English

English Learning Area

HOD: Mrs Tait

English is the study, use, and enjoyment of the English language and literature that is communicated orally, visually, and in writing, for a range of purposes and audiences. Studying English involves examining language to explore the complexity and relevance of issues in society.

Understanding, using, and creating oral, written, and visual texts of increasing complexity is at the heart of English teaching and learning. By engaging with text-based activities, students become increasingly skilled and sophisticated speakers and listeners, writers and readers, presenters and viewers.

English is structured around two interconnected strands, each encompassing the oral, written, and visual forms of the language with the aim of students becoming effective oral, written and visual communicators. The strands differentiate between the modes in which students are primarily:

• making meaning of ideas or information they receive (listening, reading, and viewing)
• creating meaning for themselves or others (speaking, writing, and presenting).

Students need to practise making meaning and creating meaning at each level of the curriculum. This need is reflected in the way that the achievement objectives are structured. As they progress, students use their skills to engage with tasks and texts that are increasingly sophisticated and challenging, and they do this in increasing depth.