English enables students to become critical readers and thinkers, engaging in ongoing analysis and discussions of important worldwide themes like power, rebellion, justice, compassion, and equality. Regardless of what you want to study after Sixth Form, English provides you with the skills to critically read, respond to, and produce texts. Studying English improves open-mindedness, intercultural understanding and communication, all crucial in our modern world. The IB emphasises the importance of critical thinking, reflection, and understanding of culture. English Language and Literature develops these mindsets through close reading of texts, being able to relate a text to its form, genre, audience and context of production, and reading texts from a variety of sources all around the globe.