English Studies.

Sufficed to say there is a lot that flows easily. Some things more than others, some things require just a little tiny bit of encouragement to flourish, almost like the flower that has different colour petals, it requires the same amount of encouragement as all the rest. English being the subject with the different colour petals that require attention.

One subject I have grown to really appreciate over the past couple of months is English Studies.

One reason English studies appeals to me is the effective imagery portrayed, and the lack of waffling.. Which is rather delightful given the amount of idiocy that happens with other subjects such as geography. I could care less about how general your terms are etc. I want specifics.

One thing I also appreciate about the English Studies class is that it is composed of the pupils who are capable of studying this calibre of material, and who don’t see a poem as ‘confusing, has too many words, doesn’t make sense, what time is lunch at?, when are we getting out for lunch?’ material.

I really do appreciate the efforts that has been made by our English teacher/lecturer you might say. I do acknowledge that she has put her half in, actually now that I think of it she has put more than her fair share in. And, even though she didn’t have to, has inspired our class into appreciating the language and beauty of the English language.. Even if she doesn’t realise this, she has done it and succeeded.

What I’ve noticed about us, Is that we have almost matured for 45 minutes or so whilst class is on.. There is absolute golden atmosphere, I would say perfection is close.. But perfection is achievable if the attitude and mental backdrop is there. We can have a group giggle if you will whilst the roll is being called as there is a key question asked every time. Now, it’s not a laugh as in catch up on what we did that weekend amongst us.. It is a group activity.. Almost like pass the parcel if you will!.

It has hugely benefited how we interact as a group and how we can learn so much about someone from just listening to them.
I suppose this is all indirect from what I have learned about poetry as an English studies student, but then again there is so much more to be attained from class then just the subject matter itself.

I have recognised that absolute perfection will not be reached  in my English studies class.. Suffice to say we are much closer to it then I were at the start of 5th year.

I can express nothing but gratitude for the learning opportunity my class and I have been given, under an excellent tutor and mentor. Tutor and mentor are to be taken in a sense of not a school appointed role, but in a life assigned role.. Some people are there to guide you through life, and sacrifice a lot for that.. This woman is a prime example of what we can aspire to be some day.

I guess you can call this a rambling, or a projection of appreciation of how much a 6th year student can gleam from a single 45 minute session, if the right figure is behind us as a guiding force.

Our English teacher has never forced us into anything, she takes feedback from us and adjusts accordingly.. It’s much like a learning based drivers licence. If the instructor thought one day that he was being too tough on his students and no-one was acquiring the required grade, then he adjusts how he teaches that subject by asking his peers. Our teacher is the instructor, but uses our reaction to work, and our general attitude towards work as her canvas of how she can improve. Mixed up metaphor I know, but it’s possibly one of the only ways I can describe it.

This is so, because not every method is perfect, but if you have a  bonus of having a teacher who is passionate about the subject.. You will gain inspiration from that person.

You know what, just to add to my previous metaphors.. Here’s a much better description I have conjured up. We are the keys of a piano, our teacher is the pianist. In order to do well at the big performance.. We must work in tandem with our pianist and be creative. If we don’t sound as we should, then the pianist will adjust us accordingly. Together, if we work well together and at the same time we are consulted.. Then we will impress the audience and critics (examiners) at the big concert (the leaving certificate).

I know I have gained inspiration and rekindled a new found love for the English language in all it’s beauty and glory, for this I thank her. Perfection may not be reachable, but it’s about as damn close as we’ll get to it.

This post doesn’t have much of a helpful end to it, towards my readers, but hopefully you can gain some sort of appreciation for what you have, maybe you have a teacher/mentor of a similar composition.

Keep safe,

Barry.