There is a chance that the prescribed works in the national curriculum will change in 2015/2016 and this has made me wonder what approach the selection committee will take. Will they be traditionally conventional (read ‘boring’), or be bold and offer relevant, inspiring titles?
The current national selection provides an alternative to Shakespeare in the form of Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ but the question still remains whether there is any benefit from studying the bard in senior school. As far as I can remember, the IEB has never offered any drama titles other than Shakespeare (for Home Language), but they have prescribed less well-worn titles such as ‘The Tempest’ and ‘Henry V’ which give teachers an opportunity to explore new characters and themes, and provide learners with insights into worlds not before considered.
The debate about whether Shakespeare is suitable for senior classes continues, and the opinions are varied and emotional.
For me Shakespeare provides valuable insights into the human psyche – insights that have not changed in over 400 years. His portrayal of love, ambition, racism, betrayal, jealousy, honour, friendship etc. still ring true today and teenagers can learn valuable lessons from his plays.
If Shakespeare is to be taught as senior school level, which titles would you like to see prescribed for grade 12? While some titles are often taught at lower grades, perhaps ‘The Merchant of Venice’ or ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ is suitable for grade 12. What do you think? Take a look at a ‘top-10’ list of Shakespeare’s plays to see if you agree with the list and any of the sentiments expressed.
Finally – some inspiration for teachers who are bored beyond measure with teaching ‘Othello’ for the umpteenth time: you will find motivation and inspiration in the article ‘Shakespeare for teens’.
Remember to:
- Focus on the story and let the plot grab the learners
- Make it fun and interactive
- Split the play into manageable sections
- Personalise it, as the characters are believable and the plots are still relevant today.
Let me hear your thoughts on this issue.
MacMo