When I was leaving the classroom on the last day of class in my translation course, students applauded. This is normal in Canada but at my current university it doesn’t normally happen.
This translation course is the most demanding I ever teach. The largest number of written assignments, the lowest grades, hardly anybody is getting an A. I was an absolute bloodthirsty animal throughout.
The hardest course gets the most positive reaction. What does this tell us? Students don’t want an easy A. They don’t want to be coddled and treated like they are incapable. Young people aren’t stupid. They know they’ll have to make a living, and fluffy, feel-good courses won’t benefit them.
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