Combining English and history has always “felt like a natural blend” to Ben Roberts. “I care a lot about what people were actually doing and how they were living [in the past], and that lends itself well to English,” he says. That was true growing up, when he was fascinated by the history curriculum his mother taught and the storytelling behind his favorite movies (ask him about The Matrix). It was true as an undergraduate, when he opted to major in both comparative literature and history. (There was a distinct “History and Literature” major, but Mr. Roberts was “stubborn” about not wanting to focus on a single track and committed to an unusual blend.) And it’s true now, as he teaches both English and history courses at Commonwealth, believing “you can’t really effectively teach one without some of the other.” Keep reading for his thoughts on Commonwealth students, writers worth emulating, surprising hobbies, and other hot takes (then again, maybe don’t ask about The Matrix...). 

1. What three words best describe Commonwealth? 

Creative, surprising, free-flowing.

2. What’s your #1 piece of advice for Commonwealth students?

Our students are probably tired of hearing this, but reach out to your teachers as much as you want and need, both for class material and also because we love hearing about the things you're curious about. And it's really great practice for life, being proactive and brave about saying, “I'm going to ask for this.”

3. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

It was actually feedback from my high-school English teacher on an essay, but it's a little more broadly applicable: basically, it was “you said this really nicely, but you didn't actually say anything.” I care a lot about how we communicate and about being eloquent and thoughtful—but it needs to be in service of something. 

4. If you could study any field aside from your own, what would it be? 

Probably medical anthropology, which is what I thought I was going to do in college. I was fascinated by the idea of applying a more holistic approach to public health, trying to help them by understanding the sum of their lives, not just their individual conditions.

5. Whom do you most admire? 

In terms of people close to me, I really admire my grandmother Sylvia, or Nana, as we called her. She was a teacher herself and just one of the most consistently kind, thoughtful, and caring people I’ve known. Everyone who knew her said similar; she was a real model of patience and determination without stubbornness. 

More broadly, I deeply admire Paul Robeson, the actor, singer, civil-rights activist, football player, you name it. He lived an incredible life. He's worth studying for a lot of reasons, but the thing I most admire about him is that he's one of the only people who refused to sell out his friends and comrades to Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee. It took an unimaginable amount of courage to do that. 

6. Which word or phrase do you most overuse?

“If not, that's okay.”

7. What do you find is the biggest misconception about teaching?

Thinking teachers are a lot more judgmental than they are. I definitely assumed some were judging me for my mistakes when I was a student, but as a teacher, I never think less of someone for being disorganized or losing something or turning in an assignment late. I care about my students’ success, and mistakes are part of learning! 

8. What is your favorite aspect of working at Commonwealth?

How much I am learning from colleagues and students. We've got a million different amazing interests in our community, and I feel like I can always discover something new here.

9. How do you define success?

In terms of my daily life, success is making students feel like they have learned something interesting or that they were in some way cared for. I'm sure not every lecture I’ve given has made students feel equally passionate, but that's the goal.

10. What book do you wish you had read sooner?

Well, I read a couple books I loved in the last few years that I don't know I would have appreciated much earlier. If on a Winter's Night a Traveler [by Italo Calvino] is challenging and really wonderfully written. It’s a strange exploration of what a book can be: it's ten different stories woven together throughout a central narrative. It's unique and it's beautiful and it's weird. I read it in college, and I was left thinking, “Books can do this?!” 

11. If you could have dinner with one person—alive or dead—who would it be? 

It would be Walter Benjamin. He was a philosopher associated with the pre–World War II German Frankfurt School, and he had a very strange and wonderful way of thinking about history (and just about everything else). It would be fascinating to talk to him about how he saw the world.

12. Scripted or improvised? 

Improvised. I don't have the patience for scripts.

13. What is your favorite museum? 

I'm attached to the de Young Museum in San Francisco, because I grew up near there. I've been there so many times. It's wonderful. It's a beautiful space. It's part of my childhood. But my favorite museum ever is probably the Milwaukee Art Museum. It's an unbelievably cool building, built like this massive ship on the shore of Lake Michigan, and it's got an amazing collection. Turn a corner, and there’s something new and surprising. 

14. What is your favorite mode of transportation?

Train. I love public transit. I think we should have more of it, always. I love being able to just sit and look out at the world as I travel and not have to worry about driving. I also just think trains are neat.

15. What is your go-to Boston-area eatery?

Probably El Jefe’s, because I lived next door in college. Now, I’m in Jamaica Plain, and there's a place called Tres Gatos that is, for budgetary reasons, a rare visit but really incredible. They are a combined tapas place, book store, and record store, which is a very dangerous combination for me.

16. If you could live as a local for forty-eight hours anywhere in the world, where would you go? 

Hong Kong. I went there once in my teens, and it's just an incredible city. One of my best friends is from there, too.

17. If you could join any past or current music group, which would you want to join?

If we’re pretending I'm at their talent level, then Portishead, the trip-hop group. They don't have a big discography, but with every single album, they clearly tried to reinvent themselves and do something that only they were thinking of. Fun fact: they actually met through Thatcher’s “Entreprise Allowance” scheme for unemployed people. So I guess thanks for one thing, Margaret.

18. What is the theme song of your life?

If I'm being honest, it's the “Benny Hill Theme Song.”

19. What is the best gift you have ever given?

The most recent answer to this is simple: I found extremely ergonomic red pens for my mother. (She grades in red to scare her students.)

20. Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Aspirationally, Robert Pattinson. This is because Mr. Dardonville stole my answer of Willem Dafoe, for the record.

Bonus: What’s your favorite film?

Lots of different answers. I could talk about movies forever. I did my college thesis on Andrei Tarkovsky, a Soviet director, and his last three movies. I have a lot of love for those longer films that challenge you to accept their world. I'm also an ardent defender of The Matrix—and all of its sequels—which is a hot take and a lonely place to be.

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