English Second Language (ESL)

The objective of the English Second Language (ESL) courses are:

To increase students’ knowledge and understanding of the academic English required for secondary and tertiary study in New Zealand
To achieve their Literacy requirements
To learn about New Zealand culture
To develop confidence in taking part in New Zealand society

In the Junior classes Year 9 and 10 the IB MYP criteria is followed.

Year 11 is a preparation year for NCEA English in Year 12.

In Year 12 students study Level 1 English and enter both Internal and External NCEA assessments.

In Year 13 students study Level 2 English to gain their University Literacy Requirements through Internal Assessment.

At all levels diagnostic testing is carried out and there is a regular homework programme.

Year 9 English Second Language (9ESL)

This is a recommended option for most students for whom English is a second language. It provides students with the opportunity to practice and improve the four main English language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.

The course covers the following topics:

Family
Pastimes
Holiday/Travel
Dreams/Aspirations

The Year 9 course is assessed through Units tests. We cover each of the four MYP criteria twice over the year. These criteria are Listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Year 10 English Second Language (10ESL)

The course covers the following topics:

Language and Identity
Friendship
What if everybody looked the same?
Eat to live, or live to eat?

The Year 10 course is assessed through Units tests. We cover each of the four MYP criteria twice over the year. These criteria are Listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Year 11 English Second Language (11ESL)

The Year 11 course covers academic and communicative English on a variety of topics and text over the language skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary and information literacy.

The Year 11 course covers the following topics:

Learn writing skills and practising the art of creative, formal and informal writing.
Reading a range of texts independently and writing a personal response supported by evidence.
Researching a chosen topic and presenting findings in a speech.
Listening to a range of spoken and/or visual texts and presenting responses.
Learning film conventions, viewing a film and writing a film review or character study.
Creating a visual text from a text read.

Year 12 English Second Language (12ESL)

The focus at Year 12 is on internal assessment with the opportunity to enter some external assessments. All assessments will be for NCEA Level 1 English and are a preparation for NCEA Level 2 English (University Entrance Literacy) in Year 13.

Students study five topics that count for 18 credits towards Level 1 NCEA.

Internal Standards (Assessment)

90052 Produce creative writing (3 credits)
90853 Use information literacy skills to form conclusions (4 credits)
90856 Show understanding of visual and/or oral text(s) through close viewing and/or listening, using supporting evidence (3 credits)

External Standards (Exams)

90849 Show understanding of specified aspect(s) of studied written text(s), using supportive evidence (4 credits)

90850 Show understanding of significant aspect(s) of studied visual or oral text(s), using supportive evidence (4 credits)
90851 Show understanding of significant aspect(s) of unfamiliar written text(s) through close reading, using supportive evidence (4 credits)

Year 13 English Second Language (13ESL)

The objectives of the Year 13 English Second Language course are:

To achieve literacy for entrance to tertiary studies (UE Literacy Level 2 English)
To increase students knowledge and understanding of the academic English required for secondary and tertiary study in New Zealand
To develop confidence in taking part in New Zealand society

At Year 13 students prepare for the English Literacy Requirements for New Zealand University Entrance. Students are assessed internally in NCEA Level 2 English Achievement Standards.

Students study four topics (standards) that count for 17 credits towards NCEA Level 2 English.

Internal Standards (Assessments)

91101 Produce a selection of crafted and controlled writing (6 credits)
91105 Use Information literacy skills to form developed conclusion(s) (4 credits)
91106 Form developed personal responses to independently read texts, supported by evidence (4 credits)
91107 Analyse aspects of visual and/or oral texts through close viewing and/or listening, supported by evidence (3 credits)