Do you ever say or think these words ‘There just isn’t enough time to study/ read/ write (delete as appropriate)? Many of our students study with BH along with demanding school schedules. It may be for their Brevet or another exam course. Many students do have very demanding schedules and with BH units, time does seem scarce. There are times in life when things get hectic, be you a student or an adult. But there are ways to practise, even on those really busy days. How is that possible? Well, when you adjust your thinking and see the world and your everyday environment as a classroom.
Here’s a few ways to cram in a little extra, possibly even effortlessly:
Look at posters and adverts, be they on a wall, bus shelter, train station or even online and think to yourself: What’s the PAF of that? Put simply, why has that been produced? Who is it aimed at? Why have they chosen that format?
Pick up a book you haven’t read. Look at its cover, then read the ‘blurb’ on the back. In an instance think to yourself would I want to read this? Then answer why/ why not? This should be an argument that you could develop over a paragraph (don’t worry you don’t have to write anything down). The cover might attract you? The writer might be one you’ve heard of? The blurb might have ‘hooked’ you? Just formulate a response.
Listen to an advert on the radio or watch one on TV or online. How is it trying to persuade you to buy/ do something? What persuasive device/s is it using? Repetition? Direct question? Facts? Anecdote? Is it successful/ or not?
Think of a book that you have read and hasn’t been made into a film or TV series. Imagine that you have got to pitch this to Netflix or Amazon producers as a great new idea. What would you say? Think of: Who would watch it? Who would be your main star/s? What genre it would fit into on their listings?
Is there something that you dislike in your neighbourhood or school that you would like changed? If so, think about a letter that you might write complaining about this. Think: Who you would write to concerning this? Three points you might argue in support of your point? The tone you would use?
Is there a creepy place near where you live? An old house? An abandoned warehouse? A dark wood or copse of trees? Imagine if you had to set a horror story there. What would be the background? What would be the threat? Who would be in danger from this?
Be your own roving reporter. Try thinking about some of the events that happen to you during the day. It doesn’t matter if they are quite normal or even dull. Make up headlines that would explain them. For example, you buy a coffee in a café and the person serving it spills it as they give it to you. This could be: ‘Teenager survives boiling liquid disaster’. Play around and have fun by sensationalising them. Make them more exciting than they possibly deserve.
All of these ideas are using key skills that you have learnt or will need on the iGCSE course. The more you think of them and often, the easier they will be to use and remember later. What’s more, you might even enjoy the odd one!