Persepolis and Literature in Translation

More than an "English person," I have always been a language person. I love how we use words and how language evolves over time, and for most of my life, my primary way of indulging in this love has been through reading. I went to college for French and Arabic just to experience even more language. Because of my experiences reading works in other languages, I am a huge believer in reading works in translation.

Using translated works in the classroom allows students to learn about diverse viewpoints and broaden their concepts of literary canon. Translated works can also provide perspectives completely absent from English sources. For instance, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi provides a first-person account of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Most of my students only know about Iran from recent news stories, so this graphic novel gives them historical context for current events and US-Iran relations.

I encourage all self-professed lovers of literature to expand their horizons to works in translation. Even if you read diversely, there is a whole world of new voices just waiting for you to listen.
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An Introduction

Hello! I'll begin my first foray into blogging with an introduction. My name is Elise Harris, and I am a first-year teacher located in east Tennessee. I teach 10th and 11th grade English. My background is in French and Arabic, so I'm entirely new to the world of ELA education. Although English isn't exactly my comfort zone, my love of words and reading isn't confined to the languages I've formally studied. I feel very fortunate to spend my days waist-deep in literature. I look forward to exploring my thoughts on the topic of childhood literacy here on this blog. I'm also excited to learn more about the current landscape of children's and young adult literature, as I haven't paid much attention to either since I was a child myself. Until next time!

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