English and Literature

from 2021 St Catherine's Annual Magazine

by St Catherine's School

St Catherine’s Community Groups

ENGLISH & LITERATURE

“In 2021, we have pivoted into a fearless and resilient mindset.” Ceri Lloyd

2021 was a year like no other with ongoing lockdowns and many weeks of online classes which has tested us all. The word pivot has been frequently aligned to our shift to online learning but in my view the pivot has well and truly been replaced by our fearless and resilient mindset to teach and learn in this online environment. Our central goal is always to deliver an engaging and dynamic learning experience for students, teaching them self-efficacy and adaptive expertise. This mindset was clearly evident in the innovative curriculum developed in the English Faculty throughout 2021.

Year 10 English Extended Research Investigation

Commencing in Term 3, this new Unit of Study allows students to develop and extend their knowledge and skills in independent research, carry out investigations focusing on rigorous research questions and write academic essays.

Years 10 and 11 Independent Learning Tutorials and Masterclasses in English

A blended model of learning was introduced with asynchronous Masterclass lectures on historical contexts, views and values and literary devices in texts, as well as writing text essays, revision for examinations and study skills. The implementation of the Masterclasses allowed the Faculty to see positive outcomes for senior students in terms of more flexibility in their learning, reinforcing their key skills and allowing for more independence as they controlled the pace of their learning.

Years 7 and 8 English Honours Class – Write a Book in a Day

Combining their passion for creative writing, the Years 7 and 8 English Honours classes took part in the innovative Write a Book in a Day competition. Students were given ten hours to write, illustrate and submit a storybook targeted to a youth audience. The completed books were uploaded to an online library and have also been included in the Barbreck and Nicholas Library fiction collection.

As I write this article, I reflect on the fact that this will be my final article as Head of English as I move into a new role in 2022. I take the opportunity to express my immense gratitude to the teachers in the Faculty for their unwavering commitment to delivering the English programs at St Catherine’s and for showing such resilience throughout 2021.

Mrs Ceri Lloyd

Head of English & EAL Project Leader: Senior Years Learning Model

“Most importantly, I believe that the ILTs prepare students for life beyond the classroom, they allow us to utilise skills that will be necessary in university, future careers and ultimately, for the rest of our lives.”

student comment

English Studies Gave Me Perspective

“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.” – Henry Tilney, Northanger Abbey Throughout my years of studying Literature and English the most significant thing I have taken away is perspective. English and Literature are unique to other subjects in that you become fully emerged in another world or time and views of the author and their characters. These subjects teach you how to be empathetic, you see characters behave questionably, yet you also see the motivations behind them and the patriarchal systems that manipulate actions. One of the most interesting parts of these subjects has been exploring the themes of older texts such as Shakespeare, Euripides and Austen’s works and seeing how these topics are still applicable in modern society. Exploring these themes in a different setting has allowed me to consolidate my own views as I reflect on what I value in people and society and what I want to see changed. One of my favourite books I studied was Northanger Abbey. When I first read this book, it did not engage or resonate with me in the slightest. However, after delving into the world of early 19th century Bath, I realised that my initial dislike, specifically the focus on the mundane nature of women’s lives, is what made this text a masterpiece. It is a commentary on the lives of women and their lack of agency and escape. Indeed, English and Literature are the study of people’s perceptions of the world. Without these great subjects my understanding of relationships, societal systems and disadvantage would be considerably less rich. Studying English and Literature during school has created a love of literature for my entire life. “I have loved researching and looking into my chosen topic and I have learnt a lot about how to research and investigate a topic properly. I think these skills will be vital skills for the future.”