Interdisciplinary approaches: A case study of Integrating Literature, Language and Performing Arts at Brighton College Vietnam
At Brighton College Vietnam, learning is not confined to textbooks or traditional classroom boundaries. As an IB school, we champion inquiry-based, interdisciplinary education that empowers pupils to think critically, create boldly and connect knowledge across disciplines. Through this approach, language and literature are not only subjects to study, they become a foundation for artistic expression, cultural reflection and intellectual curiosity.
A distinctive aspect of our pedagogy is the integration of Language, Literature and the Performing & Visual Arts. Instead of engaging with texts solely through reading and analytical writing, pupils are encouraged to transform literature into performance, imagery and sound. A poem is not only analysed, it is voiced, embodied, staged. A piece of prose is not only interpreted, it is visualised through movement, music or visual art. Literature comes alive as students explore rhythm, metaphor, character and historical context through creative mediums.
In interdisciplinary activities, pupils practised and explored literature through guided rehearsal with their teacher, developing expression, staging, visual interpretation, voice work and physical movement. Their performance work was enriched through collaboration with Mr Rushton, Director of Performing Arts, and Mr Cooper, Director of Expressive Arts, who worked alongside the Vietnamese department to shape drama elements and develop accompanying artworks. These experiences helped pupils strengthen interpretation, imagination, emotional communication and creative embodiment of texts. They begin to see language not as something fixed, but as something that moves, transforms and resonates when paired with artistic forms.
“Our aim is to let pupils experience how language interacts with art and the body,” shared Mr Dat Vu, Head of Vietnamese. “When students perform literature instead of only reading it, they perceive its beauty more deeply and personally. Learning becomes vivid, relatable, and full of creative energy.”
Such interdisciplinary experiences reflect the College’s commitment to cultivating open-minded, expressive, culturally aware learners who approach knowledge with curiosity and confidence. Through the union of scholarship and creativity, pupils discover that learning is not only about understanding, it is about feeling, imagining, and engaging with the world in meaningful ways.
At Brighton College Vietnam, we believe that when language meets art, thinking expands. When creativity meets inquiry, learning becomes powerful. And when pupils are given the space to explore, they grow not only as students but as thoughtful, compassionate and inspired young people.
