Learning

• Year 8
• Year 9
• Year 10

Stage 1 ESL builds on the learning in year 10 English.

This course is designed for students from non-English speaking backgrounds. It is assumed they can read, speak and write some English.
Students develop their ability in the use of language through reading, writing, speaking, listening and interpreting information.
It is the basis of two English subjects at Stage 2, ESL Studies and ESL. It involves reading, viewing, listening, speaking and writing.

Students will:

• Read, view and respond to different texts so that they can develop critical awareness of how authors and texts operate and clarify their own beliefs, values and sense of identity
• Use the example of these texts to create their own texts, enabling them to improve their ability to express ideas accurately, fluently and appropriately
• Have the opportunity to develop and apply skills and understandings in information and communication technologies

There are two assessment components:

• Text Production 50%
• Investigative or communication study 50%

Oral competence is assessed in both of these areas.

Stage 2 ESL

ESL is designed to give the students the opportunity to learn about the power of language in society. Their work will be centrally moderated at specified times during the year.

Students will:

• Learn to engage with a range of informative sources in the community: expert people in the field, reference and other professional materials, as well as the electronic and print media
• They learn to synthesize this information in extended texts
• Throughout the program, the structure, language patterns and conventions are taught and modelled, to develop their ability to apply this knowledge in the construction of their own texts.
• Students develop their listening and speaking skills by discussing issues in whole class situations and with the teacher.
• They develop strategies for extracting and synthesizing relevant information from the spoken texts.
• They develop their ability to communicate effectively with others, taking into consideration the social and cultural contexts of the situation.
• They develop critical understanding of the wider cultural references in texts - the references to other texts or cultural events or significant people.
• They develop an awareness of their own identity and their capacity to participate in a multicultural society.

There are four assessment components:

• Communication 20%
• Text response 30%
• Investigation 20%
• Interaction 30%

Stage 2 English as a Second Language Studies:

ESL Studies is concerned primarily with the reading, viewing and writing about texts. It focuses on the skills and strategies of critical thinking needed to interpret primarily formal and academic texts.

Students will:

• Learn to engage with a range of informative sources in the community: expert people in the field, reference and other professional materials, as well as the electronic and print media
• They learn to synthesize this information in extended texts
• Throughout the program, the structure, language patterns and conventions are taught and modelled, to develop their ability to apply this knowledge in the construction of their own texts.
• Students develop their listening and speaking skills by discussing issues in whole class situations and with the teacher.
• They develop strategies for extracting and synthesizing relevant information from the spoken texts.
• They develop their ability to communicate effectively with others, taking into consideration the social and cultural contexts of the situation.
• They develop critical understanding of the wider cultural references in texts - the references to other texts or cultural events or significant people.
• They develop an awareness of their own identity and their capacity to participate in a multicultural society.

There are four assessment components:

• Issue Analysis 10%
• Text Production 15%
• Investigation 25%
• Examination 50% (Examination is externally set and marked