English

Welcome to the English Faculty.

English at Sunshine Coast Grammar School seeks to incorporate the finest traditions of the teaching of English whilst actively embracing contemporary innovations and positive directions in English education.

Underpinning the English programme is the school's philosophy of a personal, caring approach with attention to the needs of the individual. Through our programme we seek to actively encourage students to have 'strength of purpose' in order to set and achieve their goals in life.

What do we teach?

Our programme seeks to develop in students the skills of English literacy, including skills in listening, speaking, reading, viewing and writing. Being literate is more than a basic ability to read and use written information; it is the ability to communicate in a range of contexts. Literacy in subject English is to use language in order to think, represent, critique, question and reflect. The programme also develops the skills, knowledge, attitudes and values which will enable our students to participate as active and informed citizens in our democratic Australian society.

To enhance the students' awareness of themselves as members of a global community, our programme seeks to incorporate the study of texts from non-English speaking cultures. Central to our programme is the aim to develop in students critical awareness of equity issues such as racism, religion, gender, inclusive language and so on. This attention to equity will be expressed through the use of resources, use of inclusive language, and an awareness of current equity concerns in the wider community. In recognition of the cultural context in which our students live, our studies will also focus on elements of popular culture such as television, radio, advertising, the internet, popular music and video clips for text and language study.

What do we want our students to know?

More specifically, our English programme seeks to give students an appreciation of the uses of language in all its forms through a variety of genres; literary, non-literary, media and personal. Our programme has a strong commitment to literacy so that students self-actualise through 'ownership' of the tools of communication. It is expected that students develop an understanding of the use of language for personal and public purposes, understand the nature of language, develop knowledge and skills in the way language is used in many areas of life and, through this, develop an awareness of self and society.