English at Queensland Academies Creative Industries (QACI) in Year 10 prepares students for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme through:
- Reading a wide range of literary and non-literary texts chosen to foster a culture of appreciation of the characteristics that define a text.
- Examining literary theory and critical thinking skills to deconstruct cultural perspectives and ideologies that underpin texts.
- Accessing QACI learning management systems and technology to share and collaboratively explore resources, thus enhancing learning outcomes.
- Developing the confidence to express understanding and critical opinion rapidly and fluently in spoken, as well as written, situations.
- Practising structuring assignments according to Language A (English) assessment criteria in order to fully prepare for formal assessment in Year 11 and 12.
Following their studies in Year 10, students then have the ability to select from two of the English courses offered by the IB when they commence their diploma studies. Both courses offer students the opportunity to actively engage in the study of literature that is both traditional and culturally diverse.
There are some essential differences between the two Language A courses, and students will need to consider where their interests and strengths lie when making the choice between studying the Literature course or Language and Literature course.
The focus of Language A: Literature is the study, critical evaluation and appreciation of literature as a creative form. While the Language and Literature course shares this literary evaluation and appreciation, it also focuses on non-literary texts and how human beings can read and be critically literate in the complex and globally connected media culture of the 21st century.
The Literature course and the Language and literature course both consist of four parts. However, Language and Literature focuses on traditional literature for only two of those parts. Literature's approach may be considered more traditional, while the Language and Literature course has the addition of critical literacy, examining the ever-changing nature of the English language.