Welcome to the English Department

Edina Szalai - Department Chair

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” Albert Einstein

Middle School Language Arts and Philosophy:
The language arts program is taught in an atmosphere designed to stimulate and satisfy student curiosity, instill a joy for learning, and nurture individual self-confidence. Students are exposed to, and engaged in, all-inclusive, academic and socially conscious activities via the use of innovative technology resources. Through interactive study of engaging and challenging literature, students continually improve reading comprehension and fluency skills. In sixth grade, students begin a philosophy track that explores logic, ethics, and aesthetics over three years.

Upper School English:
The English Department promotes the values of diversity, integrity and independent thinking through an intense immersion in literary texts representing a wide range of eras, cultures and writing styles. Our curriculum emphasizes the importance of oral and written communication skills as well as digital literacy – the ability to locate, evaluate and critically reflect on information derived from a variety of media – to prepare our students for the challenges of the modern world.

Classes Offered: 

Middle School: Middle School Language Arts, Creative Writing, Logic, Ethics, and Aesthetics 

Upper School: Introduction to Literature, American Literature, AP English Literature and Composition, Banned Books: The Story of Taboo and Censorship, Redefining America, Poetry Writing Workshop, The Final Frontier: Science Fiction Studies

Examples of Classwork: 

Greek Symposium: 5th graders research ancient Greek figures of achievement in literature, science, the arts and medicine then present themselves to the class as these figures to debate issues in a symposium.

Final Project for American Literature: Sophomores conduct an independent study of a major American author then share their insights about their chosen authors in a research paper as well as in student-led discussions. 

TED Talks: Juniors undertake an ambitious research project of their own choice and present their findings in front of the whole Hudson community of students, parents and teachers as a series of TED talks.

Click here to view our 2019 TED Talks!

Examples of Literature Read:

• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Americanah
• Kate Chopin: The Awakening
• Elena Ferrante: My Brilliant Friend
• F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
• Homer: The Odyssey
• Toni Morrison: Beloved
• Michael Ondaatje: The English Patient
• Claudia Rankine: Citizen
• J.D. Salinger: Catcher in the Rye
• William Shakespeare: The Tempest
• Mary Shelley: Frankenstein