ESL students will receive a credit which counts toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) upon successful completion of any of the following courses:
ESLAO – ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE LEVEL 1:
This ESL course builds on students’ previous education and language knowledge to introduce them to the English language and help them adjust to the diversity in their new environment. Students will use beginning ESL skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing for everyday essential academic purposes. They will engage in short conversations using basic English language structures and simple sentence patterns; read short adapted texts; and write phrases and short sentences. The course also provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to begin to adapt to their new lives in Canada.
Prerequisite: None
ESLCO – ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE LEVEL 3:
This ESL course further extends students’ skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English for a variety of everyday and academic purposes. Students will make short classroom oral presentations; read a variety of forms of texts in English’ and write using a variety of forms of text. As well, students will expand their academic vocabulary and their study skills to facilitate the transition to the mainstream school program. This course introduces students to the rights and responsibilities inherent in Canadian citizenship, and to a variety of current issues in Canada.
Prerequisite: ESLBO or equivalent
ESLEO – ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE LEVEL 5:
This ESL course provides students with skills and strategies they need to make the transition to college and university prep courses in English and other secondary school disciplines. Students will be encouraged to develop independence in a range of academic tasks. They will participate in debates and lead classroom workshops; read and interpret literary works and academic texts; write essays, narratives, and reports; and apply a range of learning strategies and research skills effectively. Students will further develop their ability to respond critically to print and media texts.
Prerequisite: ESLDO or equivalent
ESLBO – ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE LEVEL 2:
This course expands ESL students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills for everyday and academic purposes. Students will participate in conversations, in structured situations, on a variety of familiar and new topics; read a variety of texts designed or adapted for ESL learners; expand their knowledge of English grammatical structures and sentence patterns; and link English sentences to compose paragraphs. The course also supports students’ continuing adaptation to the Ontario school system by expanding their knowledge of diversity in their new province and country.
Prerequisite: ESLAO or equivalent
ESLDO – ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE LEVEL 4:
This ESL course prepares students to use English with an increasing fluency and accuracy in classroom and social situations and to participate in Canadian society as informed citizens. Students will develop the oral presentation, reading, writing skills required for success in all school subjects. They will extend listening and speaking skills through participation in discussions and seminars; study and interpret a variety of grade-level tests; write narratives, articles, and summaries in English; and respond critically to various print and media texts.
Prerequisite: ESLCO or equivalent