Being an English teacher at Merici College is fantastic for several reasons: we see the curiosity with which our students explore the world through the lens of literature and other forms of communication; we see the way our students’ skills develop and are refined over time through their hard work; we see the empathy of which our students are capable.
At Merici College, we also appreciate the vigour with which our students studied English this year. 2021 saw our Year 8 students develop cross-curriculum skills to create beautiful picture books depicting the culture they study in their Language Acquisition course. In addition, our Year 9 students considered the art of rhetoric and the way to most effectively respond to challenging social issues facing us now and in the future. Furthermore, our Year 10 students’ showed passion in their exploration of classic literature. Finally, we appreciated how our senior students rose to the challenges of their respective courses this year.
The continued implementation of the International Baccalaureate at Merici College was another priority in English classrooms this year. As the MYP moved into Year 10, English students completed inquiries into a variety of topics. In Semester 1, Year 10 explored how our connection with characters enables us to gain a deeper understanding of human nature and our world. In Semester 2, they investigated how exploration, evaluation and expression of different perspectives can develop our responsibility in promoting our common humanity and a hopeful future. Furthermore, the first Year 12 cohort of DP students finished their Language and Literature course study. As a part of the MYP, English students also completed inter-disciplinary units in collaboration with HPE and Languages.
For many students, memories of 2021 will be defined by a period of remote learning that saw students maintain the study of English as part of their weekly study routine with online synchronised lessons. For many students, the pandemic also provided an opportunity to use literature to provide a distraction or form of escapism. This connection to literature may have been the continuation of a life-long passion for literature or an opportunity to rekindle an appreciation of literature. As a tool to explore old worlds and new worlds and consider experiences similar to and unlike our own, literature is unparalleled. The connection to literature is something that we continue to foster at Merici through the Years 8-10 Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) program facilitated by the iC staff. Even outside of escapism, it is vital to remember the potential for literature to provide hope in difficult times. In this, I am reminded of G.K. Chesterton’s thoughts on the value of literature, when he said that “Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” (G.K. Chesterton)
Luke Nott
English Coordinator
