Chaucer

[Tallyra]

Hi ladies,
I'm not a mum, yet, but I work in a Grammar school. I've just been asked to print some stuff for a year 7 English class, on Chaucer ("An Introduction to Middle English - Chaucer's language")! Now I know it's a grammar school, but many of our boys start school with a good IQ but appalling literacy. I can't understand Chaucer being taught while they are still learning correct spelling of normal English. Does anyone have any knowledge of this? I'm just curious about the reasons for this (I'm just a lowly technician, so I'm not qualified to question the curriculum!!) and whether it's actually going to help them learn to read 'proper' English...

You don't teach chaucer to "help [students] learn to read 'proper' English", you do it because it is a classic of English Literature, like shakespeare, or because it helps you see how modern English language developed - pronunciation of the silent K in knight etc.

Out of interest, why does this bother you? surely, if you're just a "lowly" technician, it's just your job to support the teacher not to worry about how to teach 11 year olds to read.

Oh gosh. Lucky boys. Why don't you ask the teacher his/her reasons for introducing Chaucer ? Learning about the stories that are part of our literary history does not mean they are going to be writing in mediaeval English. In any case, studying the History and development if language is part of the National Curriculum. This is how we teach children to improve their literacy and develop their interests.

It doesn't bother me, just makes me curious because I always thought of Chaucer at a more difficult part of the subject and thought it was usually taught to older pupils. The argument that it might show them how the language developed makes sense though.
I have been considering whether to train as a teacher recently so I have started to look at the work I'm asked to print a bit more carefully than I have done in the past, that's all.

Yr 7 DS has been doing Chaucer, in a comprehensive
They did sections and looked at the language, and at least part of it was about the development of language. They have been looking at texts covering a similiar subject from different periods, amongst other things. DS enjoyed it. especially the irreverent descriptions of the pilgrims.

He's also learning French, before his spelling in all english words is perfect. Would that puzzle you?

Is Chaucer the new Latin?

My Y7 DD is doing Chaucer AND Latin

Chaucer has mostly been in "translation" and has led to stories written in the style of, plays etc etc. they have enjoyed the slightly naughtier aspects of the stories

I think Middle English was the new Anglo Saxon, wasn't it?

When I was at school we did Chaucer in Yr7. And A Midsummer Night's Dream, some scenes from Julius caesar (maybe that wa in History?) and then Cranford which nearly out me off reading for life.

We did Latin, too.

What we did not have was photocopying. We had text books

Haha. There is enough copying and printing to employ me for 4 days a week, although it's often printing practise exam papers and homework sheets that have been designed by the teacher themselves.

I spoke to the teacher that is teaching the Chaucer, and it sounds like they have great fun in their lessons, I almost feel like I'm missing out now!

I remember being taken to see some Chaucer being performed in the original language when we were Y9 / Y10 ish, studious but not especially prim types - we were all quite taken aback by how bawdy it was - especially as the actors were quite intense and leaping into the audience to buttonhole people .

Could be that's the hook for Y7 boys - the stories are still bawdy in translation, but somehow it was more captivating in medieval language.