English Language Learners Courses

COURSE: Pre-ELL

OPEN TO: Grades 9-12

PREREQUISITE: No English skills are required for this class

CREDIT: 1

OVERVIEW:

Focus for this beginning class is on basic communication skills, which include listening, oral expression and thematic vocabulary development. Students begin writing simple sentences and reading low content passages to reinforce speaking skills. As vocabulary increases, present continuous, present, future and past verb tenses are introduced as well as more grammar concepts. Students maintain a journal for daily writing entries and spend time each week on ELL computer programs. In addition, students are exposed to various aspects of American culture including acceptable behaviors, holidays and the educational system. Students practice using fundamental survival vocabulary related to personal safety, emergency information, and personal needs and learn where to find help in particular situations.

COURSE: ELL I (Entering)

OPEN TO: Grades 9-12

PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of Pre ELL or a locator test score of 14 or above, which demonstrates proficiency of the skills covered in

Pre ELL I.

CREDIT: 1

OVERVIEW:

Focus for this class is on basic communication skills which include listening and speaking as well as thematic vocabulary development. Students begin writing simple sentences and reading low content passages to reinforce speaking skills. As vocabulary increases, present continuous, present, future and past verbs are introduced as well as more grammar concepts. Students maintain a journal for daily writing entries and participate in games, chants, songs and activities. In addition, students are exposed to various aspects of American culture including acceptable behaviors, holidays and the educational system. Students practice using fundamental survival vocabulary related to personal safety, emergency information and personal/family needs.

COURSE: ELL II (Beginning)

OPEN TO: Grades 9-12

PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of ELL I or appropriate ACCESS score

CREDIT: 1

OVERVIEW:

Students continue to develop English communication, reading, writing and vocabulary skills. They interact with a video series called “Connect with English.” This serves as a base for a wide variety of activities that include relating to another person’s situation and thinking critically. Students complete exercises in an activity book and a grammar book. They begin identifying and using some academic vocabulary similar to that used in freshmen English classes.

COURSE: ELL III (Developing)

OPEN TO: Grades 9-12

PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of ELL II or appropriate ACCESS score

CREDIT: 1

OVERVIEW:

Students refine skills learned in Level II, explore more verb tenses and study more complex grammar structures. The desired outcome is to strengthen overall reading, writing, listening, speaking and critical thinking skills. Students move toward conversational fluency as well as focusing on more academics in vocabulary development, reading literature and responding to both orally and in writing. Freshmen English concepts are further incorporated and learning strategies reinforced.

COURSE: ELL IV (Expanding)

OPEN TO: Grades 9-12

PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of ELL III or appropriate ACCESS score

CREDIT: 1

OVERVIEW:

Building reading and writing skills as well as establishing a more comprehensive, academic vocabulary is the focus of this class. Students read and identify a wide variety of genres. Writing skills are examined and developed as students move toward more complex structures used in essays and reports. Students identify and use 9 verb tenses and identify the parts of speech. Students practice expressing themselves orally using more academic language.

COURSE: ELL Advanced Reading and Writing (Bridging)

OPEN TO: Grades 9-12

PREREQUISITES: ELL IV or appropriate ACCESS score

CREDIT: 1

OVERVIEW:

Students review the writing process and write a variety of essays as well as a report and a research paper using a variety of sentence lengths of varying linguistic complexity. They write and publish a quarterly ELL newspaper. They build reading fluency by reading stories and novels. They review major grammar concepts and use twelve verb tenses. They recognize the parts of speech, increase academic language and develop strategies for more difficult English classes.

COURSE: ELL Reading and Writing

OPEN TO: Grades 9-12

PREREQUISITES: None

CREDIT: 1

OVERVIEW:

This class is specifically designed for struggling readers and writers. Students practice reading and writing both phonetic and rote words. They complete phonetic exercises in a workbook. They build word banks of difficult words. Additionally, they read chapter books, analyze them and complete a wide variety of exercises. The purpose of the class is to raise the reading level of students, make them better writers and develop an enjoyment of reading.