English Language Arts

High school students will follow the high school English Language Arts curriculum depending on their academic grade level or language proficiency level. Those for whom English is a second language can first take the ESL courses outlined in the English Language Program, but most students entering high school in 9th grade will start with English Language Arts I and proceed as follows:

English Language Arts I

ELA I is usually offered to high school students in 9th grade. In this course, students study vocabulary and grammar, including parts of speech, parts of a sentence, mechanics, and usage through a solid foundation in listening and reading. Students are introduced to a variety of literary forms: fiction, non-fiction, drama, and poetry, with an emphasis on art-related topics. Students are expected to respond verbally to the readings both informally in class discussion and through formal presentations and further explore the literature through both creative and analytical writing.

English Language Arts II

The ELA II course is usually for high school students in grade 10. In this course, the student focuses on effective expression through the study of classic American, British, and world literature. The student will gain the confidence, know-how, and ability to prepare and deliver an effective message in a variety of different ways and for different audiences. Students learn how to conduct an interview, use visual aids during a speech, and use various methods of delivery when giving a speech. Emphasis is also placed on refining listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and writing skills.

English Language Arts III

The ELA III course focuses on literary appreciation and the non-fiction essay. It is usually geared toward high school students in 11th grade. The course includes an introduction to reading and writing poetry, with a survey of various styles and approaches employed by poets. Representative American and British literary works will be selected with a focus on the classics and writings on noteworthy historical figures and events. Students will also work on their reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary. Students may also read English translations of famous Chinese literary works.

English Language Arts IV

ELA IV is writing-intensive and is usually geared toward high school students in 12th grade. Emphasis is placed on addressing any issues or bad habits students may developed in their writing so that they may build control and mastery of the language and express themselves with some level of sophistication. Students are expected to keep a writing journal and write articles on a number of assigned topics each week to develop their own “voice.” They will read newspaper and magazine articles and study television scripts in addition to studying classic novels, short stories, essays by great writers. They will further refine their vocabulary and writing skills. Most high school students take the New York State English Language Arts Regents Examination as well as the SAT exams in the 12th Grade.