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.

Resources at the Library:

• An Introduction to Functional Grammar, 4th edition (2013) [ebook]
  Note: 1985 edition also available in print.
• A Student’s Introduction to English Grammar (2005) *
• Working Grammar: An Introduction for Secondary English Teachers
• The Complete Guide to English Usage for Australian Students (2018) 
  Note: 2004 and 2011 editions also available.
• About Language: Tasks for Teachers of English (2017) *

* The Library does not hold a copy of the same edition recommended by the VCAA. 

External websites:

• Resources for learning English by Education First (EF)
• The Internet Grammar of English [online course]

Print resources at the Library:

• The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language (2019)
  Note: 2003 edition also available. 
• The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language (2010)
• Community Languages: The Australian Experience (1991)
• Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction (2005)
• The Cultural Politics of English as an International Language (1994)
• Gift of the Gob: Morsels of English Language History (2010)
• An Introduction to Language (2008)
  Note: 2005 and 1999 editions also available.
• Language: its Structure and Use (1992) *
• The Language Web: The Power and Problem of Words (1997)
• The Seeds of Speech (1996) *
• Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society (1983) *
• Speaking Our Language: The Story of Australian English (2008)

* The Library does not hold a copy of the same edition recommended by the VCAA. 

External websites:

• Australasian Association for Lexicography (AUSTRALEX)
• Educational Resources Information Centre (ERIC)
• Living Black (SBS)
• Macquarie University Dictionary Research Centre

Online forums:

• Wordsmith Chat - Converse with the leading thinkers of the field about words and languages, literature and ideas.

Print copies available at the Library:

• But wait ... there's more ... : a critical literacy anthology (2006)
• Choices for English. Books, films and other texts that work (2009)
• Teaching language: secondary (1996)
• Textual Journeys: exploring senior English (2004)

Many print copies are of earlier journal issues. Some of the journals recommended by VCAA may have been discontinued or their publication has been suspended. For help finding other relevant journals, please contact our Ask A Librarian service.

eJournal copies available online:

• Australian Style [blog], authored by The Dictionary Research Centre, Macquarie University; see also archived issues in PDF *
• English in Australia, authored by the Australian Association for the Teaching of English *
• Idiom, authored by the Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (Australia) *
• Ozwords : a newsletter from the Australian National Dictionary Centre [external website] *

* Also available as a print copy.

Print copies available at the Library:

• Australian Style, authored by The Dictionary Research Centre, Macquarie University ^
• English in Australia, authored by the Australian Association for the Teaching of English ^
• Idiom, authored by the Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (Australia) [early editions] ^
• Ozwords : a newsletter from the Australian National Dictionary Centre [early editions] ^

 ^ Also available online as an ejournal.

Recommended by VCAA:

• The Australian Linguistics Society
• Educational Resources Information Centre (ERIC)

Additional resources at the Library:

eBooks

• An introduction to English sociolinguistics (2010) 
• Language in society : an introduction to sociolinguistics 

Databases

• Informit Humanities & Social Sciences Collection
• Oxford Reference: Language
• ProQuest Literature & Language