The content in each of the ESL courses is organized into four interrelated strands or broad areas of learning: Listening and Speaking, Reading, Writing, Socio-cultural Competence, and Media Literacy. Effective instructional activities blend expectations from the four strands to provide English language learners with the kinds of experiences that promote meaningful learning and that help students recognize how language and literacy skills in the four strands overlap and strengthen one another. The program at all levels is designed to develop a range of essential skills in the four interrelated strands, built on a solid foundation of knowledge of the language conventions of standard English and incorporating the use of analytical, critical, and metacognitive thinking skills. Students learn best when they are provided with opportunities to monitor and reflect on their learning, and each strand includes expectations that call for such reflection.

These courses are designed for English language learners who have had opportunities to develop language and literacy skills in their language according to their age or grade level. These learners may be entering secondary school from elementary school alongside their English-speaking peers, or they may be entering secondary school in Ontario and have recently arrived from other countries. They can read and write in their language within the expected range for students of their age in their own country. They can build on their existing first-language skills when learning English in an ESL program.

The five ESL courses are based on levels of proficiency in English. Depending on learners’ previous experience with English, students may be placed in ESL Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 accordingly. For example, a student who has been in full-time education in his or her country but never studied English would be placed in ESL Level 1. A student who has been in full-time education in his or her own country and has studied some English might be placed in ESL Level 2 or 3 based on the initial English language.

What is ESL?

English as a Second Language (ESL) is an English language study program designed for non-native speakers. It was created to help students improve their current level of the English language.

Why is ESL important?

ESL is important for various reasons. Aside from learning a new language, English is vital for academic success and international business purposes. English is the official language of 53 countries and is spoken by over 400 million people. It has also been unofficially deemed the business language by many companies.