The English department at EYA strives to engage students with current and relevant readings, examples of media, and topics of discussion. Academic needs are met by assessing where students are at and then developing literacy and oral communication skills step by step. Students are often given choice of the types of writing they produce as well as the topics they read.
English curriculum in Ontario is guided by four strands: Reading and Literature Studies, Writing, Oral Communication, and Media Studies.
Reading and Literature Studies: Explicit emphasis on reading strategies promotes active engagement with written texts. Students will be exposed to a variety of material including fiction and non-fiction, memoir, and poetry.
Writing: A variety of written work for real-world applications such as resumes, job applications, articles, reports, and essays are explored in the English courses. Creative writing is also a possibility for those who desire to be studied by future EYA students!
Oral Communication: Recognizing that standing alone in front of the classroom as you deliver a presentation is not the most interesting way to engage your peers, EYA English provides opportunities for partner and small group discussion on an on-going basis, and is also used as a method of evaluation. Both effective speaking and listening are emphasized as we prepare students for workplace and school.