English Language Learning

In this required ninth grade course, students explore the cultures and history of people across the globe, from the beginning of human development through ancient civilizations and the Middle Ages. By understanding the common struggles and achievements of past people, students better understand the shortcomings and successes of our current age. While studying history chronologically, focus is placed on several themes that have impacted the course of human culture and civilization, including colonization and empire-building, different political systems, and technology. The class also examines the day-to-day aspects of life such as family, religion, and food that have changed over time.

Offered to tenth graders, this course reviews the important events and key issues related to US history. Topics covered include the birth of the new nation, the Civil War, diversity and equality, government, and foreign policy. The class takes advantage of its historical location along the iconic Hudson River to further the students’ exploration of history with resources such as the Black Rock Forest Preserve, USMA at West Point, the FDR museum, Washington’s Headquarters, Fort Montgomery, and many others.

This course improves students’ accuracy in spoken English. Students will produce a variety of oral assignments with activities that develop oral language and pronunciation skills. “Mini Podcast” projects are also developed using Soundtrap for Education.

This course improves students’ accuracy in using English in the classroom with an equal focus on all four components: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students analyze a range of literary and informational texts while producing various forms of writing connected to their reading. An important focus is the improvement of speaking skills in the form of creating podcasts and traditional oral presentations. Technological resources used in the classroom are Soundtrap for Education and Newsela.

This course produces more complex oral language assignments while continuing to work on pronunciation, word usage, and confidence. Students focus more on Oral Presentations (Persuasive, Informative & Demonstrative Speeches) and podcast projects that involve longer, more complex verbal exchanges.

This course is designed to build upon ELL Level I skills, while continuing to incorporate reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will explore novels, nonfiction, and other various genres while producing varied forms of short and long response writing. Activities also help students to develop their oral presentation skills and acquire study skills (including note-taking and summarizing skills) that will enhance their ability to learn in all subjects.

In this course, students produce more advanced oral presentations using idioms, colloquialisms, and common slang found in the English Language. Oral presentations will be more developed and conversational assignments and podcast projects will have more complex rubrics.

Through the study of classic American literature, students work toward improving their own spoken and written English while learning to understand and appreciate college-level literature. Students will engage in several genres including short stories, novels, and nonfiction material. With a primary focus on reading and writing, students will examine various texts and develop written responses in the form of expository, persuasive, and literary essays. Through the analysis of literature, students will continue to develop their speaking skills by engaging in small group communication, podcasts projects, and oral presentations. Audio and video selections will be included to prepare students for the level of listening and understanding necessary for higher level academic work.

This class functions and produces work equal to an upper-level high school English Literature class. Students continue studying American Literature while being introduced to some of the most prominent American writers of the 20th Century. Students are assigned essays and several reading assignments while continuing their advancement in the English language necessary for college success.