English As A Second Language – Level 1 (Open)

ESLAO online builds on students' previous education and language knowledge to introduce them to the English language and help them adjust to the diversity in their new environment. Students will use beginning English language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing for everyday and essential academic purposes. They will engage in short conversations using basic English language structures and simple sentence patterns; read short adapted texts, and write phrases and short sentences. ESLAO online also provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to begin to adapt to their new lives in Canada.

Unit 1: Reading Comprehension

Students discuss different strategies to help their reading comprehension at different stages of the reading process. They learn strategies to use before reading such as creating a word wall or a KWL chart, during reading such as taking notes and identifying key ideas, and after reading such as writing a summary. This unit also covers spelling, verbs, abbreviations, syllables, and vocabulary building.

Unit 2: Listening and Speaking

Students develop the skills necessary to gain confidence and familiarity with listening and speaking in various contexts. They learn vocabulary related to listening and speaking, discover that how they say something is as important as what they say through the imitation technique, and learn how to become good communicators by paying attention to non-verbal communication. Students also learn about the different vowel sounds used in English.

Unit 3: Writing

Students learn how to become effective writers by organizing their ideas coherently. They explore common grammar mistakes and how to fix them, as well as the different characteristics of a paragraph. Students also learn about various aspects of Canadian culture including the government and the Aboriginal peoples of Canada.

Unit 4: Novel Study

Students participate in a novel study, putting the strategies they have learned throughout the course into action. They identify key aspects of the text such as setting, characters, and theme, and practice taking notes and answering questions on chapters to build overall reading comprehension skills.