VCE English and EAL, English Language, and Literature guide - units 3 & 4

English Language guide pages currently display 2023 content. We are working on updating these for the 2024-2028 English Language 3 and 4 study design.

In the meantime, please visit the VCAA website for information and suggested resources.

Print books:

• The aitch factor : adventures in Australian English (2014)
• Australian accents : an introduction to language (1998)
• The Australian slanguage : a look at what we say and how we say it (1989)
  Note: 1986 edition also available.
• The Cambridge Australian English Style Guide (2007) ^
  Note: 1995 edition also available.
• Death Sentence : The Decay of Public Language (2003) ^
• Describing Spoken English (1997) ^
• English in Australia and New Zealand: An Introduction to its History, Structure and Use (1998)
• Forbidden Words: taboo and the censoring of language (2006) ^
• Globish: How the English Language Became the World’s Language (2010)
• Going Home : stories (1990)
  Note: 1986 edition and sound recording also available.
• Language and the Internet, 1st edition (2001) *^
• Language in Australia (1991)
• Language Power and the Press (1996)
• Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage (1987)
• Txtng. The Gr8 Db8, 2nd edition (2008) ^
• Verbal Hygiene (1995)
• What did I say? Using Non-Discriminatory Language (1998) *

* Please note that this is not the same edition recommended by VCAA.

^ eBook version available. 

eBooks:

• The Cambridge Australian English Style Guide (2007) *
  Note: Additional ProQuest ebook copy available.
• Death Sentence : The Decay of Public Language (2004) *
• Describing Spoken English (1997) *
• Forbidden Words: taboo and the censoring of language (2006) *
• Gender and Discourse (1994)
• Impoliteness in Interaction Volume 167 (2008)
• Language and the Internet, 2nd edition (2006) *
  Note: 2001 edition also available as an ebook.
• Txtng. The Gr8 Db8, 2nd edition (2008) *
  Note: 2009 edition also available as an ebook.

* Print version available.  

Available at the Library:

• Living lingo : VCE English language units 3 and 4 (2009) *
• VCE English Language: Exam Guide (2015)

* Please note that the official recommended version is the 3rd edition published in 2015.

While the Library does not hold copies of the documentary, The Making of Modern Australia (2009), we do hold copies of the book inspired by this television program:

• The Making of Modern Australia (2010)
  Note: eBook version also available (onsite use only).

General language resources:

• Australian voices, Macquarie University (sound bites of Australian English)
• Australian Word Map, Macquarie Dictionary
• Language in use
• Teach It - Resources written by teachers, for teachers
• Urban Dictionary

Other websites:

• ABC Education
• Australian War Memorial
• Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities

Audio:

• Coodabeens Footy Show, ABC Radio
• National Anthems

Speech transcripts, reviews and other resources:

• Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples on the Parliament of Australia website
• National Apology on the National Museum Australia website
• 'Keating speech to be honoured', The Age (August 25, 2010)
• 'On Obama's victory style', DC Blog (November 9, 2008)
• Transcript of Paul Keating’s Remembrance Speech 1993 on the Australian War Memorial website

Videos:

• 'David Crystal on Texting (S1E2 of It's Only a Theory)'
• 'How to Talk Australians' YouTube playlist (online satire on Australian language and attitudes)
• 'War of Words - UK' (David Crystal and Lynne Truss express different attitudes to the ‘use and abuse’ of English)