By Therese Pope from Auburn, California 6 months ago Completed

It's been almost 20 years since I graduated from college, and I signed up for Al Filreis' Modern & Contemporary American Poetry course not really knowing what to expect. I originally signed up for the class because as a copywriter, I felt like my brain was stale and my creativity had fizzled.

We are in the midst of Week #7 and I can't believe it's gone by so fast! I am absolutely amazed and energized by this class. It gives me hope that we still have educators in this world like Al Filreis who is not only passionate about teaching poetry to his 30,000 students across the globe, but he truly cares about us as human beings. We aren't just a number to Al and he is very interactive in the forums and discussions. I don't know when he sleeps!

With the support of his wonderful TAs, Al's class is very organized and I have learned so much about modern poetry in the past six weeks. In our class, there are never any stupid questions - he encourages questions and lively discussions.

I love the video close reading discussions of the poems and our live webcasts. Al makes us all feel very connected to each other, despite the fact that it's an online class and we are in a virtual classroom.

My fellow students are some of the loveliest and most talented people I've met. We all come from different professions, ages, and cultural backgrounds which only enriches the hands-on experience.

Our "ModPo" class has truly created a diverse poetry salon community filled with amazing individuals - including a lovely 81 year old Greek gentlemen who has touched our hearts with his beautiful essays about Emily Dickinson.

I have always loved learning and education, and while I enjoyed my collegiate experience this class even outshines some of my best college classes. I'm blown away every day - it far exceeds my expectations and then some.

I highly recommend this class, especially to those who have always longed to learn more about poetry but were too timid to jump outside the box and take a poetry class - this class is for everyone. You don't need to know about poetry before you take the class.

A truly amazing class led by a caring, supportive teacher, Al Filreis and his awesome TAs: Julia, Dave, Amaris, Emily, Anna, Kristin, Ally, Molly, Max, Lily, Steve, Jason...and his awesome tech crew (and everyone at Penn and the Kelly Writers House who supports the class).

By Raymond Maxwell from Washington, D. C., Washington, D.C. 6 months ago Completed

If I were to recommend one course to all my friends, one course to get a taste of optimal on-line learning, that course would be Modern and Contemporary American Poetry. The only prerequisites for the course are fundamental literacy, inspired curiosity, and the willingness to take the intellectual roller coaster ride of a lifetime. It is also much more than a course in poetry. It is a course in history, it is a course in social thought, and it is a course in cultural anthropology, all wrapped up into one. Because that's what poetry is. Check it out. You will not regret it.

By Treva Stose from Washington, District of Columbia 6 months ago Completed

Over 33,000 students are enrolled in Professor Al Filreis’ Modern and Contemporary American Poetry class. I commend Professor Filreis and his very capable Teaching Assistants for their milestone success in online education and for bringing us a thrilling poetry class like no other. We are into week eight (The New York School) and it’s fair to say that we have an enthusiastic international poetry salon going on. Our professor and TAs lead very interactive, inclusive and involved discussions via live webcasts, social media and designated threads on the insanely active online forums. During live webcasts students from around the world participate in discussions via telephone, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube boards and Coursera discussion forums. We can also participate by showing up at The Kelly Writers House on campus for any of the live broadcasts or any other Kelly House event. In addition to the live events there are prerecorded videos of lively discussions and vigorous close readings of each poem in the course. These are led by the professor with the TAs who also give their all to the spirited online discussion forums. They manage to pull everything off with great knowledge, cheer and supportiveness. We have over 100 study groups on the online forum that are organized by geography, language and special interests including a group for poets, one for professors, one for home schooled high school students, one for feminist study and one for hostiles. Many of the groups meet offline as well. Many more, like me, skype with classmates throughout the course. I’ve seen students from age 14 to 81 participating in the forums. Prof Al cheers them and all of us on. Essay assignments are subject to peer review by no less than four students guided by evaluation rubrics. After initial evals, each essay is automatically posted to a forum for further and open comment. Our class is called ModPo. We follow #ModPo on Twitter which is closely monitored by @ModPoPenn

By Evi Danadiadou from Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

In the past 7 weeks I dwell in possibility. My host, Al Filreis, is of the fairest, and so are his wonderful crew. I think this is the most interesting and fulfilling studying experience of my life. A journey through modern american poetry, culture, language, that I hate to see coming to an end in 3 weeks.
Still, to quote a famous poet of my country, Constantinos Cavafis, in his poem ITHAKA

" Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what these Ithakas mean."

