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Hello everyone

My name is Natasha Erasmus and I am from Cape Town. I am turning 33 years old this year, going in for 12 years of marriage which produced my three wonderful children. I am devout Christian who lives her life to please Jesus Christ. I recently finished my BA undergraduate degree whereby I still need to graduate (so exited), majoring in Linguistics and English Studies. My goal in life is to become an English Professor. Currently I am at home as a housewife where I get to raise my little ones while studying full time. Grateful for my husband's support and generosity towards my goals in life. I do miss working though.

Growing up my mother was obsessed with the Mills and Boons novels and I used to steal the ones she is not reading because she would take more than 7 at a time from the library and this made me fall in love with the language, fiction and literature. Once she had discovered that I was an avid reader, she allowed me to read what was more appropriate for me. I went and fell in love with Hamlet. I absolutely still am in love with Hamlet. The melancholic soul he is draws me closer to his pain. Almost makes me want to somehow help him.

I must admit that I am quite fearful for doing Honours only because it requires much more than my undergrad and I took all 5 modules (Lord have mercy) but I am positive that every assignment and every task will equip me to not only learn, but to become the professional I intend to be.

Very excited to meet all my classmates and connect.

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 Who am I ? Just an honorary member of the mental trauma association. 

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 Who am I ? Just an honorary member of the mental trauma association. 

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As someone born in the year 2000, I've been told that being caught between the millennial and Gen-Z eras means I've become an honorary member of the mental trauma association, and I can totally agree with that. At 25 years old, I feel like a teenager—I'm a caffeine induced  Indian girl who loves to sleep in and stay out late. I particularly enjoy it when relatives come up to me and ask, "When are you getting married?" Their reactions are always filled with surprise when I answer sarcastically, leading them to question if I was raised properly. So, let me introduce myself: I am a funny, sometimes sarcastic, deeply passionate, overly sensitive, and overwhelmingly compassionate Indian girl. If there's one thing I truly want from life, it's to help others in any way I can. My love for children has led me to become a certified online English teacher, allowing me to do just that. On Sunday mornings, I enjoy giving back to the community at the church I call home. Seeing people happy and enjoying life brings out my childlike nature, making this scary world a little less frightening. I was born and raised in Durban, a place I proudly consider home and where some of the best curries originate.  I am a graduate with a background of English and Psychology, an interesting combo in my opinion that works hand in hand. I'm also a foodie at heart who occasionally pretends to be an influencer reviewing food as I eat—because why not? My motto in life is simple: always have courage and be kind. For my fellow low-key Disney fans, you know what I mean. I would describe myself as an introvert, though my family and friends might agree to disagree. So, I find myself somewhere between a hermit crab and the fun cousin you cannot wait to party with. I'm neither a girly girl nor a tomboy, but if I'm being honest, I’d say I’m the son my dad always wanted and the daughter my mom loves to nag. Being the eldest daughter in an Indian household comes with its own set of challenges and conspiracy theories that still give people chills to this day. However, just like my badass personality my roti’s always come out round. And that is introducing me, Jaslyn pydigadu

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I envy anyone able to quickly and succinctly belt out an introduction of themselves to others. The question 'who' one is often sheepishly abandoned in favour of the more familiar 'what' - I am a student, a teacher, a male homosexual, and a graduate in the disciplines of English and Psychology. A glance at some of the other introductions here indicates I am right, who we are is a deeply personal and challenging question to engage with when simply throwing out a few neat labels deters the enquiry.

I think we don't know who we are. While our moods and behaviours change by the day (and by the hour) one can recognise broad consistencies or the persistence of certain emotions, traits and values. It may be tempting to seize on these adjectives as a means of defining oneself, but it is hardly helpful. We contradict these indications all the time. Take the patient teacher led to snap at a student, a lover caught wondering whether a relationship ought to continue, or a student putting off sleep and their academics to continue watching that next episode.

This is not profound, anyone versed in the humanities is well aware that human beings perplex understanding all the time. Psychology tells us that we use feedback from others to construct a personal identity - in which case I am intelligent, adorable, altruistic (that's the boyfriend, with some edits because the word 'altruistic' wouldn't come to him naturally) or lazy, directionless, and incapable of deference (per the parents). That's about as far as I am able to address the question of who I am: a bit messy on the inside, but great window dressing on the outside (which you can't see via an online programme but it is what it is).

