english faculty wsc

Keynote Speaker – Professor Beverly Derewianka

 Three areas:

 Knowledge about Language (Literacy)

Evolving repertoires of English Usage (Language Use)

Informed appreciation of Literature (Literature)

Areas to be considered. 

 What does it mean ‘the basics’?  Spelling and spelling strategies need to be established early.  Students’ vocabulary is to be expanded.

 Attention is to be given to grammar across K (our preparatory year) and Y12.  It is part of the ‘toolkit’ that helps all students to access the resources to meet their educational needs.

 Must focus on clearer expression, more convincing argument, more careful logic and such things as imaginative speaking and writing.

 The national English curriculum should help develop in students the capabilities to understand, analyse, appreciate, construct and evaluate texts.

 A debate must take pace about Australian literature.  However, its presence should form part of what young Australians know about English and being Australian.  Do we remain open to international English and world literature? 

 Literature should acknowledge traditional narratives and include works of writers in the languages of our recent arrivals as well as the standard Anglo texts and should also reflect the growing importance of Asia in our national life.