‘Realia & Replica’: In-class Museums and Emotional Archives

Abstract

[EN] The teaching project ‘Realia & Replica’ promotes learning in the History, Culture, and Heritage courses offered by the Universidad de Valladolid to English Studies undergratuates. It furthers their understanding and appreciation of the histories and societies of the English-speaking cultures, their links with Spain and their cultural heritage. It comprises four interrelated seminars that culminate in an internship at the university’s libraries and historical archive. In the seminars, the classroom becomes a museum, where students work with real historical artifacts and facsimile reproductions; as interns, they receive instruction in special collections description and management. Apart from yielding excellent academic results, the project has built a teaching collection and provided assistance in cataloguing the university's library and archival holdings. It fosters the students’ professionalisation alongside their social, ethical, and cultural awareness development, inspired by practice at Rare Book School at the University of Virginia, the materiality of learning, and affect studies.