I am studying honours in English with the hopes of pursuing a career in lecturing. Currently, my academic writing process is often seized by anxiety and insecurity - my faculty for debating a point yielding a self-destructive interrogation of everything penned to paper. I hope to develop a more self-assured approach to academics through this degree but I won't hold my breathe. The more we know, the more we realise how much we don't know. Regardless, I'll enjoy trying.

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DALL·E 2025-03-26 08.58.48 - A dramatic scene of storms and tornadoes being powerfully disrupted by an explosion of radiant light emanating from a massive, glowing sun. The swirli

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Hi everyone, my name is Potego. A 23-year-old young FET English Pedagogue from the dusty Monsterlus township in Limpopo. Growing up, I have always listened to radio with the means to familiarise myself with the current affairs of our country and that really captured my mind into becoming the inquisitive human being that I am today.

Majoring with English has enabled me to associate myself with reading and analysing texts with the means to seek meaning of the texts, construct arguments and deconstruct the dominant themes. Reading about ancient historical writings is one of the things that I enjoy doing. One of the texts that I enjoyed reading in my undergrad which correlates with the title of our module was a novel So Long a Letter written by Marriam Ba. The novel consists of the themes that revolve around feminism, polygamy, sexuality, women development, tradition and modernity.

My objective of becoming an English Lifelong learner originates from the highest degree of love for language and the exploration of human experiences through the utilisation of words. Moreover, being curious helps me to mould my perception and share my love and knowledge for literature with my learners in order to build a rigid foundation of their understanding for literature.

Being part of this community will help me with the solid advanced foundation of literature, and that shall enable me to approach my studies with analytical rigor. I am looking forward to all the engagements we are going to have.

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"To be or not to be, that is the question" - Hamlet

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Hello everyone,

When I first read this question a few days ago, I had a visceral reaction, anxiety. I simply spiraled.

I honestly hate this question because I never really know how to answer it. I sat with it for a bit, returned to it, and each time, whether after a few minutes, hours, or even a day, I had a completely different response. This indecision reminded me of Heraclitus’ quote: “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river, and he’s not the same man.” Yet, even though I was not the same person, the question hadn’t changed, nor had the epistemology I used to determine an answer.

Who am I? Am I what I am to those around me? Am I my actions? My thoughts? My feelings? My accomplishments? My social status? My labor power? No. I think who I am is who everyone is—a blank canvas, spilled on by everyone and everything around us. But even if the canvas starts blank, what of its texture? Its quality? Its size, shape, or thickness? We may be blank canvases, but we choose how the spillage around us paints us—how it defines and creates us. Maybe we find paint ostentatious, and only crayons stick. We choose.

That’s what I’ve come to think over the past few days, and I can’t wait to read this again in January 2026, just after submitting my last assignment, and reflect on the babble I wrote here.

So, for now, a little about the spillage that created the canvas I am today:

My name is Aidan Chernis, and I turned 23 a little less than two months ago. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy, as well as an advanced diploma in TEFL. I’ve been employed without a break since I was 15, working in almost every industry from bartending in multiple clubs and bars to customer service in food, retail, and construction. I’ve been a baker in a small-town bakery, a full-time teacher for Grades 10–12 in English and Consumer Studies, a tutor for foreign learners and university students, a newspaper writer, and most recently, a medical practice manager, first for a psychiatrist, now for a plastic surgeon.

I am a father to my six cats: Noctis Lucis Caelum (Noct), Simon, Hamas, Neferpitou (Pitou), Augustus (Gus), and Patchy, whom I rescued after their mother abandoned them at around three weeks old. I am a devout Marxist—growing up poor is a radicalizing thing. My favorite writer is Shakespeare, and Hamlet is my favorite work of his. That, along with Lady Gaga’s album Artpop, has shaped who I am as a writer, reminding me always to stay on the right path.

