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English Skills 1

Subject Overview 

This year-long Literacy Support elective focuses on developing your literacy skills and, in turn, your confidence as a reader, writer and presenter.   You will explore a wide variety of texts including films, short stories, graphic novels and poetry.  

This literacy support elective assists you in:    

  • Finding your voice and confidence as a writer and speaker 

  • Organising your English learning 

  • Diverse ways to engage in classroom activities including speaking, listening and writing   

What’s the difference from FLE 1 English? 

  • Smaller class size with opportunities for targeted, one-on-one support 

  • Several, shorter text types per term according to a focus genre/theme 

  • Repetition to master core English skills (e.g., structures needed for writing an essay) 

Course Overview: 

  • Term one – Machines – The Iron Man (graphic novel), Cars (film), short stories 

  • Term two – Survival and Escape – Touching the Void (documentary), Alone (TV show), Crash in the Jungle (novella) 

  • Term three – Fantasy – Delicious in Dungeon (TV Show), The Hobbit (novel) 

  • Term four – Mystery and Suspense – Anya’s Ghost (graphic novel), Landlady and Lamb to the Slaughter (short stories), A Cat in Paris (film).   

Typical class activities:   

  • Note-taking  

  • Short story writing and reading  

  • Creative writing  

  • Comprehension activities  

  • Film viewing  

  • Discussion of the big ideas and themes  

  • Working with the teacher on each task  

  • Word search, Crosswords, Kahoot activities  

  • Extension activities for students who want a challenge  

Skills focus:   

  • How to contribute to discussion (taking turns listening and speaking)  

  • How to take notes effectively   

  • How to write clear sentences, well-structured paragraphs and a complete essay  

  • How to use adjectives and verbs to enhance your creative writing  

  • How to develop oral responses to the big ideas and topics  

  • How to express your own viewpoint using text and visuals in PowerPoints  

Assessment Tasks:    

  • PowerPoint Presentation 

  • Creative writing based on themes and texts 

  • Constructing paragraphs and essays on topics related to texts studied 

  • Ability to maintain an organised workbook with appropriate note-taking 

  • Ability to participate in class discussion 

Do this subject if:  

  • You need help with organisation and engagement in English 

  • You have great ideas but are not quite able to show these in your written work 

  • You are often unsure about the meaning of words and how to construct sentences, paragraphs and essays 

  • You require content and learning tasks to be modified   

  • You feel lost in mainstream classrooms or just need support because of previous absence from school or other issues 

  • You need the time to be shown HOW to complete tasks