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English and English as a Second Language (ESL)

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Accreditation period: 2007-2011

VCE English/ESL has been reaccredited.The reaccredited VCE English/ESL Study Design was implemented progressively:
Units 1 and 2 commenced on 1 January 2007,
Units 3 and 4 commenced on 1 January 2008.

• VCE Eligibility: The English Requirement
  Memorandum to Schools, No:94, 8 August 2005.
  Outlines the VCE English requirement from 2006.

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Curriculum

• Study Design (PDF - 428KB)
  Details on areas of study, outcomes and assessment for English/ESL Units 1 and 2: 2007-2011; Units 3 and 4: 2008-2011.
  • Study Design Errata
    As published in the VCAA Bulletin (Updated July 2007).
• For details of how to purchase a hardcopy of the VCE English/ESL Study Design, please refer to Publications.
• 2009 English/ESL Text List (PDF - 152KB)
  VCAA Bulletin, Supplement 3, February 2008.
  The approved English/ESL Text List for study in 2009.
• 2010 English/ESL Text List (PDF - 584KB)
  VCAA Bulletin, Supplement 3, Febraury 2009.
  The approved English/ESL Text List for study in 2010.
• Study Summary (May 2006, DOC - 60KB)
  A summary of the reaccredited VCE English/ESL Study Design for Units 1 and 2: 2007-2011; Units 3 and 4: 2008-2011
• Summary of Changes (PDF - 108KB)
  VCAA Bulletin, April 2006, Supplement 2
  Details changes to the VCE English/ESL Study Design and its key features for Units 1 and 2: 2007-2011; Units 3 and 4: 2008-2011

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Assessment

• Assessment Handbook (February 2008, DOC - 338KB)
  Contains assessment information for both school-assessed coursework and the examinations including the examination criteria.
• Examinations Reports
  Find past exams for English/ESL, past examination reports and 2008 exam criteria.
  • Exams for English
  • Exams for ESL
• School-assessed Coursework Reports
  Find past School-assessed Coursework Reports for English and English as a Second Language.

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Support Material

• Frequently Asked Questions
  • VCAA Bulletin, September 2005, p. 5 (PDF - 374KB)
    Frequently asked questions on changes to the English requirement.
  • VCAA Bulletin, December 2006, pp. 9-10 (PDF - 436KB)
    Includes frequently asked questions raised about English/ESL during the state-wide Units 1 and 2 implementation workshops held during August 2006.
  • VCAA Bulletin, No 52, September 2007, p. 9 (PDF - 449KB)
    Includes frequently asked questions raised about English/ESL during the state-wide Units 3 and 4 implementation workshops held during May 2007.

• Support Material - Units 1-2
  • Unit 1, Area of study 1: Reading and responding
    Example: Film study – Othello (DOC - 139KB)
  • Unit 2, Area of study 3: Using language to persuade
    Example: The decriminalisation of begging (March 2007, DOC - 115KB)
  • Units 1 and 2, Area of study 2: Creating and presenting
    Selected Context: Exploring technology and communication
    Example: Exploring the world of blogs: communicating about ourselves and the world (DOC - 160KB)
    Selected Context: Exploring and presenting themes or ideas
    Example: The idea of justice (DOC - 163KB)
    Selected Context: Exploring workplace communication
    Example: The Hospital (DOC - 155KB)

• Support Material - Units 3-4
• English - Area of Study 2
  • Context: The Imaginative Landscape (DOC - 176KB)
  • Context: Encountering Conflict (DOC - 187KB)
  • Context: Exploring Issues of Identity and Belonging (DOC - 174KB)
  • Context: Whose Reality? (DOC - 186KB
• English as a Second Language (ESL) - Area of Study 2
  • Context: The Imaginative Landscape (DOC - 162KB)
  • Context: Encountering Conflict (DOC - 181KB)
  • Context: Exploring Issues of Identity and Belonging (DOC - 125KB)
  • Context: Whose Reality? (DOC - 112KB)
• English and English as a Second Language (ESL) - Area of Study 2
  • Sample pieces of Context writing (DOC - 186KB)
    Updated August 2008: additional samples, four Contexts
• English as a Second Language (ESL) - Area of study 3
  • Sample responses to language analysis (DOC - 45KB)

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Awards

• Plain English Speaking Award
  Provides opportunities for students to build self-confidence and extend their skills in oral communication, speech writing and research.

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The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority publishes administrative advice and regulations for the VCE in the VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook 2009. Changes to advice and regulations occur during the year. The details of all such changes are published in the VCAA Bulletin and VCAA Bulletin P–10 on a regular basis. It is essential that VCE teachers familiarise themselves with advice and regulations in the VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook and regularly check the VCAA Bulletin.