ONTARIO LANGUAGE CURRICULUM INFO
The Ontario Language Curriculum is designed to help students develop their communication skills in both English and French, as well as an understanding of Indigenous languages and cultures. It includes the study of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and media literacy, as well as cultural awareness and critical thinking. The curriculum is designed to support students in developing their language abilities to communicate effectively and confidently in various contexts. It is regularly updated to align with current best practices and meet students' changing needs in a rapidly evolving world.
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In the Ontario Curriculum, English language arts for middle and high school students is generally divided into a few main strands. This structure may vary slightly by grade level and over time, but it typically includes:​
Oral Communication:
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This strand involves the development of listening and speaking skills. Students engage in dialogues, make presentations, and interpret and evaluate spoken messages. They also explore tone, style, and conventions in oral communication.
Reading and Literature Studies:
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This strand encourages students to read various literary, informational, and graphic texts. They learn to use different strategies to understand texts, make inferences, and respond critically to what they read. The literature study includes analyzing themes, structures, and stylistic elements in literature.
Writing:
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This strand involves the development of writing skills, including conventions (grammar, spelling, punctuation), organization of ideas, and development of voice and style. Students write for different purposes (to inform, persuade, and entertain) and audiences.
Media Studies:
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Students learn to understand, create, and critically interpret media texts in this strand. They explore a range of media forms, such as advertisements, news reports, film, and digital media, and they learn about media techniques, purposes, and audiences.
In addition, the curriculum focuses on cross-curricular literacy skills, which involve applying reading, writing, and oral communication skills across various subjects.
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In the case of the high school curriculum, an increased focus is placed on studying and analyzing literature (including plays, novels, and poetry), essay writing, and more complex media studies.