English in Junior Cycle aims to develop students’ knowledge of language and literature, to consolidate and deepen their literacy skills and make them more self-aware as learners.

More specifically it encourages all students:

• To be creative through language and to gain enjoyment and continuing personal growth from English in all its forms
• To develop control over English using it and responding to it with purpose and effect through the interconnected literacy skills of oral language, reading and writing
• To engage personally with and think critically about an increasingly broad range of spoken, written and multimodal texts
• To develop an informed appreciation of literature through personal encounters with a variety of literary texts
• To use their literacy skills to manage information needs, and find, use, synthesise, evaluate and communicate information using a variety of media
• To gain an understanding of the grammar and conventions of English and how they might be used to promote clear and effective communication.

What will I study in English?

First Year

• A studied novel, with on-going, sustained reading of novels throughout the year
• A variety of drama extracts
• A variety of non-literary texts
• A studied film
• A number of short stories
• At least 10 poems

Second and Third Year

• Two studied novels
• Two full plays (One Shakespearean drama)
• A variety of non-literary texts
• A film chosen from the prescribed list of texts
• A selection of poetry (a minimum of 16 poems over the two years)
• A number of short stories

How will I learn?

Junior Cycle English focuses on the development of language and literacy through three strands:

• Oral Language
• Reading
• Writing

The elements of these three strands place a focus on communicating, on active engagement with and exploration of a range of texts, and on acquiring and developing knowledge of the shape and structure of language. There is a renewed focus on the oral dimension of language. This makes the English classroom an active space, a place of ‘classroom talk’ where learners explore language and ideas as much through thinking and talking as through listening and writing.

Literacy

We believe that literacy is a key life skill and we are dedicated to instilling a life-long love of reading in all our students.

As part of our literacy focus, all students are encouraged to have a novel with them at all times so that any spare moments can be used to read for pleasure.

We are currently working on building our school library, with the help of student suggestions.