The study of English is central to the learning and development of all students at Lalor Secondary College. It is through the study of English that students learn to analyse, understand, communicate with and build relationships with others and with the world around them. Students become ethical, thoughtful, informed and active members of society.

Aims

The English curriculum is built around three interrelated stands of Language, Literature and Literacy. The faculty is delivering curriculum as guided by the Victorian Curriculum, with a change in support material and text books to further implement the new curriculum guidelines.

Each year level includes oral presentations which students must complete. While challenging   initially, we have found that this has contributed to their confidence levels and prepared them well for the assessments in English and other studies at the senior level.

Our students sit internal English Exams during the course of the study in Years 9 – 11. At Year 12 all students are expected to sit a practice English Exam, in preparation for their final VCAA Exam.

Highlights

At Year 7 the Premier’s Reading Challenge as part of the College’s commitment to the National Year of Reading – at this year level all classes are allocated one period a fortnight in the Library Resource Centre completing a reading program in both semesters. Year 7 students are also involved in the reading of fairy-tales to Lalor Primary students, one of our feeder schools.

At Year 9 there is a visit the Melbourne Holocaust Museum to enhance the students’ understanding of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’.

At Year 10 students perform extracts from Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

At Year 11 students are involved a performance, and extracts, from Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’.

Texts Studied:

  • Year 7 Holes’ , ‘Lighthouse Girl’, study of issues, study of fantastic worlds
  • Year 8 ‘The Outsiders’, ‘Trash’, ‘Coraliane’ & horror genre study
  • Year 9 ‘Boy in Striped Pyjamas’, ‘Rabbit Proof Fence’ & ‘The Simple Gift’
  • Year 10 ‘Of Mice and Men’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Ten Things I Hate About You’ & ‘Growing up Asian in Australia’
  • Year 11 ‘The Great Gatsby’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘Generals Die in Bed’ & ‘Paradise Road’
  • Year 12  ‘Medea, ‘The Golden Age’, ‘Tracks’ & ‘Into the Wild’