IGCSE English Subject Guide 2015-2016
Specification link
http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-english-firstlanguage-uk-0522/
Activate Learning Philosophy
Everyone has the capacity to learn effectively and to high levels. Understanding the brain
and its capacity to expand and learn allows us to open up new opportunities.
Motivation is essential to success. By giving students a clear purpose for their learning,
autonomy and involvement through the co-creation of their learning programme, and by
providing opportunities to practise, practise, and practise again, they become highly
motivated.
The biggest block to learning is our own emotions and feelings of inadequacy. We create
learning environments where students feel emotionally safe and secure, able to experiment
and learn, and able to manage their feelings so they gain confidence and self-worth and
become independent, emotionally secure, mature individuals. We achieve this through
coaching, individual sessions and group work. We help students to become positive people
who can give and receive feedback. Our teachers and learning coaches have high
expectations of students and encourage them to believe in themselves.
What can students do to help themselves achieve higher grades?
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TURN UP - Turn up to all lessons and on time.
BRING EQUIPMENT - Bring relevant notes to each lesson.
SLEEP - Sleep well enough to be able to concentrate in lessons – 9 hours a night is
recommended.
THINK - Be willing to self and peer assess - so you are learning how to assess
yourself, not just the teacher.
TACKLE BARRIERS - Eliminate the barriers to learning at college and at home –
constantly checking your phone, watching TV, chatting to friends face to face or via
social media, playing computer games, surfing the net without any sense of purpose,
listening to music while working (known as ‘dual tasks’ – not often helpful). Don’t
have your phone by your bed if it keeps you awake at night.
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BE SELF-DRIVEN - Complete all the homework well and on time. You need to study
independently for at least five hours per subject per week. Don’t wait to be told to do
things like past papers, read your textbook, read an article – do it without being
asked.
BE RESILIENT - When learning gets tough, don’t give up: use a range of resources
to overcome the challenge.
ACCEPT HELP - Seek support and always ask questions in class.
BE HEALTHY - Exercise, eat and drink healthily – start playing sport again, run, join
the gym, drink lots of water.
READ - read, read, read and read.
OTHER RESOURCES TO HELP
All students studying IGCSE English should have a copy of Mr Bruff’s Guide, a revision
guide. Students should read through the chapters on Paper 1 and Paper 3, which explains
how each question on the exam should be tackled. The book also gives questions for the
students to try themselves at home.
The English team will mark any additional work students do to revise for their exams. There
is an electronic copy of this book available through the college’s website and a print copy will
be provided on request.
SUBJECT SPECIFIC VOCABULARY
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Persuasive techniques:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14Td6y9FTmeygEbqOA2RAMNsTShWumYv9C
_uzm_wEms0/edit
Create subject specific glossary, check understanding and use terms in essays, etc.
Know the command language in exam questions: Explain, describe
Test yourself on past papers and use mark schemes to check your answers
Websites to help you
YouTube - Simply search YouTube sites for a short clip to help you, especially ones
produced by schools and universities.