TYPES OF ENGLISH MAJORS IN BANGLADESH

There comes a point in life when we decide to just go with it because all the dreams and aspirations, narrated with big words back in the 5th grade, do not really work out. Harsh reality, not so star spangled, hits us and we, like unfed lions, grab the first opportunity life presents us with. That is how choosing a college major feels like. Not all of us study what we have always wanted to and in effect, classrooms with varied creatures come into being. To be more specific, there are more types of English majors than those who are burning the midnight oil with a perfect cup of coffee and chilling with Hemingway or those cursing at a 15th century play.

A major number of students of the language will answer your “Why English?” with a shrug followed by a sad story about how their dream subject did not work out. While this is sad and must be sympathised and empathised with, what these brilliant minds fail to comprehend is that English is not all about reading stories and summarising it on your exam paper. Sorry to burst your bubble folks but this area of study needs major work. I understand Economics did not work out for you but you cannot waltz into the English department of a university just because you need a degree. 

There, however, is a smarter herd. They do not give up on their dreams. If getting a degree in their favourite subject means suffering and toiling in the firm grasps of Zeus in a European Classics class, then so be it. 

Then we come across the journalism crowd. A group of elitists, highly updated on every single particle that just flew past us, names of major newspapers and their owners rest on the tip of their tongues, and the truly intriguing part about them is the disgruntled expression when a reading homework is assigned. They are going to be journalists. Just because they did not qualify for it does not mean they have to study ridiculous number of literary works where they talk of nothing important (while the world is coming to an end for the love of life!) but frivolous nonexistent people. Where is the sense in that? My heart goes out to all the aspiring journalists incarcerated in the English department.

As sexist as this may sound and although quite unusual in this part of the country, but many English majors are females who only need a degree. I cannot argue with that considering how inexplicably easy this field of study is. Read some summaries, some scribbled notes, and of course never ignore those Ramji Laal notes and you are good to go. You have earned yourself a proper bachelor's degree.

Language arts is still considered a soft science in our country meant for “weaker” students. There are only a few who pursue English or any humanities major out of passion and love for the subject. It may not be your dream but it is a lot of work like all the subjects with guaranteed jobs.

Imani Khaled is an animal lover, forerunner of her imaginary anti-frizz campaign, and sketches exotic travel plans all day, everyday. Reach her at imanikhaled@gmail.com