Appropriate as a diagnostic tool at the beginning of term 1 of general english

In Essential English, one of 4 lessons a week is dedicated to literacy. This lesson centred around conjunctions and adverbs. I have included the lesson in both PPT and worksheet form. It includes a definition of each term and activities for students to brainstorm some examples. Some simple text connectives (conjunctions) are explained using the F.A.N.B.O.Y.S acronym and some example sentences. A table listing other types of conjunctions more appropriate for secondary school is provided. Some activities for students to apply what they have learned follow on the remaining slides (answers included in the PPT – they pop up when you click).

In Essential English, one of 4 lessons a week is dedicated to literacy. This lesson centred around homophones. I have included the lesson in both PPT and worksheet form. It includes a definition of homophones and an activity for students to brainstorm some examples. Some common homophones which trip people up are explained e.g. than vs then / there, their or they’re. Some activities for students to apply what they have learned follow on the remaining slides (answers included in the notes section of the PPT).

In Essential English, one of 4 lessons a week is dedicated to literacy. This lesson centred around synonyms followed by revision of apostrophes (taught in previous lesson). I have included the lesson in both PPT and worksheet form. Students copy the underlined text (e.g. definitions). To save on printing, activities can be projected on board and students write into their books.

In Essential English, one of 4 lessons a week is dedicated to literacy. This lesson centred around idioms and tone. I have included the lesson in both PPT and worksheet form. It includes a definition of each term and activities for students to brainstorm some examples. An idiom specific activity: provide a list of idioms and students to write what they actually mean. Tone related activity: list 4 tones at the top and provide 4 sentences which students must match to the tones listed. PPT also includes some spelling activities. Spelling rule – I before e except after c when the sound is ee. A NAPLAN style activity correcting misspelled words (answers included in the PPT – they pop up when you click).

In Essential English, one of 4 lessons a week is dedicated to literacy. This lesson centred around apostrophes. I have included the lesson in both PPT and worksheet form. Students copy the underlined text (e.g. definitions). To save on printing, activities can be projected on board and students write into their books. The PPT goes through the three uses of apostrophes and provides examples. There are some activities for possessive apostrophes, contractions etc.

Event: Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic Focus: Refuting assumptions This Essential English lesson is designed to continue students understanding of cultural assumptions (stereotypes) and how refuting misconceptions can add to the persuasiveness of a speech. For this lesson, a specific event has been chosen from North West Qld: The Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic. It includes viewing activities, brainstorming activities and a writing task.

A PPT designed for a 70 minute Essential English lesson to teach students about The Hospitality Industry and introduce the idea of Misconceptions (aka stereotypes / cultural assumptions). • Teach students about the four sections of the hospitality industry o How to understand your target market o The wants and needs of different demographics o Example using Townsville – what would you pitch if your client brief was … • Introduce terms: misconceptions / assumptions. • Brainstorm misconceptions using a variety of locations and stimulus (Bali & Paris). • Breaking down Mount Isa Rodeo exemplar (identifying persuasive devices, text connectives, misconceptions, counter argument, language features) • Students to choose location from brainstorm activity and we create a paragraph as a class. Break down the paragraph – what is missing? What can be taken out? Have we used language devices? Have we used text connectives? Are we persuasive?

A PPT designed to introduce students to Persuasive Language features that they should use in their upcoming assessment (multimodal presentation). Students copy what is underlined, and complete the activities on the slides. This lesson takes students through a range of slides introducing language features including: High modality Groups of three Adjectives Repetition Figurative language (similes and metaphors) Reasons and evidence Inclusive language Imagery Evaluative language Students learn the difference between fact and opinion and practice identifying these. Students view some clips and still images to identify language features. Discussion of local event: Mt Isa Rodeo Brainstorm reasons to visit Watch 2x videos about this event to identify the techniques used to sell it to the viewer Write a 1minute speech convincing your teacher to go to the rodeo

Focus: Challenging Misconceptions about an event or place This Essential English lesson is designed to continue students understanding of cultural assumptions (stereotypes) and how refuting misconceptions can add to the persuasiveness of a speech. For this lesson, a specific event has been chosen from North West Qld: The Gregory Canoe Race. Videos and photos are shown and discussions are held to draw on students prior knowledge about this event. • What are some words you would use to describe the scenery? Show photos and videos. • Brainstorm misconceptions • Brainstorm ways that these misconceptions could be eradicated • Students in pairs will create a paragraph. • Peer check

A lesson designed to introduce students to classic literature through fairy tales. After learning what a classic text is, students get to brainstorm some texts which come to mind. (Some answers are provided on the next slide). Then fairy tales are explained and their origins as spoken fairy tales. Using ‘Snow White’ students are going to read the classic text and answer comprehension questions about it. They will then write a quick review of this fairytale. They will then consider how it could be told in a modern setting. This is followed by watching the trailer for the film ‘Sydney White’ (2007) which does this. Students have time to map out their modernised tale. In the same PPT is another lesson where students get introduced to parody, allusion and appropriation. They will view a television show which draws on these classic tales (Once Upon a Time). They watch season 1, episode 12 and answer questions on the worksheet (attached).

A booklet designed to be filled in by students while spoken presentations are taking place in class (to keep them occupied and quiet). It begins with a careers word search followed by a brainstorming activity about their dream job. This is followed by a scereenshot of a job advertisment which appeared on Facebook for a beauty salon. Students answer 6 questions about this advertisement. There is a vocabulary building activity and an activity for using better words than ‘nice’ (i.e. descriptive language). There is an activity about forming adverbs. There are some writing activities (based on working in a hotel). Finally, students must write a cover letter in response to a specific job advertisement.

A PPT designed for the first lesson back (lessons are 70 minutes). It begins with classroom expectations, finding out about the teacher and some interactive activities with peers. It also includes an explanation of how the QCE works and why it is better to get the literacy tick in year 11 than year 12. It includes a overview of the four assessments for the year so students understand they will be doing one speech per semester. They are introduced to their first assessment (a persuasive speech 4-6mins) and what the first unit will be about. They are given a copy of the learning intentions and success criteria to glue into their books. Then there is a creative group work activity designed to see their current ability levels. **ABOUT THE UNIT ** Unit 1: Language that works Focus: Travel industry Unit description: Students respond to a client travel brief by designing a multimodal presentation for a holiday centred on a chosen international event. They will research the event and its location, considering how to represent the place and the event to appeal to the client’s interests. The unit also examines how individual perspectives and cultural assumptions influence perceptions of places and events. Through this task, students develop skills I research and multimodal design, while exploring the intersection of culture, representation, and audience engagement.

A PPT designed to teach 11 Essential English students about Being Persuasive. Students copy what is underlined, and complete the activities on the slides. Within the lesson students will learn: What does it mean to persuade? How are VABs (values, attitudes and beliefs) vital to being persuasive? Explaining purpose + target audience. Ways to appeal to your audience: ethos, pathos and logos. Viewing a range of videos which they must respond to including a Contiki advertisement, a Ted X talk ‘Kids need more recess’ Use prior knowledge to introduce what a persuasive speech is. Play 2 versions of speeches about climate change (David Attenborough vs Leonardo Dicaprio) • Students had to choose which speaker they thought best addressed the impacts of climate change.