English teacher techniques to engage students in Shakespeare
Despite his material being written more than 400 years ago, William Shakespeare’s work continues to be a core pillar of English classes the world over. This is particularly true in England, the birthplace of the man regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. With the National Curriculum featuring more Shakespeare than ever – and today’s students seemingly worlds away from the language and themes explored in much of Shakespeare’s works - teachers and educators must be creative in the ways they bring Shakespeare to life in the classroom. The following tips should help to engage and inspire pupils to connect with Shakespeare.
Give students some background
Many students find it beneficial to understand the general themes or plotlines of Shakespeare before diving into a closer reading. Shakespeare’s plays can seem dense and onerous to young people, and this will be magnified if they don’t understand the general idea and storyline as they read. Known for his dramatic irony and intricate character developments and relationships, Shakespeare’s work could be re-read over and over and there would still be nuances left to discover. Give your students a leg-up by running through a play’s basic plot (such as “a man and a woman from warring families fall in love but are tragically doomed”) before they start studying it.
Reduced scripts can help to get students familiar with Shakespeare’s material. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has a broad range of these and other teaching resources that can be used in lesson plans.
Act it out
Shakespeare’s plays are designed to be acted out, but English teachers without access to drama studios and resources can feel limited in what they can deliver. While you don’t need to put on a full production, even reading scenes aloud can help students to think more deeply about the story and understand it as a performance. Beyond simply reading from the text, students can participate in ‘hot-seating’, where pupils take turns putting themselves in the shoes of a Shakespeare character and responding to questions about what they’ve done, what they’re thinking and how they feel towards other characters.
Make it relatable
Shakespeare enthusiasts – and English teachers – know that his work is full of complex characters, engaging plots and themes that are as relevant today as they were centuries ago. The challenge is conveying this to students.
Pick out key themes in the texts – such as jealousy and racism in Othello, ambition and corruption in Macbeth and love in Romeo and Juliet – and explore these both in the context of the plays and in modern life. Hamlet’s anguish, Othello’s jealousy and Romeo and Juliet’s powerful, passionate love will be recognised by young people the world over, and these themes can be found in modern literature, cinema and music – and indeed, personal lives. Encourage open conversation about these themes and how they are weaved into both Shakespeare’s plays and modern society.
Look for film interpretations
As the most adapted writer in recorded history, Shakespeare’s work has been interpreted hundreds of times. While some teachers may be reluctant to prescribe modern adaptations of his work, some students benefit enormously from seeing themes explored in a current context, complete with more modern language, recognisable actors and cinematic styling. The 1995 version of Othello features some great acting, while Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet is a modernised, stylised version of the eternal tale. If you can bear language changes and complete modernisation, 10 Things I Hate About You is a brilliant interpretation of The Taming of the Shrew, while purists will appreciate Kenneth Branagh in the 1996 interpretation of Hamlet.
Approach it from new angles
Encourage pupils to consider different points of view within stories and ask questions of them. What were Iago’s motives, and does he have any redeeming qualities? What does Desdemona think of Othello, and what is her relationship with Emilia based on?
You can also change your approach to how students absorb Shakespeare’s works. From No Fear Shakespeare – full original text with translations into modern English – and audio versions of plays through to the animated Shakespeare in Shorts series, there’s something for every style of learner. To ensure students understand and engage with plays, set tasks afterwards. This could include telling a play’s story through a one-page comic, learning how to write like Shakespeare and taking interactive quizzes.
Looking for your next English teaching job?
Put your Shakespeare teaching skills into practice with a new teaching job. Whether you’re looking to teach primary, secondary or as a teaching assistant, we could have the perfect role. Search for your next job now.
Sign up to posts
Related jobs
Salary
£120 - 200 per day
Location free text
Solihull
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
£200 - £299 per day
Sector
English
Location
Solihull
Description
English Teacher ARE YOU A QUALIFIED ENGLISH TEACHER LOOKING TO EMBARK ON YOUR NEXT JOURNEY?Qualifications: Qualified Teacher Status or relevant teaching qualification (preferred)Strong knowledge o
Reference
English Teacher B92
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Birmingham SecondaryAuthor
Birmingham SecondarySalary
£28,000 - 43,685 per year
Location free text
Carnforth
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£20,000 - £29,999
£30,000 - £39,999
£40,000 - £49,999
Sector
English
Location
Lancashire
Description
A ‘Good’ Secondary school in Carnforth are seeking a full time Teacher of English to join them in May 2024 in preparation for long term cover. It is important the successful candidate has experience w
Reference
EPCARNFENG
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire SecondaryAuthor
Lancashire SecondarySalary
£30k - 43k per year
Location free text
Farnborough
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
£200 - £299 per day
Sector
English
Location
Hampshire
Description
English Teacher Wanted: Secondary School in Farnborough Are you passionate about shaping young minds through the power of literature and language? Do you thrive in a dynamic educational environment?
