LEVEL: Stage 2
SACE Credits: 20 credits
LENGTH: Full Year
Students who complete this subject with a C– grade or better will meet the literacy requirement of the SACE.
Recommended background: Stage 1 EAL
English as an Additional Language is designed for students for whom English is a second language or an additional language or dialect. These students have had different experiences in English and one or more other languages.
Content:
This subject focuses on the development and use of skills and strategies in communication, comprehension, language and text analysis, and text creation. Through studying a variety of oral, written, and multimodal texts, including informational and literary texts, students develop an understanding of text structures and language features. Students develop confidence in creating texts for different purposes in both real and imagined contexts. Students develop skills for research and academic study.
Evidence of Learning
Students provide evidence of their learning through seven assessments, including the external assessment component. Students complete:
- two tasks for the academic literacy study (one oral and one written)
- four tasks for the responses to texts (at least one oral and two written)
- one examination.
Assessment:
Students’ performance will be determined according to the subject’s Performance Standards, as outlined by the SACE Board. Grades A+ to E- will be used for reporting purposes.
School-based Assessment 70%
Assessment Type 1: Academic Literacy Study (30%)
Students investigate a question or a topic and present their findings in an academic style by producing two tasks:
- Written Report (1,500 words) consisting of the findings of the study including references to sources.
- Oral Interaction (10 minutes) within a group context, students should briefly present the findings of their study or an aspect of their study and answer questions posed by other group members, and/or lead a group discussion, and/or contribute collaboratively to the group.
Assessment Type 2: Responses to Texts (40%)
In developing comprehension skills, students evaluate facts and opinions in texts. They also explain personal, social, and cultural perspectives reflected in texts. Students complete four responses to a range of texts, at least one of which must be a literary text. At least one response must be presented in oral form and two must be in written form.
External Assessment 30%
Assessment Type 3: Examination
Students complete a 160minute external examination that is divided into two sections:
Section 1: Comprehending Multimodal Texts
Students respond to aural and/or visual texts such as discussions, interviews, broadcasts, podcasts, lectures, and advertisements. In their answers to questions, students must use information from the texts.
Section 2: Written Paper
Students are required to read and interpret related texts. Texts presented could contain information, opinions, and descriptions of experiences. The texts could also include information in the form of graphs, diagrams, or pictures. Students use the information and opinions in the texts to produce an extended written response in the form of an essay, a persuasive piece, or a report.
Special Requirements:
Students are required to meet the SACE Eligibility Requirements for ESL in order to enrol in this subject. Students should have:
- either – no more than five years of full time schooling in which the medium of instruction was English
- or – more than five years of full time schooling in which the medium of instruction was English but the student’s knowledge of English is restricted.