English 

Year 12 News 

Studying an English subject at Year 12 can be both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it’s in these subjects that students are empowered with literacy and critical thinking skills that will serve them well in an increasingly chaotic world. A curse because, often, students don’t ‘like’ English, some of them may even ‘hate’ it, and many resent being forced to do a subject when there are other things they’re more interested in.

Blessing or curse, it’s mandatory. And it’s important.

It’s important for the skills and values it teaches, but English is also important in terms of students’ ATAR scores and as a prerequisite for just about every university course.

This year at Kilbreda we’ve introduced a number of new initiatives to support our Year 12 English students.

Let’s start with the mainstream English:

• The Hour of Power – every Thursday after school Year 12 English students will have the opportunity to participate in a workshop targeting key areas of the English course and, on alternate weeks, to complete a practice timed response. 
  • Workshops will focus on common areas that prevent students from achieving high results – things like grammar, essay structure and using texts effectively.
  • Timed responses will mimic the exam and they’ll all be marked, with feedback provided, by the student’s teacher. 
• Classroom 'Star' Chart – in the spirit of healthy competition, the Year 12 English room has an essay star chart pinned to the wall. Any time a student completes an additional practice essay, she gets a star. We’ll have some class versus class prizes and some individual ones too. 
• Guest speaker – on Tuesday 3 March, Kristin Bourne, an educational consultant and VCE examination assessor, is coming to speak to our Year 12 English students. She will offer targeted strategies for our texts and tips for success in English. She’ll also revisit the College later in the year to assist students with exam preparation.

Have a daughter studying English Language or Literature? Tell them not to despair. As they near their SACs and begin writing practice exam pieces, they’ll also be invited to the Hour of Power and have the opportunity to gain tips and strategies from high achieving past pupils of the College.

Wondering how you can best encourage and support your daughter’s study of Year 12 English?

1. Ask her how many stars she has on the star chart
2. Ask her if she’s going to attend this week’s Hour of Power
3. Read the texts she’s studying and talk with her about them
4. Model reading (novels and the news) and don’t be afraid to engage in conversations about current political or social issues – push her to think critically, deeply and broadly.

English. Resistance is futile.

Fiona McDonald

Co-Learning Leader: English