'Half Caste' - Excuuuuuuuuuse Me!

This is a reissue of the podcast on 'Half Caste'.

'Unrelated Incidents' - Accent is POWER!

This is a reissue of the podcast on 'Unrelated Incidents'.

'This Room' - Change is Good!

This is a reissue of the podcast on 'This Room'.

'Search for My Tongue' - Your Language is Your Identity

This is a reissue of the podcast on 'Search for My Tongue'.

'Presents From My Aunts in Pakistan' - Being Between Cultures

This is a reissue of the podcast on 'Presents from My Aunts in Pakistan'.

'Not My Business' - Caring for Others

This is a reissue of the podcast on 'Not My Business'.

'Love After Love' - Respecting Yourself

This is reissue of the podcast on Love After Love - you need this for the first section of the exam on Thursday after half term.

Paper 1 Section A - Presentational Devices

What on earth are presentational devices? (Did you spot the rhetorical question?)They are techniques in which the text is PRESENTED. In short, it means HOW IT LOOKS. Presentational devices include things like colour, size, font, headings, bullet points, images, graphs, maps, italics, bold type... the list goes on (in this podcast, in fact).

Paper 1 Section A - Commenting on A Media Text

How do you comment on a media text? There seems like so much you could say! In a poem, or a book you are supposed to comment on the words only, but in a media text you can comment on EVERYTHING you can see, especially the pictures that have been DELIBERATELY chosen to support the words. Find out more here.

Paper 1 Section A - Fact and Opinion

What's the difference between fact and opinion I hear you cry; well, find out here. You need to BEWARE, though; sometimes people pass off their opinion as if it's a fact. Find out how to spot that HERE.

Paper 1 Section A - The Difference Between Identifying and Explaining

A key skill that you need for Paper 1 Section A is being to EXPLAIN things rather than simply IDENTIFYING them. You'll get an E, if you only identify things. You need to explain them, too. Find out more in this podcast.

'Hurricane Hits England' - Homesickness and Harsh Weather

In 'Hurricane Hits England', Grace Nichols shows us that sometimes out of nowhere strange things can help us feel more at home. When she came to a cold and bleak England she felt like an outsider. As she says, 'It took a hurricane to bring her closer to the land...'

'Stealing' - Society's Outsiders

This is a Foundation poem. It's about being alienated (feeling excluded), and being amoral (having no morals). It's quite similar to many of Carol Ann Duffy's poems, except that this persona in INSIDE YOUR HOUSE!

'My father thought it...' - Becoming Your Parents

This is a Foundation poem. You will turn into your parents; oh yes you will.

'Salome' - Wrecked and Proud

This is a Foundation poem. And a sinister one at that...

'Mother any distance...' - Mixed Emotions and Letting Go!

This is a higher poem. Letting go of those we love can be hard. In this Simon Armitage poem he shows us that we can feel completely opposite emotions at the same time; it's all part of being human!

'Heroes' Chapter 17 - A Discussion

The last chapter of 'Heroes'. Many people feel a sense of ANTICLIMAX when they read the last chapter. This is because the dramatic ending that Robert Cormier has led us (the readers) to expect doesn't happen: Francis deosn't commit suicide. Instead he is at an important point in his life - he suddenly has options. He uses the word 'maybe' repeatedly in this chapter. He is uncertain about the future and is at a symbolic place (the train station).

'Heroes' Chapter 16 - A Discussion

There is NO podcast for chapter 15, but in this podcast Nicole and Francis' last meeting is discussed. Francis is in many ways absolved (which means FORGIVEN) in this chapter, but it's still a painful chapter that is full of regret - because Francis and Nicole will never see each other again.

'Of Mice and Men' - Animals

As I'm sure you noticed, animals appear all the way through the novel 'Of Mice and Men'. This is no accident, they are symbolic and you need to be of aware how. Let Mr McGuire tell you...

'Of Mice & Men' - Lonliness and Isolation

Lonliness and Isolation are central themes to the novel 'Of Mice and Men'. Here the majestic Mr McGuire tells you all about them.

'Of Mice & Men' - The American Dream

You really are priviledged to receive three fine podcasts from Mr McGuire. If you're in his classes then you will be studying 'Of Mice and Men' for you Literature exam. You'll need to listen to these, then! This one is about how the so-called 'American Dream' relates to the novel.