English Language and Literature
Studying English language and literature takes enormous dedication. Students must read a wide variety of challenging texts to increase skills with vocabulary, literary and rhetorical devices, and complex inferences. We relish the opportunity to teach a variety of non-fiction and fiction texts, plays, poems and narratives to motivated students. From prose fiction and social science, to humanities and natural science, we teach students the importance of gaining a well-rounded grasp of literature.
Analyzing Poetry Word by Word
Dissecting poetry is one of the most underrated skills. Poetry trains students to dig deep through literal and figurative meanings to generate intelligent inferences. Our goal is not to press upon how we interpret poems. Instead, we teach students the tools to interpret poems in order for them to make their own educated determinations. Students, who can master poetry, will have superior analytical skills. However, we encourage students to be patient because laying a basic poetry foundation can take years.
Examining literary Rhetorical Devices
Students must learn to master literary and rhetorical devices to understand complex texts and sharpen writing. This process cannot be rushed. Literary devices enhance narratives in a much more captivating, creative and complex manner. Rhetorical devices are persuasive tactics that convince readers to feel, believe, or agree with a particular point. Students must incorporate rhetorical devices to persuade audiences to accept their points. Drawing empathy from readers is a powerful skill.
Figurative and Literal Meanings
In order to effectively understand language and literature, students must learn how to separate figurative and literal meanings. While students must pay attention to facts and technicalities, they must learn to identify subtle language that may not necessarily be literal. Figurative language is often interpretational, which means students must be fair and open-minded when evaluating texts.
Underestimated Inference Skills
We really push students to boost inference skills. Language and literature are not always about stating the obvious. Inferences are interpretational. However, inferences are when students make determinations, or technically educated guesses, based on true logic and reasoning. Developing sound inferences is often quite challenging because they may not always be obvious in passages.
Vocabulary is the Foundation to Literacy
A deep vocabulary is the backbone of strong literacy skills. This means not only memorizing popular definitions, but also memorizing less common definitions to solidify well-rounded comprehension. Instead of simple rote memorization, students must learn how to apply words in context to foster sophisticated writing. Building vocabulary requires dedicated time and patience.