28.8.09

All Students: Twelve Questions.

1. What is your full name:
2. Who is your favourite fictional character?
3. If someone were to play you in a movie of your life, who would it be?
4. What would you consider an achievement this year?
5. What song epitomises where you want to be in the next five years?
6. What book/s or film/s do you wish to read/watch?
7. What is your definition of success?
8. If you were hosting a dinner and could invite three people, who would they be?
9. What is your favourite website/blog?
10. Which suits you more: ambition or talent?
11. If you could be anyone for a day, who would you be?
12. What is your favourite quotation and why?
Responses in the comments section please. Use name-url option to type. Complete no later than 5th September 2009 please. Do not email me responses. Attempt comments.

Article of the Day.

Quelle Horreur! French Flunk Europe-Wide English Language Test

The French may mockingly call English-speakers "roast beefs" or "yanks," but the latest results of an international language test show that the Brits, Americans, Australians and Co. may have a little more leverage to hurl their insults back at the "frogs."

In an article entitled "French Students Still Get a Zero for English", French daily Le Monde reports that an annual Europe-wide language test revealed just how bad French youngsters are at picking up what the journal describes as "the language of Shakespeare." In total, 109 countries sat down for the English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test, compulsory for foreign students wishing to study in an English-speaking country. France came in 69th in the ranking while Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium headed up the leaders' board.

The paper tried to recover some pride, stressing, "this does not, however, represent the entire student population. It only provides information for the 200,000 students wishing to study in an Anglo-Saxon country." It did not comment about the English language abilities of the remaining students who did not opt to take the test. Internationally, the French are known to be fiercely proud of their language and its various dialects, refusing to anglicise as is commonly the case in other European countries like Germany and Italy.

While Germans have no qualms about taking the word "comic" into their mouths, the French prefer to use "bande dessinée" or colloquially, "BD" to describe their cartoons. Hundreds of people living in the western region of Brittany, stand by their traditional Breton language, refusing to give way even to French -- let alone English. In 1996, the French government famously adopted a law ruling that at least 40 percent of music played on private radio stations should be sung in French, a move which aimed to combat what the government described as the "English-language influence," especially from rap, rock and hip-hop from the US.

But as the English language slowly but surely emerges as the lingua franca of business and other areas, many in France may now well want to polish their skills in "the language of Shakespeare."

Study Splurge: The Filofax.

Add it to your Christmas (or birthday) wishlist if you must but the Filofax will have to be the ultimate luxe way to study and stay organised for the rest of the year and everyday after that. You might all know that I have the Finchley A5 in 'Vintage Rose' (yes that chunk of a diary is indeed a Filofax) and it's definitely had it's perks in keeping my life organised. Available in a huge variety of colours, fabrics and sizes, along with your choice in what goes onto the pages, it is the quality of organisation which money can actually buy even if you need to save every penny along the way, it's totally worth saving over. Otherwise, get it for your birthday like I did. It's the best.(Above) Finchley leather Filofax in 'Vintage Rose': $399.95, visit www.filofax.com.au for info.

Films to watch.

Here is a site I found which lists all the great novels turned into films. I don't recommend you watch all of them without reading the novel beforehand as it may pique your interest to read the real thing first. However that is not to suggest that I don't give you permission to watch a few of these films in exchange for a study hour or two.


You might notice that many of them are featured as a part of the '1001 novels to read before you die' so I'd be hoping you got the drift of the storylines and themes while you are watching the films. Also, these films should be available at your local video store otherwise, let me know if you need help finding any.

Literary Terminology.

Until you can recite the definitions and effects of the following literary terms, I can tell you now that you are in for a long ride. Lucky for you, these words have hyperlinks leading to their definitions but I can tell you that perhaps you won't be so lucky next time...

Allegory
Alliteration
Allusion
Amplification
Anagram
Analogy
Anaphora
Anastrophe
Anthropomorphism
Antithesis
Aphorism
Apostrophe
Authorial Intrusion
Archetype
Assonance
Asyndeton
Bibliomancy
Bildungsroman
Cacophony
Caesura
Characterization
Chiasmus
Circumlocution
Conflict
Connotation
Consonance
Denotation
Deus ex MachinaDiction
Doppelganger
Ekphrastic
Emulation
Epilogue
Epithet
Euphemism
Euphony
Faulty
Parallelism
Flashback
Foil
Foreshadowing
Hyperbation
Hyperbole
Imagery
Internal Rhyme
Inversion
Irony
Juxtaposition
Kennings
Malapropism
Metaphor
Metonymy
Motif
Mood
Negative Capability
Nemesis
Onomatopoeia
Oxymoron
Paradox
Pathetic Fallacy
Periphrasis
Periodic Structure
Personification
Point of View
Plot
Polysyndeton
Portmanteau
Prologue
Puns
Rhyme Scheme
Rhythm & Rhyme
Satire
Setting
Simile
Spoonerism
Stanza
Stream of Consciousness
Syllepsis
Symbol
Synecdoche
Synesthesia
Syntax
Theme
Tone
Tragedy
Understatement
Verisimilitude
Verse

By the way, this is just to name a few.

What I'm reading now.

