The best thing about teaching in the Junior School at Edcellent is that it allows me to relive the many moments of wonderment I shared whilst analysing and reading books with my now successfully grown sons. Why wonderment? Because language is the only tool we possess to share each other's feelings and thoughts about our very unique and personal experience of being Human. This is why every piece of writing, whether it is from a child in Year 3 or an adolescent in Year 12 is unique. Novels and books are the only way through which we can have a glimpse of the inner world of the writers who created them. It is a wondrous place. Through words, we resonate with the harmony and contradictions, joy and pain shared by a writer. Using the same words, we tell the world what it feels like to be someone like us. It is through language that we do not feel alone. 

Having worked with students and parents from non-native backgrounds for 14 years, I have found that one of the greatest misconceptions about English and Writing is that it is about vocabulary and grammar, which is like saying Cooking is about meat and vegetables. True, these are the essential ingredients for any language user; and no one needs them more than the IELTS and University-level Foundation English learners I have taught for the last 20 years. Yet these are the very minimal requirements for any student who wishes to excel in their native language. Too often, students lack originality and critical thinking skills.

As a Naplan and Scholarship Test Writing Examiner, I have found that the best pieces of writing are the ones that demonstrate an imaginative, curious, wise, impassioned and compassionate mind. To cultivate such minds, Primary and Lower-Secondary levels students need to be introduced to the implicit messages and conventions of story-telling and persuasive prose. They need to experience deeply how words and syntax, imagery and figurative language are carefully weaved together to create a unique experience for the reader.  These skills are later honed and developed for the four Units of VCE English. Many of the VCE EAL students in my High School simply have not been exposed to these skills early enough, so it is impossible for them to do well. 

Luckily, these are skills all children utilise instinctively; all we need to do is to guide and inspire them. For many parents for whom English is not their native language, this is a daunting task. I am therefore honoured and privileged to share your children's experiences on their journey through books, ideas and the sublimely beautiful English Language.

Language is obviously amongst the most profound and necessary of the forces that shape our lives and thought. Language, as has so often been said, is power. A critical examination of the ways in which it is constructed and used is essential, both as a defence against the blandishments of bogus ideas and as a source of intellectual pleasure in itself. This pleasure can be a stimulus to intellectual curiosity and achievement, and perhaps even to a more empathetic identification with its manifold users. With thirty years as a teacher and researcher, Dr Hoy is a communicator who has a passion for and a pleasure in language. His aim is to inspire his students to share that passion and pleasure - firstly, so that they can improve their grades but, more importantly, for the enrichment of their lives and thinking.

We are all lifelong learners and education is a constant experience which accompanies us across all experiences. As a teacher, my role is to not just guide students towards academic success but also to mentor and motivate them towards becoming remarkable individuals. A teacher is not just an academic educator. Rather we embody all vital life-skills that our students will require to lead rich and fulfilling lives. Skills such as communication, social abilities, thinking processes and self-management are the foundations of a holistic IB education, and I strive for my students to display these in all areas of their lives.

Education is not simply throwing a book, assessments, reports, or tasks at students and assuming they can grasp the meaning and complete the tasks. Education is a profound experience that influences thinking, growth, and personal development. With the correct motivations, approaches, and enthusiasm, all learners can achieve their learning goal, finding fulfillment and joy in their learning.

Education to be a social experience and I personally subscribed to the belief that we can all learn from each other. Every learner can bring something individual, interesting, and special to each classroom creating a rich and rewarding classroom experience. As a mentor, it is my role to facilitate and create this warm, safe and inclusive space. All my students should feel comfortable stepping into this space and sharing their ideas. Communication, collaboration, and teamwork are at the front of a student-centred approach and the value that each student brings into a learning space cannot be overstated. Fostering an open-minded approach in class helps ensure success for your students. By working together, we learn from each other and create invaluable connections of knowledge. Learners should be at the centre of every engaging, challenging, and exciting moment to fully demonstrate their strengths as well as their ability to shine.

While English may not be everyone’s favourite subject, the skills one learns in English are those which are perhaps most valuable to leading a fulfilling and thoughtful life. Regardless of one’s career or interests, language is everywhere. We are constantly surrounded by language that attempts to move, persuade, or manipulate. Being able to navigate that language is essential, especially in an increasingly complex modern world, and requires much more than simple rote memorisation and being able to pass a test. A classroom should therefore be a place to foster a deeper understanding of language that extends beyond exams and assignments, enabling students to develop as free thinkers who are able to intelligently interact with the world around them. This is, fundamentally, what I believe education should be - a means of fostering curiosity, passion, and understanding, to prepare students for life outside of school

It is a universal law that if you push against a wall, the wall pushes back on you with equal force. In the same way that it's challenging to picture the wall exerting force against a hand, it can be equally difficult for students to see the force they can exert on the world. An English education should give students the confidence to impact the world around them. It must sharpen their thoughts and make them powerful communicators, but more than this, a student must come to understand that their words have significance. Effective communication is the power to bend the world around you. True mastery of communication means crossing that invisible line separating a passive life from an active life; it means having the confidence to achieve the life you desire. It is natural to think that “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women are merely players”. The irony is that the man who wrote those words was anything but a mere player – he changed the world forever. That is the ultimate lesson we can learn from Shakespeare: that the power of English is the power to become extraordinary.

We live in a fast paced, ever-changing world, where change is a constant. In order to understand this world, we must be able to think independently, use our critical faculties, and adapt to change. This means that as an educator, my role is as much about instilling values and principles as it is about building skills. In order to be directed by our values and build skills when we learn, it is helpful to begin with a mindfulness-based approach that separates fact from interpretation. The study of text-based analysis in English and English as a Second Language can be a testing ground for the way we talk about shared truths in society. When analysing a character or a scene, we are building the skills and values we will bring to analysing a newspaper article or a problem to be solved at work or in the classroom.

I have a passion for literacy and helping students to achieve their reading and language goals. My approach to teaching is student-centred and focuses on the individuals’ learning styles. I believe that oral language and communication help build language skills and confidence; additionally, it allows me to get to know each student to ensure I provide them with an individualised learning program suited to who they are as people and learners. I adapt my approach to suit the needs of each individual. I create a safe environment for all students to feel comfortable in, as I believe people only learn when they feel safe and supported.

Education is not just about imparting knowledge but also about empowering students to explore, question, and grow. My philosophy centres around creating a classroom environment where every student feels valued, motivated, and eager to learn. I strive to foster a culture of curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, where students are not just passive recipients of information but active participants in their own learning journey. My goal is to help each student discover their unique strengths and interests, guiding them towards a future where they can pursue their dreams with confidence and purpose.