So don't miss your splendid journey to this Ithaka with Al as your captain.

By Andrea Buonincontro 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

This class has exceeded my expectations in every possible way. Al Filreis and the TAs are brilliant, engaging, enthusiastic, accessible, and passionate. From a syllabus that is carefully constructed for maximum impact to lively video discussions that lead seamlessly to the discussion forums, this class is exquisitely thought-out and executed. Al has managed to make this a highly challenging class without excluding those of us who are not used to Ivy League level discourse. I cannot recommend this course emphatically enough!

By Emilio Quintana from Stockholm, Stockholm 6 months ago Completed

This course is amazing.

I´m rethinking all my ideas about Modern and Contemporary American Poetry.

I have many first editions of the poets and books (from Ezra Pound to nowadays) and I´m really reading again all the stuff.

It´s an amazing process, so much vivid and fruitful.

In addition, I´m discovering poems I didn´t know and I´m rediscovering (in a close reading) those poems familiar to me.

I love the way Al Filreis manage the process of teaching and sensemaking.

One of the best learning experiences I remember.

Congratulations.

By Jaime André from Porto, Porto 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

As a first time student of online courses, I couldn't have had a better initiation. Prof. Al Filreis and the team of TA's have a way of teaching us without lecturing, making us feel part of the discussion, and giving us different ways in which we can interpret and learn these poems and poets. Despite english is not my native language I have been overcoming the natural difficulties of studying and writing essays in a different language, having to adress the meaning of poems and of some of the words that can be hard to understand. But I guess that the sense of community and partnership I feel in this course, helps me to follow through and rewards all my efforts. So Thanks to all the ModPo people, and I hope this community will grow in numbers and friendships!

By Joyce Summers from Dallas, Texas 6 months ago Completed

Initially I was unsure if I should take the course because my knowledge of poetry was limited. I sent a tweet to Al, our professor: "I signed up for class. Poetry has been a mystery to me." He surprised me by responding: "I hope it won't be a mystery in the end." And so began my adventure into Modern & Contemporary American Poetry.

What have I gained from the class? If one of Al's goals is to share his love of poetry so that others might learn to love it too, Al has certainly achieved that goal! His enthusiasm and joy to share what he loves and knows is totally effective even in our class of 34,000 students! Before this class I read a poem now and then and often dismissed it as being impossible to read or dismissed myself as being incapable of reading it. Now, in addition to the class assignments, I am reading slowly with newly learned confidence: "The Poems of Emily Dickinson" edited by R.W. Franklin; "Lucy Church Amiably" by Gertrude Stein; and "Book of Sketches" by Jack Kerouac. Isn't that amazing?

Thank you Al. Thank you ModPo. Thank you TA's. Thank you ModPo staff and students. Thank you Kelly Writers House. Thank you University of Pennsylvania. Thank you Coursera.

By Barbara Crary from Exton, Pennsylvania 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

This course has exceeded my expectations in every way. I have never taken a poetry course before, nor have I been part of a MOOC. Professor Al Filreis has done a tremendous job structuring this course so that it feels very intimate despite the fact that there are tens of thousands of students enrolled. For this subject matter, the use of classroom discussion between Professor Filreis and his TAs is an excellent means of modeling the "close reading" of poetry that forms the heart of the course. There are live webcasts from the University every week, with the opportunity for students to ask questions from around the world. There is a tremendous sense of community among the classmates through the numerous Discussion Forums, as well as the optional use of Facebook and Twitter. Take this course - you will not regret it!

By Melissa Hayes 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I am currently in week 7 of the 10 weeks in the Modern & Contemporary American Poetry course from Coursera. Affectionately known as ModPo. The content is first rate, and the involvement by Al Filreis (and his wonderfully knowledgeable TAs) has transformed this course into a community of poetry lovers. A community that is worldwide and more than 30,000 strong. This is a groundbreaking course that should be the gold standard for the MOOC. Coursera did it right this time! If you have the opportunity to take this course, jump!

