English Department
Leaving Certificate
English is a core subject and as such the English Department in St. Finian’s is committed to nuturing the intellectual, imaginative and emotional growth of each student by developing his/her language skills and literacy. The objectives of the syllabus extend beyond exam preparation and encompass the following:
Personal Literacy
The students are given frequent opportunities to speak and write about their experiences in a variety of forms: diary entries, anecdotes, essays etc. They are encouraged to read and listen to accounts of other students’ experiences and respond positively and creatively to them.
Social Literacy
The students are encouraged to develop a sense of audience and to learn about the appropriate use of different types of language. Emphasis is placed on the mechanics of writing; spellings, puncutation, syntax structure and paragraphing. The skills of reading and listening with understanding and discrimination is also introduced.
Cultural Literacy
The students are encouraged to become aware of their own sensous, imaginative, affective and intellectual responses to various texts and to become aware of the pattern of words, forms, sounds and images. The skills of close reading and critical anaylsis are also introduced.
State Exams
Students study various texts in preparation for their Junior and Leaving Certificate exam; poetry, drama, novels, short stories, reports, articles, essays and so forth. Film studies is also a component.
For ESL students (English as a second language), St. Finian’s has two full-time TEFL (Teachers of English as a second language).
Language skills and literacy development are not confined to English class however. Improving the students’ literacy is a school-wide, cross-curricular endeavour and our classroom methodologies reinforce the significance and power of language in various contexts and disciplines.
For more information on the English syllabus please see http://www.examinations.ie/
Other helpful websites include:
