English

English is a compulsory subject for all students from Years 7-12. The Department aims to extend the communication skills of students through speaking and listening, reading and writing. We aim to help our students use language effectively in all areas of their lives.

Core – English
Year 7 (included in Integrated Studies)
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11 VCE Unit 1/2 and/or VCE Unit 1/2 Literature and/or VCE English Language or VCAL Literacy
Year 12 VCE Unit 3/4 and/or VCE Unit 3/4 Literature and/or VCE English Language or VCAL Literacy

Electives
Year 9 Literature
Year 10 VCE Pathway Literature
Year 10 Public Speaking

Areas of Study in English
While there are specific skills and units of work taught at each year level, the core English subjects involve the same areas of study. Students work out of a folder with dividers corresponding to the following areas:

Text
Reading of text refers to any novel, short story collection, poem, media item, film or play which is read and studied in class. Some texts are purchased as part of the booklist, while others are available as class sets or DVDs to be booked out of the library. Any work based on the class text is a ‘text response’. Students are expected to study a minimum of one text per term.

Writing
In the writing folio section of their folders, students will gradually build up a collection or ‘folio’ of their own writing encompassing many different styles. The writing folio may contain plans, drafts and finished pieces of writing. Students are encouraged to consider purpose and audience in their writing. They are also encouraged to see writing as a process and to understand the importance of drafting and editing.

Speaking and Listening
Oral presentations afford the English teacher many opportunities to present students with challenging and rewarding tasks. The overall goal is to have students frequently and actively engaged in a range of oral tasks in class. These tasks vary from informal discussions and small group work to formally prepared and delivered oral presentations. Students are expected to complete at least one oral activity per semester.

Wide Reading
The objective of wide reading is to have students understand the value and pleasure they can get from reading. Students are encouraged to read widely and to select literature that is suitably challenging. As a general rule, students should be reading substantial fiction and non-fiction texts rather than magazines, picture books, comics or newspapers.

Skills
Students are encouraged to see vocabulary and mechanical skill development in English as empowering them to be effective communicators, not just in the English classroom, but in all aspects of their lives.