By Harriet J. Melrose from Chicago, Illinois 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

This class will be even better once the kinks are worked out with coursera and some of the technical aspects are smoothed out a bit. The TAs, for this class, Julia, Kristen, Emily, Amaris (sp?), Dave, Allie, Anna, Molly, Max, and Jason are well-versed in the subject, are prepared in the videos, and go out of their way to be helpful. Chris on tech and the camera person are equally great for their parts, and Lilly, too. And the course would not be the same without Al Filreis whose breadth of knowledge is amazing and who genuinely cares about students and reaches out to them despite the daunting numbers. I cannot say enough about Al, the TAs and Chris. I would score them to infinity.

It is amazing to me how often Al pops up on the forum. He seems to have an endless amount of energy. Chris was not quite as boundless, but he, too, helped countless numbers of students. Kristen and Julia did their part, too.

I would say the class is more challenging at the start than as it goes along. This is partly because of the unfamiliarity with the software and the schedule of essays, evaluations, and quizzes, and partly because Emily Dickinson is a difficult but rewarding poet.

The course is set up to give a clear sense of the different movements in modern and contemporary poetry from the 19th C to the 1970's, and the course teaches how to do close readings of poems. Al is amazing as a professor. The videos they have created and the webcasts give both a strong overview and teach how to parse a single word or phrase in a poem. You will leave the course wishing you could study with Al in person.

By Christine Nichols from Stillwater, Oklahoma 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

ModPo has exceeded my expectations and I cannot express how much I love this course. I look forward to each lesson. The instructor and the TAs are the best. Every time I watch a video or go through a lesson, I feel like I have been given a gift.

The flexibility of the course material is wonderful. You can get as much or as little out of the course as you want. The TAs and instructor are highly responsive to suggestions about the course and/or lessons or content. This course feels very agile.

I especially like how the instructor includes historical aspects and alternative means of art in the poetry lessons.

The community of the ModPo class is also a big part of its charm. Every time I think of 30,000 people, sharing a love for poetry, it makes me want to cry.

It's so hard to find others that love poetry like I love poetry, and knowing there are others allows me to legitimize and validate my feelings about poetry.

Thank you for sharing this class. It's been one of the greatest gifts of my life, and I believe it is LIFE CHANGING and LIFE AFFIRMING for so many people.

If I had to suggest something for improvement, I would ask first for a second level ModPo class.

And perhaps more content on current poets.

Please contact me if you have any questions. And again, I thank you for this class from the depths of my heart. And my brain thanks you too!

Best,

Christine

By Tony Puma from Andover, New Jersey 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

What i have learned and unlearned
and savored on line and my own time
poetry passion as artist with academic
insight to favorites and unknowns and
genres and verse for words and phrases
that please and disappoint abstract and
obtuse made plain and how can i use
this new found knowledge to enhance
my thinking of them and expressing my
feelings via my verse.
Thank you, ModPo.

By Marthe Yolleck from Toronto, Ontario 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

ModPo is excellent.

The professor is a dedicated and experienced top professional. His insights and classes would be worth paying for, thank goodness it's all for free!

They offer well thought through assignments that are backed-up with discussion forums and threads that connect students to a myriad of topics and information that enhances their personal interests and knowledge.

The video discussion classes with the TAs are stimulating and interesting because they further the discussion and scope of the topic.

By Surendra Sahu from Hyderbad, India 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

How do we distinguishes good poetry from bad ones. Almost everyone can write a poem or has written sometime in his life. How can one know that it worth wider audience? By exposing the MoPoers to various kinds of poetry ,Prof Al and his team have given us the capacity to discern merits or otherwise in any poem with the journey we have taken so far. The course has made us better readers of poetry. Was it worth the trouble? As we have learnt about modern poetry ,it was an excellent endeavour.

