June 2026 Modules

Why are the works of J.R.R. Tolkien still so relevant to us in the 21st century? In this course, we will look at some of the central themes of his novels, including Family, Home, Good vs. Evil, and Loss, exploring how Tolkien is still speaking to us almost fifty years after his death.
There are no required texts for this course, however, you may find having a copy of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings very useful (any edition).

The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:

Outline	8-Session Structure
Week 1	Lecture 1: War and Home
	Discussion 1: Why is Tolkien still relevant?
Week 2	Lecture 2: Family, friendship, and fellowship
	Discussion 2: Hope and Heroes
Week 3	Lecture 3: Good and Evil
	Discussion 3: Fantasy: Recovery, Escape, and Consolation
Week 4	Lecture 4: Gender and Race
	Discussion 4: Nature and the Landscape

Unlock profound imagery and meaning in just a few words. This module explores the timeless art of haiku, blending theory with live practice. Each week, dive into the essence of the shortest form of poetry, from its core principles and spiritual roots with a special guest scholar, to its classic and modern masters. Then, immediately apply your insights in a collaborative workshop where your own haiku will come to life. Theory one day, transformation the next. Craft your visions, one word at a time.

Course Outline:

Week One
• Introduction to haiku
Week Two
• Cultural/Religious connections to Haiku with guest speaker Dr. Robert Steed
Week Three
• Haiku Classic masters: Matsuo Bashō, Yosa Buson, Kobayashi Issa, Masaoka Shiki
Week Four
• Modern Haiku
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This two-module series introduces friends who are ready to try writing to some tools of the craft. Nearly a century ago, Dorothea Brande wrote Becoming a Writer — a guide to discovering writing that really hasn’t been outdone since! We use Brande’s guidance, journaling, writing experiments, and writing prompts to discover the individual student’s optimal writing conditions and strengths as well as to develop their repertoire of skills and techniques. The cohort will build trust in each other and the always-supportive Collaborative Feedback Method as they optionally share their pieces and read encouragingly for each other.

Module 2 Course Outline:

Week Five
• Story Development
Week Six
• Story 2
Week Seven
• Make it your own!
Week Eight
• Story 3
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This is the textual language of the early classical Chinese philosophical and literary tradition, bearing a relationship to modern forms of Chinese like that of classical Latin to a modern Romance language. Just as one does not need to know Italian to study Latin, no prior knowledge of modern forms of Chinese is needed to study the classical language. This language served as a kind of "lingua franca" throughout East Asia for much of history, much like the role Church Latin served in medieval Europe. In this module we will begin building the grammar, syntax, and vocabulary to eventually be able to engage with the texts associated with Chinese thinkers such as Confucius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Mozi. If a cohort forms, we can continue this study within a continuing sequence. We will focus exclusively on developing the ability to read it as a literary language.

Building upon our exploration of Garner's foundational fantasy The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, this follow-up course delves into its darker, more complex sequel, The Moon of Gomrath. Where our first course examined Garner's introduction to the magical world of Alderley Edge, this second instalment investigates his evolution as a writer through a narrative that Philip Pullman noted "presents a less conventional fantasy on every level." We'll analyse how Garner introduces the dichotomy between "High Magic" (controlled, patriarchal, rational) and "Old Magic" (wild, feminine, emotional), exploring how this tension manifests through Susan's profound connection to ancient Celtic forces and Colin's desperate attempts to save her. The course will particularly focus on Garner's emerging literary voice—more direct, stripped-down language and a less linear plot structure that would come to define his later work.

Our discussions will examine how The Moon of Gomrath subverts traditional fantasy conventions through its abrupt, ambiguous ending and its refusal to provide neat resolutions. We'll explore Garner's masterful evocation of "both the wonder and terror of the mythical forces that hide behind the mundane surface of the world," and how the book rewards readers on multiple levels—offering adventure for younger audiences while presenting complex philosophical themes for adults. The course will conclude by considering how this sequel, with its "deeply melancholic and powerful story," marked Garner's transition toward more challenging literary territory, establishing themes he would explore throughout his distinguished career. Join us as we continue our journey through Garner's mythic landscape, where ancient magic awakens in modern England with consequences both thrilling and profound.

In this series of modules, you will get familiarized with basic Japanese vocabulary and structures. Using a communicative approach, you’ll learn basic expressions, start to learn the hiragana script, and recognize katakana and kanji in a fun and interactive way. We will also explore Japanese culture in general. いっしょに日本語を学びましょう！

Note: All sessions will be live recorded and shared with all enrolled students afterward for review and to allow those who cannot attend live to still participate in the class.

Leadership is one of the most enduring and complex themes in J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium. From reluctant leaders like Frodo to commanding figures such as Aragorn, Tolkien explores leadership not as a single style but as a dynamic interplay of voices, virtues, and choices.

