After dedicating their Tuesdays and Thursdays to perform their writings, the 12 students of EN 408: Spoken Word Performance will have their last performance May 2 at Green Bar at 7 p.m.

In each class, students stand and perform their selected pieces of writing for input from others. After moving the tables out of their classroom and creating a circle of chairs around the room, they begin to open up and share their feelings with their classmates.

Andy Johnson, the course instructor, explained the reason for the class’ open feel.

“The feeling of the class is very much driven by the people who take the class for that semester. This class and this group of students – they’re wonderful, they are very open and they’re very laid back and kind of casual,” Johnson said. “They’re very comfortable talking to each other; they’re fairly comfortable exploring their feeling with each other (the feelings that come up in their poetry and their prose), so that’s why it feels casual.”

Their last event at Green Bar counts as the class’ final exam. The students perform in class at least six times each to prepare them for their public performances and find a way that is comfortable for them.

“Typically, students embody their texts in some way,” Johnson said. “They not only read it, but they express it through their body in some way. That has involved singing, it’s involved dance, it’s involved some acting; usually some combination of those.”

Allie Walsh, a senior majoring in communication studies, is performing five pieces she has worked on throughout college.

“The description for this course seemed completely out of my comfort zone. I felt like I should take it for that reason exactly. I love to write, but to perform my own work was something I wasn’t sure that I could do,” Walsh said. “There are only about 12 of us in class and throughout the semester we have really gotten to know each other; everyone is so supportive, and each time I leave class I feel like they have helped me feel proud of my work.”

Kelsey McShane, a senior majoring in journalism, said the classmates are supportive of each other and allow for room standing up and expressing emotions freely.

“I love being able to express myself and read my words to people who truly want to listen. It’s always nice to be able to do my poetry to the class and they’re truly watching and listening to my words, as I do for them,” McShane said. “Andy is always trying to help us and give us advice on how to read or perform. I enjoy hearing what he has to say and I really enjoy this class.”