IB English Learners’ Portfolio

Hannah Höch’s artwork, “Beautiful Girls,” serves as a poignant representation of the prevailing gender inequalities present in society, and offers insights into the transformation of women’s lifestyles during the era of industrialization. The pervasive global issue of gender inequality within cultural spheres restricts the full spectrum of identities and communities from being authentically portrayed and … [Read more…]

How does Duffy use dichotomy to explore a global issue in Warming Her Pearls?’ How do other techniques (such as sound) contribute to this)? In the poem “Warming Her Pearls” by Carol Ann Duffy, the poet employs the use of dichotomy, contrasting elements, and other techniques to explore a global issue that delves into the … [Read more…]

What is representation? Who / What determines appropriate representation? Why does it matter?

What are the themes explored in the poem and how can we relate that to a global issue? The author employs food significant to his culture to demonstrate innocence and nostalgia as he reminisces his past. He explores themes of individual identity as well as cultural identity, utilising the green rice as a ‘mirror’ into … [Read more…]

1. How is speaking properly advocated? It is advocated for as the ‘citizens’ of the kingdom are having arguments and discussions where they are unable to understand each other due to the incorrect grammar, and they are all taking turns coming to the ‘queen’ of the kingdom to get help with their situation and to … [Read more…]

Jeremiah and the director’s values and intentions are juxtaposed where the director has more materialistic values and realist views while Jeremiah is more sentimental and empathetic. Jeremiah and Boon’s mother both share sentimentality and emotional attachment to the past despite their lack of authority over the directors and agents who wish to progress. “Why should … [Read more…]

What are some of the creative choices employed by the authors to encourage Singaporeans to Speak Proper English? In order for the authors to encourage this movement, I believe they chose to use very specifically bright colours that would stand out on posters around Singapore and online. As they are bright and attractive posters, they … [Read more…]

Young Father roars with anger. Boon runs for his life, but Young Father catches him, and drags him to the backyard, with a huge chain and padlock. Young Father drags Boon over so that they are right in front of the tree and forces Boon to his knees. Fig Tree: What is father doing? Is … [Read more…]

In Anthony Bourdain’s Trying Duck Breast in Singapore, the authors represent social inequality in a unique way. In the video, the local people speaking may be seen as much more privileged than the ‘average’ Singaporean, and may not actually be an accurate representation of the Singaporean population. As they discuss about things such as maids, … [Read more…]

Primary: How do authors use language and form to reflect, define and construct cultural and/or social identity? This author used language and form to construct identity through creating an extended metaphor of almost a beast or animal-like creature, represented as the nasi lemak. The choice of the word ‘chops’, ‘eyes’, and ‘peacock’s tail’ accentuates the … [Read more…]