By Vernon Goddard from Lincoln UK 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I'm a 70 year old OAP , resident in the UK but currently most at home in the world of ModPo now sweeping through the New York School having left behind but not forgotten Emily, Walt, William Carlos Williams, Allen Ginsberg, Niedecker, Cid, Rae, the pre post modernists, HD, Ezra, and Marcel. Then there's Stein, the Baroness, Tristan, Dadaists, Bishop, the anti- modernists, a visit to Harlem and Frost. Did I forget theModernists? Who could forget the Beats?
Those of you on/in/up for this course know the exhilaration of the trip we're on, recognise the unobtrusive professionalism of Al and his teams. I say teams because although we see his very able & accomplished team of students/researchers in front of the cameras what lies behind & beyond them?

For anyone contemplating taking the course - please do it when it comes round again. You will gain immeasurably in terms of learning about the poets but also about the times they wrote in. You will be moved, saddened, surprised and involved. Al & his team & the poets will take you on an exciting road which you'll not want to get off.

What am I going to do when the course finishes?

Thanks to everyone associated with putting this together not to forget those of you participating and especially those evaluating my assignments. Thanks for being patient............Vern

PS If only you had 10 stars.........

By Chuck Borris 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

5 stars! Best course I have ever taken in a solid or virtual place of study. This experience has totally changed the scope of my future and the range of possibilities in which I dwell. I am constantly thinking about poetry and Al's voice has become a soothing part of my daily rhythm. The man is a genius and we all love him!

By Magdalena Ball from Newcastle, New South Wales 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

How do I begin to recount the utter wonderfulness of this course. Though there have been over 30,000 participants on this - some of whom have not attended university, some of whom don't speak English as a first language, a hugely diverse range of ages and backgrounds, and yet we've formed an almost intimate community of readers who are reading some of the most complex and rewarding poems of the modern age at what I believe to be a supremely high level. I've learned as much from my fellow-students (even those who are studying poetry for the first time) as the amazing instructors. I've learned as much about myself as I've learned about the poets that formed this course. And above all, I've revelled in the extreme beauty and challenges of language at its most expressive. I recommend "ModPo' so highly (and indeed have been talking about and recommending it to anyone who cares to listen to my poetic ravings), that my recommendation is bursting out of this small white recommendation box. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

By Rachel Stone from Cincinnati, Ohio 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I can't recommend this course highly enough. The energy brought by the professor and TAs is astounding, and they have managed to create not just a class, but a community. Whether you are a poetry fan or a beginner looking to learn more, this class is for you. The class is taught through a variety of mediums, such as video discussions, webcasts and discussion forums, which truly allows you to learn and immerse yourself at any level you choose. I feel as if I am not only gaining a respect for poetry, but becoming a better reader and student.

By Travis Yeh 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I am a high school senior.

This class is great. Sadly, poetry is often taught in middle/high school as a boring and stuffy subject. I used to hate poetry because that's how it was presented to me -- all we were taught to do was count meter and determine scansion, and we never explored poems that were particularly heart-rendering or uplifting, only what was given in our textbooks as examples of iambic pentameter and whatnot.

I only took this class because I had stumbled across some spoken word poetry videos and found those interesting. Deciding to give other forms of poetry a try as well, I decided to take this class as a way of learning how to approach those tricky "modern" poets, those who I thought wrote weird poems that often didn't rhyme and had no consistent pattern. How, I wondered, is that poetry?

This class was perfect in guiding me to understanding those poems I previously found confusing, as well as other contemporary/modern poems that did things I had never seen before (such as Bishop's "A Recollection).

Although my schoolwork and college applications make it hard to watch the videos during the week, I'm able to catch up on the weekends. I'm very glad that I enrolled in this class, and would encourage anyone reading this to do the same. Poetry is really a great art that I believe is often forgotten buried under other matters in our fast-paced society. Take this course and discover what you've been missing.

By Katrin Horowitz from Victoria, British Columbia 6 months ago Completed

I signed up for this course with modest expectations -- I wanted to learn what MOOCs are about, and I chose ModPo because a friend of mine is a poet and I thought it would help me critique her poems better. Those modest objectives were met after the first week. And so much more has happened as well -- I discovered I love Gertrude Stein, who I was sure I would hate -- I learned to listen as well as read -- in Al Filreis and his TAs I discovered a community of incredible teachers -- I found that the world of people who love poetry is so much bigger than I ever realized before. ModPo is life enhancing -- I've been singing its praises since I viewed the first video, and I will continue to do so. If you want -- or need -- to love life more, take this course.

