Giselle Bracewell

Giselle Bracewell

Latin

When did you start working Alia?

2017

Tell us about something interesting you did in class this year?

Learning Latin isn’t all about grammar and translation. Elements of Ancient Roman culture and history are also explored, e.g. Roman religion and mythology, Roman politics, Rome’s many great battles and Ancient Roman poetry. Exploring these rich avenues of history and culture are endlessly interesting.

What do you enjoy about teaching your subjects?

I love teaching Latin! I think It is an absolutely fascinating language, and so much can be gained from studying it. Approximately 60% of English words have derived from Latin, so a great advantage of studying Latin is that it allows students to increase their English vocabulary. It also gives students an appreciation for how language has developed over time. I love exploring language and culture with students and I like finding new ways to teach material so that it is fun and accessible.

What do you enjoy about working at Alia?

The school functions as a community, based on mutual respect between staff and students and this allows real and meaningful relationships to form within the school community. It is this which makes teaching worthwhile and engaging for me. I also like that I can be myself in the classroom and have a laugh with my students.

What do you get up to with your time outside school?

I am in a singing duo with my sister (and colleague), Francesca, called Franny and Zooey . We write, record, and perform music as often as we are able to! I also love to read and play tennis.