The English Department offers stimulating and challenging courses in English subjects from Years 8 to 12. Students learn about the English language and how to use it effectively through their study of a wide range of written, spoken and visual texts. They learn to create texts of their own and to engage with those produced by other people. They are also encouraged to enter competitions and to attend performances and other appropriate excursions in order to extend their studies in English.
The specific texts encountered depend on the year of study and may include Ancient Greek and Shakespearean drama, contemporary feature films and soap opera, Australian poetry and advertisements or the most complex literary texts and satirical cartoons. The range and definition of ‘texts' is extremely broad and frequently revised to best cater for the interests and needs of our students.
English fosters creative and innovative thinking, contributes to personal growth, gives students access to knowledge and cultural heritage and to an understanding of the complex nature of society. Our students develop functional and critical literacy skills that enable them to become competent, reflective, adaptable and critical users of language, and articulate and well-informed contributors to wider society. Furthermore, our English courses are also designed to foster a lifelong interest in language and a love of reading and writing.
A range of extension activities is organised for those students who excel in English. Students are encouraged to participate in competitions, listen to visiting writers, poets and performing artists as well as attend the annual Creative Writing Camp.
English is a compulsory subject in Years 8 to 10. The courses foster personal growth and communication skills through the five language modes of reading, writing, viewing, speaking and listening.
English, English Literature or English as an Additional Language are compulsory in both Years 11 and 12.
English is offered as a Tertiary Entrance Scoring Subject. Through language humans shape their understanding of themselves and their world. English gives students a better understanding of how the English language works and how to use it effectively. During the course they view a wide range of texts and write for a range of purposes and in a range of forms. Units include Language and the World, Language and Action, Language and Subjectivity and Language and Knowledge.
Students who have TAFE in mind can also take units in English.
English Literature is offered as a Tertiary Entrance Scoring Subject. Students study a wide range of literary texts and need to have well developed language skills and also a genuine interest in reading. Students are expected to read widely beyond set texts and take every opportunity to attend literary and dramatic productions.
During the Year 12 course students study in detail a selection of novels, plays and the works of two poets and are encouraged to focus on the broader philosophical questions relating to literature and reading.
English as an Additional Language/Dialect is offered as a Tertiary Entrance Scoring subject.
 |
|
|
| Would you like to come to St Mary's? |  |
|
|
|
|