By Jamie Leighton from Randolph 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

Words cannot express, not even poetic words can express, how much I am enjoying this course. On Sundays, I usually watch all of the videos for the week, and I return to the course several times during the week. My knowledge and enthusiasm for modern and contemporary poetry has grown. The workshop style videos make the class seem intimate, even though more than 30,000 people signed up to the class. Al Filreis and all of the Mod Po cast of characters excel in making the class accessible, but also complex and fascinating. It's a phenomena that has improved my life. Just tonight, I was describing the course to a college friend, and he will be checking it out. I recommend it to all. (I will be completing the course, but there is no option below for that. Also, beginners will feel comfortable with this course, but intermediate or advanced students will also be rewarded by participating in this class.) Also, I'm so excited to discover Poem Talk and Penn Sound through this course (which I will be listening to regularly after the conclusion of the course.)

By Jennifer Realme from Mexico City 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I am a high school English Literature teacher in Mexico City. I also am a professional student. My Literature studies were more focused on English Literature and I had never really had a course based on American Modern Poetry. It is the first course I have taken in Coursera and it has been wonderful. I wish I could devote more time to the classes yet with limited time I have been able to do the basic work and it has been amazing. Al is an excellent teacher, the course material is interesting and challenging and new to me. It is extremely well organized and it covers way more than it says it does. I like the way American culture is explained through poetry and how poetry is related to other art. Every week I think I have found a favorite poet and I am afraid I will have major ModPo withdrawal when the course is over. If you have any interest in poetry whatsoever or if you want to learn about poetry please take this course. It will be well worth your time!!!

By Nanette D'Angelo Moore from San Antonio, Texas 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

This is a lively course that really does a wonderful job of exploring poetry. The professor and his TA"s are enthusiastic and their love of poetry is really evident. The course has drawn people from all walks of life, from around the world, but all have come together in a generous learning environment. The video discussions are vibrant; not just a prof reading a lecture from notes. There are always other resources available to further study the chapters, whether it be audio files or more readings. Al has definitely put tons of time, thought and energy into making this on-line course sucessful!

By Mary Hannahan 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I am so fortunate to find this course as my first MOOC experience. The materials for the course are all provided within the syllabus and anyone with an interest in poetry can immediately start a great adventure with Al and the gang. The videos are round table discussion style and are filmed in a style that allows the viewer to feel a sense of location. I have sat here in Kentucky with my laptop and felt transported right to the Kelly Writers House and there seems to be a chair at the table for anyone. Discussions are open and all opinions are welcomed as long as you do the work to support the opinion. Quizzes are teaching tools and the real meat of the course is the discussion groups. Such a wealth of knowledge and creative energy in the discussions--that is what truly gives the energy and the scope of this new way of learning. I wanted to know more about poetry, I got to know more about the world.

By Dee Shapiro from Great Neck, New York 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I can't believe that a course could be as much fun, enlightening, engaging and fulfilling as ModPo. Al Filreis is a passionate teacher and the TA's are enthusiastic and helpful. The course proves that poetry is for everyone and just about everyone seems to be excited about participating. Sharing ideas and impressions in a supportive virtual environment with an accessible professor and charming TA's encourages a love of poetry and an appreciation for the word. This course is where to begin.

By Phyllis Blanck from Dallas, Texas 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I have loved every minute of this course, Modern and Contemporary American Poetry. i have learned so much about the poets, how to read poetry, a context for understanding these poets, and the language of meta-poetry. There has been excellent content and material. But what has been even more rewarding has been the warmth exuded by Al Filresis and his team through the video discussions and live webcasts. I feel I know them and they have been genuinely interested in my learning experience. I am not a sophisticated tech person but I read an article about MOOCs in the New York Times and browsed the Coursera website where I picked this class. It has enriched my life for the past two months. It has caused me to take pause, read, appreciate the arts and literature, and admire the University of Pennsylvania for having such a stellar professor as Al, as well as the vivid intelligence of its students and staff. It has been wonderful to read comments from people from all over the world who are sharing the class experience. The work and commitment put forth by the staff in this class is admirable - I can tell that a huge amount of time and effort went into the preparation of the class and how it would work onllne. There are excellent resources and materials: a detailed syllabus, calendars, supporting materials etc. Al has kept me motivated throughout the process, he is very energetic and sincerely cares about students, near and far. I have literally sat at my desk in Dallas, Texas and looked up airfares to Philadelphia because I long to meet the people I have been studying with and to see the Kelly Writers House and the campus. I honestly cannot think of one single negative, or even critical, thing to say about this course.

