English Book Club: appuntamento al prossimo anno!

“You will learn most things by looking, but reading gives understanding. Reading will make you free.” ― Paul Rand

A fine maggio 2025 si è svolto l’ultimo dei dieci incontri previsti dal Book Club 'The Secret Kettle' durante l’anno scolastico 2024/2025.

Abbiamo viaggiato tra Londra, Irlanda, Stati Uniti e Giappone. Con l’umorismo di Alan Bennet abbiamo condiviso il “subversive pleasure of reading”. Con una lettrice d’eccezione (Alert! Spoiler!), nientedimeno che la Regina Elisabetta in The Uncommon Reader, abbiamo 'abitato', tra gli altri, a Buckingham palace; ci siamo spostati a Willesden, nei suburbs di Londra, con Zadie Smith e la sua Embassy of Cambodia; poi in un piccolo paesino della cattolica Irlanda con il dramma delle "Magdalene laundries" in Small things like these.

Abbiamo condiviso i timori e le preoccupazioni di un’adolescente rifugiata di origini somale che cerca di passare inosservata nella teen novel You think you know me.

Abbiamo riflettuto sulla crescente presenza dell’IA nella nostra vita quotidiana con Happiness for Humans in una versione nell’era digitale di "Emma" di Jane Austen.

I gatti di Genki Kawamura ci hanno guidato verso una riflessione su ciò che è davvero importante nella vita in If cats disappeared from the world.

I libri letti sono frutto di proposte e suggerimenti spontanei, e la scelta è stata condivisa. Ogni libro ha dato avvio ad una discussione e collegamento a temi contemporanei

Una delle attività più apprezzate è stata la visione di un film in lingua originale, “Small things like these”, preceduta dalla lettura del libro e seguita da una discussione collettiva che ha permesso di confrontarsi su contenuti, linguaggio e temi affrontati nella pellicola, contribuendo a sviluppare capacità critiche e linguistiche.

È stato fondamentale offrire uno spazio in cui utilizzare la lingua inglese in un contesto non scolastico, informale e spontaneo, in cui esercitare l’inglese attraverso la lettura, l’ascolto e il dialogo reale, superando l’approccio tradizionale legato alla didattica curricolare.

La partecipazione all’incontro con la Casa Editrice BEE - Bottega Errante Edizioni - ha reso il percorso ancora più ricco e stimolante anche in chiave di orientamento. 

Last but not least, il 'tea time', l’immancabile rito che ci ha accompagnato durante gli incontri.

L’attività del Book Club proseguirà il prossimo anno con nuovi libri e nuove iniziative: aspettiamo nuovi 'bookworms' per continuare a parlare, riflettere ed arricchirci attraverso la nostra grande comune passione: leggere!

Condividiamo alcune riflessioni delle studentesse partecipanti in quest'anno scolastico 2024/2025!

[…] This year, I took part in the school’s book club. Personally, I love reading and I saw this as an opportunity to read more and to explore genres I usually don't consider. Furthermore, since I am really shy, I thought this activity could help me to open up a bit more and feel more confident when speaking in front of others. […]

[…] In one of our meetings we also talked about one of the books I recommended, "If cats disappeared from the world" by Genki Kawamura. I was very pleased to see that the book was very well received by the group and hearing others’ thoughts was really rewarding. […]

[…] I would recommend this experience to other book lovers, as it makes reading feel less lonely and can help you learn or understand new things. […]

[…] Joining the English book club has been a very important and meaningful experience in my journey as a reader. Reading has always been a big part of my life. Since I discovered it, I’ve loved getting lost in stories, learning new things, and imagining different worlds. But for a long time, reading was something I did alone, mostly because I didn’t really have anyone to talk about books to - not even my friends. That’s why joining the book club was such a big change for me. In the book club, I found a space where I could finally share this passion. I could talk about the books we read, hear other people’s opinions, and feel connected with others who enjoy books just as much as I do. It made me feel understood, and it  also helped me grow both as a reader and as a person. One of the best things about being part of the book club is that it has helped me read different kinds of books. Thanks to our choices, I’ve discovered new authors, new genres, and even books from different cultures.

Some of them are books I would never have chosen on my own, but I ended up really enjoying them. I enjoyed our discussions at the meetings too: they were just as important as the books themselves, and sometimes even more. Talking about the characters, the themes, and the messages of the stories has helped me to think more deeply and to have a different approach while judging a story. It taught me to listen better and to be open to other people’s ideas and points of view. Plus, I had the possibility to do that while improving my English even further. Being in the book club has made reading even more special to me. It’s not just something I do alone anymore. It’s something I can share, talk about, and grow with, and I’m really grateful for that. […]

[…] In the Book Club we chose a book to read each month, which we then discussed in the following meeting. The books were chosen by majority vote, they ranged across different genres and there was always room for new proposals. The discussion often went beyond the plot, exploring the themes of each book, and many connections with other topics, ideas or facts emerged. Some discussions were light and others more profound—it also depended on the book—but there was always an engaging exchange. That was very interesting, because we often underestimate or take for granted things that, on the contrary, deserve reflection. The books we considered were worth reading, and they weren't too difficult to understand.

The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, perfect even for those who are a bit shy. Everyone was free to express their opinions without being judged. Since it wasn't an ordinary class, even though the teachers were the same ones who usually teach us, a closer and more informal relationship was created on that occasion-which I found really nice. Moreover, in connection with this, we brought some food from home to the meetings so we could all enjoy a snack together.

Thanks to a collaboration with the cultural association Bottega Errante in Udine, during one of the meetings we visited their headquarters together with the Italian Book Club. They told us the story of how the association was founded, the core principles behind it, the different roles of the members, as well as the long process of translating a book, choosing the title and designing the cover, and the trust-based relationship between the publishing house and the authors involved. This meeting was very intriguing and fascinating for us, since we are passionate readers. […]

[…] Overall, this experience helped me grow not only in English but also as a person. I developed better reading habits, improved my ability to speak in public, and learned how to work in a group in a respectful and thoughtful way. This experience also motivated me to read more, not only in English but in general. I rediscovered the pleasure of reading and now I’m more curious to explore different genres and authors. I’m very grateful I had the chance to be part of it. […]

A presto!