Course Descriptions

51008-01 ESL- LEVEL I

Prerequisite: 

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12 (G) Full Year Course

Students will begin to use limited vocabulary to participate in discussions on familiar topics spoken at normal speed with periods of momentary silence.  In addition, they may use forms of non-verbal communication to demonstrate comprehension.  Learning objectives focus on demonstrating an understanding of English phonemes, knowing the essential content of messages and greetings, following one and two-step directions, demonstrating comprehension of various literary genres, participating in group discourse, using tone of voice and gestures to enhance meaning, applying grammatical patterns in speech, incorporating idioms, self-correcting basic vocabulary and grammar, retelling and restating, making predictions, identifying basic text features, identifying elements of fiction and non-fiction, using reference materials, discerning cultural variations represented in texts, learning guided note-taking, writing paragraphs on familiar topics, editing own writing, and recognizing characteristics of American schools.

51008-02 ESL- LEVEL II

Prerequisite: 

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12 (G) Full Year Course

Students will begin to use expanded vocabulary to participate effectively in social and academic conversations and presentations with occasional difficulty.  They may continue to use forms of non-verbal communication to demonstrate comprehension, but will rely more upon verbal skills.  Learning objectives focus on developing more complex academic vocabulary, comprehending academic questions spoken at normal speed, following multi-step directions, demonstrating comprehension of various literacy genres, participating in group discourse, using appropriate stress and intonation, applying grammatical patterns in speech and reference materials, discerning cultural variations represented in texts, learning guided note-taking, writing multi-paragraph essays with complex sentence styles, and editing own grammar and writing conventions.

51008-03 ESL- LEVEL III

Prerequisite: 

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12 (G) Full Year Course

Students will use expanded vocabulary effectively in social and academic settings with few errors and will rely much less on forms of non-verbal communications.  Learning objectives focus on comprehending academic questions spoken at normal speed,following multi-step directions on academic topics, demonstrating comprehension of various literary genres, initiating and participating in group discourse, preparing and delivering presentations, elaborating effectively using description and comparison, developing reading fluency, analyzing text, evaluating literature, understanding the elements of poetry, using reference materials, themes, reflecting, evaluating, analyzing and responding to texts, and examining cause-effect relationships.

51008-04 ESL- LEVEL IV

Prerequisite: 

Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12 (G) Full Year Course

Students will interpret conversational and academic expressions of grade-level concepts when spoken at a normal speed with no difficulties. Learning objectives focus on understanding academics language conventions across content areas, making oral presentations that include an introduction and conclusion, using appropriate ways of speaking based on purpose, audience, and subject matter, analyzing literature, interpreting literary themes, examining the relationships between authors and their works, defining issues and using argument effectively, critically analyzing how literature relates to historical and current viewpoints, applying conventions of grammar and language usage, and critiquing characteristics of cultural variations represented in texts.