English

OBJECTIVES:

The Oakhill English Department embraces the spirit of the Constitution of South Africa, whereby the curriculum aims “to heal the division of the past and to encourage learners to participate and contribute towards a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.” The aim is for Oakhill learners to exit Grade 12 fully equipped with the skills of the English language that will enable them to contribute fully and competently to these values. The Department also strives to promote excellence in English as the primary medium of communication at Oakhill. It will strive to ensure that spoken and written English is of a high standard.

TEACHING APPROACH:

• The Oakhill English Department encourages students to be sensitive to cultural, ethnic, racial, class and gender issues. Students are encouraged to challenge bias, stereotypes and discrimination found in texts.

• The skills approach is implemented whereby learners are given an opportunity to demonstrate the skills of speaking, listening, writing or presenting, reading or viewing wherein they use the appropriate structures and conventions.

• Learners are presented with opportunities to critically study events, literature and experiences as presented from a variety of points of view.

• Learners are given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with new technologies and to utilize this technology for presentations and research.

• A text‐based approach is encouraged to enable learners to become critical readers, writers, viewers and designers of texts. A wide variety of texts are used and each is understood and studied within its context. Learners are exposed to increasingly complex texts as they progress through Grades 10 to 12.

• A communicative approach is used whereby learners learn by doing. The teacher is a facilitator of this action and provides the opportunity for learners to use language in class, in its various forms to speak, to read, to write and to view.

MEANS OF ASSESSMENT (Matric Assessment is composed of):

External Examination

Paper I 3 hours 100 marks

Paper II 3 hours 100 marks

Internal Assessment

Portfolio 100 marks

Internally assessed and externally moderated

Oral 100 marks

TOTAL 400 MARKS

Continuous Assessment: PORTFOLIO

In Matric each candidate is required to present his / her assignments in a folder for the teacher and subsequent transmission to the IEB for moderation before Preliminary Exams.

This should be a powerful motivator for the student to take responsibility for his/her own learning.

Section A Extended Writing

Section B Common Assessment Task (Set by the IEB)

Section C Literature: Fourth Genre (usually film) Section D Tests ( a specific range of tests)

Section E Preliminary Examination

Oral and Listening Assessment: LISTENING AND SPEAKING

This section is assessed internally and moderated externally. It consists of the following:

• Prepared speaking (including an oral) and relevant discussion / conversation which shows a relevant and up to date knowledge of the world around us.

• Discussion around 7 novels read during the year.

• Prepared and unprepared reading and relevant conversation / discussion.

• Communication activity throughout the year

  • 1. 1. 1. 1. • Listening strategies

                • Speaking strategies