for the English language (e.g. register, connotations, denotations). All of the writing assignments will take place during the weekly sessions, and you will receive feedback on your writing style as well as language usage.
Ready to write away - right away?

Practice makes perfect, so it's time to write away - right away! If you find yourself suffering from procrastination, this weekly course is here to provide you with a much needed dose of motivation and inspiration.
In our 90-minute weekly sessions, you will have the opportunity to actively participate in a variety of writing exercises and activities geared towards helping you to get black on white, develop your own writing style, and experiment with writing for various purposes - whether they are academic, professional, or creative. We will begin with shorter writing tasks in the initial sessions and progress to longer and more complex tasks by the end of the semester.
Additionally, you will have the opportunity to train language-related competencies such as - but not limited to – expanding your vocabulary; perfecting written communication skills (e.g. sentence variation, transitions; developing a sprachgefühl for the English language (e.g. register, connotations, denotations). All of the writing assignments will take place during the weekly sessions, and you will receive feedback on your writing style as well as language usage.
Ready to write away - right away?

In today's world, where mental health awareness, the looming climate crisis, and political unrest are all too real, bibliotherapy has become a vital self-help tool for well-being. Bibliotherapy - reading and writing for well-being - is a research field and therapeutic practice that has been evolving for over 100 years, yet its roots lie in antiquity. The inscription “medicine for the soul” above the doors of ancient libraries in Alexandria and Thebes attests to this fact. The phrase captures the essence of bibliotherapy, in which reading serves as a gateway to insight, guidance, and solace for promoting improved mental well-being. As a rich and diverse field, bibliotherapy crosses disciplines and has found its way into both clinical/self-help contexts (e.g., therapy sessions) and creative/literary contexts (e.g., reading and creative writing groups).
In this seminar, we will venture into creative/literary bibliotherapy by investigating various genres (e.g., poetry, short stories, drama, excerpts from novels) to enhance self-inquiry, self-awareness, and self-expression. The objectives of this seminar are two-fold: 1) apply and put bibliotherapy concepts into practice by crafting pieces of therapeutic writing according to prompts/brief readings of fiction and 2) compose a final reflection on the process and progress of your bibliotherapeutic journey during the semester. Are you ready for a healthy dose of bibliotherapy?