Language Through Literature

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Language Through Literature"

Maximillian Jackson
5 years ago
Views:

1 Language Through Literature Robin Walker Trinity Trainer, Spain

The Schoolmaster (Yevtushenko) The window gives out onto the white trees The master looks out of it at the trees, For a long Ame, he looks for a long Ame out through the window at the trees, Breaking

2 The Schoolmaster (Yevtushenko) The window gives out onto the white trees The master looks out of it at the trees, For a long Ame, he looks for a long Ame out through the window at the trees, Breaking his chalk slowly in one hand. And it s only the rules of long division. And he s forgoeen the rules of long division. Imagine not remembering long division! A mistake on the blackboard, a mistake. We watch him with a different aeenaon Needing no one to hint to us about it, There s more than difference in this aeenaon.

3 A - What is literature? An object of analysis in its own right Authentic LITERATURE A source of A window on

4 A - What is literature? 1. stories & novels 2. plays 3. poems

5 A - What is literature? 1. stories & novels 2. plays 3. poems 4. diaries 5. magazines 6. songs 7. graffia 8. comics, cartoons 9. jokes & riddles 10. quotaaons, sayings, epitaphs

6 A - What is literature? An object of analysis in its own right Authentic language used for genuine communication LITERATURE A source of A window on

7 B Why use it? C Why not use it? authenac language language enrichment cultural enrichment personal / personalizes moavaang lowers affecave filters change of rouane length of texts complexity of language external constraints (Ame, exams) poor reading skills don t read literature in L1 don t read in L1 don t read don t!

8 C problems with texts SelecAon criteria for texts texts that are not too long nor too difficult topics close to the students own interests topics related to recent or current events topics intrinsically interesang in their own right extracts that are a key part of the story/book/play texts that lend themselves to a range of pre- and postreading acaviaes

9 D a basic procedure AROUSE INTEREST FIRST CONTACT WITH TEXT Activities/questions leading to global understanding SECOND CONTACT Activities/questions inviting a deeper understanding of the message and meaning LANGUAGE WORK Skills & vocabulary rather than grammar

10 D a basic procedure FIRST CONTACT WITH TEXT SECOND CONTACT Questions / activities inviting a deeper understanding of the message and meaning LANGUAGE WORK Skills and vocabulary rather than grammar RESPONSE TO TEXT Immediate reaction. Personal evaluation. Re-tell. Summarize. Continue. Change. Transform. Personalize.

11 E AcCviCes Poems short and sweet

E AcCviCes Poems short and sweet Waving not drowning.

he lay moaning; I was much further out than you thought

Poor chap, he always loved larking And now he s dead It

12 E AcCviCes Poems short and sweet Waving not drowning. (Stevie Smith) Nobody heard him, the dead man, But sall he lay moaning; I was much further out than you thought And not waving but drowning. Poor chap, he always loved larking And now he s dead It must have been too cold for him His heart gave way, They said. Oh, no no no, it was too cold always (SAll the dead one lay moaning) I was much too far out all my life And not waving but drowning.

on duty and you are being interviewed by the TV & press.

Poems short and sweet Prepare a radio news item based on

Write the story as an aracle for the local paper, giving

You are the guardian of the door to the next world.

Start with the obvious details (name, age, profession,

13 E AcCviCes Waving not drowning. (Stevie Smith) Tell the story as if you were the lifeguard on duty and you are being interviewed by the TV & press. Give them as much detail as you can. Poems short and sweet Prepare a radio news item based on the poem. Write the story as an aracle for the local paper, giving advice about safety at the beach. You are the guardian of the door to the next world. Interview the drowned man to decide if he can be allowed in. Start with the obvious details (name, age, profession, family, etc), and then ask him what happened, how and why. Look more carefully at the poem. Is it just about a man drowning? Prepare 3 quesaons you would like to ask Stevie Smith in an interview with her.

drowning? What do you do when you feel like that?

Do you have music you listen to or a place you like to go?

you friends and family thought you were waving?

14 E AcCviCes Poems short and sweet Waving not drowning. (Stevie Smith) What sort of things in life make you feel like you re drowning? What do you do when you feel like that? Do you have someone you can talk to? Do you have music you listen to or a place you like to go? Has there ever been a moment when you thought you were drowning and you friends and family thought you were waving? Does all the technology of mobile phones, internet, etc. mean that today it is easier for us to truly communicate with each other, or are we just waving at each other more and more?

15 A - What is literature? An object of analysis in its own right Authentic language used for genuine communication LITERATURE A source of personal enrichment and/or pleasure A window on

16 E AcCviCes (Pre-reading acaviaes) share all relevant previously known informaaon / ideas / opinions share own personal experience(s) related to the theme/topic in the text hold a discussion about an issue related to the theme/topic of the text listen to a short story / anecdote related the theme/topic of the text predict content from the Atle, the cover, an illustraaon, etc. predict the content from a short extract

17 E AcCviCes (Post-reading acaviaes) share an immediate personal reacaon to text discuss the theme(s) or individual statements from the text re-tell the story / play / poem in own words summarize the main events write the next verse / chapter / scene read the rest of the story work out what happened immediately before the events in the text change the ending or other events you did not like or agree with change the narrator (re-write the text from a different point of view) change the genre (from newspaper to radio or TV, etc) simulate interviews with characters from the text simulate interviews with the author about purpose / meaning of text dramaaze the text

18 E AcCviCes Short stories The Star (Alasdair Gray)

19 E AcCviCes Short stories The Star (Alasdair Gray) SecCon 2 First sentence Turning from the window he saw that no-one else had noticed. Last sentence He slipped through the lobby and onto the stairhead, banging the door after him.

20 E AcCviCes Short stories The Star (Alasdair Gray) SecCon 6 First sentence He was at the back of the classroom in a desk by himself. Last sentence Suddenly he knew what to do.

21 A - What is literature? An object of analysis in its own right Authentic language used for genuine communication LITERATURE A source of personal enrichment and/or pleasure A window on the world around us

22 E AcCviCes Prose

23 E AcCviCes Prose

24 Language Through Literature Robin Walker Trinity Trainer, Spain

Not Waving but Drowning

Death & poetry. Not Waving but Drowning Stevie Smith, 1902-1971 Nobody heard him, the dead man, But still he lay moaning: I was much further out than you thought Oh, no no no, it was too cold always (Still