BritLit: USING LITERATURE IN EFL CLASSROOMS
1
2
3
British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN
First published as e-book September 2009
© Copyright of contents rests with the British Council or contributors.
ISBN 978-086355-630-2
4
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction to this edition
7
Introduction to original edition
9
The BritLit Story by Fitch O’Connell
11
Using Stories in the Primary Classroom by Sandie Mourão
17
Enjoying Literature with Teens and Young Adults in the English Language Classroom by Claudia Ferradas
27
Voices on BritLit: teachers’ views Isabel Ma. Monte
35
Laura Nogués
37
Voices on BritLit: authors’ views Louise Cooper
43
Ron Butlin
45
Romesh Gunesekera
47
Sample Materials from BritLit authors Tony Mitton for Primary: Key
51
Louise Cooper for Secondary (14-16): The Wolf’s Tale
59
Ron Butlin for Secondary (16 and above): The Colourful Life of Calum McCall
67
Biodata of Contributors
79
5
6
Introduction to this edition (2009) This e-book was originally published in print form by the Catalan Teachers of English Association, Associació de Professors d'Anglès de Catalunya (APAC) to help launch the BritLit initiative at the APAC Congress in February 2009. It coincided with a visit to schools in the city of author Louise Cooper, who also contributes to this book, and a short series of workshops for teachers about the project.
This slightly revised version has been produced because it was recognised that teachers worldwide would be interested in the contents, not just those fortunate enough to live in Catalonia. The contents cover the whole range of BritLit activity in that the voices of teachers and authors are heard along with some comments from students, as well as more detailed studies from the project team and academics.
The BritLit project has produced numerous resources for teachers and students, which can be found on the British Council Teaching English website http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/try/resources/britlit. These include the complete versions of the sample kits to be found in this book as well as nearly 40 other resource packs or kits, ranging from stories for primary school learners of English to those studying at tertiary level.
We welcome feedback from teachers and others about the content of this book and the resource materials provided on-line. Please contact us by writing to
[email protected]
Fitch O’Connell Porto August 2009
7
8
Introduction to Original APAC Monograph (2009) If you really want to succeed choose the right BOOK and start to read REACH FOR THE STARS. and you’ll discover now digest that BOOK FROM COVER TO COVER Extract form REACH FOR THE STARS by Levi Tafari 2006: From The Page to The Stage (page 11)
This is part of a poem that Levi Tafari read on his BritLit ‘meet the author’ trip to Catalunya in 2007 when he visited two secondary schools to give performances. When he read his poems out loud each person listening created a world of their own in their imagination. Just like the poetry of songs, the poems opened up a different world for each of us and inspired us and give us energy. The contributors to this monograph are all believers in the power of the word. Choose the right book if you want to succeed and start to read. The written word inspires, teaches, questions, confirms, creates, challenges and opens up your mind. So please join us, APAC and