The Canterbury Tales and Medieval Culture Evaluations for Seminar held in 2005
2010 NEH Summer Seminar
Appendix
Application Information and Instructions
NEH Seminar Evaluation 2005
NEH Seminar Evaluation 2007
Number of evaluations: 14
Evaluation # 1549
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
This seminar was the most remarkable academic experience I've ever had. I feel like a computer must "feel" when it has been defragmented: my files have been reorganized, the connections between them have been refashioned and 'Junk" has been disposed of; my brain felt like it was in high gear for six weeks!
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
Dr.Patterson was a driving force and a scholar of the first rank, but a gentleman and a wit. The resources of Yale were also quite remarkable.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
Yale was wonderful, though parking was rather inconvenient. The dorm was comfortable and pleasant, though I found the charges a bit steep. The library facilities were stunning.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
This would be hard to improve...it was a wonderful experience. I am very grateful to the NEH for making this experience possible for me and my 14 lucky colleagues!
Evaluation # 1687
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
Fantastic experience! It will definitely help my teaching, as I designed some study materials for my students, and it will also help my colleagues, as I have lots of material and info to share with them.
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
Dr. Patterson was absolutely wonderful - organized, enthusiastic, helpful, and extremely knowledgeable, of course.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
Yale was awesome in all respects. No complaints.
Evaluation # 1829
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
I have always had an interest in the Middle Ages and Early British Literature, so when the opportunity to study Chaucer afforded itself, I was extremely excited. My experience at Yale and with Dr. Patterson exceeded my expectations. The depth and breath of Dr. Patterson's expertise is astounding. He made the content accessible, interesting and applicable to my instructional needs as a high school teacher of British lit. The knowledge I have gained through this seminar will be invaluable to me as I map out my own curriculum.
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
Dr. Patterson is an exceptional individual. He is incredibly well-read in a variety of areas, but he is also extremely down-to-earth and personable. The thought of spending six weeks studying Chaucer may seem tedious to some, but the opposite is true with a professor like Lee Patterson. His love for the content was obvious from the first session. His enthusiasm was infectious and heartwarming. The seminar was well-planned, and we accomplished our intended goal--not only to study The Canterbury Tales, but also to relish in the cultural vitality of the Middle Ages! As a high school teacher, it was also a wonderful opportunity meeting professionals from around the country--our pedagogical discussions have been very enlightening.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
Studying at Yale was very exciting. Kudos to Roberta Hudson for all the arrangements which she and her assistants orchestrated for us. The housing facilities were clean, updated, and convenient. Access to the Yale Library system enhanced the learning opportunity. While I considered the possibility of commuting, I was quite pleased with my decision to live on campus.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
The seminar was a wonderful experience. I was quite sad to see it end. I would recommend the seminar to others. It was perfect!
Evaluation # 1876
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
This was a wonderful experience. Not only do I feel far more prepared in teaching this year, but I also felt like my summer was very productive. It was wonderful being part of an intellectual group and having discussions about teaching methods, as well as the material. Dr. Patterson is, by far, one of the best teachers I have ever had, and I will be able to look back on this experience, feeling that I have grown as a student, a teacher, and a person.
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
I can't say enough about how wonderful everyone was. The course itself was a lot of fun. The discussions were excellent! Lee is amazing, as far as his wealth of knowledge, and his willingness to discuss anything. My colleagues were very intelligent and I enjoyed spending the summer getting to know them.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
The resources available at Yale are incredible. Seeing the medieval manuscripts, enjoying the art at the British museum, working with the people involved in the seminar, all enhanced the experience in the classroom. As a teacher, I have so much to bring back to my students.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
No - my experience was outstanding!
