English

Year 7 • ENGLISH

In Year 7 English, students engage with a wide range of texts across various genres, including narrative, persuasive and poetry. The core skills assessed relate to Writing, Writing About Reading, and Oral and Visual Communication. There is a focus on noticing the important details of a text and choices made by the author in their Readers Notebook. Students are also encouraged to develop these strategies in their own writing. The students participate in Literature Circles to develop their Reading and Literature Discussion skills. In Year 8 English, students continue to delve into a range of texts from various genres, including film, narrative and persuasive. The core skills assessed relate to Writing, Writing About Reading, and Oral and Visual Communication. There is a focus on analysing the intended impact of choices made by the author while also implementing this into the student’s own writing with an increased awareness of target audience and purpose. Students continue to work with their Readers and Writers Notebooks to organise their thinking. The students participate in Literature Circles to continue developing their Reading and Literature Discussion skills. English is a core subject in Year 10 that continues to build on the skills, knowledge and thinking developed in the middle years. It introduces students to the expectations of VCE English study and is a taste of the assessments and learning to come. We understand the importance of student choice and so offer students the opportunity to select their text from a recommended text list, prior to the subject selection closing date.

READING Students are required to read texts prior to studying them in class. Familiarity with the texts will determine the level of success achieved. Students may choose one of the texts themselves.

WRITING Students continue to hone their writing skills using both analytical and creative techniques. We believe the ability to communicate through the written word is crucial regardless of age, interests or goals.

Year 8 • ENGLISH Year 9 • ENGLISH

The Year 9 English curriculum is built around the three interrelated strands of language, literature and literacy. These strands are assessed through the productive and receptive modes of reading, writing, speaking, viewing and listening. Over the course of the year, students build on their work with the Readers and Writers Notebooks as they respond analytically to persuasive, informative and imaginative texts, with increasing focus on the author’s craft and text composition. Students also increase the sophistication of their own writing, showing greater awareness of audience and purpose in the selection of their ideas and language.

Year 10 • ENGLISH

SPEAKING One oral presentation is required in Year 10. This experience is nerve-wracking for some (many!), but the sense of achievement after tackling a challenging experience is exhilarating. We can’t wait to hear students persuade their audience through words and persona.

ENGLISH

Year 10 • ENGLISH LANGUAGE

OVERVIEW If you sit in your English classes and wonder- how does this apply to real life? Then this is the subject for you. Through this course, you will develop a technical understanding of how English works as a language, as well as explore the social attitudes and identities reflected in our language use. We will build a bank of metalanguage terms which are applied to real-world contexts, and students are encouraged to bring examples from their observations, social media and their own experiences to our discussions. This will support you to view language as not only a tool for communication, but also reflective of identities, culture and attitudes. Year 10 English Language is an opportunity to try out the subject before choosing it at a VCE level. It is not compulsory to take this elective in order to select Year 11 English Language, but it is highly recommended due to the technical skills required. OVERVIEW If you are interested in reading and discussing ideas, then Literature is the elective for you. The study of Literature at Year 10 is designed to enable students to: develop an enjoyment of literature; read widely and independently; gain an understanding of the variety of human experience as it is represented in literature; extend their understanding of the different ways in which literary texts are constructed; read closely and critically; use interpretive skills by hypothesising, questioning, and drawing inferences from texts; develop the capacity to present analytical, critical, and creative responses to texts orally and in writing. Year 10 Literature is an opportunity to try out the subject before choosing it at a VCE level. It is not compulsory to take this elective in order to select Year 11 Literature, but it is highly recommended due to the skills required.

AREA OF STUDY 1 LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY

Key concepts and skills ■ Explore the concept of speech communities and how they reflect identity. ■ Examine how language shapes the projection of identity in different contexts. ■ Explore how context, purpose and audience shape language choices.

AREA OF STUDY 2 THE RULES OF LANGUAGE

Key concepts and skills ■ Explore the overall subsystems of language. ■ Apply metalanguage terms to texts and infer their function. ■ Analyse real-world examples of language using metalanguage terminology. AREA OF STUDY 3 ATTITUDES TOWARDS LANGUAGE

Key concepts and skills ■ Explore attitudes towards language change and language rules. ■ Discuss the pragmatic lens of language-

Why are some words seen as appropriate and others seen as offensive? What choices do we make when choosing our words? ■ Examine real life case studies of language change in action (e.g. BLM movement).

Year 10 • LITERATURE

AREA OF STUDY 1 CLOSE ANALYSIS

Key concepts and skills ■ Discuss and analyse the construction and features of a text. ■ Explore the connections between features of a text and the conventions appropriate to presenting an interpretation. ■ Explore and analyse the views and values suggested in a text.

AREA OF STUDY 2 LITERATURE – SEEKING AND SHAPING CHANGE

Key concepts and skills ■ Explore the ways in which Literature has been an agent for social and political change. ■ Explore the active role that words, language and ideas have as a force for change. ■ Study and analyse the range of literary content and form that have facilitated change and reform. AREA OF STUDY 3 MEET THE BARD - A STUDY OF SHAKESPEARE’S MACBETH

Key concepts and skills ■ Explore the world of Shakespeare and the connections to a 21st Century context.

■ Exploration of the play Macbeth.

■ Study and discuss the ways in which the structure, style, language, characters, ideas and concerns construct meaning.

