ENGLISH

CROSS-CURRICULAR LEARNING

Our Year 12s are currently studying the classic 1950 film, Sunset Boulevard and have been learning all about the challenges that come with seeking fame and success in Hollywood. The Year 12 English team is always looking for ways to give our students an edge, to help them differentiate themselves and their writing from the thousands of other students who are studying VCE English. Recently, one of our classes was lucky enough to have Ms Leah Humphrey from the Music Department come and speak to them about how music is used in the film. Ms Humphrey studied Music Composition at University so our Year 12s were extremely fortunate to have an expert like her in the room presenting to them!

Aside from learning about how to describe the music (through descriptive adjectives like ‘sweeping’ and ‘dramatic’), they also learned about the metalanguage they can use such as ‘dissonant’ (clashing) and ‘consonant’ (harmonic) to add to their analysis. This is definitely an improvement from how the English teachers had been describing the music in the film. One of the most fascinating revelations was learning that Franz Waxman, the composer of the musical score, created a theme for each main character that would be presented and then adapted as the film went on. This knowledge provides us with the insight to understand how her character is depicted by Billy Wilder (the director) when she is introduced, and how she is portrayed by the final scene as she completes her descent into madness. 

The session was recorded and the brilliant AV team turned it into a video which is now available for all Year 12s, this year and in the future. Thank you to Nick Xanthoudakis for his work in recording it and putting the video together and thank you to Leah for her incredible presentation!

Ms Lauren Maserow

Year 12 English team

SPECIAL DEBATE EVENT

On Monday 28 April, the East Campus played host to a special debating event. Our Year 9 debaters honed their skills through an exhibition debate on the topic, “That Australia should ban the use of herbicides and pesticides in agriculture.” The event was well attended by staff and students, who were thoroughly impressed by the collaboration, speaking skills and insightful arguments presented by both teams.

Congratulations to the six speakers: Emanuel Xiberras, Sacha Rose, Arnav Chitnis, Daniel Chen, Skye Spooner and Patrick Rule.

A big thank you also to our timekeeper Lara Sumer (9U), adjudicator Ms Goldsworthy and chairperson Ms Zappner, who organised the whole event at short notice.

Sam Florence

English KLA Manager