Reading Beyond the Lines : Recent Episodes
Sonia Murr
A VCE English and Literature Podcast, featuring discussion between experienced teachers and passionate students, navigating their study of all things language and literature.
In this episode, we are joined by Nathan Armstrong, to discuss Joanna Murray-Smith's incredible play, Berlin.
In this episode, we welcome Philippa Elder, passionate VCE English and Literature educator, currently teaching Year 12 English at Strathcona Girls Grammar, to discuss one of the most troubling chapters of Trevor Noah's Born A Crime.
In this episode, the first in a series of discussions of favourite chapters from Trevor Noah's Born a Crime, Mr O'Toole shares his thoughts on one of his favourite chapters from the text: Chapter 17 - 'The World Doesn't Love You'. We discuss Noah's fear of his mother's discipline, the notion that language unlocks an understanding of humanity, and the insidious nature of racist sterotypes. We also touch on the power of voice in memoir, and Noah's ability to gently characterise his adolescent self while also critiquing the naivete that underpins the events in the chapter. Enjoy!
In this episode, Ruby and Maya, our English Captains for 2024, have taken over the airwaves to share some English news! Hear what they are reading and tune in for some information on Kilvington Reads, the Kilvington Writers Festival and some other exciting English, Literature and Library initiatives coming up this year. Be sure to look out for the form that will be sharedshortly, with some suggestions about themes for KWF 2024. Have your say!
In this episode, the Year 12 teaching team at KGS offers some last minute SAC preparation and advice.
In this episode, the Year 12 English teaching team at Kilvington offers last minute advice on approaches to the 2023 English exam, working through some tips in response to some of the common mistakes made in each section of the most recent trial exams. The trial exam discussed is the 2023 Insight trial exam.
In this episode, we are joined by Philip Thiel, Kilvington's Academic Dean of English from 2020-2022. Currently teaching Ted Chiang's short story collection, Stories of Your Life and Others, at Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Philip was keen to chat about this extraordinary text.
In this episode, we are joined by VCE Literature students from Kilvington Grammar, to discuss van Neerven's poem Paper ships. Among other things we discuss form - the shape of the poem, the unconventional spelling, the use (or otherwise) of capital letters and repetition. The students also had very interesting things to say about the title of the poem and the way that this poem (among others in the collection) may have found inspiration in the 'poet warrior' Audre Lorde and her seminal essay collection Sister Outsider.
In this episode, Ronnie (aka @ronniesramblings) chats with Mel and Hamish - two very successful members of the Kilvington class of 2022, about their hot takes on The Women of Troy. She is joined by Sonia Murr, along with Joanna and Abbey from the Kilvington class of 2023, to discuss characters, approaches to getting moving on essay writing, and answers to the big question: was Euripides a feminist before feminism was even a thing?
In this episode, I speak with three students from my Literature class and they generously share their interpretations of the poem 'Chermy'. Thanks to Franco, Noah and Lucas for this rich and rewarding conversation.
In this episode, we welcome Ellen van Neerven into our classroom virtually, to answer some of the students' burning questions about the writing in Throat. We ask them questions about the way the collection is organised, their voice, language patterns and stylistic choices, as well as the views and values that led to the collection's creation. This episode was recorded, edited and uploaded with the poet's permission. We are so grateful to be able to archive this memorable session.
In this episode, I explore the poems 'The Only Blak Queer in the World' and 'Queens' from Ellen van Neerven's poetry collection Throat.
In this episode, I tease out a few thoughts on Ellen van Neerven's poem, 'Treaty', from their collection Throat, with the VCE Literature course in mind.
In this episode, Ms Roncevic answers some student questions about the best approaches to the Argument Analysis SAC. Listen in for advice on identifying argument, structuring the essay, avoiding a shopping list of persuasive techniques and writing about tone. Thanks to Kilvington Grammar students Kate, Ollie and Joanne for their questions!
In this episode, Sonia Murr interviews three Year 11 students from Kilvington about their approach to the first outcome for 2023 - The Personal Response. Thanks Freddy, Maria and Adele!
This week, Kilvington students have been writing their creative responses to the film text Sunset Boulevard. In this episode of Reading Beyond the Lines, Renae Bekas spoke to some Year 12 students about the themes and characters they have explored in preparation for the SAC. A huge thank you to Charlotte Westaway, Rowan Lister, Gab Pogreb, Freya Watters, Georgia Volakakis, Rhea Sanjanwala, Joanna Mistaris and Hugo Della Bosca for their generosity in sharing their story ideas. As a teaching team we wish all of the Year 12 English students the best for their first SAC.
In this episode, Kirsten Maruff, Iva Roncevic (Ronnie) and Sonia Murr discuss the Kilvington approach to teaching and assessing the changes to Unit 1: Reading and Exploring Texts. They chat about the first outcome, a Personal Response to the short story collection Joyful Strains: Making Australia Home, discussing how best to approach the lead up to assessment, and expectations for the Kilvington cohort.
In this episode, Sonia Murr is joined by Nathan Armstrong over zoom to discuss a passage from Joan Lindsay's iconic novel, Picnic at Hanging Rock. As well as the conversation about the elements of a passage that invite close analysis, they also touch on the adaptations task.
In this episode, Ms Murr, Ms Roncevic (AKA Ronnie) and Mrs Cavalin discuss their favourite moments in Sunset Boulevard before guiding students through the Unit 3 creative response and the Statement of Intention.