By Isabelle van den Heuvel from Hudson, Massachusetts 6 months ago Completed

Tremendous course! Al Filreis and his TAs are superhumanly committed and accessible. They are open to many points of view and are very encouraging and accepting of newbies' perspectives. This course will transform your understanding of poetry, your relationship with language, and your outlook on life. I recommend this course without hesitation - you have nothing to lose and many brilliant insights to gain.

By Laura Cushing from West Berlin, New Jersey 6 months ago Completed

You want to take this course. Yes, you! This is the kind of course you can take no matter what your previous potetry experience. There are students who have backgrounds in poetry and writing and English majors and those who have never taken a lit class in their lives. People from all over the globe coming together to discuss poetry. Professor Al and the TAs are so passionate about the subject and involved in the success of their students. A wealth of learning matterials are provided - poems, recordings of poets reading their poems, and more add to video discussions between professor Al and the TAs that teach the matterial. A weekly live seminar at the Kelly Writer's House is open to students to drop in, call in, and ask their questions over social media. Fun, educational, and completely interactive - ModPo is an experience you don't want to miss out on.

By Alan Coady from Edinburgh 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

This course has exemplified all the qualities I associate with American education (I'm in Scotland): informal; direct; humorous; high academic standards. Al Filreis has been simply inspirational and the TAs excellent. In the hours of video discussions I've watched, they never seem stumped and appear constantly engaged.

Not only has the course introduced me to new poems and poets but also to many new and exciting ideas about language, modernity and post-modernity - and political ideas about, for example, being socialised to perceive language in certain ways.

I have already prompted many friends to keep an eye out for any reappearance of this course. I can't recommend it too highly.

I should like to add my voice to those who have already said that a huge sense of connection exists across various countries - amazing considering the numbers involved! Facebook groups have been great for this. Having spent so many hours with Al and the TAs I have the odd feeling that we would recognise one another in the street. Certainly we would now have a great deal to talk about.

Sorry to end that sentence a preposition with...

By Dolors Casas from Torredembarra, Catalonia 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

Although I haven't finished the course I couldn't stop myself from making public my amazement on how it's possible that an online course can become such an engaging experience.
Al Filreis is a passionate teacher, you can tell he loves what he does, the Student Assistants team give different approaches to each poem, adding value to them and well...being my first experience with poetry, I feel like I've entered a new world.
I was a bit reluctant to take the plunge at first because I studied Economics and I have no specific education regardind poetry, and even less, modern poetry. But I'm so happy that I did it !
So please, for those who doubt because of that reason, do not hesitate, you'll love this! And you won't only learn but you'll find a new cultural world full of endless possibilities!
Thank you very much, don't stop!

By alice longaker from Greeley, Colorado 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

One among the best courses I have ever taken--certainly the best online course ever. Carefully organized and planned for a variety of learning styles and student differences. Modpo is accessible yet challenging and tempts students to reach beyond, deeper, and wider.

The videos make me feel as if I am in the class, and I have inadvertently said things aloud as if I am there--later captured in the discussion forums.

The TAs and professor work through the poems with an atmosphere of respect and openness even in disagreement. They are part of the learners too, and we the teachers often.

By Natasha Baburova 6 months ago Not Completed

This course is simply brilliant. I don't think it’s an exaggeration to say that Al Filreis is an extraordinary teacher with a unique in-depth approach to understanding poetry and teaching others to understand it. He’s so enthusiastic and welcoming he just draws you to him. No wonder he’s gathered such a wonderful crew of very bright and well versed people around him (including ModPo community). Thanks to Prof. Filreis and his TAs this course is very engaging, dynamic, mind-opening, entertaining. Somehow it exemplifies for me what education should be about: it teaches you to think independently about challenging issues and shows you how to shift perception in order to go beyond the surface. Ultimately, it teaches you how to be free! I decided to take this course out of sheer curiosity, without much prior knowledge of or any special interest for American poetry. Now (7 weeks later) I’m totally in love with the subject & feel so extremely grateful for the whole experience. I really hope there will be MopPo 2!

