English First Peoples 10

All students will be enrolled in four credits of English Language Arts (ELA) 10 or English First Peoples (EFP) 10 course and direct their focus of study through a variety of choice projects and assignments. The aim of ELA 10/EFP 10 is to provide students with opportunities for personal and intellectual growth through speaking, listening, reading, viewing, writing and representing to make meaning of the world and to prepare them to participate effectively in all aspects of society.  The BC English Language Arts Curriculum contributes to students’ development as educated citizens through the achievement of the following goals. Students are expected to: 

• become proficient and knowledgeable users of language, in all its forms, to achieve their personal, social, and career aspirations 

• appreciate language and learning as lifelong sources of joy, curiosity, and passion  

• think creatively, critically, and reflectively about language and texts as part of constructing and communicating personal meaning 

• become critical and ethical users of digital media, capable of adapting to new modes and tools of language use 

• strengthen understanding of themselves, diverse cultures, and multiple perspectives through the exploration of First Peoples’ and other Canadian and international texts 

• contribute to reconciliation by building a greater understanding of the knowledge and perspectives of First Peoples 

• appreciate the power, beauty and artistry of language and texts and their impact on personal, social, and cultural life 

• use language to design and share information interpersonally, inter-culturally, and globally. 

English First Peoples 10 is composed of two two-credit courses. EFP 10: Writing and EFP 10: Literary Studies. Students will all be enrolled in four credits of English First Peoples 10 courses and direct their focus of study through a variety of choice projects and assignments. 

English First Peoples 10 provides opportunities for all students to engage with indigenous creative expression and to enter the worlds of First Peoples provincially, nationally, and internationally. The course focuses on the experiences, values, beliefs, and lived realities of First Peoples as evidenced in various forms of text, including oral story, speech, poetry, dramatic work, dance, song, film, and prose. Implicit in EFP 10 are the First Peoples’ principles of learning, which are affirmed within First Peoples’ societies and are reflected in the course curriculum.  As the academic equivalent to English Language Arts 10, English First Peoples 10 provides a more in-depth and focused opportunity for all learners to encounter and study authentic First Peoples texts. This study is important because it: 

• supports a rethinking of Canada’s foundational narratives and provides a unique, distinctive, and essential lens through which to understand this country’s past, present, and future 

• challenges historical and contemporary stereotypical portrayals of First Peoples

• contributes to Reconciliation, one of the defining issues in Canada today 

• enables students to gain an understanding of the dynamic and diverse contributions of First Peoples to Canadian society.

ENGLISH FIRST PEOPLES 10: WRITING (MEFWR10) This course is designed so that students practice writing for a variety of purposes and contexts. This course provides students with opportunities to become better writers through the exploration of personal and cultural identities, memories, stories, and connections to land/place. Within a supportive community, students will work individually and collaboratively to develop their writing skills and create coherent, purposeful, and engaging compositions. This course is grounded in the exploration and application of writing processes, inviting students to express themselves as they experiment with, reflect on, extend, and refine their writing. revising

ENGLISH FIRST PEOPLES 10: LITERARY STUDIES (MEFLS-10)  This course is designed for students who are interested in exploring First Peoples’ literature in a variety of contexts, genres, and media. This area of choice provides students with opportunities to explore personal and cultural identities, histories, stories, and connections to land/place. This course is grounded in the understanding of how texts are historically and culturally constructed. Students will work individually and collaboratively to broaden their understanding of themselves and the world.