It was clear to Shoshannah Ganz that her students needed more human interaction during the lockdown of 2020.

"In the fall students were telling me they had no in-person classes and were lonely," said Dr. Ganz, a faculty member in Grenfell's English program. "They loved talking and would stay on chatting long after class times. So, I was trying to find a way to give them something more that was experiential in the limited way it could be. Something that would motivate them and give them something to look forward to and get rewarded for doing the work."

What resulted was the online English Lecture and Reading Series, something Dr. Ganz refers to as "a warm community kind of event that's not super academic." Not only did the series give students a social outlet; it also provided an opportunity for students, faculty and guest artists to share scholarly work in a relaxed environment.

Authors who gave lectures included Irene Oore (The Listener), Souvankham Thammavongsa (How to Pronounce Knife), Maria Reva (Good Citizens Need Not Fear) and Michelle Porter (Approaching Fire).

"It was also a way to professionalize: By giving talks publicly on an author, it was something students could put it on their resumes, and I could support them in their graduate school applications," said Dr. Ganz, adding that the series has helped a few students in their path to figuring out what they want to study going forward. "Some students were able to make some connections at other universities and in other cities and countries."

Grenfell student Erin Tucker Samant summarized her experience this way:

"I think the Grenfell English Lecture and Reading Series really helped me out throughout the semester, despite never actually presenting in one myself. It was really refreshing to hear my peers' perspectives on books we were reading and it really helped me feel like I could connect with other students during a long year of isolation. Especially as someone who was in lockdown for the majority of the semester because I was in Ontario, it was so nice to get to interact with people from all over Atlantic Canada during these presentations! It also made academia seem more accessible and less intimidating, which actually was a huge help in building the confidence to apply for grad school this year!"

And Grenfell graduate Kaylee Rideout had this to say:

"The English Lecture and Reading Series helped ease some of the anxiety of an isolating semester. Even through my computer screen, being in the presence of others in a stimulating setting was helpful for my mental health. Looking back, I can't express my gratitude enough to have the opportunity to present professionally for my peers and the authors of some of my now, favourite works. Along with finishing my undergrad, in the Winter 2021 semester I was also preparing for grad school. Now having almost completed my first semester in the grad program at MUN, I am positive that these opportunities have helped me become much more comfortable in presenting and feeling confident about my ideas. This preparation and experience undoubtedly contributed to my success in my first semester of grad school."

Finally, Laura Flight shared her thoughts:

"The English Lecture and Reading Series at Grenfell last year was extremely beneficial to me as a student both academically and mentally during yet another semester online. The events throughout the semester gave me something to look forward to, even though they were still virtual events. I felt that the pressure of delivering my papers in front of my peers, professors, and especially the authors of the works we studied, inspired my writing and pushed my personal academic goals to produce higher quality work. I am thankful for the chance to present publicly because it helped to prepare me for future events and hopefully for graduate studies and further education that I intend to pursue. I really appreciated the opportunity to engage with such incredible speakers and authors and to be able to ask questions about their material and experiences that enhanced my understanding of their work. Overall, the English Lecture and Reading Series was a very positive experience and I hope that it continues to benefit future students."

The talks were a hit outside of the Grenfell realm as well, with participants from other Memorial campuses and from other parts of Canada.

"The thousands of viewers were a bit of a shock," she said. "I didn't realize that so many people would watch and re-watch and still continue to watch. One of those weird little gifts of the pandemic: we all needed some community and the books and authors and classes provided that. I may have underestimated how lonely people were, and how parents and relatives loved to see their kids giving papers."

To connect with Shoshannah Ganz, email sganz@grenfell.mun.ca.