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English 9  (MEN–09)

The goals of English 9 are to begin the development of language proficiency in reading, writing and oral communication. Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of concepts and ideas in varying forms of literature and develop abilities to draw conclusions and defend them sensibly. As well, this course will expose students to the conventions of language so that they will be able to edit, revise and reorganize their work. Improved use of the language will also develop students’ understanding of how language works and allow them to use it purposefully to communicate with others. As well, being able to read, view and listen to a variety of different texts to which students respond through visual, written and oral means adds to the ability to synthesize ideas, draw conclusions and make connections.

Literary Studies 10/ Composition 10  (MLTST10/ MCMPS10)

The curricular competencies of Composition and Literary Studies 10 are to continue the development of language proficiency in reading, writing and oral communication. Through guided practice, students will develop their abilities in understanding, interpreting, analyzing and evaluating written work as well as being able to make connections between various writers and their own lives. Poetry, short story, the novel, drama as well as exposition will be studied. Students will be given several opportunities to explore writing in these forms as well as to continue the reading and writing workshop. Editing and understanding the conventions of the language will be continued not only in writing but also in speaking. The oral component of the language will be developed through participation in informal discussions as well as in formal presentations. The use of the writing process and the completion of journals and/or portfolios will continue as a learning and an evaluation tool. As students gain proficiency in these areas, they will continue to grow as members of the larger community. Students will develop the English language and literacy skills and capacities they must have in order to meet British Columbia’s graduation requirements.(Students are expected to take a Graduation Literacy Assessment in their Grade 10 year.)

New Media 10/Creative Writing 10 (MNMD10/MCTWR10) 

This English program of study is designed to reflect the changing role of technology in today’s society and the increasing importance of digital media in communicating and exchanging ideas, while allowing for students to express themselves to demonstrate a critical understanding and communication of ideas creatively through writing and a variety of other digital and print media formats. The course explores tasks and texts designed to introduce students to the study of New Media, focusing on the four key concepts of Media Language, Institutions, Audience and Representation while exploring media and film, journalism and publishing as well as digital communication. The course will also provide students opportunities to build their writing skills through the exploration of identity, memory, and story in a range of genres. Within a supportive community of writers, students will collaborate and develop their skills through writing and design processes. Students will develop the English language and literacy skills and capacities they must have in order to meet British Columbia’s graduation requirements.(Students are expected to take a Graduation Literacy Assessment in their Grade 10 year.)

English First Peoples Literary Studies 10/English First Peoples Writing 10                            (MEFLS10/MEFWR10)

 This course is intended for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. It represents an invitation to all learners to explore and discover First Peoples worldviews through the study of literary, informational and media texts with local Canadian and international First Peoples content. EFP Literary Studies and Writing 10 provides opportunities for all 32 students to engage with First Peoples creative expression as well as enter the words and worlds of First Peoples provincially, nationally, and internationally. The course focuses on the experiences, values, beliefs, and lived realities of First Peoples as evidenced in various forms of text, including oral story, speech, poetry, dramatic work, dance, song, film, and prose (non-fiction and fiction). EFP Literary Studies and Writing 10 is the academic equivalent of any other English 10 course. Students will develop the English language and literacy skills and capacities they must have in order to meet British Columbia’s graduation requirements.(Students are expected to take a Graduation Literacy Assessment in their Grade 10 year.)

Composition 10/ Literary Studies 10  (MCMPS10C/MLTST10C)

 Formerly called English 10 Core (MEN-10C), this program has been established to support students who have struggled with grade 9 or 10 written language courses. This program is designed to develop basic skills, thereby provide students with the tools to experience success. The English First Nations Writing and Literacy Studies 10C course explores topics of relevance to First Nations Peoples. This course celebrates cultural knowledge through invited guests, written text, graphic novels, poetry, film, oral story, speech, and shared conversation. The EFP is an academic course but is self-paced within the time constraints of the quarter system. This course prepares students for English 11 courses, Genocide Studies 12, Social Justice 12, Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12, and others.(Students are expected to take a Graduation Literacy Assessment in their Grade 10 year.)

Composition 11  (MCMPS11)                   

Composition 11 is designed to support students as they refine, clarify, and adjust their written communication through practice and revision. Students will read and study 33 compositions by other writers and be exposed to a variety of styles as models for the development of their writing, including narrative, expository, descriptive, persuasive and opinion writing. The course provides opportunities for students to, with increasing independence, study, create, and write original and authentic pieces for a range of purposes and real-world audiences. They will expand their competencies through processes of drafting, reflecting, and revising to build a body of work that demonstrates expanding breadth, depth, and evidence of writing for a range of situations. They will develop confidence in their abilities as they consolidate their writing craft. Students will develop the English language and literacy skills and capacities they must have in order to meet British Columbia’s graduation requirements.

Creative Writing 11  (MCTWR11)                       

 Creative Writing 11 is designed for students who are interested in developing confidence and refining their writing skills through self-expression for various creative purposes. The course provides students with in-depth opportunities to explore personal and cultural identities, memories, and stories in a wide range of genres, including short fiction and poetry, creative non-fiction and memoirs. Within a supportive community, students will collaborate and strengthen their skills through writing and design processes. Creative Writing 11 is grounded in the exploration and application of writing processes, inviting students to express themselves creatively as they reflect on, adjust, and extend their writing skills. Students will develop the English language and literacy skills and capacities they must have in order to meet British Columbia’s graduation requirements.

