English

The English focuses on developing students’ analytical, creative, and critical thinking and communication skills in all language, literature and literacy modes. It encourages students to critically engage with texts from their world.  Such engagement helps students develop a sense of themselves, their world and their place in it.

Through close study and wide reading, viewing and listening, students develop the ability to analyse and evaluate the purpose, stylistic qualities and conventions of texts and enjoy creating their own imaginative, interpretive, persuasive and analytical responses. English courses are designed to develop students’ facility with all types of texts and language modes and to foster an appreciation of the value of English and the power of language in our community .

Students refine their skills across all language, literature and literacy modes by engaging critically and creatively with texts. They learn to speak and write fluently in a range of contexts and to create a range of text forms. They hone their oral communication skills through discussion, debate and argument, in a range of formal and informal situations.

In Year 7 English students begin to learn more about the complexity of the English language and how to use it effectively. Students are provided with opportunities to learn how to speak, listen, read, view and write with purpose, understanding, effectiveness and critical awareness in a wide range of contexts. They develop knowledge of the ways in which language varies according to content, purpose, audience and context as well as their grasp of the conventions of English. Students are exposed to a range of written and visual texts and are encouraged to relate these to aspects of contemporary society as well as to personal experience.

Throughout the course students develop their ability to discuss and analyse texts and language critically and with appreciation. As student’s progress, the range of text types expands from the familiar to the unfamiliar and from the simple to the complex. Teachers provide students with a wide range of tasks and activities which give them the opportunity to demonstrate their levels of achievement in the three strands of Language, Literature and Literacy against the four Outcomes of English: Listening and Speaking, Reading, Viewing and Writing.

In addition, students are provided with the opportunity to extend themselves by participating in a range of competitions, such as the ‘Tim Winton Young Writers prize’.

In Year 8 English students begin to learn more about the complexity of the English language and how to use it effectively. Students are provided with opportunities to learn how to speak, listen, read, view and write with purpose, understanding, effectiveness and critical awareness in a wide range of contexts. They develop knowledge of the ways in which language varies according to content, purpose, audience and context as well as their grasp of the conventions of English. Students are exposed to a range of written and visual texts and are encouraged to relate these to aspects of contemporary society as well as to personal experience.

Throughout the course students develop their ability to discuss and analyse texts and language critically and with appreciation. As students progress, the range of text types expands from the familiar to the unfamiliar, and from the simple to the complex. Teachers provide students with a wide range of tasks and activities which give them the opportunity to demonstrate their levels of achievement in the three strands of Language, Literature and Literacy against the four Outcomes of English: Listening and Speaking, Reading, Viewing and Writing.

In Year 9 English, students continue to learn about the English language and how to use it effectively, building on the skills developed in Year 8. Students learn how to speak, listen, read, view and write with purpose, understanding, effectiveness and critical awareness in a wide range of contexts. Students are exposed to an increasing range of written and visual texts and encouraged to relate these both to aspects of contemporary society as well as to personal experience. Throughout the course they further develop their ability to discuss and analyse texts and language critically and with appreciation. The range of text types will expand from the familiar to the unfamiliar and from the simple to the complex. Students are encouraged to select from a wide range of tasks and activities which give them the opportunity to demonstrate their levels of achievements across the course.

In addition, students are provided with the opportunity to extend themselves by participating in a range of competitions, such as the ‘Tim Winton Young Writers prize’.

In Year 10 English students continue to learn about the English language and how to use it effectively, thus preparing them for their Senior School Courses. Students continue to learn how to speak, listen, read, view and write with purpose, understanding, effectiveness and critical awareness in a wide range of contexts. They are exposed to a wide range of written and visual texts and encouraged to relate these both to aspects of contemporary society as well as to personal experience. Throughout the course students are offered opportunities to consolidate their ability to discuss and analyse texts and language critically and with appreciation.

In Semester Two, Year 10 classes are typically split into likely Senior School course options to prepare for the demands of those respective courses

Students should discuss their desired English pathway with their current English Teacher. Results on the OLNA testing will also affect your pathway. Any student wishing to gain direct entry to university will need to prove their abilities in Year 10 and then study English ATAR.

English ATAR

The English ATAR course focuses on developing students’ analytical, creative, and critical thinking and communication skills in all language modes, encouraging students to critically engage with texts from their contemporary world, the past, and from Australian and other cultures. Through close study and wide reading, viewing and listening, students develop the ability to analyse and evaluate the purpose, stylistic qualities and conventions of texts and to enjoy creating imaginative, interpretive, persuasive and analytical responses in a range of written, oral, multimodal and digital forms.

English General

The English General course focuses on consolidating and refining the skills and knowledge needed by students to become competent, confident and engaged users of English in everyday, community, social, further education, training and workplace contexts. The course is designed to provide students with the skills to succeed in a wide range of post-secondary pathways by developing their language, literacy and literary skills. Students comprehend, analyse, interpret, evaluate and create analytical, imaginative, interpretive and persuasive texts in a range of written, oral, multimodal and digital forms.

English Foundation

English Foundations scores count toward WACE. Students in the Preliminary course will not receive a Grade which contributes to WACE, but will develop a range of functional literacy skills that will support their transition to post school activities. Placement in these courses is dependent upon OLNA results and will be discussed with the Head of Learning Area – English and HaSS.

The English Foundation course aims to develop students’ skills in reading, writing, viewing, speaking and listening in work, learning, community and everyday personal contexts. This course is for students who have not demonstrated the literacy standard in the OLNA. It will also focus on raising literacy skills and preparing students for this assessment and eventual transition into General English.

 

 

Learning