Tara Westover's memoir, Educated is an enthralling, thought-provoking journey of self discovery. The book is nothing short of exceptional and I 100% recommend that you read it - it really is deserving of all the incredible reviews it has received! However, in this review I want to focus on the aspects of the book that may present specific challenges or opportunities for English language learners.
Language Level:
Educated is best suited for very advanced learners who really want a challenge. In order to fully appreciate this book you will need a minimum of C1 level English, but I actually recommend this book to students who are closer to C2 level. The main reasons for this is the complexity of the language used (both in terms of grammar and vocabulary) and the storytelling techniques employed by the author.
However, if you are an advanced learner, this book is the perfect companion to help you build vocabulary and continue to exercise your English mind!
So, let’s take a look at what English learners will find easy, and what you will find difficult, about Educated…
Easy-to-Understand Aspects:
Short chapters: With such advanced vocabulary and grammar this book might be more of a struggle for even C1/C2 level learners if it wasn’t for some incredibly short chapters. This means that you can read in short bursts, one short chapter at a time. Therefore, it is easier to follow the main points of the story, easier to stay motivated to read and easier to take a break when you are feeling tired.
Gripping storylines: This book is captivating from the very first page, by the time you have read the first chapter, you will be hooked! This isn’t specifically a positive point just for English learners but the fact that you will be reading this on the edge of your seat, always wanting to know what happens next will motivate you to keep going and read, read, read!
Challenging Aspects:
Advanced Vocabulary: One of the best things about Westover’s writing style is that she is very good at describing people, places and feelings with incredible accuracy. However, while this adds to the story it does pose a specific challenge for English learners because you will encounter a number of adjectives, expressions, idioms and phrases which you have never encountered before and that can sometimes have very specific meanings or connotations. However, with dedication and determination this provides you the opportunity to build your vocabulary and develop your reading comprehension skills as you need to use context and cues to figure out the meaning of such vocabulary.
Advanced Grammatical structures: If you are a C1 or C2 level (advanced level) English speaker then the grammar used by Westover will not be new to you but the thing which makes it difficult is the density of her writing. Westover often jumps between times, locations and ideas in her story and uses advanced grammatical structures to do it - things like mixed conditionals, inversion, ellipsis etc. This means that to follow and understand the story correctly you need to constantly be on top of the meaning of each of these sentences and how they relate to other information in the book. This again provides a great opportunity for advanced learners to build reading comprehension skills of advanced level texts.
Culturally specific themes: Westover grew up in small town America, on a farm (of sorts) and in a fundamentalist religious family. This means that there are several things she references which would be common knowledge for many Americans of a similar age to Westover, but are completely unknown to international readers. This will require you to sometimes dig a bit deeper and do a bit of research to understand exactly what she is referring to.
Figurative Language: Westover uses a lot of metaphors, similes, and symbolism to convey emotions and experiences, requiring you to really think about the meaning behind her words and ‘read between the lines’ so to speak
Language Learning Opportunities:
Contextual Understanding: Reading "Educated" will provide advanced English learners with the opportunity to process and understand an advanced level text, deducing meaning from context and building understanding as you go. This is a skill that is easy to practise when you are at a lower level, but Educated by Tara Westover provides you with a great example of advanced language to further compliment your English language study at a C1 or C2 level.
Vocabulary Enrichment: Reading any book will help improve your vocabulary but Educated is in a league of its own in this regard. As long as you take an active approach to reading this book, you will be surprised at how much vocabulary you will pick up along the way.
Cultural Insights: The book provides insights into rural American life, family dynamics, and the pursuit of education, enhancing your cultural awareness of life in small town America!
Tips for English Learners:
My advice, as an English teacher with over 10 years experience, is as follows:
Take It Slow: Read the book at a comfortable pace, pausing to reflect on and grasp complex ideas.
Make Vocabulary Lists: Keep track of new words and idioms encountered throughout the book to practice and review later.
Join a Book Club or Discussion Group: Engaging with fellow learners can enhance understanding and provide valuable insights.
Conclusion:
Tara Westover's "Educated" offers English learners an engaging and enlightening reading experience, rich with language learning opportunities. While certain aspects may present challenges, the rewards of delving into this remarkable memoir are boundless. Happy reading and language learning!
If any of you have completed this book, I would love to hear your opinions in the comments!
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