Evaluation # 1915
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
As an English Teacher who did not major in English in college, I come away from this seminar with substantial confidence to teach the first half of a British literature class. The Middle Ages are no longer a "terra incognita" located between the glories of ancient world and the Renaissance. Being in the presence of a teacher and scholar such at Lee Patterson reminded me of the value passionate and gifted teaching. I learned things that simply could not have been learned had I directed my own learning. It helps to have the guidance of someone who has mastered an area of knowledge. I believe all my fellow seminarians eargerly looked forward to each meeting of the seminar, relishing each moment. His mastery was an inspiration and it is that way of being which I hope to emulate in myself and transmit to my students. My own curiosity has been peaked about so many related topics. For instance, I did not know that Chaucer was influenced by Boccaccio and also Dante. We poured over facinating background material that touched upon Virgil, the Fathers of the Church, The Bible, etc...I greatly revised my understanding about how Protestantism emerged in England. My own scholarship has been afforded many new curiosities and directions. As for my teaching, I think that the contact I had with such a preeminent scholar will allow me to develop a curriculum that is meaningful. The depth of knowledge I have gained is what will allow me to simplify through distillation what will be meaningful to my students. I am grateful that programs such this one exist for high school teachers. I come away from this summer's experience with appreciation for the beauty of Chaucer's Middle English and the poignancy of his observations. Indeed, I come away with a appreciation of the poignancy of those 1000 years "without a bath."
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
I regard it as a privilege to have spent a summer studying with Lee Patterson and this is said without having had any foreknowledge of his reputation in his field or his accomplishments. So, his reputation does not color my impressions. I have been to three seminars, all of them wonderful. The format of focusing on a single text is a good one. It allows the seminarians to read it closely and thoroughly. Lee was careful to ensure that all seminarians were able to participate in discussions. The visit to the Beinecke Manuscript Library was very special. Movie night was also helpful in building a good learning community. The composition of the seminar I think was also key. There was a balance of experience, age, and geography. The gender mix was somewhat skewed toward the female but not by much. I think all the seminarians were considerate of one another. Discussions were generally focused and on topic. I appreciated the meeting schedule, as it afforded me and the other seminarians to partake of the surrounding amenities, including New York City.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
The library system as Yale is amazing for its convenience and vastness. We probably could have benefitted from an orientation on its use, but I fared okay. I was appreciative of the media services department, as they were extremely helpful when I wanted slides and materials prepared for my presentation. The physical beauty of Yale Campus was a definite advantage to this seminar. I do think the cost of university housing is a bit dear compared with other NEH Seminars I have participated in. For that reason, I subletted an apartment. The athletic facilities were great. Computer access for an off-campus resident such as I is potentially a problem. There was only one 24 hour computer cluster and I had to make a special effort to gain access to that facility. To Yale's credit, they did issue me a special access card.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
I can't say there is much I would improve about this past summer's experience. I would like to see some follow up efforts by the NEH as it has done in the past. Grants were offered at one time to participants who wished to develop curriculum as a result of their experience. Dr. Patterson informed us of a conference next summer in New York City of the New Chaucer Society. This conference will include a session for secondary teachers to connect with scholars on the teaching of Chaucer. I believe several seminarians would be interested in participating in this conference. Financial support for travel and lodging from the NEH would an invaluable incentive for many to participate. Bear in mind that the NEH offered two seminars related to Chaucer this past summer.
Evaluation # 1534
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
This seminar has been one of the most stimulating and enjoyable educational experiences of my life. I will return to my teaching with new enthusiasm, new ideas, new methods, and new knowledge. I hope to attend the New Chaucer Society meeting next year in New York City. If possible, I will write a short paper to present.
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
Prof. Patterson is an outstanding scholar and teacher. All of the classes sped by. I took 200 pages of notes. The readings for the course were fascinating and shed light on the times of Chaucer in order to permit a very detailed analysis of the text of The Canterbury Tales. The discussions and activities were enhanced by the scholarship and diverse interests of the participants. The course was well-organized and very stimulating. The visit to the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale expanded our knowledge of the literature and society of the 14th century.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
Yale was welcoming and the facilities were all outstanding. The rooms were comfortable and convenient to campus. I particularly liked the exercise room in the basement. I've lost weight, gained in fitness. Even though I worked hard reading and writing I feel I have had a vacation and that I will return to school refreshed.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
No. This is my first NEH seminar. The Yale Summer Conference Services and Professor Patterson worked so hard to make this a stimulating and enjoyable experience that I would want to attend another NEH seminar. When participants come from great distances to attend a program, they have all kinds of questions and anxieties about what the living conditions will be. The Conference Services at Yale and the staff of our dorm did everything they could to make the unfamiliar familiar, and within a week I was feeling at home here. This has been a great experience for me.
