Oral Communication: Listening

Overall Expectation
By the end of this course, students will:
• demonstrate an understanding of a variety of oral messages, communicated in various situations and for a variety of purposes.

Specific Expectations
By the end of this course, students will:
– demonstrate an understanding of vocabulary and language structures appropriate to the level by responding appropriately to a variety of oral messages and identifying key ideas and information (e.g., comment on views expressed in conversations and discussions);
– demonstrate the ability to extract information from complex oral messages conveyed through various media and formal presentations (e.g., prepare a synopsis of a radio or television documentary that focuses on current issues);
– demonstrate an understanding of cultural aspects of the international language by identifying regional differences in language as well as different levels of language.

Oral Communication: Speaking

Overall Expectation
By the end of this course, students will:
• communicate orally in various situations and for a variety of purposes, using language appropriate to the level.

Specific Expectations
By the end of this course, students will:
– use standard pronunciation and intonation in the international language with accuracy and fluency;
– participate in conversations and group discussions using vocabulary and language structures appropriate to the level (e.g., take part in a debate on desirable careers);
– express personal opinions and explain ideas in a variety of prepared and open-ended conversations (e.g., participate in a video conference with students from another school or country);
– demonstrate an understanding of the culture of countries where the language is spoken in a variety of creative activities (e.g., dramatize a literary work).

Reading

Overall Expectation
By the end of this course, students will:
• read age- and language-appropriate passages from various sources for a variety of purposes.

Specific Expectations
By the end of this course, students will:
– read, for comprehension of main ideas and supporting details, selections from a variety of texts,* including a minimum of three genres (e.g., novels, plays, film scripts);
– read aloud with accuracy and fluency;
– demonstrate the ability to make inferences and predictions concerning characters and events in short stories and novels, as well as connections between ideas and facts in non-fiction works;
– respond to a range of texts in a variety of media by relating the ideas and themes treated to contemporary issues and personal experiences;
– demonstrate an understanding of the culture of countries where the language is spoken in a variety of complex and well researched projects (e.g., prepare a presentation on a historical or cultural topic using a variety of print resources).

Writing

Overall Expectation
By the end of this course, students will:
• write for a variety of purposes and audiences, using increasingly broad vocabulary and sophisticated language structures.

Specific Expectations
By the end of this course, students will:
– write reports and compositions, using vocabulary and language structures appropriate to the level (e.g., write a book or film review);
– express ideas and feelings in writing, using increasingly complex forms (e.g., write short essays and narrative, descriptive, and expository passages);
– revise and edit their work for accuracy of content and logical organization of ideas, with input from peers and the teacher;
– edit and proofread their work, with attention to accuracy in the use of vocabulary and language structures, using input from peers and the teacher as well as a variety of other resources (e.g., print and electronic dictionaries, spell-check and grammar features of software programs);
– demonstrate knowledge of the culture of countries where the language is spoken in well-researched reports and essays (e.g., write an essay on the literature, music, or art of a country where the language is spoken).