Year 7 English at Manor Lakes College equips students with foundational English skills and understandings. Aligned with the 2.0 Victorian Curriculum, students workshop their Language, Literature and Literacy through the modes of Reading and Viewing, Writing and Speaking and Listening.

Year 7 English builds on the literacy skills acquired in the primary years and seeks to develop critical thinking about issues in a variety of texts. The course also aims to encourage reading at an increasingly sophisticated level of enjoyment and language enrichment. It prepares students to meet the demands of further studies in English and equips them with the necessary skills to express themselves effectively. 

Students complete six units that target both analytical and creative capabilities. Students access and analyse a variety of texts that aim to broaden their perspectives on the world and themselves. They think deeply about their human identity, how they interact with the world and how they can help to better it. They learn to harness empathy for other people and think critically about how to approach difficult situations that they may encounter throughout their journey at Manor Lakes and beyond.

Year 7 EAL at Manor Lakes supports students who are learning English as an additional language. The Victorian Curriculum F–10 English as an Additional Language (EAL) is the mandated curriculum for EAL students in all Victorian government schools.

The overall goals for students learning English as an additional language are the same as those for mainstream English; however, the pathways to achieving these goals differ. For this reason, teaching programs across all learning areas must be responsive to the needs of students who are still developing their English skills.

The EAL curriculum allows students additional time and support to plan and produce written work, as well as to engage with English texts. It also provides opportunities for students to explore and develop cultural knowledge and understanding.

In addition, the curriculum places emphasis on explicit teaching of language and metalanguage, including focused learning in areas such as the sound system, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and discourse. It also ensures students have structured opportunities to practise speaking and listening in English.

Ultimately, students who progress to the VCE EAL pathway are encouraged to select VCE EAL as one of their English subjects.