CORE: English as an additional language 

What is the subject about

The study of English as an Additional Language (EAL) is important for all students who have recently come to Australia and or come from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds. It focuses on Speaking and Listening, Reading and Viewing, and Writing. All students in the EAL class are given tasks that they can complete. It is important in the EAL program to learn all the necessary skills of English for all other subject areas. 

In EAL, in term 1, students focus on Reading and Viewing and Writing. The students read the novel Parvana’s Journey and create personal text-response essays to issues such as effects of war and trauma, what is humanity and creating meaningful connections. During term 2, students focus on Reading and Viewing and Writing again. They watch the film The Sapphires, and during the process of creating text-analysis essays, discover what are the reasons for the author/director to create a text. In term 3, students focus on Reading and Viewing and Writing. They read, view and listen to creative texts such as poetry, fragments of plays, graphic novels, songs. Students create their own creative texts in response. Term 4 brings focus to Reading and Viewing and Speaking and Listening through analysing and developing own argument in an oral presentation. Students watch and read texts about contemporary issues in the media. They learn to understand their meaning beyond literal and create their own argument oral presentation in response. 

Units:

1.       Personal text-response

2.       Analytical text-response

3.       Creative texts

4.       Analysing and creating argument 

Skills you will develop

• Speaking and Listening: practice discussing various topics in small groups, prepare, rehearse and deliver a formal oral presentation, give feedback about the oral presentation delivered by another student.
• Reading and Viewing: read and develop skills in understanding the meaning beyond the literal, relate texts to self, and understand the thinking behind why the author or film director created the novel, an image or a film, understanding and analysing argument.
• Writing: develop strategies to write sentences and whole texts based on a model, with the use a text exemplar, a planner, sentence starters, key vocabulary lists and assessment criteria, in small groups and individually, learn to edit and proofread own writing and another student’s writing.

Assessment

• Text Analysis (Essay)      
• Personal Response (Essay)
• Creative Texts                         
• Analysing and Creating Argument (Written and Oral)

Pathways

Studying English will develop your communication skills to ensure that you are competent in your chosen career. It will broaden your horizons both creatively and logically enabling a structured approach to planning, drafting and delivering communication verbally, in written form and through the appropriate technology.

If you are interested to know more about this subject please speak with Ms Magda