From Middle to High School Building: Real-World Communication Skills in Year 9

Dickens, Shakespeare, and Melville are just some of the literary greats who come to mind when we think about the artistic and rhetorical aspects of the English language, from alliteration to zeugmas.

Studying the “greats” is a familiar lens through which we can look at English, but it's not the only lens.There are Unintentional Literary Geniuses (or ULGs) among us, hiding in plain sight, lurking, uncelebrated, in a seemingly endless labyrinth of Google Reviews, to whichevery business in America now has access. Here,ULGsattempt their own forays into “genius”, writing appraisals, business plans, resignation letters and more – often peppered with humor, sarcasm and very relatable experiences.

This Year at BISC-SL, Year Nines are looking at English and literacy throughthis verytangible – if unexpected– lensof Google Reviews. When the usual menu of English language study includes literary classics, it can be easy to forget how important it is to study the literature of the mundane, which is to say, the everyday pieces of writing that we use in the real world and the workforce, the writing that keeps the gears of the world turning – writing that is no less important to understand and analyze than great literary works.

Our first half term of Year Nine Literacyconsisted of learning why professional and authentic English is important for the workplace and analyzing others’ attempts (good or bad!) at writing said workplace documents. We studied how it is essential to understand the different registers, styles, and contexts of the written word as well as how to leverage language to suit a particular situation or audience.

Our second half term is all about creation, with students now writing their own business plans for feedback – with a particular focus placed on appropriateness (through tone, accuracy, word choice) and authenticity of language. At the end of this task, they will face a teacher panel and practice their interview techniques.

Professionalism, of course,must be balanced with authenticity. On authenticity, I read recently in a newspaper article that the tables have turned.The more people use AI for business posters and communications to make sure their work looks ‘polished and professional’, the more people value the ‘97 PowerPoint-Comic-Sans-MS-Plus-ClipArt style of digital advertising of yesteryear. Our Year Nines are encouraged to be authentic in their writings, graphics, and brands in their business plans. In short, they are encouraged to be real – to be human.

Year Nine Literacy lends itself well not only to the study of Business and Economics at the High School level, but also the wider International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme. The IBCP prioritizes in particular themastery of practical concepts and skills as well as the ability to be flexible and adaptable with language.By creating this foundation for our students, we help ensure a smooth transition from Middle School to High School to be mindful and agile thinkers across a wide breadth of genres and forms.