English at Swan Christian College is designed to cater for the broad range of literacy skills represented in our student body. Students are streamed in order to provide teaching and learning opportunities most applicable to their current level of ability. The study of English is compulsory.
The modern study of English is essentially a study of language and how it works. While still requiring the study of traditional text forms like novels and poems, it now includes texts such as films, documentaries, still images and expository texts. This means that we cover a broad range of texts in our courses and that students produce a range of creative and analytical works.
'Story' is the backbone of much of what we do. Story elements are found in all texts to a greater or lesser extent. The language of communication that we study and learn is laced with story elements. Stories help us to understand who we are and how we fit into our world. We tell our stories to one another and we are created to respond to stories. We are part of God's great story of Creation and His intervention in our fallen world.
Middle School
The English curriculum is built around the three interrelated strands of language, literature and literacy. Together, the strands focus on developing students' knowledge, understanding and skills in listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating. Learning in English builds on concepts, skills and processes developed in earlier years, and teachers will revisit and strengthen these as needed. Our teachers endeavor to offer a Christian perspective on issues raised through the variety of texts studied.
Senior School
In the Senior years, courses are offered from Foundation English through to ATAR Literature. Our ATAR courses focus on developing student’s analytical, creative, critical thinking and communication skills in all language modes, encouraging students to critically engage with texts from their contemporary world, the past, and from Australian and other cultures. These offer students the opportunity to engage with some of the 'big' questions we are faced with as human beings. Our teachers endeavor to offer a Christian perspective on issues raised through the variety of texts studied.
