Innovative School literature workshops at West Hove Junior School

Literature students have opportunities to work with children at a number of local schools on both small-scale and long-term creative and writing projects, with the aim of securing and strengthening students’ employability skills and building long-term links between the faculty and community organisations. The longer-term projects are described on the workwritelive site.

Students from all years of English Literature (BA Hons) led drama workshops for 10 year-olds on creating performable stories from the stage props in Macbeth and poetry workshops  for  11-year-olds on sonnet writing.

Some of the participating students' thoughts about the experience:

I found the Shakespeare workshops both exciting and interesting. It was so good to see the children use their creativity and imagination in relation to Shakespeare and it was great to be a part of that learning experience. (Tara Crnckovic, Year 2)

Thanks very much for the opportunity. I guess the overriding impression I had was of how impressively engaged with the stories and ideas they were (Joel Roberts, Year 1)

It was really good fun, so I'm really glad that you asked me to be a part of it. I really felt like it was a two-way experience with the children as they came up with some fantastic, original ideas. I didn't enjoy Shakespeare at school, so I hope this creative way of engaging the children helped to break down the barrier that a lot of people have with the language and style. The enthusiasm they had, particularly for the sonnets, made the whole experience really enjoyable and rewarding. (Olly Hunt, Year 2)

Dr. Kate Aughterson, Course Leader, Literature BA (Hons)  said: “This was a really exciting venture which enabled our students to practice some of the theoretical knowledge gained in a university classroom – about writing, performance and speaking – in a 'real world' dynamic environment. What I noticed most was how the experience enabled our students to express their own ideas and analysis back in the classroom with both more confidence and deeper understanding. The whole enterprise was brilliant, enabling staff and students to work together on a common and meaningful community project. The school kids ask me every week, "when are your students coming back?"