The study of English is central to the learning and development of all young Australians. It helps create confident communicators, imaginative thinkers and informed citizens. It is through the study of English that individuals learn to analyse, understand, communicate and build relationships with others and with the world around them. The study of English plays a key role in the development of literacy, which helps young people develop the knowledge and skills needed for education, training and the workplace. It helps them become ethical, informed, perceptive, innovative and active members of society. The Australian Curriculum: English plays an important part in developing the understanding, attitudes and capabilities of those who will take responsibility for Australia's future. Australia is a linguistically and culturally diverse country, with links to Asia. Participation in many aspects of Australian life is dependent on effective communication in Standard Australian English. In addition, proficiency in English is invaluable globally. The Australian Curriculum: English also helps students to engage imaginatively and critically with literature from a range of historical, cultural and social contexts to expand their social, emotional and cultural understanding. The traditional and contemporary literature of First Nations Australian Peoples is communicated in distinctive ways and is shaped by lived experiences, knowledge, traditions and connections. The Australian Curriculum: English explores the richness of First Nations Australian voices.
Aims
The Australian Curriculum: English aims to ensure that students:
- learn to listen to, read, view, speak, write, create and reflect on increasingly complex and sophisticated spoken, written and multimodal texts across a growing range of contexts with accuracy, fluency and purpose
- appreciate, enjoy and use the English language in all its variations and develop a sense of its richness and power to evoke feelings, convey information, form ideas, facilitate interaction with others, entertain, persuade and argue
- understand how Standard Australian English works in its spoken and written forms and in combination with non-linguistic forms of communication to create meaning
- develop interest and skills in inquiring into the aesthetic aspects of texts, and develop an informed appreciation of literature.
Strands, sub-strands and threads - English
English is organised into three interrelated strands that support students' growing understanding and use of Standard Australian English (English). Each strand interacts with and enriches the other strands in creative and flexible ways, the fabric of the curriculum being strengthened by the threads within each sub-strand.
The three strands are:
- Language: knowing about the English language
- Literature: understanding, appreciating, responding to, analysing and creating literary texts
- Literacy: expanding the repertoire of English usage.
The Australian Curriculum: English uses core concepts to connect essential content across the three strands of Language, Literature and Literacy. The core concepts of English are:
• Language and texts reflect and respond to historical, social and cultural contexts.
• Language is used to interact with others by listening, speaking and signing, and to respond to, develop and present opinions and ideas.
• The features of texts, language and literary devices are used to read, understand, analyse, interpret and evaluate texts.
• The understanding of language and processes to express and develop ideas is used when creating a range of texts.
• Oral language, early reading and writing skills provide a foundation for meaning making and communication.