SHAKESPEARE CLUB OF ELBASAN

In a modest private classroom tucked away in Elbasan – a small city in central Albania – a curious sight greets visitors. The walls, once plain, now resemble the halls of an improvised museum dedicated to William Shakespeare. Oversized posters display some of the Bard’s most iconic lines in elegant script, each paired with striking imagery. A coiled serpent glistens under the quote “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown.” Nearby, a solemn owl perches beside the adage “Brevity is the soul of wit.” This is not a literature professor’s office or a theater lobby, but HD Consultancy Elbasan, a private study center where local students prepare for English exams. By transforming part of its interior into a Shakespeare-themed gallery, this little institution has become a beacon of educational creativity in a developing country – a place where exam prep meets Elizabethan poetry, and where young Albanians find inspiration in the words of a 16th-century playwright.

HD Consultancy Elbasan is renowned locally for its Academic English courses and rigorous prep classes for Cambridge ESOL, IELTS, TOEFL, and SAT exams. On any given afternoon, you’ll find Albanian teenagers hunched over practice tests and English grammar drills. Yet, the atmosphere here is anything but ordinary. The center’s coordinator, Hektor Çiftja – himself a lecturer of literature at the local university – decided that mere test preparation was not enough. He wanted to ignite his students’ passion for the English language by exposing them to its greatest writer. The result is a “Shakespeare Corner” in the classroom, as the staff proudly call it . In a country where educational resources can be limited, this initiative stands out as a bold blend of pedagogy and creativity.

Walking into the classroom, one might feel they’ve stepped into a scene from Hamlet. A series of artfully designed canvas posters lines the walls, each emblazoned with a famous quote from the tragedy. The posters are visually captivating: black and white photographs, dramatic graphics, and bold typography command attention. One poster features a ghostly hand emerging from swirling mist alongside the words “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” – the chilling command of Hamlet’s father’s ghost. Another shows a white theatrical mask on a dark background, captioned with Hamlet’s own declaration “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.” There’s even a portrait of a castle by a dim lake bearing the warning “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” Together, these images turn an ordinary learning space into an immersive literary tableau. It’s as if Shakespeare’s spirit haunts the room – not to spook the students, but to inspire them.

A wall at HD Consultancy Elbasan features Hamlet’s Ghost declaring, “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown,” beneath the image of a coiled snake. Just beside it, a poster from the UK’s Knowledge is GREAT campaign reminds students that Britain is home to four of the world’s top ten universities. The juxtaposition of Shakespearean drama and academic aspiration exemplifies the center’s unique ambiance.

It is indeed a Shakespearean sanctuary in an unlikely place. Elbasan, with a population of just over 100,000, is far from the cosmopolitan centers that normally host cultural exhibitions. One would expect to find Shakespeare’s quotes adorning the walls of libraries in London or the theaters of Stratford-upon-Avon – not a private tutoring center in a provincial Albanian city. Yet, that contrast is exactly what makes this “museum” so powerful. It sends a message that great literature knows no borders. By bringing Shakespeare into their daily learning environment, the educators at HD Consultancy are saying to their students: English isn’t just a subject to study – it’s a gateway to a vast cultural world that you, too, are a part of.

The Shakespeare Corner is more than decoration; it’s an active teaching tool and a wellspring of motivation. Research shows that students who study in a positive, stimulating environment are more engaged and motivated, which in turn boosts their learning ability and academic success . Here, the vibrant Shakespearean wall art is achieving exactly that effect. “Engaging visuals can capture students’ attention and spark their curiosity, helping to create a thirst for learning,” as one education expert notes . The moment a student’s eyes drift from a tough reading comprehension passage to Hamlet’s soliloquy on the wall, a spark of curiosity lights up. What does “Now wears his crown” mean? Why is there a snake depicted under those words? A question as simple as that can lead to a brief yet enriching detour – a teacher explaining the context of the quote, a discussion about betrayal in Hamlet, or a new vocabulary word (“serpent”) learned in a memorable way.

