Below is a table describing an ESL Year 2 curriculum for Junior High School.
The curriculum generally follows the format students study in Japan, as according to the text "Tokyo Shoseki (2006). New Horizon English Course 2. Tokyo Shoseki Co., Ltd., Tokyo."
These are conversation elements plucked from the text. If you are an ESL teacher (or ALT) in a school in Japan, you
would most likely recognise that, in the time frame you are allowed, it is basically impossible to teach and practice
all of the content of the text as conversation exercises. It is a text primarily focused on helping students pass writing,
comprehension and listening examinations. It is not particularly well designed for teaching
communication skills (in my view), and why should it be! There is no official communication skills exam. You don't need English
language communication skills to enter a university in Japan, you just need to be able to read the book.
It is up to the skill and the will of the educator to weave conversation elements into the curriculum. Pick and choose as you many, and
as you probably already do.
Throughout the course of this school year (2009-2010), I hope to improve on, and gradually add resource materials
to be used in classes. If there is a link, there is some kind of resource attached to it.
| A Junior High School ESL Curriculum - Year 2 Speaking/ Communication Component |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Lesson Number | Topic | Example |
| Unit 1 | Review Game | Review questions About Music | A: Can you play the piano? B: Yes, I can. / No, I can't. |
| 1.1 | Presentation: Show and Tell | This is my cat. | |
| 1.2 | Talking About The Past - 1 | A: Where were you last night? B: I was at home |
|
| 1.3 | Talking About The Past - 2 | A: What were you doing last night? B: I was watching a DVD |
|
| Unit 2 | 2.1 | Talking about Tomorrow. | A: What are you going to do tomorrow? B: I am going to play soccer. A: Are you going to study tomorrow? B: Yes, I am. / No, I am not. |
| 2.2 | Travel: Getting Through Customs. | Show me your passport please. | |
| Unit 3 | 3.1 | Travel: Talking about Plans | Where are you going? What are you going to do? |
| 3.2 | Asking for Permission / Requests | May I use your dictionary? Could you close the door please? |
|
| 3.3 | Action and Reason | I got up early to run in the park. | |
| Unit 4 | 4.1 | Things You Want To Do | A: What do you want to do on the weekend? B: I want to play soccer. |
| 4.2 | Chores Around The House. | A: Do you make your own bed? B: Yes, I do. / No, I don't. |
|
| Unit 5 | 5.1 | Talking About Dreams and Ambitions | A: What do you want to be? B: I want to be funny. I want to be a banana. |
| 5.2 | Talking about Things We Have To Do | I have to run in big shoes. I don't have to run in big shoes. |
|
| Unit 6 | 6.1 | Giving Opinions. Talking About TV Programs | A: Did you watch ------ last night? B: Yes, I did. Did you? / No. How was it? |
| 6.2 | Talking About Things We Can't Do | You / I can't watch TV now. | |
| Unit 7 | 7.1 | Telephone Conversation - Organising to Meet. | May I speak to Kristy, please? |
| 7.2 | Conditionals | If you feel better tomorrow, let's go swimming. | |
| 7.3 | Giving Opinions - Talking About Clowns | I like Budja. I think he is funny because he has big red lips. | |
| Unit 8 | 8.1 | Going to see the Doctor / School Nurse. | A: What's wrong? B: I have a runny nose. |
| 8.2 | Location of Objects 1 | There is a cat on the table. A: Is there a soccer ball in the pot? B: Yes, there is. / No, there isn't |
|
| 8.3 | Location of Objects 2 | There are some people under the tree. A: Are there any spoons in the draw? B: Yes, there are./ No, there aren't. |
|
| Unit 9 | 9.1 | Past Progressive Tense | I started playing chess ten years ago. |
| 9.2 | Verbals: The Present Gerund | A: What's dangerous? B: Skiing is dangerous. |
|
| 9.3 | Travel: Asking for Directions | Could you tell me the way to the train station? | |
| Unit 10 | 10.1 | Presentation: My Town | I live in a small country town. |
| 10.2 | Travel: Weekend plans | I hear you're going to England next week. | |
| Unit 11 | 11.1 | Giving Opinions: Talking About Movies | What did you think of the story? |
| 11.2 | Shopping for Clothes | I'm looking for some jeans. | |
| Unit 12 | 12.1 | Talking About Things We Like To Do | I like to watch movies. |
| 12.2 | Giving Opinions/ Using Comparatives - Music | Who's the best female pop singer in Japan? | |
It's your turn to wash the dishes.