It would be an understatement to say that the day [with Markus Zusak] was a success – it was inspiring, invigorating and wholly exciting for every single student (and staff member!) involved. Markus was a true gent, he captivated the students (a packed theatre) making them laugh and gasp, and he spoke with great insight into the world of writing and the creative process. He enthused students with his anecdotes and answered their questions enthusiastically and with humour. Staying behind beyond the allotted time to sign every single book (putting a personal message in each signing) was unexpected and the students loved the experience.
– Nicholas Bruce, GEMS Wellington International School
One of the key elements of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is Education Day, where schoolchildren and university students from across the UAE get the opportunity to meet their favourite authors. Education Day gives students the opportunity to come face-to-face with authors, a meeting that fuels a lifelong love of words in children, inspiring them to embrace reading and writing.
This year, the programme for schools and universities has been further extended to encompass Student Sessions. These include Poetry Live! – GCSE Poetry Day with poets Carol Ann Duffy, Grace Nichols, Imtiaz Dharker, John Agard and Simon Armitage; the Illustration Panel with Lauren Child, Chris Haughton, David Melling, Petr Horacek and Shihab Al Deen Al Musharaf; and sessions with actor and author Meera Syal and astronaut Chris Hadfield.
Please contact Nicky Mills (nicola.mills@emirateslitfest.com) or Ellice Powell (ellice.powell@emirateslitfest.com) for more information about English language sessions and Yara Mirdad (yara.mirdad@emirateslitfest.com) for more detail about Arabic language sessions.