Today the examination session begins at the Salesian Pontifical University for the conclusion of the Fall Term. It goes forward for the next two weeks, mainly with oral examinations.
In the corridor outside my office there are about 30 MDV students busily reviewing as they wait their turns for oral exams in Christology (with a prof from Guadalajara whose office is next to mine) and Wisdom Literature (with a prof from Naples whose office is across from mine). The hallway is vibrating with young voices, almost like a scene out of Harry Potter. Everytime someone comes out, the gang of waiting students descends on him or her with questions: "how was it? whadde ask? howdya do on it?" Then, silence and nerves… and frequent runs to the bathroom at the end of the hall. Ah, the happy memories of exam periods (I my student days I used to lose 10 pounds during that period every year for the fear).
My own students have already completed their requirements with weekly group work and a reflection paper at the end of term. Most are happy with that, but two Italians want to come and give an oral exam as well, because they have never done a written paper as an exam before. Amazing.
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