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Literary Dystopias and their Relevance
Does dystopian literature have a place in the classroom? See what the author of Macrat’s study manual for ‘Brave New World’ has to say … It is notable that some of the literary texts chosen by the IEB (for English Home Language) in recent years reflect concepts about dystopian societies. A reader might ask: In what...
‘The White Tiger’ is a captivating novel to study
Notes from the author of Macrat’s study manual for this novel … “Stories of rottenness and corruption are always the best stories, aren’t they?”- Balram aka The White Tiger - The anti-hero trope has been trending in fiction and film. With their flawed morals, questionable actions and personal struggles, anti-heroes...
FIRM FOUNDATIONS for Grade 8 (book 1) and Grade 9 (book 2): how to give your GET learners a solid foundation in language that will support them throughout their school career.
Now – after Covid 19 – the Firm Foundations books are more relevant than ever. They were written for learners who had gaps in their basic understanding of the English language with a view to giving them a solid foundation on which to build to matric. Although many of us were able to carry on teaching uninterrupted or...
The Importance of Being Offred
Why should we study Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale in 2022? I can think of several reasons why the novel is worthwhile of study: The novel addresses important matters such as the individual in a community; The novel also addresses the value of defiance in a society that lacks freedoms; The novel presents the...
THE THEORY OF FLIGHT:
LIFT THRUST DRAG WEIGHT If you have had enough of doom and gloom and neat categories and bleak outlooks, then this is the book for you! The protagonist, Imogen, is uplifting in every way. She has been carried on her mother’s back as a baby and toddler, and perhaps this is where her lightness of being originates. She...
Teaching ‘North and South’
A LABOUR OF LOVE Labouring through Tess of the D’Urbervilles in matric is the reason my husband proffers for not reading novels today. He describes the book, one which for many is a great classic, as a boring book about a milkmaid who falls pregnant and dies. I often reflect on his response to literature when reading...
Teaching ‘The Dream House’
I remember this being a common catch-phrase when I was growing up. “Mom, can my pocket money be increased?”“Dream on.” “Dad, I wish we were going to the sea for Christmas…”“Dream on.” And even to myself…”I want to run away from home… dream on!” So, it was with some trepidation that I undertook to write the study...
Top 10 Reasons to use Macrat’s Study Manuals
I can’t help but burst with pride when we publish new material, especially study manuals. The material is just so goooooooooood! There are obviously many other study guides or cram books on the market, but they just don’t match up with Macrat’s workbooks. They are too short; they encourage rote learning; they are too...
Teaching Tenses
NEED TO REVIEW THE TWELVE TENSES IN YOUR LANGUAGE LESSONS? THE FOLLOWING SITES AND GAMES CAN HELP YOU DO THIS IN A FUN WAY … An understanding of the different tenses in English can be challenging for Additional Language learners, so finding fun ways to get students to use and practice their tenses can go a long way...
5 Reasons you should subscribe to the Ratpack Resources
DON'T MISS OUT ON MACRAT'S MOST VERSATILE PRODUCT! A teacher recently asked me why she should subscribe to the ‘Ratpack Resources’ if she already has a text book to use in class. I immediately thought about my first high school English teacher who assured us that she had learnt English despite only having one single...