By Joyce Butler from Providence, Rhode Island 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

Before taking this course (thanks to my daughters) I had never heard the term 'close reading'. There is some magic going on here. Al Filreis simply loves what he does and it shows. It is a pleasure to hear each of the TAs perspectives and the sound of their voices (simply great audio). This welcoming, warm, low tech first take approach with all its fidgeting and fumbling make it real for me and it never feels too polished or slick - leaving space for my thoughts to fit into the dialogue. I will continue to feel a part of the ModPo community long after it officially ends. Thanks everyone.

By Am Levy 6 months ago Not Completed

A fabulous course for poetry lovers. A wonderful, warm, caring professor. This is the future and it is great.

By Vivian Vilmin from Rockford, Illinois 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I really don't know what to say that hasn't been said other than you absolutely need to take this class!

By delia potamianou from Athens 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

“So now we’re looking briefly at…”
This is the way most of Al Filreis’ videos begin and you always want that look to be less brief no matter how intense it is.

ModPo is definitely a course that makes someone richer. I recommend it to all kinds of professionals, all kind of students and everyone who is open to life, language, art and whatever exists between them. Open like most of the poems we met in ModPo in this brief yet delicious taste of American poetry which evokes a respect for American culture.

My only regret: I will never actually visit Kelly Writers House.
On the other hand...anyone from ModPo coming to Greece any time soon? ;-)

(I have no clue about education levels in the States so I can’t help with the question.)

By Margaretta 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I've been out of school for a long time and though I've had a challenging and satisfying career, I've been intellectually hungry. This course fills that hunger in a way that I can easily incorporate it into my busy schedule. The readings and format are just terrific. I feel like I'm sitting at the table with the TA's. I can't wait until the next conversation where someone starts that party game, "who -- living or dead -- would you most like to have dinner with?" My answer: Al Filreis!

By Julia Sutherland from Alexandria, Virginia 6 months ago Not Completed

Al Filreis has truly mastered how to make on-line learning an intimate, educational experience. His enthusiasm, knowledge and preparedness make each video discussion an engaging conversation. I feel I have learned a lot about modern poets and poetry. My experience with poetry was primarily with much earlier periods with some Whitman thrown in during American literature during high school. I feel as though I'm at the conference table with the TAs. Great content, interesting discussions, excellent guidance from Al. Two quick things -- why no e.e. cummings? I'm convinced that "John" in "I Know a Man" is a hitchhiker who Creeley picked up on the cross-country drive. One nit: It clearly takes more time to get the full benefit of the course than I recall was estimated. You may want to review that estimate to help manage student expectations.

By Elizabeth Fader from New York, New York 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I love this course. Studying poetry with Al Filreis, his creative and literate TA's and the international ModPo community has been so much fun. Last night I stayed up until 2 AM listening to videos and thinking about poetry - I didn't want to stop. In addition to learning about modern poetry, I am developing skills in close reading in other arts such as theatre, and movies. I even find myself using "close reading" skills in many other aspects of my daily life. I feel so lucky that I was able to enrich my life by taking this course. You can, too. Thanks you WNYC radio for bringing us together!

By Michael Laszlo from Fort Lauderdale, Florida 6 months ago Completed

This is a wonderful course. I thank Al Filreis and the TAs for your tremendous effort, for putting your hearts into this. I most appreciate that the video discussions were spontaneous and not rehearsed, that you were engaging the poems with the same sort of puzzlement and tentativeness and openness with which far less practiced readers (like myself) approach them. This helped me feel like I was there in the classroom. In particular, I thank you for introducing me to Emily Dickinson and John Ashbery, and I hope you will teach an online course someday on Wallace Stevens. Thanks again!

