English Department

The English department at St. Robert Catholic High School offers courses and opportunities that focus on using unique, dynamic, and expressive pedagogy to develop our students' literacy, communication, and critical thinking skills necessary for their success in academic and daily life.  In each of our courses we emphasize the development of listening, speaking, viewing, reading and writing skills through our exploration of a wide variety of texts. The texts have been selected to engage and challenge our students, providing them with opportunities to explore issues that affect them as individuals and members of their local and global communities, with the guidance of our teachers. 

Our classroom philosophy follows what Sophocles once said, “One must learn by doing the thing; for though you think you know it you have no certainty, until you try.” Education should be rooted in experience; students must be active participants in learning.  Our English teachers foster dynamic learning environments that involve both creativity and critical thinking, where students learn to experience control and responsibility over their own education. 

As educators, we want to provide all students with the opportunity for an equal education, and include pedagogy that captures the racial, cultural, and sexual differences in the classroom, so that students can learn in an environment that is comparable to their social reality.  We want to address the needs and experiences of all of our students. If education is rooted in experience, then learners will root themselves in our classrooms. 

Our courses aim to produce critical thinkers and reflective writers, who may apply their knowledge of language and communications principles across all academic disciplines and professional settings.  Our aim is to create a world of life-long learners. 

Courses Offered:

Grade 9:  ENG 1D (Academic and Pre-I.B.), ENG 1P (Applied), ENG 1L (Essential)

Grade 10:  ENG 2D (Academic and Pre-I.B.), ENG 2P, ENG 2L

Grade 11:  NBE 3U (University), ENG 3U6 (Standard Level I.B.), ENG 3U7 (Higher Level I.B.), NBE 3C (College), ENG 3E (Workplace), EMS 3O (Media Studies)

Grade 12:  ENG 4U, ENG 4U6 (Standard Level I.B.), ENG 4U7 (Higher Level I.B.), ETS 4U7 (Higher Level I.B.), ENG 4C, ENG 4E, EWC 4U (Writer’s Craft)