Evaluation # 2104
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
The seminar experience was excellent overall. Our professor, Lee Patterson, is not only knowledgeable but also very enthusiastic about his subject, and his energy for the subject is infectious. He had many insights about the period and about the literature that I had not thought about before. I have already had a chance to go back to my school and talk with some of my colleagues who teach THE CANTERBURY TALES and share some of those insights and begin discussions with these teachers about new ways to approach some of the tales and some of the pilgrims, based on what I learned from the seminar and Dr. Patterson. I think the biggest impact that a seminar such as this NEH one has is that it immerses one in scholarship on a particular topic, and it's the process that has the most carry over value. Just being a student/scholar again reminds us of not only why we became teachers in the first place, but how it feels to be a student. It's just a great reminder of what we value in a course and teacher, so that we can be that kind of teacher and provide that kind of course in the future for our students.
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
The director was incomparable. This is my third NEH seminar, and it was the best so far for several reasons, but largely because of the director. Dr. Patterson is brilliant but accessible to the participants in the seminar, whom he treats as colleagues. From the beginning, he offered extra help to anyone having problems with the middle English or with choosing a topic for further research and a presentation. The setting at Yale and the access to the library facilities were also aspects of the seminar that appealed to me. We were given an excellent lecture at the Beinecke Library and were allowed to inspect very rare manuscripts at our leisure with Dr. Patterson guiding a discussion of particular aspects of the manuscripts, the illuminations, the histories of some of the manuscripts, etc. Dr. Patterson was very amenable to flexibility in our schedule as well. Some days we met in the afternoon, some days in the morning, often to accommodate our commuting colleagues. We had regularly scheduled medieval movie nights in the dorm, and it was fun having Dr. Patterson join us there with movies he had rented. He also often brought the drinks! But the best thing was just the convivial spirit that he brought. My colleagues were also excellent teachers, good scholars, and great companions, for the most part. Those of us who lived in the dorm had a great time playing games like Cranium, washing clothes together, watching television, and just hanging out, when we weren't reading, going to class, or working in the library. I am definitely glad I chose to live in the dorm.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
I think I was starting to address some of this question in my last response, but I'll say again that I loved Yale. The libraries are excellent. We were allowed complete student privileges, as far as the library went. The Swing Dorm where we stayed was very nice and clean. It felt completely safe to me. They probably could have used more computers in the two computer labs. I was very glad that I brought my own laptop (and I often let my suitemate use it too), since the computer labs were often impossible to get into because of so many one-week seminars and institutes hosted by Yale. I would just suggest that NEH tell participants that it's wise to bring a laptop. The young people who worked in the dorm to be of assistance to seminar participants were really wonderful, too.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
The only thing I would suggest is about telling participants to bring a laptop OR getting more computers in the dorms. I would suggest maybe a tour of campus when participants first get there, just to point out some of the main buildings and libraries, and the history of Yale. Most of us eventually discovered this on our own though, and maybe that method has its merits too.
Evaluation # 2200
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
This was a phenomenal experience, and I greatly enjoyed learning from such a scholar as Dr. Patterson. I look forward to incorporating the background history and culture of the period along side my study of the text. Having first been taught myself through the seminar, I can now teach my students how to identify the many layers of the text with the parallels and themes that run throughout.
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
I appreciated the professor and his mode of instruction. He provided enough structure for comfort without being stifling. He allowed students to feel comfortable to explore their own learning and areas of interest by removing the stress of artificial deadlines and requirements. I feel we were able to learn from each other in both the classroom setting and in casual conversations over lunch or in the dorm rooms. I would've liked more structured time on studying and speaking Middle English to practice pronunciation and reinforce understanding. I also enjoyed our movie nights, for better or worse, and would be interested to delve more into the inaccuracies and misrepresentations in them, especially since we now live in a society that trusts films as history.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
The University staff was helpful and hospitable in welcoming me and assisting me during my stay. The dorms were quite comfortable. As I had my own personal computer, I did not require access to the school's computers.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
My only two suggestions would be to offer both a campus and library tour when residents first arrive. The map and visitor information is helpful, but a guided tour would be most beneficial.
