English Language & Literature

Explore how Canberra Secondary's English Language and Literature programmes build confident communicators and critical thinkers through creative activities, real-world tasks, and a rich study of literary texts.

Last updated 14 May 2026

Vision:

Empathetic Communicator, Discerning Reader & Creative Inquirer

“One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world” - Malala Yousafzai.

We believe in using engaging activities and programmes to motivate students to excel in English Language and Literature, fostering a love for these subjects. At Canberra, we offer a myriad of interesting activities and programmes to enhance our students’ language abilities and cultivate their interest in the language. Our students participate in various activities designed to prepare them to be effective communicators who read widely and think creatively and critically.

Students in blue uniforms hold up pink paper cat crafts they made in a classroom.

A man holding a microphone speaks to seated students in a classroom, pointing at a projected Q&A session on screen.

Beyond traditional pen-and-paper assessments and assignments, we incorporate alternative forms of assessment involving ICT tools. Students have rich opportunities to apply their language learning in authentic, real-world tasks through performance tasks and projects. To develop fluency in writing and a reflective mindset, students engage in journal writing and maintain writing portfolios. All Lower Secondary students participate in an Oratorical Programme to build greater confidence in projecting their voice and using body language effectively.

A student in a blue school uniform stands in a corridor looking at colorful red, yellow, and blue lockers.

Students in blue uniforms stand in two rows facing each other in a classroom while a teacher addresses the group.

Our Literature programme is equally exciting, aiming to cultivate a keen and critical appreciation of literature and literary language. Through the study of literary texts across different genres (poetry, prose, and drama) and written by a variety of authors (both local and international), students learn to perceive the world from different perspectives and better appreciate the richness of human experience. They also respond closely and critically to writers’ use of literary techniques, gaining a deeper understanding of the power and potential of language to challenge the mind and move the heart.

A large group of students in light blue uniforms posing indoors, holding red program booklets, smiling and making hand gestures.

A large group of uniformed students posing on and around a white ornate staircase inside a building.

Four men sit on stools on a dark theater stage with kitchen props, one speaking into a mic before a seated audience.