Lights, camera, English class New full-time professor connects with his students through movies

Jordan Utley-Thomson Roundup Reporter

In a world where students see English class as a frightening experience involving dead white males, inaccessible readings, and esoteric lectures, only one man can save them.

Their answer is forty-oneyear-old Brad Saenz, a new, fulltime English professor at Pierce College, noted among students for his distinctive personality and unorthodox teaching methods.

“English is a subject that a lot of people don’t like, and they’re kind of intimidated by it,” Saenz said. “I try to defy their expectations by making it seem like the class that they will actually want to come to. I want to come to class too!”

Saenz assigns papers based on a topic that is familiar to his students’ personal lives. Saenz allows the thesis to be centered around more informal things such as Disneyland or a blockbuster movie.

“Nothing constructive was ever done without passion,” Saez said, paraphrasing Ralph Waldo Emerson. “You have to be into it.”

Alex Lucy, a 19-year-old undecided major currently taking English 101 with Saenz, enjoys the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of the class.

“He tied in Batman with an essay,” Lucy said. “You won’t get bored in his class at all.”

Saenz is also known for engaging with his class in a sort of way that one would in an one-onone conversation between friends meeting for coffee. Charismatic banter and genial exchanges are the rule - not the exception - to his lectures.

“It’s important that they feel comfortable in the class,” Saenz said. “It’s like if you’re acting. If you’re stressed and nervous, you’re not going to be able to perform, and it’s the same thing with writing.”

The relationship between Saenz and his students can be very strong at times, to the point that one student was afraid of turning in subpar work because it would feel like a friend was reading it.

“They actually enjoy the class, they enjoy me, they enjoy the material so much that they would be embarrassed to turn in bad work,” Saenz said.

Saenz, originally from Houston, graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in English in three years. He then got his master’s in English at the University of Houston and began his career in academia.

Before landing a full-time position at Pierce College last year, Saenz held a myriad of part-time teaching positions at institutions such as Pasadena City College and Hartnell College, including Pierce.

Saenz was also the Associated Student Organization adviser for ten years.

According to Saenz, the departments here don’t have the politics and academic infighting he’s seen at other campuses.

“The English department here is really good,” Saenz said. “I can’t say that about a lot of the schools I’ve worked at.”

Not only are students noticing and liking Saenz, but other professors are as well.

“Brad is a great teacher who brings passion and enthusiasm to each of his classes,” department chair of English Donna Accardo said. “His wide knowledge of film and literature is bringing that class to life.”

Saenz also has another side to him: Hollywood. He once tried to break into scriptwriting, but could not get a script sold in the cutthroat environment.

“It’s a real tough racket,” Saenz said.

This has not broken the movie buff’s passion for film. A selfdescribed James Bond fan, Saenz also shows his love for franchises such as Alien and Batman with original release posters decked out all over his office.

“I have so many Batman posters, it’s sad,” Saenz said.