English Faculty
Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere
Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga, nōna te ao
The bird that partakes of the miro berry shall reign in the forest
The bird that partakes of the power of knowledge shall own the world
Now, more than ever, Cashmere students are opting to study English; our senior courses are burgeoning, and for good reason. Our English Faculty assists students with the kinds of skills that are required more than ever in the ‘information age’ in close reading, textual analysis, problem-solving, imaginative thinking, constructing an argument, articulate writing and digital literacy. Our students benefit from acquiring and honing six global competencies: character, citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. English studies also promote an active engagement with cultural values and open debates about power, knowledge and identity.
Whether they are going on to tertiary studies or to enter the paid workforce, our students have been equipped with these transferable skills they are going to need to succeed.
Literature helps both shape and reflect our individual identities and collective culture. Studying literature opens up worlds and times beyond our experience. It also helps us understand – and question – New Zealand’s bicultural heritage, and, in turn, our understanding of the world.
Literacy in English gives students access to the knowledge, and skills they need to participate fully in the social, cultural, political, and economic life of New Zealand and the wider world. To be successful participants, they need to be effective oral, written, and visual communicators who are able to think critically and in-depth.
By studying how language works, students are equipped to articulate their thoughts in a range of contexts. Students learn to deconstruct and critically interrogate texts in order to understand the power of language to enrich and shape their own and others’ lives.
If you want to become a more fluent writer, a more confident speaker and a more critical viewer, then an English course at Cashmere High School is the one for you.
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