ENGLISH • Units 1 to 4

All students must study four units of English to complete VCE. Most students choose to study English as it is the most familiar of the English subjects and students are well-prepared for these units of study. Some students, however, will choose English Language. Students considering English Language as an option need to ensure they make an informed and guided decision and should speak with their English teacher and an English Language teacher to determine suitability. No matter which English you choose, it will be included in your top four subjects which counts towards your ATAR. Therefore, it is important that this subject is given a lot of attention. If you choose to do more than one English (for example, English and English Language) the best score is included in your ATAR and the second score is only counted if it is in your top subjects. Key Skills Covered

READING Students are required to read four texts in Year 11 and four texts in Year 12. These range from poetry to plays to fiction and include texts from both acclaimed contemporary and classic writers.

WRITING Three types of writing are required: creative, text response and argument analysis. This is an opportunity for students to consolidate and apply the writing skills they have been learning throughout their education.

SPEAKING One oral presentation is required in Year 11 and one in Year 12. Students are able to choose an issue that interests them from an array of topics in the media.

ENGLISH

ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE (EAL) • Units 1 to 4

OVERVIEW EAL students need to meet the VCAA criteria for enrolment in VCE EAL. To qualify for VCE EAL, students must have received less than seven years of schooling with English as a major language of instruction. All eligible students must study four units of EAL to complete VCE. EAL will be included in a student's top four subjects which counts towards the ATAR. Therefore, it is important that this subject is given a lot of attention.

RATIONALE The study of English as an Additional Language contributes to the development of literate individuals capable of critical and creative thinking. This study also develops students’ ability to create and analyse texts, moving from interpretation to reflection and critical analysis. READING Students are required to read three texts in Year 11 and three texts in Year 12. Texts selected for study are drawn from the past and present, from Australian and other cultures. Other texts are selected for analysis and presentation of argument.

WRITING Three types of writing are required: creative, text response and argument analysis. This is an opportunity for students to learn and apply the writing skills they will need in their ongoing studies.

SPEAKING One oral presentation is required in Year 11 and one in Year 12. Students are able to choose an issue that interests them from an array of topics in the media.

LISTENING In this area of study students develop and refine their listening skills. They listen to a range of spoken texts and use active listening strategies to understand information, ideas and opinions presented in texts.

ENGLISH LITERATURE • Units 1 to 4

OVERVIEW All students must study four units of English to complete VCE. Most students choose to study English as it is the most familiar of the English subjects and students are well-prepared for these units of study. Some students, however, will choose English Literature. Students considering English Literature as an option need to ensure they make an informed and guided decision and should speak with their English teacher to determine suitability. No matter which English a student chooses, it will be included in the top four subjects which counts towards the ATAR. WHO IS ENGLISH LITERATURE FOR? If you love to read, discuss and respond to text in English already, this might be a good choice for you. VCAA states: VCE Literature provides opportunities for students to develop their awareness of other people, places and cultures and explore the way texts represent the complexity of human experience. They develop an understanding and appreciation of literature, and an ability to reflect critically on the aesthetic and intellectual aspects of texts. The study of Literature enables students to consider the power and complexity of language, the ways literary features and techniques contribute to meaning and the significance of form and structure. Students are encouraged to be independent, innovative and creative, developing the ability to read deeply and widely and to establish and articulate their views through creative and analytical responses. WHAT IF I CHOOSE IT, BUT THEN FIND IT’S NOT FOR ME? If you give English Literature a go, but find that you don’t want to continue it is easy to transition to English after Unit 1 or Unit 2.

ENGLISH

ENGLISH LANGUAGE • Units 1 to 4

OVERVIEW If you wish to learn about how English works within the world and study the grammar, history and evolution of English language, this subject is for you. In English Language we explore how we carefully choose our language to support our social purposes and discuss why our language is changing and how by adapting our language we can change the world.

All students must complete four units of English to complete VCE.

UNIT 1 LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

Key concepts covered ■ Explore how situational and cultural contexts influence language choices. ■ Study the 5 subsystems (phonology, morphology/lexicology, syntax, discourse and semantics). ■ Study the theory of child language acquisition. ■ Explore the impact that our environment has on language learning. ■ Discuss the impact of multilingualism on language acquisition. UNIT 2 LANGUAGE CHANGE AND ENGLISHES IN CONTACT

Key concepts covered ■ Examine how English has developed over time. ■ Study the factors which cause language to change over time. ■ Predict how our language might continue to change in the future. ■ Consider the effects of the global spread of English. ■ Discuss the development and decline of languages as a result of English contact. ■ Examine the development of Creoles, the impact of multilingualism on society. ■ Predict how societal changes will influence the progress of English in the future. UNIT 3 LANGUAGE VARIATION AND SOCIAL PURPOSE – INFORMAL AND FORMAL LANGUAGE

Key concepts covered ■ Consider the way in which speakers and writers choose their language to suit their context, purposes and audience in a formal or informal setting. ■ Study how adapting their language can positively or negatively impact the effectiveness of their communication. ■ Critically evaluate other people’s texts to ascertain what makes these texts effective. UNIT 4 LANGUAGE VARIATION AND IDENTITY

Key concepts covered ■ Explore the range of language varieties which exist in contemporary Australian society. ■ Discuss how these construct our shared national identity. ■ Explore how societal change has influenced our language. ■ Discuss the changing prestige associated with different varieties. ■ Discuss the role of language in reflecting and constructing individual and group identities.

Given the specialised nature of this subject, it is highly recommended that students consult with their English teacher prior to selecting this course.