English is Cool!

Grammar. Probably the number one reason most students despise English class. That, and all the "thee"s and "thou"s sprinkled through Shakespeare's writing. Oh, and let's not forget the fact that most, if not all, English teachers are crazy, obnoxious, and sometimes borderline nut-so.

So, why is English, more broadly Language Arts, so important? Think about it: Whenever you speak, you use language. Whenever to write a text message to your friend, you use language. Whenever you read the menu at your favorite restaurant, you use language. You receive and produce language thousands of times EACH DAY. As you read this post, you are using language skills.

But the Language Arts are more than just language. Language is more a means to an end. We use language to communicate. That's why we read books and write papers. Have you ever just wanted to know what someone else was thinking? By analyzing characters and situations in books, we can often transfer that knowledge to our own interactions with other people. Thus, books help us be mind-readers.

Okay, so maybe you won't be able to read your mom's mind, or your brother's mind, or your best friend's mind, but you can get a little closer to understanding why people do what they do, and, they, in turn, can come to understand you a little better.

A group of high-school students in Long Beach, California, discovered this cool aspect of English when they were in Ms. Gruwell's class. They learned to empathize with each other through writing. Here is a brief look at their story:

FAMOUS ENGLISHERS

There are many other people out there who love and live English who aren't just the stereotypical English-y types. Here are a few examples of people you may know who were English majors in college:

J.K. Rowling                                                                   Dr. Suess

 

Reese Witherspoon                                                                                Steven Spielberg

Notice how all of these people are in the story-making business? Either they write stories or they bring stories to life. Gotta know some language skills to do that!

EVERYDAY ENGLISH

For the next few days, try to identify references to literature or English you see around you. These often occur on billboards you drive by, in the music you listen to, and oh so often on the TV shows you watch. Here's a great example: have you ever seen this on the door of a flower shop?

Yep. That's Hermes. Hermes is the Greek messenger god, and he comes straight out of ancient Greek literature. Even though he's thousands of years old (well, actually, he's immortal), he has made his way onto nearly every flower shop in the country as a symbol of speedy and reliable delivery. How's that for pertinent?

FUNNY BONE

Although English can, at times, be serious, it also has its humorous side. Here are a few funnies when you get the inkling to laugh about the subject:

MY OWN LOVE AFFAIR WITH ENGLISH

As Henry David Thoreau said, “It is life near the bone where it is sweetest,” and I believe that literature, writing, and teaching are those areas of life that sit near the bone. English has molded me into the person I am today. It has helped me connect to those people in the books and also to people in my life. It has given me understanding, confidence, and happiness. English is my oxygen, and without it, life would be short, dismal, and purposeless. I hope you can find some application of English to your own life, and that you will find pleasure and fulfillment in what it has to offer.

Additional Resources

Interesting Facts about English