ICSE VIII English

Course Description :

The current curriculum focuses on extensive reading which is a prerequisite to being well-versed in this subject. Students are evaluated based on the retention and presentation of important points and their hold on English grammar. The present curriculum helps the student have a clear perspective and form opinions after going through all the 4 sections including Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking skills. The student will come across literary and non-literary texts, vocabulary, stories, poems, narratives, lectures, speeches, debates, etc. The recommended Literature book is Foundations in English Class 8 by Pearson/Tara Chadha & Lalitha Eapen, Basic Comprehension Passages by Byrne, Learner’s Grammar and Composition Class 8 Classics by Oxford/Sanghita Sen, and Starting with Comprehension and Composition Class 8 by Pearson/D.A. Tressler & Ratna Dhar. Other recommended books from various authors are provided in the list below.

Listening and Speaking
1)   Listen to a variety of texts from different genres and registers such as stories, poems, narratives, lectures, etc. for aural/written comprehension.
2)    Listen and comprehend issues/topics raised in spoken texts e.g.
speech
lecture
discourse
debate
discussion
Group discussions
3) Analyze and evaluate the use of language in different contexts (newspapers, television, billboards, and advertising campaigns) and its interpretation.
4) Adapts speech to a variety of contexts and tasks e.g.
tone
gestures
stress
facial expressions
body language
voice modulation
choice of words
5) Collect and collate ideas and seek clarification to keep discussions relevant.
 
 
Reading
1) Literary/ non-literary texts on a wide range of themes covering different genres and registers. The themes may include:
Self, Family, Home, Friends, etc.
Neighbourhood and Community.
The Nation – diversity (sociocultural, religious, and ethnic, as well as linguistic), heritage Myths/legends/folktales)
The World – India’s neighbors and other countries (their cultures, literature, and customs)
Adventure and Imagination
Sports and Yoga
Issues relating to Adolescence
Science and Technology
Peace and Harmony
Travel and Tourism
Mass Media
Art and Culture
Health and Sanitation.
Famous Personalities & achievers,
Environmental concerns – water conservation, cleanliness and sanitation, Safety – personal safety & awareness about child abuse, conservation energy, sustainable development.
2) Extensive and intensive reading of the texts for comprehension, inference, etc.
3) Focus on the choice of vocabulary/figurative language and tone/mood used in the text.
4) Deconstruct the textual piece to understand the
central theme
point of view
character
plot
dialogue / incident
structure
suspense
humor
points of view
5) Evaluate and analyze the text from the point of view of its
·         production
drama
Film content
 
Writing  
Write a:
Composition (250 -300 words)
Letters (formal and informal)
Personal narratives
Story
Write across disciplines
Use of technology as a resource to enhance research work.
Process approach to writing by planning, writing, revising, editing, and rewriting
 
Grammar and Vocabulary in context
Phrases and clauses
Sentence transformation from simple to complex /compound sentences
Use phrases, idioms figures of speech in the context
 
Recommended books
1. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
2. A Wizard of Earth Sea by Ursula Le Guin
3. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
4. Watership Down by Richard Adams
5. To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee
6. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
7. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
8. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
9. Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
10. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
11. The Pearl by John Steinbeck
12. P. G. Wodehouse (Jeeves/ Blandings Castle etc.)
13. The Ramayana/Mahabharata by C. Rajgopalachari
14. Graphic Novels (e.g. Maus – Art Spiegelman )
15. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
 

 Edugraff’s Methodology
Each student has their approach to studying a language, especially English Language. The goal of Edugraff is to trace that approach and improve it by catering to a variety of needs of the students. We, at Edugraff, strive toward engaging the child in a high-quality dialogue with the experienced teachers to understand their thought process and then advance it through rigorous training. The study material provided includes worksheets with detailed explanations and suggestions, sample papers, flashcards, audio-visual clips, etc. Moreover, the timetable is flexible giving more space to the student to hone their skills and improve concentration by teaching them at their selected hour. This one-to-one interactive session brings discipline and makes them more responsible to complete the tasks assigned. This is followed by feedback from both sides to analyze and work on further improvement.
 

Skills acquired by our students
 
The young minds learn to listen effectively, read swiftly, write strategically, and speak efficiently, according to the curriculum. A pupil develops a broad-minded attitude and sees things differently through this language. He can now initiate his/her thought process, contemplate pros and cons, form his own opinions and be open to change. In short, our student-centric online portal improves his/her quality of life and helps to strike a balance between emotions and practicality. The suggested reading books help to throw light on people's customs, traditions, and lifestyles and the economic, social, and political backgrounds of different nations. The vast curriculum offers the student with new vocabulary that he/she can build and use to form good sentences helping, indeed, in the long run, to secure jobs.

FAQ :

1.  Why does the English language play a pivotal role in the ICSE curriculum?  
As English is the first official language in the world, it demands a special place in our academic studies and has an important role to play in pupils’ minds. We cannot overlook its importance and need to update ourselves with it. Apart from being an internationally spoken language, it enhances pupils’ education process.
 
2.  What if the child finds the subject still difficult to learn?
At the beginning of studying any language, a student is skeptical about its retention and usage. But our teachers, with their in-depth knowledge, our teachers can judge the student’s level and help them come out of this fear. It is a slow and gradual process but the improvement is evident and will be reflected in their marks and grades attained.