Why is English compulsory?
“Why can I drop every subject except for English?” (said every student)
3-Key takeaways:
It’s useful! What other answer do you need?
If you can succeed in conditions you don’t necessarily agree with, imagine what you can achieve in an environment you like?
English is a subject that allows you to appreciate the ‘why’ behind every word, book and essay, which unlocks a deeper appreciation for the world around you.
Every single year, I get the same question from every student I teach:
“But sir, why do we HAVE to do English in Year 11 and 12? Why can’t we drop English like every other subject???”
It’s a question every English teacher anticipates from students. It’s a question every student wonders at least once every year until year 12…or for some, every English lesson. It’s a question that transcends time, place, situations and contexts; one that if I received a dollar for every time this question was asked of me in my teaching career, I would already have a steady plan for retirement.
All jokes aside, this question does actually transcend time. It’s a question that I admit to my students, that I asked of my teachers when I was choosing my subjects for the HSC. There was no definite answer that convinced me of the real purpose of English as a compulsory subject; not until I became an English teacher myself, having to stare down the barrel of finding relevance and significance to share with my own classes.
So, let me tell you why English is compulsory – it’s useful! What other answer do you need?
I had many teachers TELL me how important English was, however, not often could they SHOW me. English then became a subject of discipline – mind over matter – to ensure success. Through the influence of social media and the immediacy of seeking entertainment or lessons/hacks, I’ve found kids are less inclined in taking the long road of understanding; rather seeking immediate validation of relevance and significance. This has therefore changed my approach in helping my students understand the purpose of studying English.
I like to always remind them, “If you can succeed in conditions you don’t necessarily agree with, imagine what you can achieve in an environment you like?”
School, and the HSC in general, rewards those who are disciplined. It’s no secret that those students who are disciplined in their own learning will generally succeed. It’s the worst-kept secret of all successful people – hard work and discipline fosters success, whatever that may look like to you.
If that isn’t enough to convince you, here’s a clearer message: ‘English’ equips you with skills and tools that can help you across a variety of areas in life; both present time as a student, and in the future as an adult in the big, bad world of ‘adulting’. English equips you with the ability to:
to communicate and get your point across concisely, effectively and often persuasively = essay writing
tap into your imagination to wonder about our world = creative writing
to read, reflect and appreciate the words on the page; words of wisdom that writers have left us to learn from their experiences = active listening and reflection
read into a topic, make meaning and perspectives from it, and deliver a critical response to the topic = critical reading and thinking
You get the idea…
It’s a common misconception that all you do in English is read stuff you don’t understand or is irrelevant, attach a few techniques to a quote, create ‘meaning’ and interpretation from thin air that no human being could possibly see, and then order an easy essay for homework…. Sound familiar?
On the contrary, English is in fact an art form. My favourite quote advises “Think before you speak. Read before you think“. English transports us to a world of what if’s and pre-learnt lessons. It’s a subject that allows you to appreciate the ‘why’ behind every word, book and essay, which unlocks a deeper appreciation for the world around you.
So, let me tell you why [again] English is compulsory – it’s useful! What other answer do you need?!
This article is (in my own words) an English teachers’ answer to every student’s question on this topic – “why is English compulsory in school?”
By no means am I answering on behalf of all teachers, but from my own experience and the answer I always give, can be universally agreed upon.
What are your thoughts?
Leave a comment or share your thoughts on this topic with me via email on info@infocuslearning.com.au or message In_Focus_Learning on Instagram.