English Department – An overview of English education in Finn Valley College.
English is a compulsory subject for 1st to 6th year students at Finn Valley College. tudents study both higher and ordinary level at Junior Cycle and both higher and ordinary level at Senior Cycle.
TY students study an English course designed to bridge the gap between Junior and Senior Cycle courses while rekindling their love of reading and literature. For Leaving Cert Applied, students study English and Communications.
We aim to cultivate a love and appreciation of the English language by developing every student’s ability to express him or herself in oral and written contexts. We encourage reflective practice through the study of English literature, allowing our students to contemplate, analyse and challenge arising ideas or concepts. We promote reading from a wide variety of literature to develop the formation of opinions on the world around them.
As teachers of English we work to promote a positive experience and understanding of English Literature and Language and to encourage every student to achieve their full potential. We hope to encourage our students to become better thinkers and problem-solvers as well as promoting self-esteem, self-expression and confidence.
Junior Cycle English
Junior Cycle English is all about developing students’ knowledge of language and literature. Students strengthen literacy skills learned in primary school and build upon these skills. The Junior Cycle curriculum is built around three core strands: Communicating as a reader, written communication and oral communication.
Students are encouraged to:
- Be creative
- Engage personally and respond critically to texts
- Develop control over their language
- Develop an informed appreciation of literature
- Develop skills which are transferable to the world outside of school
- Explore the world of language and literature
- Read and engage with texts for pleasure
Students complete 2 CBAs (one Oral communication and one Collection of Texts), an Assessment Task (wherein they reflect on the learning processes of the CBAs), and a final written exam.
Transition Year
Transition year students follow a common level course designed to bridge the gap between Junior and Senior Cycle English.
Students are encouraged to rediscover their love of reading and literature. Students continue to develop literacy skills while being encouraged to become more independent, responsible learners. The course is also designed to be flexible and allow for linking with the community. Students are also encouraged to create their own literature, seeing themselves as writers, and the links between their lives and the world of literature.
Leaving Cert English
Leaving Cert English is offered at both higher and ordinary level in Finn Valley College.
Students build on the skills developed through the Junior Cycle, while responding to more complicated and mature literature. Students study plays, novels, films, short stories, blogs and poetry in preparation for their final exam over 2 papers at the end of 5th year. Students work on reading and responding to literature, as well as developing their own voice as writers in a world where the written word is ever growing in power and importance
Leaving Cert Applied English and Communications
This course is designed as a follow on from the Framework for Junior Cycle in general and the specification for English in particular. It seeks to support and build on the key skills of Junior Cycle of being creative, being literate, being numerate, communicating, managing information and thinking, managing myself, staying well and working with others. But as a senior cycle programme, English and Communications also incorporates the senior cycle skills of communicating, being personally effective, working with others, critical and creative thinking and information processing. It further emphasises the practicality of the working world and seeks to provide students with the necessary communication and literacy skills to navigate life after post-primary education. The module descriptor focuses on reading, writing and oral communication skills while incorporating ICT skills. Oral communication builds on the expectations for students in the oral language strand of the junior cycle specification. In addition, it acknowledges the role of both speaking and listening skills in the student’s active participation in the course. It uses active teaching and learning methodologies while emphasising enquiry-based learning.