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Thinking AloudEnglish Blog
An occasional blog concerned with the world of English Language and Literature. Featuring insights from examiners and past students as well as encouraging and inspiring everyone to pick up a book and get lost in a new world.
Hamlet: the Character in search of Certainty in an Uncertain World
I was working with one of my lovely A Level students the other day, and we were deep into our discussion of Hamlet - when it happened. I got it. I got Hamlet.
Sophie Welsh
2 days ago2 min read
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Naming a Puppy: A Literary Minefield
There are some decisions in life that require deep contemplation. Applying for a job. Choosing a partner. Picking your Desert Island Discs. And then, there’s naming a puppy.Â
Sophie Welsh
3 days ago2 min read
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The Blarney Stone and the Art of Eloquence (Exam-Board Approved)
For those of us in the business of literature, St Patrick's day is a chance to celebrate Ireland’s unrivalled literary legacy.
Sophie Welsh
Mar 172 min read
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The Dogs of Literature
Reading a book or watching a film and a dog appears, steel yourself. It is most likely about to be devastating shorthand for human despair.
Sophie Welsh
Mar 132 min read
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Reading Between the Lines: The Bee Sting, Paul Murray
And that’s the power of reading, isn’t it? Stories settle differently in the mind when they pass through the eyes rather than the ears.Â
Sophie Welsh
Mar 82 min read
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World Book Day: Has It Had Its Day?
Yes, World Book Day is upon us once again: that annual festival of hurriedly Amazon-Primed costumes and polyester-fuelled meltdowns.
Sophie Welsh
Mar 72 min read
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Lost in Literature? Good! Interpretation's the Whole Point.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that an English student in possession of a novel must be in want of the right answer.
Sophie Welsh
Feb 43 min read
40 views
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'Tis the Season of the Snake
While Western culture often casts snakes in a sinister light (looking at you, Bible), the Chinese interpretation is far more nuanced...
Sophie Welsh
Jan 282 min read
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The Power of Maggie O'Farrell
If I Am, I Am, I Am is about the individual’s fight for survival, Hamnet is about the collective weight of loss.Â
Sophie Welsh
Jan 73 min read
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Shakespeare Reworked
Shakespeare is nothing if not a crackingly good storyteller. That he stole most of his plot lines is neither here nor there, just don’t ask
Sophie Welsh
Aug 13, 20243 min read
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A Trip of a Lifetime, with a Nice Little PhD Attached
There's an unmatched thrill in perusing the dusty shelves of a second-hand bookshop, where the scent of old paper and the promise of...
Sophie Welsh
Aug 5, 20243 min read
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The Paris Olympics: A Literary Sprint
The Paris Olympics, the city of light, love, and endless traffic jams, and it is already SO EXCITING.
Sophie Welsh
Aug 1, 20243 min read
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Tune In, Turn Up, and Geek Out: How BBC Radio 4 Can Be Your Secret Weapon in Acing English Lang Lit
Remember, reading is something that draws you into other worlds. Listening does that too… So let me introduce you to Radio 4.
Sophie Welsh
Jul 24, 20244 min read
22 views
3 comments
Summer Reading for aspiring A Level / IB students
Pens down, books away - you’ve done the exams, you’re just waiting for the results. Nothing more to be done. IT’S THE SUMMER!
Sophie Welsh
Jul 23, 20242 min read
14 views
1 comment
Theresa, Abu Dhabi
"I can’t recommend Sophie Welsh enough for anyone needing some tutoring in English. In just a few hours, Sophie inspired and delivered exceptional teaching."
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