In English students undertake the study
of language through the variety of texts and contexts in which it is
spoken, read, viewed and written. They are exposed to a wide range of
texts and media in print and electronic form. The course assists
students to increasingly speak, listen, read and write with confidence.
All students in Years 7-10 study English as a full year core subject
focusing on the following Victorian Essential Learning Standards
Dimensions:
Reading
Involves students in understanding, interpreting, reflecting upon, and enjoying written and visual, print and non-print texts.
Writing
Involves students in conceiving, planning, composing, editing and
publishing fiction and non-fiction texts using appropriate language.
Speaking and Listening:
Enables students to develop and demonstrate their knowledge about
appropriate oral language for different audiences and occasions.
Year 10 students also have the opportunity to undertake VCE Literature units 1&2.
Year
7 students read, interpret, and compare texts that address challenging
ideas and explore similar themes. They use language to prepare spoken
and written texts using a variety of text forms. Students complete
language work on English grammar.
Reading
Students study a range of poems, selected novels, and explore the language and themes in a selected film.
Writing
Students create their own poetry anthology applying various poetic
techniques assisted by a visiting Poet. They undertake writing tasks
using various styles including reports, summaries, letters, news
articles, and creative writing.
Speaking and Listening
Students undertake oral communication activities related to the
novels, poetry and film studied, and make at least one presentation per
semester.
Year 8 students undertake activities following the same outline as
year 7 but also including the study of an animated film, and the
development of their own animated characters assisted by a visiting
animator. They create a writing anthology and an extended writing
project. Their oral work includes a marketing promotion of the animated
film.
Students study and respond critically to spoken, written, and visual
texts created for a wide range of audiences and purposes. They use
writing to explore different perspectives on complex and challenging
issues. Students listen to and produce a range of texts in situations
characterized by complexity of purpose, and subject matter.
Reading
Students undertake language work, study a range of selected novels,
and explore the themes in multimedia through review and analysis of a
film and a unit on journalism or radio plays.
Writing
Students complete a range of personal and imaginative writing tasks
using various styles including poetry, journal, letters, personal
anecdotes, narrative fiction, and reflective and descriptive writing.
They produce writing pieces based on public writing and its structures
including commercial, reports, summaries and biography.
Speaking and Listening
Students undertake a range of oral activities related to the texts
and writing including speeches, interviews, conferencing, debates and
radio plays.
Year 10 students undertake activities following the same outline as
year 9 but also including the study and comparison of a play and its
interpretation as a film, comprehension and clear thinking tasks based
on newspaper articles, and class debates.
Three English subjects are offered in VCE
English, ESL, and English Literature.
The year 11 and 12 courses follow the study design. The dimensions
of English flow through into the implementation of these courses in the
classroom.
All students must complete at least 4 units of VCE English or
Literature including a unit 3 and 4 sequence. Most students at Forest
Hill College take English Units 1 and 2.
The
English program is supplemented by a range of visiting performers and
speakers. This includes poets, actors, animators and professional
writers. As well as performing a number of these artists work in the
classroom with the students helping them with course work such as
creative writing, animation and text studies.
During 2005 Myron Lysenko (poet), Tony Lawrence (animator), Andreas
Litsas (story teller) and Sue Ingleton (comedienne), among others,
visited the school.
Students also undertake excursions to theatrical and other
performances such as the Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of
‘Oedipus Rex’.
The English learning area runs the school debating teams. These
teams from Years 9-12 compete against other schools in the region,
through the ‘Debaters Association of Victoria. Students in Years 7-8
also can participate in the Junior Schools Competition. We were
Regional Finalists in 2005.
Students in the English program are encouraged to enter various
writing competitions, including ‘Write 4 Fun, reading programs such as
‘Reading Circles’ and the ‘Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge’, and the annual ‘English
Competition’ which is run throughout Australasia.
Within the classroom extension activities are also offered as part of the English course.
