English - Pre VCE English Language

Unit of Study:  Pre VCE English Language

Brief Description: Language is a strong marker of identity. It says a great deal about who we are and what we value. Have you ever thought about how we actually learn to speak? Why Australians have a different accent to Americans? Or why the language of Shakespeare is so hard for us to understand? Where and when did English begin, and how has it changed?  English Language will answer these questions and many more about how we communicate and why we have such strong attitudes to certain aspects of our language. From teen slang, to language ‘crimes,’ this elective makes you really think about how we speak, write and communicate.

In Term 2, students will be exploring the English language and be introduced to the VCE subject that you may very well enjoy next year. 

Scaffolding Learning

At the conclusion of this unit of study students will have: 

An understanding of key knowledge

• Students will gain a developed understanding of what constitutes poetry.
• Students will gain the ability to challenge preconceived ideas and attitudes towards poetry.
• Students will gain the ability/tools/language needed to explore the structure, language, sound and form of different poems. 
• Students will gain a developed understanding of basic linguistic terminology. 
• Students will understand the link between language and culture or identity.
• Students will understand the way in which language can unite or divide groups.

Attained these key skills 

• Students will be able to analyse structure, rhyme and rhythm in poetry.
• Students will be able to experiment with writing and analysing figurative language in poetry.
• They will be able to plan and write poems with a moral and message.
• Students will be able to recognise the key features of a text and use linguistic tools to analyse. 
• Students will be able research aspects of language in both historical and modern contexts.
• Students will be able to plan and orally present an aspect of linguistics to the class.

Demonstrated the Victorian curriculum standards and capabilities

1. Reading & Viewing
   1. Language for interaction: (VCELA457)
   2. Text structure and organisation: (VCELA458)
   3. Expressing and developing ideas: (VCELA459)
   4. Literature and context: (VCELT460)
   5. Responding to literature: (VCELT461), (VCELT461), (VCELT462)
   6. Examining literature: (VCELT463), (VCELT464), (VCELT465)
   7. Texts in context: (VCELY466)
   8. Interpreting, analysing, evaluating: (VCELY467), (VCELY469)
      
       
2. Writing
   1. Text structure and organisation: (VCELA470), (VCELA471)
   2. Expressing and Developing Ideas: (VCELA473), (VCELA474)
   3. Phonics and word knowledge: (VCELA475)
      
       
3. Speaking & Listening
   1. Language variation and change: (VCELA482)
   2. Language for interaction: (VCELA483)
   3. Interacting with others: (VCELY485), (VCELY486)

Assessment Tasks

Students will be required to complete the following assessment tasks:

• An analysis and deconstruction of a poem chosen by the English team 
• A linguistic analysis of a chosen text
• A creative oral presentation demonstrating an aspect of Australian English 
   

Additional learning opportunities

• Poetry in Action Incursion
• SLAM Poetry Competition

Resources

• Workbook, pens and highlighters.
• A sense of curiosity about all things language related.
• No text is required to be purchased by families.

Pathways

This unit of study could provide students with the following pathway.