English News
Beginning Of Term 1:
English Department
As the Head of our English Department at South Oakleigh College I would like to take the opportunity to welcome all students and families back to school for the start of the 2026 academic year.
In our English classes, we expect students to have a novel that they will read at the start of each English class. This can be a book of personal choice and we encourage students to explore different authors and genre types. Our school library has a detailed collection of different types of novels that can inspire, motivate and challenge students.
For the Year 7 students it is the start of their journey to explore English in a more detailed and comprehensive way. They will extend on the knowledge they have learnt in primary school and now apply and adapt these skills into new situations.
For the Year 12 students 2026 signifies the conclusion of their school-based learning journey as they get ready to hone skills and prepare for the demands of the VCE examinations.
All of our students are on their own learning journey, and it is important for every student to make a good start to the year and take advantage of the opportunities that are available to them that will support their development and lay the foundations for successful and rewarding futures beyond SOC.
Adam Myors
Head of English
The Day and Experience to Remember
Last Wednesday all year 12 English classes cohort and our teachers had the pleasure of visiting ACMI in the city to view a screening of one of our two English texts, seminal noir film Sunset Boulevard by Billy Wilder. This screening allowed us to be fully immersed in the film intensifying its emotional impact.
With professional sound systems and the allure of the silver screen, we were able to critically examine the cinematic techniques of the films and gain a more nuanced understand the film in the context it was meant to be seen. While the modern surround sound systems communicated the grandeur of orchestral pieces during suspenseful moments, the big screen allowed the students to deeply examine each scene’s shot embracing the emotions they conveyed.
On the big screen, Norma Desmond’s presence felt overwhelming rather than theatrical. Her isolation, delusion, and desperate need to remain visible were no longer just ideas to analyse — they became almost uncomfortable to witness. The silence in the theatre during key moments, especially close-ups of Norma, created a tension that made the audience feel complicit in her decline. The experience made Hollywood’s cruelty feel immediate and real.
The lecture following the screening deepened this emotional response by giving structure to what we had felt while watching. The analysis of cinematic techniques — particularly lighting, close-ups, and voiceover narration — clarified how the film constructs its critique of Hollywood and how Wilder deliberately framed Norma as both powerful and tragic character: a victim of the industry who cannot accept reality.
Overall, the day was a great success as it has given us the opportunity to gain a new perspective on the text gaining better understanding of technical and contextual elements of the film while enabling us to have a shared reflection and collective emotional response.
We would like to thank all our English teachers for organising such an important experience and bringing us to such beautiful landmarks as Federation Square, St Pauls Cathedral and Flinders Station.
Jack Wright, 12C
Hugo Pruscino, 12 F