I love to reread books obsessively. Outside of my weekly reading of The Communist Manifesto, my current literary fixation is Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass by Lana Del Rey. I love studying and never plan to stop.

I am also a failed author of two poetry anthologies, written during my last year of high school and the two years that followed. One of my biggest pet peeves in recent years has been the older generation’s inability to see the great English revolution happening through meme culture, social media vocabulary, video essays, and more.

I took all five modules this year because I took a gap year after high school since I never planned to be alive past 18. Now, I have no time to waste in catching up and overtaking my peers with my new lease on life.

Since childhood, I have believed deeply and without question that I must contribute to the betterment of humanity in every possible way. It is my hope that I can use the knowledge from this course and others to add as much value as I can to the web of human understanding in this field.

Thank you, and I’m excited to work with you all this year.

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"If a book is well written, I always find it too short"-Jane Austen

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Good day everyone! My name is Farisani Muthelo. I am from Limpopo in a village called Mavhunga, situated outside Louis Trichardt. My life revolves around analysis of literature texts with my grade 12 learners and spending time with my two beautiful boys (and of course a little bit of fun).Reading a good novel is my way of taking a break from work and answering a million questions from toddlers. If you want to gift me, buy me any novel by female African writers (Tsitsi Dangarembga, NoViolet Bulawayo, Nawal El Saadawi, Chimamanda Ngozi Achidie, Mariama Ba and many more) and I will talk about you till eternity . When I want to take a break from academic readings, I travel and explore the beauty of nature.

I have an Honours degree in Educational Management from UNISA. I am currently busy with my last two modules, including my research paper. My studies focused on themes such as Blackness, Whiteness, feminism, decoloniality, gender,class and race. The module I enjoyed the most was CHS 4801 as it provided me with a platform to show creativity and interact with my lecturers and fellow students. I am now passionate about decoloniality as it enables me to work with various stakeholders in the community.

I am excited to be part of the ENG4803 community and looking forward to reading your introductions and working with you.

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Hi everyone! I'm Samantha :)

I cannot remember a time where reading was not one of my absolute favorite things to do (a hobby I picked up from my mother). As I got older I really started to enjoy analyzing what I read and trying to understand the author's thinking - this is what drove me to study English Literature at university. I majored in English as well as Geography (a strange combination but I do also enjoy learning about how people affect spaces and vice versa).

I'm an English teacher, the guardian of three beautiful dogs (they are absolutely the most important things in my life), a daughter, sister and partner. Like many humanities students I love creating whether it's personal essays, crocheting and knitting or bringing nail designs to life.

I loved learning about all of you through your posts and I look forward to experiencing this module with you all.

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New works by Alison Friend_ 'While You Were Out…' at Harman Projects Los Angeles

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Hi everyone ;).

Introducing myself here feels like being asked or rather told “Please tell us more about yourself” in a job interview. I fumbled once or twice – maybe more. Could it be because the concept of self changes as you learn and encounter new things? Probably. Either way, my name is Thandy Mankgodi Mokoale, and I’m from Limpopo, born and bred. This is who I think I am.

In the academic realm, I’m a BA in English Studies and Psychology degree holder, not yet conferred though. The combination between these two majors has always fascinated me. The pair has influenced how I view things around me, both in the academic realm and beyond. While English Studies has sharped my ability to interpret and persuade expressively, psychology has made me aware of how the human mind thinks in different situations and after the situations. Together, they have enriched the ways I approach communication, language and literature; and they have also made me eager to want to embrace the intellectual challenges I’m yet to face in my honours studies.

Beyond the academic realm, I think of myself as someone who is enthusiastic, both as an individual and as a team player; but most people do not see it that way because I’m usually quiet and reserved. I could say I’m a quiet observer; I need to get used to my surroundings before doing anything else, and I enjoy reading romance and fantasy books in my free time if I’m not on TikTok (you’d be surprised how much I learn from that app). I believe these elements contribute to the way I continue to grow as an individual, approach challenges and collaborate with others.

This is who I think I am and I’m looking forward to learning from you all, to exploring new perspectives together, and looking forward to discovering how I will evolve through this journey.