I've already finished Perfume by Patrick Suskind and I've found a new way to further enhance my adoration for wit and frivolity in a most literary comical way so I'm currently indulging in an ultimate classic; Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote. As a result of re-reading (one of my) favourite novel of all time, I am constantly reminded why Holly Golightly is my absolute alter-ego. This novel is really love at first sight.

Title:
Breakfast at Tiffany's

Author:
Truman Capote

Blurb:
In an idealized New York City during the early '60s, Holly Golightly is a charming socialite with a youthful zest for life who lives alone in a nearly bare apartment. She has such a flippant lifestyle that she won't even give her cat a name, because that would be too much of a commitment to a relationship. Maintaining a childlike innocence yet wearing the most perfect of designer clothes and accessories from Givenchy, she spends her time on expensive dates and at high-class parties. She escorts various wealthy men, yet fails to return their affections after they have given her gifts and money.
Enjoy.

24.8.09

Join a book club.

If you like reading and talking about books, then why not join one of six weekly literature groups at North Sydney's Stanton Library? What better location for a book club of sorts than a library? Lock horns with like minded book worms on the title that has been chosen by the group in one of the ongoing weekly meet-ups. Visit www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/ for more details about this literary event.

Website of the Day: www.fanfiction.net

If you are a huge fan of any already established books, films, comics, cartoons etc, you would all love Fanfiction.net. Fanfiction is a site where all fan writers come together and submit stories which they have written along with reading what others have written so that you can spread some literary love around. There is over 1000 titles to choose from and a few hundred thousand (or more) stories to indulge in. Happy reading.

21.8.09

English related things to do in Spring.

1. Read a good classic novel.
2. Write some beautiful poetry.
3. Get lost in your own creative thoughts.
4. Create a collage of visual images which captivate.
5. Watch a BBC classics film or BBC television series.

Related text of the Day.

'Convex and Concave' by M.C. Escher

Reminder to Year Nine students for 22/08/09

Just a friendly reminder that payment for the next month is due. If you are still behind on last month's fees, please pay as soon as possible to avoid further inconvinience and confusion. It is $100.00 for the next four lessons ending in mid-end September. This is due on the 22nd of August 2009. Many thanks for your help.

Word of the Day.

"Perorate"
1. To conclude or sum up a long discourse.
2. To speak or expound at length; to declaim.

What I'm reading now.

I know you might be curious on the types of books to read for hobby which will simultaneously allow you to enhance your own creative thoughts and improve your writing style. Of course you could naturally just scroll down the page and see the list of '1001 books to read before you die' list but otherwise, I thought I'd let you know what I'm reading at the moment.
Title:
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Author:
Patrick Suskind Blurb:
Patrick Suskind's Perfume follows the life of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, abandoned at birth in the slums of eighteenth century Paris, but blessed with an outstanding sense of smell. This gift enables Jean-Baptiste to master the art of perfume making, but one scent evades him: that of a virgin, whom he must possess to ensure her innocence and beauty are preserved. Laced with sense and suspense, this is a beguiling tale of lust, desire and deadly obsession.

Enjoy.

15.8.09

Website of the day: www.eventful.com

I've found a site which is so handy for all my senior students who are planning to have a blast after the HSC and who don't want to go to typical Byron Bay or QLD. Check out eventful.com, a website that has the world's largest collection of events in every country, state, city and suburb imaginable! From festivals, to concerts, to sporting events and more, this site covers it all in one place. Enjoy!

Visual stimulus for Year Nine students.

This artwork is Le Due Frida by Frida Kahlo. I used this image as a related text for 'Changing Perspectives' area of study a few years ago and it will be great if you could all annotate the image and find FIVE techniques to discuss. It might be a bit helpful to look up the context of this artwork to assist you. It is extremely visual so keep in mind why the composer might have used this device to create meaning. Please have this completed by Saturday 22/08/09 and sign off in the comments section.

Quotations of the day: Oscar Wilde

"I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again."
Oscar Wilde

"It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information."
Oscar Wilde

"There are only two kinds of people who are really fascinating: people who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing."
Oscar Wilde

14.8.09

Discussion Topic: Area of Study

Area of Study: BELONGING HSC 2009
What defines Belonging? What are the certain parameters and limits to which one can belong? What types of belonging is there? Is there a connection between an individual and society in determining how one may belong or feel as if they belong?

Create a five lined thesis statement which epitomises your views on the topic.

Places to find related texts

- Novels
- Major and Minor publications
- Newspaper and Magazine Articles
- Youtube videos
- Speeches
- Plays and Drama
- Radio transcripts
- Photographs
- Artwork
- Poetry
- Autobiographies and Biographies
- Music videos
- Song Lyrics
- Films
- Picture Books
- Documentaries
- News and Current Affairs

Word of the Day.

"Furtive"

1.Done by stealth; surreptitious; secret; as, a furtive look.
2.Expressive of stealth; sly; shifty; sneaky.
3.Stolen; obtained by stealth.
4.Given to stealing; thievish; pilfering.

13.8.09

High School Certificate Trials.

Good luck with your English Higher School Certificate Trials! I am positive that you will all do perfectly. Feel free to email me any essays and creative writing pieces which you have written so that I can provide feedback and critical comments to assist your preparation with the 2009 High School Certificate Exams. My new email is analyse_english@gmail.com Remember to balance study with relaxation and spend your time wisely for a second wasted is a second you will never get back! I look forward to seeing you all soon.