Hello, Language Explorers! Today, we're diving into the portfolio that's like your personal treasure trove in the IBDP English A LAL course. 📚✨

• Imagine the portfolio as your personal diary where you store all your interactions with various texts.
• Although it's not directly assessed, it's like a training ground where you practice your reading and interpretation skills on both small-scale (micro) and large-scale (macro) levels.
• Think of it as your playground for practicing skills that'll come handy in the external assessment.

• When developing your portfolio, think from the perspective of an assessor. Include observations, reflections, and thoughts that may be useful for external assessment.
• Remember that the portfolio is meant to reflect your journey in learning close reading and comparative analysis skills.

• Close Reading Notes: Ever had those moments when you're reading a book and something jumps out at you? Maybe it's a clever word play or a sudden twist in the plot. Jot down those distinguishing features of the text and your thoughts on them.
• "Authentic Textual Problems": We all have those "Huh?" moments when reading. Write down any confusions, surprises, or difficulties you encounter in the text. Reflect on those puzzling moments that make you stop and think.
• Initial Impressions: When you first meet someone, you form an initial impression, right? Do the same with texts! Write down your first thoughts and feelings about a text.
• Reader-Speaker Relationship: Ever thought about how you relate to the speaker of a text? Take note of how the speaker-reader relationship unfolds.