English

Premise

  • If students are to compose and comprehend written and spoken English appropriately and effectively in a range of genre and social contexts, they must gain increasing control and understanding of the principal aspects of the nature of language and communicative skills, procedures and processes.
  • Cross- curricula links with all curriculum areas contribute to purposeful, functional language learning by creating the contexts for using language in a variety of forms.
  • The holistic nature of language in use is combined with an analytical approach so that students are aware of the features of the language they are using. The importance of providing opportunities to reflect on the use of language is highlighted.

 

Strategies

  • Language learning will be maximized across the curriculum areas to ensure purposeful, functional language learning
  • Students will interact within a language saturated environment
  • Specific genres, their purposes, structures and their features will be taught
  • A variety of social and cultural contexts will be used to ensure language learning is meaningful
  • Emphasis will be placed on process as well as product
  • A rigorous study of language in use will assist the progressive addition of language competencies to students’ repertoires
  • Knowledge of generic structure, cohesion, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary and spelling will develop a coherent comprehensive literacy
  • Understanding the author’s intention and reacting to written, spoken and visual texts are both skills and processes that need to be taught and supported