ONE BIT OF INFORMATION YOU REMEMBER WELL FROM THE FIRST CLASS.
In "comments" below, tell your classmates about one detail from the first meeting that made a particular impression on you and stayed with your after class. It could be a rule (no phones, no late assignments,) or the word "tribe," or the let's-clear-the-air discussion on stereotypes, or anything, ANYTHING else, that you happened to think about after you left the classroom.
First, you should write your own comment without looking at what other people have written before you (make an effort, be honest.)
Second: Read your classmates' comments and leave your comments to them. Did your classmates choose something you didn't notice, or something that registered with you? Return as often as you want to add more comments.
I enjoyed our first class. It was very fun getting to talk to everyone. The task that we did together about the identities and putting the several things that the world says about us as a tribe and then the American Italians was a good assignment . very fun
ReplyDeletei agree, i thought it was a very good icebreaker for us all !
DeleteYes I feel comfortable participating after this activity
DeleteI'm glad you brought this up because it was a very fun activity, and i too thought it was a good icebreaker because i feel more comfortable sharing about "touchy" topics because everyone so openly shared.
DeleteI agree. This activity really had me more comfortable and engaged during the first class. We were all able to put our input into making the session an interesting one. I was also surprised at how many people had the same stereotypes about certain tribes! Looking forward for our next class
DeleteWhat I remember well is that most if not all the cards had references to the mafia and pasta. I guess it could be from the allure of the mafia lifestyle portrayed in Hollywood films. Not many references to Italian fashion houses and inventors.
ReplyDeleteVery true, there are so many movies and television shows that portray Italian Americans a certain way and it's those media portrayals what we immediately refer to when we are asked about Italian Americans.
DeleteI think the Media plays a HUGE role in the way we view people and the "tribes" they belong to. It's the only way we can see what they're like if we don't personally know any one in that specific "tribe".
DeleteI remember things such as no phones, no food or drinks, and to do everything before class starts. I definitely enjoyed your first class. It was very interesting to hear the stereotypes of different tribes.
ReplyDeleteFROM FGC TO ALL: please, don't address your comments to me. Speak to your classmates. It's more interesting.
Deletemy first of class was very interesting. it is very different from my old school. i agree with the no phone and drink idea being that it is distracting. i enjoyed the stereo activity because i was able to learn what people thought about different tribes
ReplyDeleteFROM FGC TO ALL: do you see what happens when you don't have a professional email address? BTW: do not add comments to this posting.
DeleteMy first day of class was very interesting and informational, specially for me coming from a totally different school. I found the tribes activities very interesting and helpful because i got to know about the rest of my classmates cultures and believes and their opinions and assumptions about the italian culture.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed my first class with everyone. What stuck with me the most was how involved and interactive the class was. I was surprised to hear that so many people stereotype that if you were Italian American you were thought to be in the Mafia and a pasta lover.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to see that the class is not just a lecture , it makes it more interesting and easier to get through.
DeleteI enjoyed my first day of class , I thought it was very informative as well as interesting. I am a transfer student so I was glad to see that the class is in my eyes better than what I am used to taking. I thought that the lets clear the air exercise was a great opener. It allowed everyone to come out of their comfort zone and break down those walls that we put up in social settings. It also allowed us to get to know each other and our thoughts about our "tribes"
ReplyDeleteI am a transfer student as well and it was definitely a great exercise for getting all of us to let our guard down.. It was actually quite entertaining!
DeleteHey, I'm a transfer too! This was my first class and it was a great way to start the day and start meeting people!
DeleteThe first class turned out to be more fun than I thought it would be. I liked to hear that we can have open discussions about our opinions with everyone without anyone getting offended. It's been a very interesting class thus far.
ReplyDeleteI like that aspect too, in a class like this, being able to have good discussions about topics like these are essential and i am glad that we could have had one so far.
DeleteThis activity made me want to keep the discussion going. One thing that stuck with me after class is that italian american is a tribe and everyone belongs to a tribe.
ReplyDeleteDefinitly! I liked that he used the word tribe. It kind of draws us closer remembering we our just humans with so many different cultures trying defend the good in each of us.
DeleteOur first class meeting was memorable. The talk about our ethnicity and nationalities stuck out considerably since we referred to them as tribes, which gave it more of a rural and 'old world' feeling, making us unconnected as people.
