Welcome to your English 11, English First Peoples Literary Studies and Writing 11
What is First Peoples English? English is not just the study of spelling and grammar rules – that is the stuff that operates in the background. More importantly, English is the study of thoughts and ideas – a study of the human condition, and this course tries to acknowledge, and educate students about the first people’s perspective of the human condition.
So what then is the human condition? It is the condition of, well, being human. Happiness, sadness, heartbreak, betrayal, revenge, triumph, honour, conformity, love and an ocean more of emotions and states of mind are all ideas that we explore in the literature we study. The study of English is really the study of the world, the study of thought, the study of understanding, and the study of our own mind all at once. It may not be easy, but it is important, and very worthwhile.
What big thematic ideas are we going to look at this year? The Themes are universally themes, but we will also look at them through an Indigenous perspective.
Loss / Hope
What do we know of them and what do they mean to us?
We can learn this by studying these ideas in literature.
So what will we study this year? (In no particular order)
First few lessons – introductions and building a community / Resources to be announced as we determine what is available and what fits the direction we take in our learning
Last few lessons the year in review and final overview assignment
Independent Learning Projects – Ongoing throughout the year
You will be asked to demonstrate your exploration of these ideas and pieces of literature through various projects, presentations, and writings. These assignments adhere to the government proscribed learning outcomes of Speaking and Listening, Reading and Viewing, and Writing and Representing, on which you will be assessed for your ability and growth.
I look forward to a fun filled year of exploration and learning with you. Remember two old sayings:
“You get out what you put in”, and
“It is much easier to keep up than it is to catch up”.
Cheers and Good Reading
Mr. F. Culbert