|
All students study English from Years 7 to 10. Year 9 students may elect to enhance their English by studying units including Speak Up , Film-Study, Journalism or Shakespeare. Year 10 English operates in 2 semesters and offers access to VCE
Literature and VCE Foundation English. Well known writers regularly
visit Beechworth Secondary College to run student workshops. There is also an annual cultural tradition whereby enthusiastic student writers
and readers attend a Youth Literature Day at the Malthouse Theatre as
part of the Melbourne Writers Festival in August.
The English program builds and expands on students’ earlier experiences
of language. Activities are based on the skill strands of Speaking and
Listening, Reading and Viewing, and Writing. Class texts are selected
from a varied range of global classic and contemporary material.
Working closely with the Librarian, material is reviewed annually and
selected to suit individual classes. The range includes novels, short
stories, films, plays, poetry, inter-active CDs and websites. English
teachers are trained to integrate Learning Technology opportunities
into the English classroom. The College supports English teachers to
participate in a number of Professional Development opportunities such
as the annual VATE Conference to initiate the best programs for our
students. Some current staff have presented workshops and have had
units of work recently published.
Silent
Reading is an established culture whereby students spend the first 10
minutes of each English lesson reading their personally selected
material. Their choice is supervised by their teacher. This practice
correlates to student literacy achievement.
From Year 7, English students can opt for a range of enhanced programs
, including Literacy Support and National English Competitions. The
Innovation and Excellence Project helps to provide additional and
engaging English activities such as The Family Album in 2004-2005 . |
