English

Course Outline

ENGLISH 8

English Language Arts 8 is a foundational curriculum that equips students with the language and literacy skills they will need for success in school, community, career, and life. It provides students with the opportunity to become effective communicators, to develop and express their own ideas, and to think deeply and critically about the ideas of others.Through their study of language and texts, students have opportunities to develop a lifelong love of reading, writing, and learning and an appreciation for the power, beauty, joy, and artistry of language and texts. As they explore and create written, oral, and visual texts, students expand and deepen their understanding of both real and imaginary worlds, gaining insight into their own lives and the lives of others.

The English 8 curriculum is designed to empower students to become thoughtful, ethical, and responsible citizens of a diverse society. As they explore texts, students come to understand the influences shaping the condition and, more specifically, Canadian society and the unique contribution of First Peoples to our country and province. Through the study of a variety of texts and worldviews, including First Nations’ literature, students gain awareness of the human condition and themes; this includes historical and contemporary contexts of First Peoples, which will lead to mutual understanding and respect.

(Adapted from https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/english-language-arts/goals-and-rational)

The English 8 curriculum allows students to explore the following BIG IDEAS:

  • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world.
  • People understand text differently depending on their worldviews and perspectives.
  • Texts are socially, culturally, and historically constructed.
  • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
  • Language and text can be a source of creativity and joy.

ENGLISH 9

The English 9 curriculum continues to build upon the curricular competencies introduced in English 8. Using oral, written, visual, and digital texts from a variety of genres, students will individually and collaboratively continue to practice their comprehension and communication skills.

The English 9 curriculum allows students to explore the following BIG IDEAS:

  • Language and story can be a source of creativity and joy.
  • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world.
  • People understand text differently depending on their worldviews and perspectives.
  • Texts are socially, culturally and historically constructed.
  • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.

ENGLISH ENRICHMENT

Enrichment opportunities designed to inspire, challenge, and stretch students who demonstrate strong work ethic, passion, and ability exist in each English classroom and also in the school at large. School-wide English enrichment opportunities include, but are not limited to:

  • Writing and recitation contests.
  • Workshops, visiting speakers and writers, performers.
  • Clubs like Debate Club, Senior Book Club, and Photojournalism.
  • Alpha Reads.

In the senior grades, as students become mature and sure of their interests, they may elect to challenge themselves with specific enrichment (pre-AP and AP) courses.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 10

The aim of English Language Arts is to provide all students with opportunities for personal and intellectual growth using all forms of communication to make meaning of the world and to prepare them to participate effectively in all aspects of society.

All students will complete 4 credits total of English Language Arts.

COMPOSITION 10:  MYSTERY

Crime, murder mysteries, whodunits—detective fiction has been hugely popular since its inception. These stories challenge the reader to try to solve the mystery on their own and entertain us by showing off the deductive skills of talented investigators. We will read key stories in the genre from the proto-detective Oedipus the King to the birth of detective fiction proper in Edgar Allan Poe and its development through Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler and noir movies, all the way up to the present day.  The course will include plays, short stories, novels, poetry, film and TV. Students will gain an appreciation of genre and literary history while developing their skills in literary analysis. This course provides credit for Literary Studies 10 and Composition 10.

CREATIVE WRITING 10

This course is designed for students who have an interest in creative expression through language. Students will sharpen their skills as literary artists through the exploration of identity and story in a wide range of genres. Within a supportive community of writers, students will collaborate and develop their skills through writing and design processes that encourage students to reflect on, extend, and refine their writing. Possible areas of focus include contemporary creative forms such as slam poetry, oratory, rap, drama, song, and graphic novels; creative non-fiction, historical fiction, poetry, song lyrics; multimodal creative forms that combine visual, written, and oral texts. This course provides credit for Creative Writing 10 and Composition 10.

ENGLISH FIRST PEOPLES 10

This course is open to all students and designed for those who are interested in exploring contemporary texts from outside traditional reading lists and responding to texts in and beyond the written word. With an emphasis on oral self-expression and communication in a variety of contexts, Students who take this course will also strengthen their oral language proficiencies.  EFP 10 provides credit for Literary Studies 10 and Spoken Language/New Media/ or Composition 10.

