The English language arts program is designed to improve students’ awareness of the important role that the English language and its literature play in their personal and career development. Essential to the overall program of studies, the English language arts program emphasizes the development of the powers of comprehension, critical thinking skills, and cogency and fluency in the expression and communication of ideas. While the English language arts program stresses competence in skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening, it promotes the selection of increasingly complex texts, a balanced approach to understanding fictional and informational writing, and the effective integration of technology. As well, the English Language Arts program provides experiences and activities that will help students become discriminating users of print and non-print media. Works, selected for both excellence in content as well as relevance to student interest, will promote humanistic attitudes, aesthetic appreciation, and critical evaluation skills while also fostering a true community of readers and writers. Fulfilling this responsibility to our students’ total literacy is the cornerstone of our department’s philosophy.