By Pooja Sharma Rao from Chandigarh 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

This course has come to me like a breath of fresh air,both the contents and the format are so user-friendly and Professor Filreis is one of the best teachers I have ever had.

this course is so well-planned and the Instructor and the TAs are so helpful and communicative.can do this over and over again.

By Mimi Shapiro from Lancaster, Pennsylvania 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

The Modern Poetry course at Penn is amazing. I have not formally studied poetry - but love it - this has opened my eyes to a how to learn and understand what is going on in the poems, from the poets point of view. All the teaching assistants and Professor Filreis, are so helpful and giving. Having never taken an on-line class before ! this one surpassed my expectations. If you ever wanted to learn about Modern and Contemporary poetry ! this is the class to take!!

By Lola Molina from Candás 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

It's been too long since I haven't studied poetry, but I wanted to take it up again and ModPo has been a great surprise for me. I am very happy with the contents selection, as well as the videos, which have really helped me to widen my initial ideas of each poem that I have read.

I hope to have more courses available like this.

By Victoria Rivero from Buenos Aires, Argentina 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

ModPo is a wonderful surprise. The close reading of the poems, watched in videos where Al Filreis talks with students, is great. The discussion forums add points of view and open more possibilities to the poems. Al Filreis is always there. You can ask him questions or changes though Twitter and he answers as is there were only a few students and not over 30.000. Thaks for the course, Al.

By Lois Elaine Heckman from Italy 6 months ago Completed

Leave your everyday lives behind and enter the concert of ModPo. Conductor Al Filreis and his TA band will swing you into a world of harmonic poetic possibility, from Dickinson to Silliman, and supply you with the necessary notes to play that music, even if you never have before. The course is orchestrated with a comprehensive syllabus score, a bugle call introduction for each week, symphonic video close readings of explanation, drumming forum discussions, and the violin caressing TLC of extremely competent and kind teachers. The experience is guaranteed to turn your mind’s sheet music "allegretto" and change the way you see and hear poetry in the future. In fact, the notions you will learn may inspire a poetic choir to sing within you forever after!

By Concha Torres 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I am really enjoying this course that has made me discover some poets that I didn't know and some others I only knew by name. Al Fireis and his team make a great job here with explanations that everybody can understand (no previous experience required), making me feel like in a real class with amazing class mates. Highly recommended.

By Goldenfeld Sima from Kiryat Gat 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

There is little I can add to what my fellow students have so well put, and still I would like to thank our fearless - facing such a huge classroom is unprecedented - teachers, Prof. Filreis and his valiant TA's. Dear friends, you have been making "all the difference" since the moment you chose to lead us cheerfully along the road that " was grassy and wanted wear" just several weeks ago. Can you believe it - only several weeks - I can't!
After listening to the introductory audio to Chapter 9-2, I just have to add one more comment, and it doesn't matter if I am repeating what others have said before: the course's great merit is in that it urges us to open our minds and hearts to what is unconventional, new , different and, at times, not so sweet - sounding to our ears. it is not easy, sometimes what we read doesn't initially make much sense, but then...

By Sara P. Dias from Cape Town 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

Prof. Filreis and his Teachers Assistant wiz team have provided me with a life-changing experience, and a lifeline in the form of this MOOC. The ModPo course is valuable and enriching beyond expectations. It is also challenging, but not without enthusiastic support from Prof. Filreis and the TAs.

We are now seven weeks into the course and I’ve gained more knowledge about poetry than I’ve managed to gather in 4 years on my own. What is remarkable is Prof. Filreis’s knowledge and the passion with which he shares it. He is indefatigable in his drive for successful online learning and although this is the first online ModPo course, he is making a huge success of it.

We all love Prof. Filreis, and respect him and the team, and many of us are going to feel bereft at the end of this course.
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By Jan Farr from Carterton, New Zealand 6 months ago Completed (Partially)

I can't say enough good things about this course. It's so much more effective than any university course I've done before - the concept is stunning - 33,000 of us from all over the world - a fascinating curriculum, videos of tutorial type discussions between teaching assistants and the wonderful Al Filreis for each poem we study as well as many other on line resources and a vast online enthusiastic discussion forum which includes the professor and his teaching assistants. I have learnt much more than I thought I would including how not to be afraid of online communication.