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Hi everyone, I'm Natalie :). A few weeks ago someone mentioned (very casually I might add) that I'm pushing 30 now which totally didn't send me spiralling into existential dread :') hence my caption. I won't confirm nor deny whether trying to answer the question; 'Who am I?" didn't have the same effect :'). I would say that I am artistically curious. I love every kind of art there is and have dabbled in almost every medium at some point or another. It was film making when I was very young, song writing and guitar in my early teens mixed with drawing and painting occasionally. My current hyper fixation is crocheting and air dry clay. I love reading of course, my favourite book is Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. I consider myself a major movie buff, especially in the thriller/horror genre. I love to travel. I was born here but grew up in Ireland for the first 10 years of my life.

Academic wise, I did my BA at Rhodes University majoring in Philosophy and Psychology until I realised majoring in Philosophy was insane and quickly switched to English in my 2nd year. I was already doing a BA majoring in unemployment so the change was necessary (100% KIDDING, I stan my fellow BA graduates).

Im now a qualified English teacher and spent the last year teaching ESL in South Korea. It was a transformative year which brought me new insight into the value of language learning. My classes were extremely mixed level, ranging from proficient English speaking students to those with special needs. Tailoring effective lessons was thus the most challenging yet rewarding experience I had as an expat. I believe diversity like this exists in every classroom, especially in our rainbow nation, and that as a teacher it is my responsibility to learn all I can about inclusive learning. I am thus extremely excited for this module and getting to know everyone!

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I am a young adult from the villages in Limpopo. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Languages obtained from the University of Limpopo. Recently, I completed my PGCE with UNISA, and I am currently an Honours student.

News Flash: I enjoy reading novels, but I don't enjoy academic-related activities as much. However, I do enjoy the academic thrill, which often comes with a mix of excitement and pressure. The pressure to excel academically can be intense, but it motivates me to push beyond my limits and achieve more.

On a personal note, I'm a shy person and not typically a people person. It's ironic, then, that I have a background in performing arts and genuinely enjoyed being on stage. This contrast between my introverted nature and my stage presence is something I find quite fascinating.

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Good day everyone.

My name is Marageni Ndamulelo Petunia. I am teacher by profession. I value curiousity and learning more than anything. I'm more into reading and writing. I'm also a person that is passionate about creativity and really love expressing my self. I love exploring new ideas, asking questions and trying to understand the world around me. I believe in humanity and the power of teamwork.

I am a Village girl thriving for success.

Thank you!!

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Who am I? 
“Whatever our souls are made out of, his and mine are the same” – WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 

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Who am I? 
“Whatever our souls are made out of, his and mine are the same” – WUTHERING HEIGHTS. 

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Who am I? I’m a 25-year-old English teacher, hopelessly in love with my high school sweetheart (yes, it’s still cute, thank you for asking), and currently navigating the wonderfully confusing world of adulting—because apparently, nobody gives you a manual for this. If you ask my family and friends, they'd probably say I’m stubborn, authentic, empathetic, passionate, and sensitive.

I was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. Fast-forward a few years, and now I’m living in China, teaching English to kids who think I’m a combination of a walking dictionary and an overenthusiastic tea addict. I am ridiculously proud to be the educator of little humans.

Adulting? I’m living in a foreign country, trying to teach, keep track of my laundry, and figure out how taxes work—all while convincing myself that the occasional existential crisis is a normal part of growing up. Stubborn? Absolutely. If I believe in something, I’ll hold onto it like I’m clutching the last cookie in the jar. Authentic? I’m like an open book… with a lot of tea stains and dog-eared pages. Empathetic? If you’re sad, I’ll probably hand you a tissue, a cup of tea, and suggest we watch PS. I LOVE YOU for the 17th time. Passionate? Oh, 100%. Whether it’s about teaching, my other half or my family. Sensitive? Yes.

So, who am I? I’m a stubborn, sensitive, English-obsessed, tea-fueled, 25-year-old living in China, trying to teach little humans, be madly in love, and figure out how to survive adulthood.

My interest lies within the Victorian and Romantic period of literature and their writers (hence the quote at the top). I hope this year will provide me with some time to research the Gothic female further, gender roles, etc., within this specific era of writing. My interest lately lies within Wuthering Heights and the idea of the domesticated women vs the “crazy/wild/hysterical” women and how the Gothic female, gender roles, masculinity, femininity, and gender play into this.