Another striking poster displays Hamlet’s words, “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king,” alongside the image of a theater mask. Such visuals not only adorn the classroom but also invite students to ponder the meaning behind the words. In an exam-focused setting, this creative corner sparks conversations about literature and life, making learning English a far more engaging experience.

The students respond with enthusiasm. “At first, I thought it was a bit strange to see these quotes on the wall,” admits one teen preparing for the IELTS exam, “but now I find them really cool.” She explains that when studies get intense, a quick glance at the quote above the whiteboard – “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.” – makes her smile and refocus. It’s a witty reminder that even when English idioms feel maddening, there’s a method to the learning process. Other students have reported feeling more connected to the language. Rather than seeing English as merely a school subject, they begin to appreciate it as the language of Shakespeare, a medium through which some of humanity’s greatest truths are expressed. The center’s slogan has been that it offers “much more than Academic English,” and indeed, the Shakespeare Corner delivers on that promise . It transforms abstract learning into something tangible and inspiring. Teachers at HD Consultancy note that even students who were initially indifferent to literature have started asking questions about Shakespeare’s stories, and a few have even sought out Albanian translations of Hamlet to read the entire play.

This blend of rigorous academics with artistic inspiration has pedagogical benefits backed by science. An estimated 65% of people are visual learners, meaning they absorb information best when it’s presented in a visual format . By surrounding students with Shakespearean images and quotes, the center caters to those visual learners in a way that plain textbooks cannot. The posters themselves serve as a subtle form of spaced repetition – every day, students subconsciously take in a bit more of the language and meaning. Over time, a line like “To thine own self be true” (painted in a baroque frame design on one canvas) might sink in not just as an English phrase, but as personal wisdom. Moreover, educational wall art with positive messages can “significantly boost [students’] drive to succeed” . It’s motivating to study in a room where greatness literally looks down on you from the walls. Shakespeare’s verses, speaking of kings, conscience, wit, and truth, create an ambiance that quietly encourages excellence and perseverance – traits crucial for tackling challenging exams. As one teacher puts it, “If a student can grasp a bit of Shakespeare, handling the SAT essay or the IELTS reading passage suddenly feels less daunting.”

Beyond its impact on individual learners, this small classroom exhibit carries a larger cultural significance. Bringing Shakespeare into an Elbasan study center bridges a gap between Albania and the English-speaking world. Albania is a nation that endured decades of isolation during the 20th century, and even today it grapples with limited educational resources in many areas. Yet there has always been a reverence for culture and learning. In fact, Shakespeare is no stranger to Albania’s literary heritage – as far back as the 1920s, the renowned Albanian scholar and statesman Fan Noli translated Shakespeare’s plays, effectively making “Shakespeare speak Albanian” through his work . Generations of Albanians have read or watched Hamlet and Macbeth in their own language. Still, to encounter the Bard’s words daily in a modern classroom, in English, is a fresh experience for young students in Elbasan. It reinforces a sense that their local efforts (mastering English for a test) are connected to a grand tapestry of global culture.

The visual presence of Shakespeare in this unlikely setting also sends a powerful message about the value of cultural education. It aligns with a global vision of learning that goes beyond rote facts. UNESCO, the United Nations agency for education and culture, emphasizes that true quality education involves promoting cultural heritage and understanding the equal dignity of all cultures . In a way, HD Consultancy’s Shakespeare Corner embodies that principle. It treats English not just as a practical skill for career or college, but as a cultural bridge – one that carries the weight of history, drama, and humanistic values into the classroom. When Albanian teenagers memorize a Shakespeare quote for fun or explain its meaning to a curious parent, they are engaging in a form of cultural exchange. Shakespeare, an English icon, becomes a shared reference point, strengthening bonds across languages and borders. As UNESCO puts it, such cultural connections in education help “strengthen bonds among nations.”