Evaluation # 2205
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
This summer's seminar was a capstone experience in my professional life. I had high expectations, but much more than I anticipated transpired. The whole experience was one of exhilaration. To think that I was at a world class university, studying with a renouned professor of medieval literature, with like-minded colleagues It all meshed together beautifully; my memories will sustain me for years. As far as scholarship is concerned, I learned how much I do not know, as I learned in depth about aspects of medieval life and the tales themselves. I feel like now I have a grasp of the New Historicist approach to interpreting literature; I think it demands a great deal of scholarship from the student, with the reward of being very empowering in comprehension of the broad canvas of a literary era. I am now in the process of finding ways that I can present ideas from the seminar to my high school students. I can tell that the result will be a step up in scholarly level for my high school seniors.
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
Lee Patterson is the driving force that makes this seminar so successful. From setting the tone with an informal barbeque at his home, to a disarming, down-to-earth demeanor, Lee establishes and maintains a tone of mutual respect, humanness, and relaxed environment. His manner assured those of us who had never experienced such high level, intense class sessions. Especially noteworthy is Lee's ability to draw in students to discussion with his adept use of Socratic discussion principles. Many of us, myself included, found that we could go deeper into the literature because of his adroit questioning skills. To find yourself able to dig into the despair of the Pardoner, for example, is very satisfying. Colleagues in the seminar were a definite positive factor. I was able to learn from the different teachers' experiences in classroom techniques, school environment, and solutions to common frustrations. Plus I feel I have made new friends; we have a bond from our experience and will keep in touch. The organization of the study was perfect---class sessions, medieval movie night at the dorm, impromptu activities [such as the class tee shirt and final dinner]--all went well due to the laid-back tone of acceptance that Lee set for us. I especially liked the final presentation that each of us did. As I look through my notes and handouts, I find I can use so many of my colleagues's ideas for teaching.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
The university's hospitality, housing, library and computer facilities were excellent. The university housed us in the 'elite' dorm, with housekeeping service and polite, helpful dorm attendants. The library facilities were integrated into our seminar study, and visiting them was one of the high points of our seminar.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
Repeat this seminar!!!!
Evaluation # 2253
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
Excellent! Lee's seminar solidified some of my thinking about the medieval period, which will help enormously in the electives that I teach. I appreciated Lee's attention to misconceptions about history, and I very much enjoyed his approach to the literature. Having a chance to focus on my own intellectual growth revitalized me. I also appreciated having a clearly directed study for the summer. In addition, I enjoyed meeting fine teachers from around the country. They provided me with many ideas about teaching that I've used directly or indirectly since returning to school.
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
Lee Patterson is superb! His seminar provoked fascinating discussion of Chaucer, medieval history, Dante, the romantic poets, and much, much more. In addition to the more academic meetings, the group socialized during evening films each week, providing a more relaxed method for thinking about all we were learning during the day. Most of the participants in the seminar were deeply engaged, although perhaps one or two weren't prepared for a summer of serious commitment to scholarship.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
Yale provided a lovely room for our seminar, and of course the campus is lovely. The area's many fine restaurants provided us all with good alternatives to institutional food, although Yale's dining halls are excellent. The libraries are extraordinary, and everyone at Yale seemed quite ready to help.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
No. I was entirely pleased with the experience.
Evaluation # 2254
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
Overall, this seminar was one of the most valuable academic experiences of my career in education. I anticipate the overall effect on my teaching will be great for a number of reasons. First, the material studied is something I teach, so everything learned can be directly applied to my lessons. The Canterbury Tales is generally avoided by teachers in my department, so I feel very excited about being able to share all that I've learned with my colleagues. And they are eager to hear about the new material as well. In terms of scholarship, this seminar has reminded me of just how critical it is to continue with studies as a secondary teacher. Educators of all levels must continue to pursue learning in order to provide the best opportunities for critical thinking and analysis to our own students.
