I am currently student teaching English to 10th, 11th, and 12th graders at St. Paul Central High School. One class I teach is IB World Literature (10th graders). It is a very rigorous course, which attempts to focus on an equal amount of breadth and depth. Some of the things we are studying include: Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. Prior to student teaching, I observed two different classes taught by two different teachers, and it was rare that media was used in the lesson. However, my teachers are not opposed to media. I have met with other teachers, as well as other student teachers, and they have said that they integrate media within their lesson whenever they have time.
As mentioned in the video, children and adolescents feed off media about 8 hours each day on average, which is equivalent to a full-time job. The Media Literacy: State Teaching Standards for Minnesota ask that students critically analyze the messages and points of view found within the media, as well as “analyz[ing] and evaluat[ing] the strategies employed in news broadcasts….and websites related to clarify, accuracy, effectiveness, bias, and relevance of facts.” These literacies are very similar to those needed to explore and examine literature. For example, students need to be able to analyze the message and points of view found within a text. Students appear to be more familiar with media than classic and modern literature. Because some works or authors may be difficult and daunting to students, it may help to begin by examining stuff they already know and by identifying which literacies they will be procuring. For example, when focusing on the message and point of view, students could look at an article in one of their favorite magazines. After they understand and are able to dissect an article that interests them, one could then move into The Importance of Being Earnest.
On that same note, this past week I was attempting to teach a lesson on satire, which is observable in Oscar Wilde’s play. After going over multiple definitions and identifying examples within our discussion, my students were still completely lost as to what it means. I then brought in two clips from Saturday Night Live which focus on Tina Fey impersonating Sarah Palin and Will Ferrell impersonating George Bush. Fortunately, my students understood satire in its entirety after observing those two clips. When it is not relatable to them, the students may not understand it; and one of the main ways to relate to them is through media.
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