Do you beleive shakespeare should be taught better at school if so how?

Answer 1

Yes i beleive so...Well i reckon by making the students taking part in plays by Shakespeare and also it would be very interesting to show them the plays on DVD's, VHS at school itself. Let the students see how those actors act and also take them to Shakespeare plays in theatres...I know it very boring to read a book which the language itself is very difficult. But letting them to wach the plays on DVDs and let them go to Theatres would be a very good example

Answer 2

I think the problem with teaching Shakespeare is that you take the story apart any possibility that you would like the story goes out the window if you spend 2 weeks on 1 paragraph of the story taking it apart.
It was written to be enjoyed the first time i read Macbeth i enjoyed it later i had to write a essay about it and now i hate it because the fun has been removed.
But i also don't see the point in learning Shakespeare, it is using a dead language, true it is what current English evolved from but there are hundreds of other better books/plays that can be used which can hold the attention of a class.
But if Shakespeare has to be taught it should be taught by acting out the play make it something that you can have fun with buy plastic swords and act out the death of Marcusio(I'm not sure if that's spelt correctly) from Romeo and Juliet just give kids fond memory's of the stories and they will find it easier.

Answer 3

If people think that a play about a young man who is contemplating suicide (Hamlet), or about someone pressured into doing something he isn't sure about (Macbeth), or someone who is picked on all the time and then decides to get even (Richard III) are irrelevant to today's young people, then they don't know much about adolescence...never mind whether we are talking about today's youth or youth 30 years ago. Or they simply aren't trying to reach the students.

Students today struggle with the language more than students in the past so, unless the teacher is able to translate it they will quickly lose the thread of the story.

Students today also seem to struggle with memorization, so preforming the play is pretty much out unless you have a very dedicated bunch...but dramatzing some of the more "action packed" scenes can be motivating (less lengthy dialog and more violence, rather like the movies they watch).

Students also lack much historical background on Shakespeare's time and so things that may be obvious to a teacher are lost on them. It is necessary to give that background.

But, do not assume that just because Shakespeare represents a challenge, that it isn't worthwhile to do. Many students are quite aware that the curriculum has been "dumbed down" and resent that challenges have been removed. They are not more stupid than previous generations, just less prepared for certain things...and will rise to the challenge if given a chance and some help.

Answer 4

im at 6th form, so have been doing shakespeare for the past 5 years maybe during my secondary education too...

and i must say the way we do it now is really good. we each get given a scene to analyse..and the person who is analysing gets to choose the people in their class to be the characters.

once the scene has been read, the student goes through their scene, saying what it means and points out any patterns in rhyme, iambic pentameters, that kind of thing.

it really works, you get an in depth understanding and fun reading it.

we also watch the dvds and stuff.. teachers generally show you royal shakespare company or bbc productions..

they seem to be the best!

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Answer 5

I earnestly believe Shakespeare is long past being taught anything. Methinks he has passed away some time ago.

Answer 6

Yes. Link his works to modern rewritings. For example when you teach Hamlet let your students think of, say, The Al-Hamlet Summit which deals with the post 9/11 events. And when you teach Richard III, think of its rewiting by Sulayman Al-Bassam. The examples are many!

Answer 7

Yes. The problem is that these are PLAYS. They are not meant to be read! So -- schools -- engage the interest of the students by putting on a play, not by making them read a musty old textbook.

Answer 8

Translate it into modern English. The plays are so good but the language is a complete and utter bore - especially for uninterested youngsters.

Answer 9

honestly, I think that Shakespeare is over-rated. I tend to trim my lessons on him to a minimum.

Answer 10

set the students a challeng and have them speak shakespearian language to each outher and people they meet, with passion for one week, and see how it goes.