The philosophy of the English Department is one of inclusivity - catering to students of different cultures and backgrounds; practicality - offering a variety of subjects to students of different abilities and interests; challenge – fostering our gifted and talented. The department is well resourced with both students and teachers able to access a wide variety of written and visual texts combined with computer technology in the form of laptops, desktop computers, data shows and email drafting. Many of our students are supported in class by Special Education and Learning Support teachers, teacher aides and indigenous tutors. As well, we offer English tutoring on Thursday afternoons in the Resource Centre for those who wish to attend. Our program in the Junior school incorporates one lesson per week which is devoted to improving literacy skills.
We aim to develop
- an understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of language through both traditional and contemporary texts.
- the ability to use language appropriately, effectively and purposefully in all situations.
- participation by our students in life-long language contexts as active citizens who are shaping the future.
Our Curriculum
Students are offered the choice of mainstream English from Years 8 to 12, English Communication in Years 9 to 12 and English Extension (Literature) in Year 12 only which is studied as well as English.
Year 8
Unit |
Written Component |
Spoken Component |
|
Me |
Profile, Personal Letter, Novel Study - context |
The future oral |
|
Language in Use |
Community brochure |
|
|
Relationships |
Novel study – filling in the gaps |
Storybook Oral |
|
The World of Animals |
‘Deadly Australians’ letters |
Research oral |
|
Heroes & Superheroes |
Superhero profile |
|
|
Myths & Legends |
Writing stories |
|
Junior - students from Years 9 and 10 are combined and work through a variety of units over a 2 year cycle. Communication English students study modified versions of the units below.
Unit |
Written Component |
Spoken Component |
|
Images of War |
In class test |
|
|
In Other People’s Shoes |
Novel study – Magazine Feature Article |
|
|
Language for Living |
|
Instructional Oral Presentation |
|
Deconstructing the Hero |
|
Hero Presentation |
|
Signs & Symbols |
Deconstructing a movie scene |
|
|
Sport & the Media |
|
Interview |
|
Writer in Society |
Novel study – Analytical Assignment |
|
|
Achievers |
|
Research Oral |
|
Children’s Stories |
Creative storybook & analysis |
|
|
TV News/Current Affairs |
|
News Report Presentation |
|
Language & Gender |
Novel Study – Reading the characters |
|
|
Other Worlds |
Creative letter writing |
|
|
Indigenous Perspectives |
Novel Study – folio |
|
Year 11
Unit |
Written Component |
Spoken Component |
|
The Power of Language |
Deconstruction of a text |
|
|
Contemporary Australian Literature |
Supervised test |
|
|
The Magazine Revolution |
|
Oral presentation/report |
|
Justice & Punishment |
Short Story – supervised test |
|
|
Multi-text Response |
Poetry Assignment |
|
|
Movies, Myths & Mateship |
|
Creative oral presentation |
Year 12
Unit |
Written Component |
Spoken Component |
|
Literature in Context |
Novel Study – Feature Article |
|
|
Australian Images |
|
Oral Report |
|
Reading Movies |
Supervised test – representations of society |
|
|
The Outsider |
Imaginative folio |
|
|
Motivations |
Play – analysis/supervised test |
Creative Oral |
|
Multi-Text Response |
Poetry Assignment |
|
Year 11 English Communication
Unit |
Written Component |
Spoken Component |
|
Self & Identity |
Autogiography |
|
|
Music Videos |
|
Music video Review |
|
The World of Work |
Resume, Letter of Application |
Mock Job Interview |
|
Generations |
Short Story |
|
Year 12 English Communication
Unit |
Written component |
Spoken Component |
|
Heroes |
|
Real Life Hero Presentation |
|
Money makes the world go round |
Real Estate folio |
Roleplay/Interview |
|
C’mon Aussie C’mon |
Movie Review test |
Australian Images |
|
Real Issues |
Letter to Editor |
Oral report |
