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COURSE OVERVIEW
The English as Second Language program shall be an intensive program of
instruction designed to develop proficiency in the comprehension, speaking,
reading, and composition in the second language. The amount of instruction
provided in the English as a second language shall be commensurate with
students' level of English proficiency and his or her level of academic
achievement. The students' level of English proficiency and academic level
shall be designated by the language proficiency assessment committee. In
grade 6 or grades 7-12, instruction in ESL may vary from 1/3 of the
instructional day to total immersion in second language approaches. The LPAC
however may recommend only one period a day based on individual needs of the
student.
The ESL curriculum is divided into 3 levels generally organized by skill
area. Listening, reading, writing, grammar, conversation, math, social
studies, and science are taught at each of these levels. In addition,
students have to do some project work and presentations on different themes
at different times of the academic year and they will be given a list of
books to be read as well. The ESL program is an integrated skills program;
any given course will require students to use all their language skills. To
define the students' level we will use the state-criterion -referenced tests
and then teach them on level-basis.
Level 1(beginner-elementary)
Listening
This course is
designed to give students a basic foundation in listening comprehension
skills. The course concentrates on listening tasks. Students listen for
letters, spelling, numbers, and directions and respond in a workbook
accordingly.
Content-based Reading
This
content-based reading course is designed to give students the opportunity to
develop their reading skills in English within a content area. Students use a
variety of authentic reading materials to learn basic pre-reading and reading
strategies which are designed to improve their reading comprehension and
vocabulary. Easy outside reading will be required as well. Writing This
course focuses on the skills of reading and writing English at the elementary
level. The focus of the course is to help students gain confidence in writing.
Conversation
This course is
designed to give ESL students in Level 1 more practice in using oral English.
The emphasis is on small group work, problem solving, role plays, and
informal discussion. The ratio of students to teacher is maximum six-seven to
one.
Grammar topics
This course is
designed to give students a basic foundation in English grammar and
vocabulary. The course also focuses on helping students improve their oral
comprehension and production skills. It includes absolute zero beginners and
elementary level.
Grammar topics are:
·
verb 'to be'
·
present simple
affirmative
·
present simple
interrogative
·
present simple
negative
·
there is, there are
·
possessive 's'
·
adjectives
·
adverbs of
frequency
·
can
·
past of verb 'to
be'
·
past simple
affirmative
·
past simple
interrogative
·
past simple
negative
·
present continuous
all forms
·
going to and
present continuous for future
·
comparatives and
superlatives
·
some, any
·
verb patterns
· whose?
Level 2(pre-intermediate -
intermediate)
Listening
This course is
designed to introduce ESL students to listening skills which are needed for
aural comprehension in an academic setting. The course is a directed program
which gives students practice in listening to short lectures, note taking,
and vocabulary development. Students are introduced to several English
language speech patterns and the words and phrases which let the student know
that a particular pattern is being used.
Reading
The class focus
is on the development of reading skills and vocabulary. Students learn to
read the language presented in textbooks and required outside readings. They
also demonstrate their understanding of the ideas presented by participating
in class activities and discussions, as well as by responding to short answer
essay.
Composition
This writing
course focuses on the development of well-written paragraphs. Students are
introduced to the role of American thought patterns as they relate to writing
in English, and they participate in the writing process based on that
knowledge. Some instruction is also given in grammatical structures which are
found in well-written English sentences.
Conversation
This course is
designed to give intermediate ESL students more practice using oral English.
The emphasis is on small group work, problem solving, role plays, and
informal discussion.
Grammar
topics
·
past continuous all
forms
·
present perfect
simple all forms and uses
·
for, since, ago
·
articles
·
zero conditional
·
first conditional
·
should, may, might
·
'will' and 'going
to' futures
·
must and have to,
don't have to
·
quantifiers
·
'have' and 'have
got'
·
question tags
·
'so' and 'such'
·
present perfect
continuous
·
second conditional
·
passive in present
and past
·
past perfect
·
make, let, allow
·
used to, be used to
·
modals
·
phrasal verbs
·
gerund or
infinitive
·
relative clauses
· subject and object questions
Level 3(intermediate-
upper-intermediated)
Conversation
This course is
designed to give advanced ESL students more practice using oral English. The
emphasis is on small group work, problem solving, role plays, and informal
discussion.
Listening
This course
focuses on the skills needed in listening for academic information. The
majority of the course concentrates on learning how to listen for important
information and take notes from formal lectures.
Content-based Reading
This course is
a continuation of level 2 reading and focuses on the further development of
reading skills needed by students to participate in academic classes as well
as those skills needed in reading for entertainment and general information.
Students read and discuss a variety of authentic texts and articles and are
introduced to specific discourse markers.
Composition
This course is
a continuation of ESL level 2 writing, with an emphasis on developing the
writing skills learned in level 2 and expanding these skills to writing
essays. Students work on writing connected discourse and are introduced to
various styles of English essays.
Grammar topics are
·
third conditional
·
mixed conditionals
·
wishes, regrets
·
phrasal verbs
·
reported speech
·
reported questions
·
be used to doing
·
UK and USA English
·
future continuous
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