Thou Shalt See How Apt It Is to Learn: Making Shakespeare Accessible to English Learners

Presenter

Megan Kathleen Moore

Campus

Bridgewater State University

Sponsor

Sarah Thomas, Department of Education, Bridgewater State University

Schedule

Session 3, 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A74, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 4 (A61-A80) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

The works of William Shakespeare are notoriously difficult for secondary students to understand. Modern students often find that the language and themes of his works require careful examination and critical thinking to comprehend. These plays are typically even more difficult for English learners to read, as the old-fashioned language and metered structure is even harder to process if one’s first language is not English. Nevertheless, Shakespeare's works remain a staple of the secondary English language arts classroom. Now more than ever, educators must be equipped with tools to help ensure understanding. As the population of multilingual students continues to rise in Massachusetts schools, educators need to adapt lessons focusing on these plays to be more accessible to non-native English speakers. This research identifies versatile strategies that will help English learners read and understand the works of Shakespeare that educators can easily and realistically incorporate into a unit on any one of Shakespeare's numerous plays. By examining existing literature, reviewing modern theories of education, and interviewing English learners who have read the works of Shakespeare in classes at the secondary or university level, this research proposes methods that will increase accessibility to and understanding of William Shakespeare’s plays while also providing an e-resource guide to supplement the suggested adjustments to practice.

Keywords

William Shakespeare, Multilingual learners, English learners, English language arts, Adjustments to practice

Research Area

Education & Educational Research

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