English as an Additional Language (EAL) focuses on language learning and the explicit teaching of the structure, linguistic features and sociolinguistic and sociocultural aspects of Standard Australian English (SAE). Through close study of language and meaning, students of EAL explore how learning in and through English language and literature influences their own and others’ personal, social and cultural identities and thought processes. They develop skills that enable them to use different registers of spoken and written SAE so they can communicate effectively in a range of contexts and for a variety of purposes in order to become effective cross-cultural users of language and dialect.

EALprovides opportunities for students to engage reflectively and critically with a broad range of spoken, written and multimodal texts (including literary and non-literary texts, for example academic, everyday and workplace texts). Students learn to create (individually and collaboratively) increasingly complex texts for different purposes and audiences in different forms, modes and mediums. Units 1 to 4 develop students’ academic English skills in order to prepare them for tertiary study. Bridging Units 1 to 4 provide the linguistic foundation for work, training or further study.

Within each unit, students regularly use the language modes of listening, speaking, reading, viewing and writing to develop their communicative skills in SAE for a range of purposes, audiences and contexts.

The English as an Additional Language course is written under The ENGLISH Framework 2021: BSSS ENGLISH Framework

Achievement Standards for ENGLISH courses can be found within the Framework.

The study of English language, literacy and literature develops students’ communication, analytical, creative and critical thinking skills in all language modes.

Language and Culture

This unit focuses on investigating how language and culture are interrelated and expressed in a range of contexts. A variety of oral, written and multimodal texts are used to develop understanding of text structures and language features. Students explore the relationship between these structures and features and the context, purpose and audience of texts. The unit will enhance students’ confidence in creating texts for different purposes and across all language modes in both real and imagined contexts. It will broaden their understanding of the sociocultural and sociolinguistic elements of SAE and develop skills for research and further academic study.

Perspectives in Texts

This unit focuses on analysing and evaluating perspectives and attitudes presented in texts and creating extended texts for a range of contexts. SAE language skills for effective communication in an expanding range of contexts are consolidated. The use of cohesive text structures and language features is developed. The unit focuses on developing planning and editing skills to create extended oral, written and multimodal texts. Attitudes, values and culturally based assumptions within texts are identified, analysed and compared. Strategies for collecting, analysing, organising and presenting ideas and information are refined.

Communication

This unit focuses on analysing how language choices are used to achieve different purposes and effects in a range of contexts. SAE language skills are developed so that they can be used to describe, inform, express a point of view and persuade for different purposes and audiences. The ways in which language choices shape meaning and influence audiences are explored through the study and creation of a range of oral, written and multimodal texts. The representation of ideas, attitudes and values and how these vary across cultures and within different contexts, particularly the Australian context, is analysed and evaluated. Effective and independent research skills are consolidated throughout the unit.

Issues and Attitudes

This unit focuses on analysing, evaluating and using language to represent and respond to issues, ideas and attitudes in a range of contexts. By extending and consolidating language and communication skills, critical use of SAE for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences is developed. Independent and collaborative investigation and analysis are used to explore how language and texts achieve specific purposes and effects. Extended oral, written and multimodal texts and presentations are created, adapted and refined for a variety of contexts, purposes and audiences. Effective research strategies and referencing protocols are used to present ideas, information, conclusions, arguments and recommendations.

Bridging 1: Communication Foundations

This Bridging Unit is designed for students who are at the Emerging phase of the EAL Foundation to Year 10 learning progression and focuses on developing communication skills in a range of contexts across the language modes of SAE. There is a particular focus on developing oral communication skills. Age-appropriate texts are used to develop vocabulary, grammar, language learning strategies and understanding. This includes the comprehension and retrieval of key information from familiar texts. The unit will enable students to apply their knowledge and understanding as they create simple texts that express their needs, opinions and ideas.

Bridging 2: Consolidate Communication

This Bridging Unit is aimed at students in the late Emerging phase of the EAL Foundation to Year 10 learning progression. It focuses on consolidating communication skills in a range of contexts across the language modes of SAE. Through explicit teaching, the unit focuses on the consolidation of everyday vocabulary and the creation of connected oral, written and multimodal texts. Age-appropriate texts are used as a guide to respond to or reproduce simple texts in informal and rehearsed formal contexts. This unit will enable students to develop strategies for collecting, organising and presenting ideas and information.

Bridging 3: Responding to Texts

This Bridging Unit is aimed at students who are in the Developing phase of the EAL Foundation to Year 10 learning progression. It focuses on responding to and creating extended texts in familiar contexts in SAE. By using the language modes, students engage with familiar and some unfamiliar texts, including literary texts. Language skills for effective communication in SAE in most social, familiar and some community situations are developed. The unit will enable students to create extended oral, written and multimodal texts with a degree of accuracy in structure, language and register. Strategies for collecting, organising and presenting ideas and information continue to be developed.

Bridging 4: Connecting to Texts

This Bridging Unit is aimed at students who are in the late Developing phase of the EAL Foundation to Year 10 learning progression. It focuses on responding to and creating connected extended texts in personal, social, community and workplace contexts in SAE. The ability to use SAE language skills to communicate for a range of purposes is evident in the creation of oral, written and multimodal texts required in the workplace and some academic contexts. Some cultural assumptions are explored and explained through the study of a variety of texts, including popular and literary texts. Strategies for collecting, organising and presenting ideas and information are consolidated.

English as an Additional Language A/T (694 KB)

English as an Additional Language A/T (345 KB)