English

Success

Integration

Variety

Engagement

English provides an opportunity to improve all aspects of personal communication through language. The Literacy Project, focusing on reading and writing, ensures students' achievement and skill levels increase in these areas.

Written language:

Developing skills of writing through the forms:

• Descriptive writing
• Poetry writing
• Literary Response Essay
• Formal Viewpoint writing
• Narrative recount writing
• Explanation writing
• Articles for JHC publications

Students are also offered the opportunity to submit work to compete in: 

• Dan Davin
• Southland Times Young Writers competition
• Regional and National essay competitions
• Writing Articles for various magazines and newspapers 

Oral Language:

Speaking and listening effectively in situations such as:

• Cooperative learning
• Discussion
• Public speaking
• Demonstrations
• Persuasive speeches
• Drama
• Debating

Students are also offered the opportunity to submit work to compete in: 

• New Zealand Speech Board
• Shakespeare readings
• Sheila Winn
• Various Regional and National speaking competitions

Visual Language:

Understanding aspects of the visual media and creating examples:

• Posters
• Cartoons
• Storyboards
• Diorama
• PowerPoint

Reading:

In order to continue increasing literacy across all levels, James Hargest College has Sustained Silent Reading every day after lunch for twenty minutes. This time can also be used by students in order to complete Literacy for their NCEA Qualifications and also Junior students who are completing the James Hargest Reading Certificate.

Texts studied in class cover a huge range of interests, abilities and genres. Shakespeare is becoming increasingly popular in our Junior classes.The 'one size fits all' philosophy does not apply to our literary studies.In our programmes students are exposed to historical literary works as well as contempory modern texts. We encourage an appreciation of our Maori writers and their works. Talented readers certainly study texts which can extend their understanding and reading literacy.