ReplyDeleteI think using the word "tribe" is good because it helps unify all of us in the room. The old world word helped remind us of our common connection as humans. race reminds me that there is difference, some could be raciest. Tribe makes me think we are people beloning to different backgrounds. No one is "tribest"
DeleteOur first day of class was unlike any other first day I've experienced this far. It was strange having to actually speak to classmates, especially on the first day. I enjoyed the "tribe" ice breaker and it stuck out to me because we were able to all talk about stereotypes without passing judgment or being critical of others. It was an open and honest conversation and I really enjoyed that.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. I enjoyed the conversations I shared with a few of the other students. I already felt very comfortable and it was only the first day. Being able to talk about something or give an opinion without being judged is very important in any class and this exercise has helped me to feel comfortable to do so.
DeleteWhat stayed with me the most following our first class was the notion from the professor to not be blind to what other people see our stereotypes as. We must not ignore them and be ignorant.
ReplyDeleteThe first class wasn't how I expected the class to be. The activity we did where we wrote down stereotypes that are associated with our "tribes" was eye opening. It was interesting to see that people who were from the same "tribe", but were not sitting next to each other to discuss the stereotypes associated with their groups, had basically the same things on their cards. I thought this was a great way to begin our semester because it is an eye opening activity allowing us to understand the perception and strength of stereotypes associated with different groups. The activity resonated with me throughout the day because it was a powerful activity forcing us to see our “tribes” as others do.
ReplyDeleteLovliana,
DeleteI completely agree with your post and what struck out to me even more was the fact that we can live with these stereotypes and actually acknowledge them: it's good to not be offended and work on changing people's minds. I thought the icebreaker was the perfect activity for the first day.
The first class certainly impressed me with the brutal honesty of what racial stereotypes we as society type cast one another. It's a rather touchy topic that may cause emotional distress for some people, however the environment in the room was warming and unified. I definitely enjoyed the vibe I got from that class and I am certainly looking forward to this semester.
ReplyDeleteWhat I remember most is that almost all the cards had mafia and pasta when we were talking about the Italian tribes. I am also surprised that most of the people agree with my thought on "Chinese is smart and good at math".
ReplyDeleteWhat really surprised me in regards to the first class was the "icebreaker" exercise we did about Italian stereotypes. 20+ people managed to agree on these stereotypes which was quite astonishing. I hope that throughout this semester we can break these stereotypes and learn more about the Italian culture.
ReplyDeleteOur first day of class was pretty cool. I think what resonated with me was when Professor Girelli said "repeating stereotypes gives them life".
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the notion that we can therefore take life out of fraudulence and ignorance.
I remembered how diverse the class was. I also remember some peoples tribes. I think the first class went well, as long as I can stay on top of the assignments and deadlines I should be good...
ReplyDeleteFirst day of class? Let's see... I walked in with a cream cheese bagel just as he was announcing no eating in class. Sure did rain on my parade! What hit me the most was how Prof. approached the class. Expressing stereotypes about ourselves and Italians. We all laughed, mainly because we somehow knew these stereotypes existed and even more so because they aren't completely true. It was an eye-opener for everyone. But as I left class, all I could think about is how I'm going to have to wake up early to eat breakfast before class.
ReplyDeleteThis made me crack up. I'm glad I'm not the only one that was concerned with the food and beverage rules.
DeleteThis is my first semester at Brooklyn College, and this class was the first one I was attending there. Because of this I was very nervous and anxious before class started. I didn't know anyone in the class or how it was going to go. The exercise that the professor used to break the ice was great. It allowed us to get to know each other without any judgement. In any literature class, it is very important to be able to speak your mind and voice your opinions. This exercise has made me feel comfortable to do just that as the rest of the semester continues. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the semester and getting to know my classmates more.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, what I remembered most in class was the rule about no beverages on the tables. I am always thirsty, no matter how much I hydrate myself throughout the day. I can't go very long with out having to take a drink of some sort of beverage. The rule confused me a little because Professor Griselli said no drinks on the table, but he didn't say no drinks at all. So, I'm hoping that I can still bring a beverage to class and just keep it on the floor and take a drink of it as needed.
ReplyDeleteFirst day of class was Very interesting. The best part of class was when we were going through each other cultures and thinking what we thought of them. I was nervous about when the professor said talk to the people around you.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I remembered most was the professors cell phone policy. I didn't realize how serious he was until someone took out their phone and he called him out almost instantaneously. Also I remember the stereotype exercise, it was a different way to introduce a class, but it was effective and in a weird way comforting.
ReplyDeleteOn the first day of class, we shared our own ideas and knowledge base on common saying about other tribes either positive or negative. What I found interesting from this and taught me about other cultures and myself, is how professor Girelli encouraged us to be honest to talk from ourselves and other tribes because based on that I came to reflect that in spite our differences and uniqueness, we are all still the same with the ups and down, and that we are living also under a fake identity which we believe many times to be true
ReplyDelete