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Tez

GCSE English

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Can anyone who has teenage children either taking or having taken GCSE English give me some advice on how to handle some difficulties that A is having?

 

He is currently being taught at home by a tutor supplied by the LEA. To be fair, despite some initial problems, she is doing her utmost to help A but really does not have any understanding of the difficulties caused by his ASD and anxieties. She is aware that he is very anti doing the work that she has set and is trying her best to assist him, but with little response from him. He currently has a piece of GCSE course work that he has to complete, and is not supposed to have any help with. He has to explore and analyse Romeo's motives for the killing of Tybalt and explain his feelings after Tybalt's death and he needs to present this orally to the teacher and answer questions on it for his speaking and listening component.

 

He has a number of difficulties with this. A has always been an extremely quiet child and has always been reluctant to speak, but things are even worse at the moment because he is still recovering from extreme stress and a period when he would only speak in representational sounds. Although this had virtually stopped, he is tending to slip back towards this over this matter as his stress and anxiety levels rise. He told me last night that he would rather sew his mouth up than to present a speech on this subject and like most children with ASD he can be rather stubborn when he choses.

 

He has a number of difficulties with the subject matter. He was subjected to some extreme and pointless bullying at school and the whole Romeo and Juliet play has upset him with the nature of the senseless violence and deaths, he doesn't really understand motivations and feelings and needs some help with this and he can't see anyway that he would ever have to do a presentation of this nature when he goes out to work and so doesn't see the relevance in putting himself through this unnecessary turmoil other the fact that he needs to to get a GCSE pass.

 

I am not sure how to proceed with this matter. A's statement is still not finalised so I'm getting little help from the LEA. I did consider asking if there was a different GCSE syllabus that would better meet his needs but that would mean starting again from scratch.

 

Although English is not his strongest subject A is still capable of getting a good grade GCSE if he can overcome this difficulty but at the moment I am struggling with how to help him, has anyone any ideas?

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Hi Tez,

 

All I can think of is speaking to Pupils Support Services, if there is anybody there that has an understanding of ASD/AS, or is there an Autism Specialist Teacher in your area.

 

We're going through the fun of GCSE's at the moment as well :wacko:

 

Annie

>:D<<'>

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You could try investigating the whole range of exam concessionss. I don't know what they all are.

 

For example, for the two GCSEs (Art and Maths) my son did last year, he had the following:

 

Prompt

25% extra time

Supervised rest breaks

Separate invigilation.

 

This year, the use of a laptop for all written work will also be added. He had to have a mini assessment for this, just done at school.

 

Sorry, not much help, but it gives an idea of what is allowed...

 

Bid >:D<<'>

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We are having the same problems with my son - due to take his GCSE's this summer. The English he is doing involves a lot of analysing. Do they not do an English Language GCSE anymore? That would be more achievable I would have thought. We used to do English Language and English Literature separately. T might end up doing Adult Literacy instead.

 

Does he have to do the Romeo and Juliet piece as spoken - can he not do a more factual piece as spoken, and R and J as written? I get the impression it can be quite flexible - T has to enter his four best pieces of coursework (will be lucky if he does four!). Are YOU allowed to help him pick out what he needs to say (as you woudl if he was doing homework surely?) - maybe do a mindmap of notes? Has he seen a film of R adn J - sometimes it is easier for them to pick up things from a film. Is he allowed to read through a book that helps to interpret R and J ?(available in most bookshops).

 

These new GCSE's seem very complicated - different tiers, double this, single that, entry level etc - I am still learning!

 

Karen

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I have yet to find anyone my age apart from the people who attended my school who never took an English exam. My English GCSE was all coursework. I have a sneaky suspicion that it was a non standard GCSE only taken by a miniscule number of people and not used for mainstream schools.

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as an aspie myself with an aspie daughter due to do her gcse's this i think i can help with!

 

1. get a copy of Romeo And Juliet (http://play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=R2&title=734688&p=57&g=72&pa=sr - delivery included in price)

2. and a copy of Romeo And Juliet - GCSE Stage 4 (http://play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=R2&title=180483&p=57&g=72&pa=sr)

 

Watch number 1 with him! talk constantly through the movie about the characters, theme and issues, Yes i know it is distracting but that's the point. Distract him from too much emotional attachment.

 

Now discuss the issue IMEDIATELY after the film - just you and him by asking "why did romeo kill tibalt?" If you can record that conversation with a small digital recored, or a mobile phone or even an mp3 player, do so!!! CASUALLY!

 

Later, the next day let him hear his answer in his own voice back. Then move onto the GCSE DVD. Let him use his recorded answer to help to refine his argument. He needs to hear his own vioce and practice speaking and hearing his own answers to become confidant.

Edited by nvapid

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