English, ESL, and Moderns

English, Literacy, and Moderns

Fostering literacy, global communication, and critical thinking across all pathways.

English, ESL, & Moderns Department

Welcome to the Department of English, Modern Languages, and English as a Second Language (ESL). Our mission is to empower every learner to communicate effectively, analyze texts critically, and achieve academic excellence. Whether building core literacy skills, developing second-language fluency, or preparing for provincial assessments, our department provides structured pathways and targeted learning supports to help every student succeed.

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DEPARTMENT COURSE OFFERINGS

1. English Curriculum & Stream Pathways


  • Grades 9 & 10 (Foundational Literacy): Focuses on core reading comprehension, analytical writing, media literacy, and oral communication.
  • Grade 11 Contemporary Indigenous Voices (NBE): Fulfills the compulsory Grade 11 English requirement across University (NBE3U) and College (NBE3C) streams, engaging students with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit authors and creators.
  • Grade 12 Senior Pathways:
    • University Stream (ENG4U): Advanced literary analysis, academic essay structures, and formal research methodologies for university degree programs.
    • College Stream (ENG4C): Practical communications, business reporting, and applied critical reading for college diploma programs.
    • Workplace Stream (ENG4E): Practical literacy, workplace communication, and technical writing skil

2. English as a Second Language (ESL) & STEP Framework


Designed for English Language Learners (ELLs) to build social and academic English proficiency using the Steps to English Proficiency (STEP) framework:

  • Levels 1 & 2 (ESLAO / ESLBO): Foundational conversational skills, basic sentence structures, and everyday vocabulary acquisition.
  • Levels 3 & 4 (ESLCO / ESLDO): Academic vocabulary expansion, paragraph development, essay writing, and oral presentation skills.
  • Level 5 (ESLEO): Advanced literary study and research skills preparing students for mainstream academic English courses.

3. Modern Languages 

  • French (Grades 9–12): Develops listening, speaking, reading, and writing competencies while fostering cultural appreciation and bilingual opportunities in post-secondary education and global careers.See the following Course Flowchart to see what courses we offer:
  • Spanish (Grades 9–12): Develops listening, speaking, reading, and writing competencies while fostering cultural appreciation and bilingual opportunities in post-secondary education and global careers.See the following Course Flowchart to see what courses we offer:

Course Flowcharts

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EXTRA-CURRICULAR LITERACY SUPPORTS


Our school offers targeted, structured literacy programming outside regular school hours through the Literacy Support Program.


Program Overview & Objectives

  • Designed for Grades 9–10 students who are at risk of not meeting curriculum expectations (Grade 11 students may also be included).
  •  Active remedial instruction in reading and writing competencies, as well as focused preparation for the Grade 10 OSSLT, Grade 9 EQAO, and Grade 10 Financial Literacy Test.
  • Classes are dedicated active remedial sessions rather than drop-in homework help or general tutoring. Sessions are offered virtually or in-person before school, during lunchtime, after school, or on weekends.

Class & Schedule Details

  • Session Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays (October 6 – November 12)
  • Literacy Program Teachers: Mrs. Haughton & Mrs. Joseph
  • Literacy Support Google Classroom Code: 5ezmjroi
  • OSSLT Preparation Google Classroom Code: zfkiqysb

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PROVINCIAL ASSESSMENT PREPARATION (OSSLT & EQAO)

Successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a mandatory Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirement (minimum scale score of 300 out of 400 points).

  • Key Skills Reinforced Across Subjects:
    • Explicit Comprehension: Finding literal facts, figures, and dates directly in text selections.
    • Implicit Inferences: Drawing local and global cause-and-effect conclusions from text clues.
    • Short Open-Responses: Writing focused ~100-word answers directly backed by accurate text evidence.
    • Opinion Essays: Developing 500-word structured essays supported by specific details and logical progression.
  • Practice Platform & Tools: Students practice using official EQAO digital formats (multiple-choice, drop-down menus, drag-and-drop, and open text fields).

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STUDENT RESOURCES & ACADEMIC ACCESSIBILITY

1. Writing & Research Lab
One-on-one teacher feedback on essay organization, research citations, and draft revisions.

2. English Language Learner (ELL) Support Hub

Multilingual glossaries, translation tools, and individual STEP language tracking.

3. Assistive Technology & Accommodations

Text-to-speech software, extra time, and quiet space accommodations for eligible students during evaluations and standardized tests.
Additional Support
  •  Wednesday "Ketchup" Catch-Up Days: Late-start Wednesdays are designated catch-up days where no new coursework is assigned, allowing students time to consolidate learning and seek teacher support.
  • In-Class Accommodations & Resource Support: Full support for Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and wellness accommodations, including extra time, chunked evaluations, and assistive technology tools.
  • Student Success & Credit Rescue: Regular collaboration with the Student Success Team (SST/IST), Guidance counselors, and small-group tutoring sessions with caring educators.
  • School Nutrition Program : Daily morning nutrition access starting in late September


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CONTACT INFORMATION & DIRECTORY


Meet Our Team 

Teacher Name

Course / Role

Email Contact

Sheleah Haughton

ENG / ESL / Moderns ACL

sheleah.haughton@tdsb.on.ca

Maddie MacArthur

ESL (A & B)

Madsion.MacArthur@tdsb.on.ca

David Cundari

NBE 3CU

david.cundari@tdsb.on.ca

Kristin Joseph

ENG 4C1

kristin.joseph@tdsb.on.ca

Effie Konandreas

ENG 2D1 & ESL (Level E)

effie.konandreas@tdsb.on.ca

Jonah Muskat-Brown

ENG 2D1 & ENG 1W1

jonah.muskat-brown@tdsb.on.ca

Tricia Sukhdeo

ESL (C & D) / Special Ed.

tricia.sukhdeo@tdsb.on.ca

Contact Information

School Phone: 416-396-6745

Location: L'Amoreaux Collegiate Institute, Toronto District School Board

Department Office Location: Communications Office

Department ACL: Sheleah Haughton

Contact Email: sheleah.haughton@tdsb.on.ca