Thinking AloudEnglish Blog

An occasional blog concerned with the world of English Language and Literature. Featuring insights from examiners and past students as well as encouraging and inspiring everyone to pick up a book and get lost in a new world.

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ChatGPT + Hamlet + Revision = A Tragicomedy

Easter is nearly upon us, hurrah, up to three weeks for your child to revise for their exams. Are you ready? Are they?

Sophie Welsh

Mar 262 min read

37 views

2 comments

You Only Have 2 Months; You Have Ages... It's Revision Season

Fear not. Be it GCSE, IB, or A Level English Language and/or Literature, here are a few survival strategies... chocolate is involved.

Sophie Welsh

Mar 13 min read

11 views

0 comments

Blood, Betrayal, and the Lost Heir: Why This 'Macbeth' Stays With You.

For parents navigating the GCSE Literature grind, this 'Macbeth' is pure gold: layered, unsettling, and packed with meaty analysis. Max...

Sophie Welsh

Feb 102 min read

46 views

0 comments

Lost in Literature? Good! Interpretation's the Whole Point.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that an English student in possession of a novel must be in want of the right answer.

Sophie Welsh

Feb 43 min read

40 views

0 comments

'Tis the Season of the Snake

While Western culture often casts snakes in a sinister light (looking at you, Bible), the Chinese interpretation is far more nuanced...

Sophie Welsh

Jan 282 min read

7 views

0 comments

Mock Literature Revision Looming?

The game at iGCSE/GCSE level is all about how they handle the question, develop an argument, and structure their essay.

Sophie Welsh

Dec 15, 20242 min read

6 views

0 comments

Mock Exams: What do the Grades Mean and How to Help Your Child use them for Success

So, your child’s slogged through the mock exams and the results are in. You’re feeling a rollercoaster of emotions about them.

Sophie Welsh

Nov 8, 20242 min read

5 views

0 comments

VIP Treatment or a Learning Squad?: The English Online Tuition Dilemma

Tuition. That golden ticket to better grades, fewer exam jitters, and the occasional boast at the school gates.

Sophie Welsh

Oct 14, 20243 min read

17 views

0 comments

How to Win at Literature Essays (Spoiler: Plan First)

Here’s the secret: with a solid plan, your child will breeze through their English essay faster and with fewer bumps along the way.

Sophie Welsh

Oct 7, 20242 min read

7 views

0 comments

Last night I dreamt of Arthur Miller

There he was, in all his intellectual glory, stretching like a cross between Socrates and Usain Bolt.

Sophie Welsh

Sep 9, 20243 min read

3 views

0 comments

Shakespeare Reworked

Shakespeare is nothing if not a crackingly good storyteller. That he stole most of his plot lines is neither here nor there, just don’t ask

Sophie Welsh

Aug 13, 20243 min read

7 views

0 comments

Tune In, Turn Up, and Geek Out: How BBC Radio 4 Can Be Your Secret Weapon in Acing English Lang Lit

Remember, reading is something that draws you into other worlds. Listening does that too… So let me introduce you to Radio 4.

Sophie Welsh

Jul 24, 20244 min read

22 views

3 comments

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