English Language Education Department

Ms. Christina Manos, Interim Director

Phone: 508-841-6563 Email: cmanos@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

The English Language Education (ELE) Department is a district department administering programs for English learners (ELs) in Grades K-12. The department’s goal is to enable students to develop English language proficiency and achieve content-area standards, while simultaneously valuing their native languages and cultural backgrounds. At Shrewsbury High School, ELE course offerings are determined by the student’s English language proficiency level.  Courses align with the five performance levels, determined by the state English Language Development Standards. Instruction is designed to improve English language development in the four language domains, listening, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as enable students to learn grade-appropriate content. The ELE department also offers an internship elective for students, in grades 10-12, to work collaboratively with their peers who are learning English. Foreign language skills or bilingual skills are not required, but are certainly useful. Former ELs are eligible for this internship.

 

ELE English I A/B (9516A/9516B)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2,3, 4, 6, 7

Required               Full Year                Grade: 9-12                    English Proficiency: level 1

This course is designed for students who have minimal English literacy skills.  Students needing this course have not yet developed simple written and spoken communication in English.  Instruction focuses on increasing English vocabulary, so students will begin to be able to read and write in English.

ELE English II A/B (9517A/9517B)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2, 3,4, 6, 7

Required               Full Year                Grade: 9-12                    English Proficiency: level 2

This course is designed for students who have developed simple written and spoken English.  Students in this course are able to read and comprehend below grade-level text.  Students will read, discuss, and write about various literary genres, such as short stories, nonfiction, myths, folktales, poetry, and dramatic literature.  Students will also read a novel.

ELE English III A/B (9518A/9518B)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2,3,4 6,7

Required               Full Year                Grade: 9-12                    English Proficiency: level 3

This course is designed for students who are able to communicate in English, but have not yet acquired the academic language needed for success in mainstream English classes.  Students in this course are able to read and comprehend texts of limited linguistic complexity, as well as write short, simple paragraphs with limited detail and linguistic complexity relative to their native English-speaking peers.  Students will read, discuss, and write about various literary genres, such as short stories, nonfiction, poetry, and legends, myths, & fables.  Students will also read a drama and a novel.

ELE English IVA/B (9522A/9522B)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2 3,4,6,7

Required               Full Year                Grade: 9-12                      English Proficiency: level 4

This course is designed for students who are able to communicate in English and have begun utilizing grade-level academic language.  Students in this course are able to read and comprehend texts almost at grade level, as well as write short, detailed compositions.  Students are also able to edit their writing. Students will read, discuss, and write about various literary genres, such as short stories, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.  Students will read a drama, as well as one to two novels.

ELE American Culture & History I A/B (9519TA/9519TB)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2, 3,4, 6, 7

Elective                  Full Year                Grade: 9-12                     English Proficiency: level 1 and 2

This course is designed for students who have developed simple written and spoken English.  Newcomer English students will also benefit from literacy instruction exploring American History.  Students will learn about the pre-Colonial Era, settling the English colonies, the War for Independence, and life in America during the 1800s.  Students will also learn about American holidays and customs, the democratic tradition, and civic responsibilities.

ELE American Culture & History II A/B (9520TA/9520TB)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2, 3, 4, 6, 7

Elective                  Full Year                Grade: 9-12                     English Proficiency: level 3 and 4

This course is designed for students who have developed written and spoken English, with some academic language proficiency.  The goal of the course is to develop students’ understanding of important events in American History and provide background schema for Social Sciences courses required for graduation.  Students will learn about pre-colonial exploration, the English colonies, the American Revolution, the Constitution, the newly formed United States, the Industrial Revolution, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.

ELE Academic Support (9508)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,3,6, 7, 8

Elective                  Full Year                Grade: 9-12                           English Proficiency: all levels

This class gives students an opportunity to achieve success in their content area classes, as well as master academic English skills.  This class offers students time and support to navigate the linguistic demands and cultural differences of required content class textbooks and assignments.  Students are expected to use the class to conduct research, work collaboratively with peers or work independently on assignments, and/or receive instruction from the ESL teacher.

ELE Internship (9525)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1, 3,6, 7, 8

Elective                  Semester               Grade: 10-12         Students who are not learning English

Students will be assigned by the department director to work in ELE Academic Support as an assistant to the ESL teacher.  Interns will assist in their assigned classes by helping English language learners as directed by the ESL teacher.  The ESL teacher may also ask interns to create study guides or review materials with or for ELLs.  Students who participate in this program will meet with their cooperating ESL teacher and will complete monthly feedback forms.  The P/F grade for this internship will be determined by attendance and the feedback forms completed by both the ESL teacher and the intern.  Foreign language skills or bilingual skills are not required, but are certainly useful.