Lovely to meet you all,

Kelly-Ann Maree

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Hi everyone – my name is Lezandre. I’m still scarred by my Grade 3 teacher calling me lasagna and have carried that trauma like an unwanted family heirloom ever since.

As an English Honours scholar, my vocabulary consists of 90% memes and 10% the word slay, which I consider the perfect balance.

When I’m not overanalysing fictional characters or contemplating why we say “the alarm went off” when it actually turned on, I’m probably enjoying good food, binge-watching something, or choosing a certain aesthetic to follow for the week.

Looking forward to connecting with you all - whether it’s shared existential crises, cute memes, or just debating how dramatic Shakespeare was, I'm sure it's going to be soooooo fun! 🧚

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Hello ENG4803 Family

I am Fezeka Salukazana, born in a small town called Komga. I grew up, studied and worked in the Eastern Cape. I am a public school teacher in Mthatha, EC. I teach Grade 7 English.

I have four children, an almost 18 year old son and GBG triplets who will turn 15 on the 16th of June. One of the trio (B) has autism.

I did my BA in English and History at Unitra (now WSU) many years ago. I applied to study with UNISA in 2024, got admitted, unfortunately, I was unable to register, also, fear of the unknown got the better of me.

I applied again to study in 2025, got accepted, and here I am, ready to give it my all.

A lot has changed in the World of the Academics, and I truly have a lot of 'catching up' to do.

I don't have a favorite author, however, I have laid my hands on the works of Eskia Mphahlele, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Sindiwe Magona, Ellen Khuzwayo and Buchi Emecheta.

I am sure, by the end of the course, I will be a different person, in terms of knowledge, critical thinking and research skills.

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I post my introductory Padlet post, therefore I am. 

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I post my introductory Padlet post, therefore I am. 

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Hi all, I’m Jade. I’m happy to be here :) My experience of self has always felt bound up with place. I’ve lived in almost as many places as I am years old (I am 23, for now - the passage of time keeps me up at night) and I haven’t felt like the same person in any of them. So I’ll start by saying that after growing up predominantly in KZN, I currently live in Franschhoek and that the mountains here feel to me like a part of who I am at the moment. Aside from that, I spend a lot of time reading. I desperately want to ask everyone’s favourite author but would struggle to answer if asked to name mine. I would offer Toni Morrison, Cormac McCarthy, Kazuo Ishiguro, J. M. Coetzee, but the list goes on. I like being outside. I’m learning to surf and gradually becoming less afraid of sharks, although progress on that front is slow. I took an ethics module in first year and I haven’t been the same since. I’m now mainly interested in critical animal studies and environmental ethics. That said, I’m very excited for this module and look forward to engaging with its themes.

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I am as far as I can prove: George Breet

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I am as far as I can prove: George Breet

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Hello to all! I am George Breet and I am exceedingly excited to partake in content of the year with everyone. I have been aiming to continue my studies for quite a few years so I look forward to the knowledge to be gained. I am currently in the private education sector (by opportunity, not choice) and I adore learning about new views, perspectives and fields. My academic interests are rather broad but sadly unspecialised as of yet, but some highlights are analytical psychology (apologies Prof Kreuiter, but team Jung over Freud), philosophy, Chinese literature (I am also studying the language itself), and international music. I finished my Language degree in 2021 and hope to push through to further post-grad studies after honours.

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Collage of random cultural buildings from all around the world

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I am Professor Allyson Kreuiter. Who I am is a tricky question to answer as my mood alters from day to day as does my idea of self. Experiences have structured my approach to life and to my concept of self. I am a feminist and use psychoanalytic feminist theory in my own academic work. My main focus in life is all things gothic and my cat! You will engage with me on the crime section and I read lots of it. I did a PhD or two that focused on visual-textuality and textual-visuality, just a fancy way of saying that I love images and words. I hope to get to know all of you and that you will participate and engage with one another on this padlet. This is a safe space, so write what you like, but do tell use who you are