English

English in the High School builds students’ skills in effective communication, analytical thinking and in engaging imaginatively with ideas about texts, language, human experiences and the world around them.

The High School English syllabuses reflect the Australian Curriculum framework, which is built around the three interrelated strands of Language, Literature and Literacy. Together, these strands focus on developing students’ skills in reading, viewing, listening, writing, speaking and creating texts.

Literature remains the English teacher’s primary resource material and students examine novels, poetry, drama, film and non-fiction texts. Students examine the language features and content of visual texts, journalism, advertising, multimodal, oral and online texts. Some of these texts will be Australian literature, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, and some will be texts from and about Asia.

Students are encouraged to read widely, to develop an appreciation of literature, to enter imaginatively into fictional worlds and the points of view of others and to develop skills to analyse texts and language critically.

English Years 9 & 10 (2025)

Core Course Work

Year 9 and Year 10 English is a two-year, four-semester course that aims to prepare students for success in the pre-tertiary study of English within the International Baccalaureate or the Tasmanian Certificate of Education in Years 11 and 12. Emphasis in core course work is placed on the skills of: developing arguments in essay form; the analysis of the stylistic features of texts; understanding the context of texts and the interplay between purpose and audience; and research techniques that serve to enhance students’ own critical responses.  Students will also have the opportunity to create imaginative texts, in a variety of forms, that engage with the ideas they encounter. The course requires proficiency in all areas of language use. Students are expected to exercise initiative, independence and to take responsibility for their own learning.

Workshops & Competitions

Core course work in both Years 9 & 10 English runs concurrently with our English Workshop Series, creating complementary opportunities for students to focus upon and more deeply explore specialised creative and academic areas of English study such as Creative Writing, Screen (Film & TV) Studies, Academic Writing, Literature Classics and Speech Making. Additionally, as part of our Writer in Residence Program at Friends’, students may also have the opportunity to work with resident and visiting creatives and industry professionals from both the Tasmanian and wider Australian writing community. Students are encouraged to enter: School, local and national writing competitions, details of which can be found on our Learnpath Writing Page; School, local and and national speech competitions, details of which can be found on our Learnpath Speech Page; and to enter local and national film-making competitions, details of which can be found on our Learnpath Film Page. 

In Year 9 students will have the opportunity to: 

• Examine an idea or issue as represented in a range of substantial and short texts
• Craft and perform spoken word poetry
• Undertake a single novel study
• Compare screen texts (film and/or television) in order to explore different cultures and perspectives
• Complete an independent study of a text, based on a negotiated inquiry question
• Read, analyse and respond creatively to a contemporary Australian drama
• Undertake skill-building activities to extend their language competencies
• Engage in a series of creative and academic workshops to complement core course work
• As the opportunity arises, engage with creatives and industry professionals as part of the Friends’ Writer in Residence Program
• Take the initiative and enter speech, writing and film-making competitions

In Year 10 students will have the opportunity to:

• Compare two substantial texts, including a novel, focussing on thematic links
• Identify and read a range of satirical texts and then complete an independent study of their choice of satirical text, based upon an inquiry question 
• Study and analyse poetry (the work of one poet or poetry based upon a theme/genre/era/region) and write their own poem
• Read and interpret a Shakespearean play
• Complete a study in text adaption
• Practise exam skills and sit a two hour examination
• Undertake skill-building activities to extend their language competencies
• Engage in a series of creative and academic workshops to complement core course work
• As the opportunity arises, engage with creatives and industry professionals as part of the Friends’ Writer in Residence Program
• Take the initiative and enter speech, writing and film-making competitions

Students in Years 9 and 10 will purchase a novel, which will be assigned and charged to their accounts in Term 1. Students in Year 10 will also purchase a play by Shakespeare, charged to their accounts in Term 3.

Punctuation, grammar, sentence construction and paragraphing continue to be taught with a view to developing more sophisticated written expression.

Cover images:

https://wonderthebook.com/books/wonder

https://www.behance.net/gallery/16221983/The-Fault-in-Our-Stars

https://www.suelawson.com.au/project/freedom-ride

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-by-mark-haddon-9781782953463