English literature is a kind of training in social ethics. English trains you to handle a body of information in a way that is conducive to action. Marilyn Butler - British literary critic

The year has started with enthusiasm in English with four Year 9/10 English classes working collaboratively in two learning groups. Students are engaging in a plethora of learning opportunities from the art of short story writing to an exploration of the history of the English language, from the weird and wonderful world of Roald Dahl to the poetic brilliance of William Shakespeare. This term, we are also very excited to be introducing the Write That Essay online tool to all of our Year 9 and 10 students, a cross school initiative to support literacy levels amongst our students. Additionally, students will complete PAT Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary diagnostic tests mid-term, and an EASTLE diagnostic writing test at the end of the term.

Group 1: An excerpt from Mr Hines and Mr Kean...

Many of us are unaware of the nuances of the English language we speak, so in Term 1 of 2021 we hope to put this right by studying the History of the English language.

We began the unit by watching videos of the four main periods of English: Beowulf from the 9th century (Old English); Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, from the 14th century (Middle English); Shakespeare, Hamlet, from the 16th and 17th centuries (Early Modern English) and Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, from the early 19th century, (Late Modern English). At present, students are engaged in literacy exercises related to an extended text about the History of the English Language, and later on in the term, we will look in more detail at Beowulf, Chaucer, Shakespeare and Jane Austen, especially Shakespeare.

Group 2: An excerpt from Miss West and Mrs Gilpin…

“The books transported her into new worlds and introduced her to amazing people” - Roald Dahl

Our learners have enjoyed reading the unexpected plots of Dahl’s short texts. While exploring the nature of his wacky twists, students have attempted to plan their own short stories using a list of ingredients common to his tales. Over the next week, we will embark on a creative writing piece based on a character from Dahl, and students will have their first opportunity to complete this using the “Write that Essay” online tool. During the second half of this term we will be exploring visual language through close analysis of a film study.

The English Department looks forward to working alongside OAS students in English.

Mahi whakamataku!