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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

11–12English Studies 11–12 Syllabus

Record of changes
Implementation from 2026
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Year 12

Texts and human experiences (aligned to English Standard)

For students studying English Life Skills, the focus area Texts and human experiences provides opportunities to develop an understanding of how texts represent human experiences and emotions. They explore aspects of identity and culture, including ways of seeing the world differently. Students explore the ways language is used to shape representations in texts. Texts selected can take a range of forms and should be selected based on student interests and needs. Personal responses to texts enable students to consider the ways that texts encourage them to reflect personally about the nature of human experience.

The content below aligns to the content of the Texts and human experiences focus area in English Standard 11–12 and has been provided as a suggestion only. Further content can also be used to address this focus area and meet the individual needs of students as appropriate.

Understanding language forms and features
  • Recognise ways language forms, features or structures can create meaning in a text

  • Recognise ways language forms and features change according to purpose and audience

Responding to ideas and experiences in texts
  • Express agreement or disagreement with ideas and perspectives presented in texts

  • Identify the message, values or experiences in a text

  • Identify personally relevant and important themes presented in texts

  • Explore different perspectives on a particular topic, theme or event

  • Understand how culture and identity influence personal responses to texts

  • Respond to a text by providing a personal opinion or perspective

  • Identify how a personal opinion can be changed in response to a text

  • Demonstrate respect for the ideas of others

Composing texts
  • Compose texts that offer personal responses to a chosen text

  • Represent personal experiences and ideas for particular audiences and contexts

  • Compose texts for different purposes and audiences using appropriate form, language or visual features to communicate, including workplace and real-life texts

Using language forms and features
  • Use language forms or structures to express ideas

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