Welcome ESL parents to Prince of Wales.

• Oral Communication
• Social Studies
• Reading
• Science

• Junior (grades 8 and 9)
• Senior (grades 10, 11 and 12)

Decisions are based upon all teachers' input according to the following:

• Work habits (e.g. completing homework)
• Standardized Tests Results
• Speaking English in the Classroom
• In-Class Test Results
• Writing Samples

1. Have your child do enjoyable English Activities and challenges using games and quizzes at Webster Online Word Games.
2. You can find on-line activities and grammar games on the PW Library ESL Page
3. Read English Books - Look on the library Reading Page and The Children's Literature Webpage Recommended Booklist
4. Watch English Television Newscasts

 -CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
 -BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation
5. Read English Newspapers

 -Vancouver Sun
 -Vancouver Province
 -Christian Science Monitor
 -Globe and Mail (Toronto)
6. Try to speak English in the home
7. Be patient. It takes five to seven years to master a language
8. Enrol your child in community activities where English is required especially in the summer
9. Tell your child to be on time and present for every class. Do not take vacations during school time, or extend the usual breaks with trips abroad

Oral Communication:
This course focuses on refining your child's proficiency in the pronunciation and modulation of their English speech. Your child will also be learning how to present effectively, project his voice and gain confidence in communicating using a variety of materials.  Your child will have his performances vidio-taped at various times of the year to track his improvement.  The final project will combine all of the experiences he has had into a programme that will be an example of his achievement.Listening skills are also an essential part of this programme: they are encouraged to watch English movies, listen to radio or recordings, which will also be used as a means to sharpen the students' ability to understand and respond accordingly.

Social Studies:
 The courses at both the junior and senior level are designed to follow the regular curriculum. The first part of the year the students will be studying geography, as well as current events and Canadian government.  The second half of the year will be devoted to history and all the events that have shaped Western Civilization.  Interspersed will be discussions of different religions, and, for the seniors, Canadian History.  Students will learn note-taking skills and the steps needed to avoid plagiarizing material from their research.  Please refer to the  Plagiarism Information. A variety of strategies will be used to cover the content which include: research, map skills, reading for information, reporting, presentations, discussion, and debate.

Reading:
 This course is designed to increase the students' skills in reading and recognizing Literary Techniques as they apply to novels, and short stories.  The students write regularly in journals and do grammar exercises that will focus on their error patterns as well as dealing with more complex structures and syntax.  They will write in-class essays to help in the evaluation of their progress as well as their performance on standardized tests.  Later on in the year, more challenging assignments will be included: debates, essay writing, and even poetry if possible.

Science:
The Science course corresponds to the regular curriculum as well.  It differs in that the students move directly from ESL Science into regular Science after receiving instruction that includes theory and practice, in the form of labs.  In order to pass into regular Senior classes, the students must undergo a written test and lab component to ensure they have fulfilled the necessary requirements in preparation for the demands in a regular Science class.

Web page created by Erin Zimmaro , ESL Department Head at Prince of Wales Secondary
for EDCI 396c
June, 2003