Level

• Middle School and High School: 6°, 5°, 4°, 3°, 2nde, 1ère and Terminale.
• At all levels, the subject is mandatory, though at 1ère and Terminale pupils have a choice of IB or OIB English courses.
• Language of tuition: English.

Curriculum

Syllabus: School-based up to 4°. 3° and 2nde follow the Cambridge IGCSE syllabus. 1ère and Terminale students choose between IB English Language and Literature, IB English Literature or OIB English Literature.

Textbook references

English does not use a textbook in any year group.

Timetabling

Five 45-minute periods per week for all year groups up to 2nde. At 1ère and Terminale the amount of time varies based on the course chosen.

Course Objectives

READING

• Reading a wide range of fiction and non-fiction including in DEAR sessions (for 6eme and 5eme)
• Developing vocabulary
• Making inferences and referring to evidence in the text
• Knowing the purpose, audience and context of the writing
• Knowing how language, including figurative language, vocabulary choice, grammar, text structure and organisational features, create meaning
• Recognising a range of poetic conventions and understanding how these have been used
• Studying setting, plot and characterisation, and the effects of these
• Exploring drama and how the work of dramatists is communicated through performance

WRITING

• Writing for a range of purposes and audiences (formal expository and narrative stories; scripts, poetry and other imaginative writing; notes for formal presentations; non-narrative texts such as arguments, personal and formal letters, literary essays)
• Summarizing and organizing material
• Applying their growing knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and text structure to their writing and selecting the appropriate form
• Drawing on knowledge of literary and rhetorical devices to enhance their writing
• Considering how their writing reflects the audiences and purposes for which it was intended
• Correcting and rewriting and amending grammar, vocabulary and structure in order to improve coherence and effectiveness

SPEAKING

• Using standard English confidently in a range of formal and informal contexts, including classroom discussion
• Giving short speeches and presentations, expressing their own ideas and opinions
• Participating in formal debates and structured discussions
• Improvising, rehearsing and performing scripts and poetry
• Being aware of role, intonation, tone, volume, mood, silence, stillness and action to add impact

TOPICS

• (6ème): How to Read – How to Write – How to Perform
• (5ème): How to Read – How to Write – How to Perform
• (4ème): How to Read – How to Write – How to Perform
• (3ème): Literature – Writing for Purpose and Audience – Poetry – Drama – Unseen Textual Analysis – Essay writing skills (following IGCSE curriculum)
• (2nde): Literature – Writing for Purpose and Audience – Poetry – Shakespeare – Unseen Textual Analysis – Essay writing skills (leading to IGCSE Language and Literature examinations in the summer term)
• (1ère): IB English Language and Literature (HL/SL), IB English Literature (HL/SL) or OIB English Literature – pupils study a range of texts to prepare them for the demands of their chosen exam syllabus. Oral examinations will normally take place for IB classes in 1ère.
• (Terminale): IB English Language and Literature (SL), IB English Literature (HL) or French Baccalaureate English – pupils study a range of texts to prepare them for the demands of their chosen exam syllabus, leading to their final examinations in the summer term.

Teaching strategies

• General principles: Active methods including: group and pair work / project work / drama and role-play activities / using visuals / innovative ways to approach literature e.g. enquiry based learning, Socratic discussions, etc.
• Multimedia Teaching Aids: Whiteboards used for close textual analysis in class, written and spoken production using technology: blogs – podcasts – powerpoints – video trailers, filmed play productions, etc.

Assessment

• Diagnostic: at the beginning of the course – an informal writing task and oral task
• Formative: variety throughout the year (essays in class / oral presentations / reading quizzes / vocabulary tests every week / informally at the end of each class to assess learning objectives)
• 2 per year during the ‘compositions groupées’
• In 2nde, 1ère and Terminale, pupils work towards external examinations resulting in IGCSE, IB, OIB or French Baccalaureate qualifications.

Suggested Learning Strategies

• Use of scaffolding to help guide their answers
• Use of visuals to explore texts (highlighting, underlining, circling, drawing)
• Rewriting strategies
• Reading strategies such as skimming and scanning
• Group and pair work also allows students to share and test ideas before presenting a final response
• Extensive differentiation in class and in homework tasks to accommodate a range of English levels

Average weekly home study time

For middle school, homework is kept to a minimum and largely consists of pupils reading a monthly class ‘book club’ choice. For upper school, where pupils are working towards external examinations, pupils should expect to complete around one to two hours of homework per week, which could consist of pre-reading tasks, research, essay writing or the preparation of class presentations.

Cross-curricular activities

Connections with History/Geography, French Literature, Science.