Lives in Translation · First Year Writing @Barnard
3 essays (draft & final - meetings w prof & writing fellow for each of them) (3 extension days to use as u see fit), 9 short exercises (2 skips), a few padlet posts, readings (some might sound intimidating but the class makes them comprehensive), and showing up to class (3 skips i think)
this class was really cool & really chill. professor ula makes the class a collaborative experience, and expects participation but doesnt cold call or anything. the poems & books & topics discussed were also genuinely really interesting. 100% recommend taking this!
You can put as much effort in as you want, the workload is typical for an FYW course, but assignments were all built on one another, so if you do the small assignments - you will basically have the papers ready.
The class was very rewarding. Prof. Ula is one of the best instructors I’ve encountered. She cares deeply about her students and always works to create a positive environment in class, mixing students with one another and making sure everyone feels comfortable contributing to discussions. Her feedback is extremely helpful, and she provides so much support through personal meetings and office hours. The Canvas page, the lectures, and the entire course structure were very well organized; she was always clear about her expectations, rules, and requirements, which made it easy to stay on track. I’m very glad to have taken this class. Even though many people don’t usually put much effort into FYW, Prof. Ula’s class is truly worth the effort, I genuinely feel like I’ve developed important skills from it.
3 essays: a close reading unit, a theory unit, and a research essay. Like I said, the build-up makes everything super manageable. There are a few Padlet discussion posts that are pretty chill.
I knew based off of CULPA reviews and the readings listed in the course description that Lives in Translation would be fun, but this course exceeded my expectations! Professor Ula is one of the most encouraging, helpful, and understanding professors I've ever encountered. The themes we discussed—queer, post-colonial, Orientalism, language and translation, etc.—were all super interesting. Discussions were easy to participate in and follow, even if you have little to no experience with the themes. Professor Ula helps build up to essays via exercises so none of the workload ever feels overwhelming. She also provides questions to consider while you read the texts to guide your thinking. She's always there to help put your ideas together and is an INCREDIBLE source of support. TAKE THIS CLASS FOR YOUR FYW! I'm so sad she isn't taking FYS Spring 2026.
Three final papers, two meetings with your assigned Writing Fellow, and weekly readings. The workload for this course is pretty light, though the fact that the content is interesting definitely plays a role in that.
Going into this course, I had pretty high expectations: queer themes, postcolonial theory, and a whole lot of translation comparisons. This class was all of those things and much more. Ula's teaching style is absolutely incredible— she strikes the perfect balance between being encouraging and giving enough constructive criticism when it comes to your writing. During her office hours, she makes a genuine effort to connect with students, conversing about more than just the coursework. Though the topics covered in class are often niche, Ula's manner of facilitating conversation helps bring every single student into the discussion at hand. Overall, I would give this course a 10/10, not only for the content but also because of Ula's enthusiasm for the FYW program.