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
Lee Patterson, the director of the program, is a first-rate professor. He provided us with everything we needed in order to be successful in the seminar, and he challenged us as students. The discussions were enlightening, the topics interesting, the activities rewarding, and the colleagues were among some of the most intriguing individuals I have had the honor to work with. All of this was made possible by Professor Patterson, an expert in his field of study, and a wonderfully hospitable and generous individual.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
Regarding the institution and all its facilities, I have no complaints. In fact, the staff was very helpful and courteous. The dining hall arrangement was sufficient. The living situation was wonderful -- much nicer than any dorm setting I've ever lived in. I brought a laptop with me, so I never had difficulty with access. The libraries are amazing.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
The only improvement I would recommend would be in regards to the dining plan. It was somewhat difficult to purchase the plan. I alerted the seminar office which plan I would like, but we still had to go elsewhere to purchase it. The people at dining services did not seem to be aware of what plans we could purchase as NEH members, and when we went to use our cards, the dining hall said it didn't work. It took over a week to work all that out.
Evaluation # 2255
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
The NEH Seminar was a defining chapter in my life. It renewed my interest in pursuing a higher degree and in teaching The Canterbury Tales. I am currently planning on taking the GRE in November and will hopefully begin a MA/PhD program in the fall. I am beginning to teach the Canterbury Tales right now and I can already tell that I feel more comfortable with it than any of the other years. Dr. Patterson was one of the most intriguing people I have ever met. His vitae may have been intimidating, but he was anything but intimidating.
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
Dr. Patterson was a breath of fresh air in academia. His knowledge and expertise on the topic, as well as his laid-back persona were a big part of the seminar's success. I enjoyed the movie nights, as we were able to get to know each other in a more relaxed environment. It is obvious that Dr. Patterson loves his area and respects our jobs as high school teachers.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
The dorms were great. The AC came in handy through all of the humidity. I did not like the parking arrangements. I parked at the Colony Inn and the parking staff was very rude to me. They overparked the lots many times and I always worried my car would be damaged. Yale University as a whole was a great host university.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
No, the topic and professor were one of a kind. It was one of the most rewarding six weeks of my life.
Evaluation # 2259
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
Studying The Canterbury Tales this summer was a world altering experience. It was wonderful to learn with the support, guidance, and excitement of an expert medievalist. Attending this NEH renewed my commitment to scholarship within my classroom as well as sparked increased interest in the medieval world.
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
The director, Lee Patterson could not have more prepared, more brilliant, or more welcoming. As opposed to the stereotype of professors who are distant and dismissive of high school teachers, Lee treated us as his colleagues. He planned discussions and activities, like viewing actual medieval manuscripts because they were exciting and inspiring, both to us as relative novices and to him, as a leading expert. Everything was organized so that we came to an in depth understanding of Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, and the medieval world that it was created in. My colleagues also made the experience, it is wonderful to meet the creative minds that teach in schools around the country.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
Yale was very welcoming, a bit expensive, but the dorms were air conditioned and clean. The library has everything one could want and it was great to have access, even if it was just for a summer.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
Nope, this is a fine tuned violin of a program.
Evaluation # 2299
Summarize your overall assessment of the experience and the effect you anticipate it will have on your teaching and scholarship.
The seminar was a stimulating intellectual experience. Professor Patterson was an incredible fount of knowledge and initiated fascinating class discussions (including a number of interesting digressions). The seminar encouraged me more conscientiously to research and teach the historical and cultural backgrounds of the texts I assign in my literature classes.
Evaluate specific aspects of the program, such as the director, visiting faculty (if any), colleagues, topics, organization, discussions, and activities.
Professor Patterson was very generous with his time and energies, extraordinarily well-informed concerning medieval literature and culture, and a pleasant person to boot. My fellow-participants were all active and interested in class discussions, and each contributed substantially over the course of the seminar. Organization of the course was straightforward and uncomplicated. Class time was a good balance of discussion and lecture. Professor Patterson was always very sensitive to topics that might be of particular interest to teachers. Culminating research projects were interesting, but could have been more focused or directed.
Evaluate the host institution particularly with respect to hospitality, housing arrangements, the suitability of library facilities, and computer facilities.
I commuted, so I can't comment on all of these. Library facilities were more than adequate. I wish parking had been more conveniently placed and/or less expensive.
Do you have any suggestions for improvements?
No. An excellent course that I would recommend to anyone interested in teaching the Middle Ages or medieval literature.
2010 NEH Summer Seminar
Appendix
Application Information and Instructions
NEH Seminar Evaluation 2005
NEH Seminar Evaluation 2007
