Major Concepts/Content: English as a Second Language Communication course is designed to develop and increase English language proficiency and academic skills for students whose primary language is not English. All areas of communication skills, i.e. listening, speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension are developed and strengthened through the integrated learning of language and academic content. Socio-cultural knowledge is emphasized throughout the learning process. The content of ESL Communication includes the development of both social and academic listening and speaking skills through dialogues, conversations, chants, role-playing, and oral reporting; the development of reading strategies, in both fiction and nonfiction, through previewing, determining main idea and details, inferring, analyzing, and evaluating written material; and the development of writing, both factual and creative, at all stages of the writing process including prewriting, drafting, responding to peer writing, revising, editing, and publishing. Vocabulary and syntax are presented and developed in context and in authentic situations using the language of the general education content classes. The development of critical thinking and study skills, and socio-cultural knowledge is emphasized throughout the learning process.

Major Instructional Activities: Instructional activities are provided in individual, small group, and whole class settings. To develop listening skills, student activities include, but are not limited to, listening to material for information and response, following oral directions, and participating in conversations and discussions. To develop speaking skills, student activities include responding to information, participating in conversations and discussions, oral reading, oral reporting, and pronunciation practice. Reading activities in both fiction and nonfiction include previewing, reading, evaluating and recommending articles, stories, plays, essays, and poetry. Writing activities include sentence, paragraph, letter, and essay writing, and creative writing of stories, plays, and poetry. Instructional activities to support the student in mastering the general content standards will include, but not limited to, pre-teaching the language or vocabulary, activating prior knowledge, and building background knowledge of the content class material.

Major Evaluation Techniques: Students will be evaluated on skills growth in comprehending and creating spoken and written English for academic purposes, and in the application of learning strategies to acquire both academic language and content. Assessment can be formal and informal. Formal assessment measures can include language proficiency tests, achievement measures in the content areas, and unit tests. Informal, or alternative assessments, can include teacher observations, holistic ratings of student writing, student journals, or self-ratings. Portfolio assessment is also recommended to monitor student growth.

Essential Objectives: Relative to language level, students should be able to:

• Understand and follow oral and written directions and instructions.
• Comprehend, respond to, and evaluate written information.
• Write both factually and creatively in English for both social and academic purposes.
• Demonstrate verbal skills necessary to function effectively in English in real life and academic settings.
• Speak with accurate English pronunciation.
• Use English to obtain, process, construct, and provide subject matter information in spoken and written form.
• Use a variety of appropriate learning strategies to construct and apply academic knowledge.
• Recognize and understand differences between their own culture and that of the US school system.

Last Revised: March 14, 2006