Importantly, this initiative shines a light on the potential within developing communities to innovate in education. You don’t need a lavish budget or a high-tech lab to spark creativity – sometimes, all it takes is a bit of art, literature, and passion. The Shakespeare posters were locally produced and inexpensive, but their impact has been profound. They have turned an ordinary prep course into a multidimensional learning experience. Albania may not be a wealthy country, but projects like this show that it is rich in imagination. They reflect a broader movement in the Western Balkans, where educators are striving to nurture globally minded students without losing local identity. In Elbasan, that means Shakespeare quotes share space with Albanian language posters and other educational materials. The message to students is clear: learning English and embracing global culture does not make you any less Albanian; it simply broadens your horizons.

Despite the whimsical idea of having a mini Shakespeare museum in a test prep center, HD Consultancy Elbasan remains, at its core, a serious academic institution. The walls may quote Hamlet, but the students still have essays to write and vocabulary to master. What the poetic décor has done is infuse the hard grind of exam preparation with an air of inspiration. One corner of the room might evoke a scene from a play, but at the desks hardworking pupils are solving grammar exercises and taking mock tests. The center’s track record speaks for itself – many alumni have achieved high scores in IELTS and TOEFL, and gone on to attend universities in Western Europe and the United States. That success is a product of expert instruction, disciplined study, and countless hours of practice. The Shakespeare Corner doesn’t replace any of that; rather, it complements it. It reminds both students and instructors that learning English isn’t only about rules and test strategies, but also about communication, storytelling, and ideas. In an environment where adolescents are under pressure to perform, the gentle presence of Shakespeare’s wisdom provides balance and reassurance.

There is also a poetic symmetry in how this initiative blends the old and the new. Here we have modern Albanian youth, armed with smartphones and prep books, encountering 400-year-old lines of verse in their classroom. The old literary quotes find new relevance in the hopes and dreams of these youngsters. “To be or not to be, that is the question,” reads one poster with a picture of Hamlet holding a skull. It’s the most famous of Shakespeare’s lines, pondering life and fate. For a student in Elbasan, it might provoke a smile or a moment of reflection during a study break – a reminder that others have wrestled with big questions long before them. “This above all – to thine own self be true,” encourages another poster in flowing script, offering timeless fatherly advice to the future graduates sitting below it. The fact that such profundity adorns the walls of a cram school is wonderfully incongruous. And yet, it feels perfectly at home here, because this study center has made it so.

The creators of the Shakespeare Corner hope that, in the long run, these daily doses of literature will leave a mark on their students’ character, not just their English skills. As Hektor Çiftja explains, integrating culture into education can plant seeds of curiosity and confidence that last far beyond exam day. A student might forget the exact formula for a perfect IELTS essay, but remember the thrill she felt when she first understood a line from Hamlet. That thrill – that connection to a great work of art – can spark a lifelong love of learning. In an era when education is often narrowly focused on test scores and utilitarian outcomes, this small Albanian institution dares to be different. It asserts that there is room for poetry in ambition, that one can prepare for the TOEFL and ponder Shakespeare in the same breath.

In the end, HD Consultancy Elbasan’s walls tell a story. It is the story of a school that sees its students not just as test-takers, but as young thinkers and dreamers. The improvised Shakespeare museum is a daily reminder that language is not only a tool for getting a high score – it’s also the medium through which we share human experiences, fears, and hopes across centuries. In this humble classroom, the ghost of Hamlet’s father whispers wisdom, princes and jesters speak in soliloquies, and a Danish court’s intrigue finds new meaning in an Albanian town. The convergence of Shakespeare’s world and the world of Albanian youth has created something magical: a poetic space of learning that nourishes the mind and soul alike. And as every student who passes through this room can attest, brevity may be the soul of wit – but the influence of this creative endeavor is lasting and deep, an educational legacy written on the walls, in lines of poetry for generations to come.

Sources:

1. 1. Design for Education – How to Create an Inspirational School Environment with Wall Art
   2. Instagram post by HD Consultancy Elbasan – “Much more than Academic English… Now ‘Shakespeare Corner in Elbasan’”
   3. Telegrafi (Albanian news) – Fan Noli, the great preacher of the Albanian word
   4. UNESCO – Quality Education and Cultural Heritage