NEW MEDIA 10:  FILM STUDIES

This course combines the traditional study of literature with a relatively new art form: film.  Students will be introduced to texts, both literary and visual, from a variety of genres, time periods, styles, and writers/directors. As movies are visual narratives, students will learn to interpret film as they would a short story, novel, play or poem in daily Socratic Seminar discussions. Many of the projects will have an oral communication element, where oral skills will be assessed. Like all English Language Arts courses, this class will help to develop reading/viewing comprehension and writing with an emphasis on communication skills. This course provides credit for New Media 10 and Spoken Language 10.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 11

One 4-credit Grade 11 Language Arts Course is required for graduation. Additional English course(s) may be taken as elective(s).  Grade 12 versions of the classes listed below are electives, and they do NOT meet the Language Arts 12 graduation requirement.

COMPOSITION 11:  JOURNALISM

Composition 11:  Journalism (previously New Media 11: Lab) is a hands-on, real-world exploration of media in the online age. We run an actual media website, producing engaging content for a general audience. We learn vital skills for the fast-paced digital world. Highlights include studying and imitating actual media websites online; self-selected topics including sports, gaming, beauty, music, style, technology etc. in a writing workshop to produce high quality work for publication; selecting work roles within our organization including social media strategy, graphic design and illustration, and editorial leadership; using blogging and wiki sites; and keeping up-to-date on topics of current interest.

CREATIVE WRITING 11

This course is designed for students who have an interest in creative expression through language. Students will sharpen their skills as literary artists through the exploration of identity and story in a wide range of genres. Within a supportive community of writers, students will collaborate and develop their skills through writing and design processes that encourage students to reflect on, extend, and refine their writing. Possible areas of focus include poetry, memoir writing, script writing, journaling, and short stories.

ENGLISH FIRST PEOPLES 11

This course is open to all students and designed for those who are interested in exploring contemporary texts from outside traditional reading lists and responding to texts in and beyond the written word. With an emphasis on oral self-expression and communication in a variety of contexts, Students who take this course will also strengthen their oral language proficiencies.

LITERARY STUDIES 11: ENGLISH LITERATURE 11 (ENRICHED)

*recommended for students interested taking AP English Literature & Composition 12

This course offers students the opportunity to experience the richness and variety of English literature, in its social, philosophical, and historical contexts. Reading widely is an important factor for an educated mind, and by reading works that are sophisticated in thought and style, students will strengthen their aesthetic and critical judgement. Any student who likes to read, discuss, and write about literature will love this class, but it is primarily valuable to students who are planning to study at university level and to enrichment students who wish to prepare for AP English Literature and Composition 12. The learning standards and levels of assessment for this course are the same as for a regular English 11 course.

NEW MEDIA 11:  FILM STUDIES

This course combines the traditional study of literature with a relatively new art form: film.  Students will be introduced to texts, both literary and visual, from a variety of genres, time periods, styles, and writers/directors. As movies are visual narratives, students will learn to consider and interpret film as they would a short story, novel, play or poem. Like all English Language Arts courses, this class will help to develop reading/viewing comprehension with an emphasis on communication skills.

CULTURAL EMPOWERMENT THROUGH LANGUAGE 11/12 (CEL)

This course is designed to build students’ skills and confidence in academic tasks across the

curriculum and ability to apply their growing range of strategies. It is meant to extend the exploration

and practice of ELL students into the four main English language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. CEL will help students gain awareness of their own identify and cultural contributions to Canadian culture and society through literature.

Cultural Empowerment Through Language 11 is a 4-credit course and counts towards graduation. This course is designed for students who:

  • are in ELL level 3/4
  • are multilingual
  • want to further practice their English speaking, listening, reading and writing in order to achieve greater academic success

want to share their own lived experiences to enrich a diverse Canadian culture and community

One of the following Grade 12 Language Arts courses is required for graduation. All other English 12 courses are electives and will NOT fulfill the graduation requirement.

ENGLISH STUDIES 12

English Studies 12 builds on and extends students’ previous learning experiences in ELA 10 and 11 courses. It is designed for all students and provides them with opportunities to refine their comprehension and communication skills; to explore texts from a variety of sources and genres; to deepen their understanding of themselves and others in a changing world; to contribute to Reconciliation by building greater understanding of the knowledge and perspectives of First Peoples; to expand their understanding of what it means to be educated Canadian and global citizens.

ENGLISH STUDIES FIRST PEOPLES 12

This English Studies course is grounded in the First Peoples Principles of Learning and designed for all students, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who are interested in delving deeply into First Peoples oral and written literature and visual texts in a range of media. The course focuses on the experiences, values, beliefs, and lived realities of First Peoples in Canada; however, the voices and perspectives from First Peoples throughout the world may also be considered.  English First Peoples 12 is the academic equivalent of English Studies 12 and fulfills the English 12 Graduation Requirement.

