Why Is English the Only Compulsory Subject in Years 11 and 12 in Australia?

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The discussion centers around the necessity of English as a compulsory subject in Australian high schools, particularly in years 11 and 12. Many participants express frustration with the current syllabus, which emphasizes literary analysis over practical language skills such as grammar, spelling, and effective writing. Critics argue that the focus on analyzing texts and writing lengthy essays does not adequately prepare students for future careers, especially in fields like science and mathematics where clear communication is essential. Some suggest that English classes should shift towards teaching practical writing skills, such as formal writing and technical communication, rather than abstract literary analysis. There is a consensus that while English is important, the way it is taught in high schools often fails to meet the needs of students pursuing non-arts careers. The conversation also touches on the broader educational context, comparing compulsory subjects in different countries and the perceived value of English education in various professional fields. Overall, participants advocate for a reevaluation of the English curriculum to better equip students with necessary communication skills for their future endeavors.
  • #31
You don't have to put a full stop in at the end of a quote or a passage of speech I think e.g.

Adam walked along the path where he met suzy 'Hi suzy'

'Hi Adam'

'What's knew'

'not much'

or as Einstein said "God does not play dice with the universe"

I believe it's because the quotes already denote a start or finish break such as a comma bracket or full stop( it's the same reason you don't put a full stop at the End of a bracket, I think) See.

AFAIK anyway but then I've never been accused of writing good English so I really wouldn't know. This thread has turned into US/UK English 101. Good work :smile:
 
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  • #32
who speaks beter american?
clasic bad joke coming up
i am fluent in 2 languages, english and bad inglish.

sory i had to put it

im absolutly crap at english, but that's cause i have dyspraxia, me complaining about my self again, oh no.

actualy Mr Shrodinger's Dog, you are wrong, they do need punctuation at the end of the sentence. even with quotes and brackets
 
  • #33
In that case I'm glad I don't hold with the convention as it's just a waste of my time, or it's just a waste of ink :smile:

"Never stand up if you can sit down, never sit down if you can lie down" My chemistry teacher used to say that, KISS.
 
  • #34
same here

unfortunatley my spelin doesn't hold up either
 
  • #35
Soilwork said:
omnipotent: Pronounced as omni - potent
When I read, the little voice in my head always says omni-potent. Like when I read Euler. You-ler.

Of course I say it the right way.
 
  • #36
I am doing 3 unit math all sciences, (plus 1 unit studies of religion but that came with extension 1 math to make 2 units) and advanced english.
I hate english, it makes no sense logically, there are few if any career prospects plus it drags down people like me.
There was a kid in my year group who was very smart but chose to focus on "humanities" (history and whatnot), he only does general math but he could have done none, he got to specialise in his area but i have 1/6 of my units useless!

ANyway english teachers are running the biggest fraud/scam ever, their job includes pulling abstract meanings out of text that the aurthor never intended! For crying out loud maybe he/she wrote the damn thing so people would enjoy it, buy it and make them money. How ******* stupid are people!
 
  • #37
Wow. I would say education is not solely about learning practical skills. It is a good thing to be able to interpret meaning, abstract, and ponder human existence in general. Good authors do intentionally put multiple layers of meaning into stories. I would say classes that analyze literature are really about the analysis of human life. The ability to analyze art, and agree or disagree with an interpretation, as well as think about the ideas contained there in, can give you insight into your own life and the lives of others. There is certainly a point where one can choose not to learn this anymore, but I think some exposure to it helps young people to become more fully realized individuals.
 
  • #38
You're lucky. If you were in China, they'd make you take Chinese.
 
  • #39
dansydney said:
compuslory
anymore
grammer
lenghty
to badly
im

That's why.

Oh wow, nice old thread...
 

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