ESL 8

• MS1208 ESL 8

This is a course which focuses on developing language skills for upper intermediate and advanced  level students of English in grade 8. Vocabulary building and fundamental grammar concepts, focusing on the introduction and application of tenses, passive/active voice, unreal past and conditionals, direct and indirect speech, as well as emphatic structures such as causative form, inversion, and impersonal structure in both speaking and writing, are consolidated and aligned with the 8th grade language arts class. There is extensive fiction and non-fiction reading aligned with the grade level LA readings and reading comprehension exercises, in combination with personal and narrative writing, opinion and persuasive essays .  Eighth grade thematically based vocabulary includes but is not limited to new beginnings (social justice), loyalty, endurance and pride, and friendship and challenges. Listening comprehension is incorporated throughout and applied to develop note-taking skills.  (This course corresponds to the B2 - C1  level of CEFR & Expanding to Bridging within the WIDA Framework)The WIDA standardized test is administered twice a year (January and May) to document the students’ growth, confirm their level, and ensure that they have mastered the linguistic competence required to be mainstreamed and succeed in academics, without support from ESL classes.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of the EFL Foundation Program for returning students of grade 7,  ESL 7, and/or appropriate score on the ACS Athens Placement Test for new students.