Chester Hill Intensive English Centre

Integrating Students from Diverse Backgrounds for High Schools

Telephone02 9645 3780

Emailchesterhil-i.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Geography

English as a Second Language is the main focus of Geography as it is taught at the centre. Students learn to manipulate the various structures and functions of the English language in the context of the Geography curriculum as it is taught in Years 7-12 in high school.

The "topic approach" utilized is "spiral" in nature. Key language items are continually encountered in different contexts, which is close to the way a native speaker acquires language.

The political and physical geography of Australia is studied at the Beginners level.

Students then proceed to a study of our geographical neighbours in Southeast Asia. This occurs typically at the Intermediate level where students enlarge their knowledge of the structure and function of writing information reports.

By the time students reach the Exiting groups, students are further challenged to write even more sophisticated argument style assignments. Topic areas covered at this stage include issues like the Franklin Dam which is studied extensively in Year 11 and 12 in high school. The students may also be introduced at this level to the study of Commerce / Economics which gives them a taste of this subject to allow a more informed decision when making subject choices at high school.