Emma Fenske Teaches Semester Abroad in Liverpool

Baylor undergrads aren’t the only beneficiaries of Baylor’s study abroad programs! Baylor History PhD, Emma Fenske, recently had the opportunity to put her graduate education and teaching skills to the test at Baylor’s study abroad program at Liverpool Hope University in the United Kingdom. Below, Fenske reflects on her time in Liverpool and what she and her students learned from the experience. 

What year are you in your PhD program, and what is your area of academic focus?

I am a 4th year PhD Candidate in the History Department at Baylor. My areas of academic focus include Modern US history, religion, and gender, particularly through mass media and pop culture. 

Please tell us about where and what you were teaching during your semester abroad.

While at Liverpool Hope University, I supported twenty-three first-year Baylor students as they spent their first semester at university outside of the US. This included assisting with programming in London, guiding and teaching students in Liverpool, England, and hosting group activities for students. I was also the Teacher of Record for HIS-1300 "US in Global Perspectives - True Crime and Media" and CHA-1088 "Residential Chapels."

What is the name of the program that enabled you to teach a semester abroad in Liverpool, and how did you become aware of the opportunity?

This study abroad program is called Global Scholars – a program that offers exceptional Baylor applicants the opportunity to study abroad in their first semester at Baylor. A Baylor faculty member and a graduate student accompany the students on the trip, offering two Baylor courses and an American university experience. The students also navigate the UK University model by taking three courses offered through the host University, Liverpool Hope University. The Study Abroad Office recruited a professor and a graduate student from History and Religion for this program, and Dr. Candi Cann (Religion) and I (History) were asked to join this trip. 

What class did you teach? Can you expand on that a bit?

During my time in Liverpool, I taught HIS-1300 (US in Global Perspective - True Crime and Media). This course utilizes primary and secondary sources to teach students about United States History in a Global Perspective through significant true crime cases. As authors like Harold Schechter and Christopher Beam have argued, certain crimes and criminals that have lasting public memory in history often do so because “Infamous crimes almost always needle the anxieties of their periods.”[1] Beginning with the Salem Witch Trials in the 1690s and tracing cases such as Celia, a Slave, Lizzie Borden, Jack the Ripper, Korematsu, the Sleepy Lagoon Murders, and the West Memphis Three in the 1990s, this course discusses significant issues in US history and its place in a global context. 

I had previously taught this course in the US, but the Liverpool context allowed me to add exciting new elements to the

 course. Visits to the Tower of London and the West End show Six provided a global introduction to the Salem Witch Trials through discussions of religious persecution and the European history of witch trials. The shipping industry of Liverpool allowed the discussion of the transatlantic slave trade (Liverpool had the most slave voyages in the UK), the RMS Lusitania (whose crew was largely from Ireland and Liverpool), and shipping bombings during WWII (Liverpool was the top bombing spot outside of London – and the Bombed Out Church still stands in the center of the city). The presence of The Beatles and their memorabilia (such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-In Quilt) enabled discussions of peace and resistance during the Cold War Era. 

How was your experience teaching in the UK for a semester? Did you encounter any unexpected delights or challenges?

Teaching in the UK for the semester was a fantastic experience. Working with students as they learned to use new forms of transportation and become independent adults at the same time was a great learning experience and a source of student growth. A highlight of the trip was starting out each week of classes with the question, “What is one new thing you tried this week?” This allowed my students to discuss trips they took, new parks and museums to explore, their favorite new restaurants and bakeries, and encouraged them to try new spots that their peers had found in the city. It also encouraged me to dig into Liverpool’s local history to find new spots and extra-credit opportunities for the students in my course. 

The students and I also connected to the local community through the Chapel course. This course encouraged them to attend local church services in the Liverpool community and write reflections of their experiences. It was exciting to read about how churches in Liverpool welcomed students from the U.S., providing them with dinner, inviting them on retreats, working with them on volunteering opportunities, and welcoming them into their homes for small groups and meals. The kindness of the people of Liverpool was very apparent. 

How did your previous years in the Baylor History Graduate Program prepare you for teaching abroad?

My previous years in the Baylor History Graduate Program prepared me to teach abroad by providing excellent teacher training before I left. I was able to work on writing a syllabus, practice implementing learning objectives, and create a lesson plan through the graduate Pedagogy seminar with Dr. Watkins. I also had the opportunity to teach my course at Baylor the previous semester and to ask my advisor, Dr. Coffman, questions along the way. The Graduate School and Study Abroad Departments also offered training and support for handling student issues during a study abroad program. 

Would you recommend teaching abroad to other graduate students?

I would definitely recommend teaching abroad to other graduate students! It offers new challenges, as well as growth and the opportunity to learn new skills in the classroom and in a global context. 

[1] 1 Quote from Beam, Christopher. “Blood Loss.” Crime. Slate, January 5, 2011. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2011/01/the-decline-of-the-serial-killer.html; Schechter, Harold. Butcher’s Work: True Crime Tales of American Murder and Madness. 1st ed. University of Iowa Press, 2022. P. 2.