Major Concepts/Content: The English as a Second Language course Developing Communication is designed to increase English language proficiency and to enhance academic skills for students whose primary language is not English and who are at a level two English proficiency. All areas of communication skills, i.e. listening, speaking, viewing, reading and writing, are strengthened through the integrated learning of language and academic content. The content includes, but is not limited to, development of both social and academic listening and speaking skills through dialogues, conversations, chants, role-playing, and oral reporting; the development of reading strategies, in both fiction and nonfiction, through previewing, determining main idea and details, inferring, analyzing, and evaluating written material; and the development of writing, both factual and creative, at all stages of the writing process including prewriting, drafting, responding to peer writing, revising, editing, and publishing. Vocabulary, syntax, and verbal skills necessary for the world of work and/or for mastering content curriculum standards are presented and developed in context and in authentic situations.

Major Instructional Activities: Instructional activities will be provided in individual, small group and whole class settings. Student activities will include, but will not be limited to, improving speaking and listening skills through listening to material for information and response, following oral directions, participating in conversations and discussions, responding to information, oral reading and reporting, pronunciation practice, language games and Reader's Theater. Activities to develop and improve comprehension of written English, both fiction and nonfiction, will include, but will not be limited to, previewing reading selections, decoding vocabulary from context, determining main idea and details, restating or summarizing materials, using reference materials, and recognizing plot elements. Writing activities include sentence, paragraph, essay, and letter writing; note-taking; and creative writing of dialogues, stories, plays, and poetry. Instructional activities to support the student in mastering the general content standards will include, but not limited to, pre-teaching the language or vocabulary, activating prior knowledge, and building background knowledge of the content class material.

Major Evaluation Techniques: Students will be evaluated on skill growth in the comprehending and creating of written and spoken English. Evaluation instruments include both summative and formative assessments such as: interdisciplinary activities, projects, diagnostic testing, content-based tests, and both teacher- and textbook-created assessments.

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the English as a Second Language course - Developing Communication, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate confidence in social interactions
• Use English in socially and culturally appropriate ways
• Demonstrate oral skills necessary to communicate effectively in social and academic environments
• Understand and verbalize concrete and abstract experiences
• Speak with comprehensible English pronunciation
• Generate and organize ideas using a variety of planning strategies, such as graphic organizers
• Apply learning strategies to improve comprehension and fluency
• Comprehend written material, and respond to and evaluate it orally and in writing
• Write accurate English sentences and paragraphs in a variety of forms
• Write both factually and creatively in English for both social and academic purposes
• Actively participate in the general education content classroom

Last Revised: July 18, 2005