As an examiner for English A2 HL Paper 1, I’ve noticed that the IB has once again selected types of texts that either have to do with food or family. It’s a curious trend. The texts for comparison are often introductions to recipe books, travel guides, infomercials or memoirs about childhood. I’ve noticed in the specimen papers for 2013 that this trend will not change: tabloid articles about Bollywood stars, comic strips about gender stereo-typing and again, yes, a memoir about someone’s childhood.
This makes we wonder. When we teachers select our texts for Parts 1 and 2 to help our students prepare for Paper 1, what is more important: a) we confront them with a range of important themes, i.e. war, gender, environment or racial conflict, or b) we confront them with a range of different text types. As far as the exams are concerned, I would say ‘b’. As far as meaningful education is concerned, I’d say ‘a’. As we hunt for texts, I suggest we try to find a combination of both.