Reference
Cove Eng
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Hampshire SecondaryAuthor
Hampshire SecondarySalary
£25 - 35 per hour
Location free text
Haydon Bridge
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£20 - £29 per hour
£30 per hour and above
Sector
English
Location
Northumberland
Description
Are you an English teacher looking to move into tuition or already tutoring and want to support pupils with their GCSE's?TP Tutors have an exciting opportunity to help young children with achieving th
Reference
RWEngHaydonBridge24
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
North East TuitionAuthor
North East TuitionSalary
£120 - 220 per day + CPD Library Access
Location free text
Rotherham
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
£200 - £299 per day
Sector
English
Location
Rotherham
Description
Teaching Personnel are seeing the following Teachers to work from Easter in an outstanding secondary school in Rotherham. English TeacherMaths Teacher Special Needs Teacher For more information plea
Reference
RotherhamSupply06
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Sheffield Secondary & SENAuthor
Sheffield Secondary & SENSalary
£28,000 - 46,490 per year
Location free text
Bradford
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
English
Location
Bradford
Description
A prestigious secondary school in Bradford is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Teacher of English to join their esteemed faculty from January 2024. The school, renowned for its commitment to aca
Reference
JHB52
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Permanent StaffingAuthor
Permanent StaffingSalary
£30,000 - 46,525 per year
Location free text
Levenshulme
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£30,000 - £39,999
£40,000 - £49,999
Sector
English
Location
Greater Manchester
Description
Exciting Opportunity for an English Teacher in Levenshulme! Are you a dedicated and passionate English Teacher seeking a rewarding opportunity? Teaching Personnel is thrilled to present a full-time
Reference
61+681614
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Manchester East SecondaryAuthor
Manchester East SecondarySalary
£30,000 - 46,525 per year
Location free text
Bury
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£30,000 - £39,999
£40,000 - £49,999
Sector
English
Location
Greater Manchester
Description
Are you an experienced English Teacher seeking a new opportunity after the Easter Break?Are you a Teacher in training, seeking a role to start in September 2024?We are currently seeking passionate Eng
Reference
140324-ET-BUR
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Manchester West SecondaryAuthor
Manchester West SecondarySalary
£3,079.60 - 4,239.20 per month
Location free text
Taunton
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
£200 - £299 per day
£10 - £19 per hour
£20 - £29 per hour
Sector
English
Location
Taunton
Description
Teaching Personnel are keen to appoint an imaginative and dynamic teacher of English for KS3 and KS4 to cover a long term post at a good school in Taunton, Somerset. The school is ideally looking for
Reference
ENGTCHTA
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Exeter Secondary & SENAuthor
Exeter Secondary & SENSalary
£30,000 - 46,525 per year + CPD Training
Location free text
Darlington
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£30,000 - £39,999
£40,000 - £49,999
Sector
English
Location
Darlington
Description
Are you an engaging teacher of English looking for a new role? Are you an experienced teacher or NQT looking for your next position?If so, keep reading!The Role Full time position for either a NQT or
Reference
MMCA2123233
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Tyne Tees SecondaryAuthor
Tyne Tees SecondaryRelated posts
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD03YY
Summary
Planning for the Easter break? The Teaching Personnel payroll team wants to make sure you get paid on time. This table outlines the Easter 2024 payroll date, along with the corresponding deadline
by
Adam Davies
Teaser
Supply TeachingContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD01YY
Summary
Table of Contents 1. Why do people become supply teachers? 2. What does it take to become a supply teacher? 3. How can I find work as a supply teacher? <!-- b--> 4. How shou
by
Alex Schulte
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD01YY
Summary
Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision in schools is a critical aspect of education that demands attention in 2024. According to the Department for Education, over 1.5 million pupils in England
Teaser
Multi-Academy TrustsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
Laura Williams is an education leadership coach with fifteen years of leadership experience in education across business, operations, HR, finance and governance. She is a former Business Manager, CO
by
Scott Owen
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
Creating a safe and nurturing environment for pupils is paramount in the age of evolving social dynamics. One issue that has gained significant attention in recent years is the distinction between
by
Adam Davies
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson addressed the Labour Party conference in October, where she announced plans to reform primary maths. Currently, one in four children leave primary school
Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD10YY
Summary
Mock exams are a crucial milestone in a pupil's academic journey, serving as a practice run for the real deal. As educators, you play a pivotal role in helping pupils navigate through these trial ex
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
In the fast-moving world of education, headteachers and schools face the challenge of ensuring a continuous and reliable supply of qualified teachers. Unforeseen teacher absences due to staff sickness
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
Embarking on the journey to become an educator is both exhilarating and demanding. The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is crucial to achieving your teaching ambitions. The road ahead
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD08YY
Summary
Teaching is a rewarding profession that plays a crucial role in shaping our society's future. However, it comes with its challenges. The workload can be demanding, which might sometimes lead to feelin
Register with us
for a choice of classroom roles
Register today
Recent job