‘Literature is one of the pinnacles of human civilization’
View(s):LeeAnn Deemer attended Harvard and Yale Universities and has worked in publishing, arts
education and teaching. She lives in Sri Lanka with her husband and three children, and has taught English at Elizabeth Moir School since 2015.
LeeAnn
A: Literature is one of the pinnacles of human civilization, and thus worth studying simply for the insight into the world and human nature, not to mention the pleasure that you will gain from reading and thinking about stories, poetry, and plays. But even beyond these benefits, studying literature develops the sophisticated speaking, reading, and writing skills that are increasingly important regardless of one’s job or field – such as critical thinking, inference skills, and creativity. Good written and spoken communication is often one of the most important skills employers seek, and studying English Literature is an excellent way to develop it.
A: What I remember most about my best teachers was their enthusiasm for their subjects – in retrospect, that passion was what made them so effective. I studied Literature at Harvard, but the person who influenced me the most as a teacher was a professor of Astrophysics. He designed a course on the philosophy of science which was conducted as a Socratic seminar, which means that the teacher asks the students questions, guides the discussion, and responds to students’ answers with further questions, but generally refrains from ever giving answers. In frustration, we would sometimes beg him to just tell us which philosopher was right, which ideas were wrong. It was only later that I realised he was teaching us to think. I try to teach Literature this way – getting students to think through questions without just focusing on the ‘right’ answer. The analytical and evaluative skills they develop are what will help them succeed at university and in the future.
A: Our students’ success at IGCSE English is due to several aspects of how we teach English at Moir, under the guidance of our brilliant and capable department head, Elinor Galapitage. Perhaps most importantly, the middle school curriculum has been designed to develop the skills students will need for IGCSE English. All of us who teach IGCSE English are constantly reviewing techniques and strategies from year to year – which lessons worked, which were uninspiring – sharing best practices, redoing lesson plans. As a result, we spend a lot of time analysing the exam, revising our teaching materials, and developing new ways to teach the necessary skills to the students.
A: When younger students ask me what they can do to start preparing for the SAT, I advise them to start reading The New York Times or The Guardian online every day. Once they are actively preparing, the secret is simply lots of practice. In the end, success stems from the students’ own hard work, and my role is to give them the tools they need and encourage them to practise.
A high SAT score alone will not guarantee admission, as top universities are looking for dynamic, creative, and intellectually curious students who display leadership and integrity—in addition to getting a high SAT score, of course! A student’s application should tell a coherent story about what sets him or her apart.
American universities sometimes struggle to evaluate students from unfamiliar educational systems, which makes it important for a school to develop a reputation for excellence. Universities want to admit students whom they are confident can succeed in a demanding academic environment. We have heard from admissions directors that our teacher recommendations tend to stand out, demonstrating that our teachers know their students well and are able to add valuable context to the formal aspects of their applications.
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