Dublin Summer Program Navigates Immersive Cultural Learning

What would you do with a month abroad? In this case, 25 Champlain students decided to travel to Dublin, Ireland, for an intense, 6-credit program focusing on how communities, nations, and people make meaning through culture. Katie Johnson ʼ27, a Criminology & Social Justice major, called the program “an amazing experience and a fantastic way to give students a short test drive of what a semester abroad is like, while also allowing them to complete several core classes in a short amount of time.”

The program, sponsored by Champlain Abroad, was co-taught by Jonathan Banfill, a Burlington-based faculty member, and Dubin-based faculty member Liz Gillis. The two met in a Dublin pub when Banfill was visiting Ireland a few years ago, along with Dublin Campus Director Stephen Robinson, and a course plan was hatched. Liz’s expertise in local Irish history and strong links with the The Liberties neighborhood—one of the oldest areas of Dublin—coupled with Jonathan’s theoretical perspectives on borders, community, and cultural expression, made the perfect match for co-teaching the program.

Intentionally Experiential

As students were earning credits for two classes—COR 203 and COR 204—they needed to create an immersive and richly experiential program. Banfill and Gillis combined classroom learning with walking tours, guest lecturers, workshops, and other immersive activities in the city and further afield in Ireland. Banfill commented that this program was, “a great way to apply learning from the first year at Champlain and “level-up.” He called it a “kind of experiential rite of passage or mini-capstone experience, which expands on what is possible with year-one learning and builds confidence and experience for year two.”

Dublin campus director Stephen Robinson commented that “a program like this, pitched at students who have just finished their first year, allows students to experience a global education early in their time at Champlain. It’s a pathway to confidence, independence, and experience, and of course I hope it encourages them to return to Dublin for a semester-long program.”

Felix Todhunter ʼ27, a Filmmaking major, said that “this program is easily one of the most unique and experientially necessary courses available at Champlain. Although it is quite intense, the amount of information packed into one month not only enhanced my perspective on global cultures but will travel with me as I move forward at Champlain as well.”

Studying Further Afield

While Dublin is the capital and largest city on the island, it in no way completely represents the history and culture of the entire country. Getting outside of the city was also a critical part of the learning objectives. The group spent three days in Northern Ireland, where the culture and history are their own brand of unique. For Lucas Richardson ʼ27, a Computer Networking & Cybersecurity major, the “two nights in Ballintoy, [Northern Ireland] were some of the most meaningful nights of my life. I have never connected with professors and students in a better way than this. This has inspired something greater than me.”

Some of the other activities organized for the students included:

• A walking tour of the Liberties with local tour guides James Madigan and Noel Fleming. This working-class community has been the subject of gentrification over the last twenty years, which has not been for the better of the local community. This tour focused on the history and ongoing gentrification of the area showing what happens when a community is ignored.
• Weaving workshop with The Liberties Weavers. The Liberties Weavers is a local, multi-award winning volunteer group who have brought back a traditional craft, weaving, to the Liberties. The students learned about the history of weaving and made their own souvenir bookmark.
• North Dublin Monto Walking tour. During the time of British rule in Ireland, the Monto was the largest ‘Red-Light District’ in Europe. Located in Dublin’s north inner city, this working-class community has been devastated by social problems. Local historian and tour guide Terry Fagan brought the students around the area, highlighting the failure of gentrification when the root problems are not addressed.
• Art and culture events: Coincidentally, while the students were in Dublin, Smock Alley Theatre, a small, independent theatre hosted ‘DublinLand’, a play about commodification of Dublin as tourist playland. The students were the only ones who got to meet the actors after the play. The students also went on a backstage tour of the Abbey Theatre, Ireland’s National Theatre where they saw the props room and some even got to try out some special effects makeup.
• History walking tours with Liz focusing on topics such as the Irish Revolution and Women in Irish society.
• Museums: EPIC Emigration Museum, Croke Park visit, where the students learned about Ireland’s national sports, Gaelic football and hurling.
• Trip to Causey Farm in County Meath where students learned how to bake Irish soda bread and saw a working farm.

Taking Part in the Global Community

Liz Gillis takes great pride in showing students The Liberties, the lively, working class area of Dublin in which she grew up and still lives. She said that “this program gives students an opportunity to really immerse themselves in Ireland, not as a tourist, but as a local. The city is the classroom. What better way to learn than to immerse yourself in the community that you are living in, no matter how long you are here for, whether it’s one month or four months?”

Champlain College Dublin has built up a great relationship with the local community in the Liberties and all over Ireland. “A key factor in choosing the activities we do with the students is how we can support local businesses and also engage with community activists, thus giving the students experiences they would never have”, Gillis commented.

An obvious highlight of the trip was a visit to Belfast, where the group was welcomed in the Lord Mayor’s Chambers by the Mayor of Belfast, Ryan Murphy, and famed local politician Gerry Adams. Adams, former president of the political party Sinn Féin, former member of Irish Parliament, and former Member of Parliament in the UK, gave the students a warm welcome—including tea and cakes—and a rousing history lesson.

Connor Williamson ʼ27, a Creative Media major, reflected that “‘within only a month, I have expanded my knowledge in areas of politics, geography, climate, economy, and so much more. Not only have I progressed as a student, but also as a person.”’

A programme such as this is very intense, but it forces students out of their comfort zone. Reflecting on the programme Gillis said, “It is so amazing to see the change in students from when they first arrive to when they leave. Their confidence blossoms, and although they may not realise it themselves, we see the change. They have an experience that will stay with them for life.”

Champlain Abroad hopes to continue offering these summer experiences in Dublin, and plans are being drawn up for their 2025 offerings, so stay tuned!