English

The English curriculum is built around the three interrelated strands of Language, Literature and Literacy. English competence is a compulsory requirement for secondary graduation and for entry to all post-compulsory education and training.

The English programs in Years 7 -12 are designed to develop the knowledge and skills of all students to enable them to maximise their potential. To achieve the outcomes of the course, all students will need to complete sufficient work during class time and submit a minimum number of assignments and other designated work.The details of these requirements are made clear to students at the beginning of each section of work.

All students are required to have a diary file, exercise book and lined paper. Teachers will explain the use of these materials in the teaching and learning program.

Homework
Specific homework tasks will be set. There is also an expectation that any work not completed in class time will be finished at home. Every student should be:

  • Completing class work
  • Developing personal spelling lists
  • Completing reading set by class teacher
  • Reading a range of novels, newspapers and magazines
  • Maintaining a writer’s/reader’s log
  • Drafting/revising assignment work
  • Watching particular television shows
Speaking and Listening, Viewing, Reading and Writing.

Through these aspects of the English course, skills in the use and understanding of language are developed.
Students are given opportunities to use language as writer, speaker and performer. Their comprehension skills are also developed through reading, viewing, listening and writing.

Speaking and Listening
In this aspect students speak and listen with purpose, understanding and critical awareness in a wide range of contexts. This is a key element in the English course and is used for learning and communication. Students are given numerous opportunities to use oral language in a variety of contexts and for different purposes.

Viewing
This aspect requires students to view a wide range of visual texts with purpose, understanding and critical awareness. People are relying more and more on the visual medium of film, computers and television for their information. Students are helped to understand the techniques used in these forms of communication and how the attitudes and values that are being presented may influence the reader and viewer.

Reading
The focus of this aspect is for students to read a wide range of texts with purpose, understanding and critical awareness. Wide and constant reading is essential for success in this subject. Each student should be spending time each week on home reading. It is crucial that a wide variety of texts are read: novels, newspapers and magazines of various types and non-fiction material such as biographies and/or autobiographies and historical narratives. In addition to developing language skills through reading, students are presented with ideas and information that they can use in other areas of the English course.

Writing
In this aspect students write for a range of forms using conventions appropriate to audience, purpose and context. Students work with different types of communications: speech, novel, short story, poems, film, drama script, letter and newspapers. These provide a starting point for the students who are expected to understand what is read and express their ideas through the effective use of oral and written expression. Within this context students learn current spelling, the use of punctuation and how to organise ideas.

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