*This is a collaborative post.
English in general, is a compulsory topic taught in British schools all the way up the age of 16. It is important for children to understand the benefits of all subjects taught in school, including English literature. There many benefits that come along with young ones learning about literature such as growth in their vocabulary and nailing research skills. Here is some advice from an independent school in Kensington on the importance of English literature lessons for children.
Improves communication skills
Whilst general communication is usually done verbally, communication through reading and writing are useful tools to acquire. In an age where a lot of communication is done online, it takes time and effort to get it just right. English literature allows children to find a new way to work on their communication skills aside from the traditional methods of today’s day and age.
Transferable skills
English literature is responsible for children picking up a range of transferable skills that can be used in any situation. It teaches students how to write in-depth essays, put sentences together and how to structure their work well. It shows them how to carry out research and find evidence to back up their arguments. Alongside, they pick up skills such as critical thinking, analysis, problem solving and how to provide good feedback.
Entertainment and concentration
With how wide the pages taught in literature are, it is a great way to introduce new genres of writing into their lives that they can read about later on. For some, literature lessons are one of those topics that can differ to core subjects as it has a more relaxed, student-led approach. For younger students, it can be a good way to teach them how to sit in one place for a long period of time whilst developing their creativity and imagination.