AP ENGLISH LITERATURE & COMPOSITION 12 (8 credits)

This course is a rigorous, college-level program similar in content and expectations to a first-year university course. Students will read challenging, stimulating literary texts from a variety of genres and time periods, will hone their analytical skills, and will learn to write with sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers of literature. As they read and write, students consider a work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as its use of figurative language, imagery, and symbolism. English Literature 11 Enriched is the recommended, but not mandatory, prerequisite course. AP English 12 prepares students for both the AP English Literature and Composition exam and the provincial literacy assessment. This course is equivalent to 8 credits – 4 credits for English Studies 12 and 4 credits for Advanced Placement English.

*The Advanced Placement exam is optional.

SENIOR ENGLISH ELECTIVES

COMPOSITION 12:  ACADEMIC READING & WRITING 12

Many first-year students in post-secondary institutions find the reading load and level they encounter, as well as the writing standards expected of them, rather overwhelming. As a result, students often find the academic transition between high school and university or college can a difficult one. Academic Reading & Writing 12 is a course designed to “bridge the gap” between English 12 and the literacy skills required in first year college/university programs. The main objective is to improve students’ reading and writing skills in all academic areas, including the Arts-based disciplines (English, History, Political Science, Sociology, etc.), Psychology, Business, the Sciences, and others.

CREATIVE WRITING 12

This course is designed for students who have an interest in creative expression through language. Students will sharpen their skills as literary artists through the exploration of identity and story in a wide range of genres. Within a supportive community of writers, students will collaborate and develop their skills through writing and design processes that encourage students to reflect on, extend, and refine their writing. Possible areas of focus include poetry, memoir writing, script writing, journaling, and short stories.

LITERARY STUDIES 12 – ENGLISH LITERATURE

English Literature is a fun, enriching class for students interested in exploring literature, philosophy, and history. It offers students curious about the classics the opportunity to read some of the most inspiring, witty, and wise texts written in English over the past 2000 years. In this course, students will develop a critical appreciation for the richness and variety of English literature in its social and historical contexts.

NEW MEDIA 12:  FILM CAFÉ

Film is a young but undeniably spectacular and popular storytelling tool. Films, like good books, give us the ability to transcend place and time and explore different worlds. In this introduction to visual storytelling, students will view and discuss films from a variety of genres, styles, time periods, and writers/directors. Film Café will help students develop their critical thinking and communication skills as well as an appreciation for artistic expression.

NEW MEDIA 12:  JOURNALISM

New Media 12:  Journalism is a hands-on, real-world exploration of media in the online age. We run an actual media website, producing engaging content for a general audience. We learn vital skills for the fast-paced digital world. Highlights include studying and imitating actual media websites online; self-selected topics including sports, gaming, beauty, music, style, technology etc. in a writing workshop to produce high quality work for publication; selecting work roles within our organization including social media strategy, graphic design and illustration, and editorial leadership; using blogging and wiki sites; and keeping up-to-date on topics of current interest.

ELL (ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING)

The ELL program supports English Language Learners in Grade 8 – 12 in acquiring social and academic language skills.

  • Social Language Skills: important for daily communication with teachers, peers and community members
  • Academic Language Skills: important for reading, writing, comprehending, expressing and interacting with content-specific materials

Newcomers arriving in Canada will settle and integrate into our school community by attending the ELL program and elective courses. Language acquisition is a journey and our ELL teachers aim to support our students in building a strong language foundation in order to successfully transition into academic courses.

LANGUAGE ADAPTED LITERARY STUDIES 10

While continuing to develop their proficiency in English, students will work towards meeting the outcomes of the English 10 curriculum.  Students will develop a large vocabulary with which to express their ideas effectively and will be expected to write about and discuss literature in an increasingly critical and sophisticated manner.

LANGUAGE ADAPTED SOCIAL STUDIES 10

SOCIALS 10: LANGUAGE ADAPTED

While developing their proficiency in English, this course acquaints students with Canadian geography, history, government, law, culture, customs and current events.  In addition, it allows students to explore Canada’s role in the global community.  A wide range of strategies will be used to teach students how to access, comprehend and process information and communicate their understanding through writing and oral presentations.