Year 8 English – More than one English (7 Weeks)
Content
Students will consider what distinguishes one variety of English from another. They will
compare the differences in accents and vocabulary between American, British and
Australian English. They will examine some distinctive features of Australian English
including its slang, idioms and the influence of Aboriginal languages. They will also consider
how the English language influences and impacts on other languages across the globe, with
a focus on ‘Singlish’ (Singaporean English).
Key Terms
Language, English, first language (ENL), culture, variety, accent, vocabulary, borrowing,
consonants, vowels, word, slang, informal, formal, Singlish, Standard English, global, nouns,
verbs, adjectives
Aims and Objectives
Skills
Develop class and group discussion skills
Identify different varieties of English
Distinguish between slang and Standard English
Create and conduct a survey
Identify distinctively Australian language
How to write a script, glossary and narrative
How to produce a brochure
Knowledge
Students will know...
Definition of key terms (language, English, first language (ENL), culture, variety, accent,
vocabulary, borrowing, consonants, vowels, word, slang, informal, formal, Singlish, Standard
English, global, nouns, verbs, adjectives)
That there are many different English varieties and accents around world
That English can be spoken as a first or subsequent language
That slang is informal and changes over time
A range of distinctively Australian expressions
That there are many Asian Englishes including Singlish
Understanding
Students will understand...
That there is not just one ‘correct’ English and that English is spoken differently around the
world depending on a range of influences
That individuals speak more than one variety of English
That language is a reflection of our culture
Resources
 Handouts and worksheets (to be formed!)
 Summative assessment instruction sheets and rubrics x3
 YouTube clips
Learning Activities
Introduction:
English Translation Card Activity:
- Each student gets a card written in a variety of
English. They are to translate their card and guess
which country it is from.
- Each student reports back to the class, explaining
their responses.
- Provide answers for each card and discuss student
responses to the answers.
Key Discussion Questions:
- Where in the world is English spoken? On a blank
world map, students are to mark in pencil their ideas
on where in the world is English spoken – discuss
their responses
- Where in the world is English a first language? On the
same world map, students are to mark in pencil their
ideas on where in the world is English a first language
– discuss their responses
- Provide the answers to the above questions (see
handout) and students are to correctly shade in their
world maps (use a different colour for each ‘circle’)
Key Discussion Questions:
- Do all English speakers speak English the same way?
Discussion should lead to something along the lines
of... ‘No, there are many varieties of English around
the world with different accents and vocabulary’
- YouTube videos (a range of varieties)
- Accents: different ways of pronouncing speech
sounds depending on a person’s social or
geographical background (e.g. Australian accent,
British accent, American accent, etc...)
- Vocabulary: the words of a language. Students
complete a table (see handouts) comparing words
across Australian, British and American English and
identify which words they use. Discussion to focus on
the word choice and the use of the words.
Key Discussion Questions:
- Do I always speak English in the same way?
Discussion should lead to something along the lines
of... ‘No – depends on context, audience, purpose –
formal or informal use’ – lead into slang...
- Slang: introduce what it is and provide some
examples. Brainstorm current teenage slang.
- Students will take home a survey (see handout) that
asks others over 30 years of age for examples of slang
that they used when they were young/teenagers.
- Share survey results with class (i.e. discuss how and
why teenage slang has changed over time – any
Student Product
Formative
Summative
Translation suggestion and F
justification
Contribute to class
discussion
World Map
F
F
Contribute to class
discussion
Listen and view ’21
Accents’ & listen to
different varieties of
English (YouTube)
F
Comparison Table
F
Contribute to class
discussion
F
Contribute to class
discussion
F
Participate in brainstorm
activity
Survey
F
Participate in class
discussion
F
F
distinctively Australian slang or is it American?)
- What words and expressions are unique to Australian
English? Students write down words and expressions
that are distinctively Australian and share them with
the class (collaborate ideas on board). Students are
then to classify the words/expressions into one of the
following categories: Aboriginal words, slang, other
(distinct Australian words i.e. brand names) – discuss
classifications
- Provide students with an informative worksheet of
distinctively Australian words/expressions.
- In small groups students will read a variety of
Australian texts and highlight the Australian terms in
each – discussion of findings
- Possible homework task or extension task – provide
students with Australian text and have them highlight
the specific Australian words and provide a glossary
Write a humorous script that is distinctively Australian
and perform it to the class (see handout)
- Pairs, must include as many Australian words and
expressions as possible, 2-3 minutes, peer assessment
(see handout), formal assessment (see rubric)
The Wantirna English (Wantlish)
- Wantirna students are so special that they now have
their own variety of English called Wantlish. This
contains words and expressions that they use in their
everyday lives at Wantirna College.
- In pairs, students are to create a glossary for Wantlish
and it must contain nouns, verbs and adjectives
- Individually, students are to write a short story in
Standard English and then write the same story in
Wantlish.
How is English influencing other languages as it spreads
around the world?
Singlish – introduction
- Show YouTube clips of Singlish
- Explicit teaching of Singlish (i.e. background –
what it is, how is came about, social purpose,
examples) WEBSITES
- Research assignment: A guide for Australian
tourists to Singapore (focus on culture and
language)
Word Splash – ‘Unique
Australian words and
expressions’ and
contribute to class
discussion
F
Worksheet
F
Involvement in identifying
and class discussion
F
Highlighting and glossary
F
Oral Assessment Task
S
Glossary
S
Short Story
S
Brochure
S