The English Immersion Book Club at Colegio Concepción has embarked on a new and exciting literary adventure, one that not only deepens students’ love for reading but also celebrates cultural diversity and language learning. This time, the club is thrilled to welcome two new members, Kim Müters and Alba Rohring from 2nd secondary level A and C, exchange students from Berlin and Hannover, Germany, who have joined our sessions as part of their study abroad experience in Chile.
The current challenge is as magical as it is ambitious: reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban entirely in English. While many of our students, including Alba and Kim, are already familiar with the boy who lived iconic story through the films or translations into their native languages, tackling the original version presents a whole new level of learning. It’s an opportunity to expand vocabulary, deepen reading comprehension, and analyse narrative structures in a second language, a core goal of our English Immersion Plan.
To begin this literary journey, students first engaged in a contextualisation activity designed to organise their existing knowledge. Alba and Kim created a detailed concept map to separate what they already knew from the first two books from the new elements introduced in this third instalment. This exercise not only helped them focus on fresh content but also prepared them for deeper literary analysis. Additionally, they each wrote a short essay explaining why they chose this book and what they hope to achieve by reading it in English, a powerful way to set a clear purpose for their reading experience.
Reading a story, they thought they already knew has become a powerful discovery process. Familiar characters and events now reveal new layers of meaning when explored in their original language. Discussions in the club have shifted from simply recalling plot points to exploring themes, character development, and symbolism, all in English, fostering critical thinking and communication skills in a collaborative environment.
Looking ahead, the Book Club will continue exploring the world of Harry Potter by diving deeper into the book’s central themes, narrative techniques, and character arcs. Through literary discussions, students will not only enhance their language proficiency but also strengthen their analytical and interpretative skills.
This new chapter is a perfect example of how literature can bridge cultures, spark meaningful conversations, and make language learning an engaging, transformative experience. Stay tuned for more updates from our Book Club, the adventure has only just begun!
