English major is one of the most difficult fields in the area of Humanities. It has been argued that English is one of the most complicated major among the other fields. Why? You may think of the English language when you hear about this area of study. However, English studies much more than just grammar. They study everything that relates to all fields such as understanding literature, critical thinking, writing, public speaking, and even education.
English majors compose the majority of students who suffer severe caffeine addiction and severe insomnia; especially, compared to the other fields. These students are also some of the most misunderstood on campus. They are often dismissed and mocked as being nerdy or the weird group.
Here are 22 things that only English majors will understand.
1. A complete silence is much appreciated.
English majors need enough time to think about what they’re reading. They need to hear their own thoughts. They often choose to read in silence. You might see them in the library hunched over a desk full of books, or maybe even sleeping on an opened text. They love thinking, but libraries can be so peaceful, it’s hard not to think of a little snooze.
2. Libraries and coffee shops are the best spots.
Rather than going to arcades and wasting time playing games, or partying the whole night away at a bar, English majors would rather go to libraries or coffee shops to read (and get another does of caffeine).
3. Everything has a deeper meaning.
As an English major, they understand that every word, color, object, gesture showed from anything has a meaning. For example, “the light post turns on and off when you pass by”. For any other majors, it can be interpreted simply as it is. The light post turns on and off. That’t it. However, the English student might wonder why. They may think, when I walk by the light post must detect motion. The English Major, much like an engineer, wonders about why things happen.
4. Over-thinking is a habit.
Because of their experience with analytic linguistics, English majors tend to over-analyze behaviors of people, to the point that it becomes habitual.
5. Consider themselves as “pseudo-intellectuals.
English majors have the ability to explain things that will impress people, though they are just talking in circles and repeating what they have researched. Sometimes they talk about the most nonsense topic without letting the audience notice it is actually just gibberish. The listener thinks the English major must know what they’re talking about.
6. Handling 120% pressure is quite a norm.
Writing a 15-page analysis about their professor’s movie, hundreds of impromptu speeches, reading a 150-page literature book are quite normal for them. They are still able to make it with less time. It’s like that saying, practice makes perfect.
7. William Shakespeare and Jane Austen are their peers.
Because they delve so deeply into Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays, or Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”, the student feels like the know the actual person. Thus, they consider them their peer.
8. Watching professors’ favorite movie is a hobby.
This is admittedly true. So, when you want to have a good grade, knowing their professor’s favorite movie is the best thing they should do. This sounds funny but it is true.
9. “Intellectual admiration” to their professors is common.
Having an intellectual professor in front of them is the best reason why they should attend that class.
10. Feeling discomfort to sell a book is usual.
Their subjects are just interconnected. So, they don’t want to sell their good old book unless they are done with university studies.
11. Sparknotes is their best friend
It’s too difficult to analyze plenty of literary works from the Medieval Ages or even in the early Renaissance Era in such a small time-frame. So, to help understanding the text in the fastest way, Sparknotes is their best help!
12. Familiarizing IPA is a must.
This includes reading a text with proper enunciation and pronunciation, with complete consideration to the pauses and stops of each sentence.
13. Having personal or career crisis is frequent.
In the latter, they are usually in great frustration whether they wanted to be a publisher or a novelist, a playwright or a screenwriter, or any other discipline. Sometimes they realize a little late that they took this major for the understanding it provides, rather than money. English majors recieve less payment or unemployment compared to other fields.
14. Inability to understand simple stuff annoys them.
It sounds horrible, but it is true. They are dominant in some ways.
15. Know the Anglo-Saxon tradition of the English Language and World Literature.
They know that Anglo-Saxon ancestors created the English language and it’s written form. While other cultures each developed their own languages, English places an emphasis on a varied vocabulary to explain our inner emotions.
16. They panic when the library is under construction.
Well, library is their second home, so it is understandable. Where are they supposed to take a nap.
17. Being so meticulous all time.
It can be observed as arrogance, but really an English major can’t turn off their training. When they meet someone who speaks English poorly, they can’t help but comment with a correction. The same thing happens online with poor grammar in social networking sites. They expect everyone to speak on the same level, as their fellow English major.
18. Proofreading is their job.
Whether they are paid or not, they are frequently asked to proofread writing regardless of the length.
19. Having a favorite spot in the university is a must.
They will be enraged when an undergraduate occupies these spots! This is their favorite place to think and to read their favorite book while enjoying the view they see, how dare you sit in their spot.
20. In general, they love Europe so much.
They believe that when they visit these places anywhere in Europe, they will be like their most-admired writers. The feel like they are entering a new world, like they are literally walking through history.
21. The new scent of a book is addictive.
This is one of the most observable behavior of an English major. They love the smell of a new book in the shelf.
22. Good quality of pen is required.
- Whenever they jot down notes, they need to see a good pen in their hand. They feel like the pen somehow inspires all these ideas. On the other hand, they get distracted or irritated when they don’t have one. A good pen is a comfort object for an English major.
- They may be misinterpreted, but in general, English majors are the most understanding people because they know how to weigh things before they judge. Just like when they read a poem, they cannot just say that the poem is badly written, they must first deal with the underlying meaning on it. They don’t just see on what is on the surface. English students try and look past the external, and try to appreciate what is going on internally. They are even the most romantic and the most caring among any other else! Know them and you’ll see! It mus be all the Shakespeare poetry they read.
Featured photo credit: Memphis CVB via flickr.com
