The library has been running reading sessions for some time, with students tackling a huge variety of stories ranging from modern fiction to the classics. This blog by Asif Parvez, a Library Learning Facilitator here in Bradford College Library, discusses a recent reading session where students enjoyed what some would consider a difficult text - MacBeth. While the version used is simplified for ESOL readers, many of the original terms have been left in, and the story remains true to the original. I asked Asif to discuss how the students related to the book, and why Shakespeare remains important to new generations of people coming to live in Britain.
Reading MacBeth, by Asif Parvez
ESOL Entry-1 students enjoyed reading the Shakespeare play, Macbeth, which was simplified to the E1 level and presented in a comic-book format. The students come from varied ethnic backgrounds and all have one thing in common: to improve their reading skills in English. Students read the book in a single one-hour session - they really enjoyed it and were inquisitive to know what happened next as we went along. We had a question and answer sessions after each chapter to check that the they had understood the story. They answered these correctly, which showed me how much they were following the events of the plot. I believe what facilitated the students understanding and made the experience fun for them was the easy-to-read comic format of the novel and pictures. I noticed the improvement in reading of certain members of the group who had found reading very difficult to start with. The students enjoyed the build-up of a plot and how one event to another linked, such as the consequences for actions taken by Macbeth - how he had to keep murdering people to cover up his crimes as suspicion arose about him from the first murder of King Duncan.
A number of students impressed me with their insights into the play. One ESOL student had noticed how one bad thing led to another, as in how the original crime had to be covered up and became never ending, which led to the demise of Macbeth. Another ESOL student felt it showed not to always believe what others say and take it for granted, which Macbeth did by taking each thing for real when the witches predicted his future to become King of Scotland. Also, another student pointed out greed and how quickly this can lead to major crimes. And this can be said about Lady Macbeth, who pushed and persuaded Macbeth to murder King Duncan whilst he was staying at Macbeth's Castle in order to make the witches last prediction come true about Macbeth becoming King.
I believe Shakespeare is ideal for ESOL students as Shakespeare novels are deeply rich in English and British tradition and history, as well as other cultures like Othello and Julius Caesar. It is beneficial for ESOL students to make those connections and links as they are learning and improving their reading and speaking skills of English.
The library has an extensive collection of Shakespeare stories at all levels of ESOL, which we hope will continue to be enjoyed by our students whether in reading groups or reading independently.
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