English

Language & Literature 6

Grade: 6

The MYP Year 1 course explores contemporary topics, concepts and personal interests through a variety of print and media sources. The students begin a unit on perspective and identity by writing a narrative piece from the perspective of a life-long learner with diverse experiences. Their second unit of inquiry will examine the different cultural norms and compare and contrast them through literature. Throughout these two units we establish the groundwork for literary analysis. As the year continues apply those analytical skills to poetry and opinion-editorial writing through annotation, Socratic circle discussions and in-class presentation activities. We also address literacy skill building using English grammar through a variety of classroom routines and resources.

Unit 1 Stories
Unit 2 Rules of Engagement
Unit 3 Expository Essay (Unveiling Your Truth)
Unit 4 Creative Story Making (Power)
Unit 5 Argumentative Essay (Raise your words, not your voice)

Language & Literature 7

The MYP year 2 (Grade 7) Language and Literature course will focus on deepening students’ capacity to communicate using a range of expressive mediums, make connections between big ideas, and understand that people with different perspectives can still be right. The year-long course, through discrete units of study, drives students’ conceptual understanding of how identity and language is constructed and used, while sharpening students’ ability to use the English language as a vehicle for critical thinking about the world around them. Students will enhance their English language use to craft strong, evidence-based writing, explore creative pathways, as well as navigate complex texts using the close reading skills recommended by the National Council for the Teachers of English. The course is guided by the National Common Core reading and writing standards for English / language arts, Grade 7.

Unit 1 Feature Film: What is the best use of our time?
Unit 2 Memoir: In a world with over 6500 languages, how do we understand each other?
Unit 3 Poetry and personal expression
Unit 4 Novel Study: A Single Shard
Unit 5 This American LIfe: Digital Media

Language & Literature 8

MYP 3 English Language and Literature offers students an introduction to analysis and a critical approach to literature. Through the use of various texts, mediums, and genres, students will gain greater understanding and respect for their own cultures and that of others. In this course, students will better understand best practices and structures for academic writing while also developing the skills to become more effective communicators and collaborators. Through our exploration and studies, students will have the opportunity to use their creative and critical thinking to better understand the human condition and be encouraged to read for pleasure.

Unit 1 Memoir: Telling Our Stories
Unit 2 The Thrill of Horror
Unit 3 Novel Study: The Last Storyteller
Unit 4 Film Study: The Hero’s Journey

English 9

Grade: 9
Prerequisite: None

This is a year-long, reading and writing intensive course in which students will read and analyze a wide variety of genres of literary and non-literary texts by a variety of authors. Students will develop the four primary language skills: careful listening, formal and informal public speaking, critical reading, and competent writing. MYP Year 4 is designed to prepare students for success in Year 5 and in the IB Diploma Program.

English 10

Grade: 10
Prerequisite: English 9

This course is designed to lay the foundations for an advanced study of language and literature. It presents the essential literary concepts, conventions, and genres necessary for more sophisticated interpretation and appreciation of literature. Students are expected to explore ideas through three primary skills from the IB Middle Years Program: Oral communication, Written communication, and Visual communication.

Listening and speaking skills that are essential for language development, for learning and for relating to others. It enables students to construct meaning through the process of articulating thoughts in a variety of ways. Reading is constructing meaning from text by making inferences and interpretations. Writing allows for the development, organization, and communication of thoughts, ideas and information. Viewing and presenting means interpreting or constructing visuals and multimedia in a variety of situations and for a range of purposes and audiences. MYP Language and Literature Year 5 (English G10) is designed to prepare students for success in the IB Diploma Program.

High School ELL 

Grades: 9 and 10
Prerequisite: Placement is according to language needs and will be determined by KAS

This course is designed to give students who are not native speakers of English additional support in the development of written English skills.  Students will write extensively in a variety of genres.  All aspects of writing will be addressed including organization, ideas, voice,  word choice, sentence fluency and conventions.  Furthermore, students will be expected to work in groups and individually on editing and refining their writing.  This course is taken concurrently with English 9 and/or 10.

English 11/12

Grade: 11 and 12
Prerequisite: English 10

In English 11/12, students will refine their literacy and communication skills in English through reading and responding to literary and non-literary texts that extend across genres, cultures, and time periods. Each year, students undertake the study of a play, a novel, short stories, poetry, and a collection of academic and journalistic articles and essays. The study of a diversity of texts allows students to gain new perspectives, develop critical thinking skills, and practice making important connections. Students will write routinely and produce a variety of texts such as argumentative and personal essays, and respond to texts in class discussion and debate. This course focuses on the development of communication skills essential for success in academic and professional contexts that students will encounter in university and beyond.

IB Language A: Language and Literature SL/HL

Grade: 11 and 12 (this is a two-year course)
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 10

This course aims to develop skills of textual analysis and the understanding that texts, both literary and non-literary, can relate to culturally determined reading practices, and to encourage students to question the meaning generated by language and texts. An understanding of the ways in which formal elements are used to create meaning in a text is combined with an exploration of how that meaning is affected by reading practices that are culturally defined and by the circumstances of production and reception. Helping students to focus closely on the language of studied texts and to become aware of the role of wider context in shaping meaning is central to the course. The study of literature in translation from other cultures is especially important to IB DP students because it contributes to a global perspective. Texts are chosen from a variety of sources, genres and media.

While both DP English courses are equally rigorous, the Language & Literature course is recommended for students who want to study a wide variety of texts (such as literature, film, political cartoons, advertisements, speeches, and so on).

IB Language A: Literature  SL/HL

Grade: 11 and 12 (this is a two-year course)
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 10

In this class, students focus exclusively on literary texts, including study of a variety of genres from different periods in history and geographical locations.  Students explore the nature of literature while developing their ability to analyze literature as well as the writing skills needed for university study.  As students begin working with the new IB curriculum, they will discover an emphasis on looking at global issues through the lens of texts in translation as well as those originally written in English.  The expectation is that students in this class will be completing the IB exam at the end of their senior year.

While both DP English courses are equally rigorous, the Literature course is recommended for students who enjoy reading literature.