sf_diegoxrock said:
you could say the same for Maths then. why do we both to learn concepts beyond the simple + and - ? who cares about parabolas and algebra? (Engineers, Scientists...)
English challenges you to be more open to texts which reflect certain contexts. It compels you to view the world of the text in a different light - you will learning something that you textbooks and tests won't necessarily teach you.
Ultimately, English is about you. Texts are a product of contexts. You are a victim of context.
Now, I see you are studying History Ext. - I could be as ignorant and say, "oh why do you bother with that subject? live in the present and stop wasting your time with the past"
I would say History itself is an extension of English. Everything is derived from English.
Yes, everything like that is derived from English, but not of the Board of Studies' version of English. That's my point. The viewing of the texts can be done by the individual, as I said, and therefore all of those things can still be found. You don't need to write an essay on a book to take in its meaning. And no, textbooks won't teach me anything in English, and why would I want to read a textbook when I can get information for myself?
And yes, context is everywhere, and I enjoy contexts, and contexts go hand in hand with emotions. English tries to sever that bond. So, where exactly did I say anything denouncing texts in general?
Both the histories that I do I love. But they [apart from sometimes in Ext. Hist., which at such times I do not like] do not deal with emotions at all. They deal with trying to understand events given certain amounts of information. It is a subject which does not deal in emotion yet try and neglect it, like English.
And no, parabola's and the like are rather useless unless if something you plan on doing later in life requires them. You don't get taught that in everyday life. On the other hand, everything you learn in English which would in some way benefit later life [aside from becoming an English teacher] you should already know, aside from perhaps putting a lable on certain things like metaphor.
Triple777ER said:
You will realize the importance of English wehn it comes to the interviews.
Most employers want their employees to have studied English at school
Most people who have traveled outside their place of study and English classroom know how to correctly project and sell themselves for employment. I don't know about you but I didn't need to do HSC English to know how to use a vocabulary and other communication methods. Drama would be far better for that anyway.
stephpad said:
i agree that english is a waste of life, and you dont have to be failing in the subject to thinkso
i hate how the teachers tell us that the texts we study are "open to our interpretation" well no they're f****ing not! we have to think a certain way about what we read/ see, and make farfetchd suggestions about the techniques used. GRrRrRRRR! i just keep telling myself- just half a year to go, just half a year to go
yay my first post
Exactly... ever tried to answer a "Why should we study this text next year?" question with a "We shouldn't. ...", for example?
Congratulations...
scaredytiger said:
when your teacher says your work is at a university standard but gives you band 5s still, i think theres something wrong.
There are a few of things which could be wrong:
- the teacher is still alive
- the teacher has a job
- the teacher is a "teacher"
- the teachers family just left the teacher and they were grumpy when marking
...Just a few possibilities.