English

Language shapes our understanding of ourselves and our world. It’s the way we relate to others and is central to the intellectual, social, and emotional development of all students. From kindergarten to year 10, English is the study and use of the English language in its various textual forms. These include spoken, written and visual texts through which meaning is shaped, conveyed, interpreted and reflected.

Why Study English?

Knowledge, understanding, skills, values, and attitudes that you acquire in English will be central to your learning and development. English enables you to be:

·       confident communicators

·       critical and imaginative thinkers

·       informed lifelong learners

·       lovers of literature, ideas and expression.

You’ll develop language skills through speaking and listening, reading, and writing, and viewing and representing.

What opportunities will you get?

You’ll be exposed to literature in all its many and varied forms. You’ll learn about language and literature through working with a wide range of print, spoken, visual, media, multimedia, and digital texts. You’ll discover the joy of literature from past and contemporary societies, often comparing and contrasting classic texts to their modern counterparts. You’ll explore how modernity and your life experiences effect meaning.

You’ll also interact with literature through incursions including:

·       slam poetry

·       Shakespearean theatre

·       Australian author workshops.

You’re also encouraged to participate in English run extra-curricular activities, such as:

·       Premier’s Debating Challenge

·       writing workshops

·       drama workshops.

What will you study?

In each learning stage you’ll study a wide range of texts including, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, films, media, multimedia, and digital texts that are widely regarded as quality literature. These include Australian literature, texts by and about Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People(s), and texts from different cultures and times that offer a variety of perspectives.

English

Year 7

·       identity transition

·       novel study: other countries, other times

·       what if…? science fiction

·       painless poetry.

Year 8

·       Australian poetry

·       Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’

·       myths and legends in popular culture

·       non-fiction study of resilience.

Year 9

·       Lose Yourself: Poetry Study

·       Novel Study: Youth Voices

·       Gothic Fiction

·       Advertising

Year 10

·       war poetry

·       Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’

·       novel study of justice

·       ‘reading for meaning, writing with purpose’ senior campus transition program.

Drama (elective) - years 9 - 10

The study of Drama allows you to investigate and enact a wide range of theatrical forms, styles and methods. Through critical reflection and acquiring understanding, knowledge and skills, you’ll respond to the ideas and dramatic works of others. You’ll creatively and collaboratively develop your own ideas into dramatic action for performance.

Year 9

·       A taste of drama

·       the elements of drama

·       dramatic form

·       commedia dell’arte.

Year 10

·       playbuilding

·       elements of design

·       performance style

·       dramatic form.

English for success (elective) – years 9 and 10

English for Success is a course specifically designed for EAL/D (English as an Additional Language/Dialect) students. This course is particularly suitable if you have lived in Australia for less than five years, or recently transitioned from an Intensive English Centre. You’ll receive specialised intensive support in developing the practical and fundamental skills required for education and life success.

Year 9

·       the news: print, visual and digital

·       detective fiction

·       detective fiction: from book to film

·       unsolved mysteries

Year 10

·       drama

·       gothic fiction

·       gothic fiction: from book to film

·       senior campus EAL/D transition.

Years 11 and 12

English is a mandatory subject from Kindergarten to Year 12. The study of English in years 11 and 12 provides opportunities to experiment with ideas and expression, to become innovative, active, independent learners, and to collaborate and to reflect on learning. You may choose to study the following board developed courses:

·       English Standard

·       English Advanced

·       English Extension

·       English EAL/D

·       English Studies.

More information

For more information, visit the NSW Educational Standards Authority page for English.