Page 11 - The College Echo Spring 2019

English 9

The English Conceptual Learning Challenge

This year, the English Department are seeking to challenge and engage learners in all year groups by making
English lessons more conceptual. Students are being asked to look first at the ‘Big Idea’ from texts they are
reading and to consider what they want to DO to the reader when they are writing their own texts.

Year 7 students are exploring non-fiction survival texts and writing persuasive speeches to deliver, whilst in
Years 8 and 9 Shakespeare study is focusing on contextual, to engage students with Shakespeare’s world
through activities such as writing in-role. Students in Year 10 have produced creative responses to the question
‘Who, what and why is the Inspector from An Inspector Calls?’ In Year 11 as the examinations creep ever
closer, we have seen a real difference in their responses. Miss Smith, English teacher and examiner,
summarises the difference, “Focusing on the big picture helps us to identify misconceptions quickly, so that we
can really support the students to explore their emotional response to texts. This is what examiners are looking
for rather than formulaic parroted essays.”

Lectures Prompt Lively Literary Discussions

On Thursday, 14 March Years 12 and 13 English Literature students travelled to Bristol to listen to three lectures
on their A Level text, Tennessee Williams’ play ‘A Streetcar Named Desire.’ It was fascinating to listen to a
variety of lecturers (some more flamboyant than others), and to mull over the ideas that were generated as a

result. A very useful addition to the study of the text itself.
A worthwhile trip was enjoyed by all, with many lively
literary discussions ensuing on the journey back.
“The lectures were an invaluable experience and have
given me an incredible insight from knowledgeable
professors on the play we are studying. It was
particularly interesting to listen to the debates at the end
of the lectures and hear different perspectives.”
Mel, Year 13.
“Each lecturer provided interesting and valuable insights
into the play, its writer and its characters, exploring
different aspects ranging from the use of music in the
stage production to the depiction of Blanche Du Bois as
a tragic heroine. The day was both educational and
enjoyable. Thank you to Ms Daniel for organising this
opportunity and to Miss Sheridan for her amazing mini
bus driving skills!” Imy, Year 13