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At VIA, we teach reading, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary, grammar, conversation and test preparation so that students are prepared culturally, socially, and academically to thrive in our community and the world beyond.
English (Grades 9-10)
English 9/10 introduces VIA students to the demands of high school reading and writing. The course emphasizes the development of active reading skills needed for the preparation of a text for discussion. With a learned clarity of expression, students will have ample opportunities to interpret meaning in different genres of literature-short stories, poems, plays, novellas, essays-while discovering their own voice as critical thinkers and writers. This voice will be furthered refined as students complete a variety of writing assignments, providing them with numerous chances to increase their self-awareness not only as readers and writers, but as individuals in the context of the course themes. In the '09-'10 academic year, the overall theme of the course will be about the journey of the hero (or heroine) and the process of self-discovery. What is one's place in society? Or even in the universe? Instruction in grammar and syntax and the building of vocabulary will also be a wide-spread component of the English 9/10 class.
English (Grades 11-12)
Looking to build upon the analytical skills and writing practices from English 9/10, the English 11/12 class is designed to help the students assume the habits and instincts requisite for articulate verbal expression and strong writing. The interaction of reading, thinking, discussion, and writing becomes the essential cycle of the course. Students strengthen their abilities to support, test, and defend conclusions drawn from reading and discussion. At this point in a VIA student's career, we want them to ask meaningful questions about literary texts, about their beliefs and assumptions, and about the world. This course will provide students with a growing opportunity to expand their expressive abilities through an array of creative writing assignments and performance-based presentations originating from both classic and contemporary works in fiction and non-fiction. An enduring emphasis on building vocabulary and grammar skills will partner favorably with the English 11/12 students' attempts to refine their writing with greater clarity, synthesis, specificity, logic, development, and originality.
AP English Language and Composition
This course gives students the analytical tools and factual knowledge needed to pass a challenging college-level examination. Students will learn to assess literary materials-the greatest essays in biography, journalism, political philosophy and science--with interpretive arguments. They will analyze rhetoric and style. Students will prepare for university-level work by doing University-level work, but with the individualized attention that is possible in small classes and with a year rather than a term to prepare themselves. By doing so, they will improve their prospects of attending outstanding universities and move forward in units within those universities as they improve their reading and writing abilities and gain confidence in their capacity to serve as leaders.
AP English Literature and Composition
This is an advanced English literature class designed to prepare students for taking the Advanced Placement test for college credit. The course includes intensive study of recognized literary works from different genres, which students will read to develop critical analysis and deeper understanding of the use of literary style, structure, themes, figurative language, imagery, symbolism and tone. Writing assignments focus on critical analysis of literature and include expository, analytical and argumentative essays. Creative writing, vocabulary development, and English language usage will be incorporated into the class.
ESL I
These students have learned basic pronunciation, but their grammar, vocabulary and conversational skills are limited. At this level. VIA devotes all of its time to giving students appropriate skills in English sufficient to make friends and follow daily conversations. We teach conversational English and vocabulary and host daily quizzes ad exercises augmented by dictations and monitored reading of passages. Students write sentences in short paragraphs towards the end of the course. We teach grammar through oral and written practice.
ESL II
These students can write sentences and basic paragraphs and can read passages aloud with some fluency. Their vocabulary is still expanding and depending on level of comprehenion, we might invite them into math classes at this point. Student will spend most of their time learning moderately-difficult grammar (e.g. gerunds, the perfect tense, idioms) and studying literary vocabulary. Students will begin to write essays, share ideas, and deepen their conversation level.
ESL III
These students can read and write with increased fluency. Students may participate in other classes. We teach more advanced grammar because these students need formal principles to express what natives know by heart. Students will learn from a variety of disciplines so that they may be successful. We will speeches and do skits at this stage to help students gain social confidence. And they will study the tests they must eventually master for college: the SAT and TOEFL.
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