English
The school recognises its students’ multicultural diversity and the importance of language in personal effectiveness and academic achievement in all subject areas. Our English curriculum is designed to provide each child with the range of language skills needed to become literate in the broadest cultural sense of the term.
The school provides a wide range of texts and sequenced text-based activities. Students are taught to use language flexibly, accurately and critically in the three modes of speaking/listening, reading and writing.
The curriculum helps students develop knowledge of the ways language varies according to context, purpose and audience. It provides students with opportunities to demonstrate their language skills and knowledge. Students are encouraged to experiment with language and to use it with sensitivity and veracity.
Students are trained to recognize the linguistic structures and features used to construct different texts, and to apply this knowledge in their writing. They are encouraged to use technologies related to communication.
The curriculum lays emphasis on enhancing students’ ability to use language effectively through learning about language. This means helping students to develop strategies to create meaning through:
> Different forms of written and visual communication
> A wide vocabulary and accurate spelling
> An understanding of grammar and the use of punctuation
> Varied sentence and text structures.
The curriculum provides for special attention to the needs of ESL (English as a Second Language) and LOTEB (Languages Other Than English Background) students. The school’s specially trained instructors and selected teaching strategies are of great help to ESL and LOTEB students, not only in everyday language exchanges, but also in mastering good academic English.