WACE ATAR English as an Additional Language or Dialect case studies
WACE ATAR English as an Additional Language or Dialect · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The WACE ATAR English as an Additional Language or Dialect course is a Western Australian senior-secondary subject designed for students whose first language or dialect is not English and who have had limited exposure to English-speaking environments. It is an ATAR pathway subject, meaning results can contribute to a tertiary entrance rank, and it is particularly relevant for students who arrived in Australia relatively recently or who use another language at home. The external examination is written and organised into three sections: comprehension of written and multimodal texts, a response to one or more texts in analytical or persuasive mode, and an extended response. Across these sections the exam tests reading accuracy and inference, recognition of how language features and stylistic choices create meaning, control of register and structure, and the precision and range of your own vocabulary, grammar and mechanics. The WACE ATAR English as an Additional Language or Dialect case studies are 5 cases and about 2,183 words.
1The Scholarship Speech and the Slipped Register
A Year 12 EAL/D student, Mei, drafts a 400-word speech for a school scholarship assembly. Her opening reads: 'Good morning everyone.
429 words, about 2 min2Two Readings of a Multimodal Poster
Students analyse a bushfire-safety poster. The poster shows a photograph of a suburban street under orange smoke, a silhouetted family walking left toward the viewer's exit, and the headline 'KNOW YOUR WAY OUT'.
424 words, about 2 min3The Persuasive Essay That Overreaches
A student writes a persuasive response arguing that social media should be banned for under-16s. The thesis is clear.
448 words, about 2 min4Structure Under Time Pressure
In a timed extended response, students must argue a position on whether a national language test should be required for citizenship. The recommended length is 500-600 words.
429 words, about 2 min5Vocabulary Choice and the Precision Trap
A student's analytical paragraph reads: 'The author uses lots of really effective language to make the reader feel the character's pain. The diction is very impactful and the tone is quite emotive, which makes the reader sympathise a lot.
453 words, about 2 min