National 4/5 English
English is the study of verbal and written communication in the most widely-spoken language in the world. It teaches us how to gain the most out of reading, writing, listening and talking. Through your studies you will become familiar with a range and variety of texts as well as gaining vital communication and inter-personal skills. This course will help you to become a more effective communicator, be a critical thinker, develop an awareness of our language, literature and culture, and be creative.
Skills and Knowledge
A broad overview of the subject skills, knowledge and understanding that will be covered in the course includes:
- listening and talking, reading and writing in a variety of contexts, for example:
- talking in a group
- listening to others talk
- giving a talk to the class
- reading for pleasure
- reading for understanding
- imaginative writing
- personal writing
- discursive writing
- understanding, analysing and evaluating a range of texts (fiction and non-fiction, print and graphic)
- creating and producing a range of texts, as appropriate to purpose of the task set and audience you are writing for, in order to organise and use:
- word patterns
- text structures
- knowledge of detailed language in listening and talking, reading and writing.
Learning and Teaching Methods
Staff in the English department will adopt a flexible approach to the teaching of the subject, incorporating a number of different styles ranging from whole class teaching, group work and one-to-one support as appropriate. Peer and group assessment are sometimes used in order to sharpen your critical awareness of your own and others’ work.
English is a core subject and the ability to express yourself clearly in both speech and writing will prove to be invaluable, no matter what career or higher education path you might choose in the future.