The Books That Changed Our Lives - Part 3

Read about the Intrepid English teacher‘s tastes in books – what they love and hate, what they’re ashamed not to have read, what they think is over-rated, all is here in our interview!

As November is our 30-day novel writing challenge, I thought it would be interesting to ask the Intrepid English teachers and students about their taste in novels. Here’s what they had to say:

This is the third part of our 4-part series. I thoroughly recommend that you recommend you check out part 1 and part 2 here.

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What is your favourite book?

Momo

Intrepid English Learner

Currently, the Japanese illustrator, Shinsuke Yoshitake. He is very witty and very philosophical. His drawings are fantastic. He creates imaginary bookstores, the kind you’d never find in the real world, and it’s fascinating.

Tatiana

Intrepid English Learner

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Kim

Intrepid English Teacher

The Book Thief, Markus Zusak.

Olga

Intrepid English Learner

Iron Age by Isai Kalashnikov – A great book about Chingishan’s life from his parents’ meeting till his death. I think this book shows how complicated everyone’s life’s story is and it can’t be judged so easily.

Lida

Teacher at Intrepid English

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. It tells the story of Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, a gulag prisoner, who against all odds has a positive outlook on his life and a strong will to survive. It’s not a happy story, but it is an optimistic one set in a bleak setting.

Lorraine

Intrepid English Teacher and Founder

I have recommended the Penguin Readers range of books to English students of all levels. The range includes adaptations of many of the classics that the Intrepid English Teachers and students have recommended in this 4-part series. Students can choose from 7 different levels, from beginner to advanced, and a range of genres including contemporary fiction, biographies, classic novels, educational, historical, sci-fi and comedy. All books include comprehension exercises, vocabulary reviews and there are audiobooks available too.

My recommendations include: 1984 by George Orwell, The Extraordinary Life of Malala Yousafzai and Life in Space.

Momo

Intrepid English Learner

Thanks to my teacher, Thomas, I have become a huge fan of Roald Dahl. When I have students studying English I like to recommend Roald Dahl’s books to them.

Lida

Intrepid English Teacher

Whatever interests you. I think it’s tough to recommend a book without knowing more about the student. When students complain that they can’t write because they don’t have a big enough vocabulary, I recommend reading Green Eggs and Ham by Doctor Seuss. Green Eggs and Ham is a bestselling book for children written using only fifty of the most common English words.

Olga

Intrepid English Learner

Raymond Murphy’s, English Grammar in Use.

What book do you hate?

Momo

Intrepid English Learner

I don’t like stories that are too predictable. I’d prefer a diction with a nice rhythm, like music.

Lorraine

Intrepid English Teacher and Founder

If I don’t like them, I shelve them. Life is too short to read bad books.

What book changed you/the way you see things?

Momo

Intrepid English Learner

I think – ten years ago, or so – when I lost my friend, I encountered a nice book written by Maria Kozuk. It gave me a philosophical message from a female’s point-of-view. Reading it, was a good experience. It really helped me.

Lida

Intrepid English Teacher

Brief Under Water by Cyrus Console is a poetry book I read for a class in high school. It’s not famous or ground-breaking, but it was the first poetry book that spoke to me. It made me realise poetry is something I could enjoy reading. It’s one of a few books I kept through moving to different continents and countries, and it still sits on my bookshelf.

Stay tuned for the fourth and final part 4 of this series next week!

Taking part in the 30-day novel writing challenge is simple! If you’re not yet a member of Intrepid English, then click here to sign up. If you are a member, then all you have to do is join the 30-day novel writing challenge group which you can find in the group page below.

Join the group!

If you have any questions, or you would like to request a topic for a future blog, you can contact us here or email us at Intrepid English.

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This blog was written by Intrepid English teacher, Tom.

Find out more about Tom on his Intrepid English Teacher profile page.

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Hello, and welcome to the Intrepid English podcast. My name is Lorraine, and today, I have a conversation for you. My friend Alyssa is a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant in London. And when I told Alyssa that we were creating a diversity and inclusion course, in the intrepid English Academy, we had a lovely conversation about why diversity and inclusion are so important. I asked her to join me on this podcast as an expert in this field, to break down these big topics so that our English learners and the listeners of this podcast can understand a little bit about what diversity and inclusion are, why they’re so important, and give you a little bit of language that you can use to increase your awareness and broaden your horizons in these essential areas.