Major Concepts/Content: The English as a Second Language course Expanding Communication is designed to increase English language proficiency and to enhance academic skills for students whose primary language is not English and who are at a level three English proficiency. All areas of communication skills, i.e. listening, speaking, viewing, reading and writing, are strengthened through the integrated learning of language and academic content. The content includes, but is not limited to, the development of both social and academic listening and speaking skills through dialogues, conversations, lectures, chants, role-playing, oral reporting, and practicing the English sound system; the development of reading strategies, in both fiction and nonfiction, through previewing, determining main idea and details, inferring, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating written material; and the development of writing, both factual and creative, at all stages of the writing process including brainstorming, prewriting, drafting, responding to peer writing, revising, editing, and publishing. Vocabulary, syntax, and verbal skills necessary for the world of work and/or for mastering content curriculum standards are presented and developed in context and in authentic situations.

Major Instructional Activities: Instructional activities will be provided in individual, small group, and whole class settings. Student activities will include, but will not be limited to, improving speaking and listening skills through listening to material for information; note-taking; following oral directions; participating in conversations and discussions; responding to information; oral reading and reporting; presentations; pronunciation practice; language games; and Reader's Theater. Activities to improve comprehension of written English, both fiction and nonfiction, will include, but will not be limited to, previewing reading selections; decoding vocabulary from context; determining main idea and details; restating or summarizing materials; using reference materials; and recognizing plot elements, tone, voice and genre. Writing activities include sentence, paragraph, and essay writing in a variety of forms such as, letter writing, research and report writing, note-taking, use of graphic organizers; and creative writing of dialogues, 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 skill growth in the comprehending and creating of written and spoken English. Evaluation instruments include both summative and formative assessments such as: interdisciplinary activities, projects, diagnostic testing, content-based tests, and both teacher- and textbook-created assessments.

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the English as a Second Language course Expanding Communication, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate confidence and oral skills necessary to communicate effectively in social and academic environments
• Use English in socially and culturally appropriate ways
• Speak with accurate/comprehensible English pronunciation
• Generate and organize ideas using a variety of planning strategies, such as graphic organizers
• Comprehend most grade-level written and oral English
• Apply learning strategies to improve comprehension and fluency
• Comprehend written material, and respond to and evaluate it orally and in writing
• Communicate information and ideas in a variety of written forms to accomplish different purposes
• Use an increasingly comprehensive vocabulary in conversation and discussion
• Actively participate in the general education content classroom

Last Revised: July 18, 2005