2019 School Magazine

STUDENT VOICES

CURRICULUM

I n English, I have learned valuable words and paragraph structures. English does not only teach people to read and write but it teaches them how to think critically. Scout Sommerfeld (7L) I loved that in English you can express your creativity. You can create a world of which you have dreamed, one where nothing is impossible. The possibilities are endless with a pen and paper. Faith Scott (7L) E nglish at Girls Grammar has provided me with opportunities to express and challenge myself in ways I did not think were possible. In Term 1, our class studied Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and produced a diary entry in the perspective of a character. We studied each character’s emotions through various scenes in the play and reciprocated these throughout our assessment task. In Term 2, we learned how to annotate a poem, representing Australian identity. I found this unit particularly enjoyable as it taught me to look beneath the surface of a poet’s words and it inspired me to write my own poem. Additionally, our assessment task was an oral presentation in front of the class, teaching us essential presentation skills. In Term 3, girls were required to design a book cover and then evaluate our design choices. English this year has been a thrilling experience and I cannot wait for what’s to come. Kiara Chang (8B) I have learned a variety of skills in Year 8 English. In Term 3 the required novel was, Throwaway Daughter. I really connected with this book. I have developed many writing, spelling and reading skills throughout 2019 which will help my future studies. Madison Hitch (8G) I n Year 9 English I learned how to write a speech which incorporates both an analysis using formal language and a reflection using informal language. I enjoyed being able to choose our topic for the ‘Letter to the Editor’ assignment as it made the task more interesting. Hannah Bigby (9G)

ENGLISH

E nglish this year has been one of my favourite subjects. I love the discussions and debates that take place in our classroom. The atmosphere is welcoming and I always look forward to English. The topics we covered this year have been diverse and interesting. I particularly enjoyed our unit on To Kill a Mockingbird , as it provided me with a new appreciation for literature and its power to introduce thought-provoking ideas. Kate McDonnell (9H) I n Year 11 English, we started 2019 with everyone’s favourite assessment: orals. Analysing the impacts of many controversial commercials, we were able to explore the outdated themes of some of our most adored advertising companies, criticising the recurring sexism, racism and marginalisation in the media. The cohort then completed an assessment piece under the new ATAR system, a comparative essay, where we explored what it truly means to be human. After finishing the year with a short story and analytical essay, it was clear to see that everyone is excited and well prepared for English in 2020. Matina Samios (11W) T hough the prospect of starting Year 12 in Year 11 was slightly daunting, we thoroughly enjoyed the freedom of our assessment pieces under the new ATAR system. Being able to pursue our interests by selecting our own topics in two persuasive speeches and a short story was a delight. I look forward to English next year. Zara Davidson (11R) T his year in English we have learned how to critically analyse different types of text and media. I generally find Shakespeare challenging to understand, so in Term 3 when we began studying Hamlet I was apprehensive at first, but this year, through clear and detailed teaching, I developed a greater appreciation for the play. Rebecca Groves (12H) I have enjoyed the recurring challenge of discovering relevance in any piece of literature despite its age, and being critical of the themes and messages being presented. Lucy Banney (12L)

076 | BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2019