English

Course overview

• After confirming their email address, students are given access with a username and password to the EAL/D Moodle courses in the NSW School of Languages e-learning site.

• The course has been purpose written for Stage 6 EAL/D and is an ATAR course. It includes interesting and interactive materials with a variety of exercises, while offering ample exam preparation and practice.

• Students share a Google Doc with their teacher to enable simultaneous feedback and development of student written work during class time.

• Students also complete exercises online, which are then uploaded, marked by their teacher, and returned online for quick feedback.

• Students are taught via face to face video conference, Google Hangouts or Zoom lessons, according to what is available at the home school. Telephone lessons are also sometimes used for extra support.

• Students receive 2 lessons per week (45-50 minutes each) either individually or in groups of two.

• Students are required to work independently in their non-contact periods for EAL/D at school.

• Regular completion of homework tasks is part of the course progression, as with other subjects.

Preliminary EAL/D course content

Term 1

• Module A: Language and Texts in Context – a selection of short texts covering a range of text types and topics.

Term 2

• Module B: Close Study of a Text – film “Rabbit-Proof Fence”, directed by Phillip Noyce.

Term 3

• Module C: Texts and Society – Students create and examine a variety of written and visual texts, which are relevant and practical in daily life.

Focus on Writing 

Studied concurrently throughout the year. Students create a range of texts, related to whichever module they are studying, for different purposes, audiences and context. These may include creative, persuasive, informative and discursive texts.

Listening

Students work through a purpose written booklet of exercises and explanations of listening techniques and analysis, accompanied by practice listening tasks.

Requirements

Below is a brief list of requirements for the principal to consider before he/she enrols a student in the Stage 6 English (EAL/D) course.

• The student has been educated in English for 5 years or less prior to Year 11 or the student is a refugee and/or has had interrupted schooling.

• The home school can provide a supervising teacher, who is familiar with the English syllabus to support the student.

• The home school can provide video conferencing facilities, Google Hangouts or Zoom via PC, photocopy course booklets in colour for the student and provide the student with a laptop or desktop computer, and a quiet space to participate in lessons twice a week.

• The student is capable of independent study.

• The student has completed the New Arrivals Program or has received instruction in English for at least one year with support from an EAL/D teacher.