Literary Studies 11  (MLTST11)

 Literary Studies 11 allows students to delve deeply into literature. Students can explore specific themes, periods, authors, or areas of the world through literary works (fiction and non-fiction) in a variety of texts. Giving students the choice of a range of literary topics allows them to follow their passion and at the same time: increases their literacy skills through close reading of appropriately challenging texts; enhances their development of the English Language Arts curricular competencies, both expressive and receptive; expands their development as educated global citizens; develops balance and broadens their understanding of themselves and the world; and further develops higher-level thinking and learning skills. Students will develop the English language and literacy skills and capacities they must have in order to meet British Columbia’s graduation requirements.

New Media 11  (MNMD-11)                     

New Media 11 is a program of studies designed to reflect the changing role of technology today and the increasing importance of digital media in communicating and exchanging ideas. This course is intended to allow students and educators the flexibility to develop an intensive program of study centered on students’ interests, needs, and abilities, while at the same time allowing for a range of local delivery methods. New Media 11 recognizes that digital literacy is an essential characteristic of the educated citizen. Coursework is aimed at providing students with a set of skills vital for success in an increasingly complex digital world by affording numerous opportunities to demonstrate understanding and communicate increasingly sophisticated ideas through a wide variety of digital and print media. Compared with New Media 10, New Media 11 features tasks and texts of greater complexity and sophistication. As well, the Grade 11 course extends the depth and breadth of topics and activities offered in New Media 10, expanding on the four key concepts of Media Language, Institutions, Audience and Representation to include Genre, Narrative and Ideology. Students will develop the English language and literacy skills and capacities they must have in order to meet British Columbia’s graduation requirements.

English First Peoples Literary Studies & Writing 11  (MEFLS11)   

Intended for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, EFP Literary Studies and Writing 11 is designed for students who are interested in studying First Peoples literature and using writing for self-expression and communication in a variety of contexts. Guided by the First Peoples Principles of Learning, students delve deeply into authentic First Peoples oral and written literature in a range of media to explore various themes, authors, and topics. This provides a foundation for them to think critically and creatively as they continue to explore, extend, and strengthen their own writing. Within a supportive community, students work individually and collaboratively to explore oral and written literature and create powerful, purposeful compositions. Through the study of literature and the processes of experimenting with, reflecting on, extending, and refining their writing, students will extend their capacity to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts, deepen their understanding of themselves and the world, and expand their understanding of what it means to be educated Canadian and global citizens. EFP Literary Studies and Writing is the academic equivalent to any other English 11 course. Students will develop the English language and literacy skills and capacities they must have in order to meet British Columbia’s graduation requirements.

Composition 11/ English Studies 12 for English Language Learners                                              (MCMPS11 ISP/MENST12 ISP)

 Students who require extra assistance with English instruction as they are new to the language have the option of taking English Composition 11 and English Studies 12 in a linear, cohort mode. This allows for greater flexibility to adapt the delivery and pacing of content based on the language needs of students learning English. (Students are expected to take a Graduation Literacy Assessment in their Grade 12 year.)

English Studies 12  (MENST12 )                  

This required English Studies 12 course builds on and extends students’ previous learning experiences in ELA and EFP 10 and 11 courses. It is designed for all students and provides them with opportunities to:

  • refine their ability to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts and to achieve their personal and career goals
  • think critically and creatively about the uses of language
  • explore texts from a variety of sources, in multiple modes, that reflect diverse worldviews
  • deepen their understanding of themselves and others in a changing world
  • gain insight into the diverse factors that shape identity
  • appreciate the importance of self-representation through text
  • contribute to Reconciliation by building greater understanding of the knowledge and perspectives of First Peoples
  • expand their understanding of what it means to be educated Canadian and global citizens

Students will develop the English language and literacy skills and capacities they must have in order to meet British Columbia’s graduation requirements. (Students are expected to take a Graduation Literacy Assessment in their Grade 12 year.)

 English First Peoples 12  (MENFP12)                             

This course is the academic equivalent to the required English Studies 12. EFP 12 builds upon and extends students’ previous learning experiences in ELA and EFP 10 and 11 courses. The course is grounded in the First Peoples Principles of Learning. It is designed for all students, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who are interested in delving deeply into First Peoples oral and written literature and visual texts in a range of media. The course focuses on the experiences, values, beliefs, and lived realities of First Peoples as evidenced in various forms of text, including oral story, poetry, song, performance, film, and prose. A key feature of the course is its focus on authentic First Peoples voices (i.e., historical or contemporary texts created by or with First Peoples). In EFP 12, all students:

  • examine texts grounded in a diversity of First Peoples cultures, including local First Nations or Métis communities
  • extend their capacity to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts
  • think critically and creatively about the uses of language
  • deepen their understanding of themselves and others in a changing world
  • gain insight into the diverse factors that have shaped and continue to shape their own identities
  • appreciate the importance of self-representation through authentic First Peoples text
  • contribute to Reconciliation by building greater understanding of the knowledge and perspectives of First Peoples
  • expand their understandings of what it means to be educated Canadian and global citizens

While the focus in EFP 12 is primarily on First Peoples voices from British Columbia, students also engage with texts that reflect First Peoples perspectives from elsewhere in Canada and throughout the world. Students will develop the English language and literacy skills and capacities they must have in order to meet British Columbia’s graduation requirements. (Students are expected to take a Graduation Literacy Assessment in their Grade 12 year.)