This course examines leadership through Tolkien’s works using the GiANT 5 Voices framework, connecting modern leadership theory with literary analysis. Participants will identify their own leadership voice, analyze the leadership styles of key Tolkien characters, and explore practical leadership tools as they appear, explicitly or implicitly, within Middle-earth. The course culminates in applying these insights to real-world leadership contexts, helping learners grow as thoughtful, adaptable, and values-driven leaders.

This course is ideal for all readers of Tolkien, leaders, and lifelong learners interested in the intersection of literature, leadership, and personal development.

The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:

Outline	8-Session Structure
Week 1	Session 1: Discovering Your Leadership Voice
	Session 2: Leadership in Tolkien's World
Week 2	Session 3: Leadership Voices in Middle-earth
	Session 4: Leadership Voices in Action
Week 3	Session 5: Leadership Tools
	Session 6: Tools at Work through Tolkien
Week 4	Session 7: Tapping into All Five Voices
	Session 8: How Would You Lead Middle-earth?

Old High German (OHG) is a group of Germanic dialects spoken in the Holy Roman Empire from the 6th to the 11th centuries, and although it does not have the same breadth of literature as Old English, it still boasts a number of fascinating texts, such as the alliterative poems Muspilli and Das Hildebrandslied and rhymed poems like Das Ludwigslied and Otfrid of Weissenburg’s Evangelienbuch. The language is necessary for a complete understanding of Germanic Philology, and the corpus offers important material for students of mythology, folklore, comparative literature, religious studies and medieval culture.

Every iteration of this module takes into consideration the language skills and interests of the students, and each month will focus on different texts and progress at a different speed. Anything from the Merseburger Zaubersprüche to the works of Notker Labeo is open for our enjoyment and edification.

Prerequisites: Participants should be familiar with at least one Germanic language (for example: Old English, Old Norse, Middle High German or Gothic).

Note: All sessions will be live recorded and shared with all enrolled students afterward for review and to allow those who cannot attend live to still participate in the class.

This module provides a broad survey of Oz's remarkable longevity as a franchise over the 20th and 21st centuries. We will discuss how Oz operates as a quintessentially American fairy tale that, like all fairy tales, is ripe for reinterpretation by each new generation.

Course Outline:

Week One
• Session 1: Introduction to L. Frank Baum and the Oz franchise/The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (1900)
• Session 2: Bringing Oz to the big screen — The Wizard of Oz (dir. Victor Fleming, 1939)
Week Two
• Session 3: Oz as 1970s Musical Extravaganza -- The Wiz (dir. Sidney Lumet, 1978)
• Session 4: Oz as 1980s Dark Fantasy -- iReturn to Oz (dir. Walter Murch, 1985)
Week Three
• Session 5: Oz as Literary Fiction -- Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire
• Session 6: Oz Reinterpreted for the 21st Century: Wicked — Part One (dir. John Chu, 2024)
Week Four
• Session 7: Oz Reinterpreted for the 21st Century, continued: Wicked — For Good (dir. John Chu, 2025)
• Session 8: Oz as American mythology — screening clips of other Ozadaptations not previously covered, as we discuss the question "What makes Oz so pervasive in American culture?"
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“I tell you there are more worlds, and more doors to them, than you will think of in many years!”

Let’s read George MacDonald’s darkest fantasy! Exploring his family’s haunted residence, Mr. Vane uncovers a portal to a strange mirror dimension. He plunges into a parallel realm where ravens speak, skeletons do battle, and sleepers dream of a world redeemed… And where Lilith, exile of Eden, holds dominion.

A mesmerizing allegory of death and salvation, Lilith exerted a powerful influence on C.S. Lewis’ Narnia. H.P. Lovecraft hailed MacDonald’s novel for its “compelling bizarrerie.”

The Art of Healthy Living is an interactive wellness module designed to help participants create sustainable habits that support physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Through a holistic approach, the course explores nutrition, movement, rest, stress management, relationships, and healthy habit formation.

This course is ideal for those who are looking for practical and sustainable tools to improve their lifestyle, build healthier routines, and develop a more mindful and balanced approach to everyday living.

Course Outline:

Week One
• Session 1: What Does “The Art of Healthy Living” Mean?
• Session 2: The Art of Nutrition
Week Two
• Session 3: The Art of Rest: Sleep, Rest & Recovery
• Session 4: The Art of Movement
Week Three
• Session 5: The Art of Stress Management
• Session 6: The Art of Healthy Habits
Week Four
• Session 7: The Art of Relationships
• Session 8: The Art of Creating a New Healthy Living Plan
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One of the most crucial elements of education for millennia was teaching the ability to harness the potential of the memory. From the time of Homer until the 19th century, bards and bureaucrats both would have used established methods to organize and categorize their thoughts and remember crucial pieces of information. The legendary memories of men from Homer to Cicero to Shakespeare had less to do with their unique genius and more to do with their application of ancient methods of memorization, that can still be learned today. In this module, students will learn the ancient memorization techniques that allowed bards to recite thousands of lines of poetry and Shakespeare's actors to perform dozens of complicated monologues, and discover its applications to life in the 21st century.