Page 16 - 11+ Brochure

MEERA VASUDEVA
As an English teacher and GCSE examiner with over 13 years of experience teaching English language and literature up to A-level, I would like to offer you the following reflections, guidance and advice.
1. Literature is the most wonderful subject in the world. A subject that has the ability to touch your soul and develop one of the most important human qualities- empathy. The literature students study at school will not only stay with them for life, but will also contribute to the way in which they see aspects of the world. Literature is a powerful subject.
2. We must remember when students study English literature, they are not just studying English literature- they are studying history, psychology, sociology, ethics, religion, politics and philosophy all in one! The subject of literature in English lends itself wonderfully to all these subjects. When you study a character you study their mind, their motif, their actions, their place in society, morality etc.
3. A writer’s work of literature is their dialogue with the world; when studying any work of literature, we must try to discover:
a) What the writer is saying (bigger themes and ideas)
b) How they are saying it (the techniques they employ)
4. When students study a work of literature (novel, poem, play etc.), they must realise the writer was influenced by at least one of the following contexts (circumstances): personal, social, cultural, historical, political- they must study what influenced the writer to think the way they do, and write what they did.
5. When studying literature, students must never write about the plot or characters as though they are real- they are not! They are constructs- acknowledge this and analyse this.
6. At GCSE level, it is English literature that students study; these writers: E.g.: Shakespeare, Dickens etc. lived in a religious society and were heavily influenced by stories from Greek and Roman mythology and the
bible. It is therefore beneficial for students to have a good grounding of knowledge of Greek and Roman mythology and stories from the bible, as they are then able to deepen their understanding of nuances within the literature they study- they will also be able to identify and analyse allusions in the text.
7. Regardless of how old your child is, develop a culture of reading- model good behaviour and talk about what they read. Discuss characters, plot, ideas, and the writer’s purpose- get them engaging with what they read and thinking analytically from a young age. They must get into good habits and reflect on what they read.
8. Expose your child to a wide range of literature from various forms, eras, cultures and genres.
9. For 30 minutes a day, encourage your child to read a story, write a story or tell a story.
10. Remember that GCSE English is not just a study of Year 10 and Year 11, but a study of 11 years of education.
In addition to English tuition for students in primary and secondary school, I offer parent workshops on the following topics:
• Understand GCSE English language/ literature • Create a Culture of Reading
• Create a Culture of Writing
Get in touch here: www.meeravasudeva.co.uk
AUGUST 2020 | ISSUE 2 11+, ISEB, SATS, GCSE & A LEVEL Newsletter | Page 16